45 h. ago Labubu craze sweeps globe, highlights power China, Asia stars have on consumer trends

Asian and Chinese stars are rewriting the fashion industry playbook, turning niche favourites into global must-haves. The Post explores how celebrity choices shape style and consumption while reflecting the values of today’s fans. Lisa Labubu At 28, Lisa of the South Korean girl band Blackpink has more than 100 million social media followers and more than 1.9 billion online streams for her solo debut Lalisa. In April 2024, the Thai star posted photos with a Labubu plush toy and a matching...

Politics

45 h. ago Labubu craze sweeps globe, highlights power of China, Asia stars have on consumer trends

Asian and Chinese stars are rewriting the fashion industry playbook, turning niche favourites into global must-haves. The Post explores how celebrity choices shape style and consumption while reflecting the values of today’s fans. Lisa Labubu At 28, Lisa of the South Korean girl group Blackpink has more than 100 million social media followers and over 1.9 billion online streams for her solo debut, Lalisa. In April last year, the Thai star posted photos with a Labubu plush toy and a matching...

Politics

5 d. ago South Korean father kills family amid overwhelming debt crisis

Struggling with mounting debts, a married father of two drove his car into the sea off South Korea’s southern island of Jindo, resulting in the tragic deaths of his wife and teenage sons. The 49-year-old, who was only identified by the surname Ji, told authorities on Tuesday that his financial burdens had pushed him to such a desperate measure. The man, who was employed as a rebar supervisor, found himself in a challenging financial situation, amassing around 160 million won (US$116,000) in debt...

Events

5 d. ago South Korean father admits killing family amid overwhelming debt crisis

Struggling with mounting debts, a married father of two drove his car into the sea off South Korea’s southern island of Jindo, resulting in the deaths of his wife and teenage sons. The 49-year-old, who was only identified by the surname Ji, told authorities on Tuesday that his financial burdens had pushed him to such a desperate measure. The man, who was employed as a rebar supervisor, found himself in a challenging financial situation, amassing around 160 million won (US$116,000) in debt due to...

Events

6 d. ago ‘Lies into truth’: outcry in Japan over Chinese bias at Canadian history museum

Conservatives in Japan are urging the government to take action against a museum in Toronto run by a Chinese-Canadian organisation, accusing it of distorting history and harming the country’s international reputation. They say the Asia-Pacific Peace Museum, which opened in June 2024, presents a solely Chinese perspective on events such as the massacre at Nanking, now known as the city of Nanjing, the wartime use of “comfort women”, and the activities of Unit 731, a covert Japanese military unit...

Culture

7 d. ago Korean influencer who suffered horrific bruises from health injection wins case

A South Korean influencer has won a four-year legal battle against a clinic after a so-called “health injection” left her with horrific bruising all over her body. The woman has drawn widespread support online and reignited public criticism of the way some clinics operate. The influencer, known online as Aori, is a former model with 762,000 followers online. Her channel focuses on fashion, lifestyle, and food. In 2021, she posted photos showing severe bruising across her body, revealing that the...

Science

1 week ago South Korean election video pulled after public outcry over misogyny

A video encouraging South Koreans to vote in next week’s presidential elections has sparked public outrage after it featured a male supervisor assaulting a female employee, leading to an apology from local authorities. Gyeongsan, a city located about 300km (186 miles) southeast of Seoul, shared a 49-second video on its YouTube channel on Monday to encourage residents to participate in the election on June 3. In the video, a male supervisor is shown throwing a crumpled a piece of paper at a...

Politics

1 week ago ‘US troops critical’: South Korean presidential candidate signals turn on China

US troops in South Korea could be “critical” for containing China, and might potentially benefit Seoul’s outreach to the Arctic, according to the front runner for the coming presidential election who has signalled a possible change in his position on China. During an exclusive interview with Time Magazine published on Thursday, the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said US Forces Korea (USFK) could play a “critical role for the United States policy of...

Politics

1 week ago Netflix probes mistreatment claims on set of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’

Netflix is investigating allegations of mistreatment on the set of its South Korean drama series When Life Gives You Tangerines, after accusations of extras facing abuse and neglect surfaced on social media. Earlier this week, numerous anonymous users took to X, formerly Twitter, to accuse the production of workplace abuse during filming. The posts alleged that extras were given inadequate protection from the cold weather and were forced to cut their hair to make wearing wigs easier, among other...

Politics

1 week ago South Korean presidential candidate sorry for misogynistic remark at TV debate

A South Korean presidential candidate has apologised for a sexually explicit comment made during a recent televised debate, in which he asked if sticking chopsticks in women’s genitals was misogyny. Lee Jun-seok, who leads the minor Reform Party, drew widespread backlash from the public and across the political spectrum for the controversial remark on Tuesday. The 40-year-old initially doubled down on his remark on Facebook early on Wednesday, before issuing an apology later in the day while...

Politics

1 week ago Korean eatery boss wows diners, balances table full of dishes on head while serving

A South Korean restaurant owner has amazed many people by carrying a whole table full of dishes on his head to diners. The head-turning skills of Kang Jin-gyu, 55, have turned his restaurant into a tourist hotspot in Uidong Valley, a scenic resort near Seoul. To save the effort of carrying dishes one by one from the kitchen to the dining area, Kang decided it would be easier to take the whole table of food. He has mastered balancing a long table for 10, stacked with food and drinks weighing...

Economics

1 week ago South Korea fines 3 airlines US$2.6 million for safety violations

Korean Air, Jeju Air and T’way Air have been fined a total of 3.54 billion won (US$2.6 million) by South Korea’s government for safety violations. The three South Korean airlines violated the Aviation Safety Act, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported, citing a statement by the country’s ministry of land, infrastructure and transport on Tuesday. The fines come five months after the country’s aviation safety standards were in the spotlight following the crash landing last December of Jeju Air Flight...

Economics

2 w. ago South Korean police apply for reporter’s arrest over ‘99 Chinese spies’ article

The report claims the Chinese were arrested at an election commission building on the same day as Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law imposition.

Events

2 w. ago South Korean martial law judge in hostess bar ethics row denies allegations

The judge who oversaw ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law case is accused of frequenting high-end ‘room salons’ and receiving favours.

Events

3 w. ago Despite headwinds faced by China, it’s not all plain sailing for Korean shipbuilders

America’s plan to impose higher docking fees on vessels made in China will be a blow, but South Korean shipyards face capacity constraints.

Politics

4 w. ago Japanese women in South Korean prostitution ring blamed for shaming homeland

Instead of outrage at the traffickers, online anger in Japan has focused on the women involved for damaging national pride.

Politics