Hey, Fanworkers! 😊 How have you been this past week?
Do you all have any plans for this week? Since it’s the end of the year, I bet everyone is busy meeting their loved ones. If you haven’t decided on a place to meet yet, how about Jongno? It’s located in the heart of Seoul and is a charming area where tradition meets modernity. 🏙️
Starting this week, the winter festival is kicking off, and I’ll introduce you to the festival info along with some hot spots nearby! 🎉 |
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2024 Seoul Lantern Festival [서울 빛초롱 축제] |
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✨VENUE : CHEONGGYECHEON(Cheonggye Square~Samilgyo Bridge)
✨DATE : DEC. 13th, 2024 - JAN. 12th, 2025
✨LIGHTS ON: 6:00pm
✨LIGHTS OFF: 10:00pm |
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The Seoul Lantern Festival has been going on since 2009 and is celebrating its 16th year as a representative night light festival in Seoul. ✨ It features dazzling light installations and various experience programs, making it a feast for the eyes! 👀 The festival mainly takes place around Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon, divided into four zones, showcasing over 200 unique light installations and programs. Plus, there are lots of fun activities happening alongside the light displays! 🎊 |
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The Christmas Gwanghwamun Market is taking place around Gwanghwamun Square! 🎄 A large Christmas tree will be the centerpiece of a charming Christmas village, featuring various handmade crafts and seasonal items for sale. There will also be a Christmas photo zone and delicious food available, so why not stop by before diving into the Lantern Festival? 📸🍽️ |
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You can create memorable souvenirs with the Lantern Playground experience program! 🎨 Registration is available on-site at the Cheonggyecheon Gwangyo Gallery. They’ll be offering D.I.Y. experience programs tailored to each season for Christmas and New Year, so let’s check it out!
🎄 Christmas Season Program
❄️ Dates: December 13, 2024 - December 25, 2024
❄️ Experience Programs: Christmas LED ornaments, snowman mood lamps, Santa mood lamps, and more!
🧧 New Year Season Program
🌕 Dates: December 26, 2024 - January 12, 2025
🌕 Experience Programs: Making bull leaders, flower embroidery / mother-of-pearl hand mirrors, flower keychains, and more!
Both programs are affordably priced between 5,000 and 10,000 won, so making a souvenir to remember this Lantern Festival would be a great idea! 🎁✨
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After enjoying the Lantern Festival, you’ll need to satisfy that hunger, right? 😋 |
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1st floor, 16-gil, Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul |
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the newly opened wine bar, Rashinvin Jongno! The owner originally ran a shop in Hannam-dong and revamped the menu before opening this new place in Jongno. It’s clear that this spot has its own charm, especially since even people from Hannam-dong come to enjoy the food! 🌟 |
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Their signature dishes include sashimi noodles, 3eggs capellini pasta, and no-nori no-rice, but every other menu item is delicious too—it's called a gem of Insadong!💎 The owner also recommends wines that pair perfectly with each dish, and thanks to their warm hospitality, you’ll leave with a happy heart.
Visit Rashinvin Jongno for a cozy atmosphere where your taste buds and eyes can rejoice! 🙌🍷✨ |
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37, Jongno 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul |
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If you're someone who can't be satisfied with just warm food and prefers it hot, come on over to Daeryunjip! 🔥
This place, which ranked first in the Jongno episode of the Korean YouTube show "Ttoganjip" (a show ranking local restaurants), serves delicious Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and Bossam (boiled pork). Can you smell the aroma of mastery just from the sign? Hehe! 😄
💡 Let me share something fun!
One unofficial indicator of a restaurant's quality in Korea is whether there are elderly people dining there! If you see older folks enjoying their meals in broad daylight, there's a high chance it's a good restaurant! And if you notice them having food with soju? Then without a doubt, it’s a 200% guaranteed delicious spot! 😂
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Daeryunjip is exactly that kind of place! The chewy kalguksu noodles, made with a rich bone broth, slide down your throat effortlessly, warming you up from the inside. The kimchi served alongside tastes just like the one your grandma used to make! It’s hard to find that retro flavor in kimchi these days... This place is truly special! 🥹
The bossam, cut in a rustic style, is moist and has a delightful chewy texture, allowing you to savor the clean taste of the meat without any strong odors. So make sure to promise yourself to enjoy both the kalguksu and the bossam! 🍽️✨ |
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75-2, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul |
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This is a beef noodle specialty restaurant that has been selected in the Michelin Guide for four consecutive years! 🌟 The menu is simple: beef noodles, brisket beef noodles (which differ in the type of meat), shui jiao (Chinese-style dumplings - limited to 70 plates per day), and cucumber salad.
The beef noodles are already rich in flavor, but the brisket beef noodles have even deeper broth, possibly because they contain more meat! 😘 If you add a few spoonfuls of 'lajang' (a spicy sauce) provided on the table, you can enjoy a spicy kick as well! So try half plain and half with lajung for a new taste experience.
When you take a bite of the shui jiao, the juices from the shrimp and meat burst in your mouth, and the cucumber salad pairs so well with the beef noodles that it feels like they’re one! You can't resist it... Let’s order everything on the menu!!! 🍜🥟🥒 |
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What do you think? I’ve picked these restaurant recommendations as places I definitely want to visit! 💖 It's great to spend good times with loved ones, but let’s make sure to promise each other to dress warmly and avoid catching a cold in this chilly weather! 🧣 |
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Do you fans love watching musicals? I sure do! 😊 I often buy tickets to see my desired cast and even purchase musical merchandise to keep as a memento. But honestly, the reason I got into musicals was that one of my favorite idols was performing! Seeing my favorite singer perform live with their real voice is such a different and captivating experience compared to concerts. 🎤✨
Since then, I've fallen in love with musicals, discovered my favorite musical actors, and even looked for shows I wanted to see, whether or not my idols were performing.
Shall we take a look together at which idols are currently performing in musicals? 🎭💖 |
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Kyuhyun, who debuted as a musical actor in the 2010 musical "The Three Musketeers," is returning next year as the "Man Who Laughs"! 🎭✨ He first took on the role of "Gwinplaine" in 2020, and thanks to this performance, he really started to be recognized as a musical actor. Plus, it was his first musical after being discharged from his military service, so there were even higher expectations for him!
Back then, his impressive performance and solid vocal skills earned him the nickname "Kyuwinplaine," which totally suits him, don’t you think?! 😄 |
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If you were to pick the most famous number from the musical "The Man Who Laughs," everyone would likely choose "🎵Open Your Eyes." When you listen to Kyuhyun's version, his powerful vocals and deeply resonant tone really stick in your ears. It's so sweet, right? 🎶 If you're curious about Kyuhyun's portrayal of the "Man Who Laughs," you definitely have to go see it! |
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TIFFANY YOUNG Girls' Generation |
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Tiffany made her musical stage debut in 2011 with "Fame," and she really established herself as a musical actress when she took on the role of "Roxie Hart" in "Chicago" in 2021! 🌟 Especially with the character of "Roxie Hart," she had to express both cute and lovable qualities while also showcasing a sexy charm, and Tiffany perfectly nailed this role with her bright and energetic presence. 😍 |
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Moreover, "Chicago" is a classic that has been loved on Broadway for a long time, so I think many people are somewhat familiar with it! Tiffany received praise for adding a new charm to the character while performing "Roxie Hart" in this legendary production. I really hope we get to see more of Tiffany shining on the musical stage! If you haven't seen Tiffany in "Chicago" yet, make sure to check it out! ✨ |
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Solar took on a new challenge with the 2022 musical "Mata Hari"! 🌟 At her first performance, some reviews mentioned that she seemed a bit awkward or stiff, but over time, she completely transformed! Many audience members even remarked, “Why did you wait so long to start in musicals?” due to her outstanding skills and immersion in the role! |
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This year, she showcased an even more mature side in the musical "Notre Dame de Paris," and she’s set to return to "Mata Hari" this winter. Her intense energy, explosive vocal power, and emotional acting blend perfectly with the character, raising high expectations! 🎤💖
I’m really looking forward to seeing Solar continue to grow as a musical actress. Isn’t it exciting? Don’t miss out on "Mata Hari" and make sure to go see it! |
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Hui made his debut as a musical actor in 2020 with the role of 'J' in the musical "Sonata of Flames," perfectly embodying the character! 🌟 He left a strong impression on the audience with his deep acting and emotional expression. Then in 2023, he solidified his footing as an actor by playing 'D'Artagnan' in the musical "The Three Musketeers," and now he’s returning in a new version of the musical "Dracula," titled "Bloody Love"! 🧛♂️❤️ |
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"Bloody Love" is a work that adds fresh changes to the original "Dracula," and it’s generating a lot of excitement! Hui is expected to showcase even deeper performances based on his stable vocal skills and powerful stage presence, raising high expectations! 🎤✨ I can't wait to see the diverse sides of Hui in the future! If you’re interested in the musical "Bloody Love," I definitely recommend checking it out! |
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Many idols are also actively working hard on the musical stage to showcase their unique sides. It’s truly impressive to see them taking on various challenges while highlighting their individual charms! 🌟 I think it would be fun to have a discussion later about which musicals would suit our favorite idols. If the response is good, I’ll come back with that kind of content! 🎭💖 |
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In this first week of December, I decided to celebrate the birthdays of BTS’s Jin, TREASURE's Doyoung and BOYNEXTDOOR's Jaehyun — three idols born on the same day, December 4th, but representing completely different K-pop generations!
💜 Jin is a global star of the third generation, the era that took K-Pop to the global stage. As part of BTS, Jin represents the generation that broke records, filled stadiums worldwide, and introduced so many people to South Korea and to K-Pop for the first time.
💎 Doyoung belongs to the fourth generation, a gen of groups who debuted as more experimental and SNS-savvy. TREASURE’s powerful performances show how this generation of K-Pop groups is all about reaching fans everywhere, blending strong concepts with their natural power and charm.
🍀 Jaehyun, from BOYNEXTDOOR, represents the fifth generation, which is still finding its identity on K-Pop. Rookie groups like BND now aims for authenticity and connection, mixing trendy sounds with stories that feel more personal but still refreshing.
I decided to attend three birthday events for these three idols on the same day because it is one of the experiences in South Korea that offers us a unique opportunity to be in touch with different idols and fandoms. As a K-pop enthusiast, I wanted to put myself in this side of the K-pop world and enjoy the different atmospheres of each group's generation and fanbase!
So, since I wanted to visit three café events in one day, I focused on Hongdae. Why? Because this area has the cutest concepts, and the coffee shops are usually super close to each other—perfect for a birthday café event-hopping mission! |
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Jin’s WWH JIN’S DAY Event
📍카페 톤앤매너 |
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Because Jin is a third-gen idol, I decided to visit his event first (I swear, it is not because I am an ARMY!). The decoration of the cafe event I chose was so cute and pinky — just like what we expect for Jin. We could see so many pictures of him, cute dolls, BTS merchs everywhere and pictures and decorations from his recent comeback. Minimalistic decoration? Not there! Every part of the coffee shop was taken by Jins and BTS!💜 |
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Doyoung’s MY LOVELY DOYOUNG Event
📍 카페 체리시 |
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I hit up Doyoung’s event, and let me tell you — this one was special because he actually visited the café himself a few days before my visit! Knowing that made the experience so much more meaningful. Well, the decoration of the event had a cute, lovely minimalistic style. As an outsider, someone who is actually not a TREASURE fan, I expect more powerful and stronger concepts, from what I see in their stages. But no. All his pictures and posters on the walls were really cute. It was the first time I could see a different side of Doyoung.💫 |
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Jaehyun’s MYEONG-MEYONG'S FOOD TRUCK Event
📍카페라래 |
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Finally, I went to Jaehyun’s birthday cafe event. And yes, they had a Food Truck concept! How fun is that? That event concept got me thinking how the fans are so creative and innovative every year! The vibe was super chill and fun— so fitting for Jaehyun and BOYNEXTDOOR’s fresh style.🕶️ The highlight for me was the takeout beverage bottle — it was so cute! One of the best takeout beverage bottles I have ever received in birthday cafe events so far! |
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Walking around for three idols in one single day was a bit chaotic because of the cold weather in South Korea, but it was so worth it. The best part was seeing how different each idol's events shows little bit of each K-Pop generation:
💜Jin's global impact is unreal! In the event there were so many foreign fans, which just shows how big he and BTS are worldwide. The history and success of third-gen idols like Jin are still felt everywhere. We could see history in the pictures, years of success in each card and posters on the walls, and that feeling that “I want to live much more with him and BTS”!
💎Doyoung’s connection with the fandom is next level. It’s so cool seeing how 4th-gen idols like him really interact and be in touch with their followers and fans. Also, taking time out of your busy schedule to visit a fan-made event for your birthday is really something to feel amazing for. He impressed me with that! Plus, there were a lot of international fans at his event too!
🍀Jaehyun’s event had the most different atmosphere for me, but still a welcoming place to visit. When I watch BOYNEXTDOOR on stage, I feel the fifth generation is all about that fresh, fun, trendy energy! And that was exactly what I felt from his birthday cafe. However, different from the other two birthday events I visited, I was surrounded by Koreans only, I couldn't see foreigners around…
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In general, whether you’re a casual K-Pop listener or a die-hard stan, these birthday cafe events remind us why K-pop is so special… Can't wait for the next birthday adventure!🤩 |
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That's it for this week's newsletter! Then we'll see you next week!❤️💚 |
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⬆️ Your feedback helps us make 'Fanwork' even better, so let's keep the good vibes going together! |
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