Seoul, Nov 9, 2026 — Five things that moved Korean culture over the past 12 hours.
K-Beauty: Korean brands flood US and Canadian retail
The Face Shop (LG H&H) has moved from Walmart into about 500 Ulta Beauty stores across the US, led by its Rice Water Bright line, which has sold over 50 million units. Abib entered more than 300 Ulta doors on Nov. 1, scaling to all 1,500+ by February 2027, while APR’s Medicube landed at Canada’s Shoppers Drug Mart with 13 products. Clio’s Goodal launched at Costco on Nov. 3 with its seven-year Olive Young best-seller serum.
K-Pop: A Nov. 9 doubleheader
ITZY’s Chaeryeong makes her solo debut with the four-track EP ‘Lovesick’ at 6 p.m. KST, becoming the group’s third soloist after Yeji and Yuna. The same day, NCT DREAM releases their sixth album ‘DREAM AFTER DREAM,’ marking their 10th debut anniversary with the title track ‘Boogie Woogie.’ The month ahead packs Nayeon, TXT, ATEEZ and ENHYPEN.
K-Food: $10 billion in a record 253 days
Korea’s agri-food exports crossed $10 billion in 253 days this year — 19 days faster than last year’s record. Ramyeon drove growth, up 27.2 percent to $1.31 billion, with the US the top market at $1.81 billion. Overseas Korean restaurants rose 24.8 percent in five years to 4,644 outlets; Seoul Bros opens in Tokyo and a cheonggukjang chain heads to Texas this month.
K-Drama & Cinema: Lee Chang-dong lands on Netflix
‘Possible Love,’ Lee Chang-dong’s first film in eight years, hit Netflix on Nov. 6 after winning the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at Venice — a first for a Korean film — and Best Film at Korea’s film critics’ awards, where Jeon Do-yeon took Best Actress. It is Korea’s Oscar submission. November also brings ‘The Remarried Empress’ and Netflix’s ‘Blue Road.’
K-Fashion: First overseas online shopping week
Korea opened its first overseas online shopping event, ‘K-Online Shopping Week,’ extending the K-Sale Festival abroad as part of the second Korea Grand Festival. Apparel and bag exports rose 21.3 percent in Q2 to $742.1 million, while department stores in Hanoi, New York and Paris now run pop-ups as export platforms for K-brands.
Sources: Asia Business Daily · Korea Times · Korea Herald · Korean Film Council · Newera Korea
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