JEDDAH: You can stumble upon a K-pop video somewhere on the Internet because it’s taken the world by storm, and for good reason: K-pop is fun!
The hype is no longer a trend and many are looking toward learning the Korean language in larger numbers than ever before.
The phenomenon has reached the shores of the region, and teens and tweens are flocking to the Internet to learn more, not only about K-pop, but Korean culture as well. This series will cover mini-stories of young ladies who have not only expressed their interest in Korean pop culture, but have taken the extra step to learn the language, perfect it and dream big.
Twenty-one-year-old Samira, a fresh graduate from a Saudi private University has had a love for Korean pop culture since her years in middle school. She explains how in 2010, she accidentally found a TV show online as she was searching the Internet; she stumbled across a Korean drama called “Playful Kiss.” She fell in love with the show from the very first episode and spread the news among her friends, who also recommended other TV shows. She got hooked and called upon her sister to join her and share the love. The friends told other friends and a circle of appreciation grew larger; they had all been watching as well but never told one another.
It started off with dubbed TV shows such as “Jewel of the Palace” or “Dae Jang Geum,” of which she proudly says watched 8 times, and then she grew to love music and more. Of the most famous K-pop singing groups, BTS is her favorite. “They’re international, they have many English lyrics in their songs and that’s very relatable to the international audience. The band is more real than anything. Their music talks about real life issues such as struggles in school which I can relate to immediately,” said Samira.
Samira has since made an effort to learn more. “The first Korean word I learned was ‘dream’ or ‘kkum’ in Korean. I go to learn Korean every week at the Korean International School in Jeddah and I have a dream to go there one day and experience life in Korea. Their values are more prominent than anything else; the level of respect they have for one another and their culture are what drove me to love everything about Korea,” she explained.
Eighteen-year-old Shaima, a freshman at a Saudi private University, was drawn into the world of Korean culture by her elder sister, Samira. The first Korean television show she saw was “Super Junior,” and she hasn’t looked back since.
Unlike Turkish television dramas with the 100+ episodes per season, Korean dramas have significantly fewer. According to Shaima, they are easier to watch and you don’t get bored. She checks specific websites on a daily basis to catch up on what’s new on the Korean drama scene. “After checking for the show I’m interested in at the moment, I can either watch them in their original form or subtitled, depending on the drama, of course,” said Shaima. Of course!
“The dramas are different from what others watch; there’s a different sense to them and you feel like they’re not mastered to be fake. No offense to other international dramas, but Koreans do drama as if they were telling their own life stories— raw and authentic,” exclaimed Shaima.
Just like her sister, Shaima also attends weekly language lessons at the Korean International School in Jeddah, and with the Internet nowadays connecting people far and wide, her lessons served her well. “I have many friends from all over the world and I speak to them in Korean. On our last trip to Paris, I was able to meet up with some of my online friends there and I can’t explain how polite they are. It’s one of the aspects of their society that drew me to them.”
Her love for Korean pop artists has no limits. It was by sheer coincidence that on one of her visits to Paris, a popular K-pop band was performing in the city. With the help of friends back in the Kingdom, the sisters were able to obtain tickets and attend the concert, calling it one of their wildest dreams come true. “It was raining heavily but we didn’t care; we shared a wonderful experience with concert goers from all over the world. Everyone loves Korean bands and that concert did not disappoint one bit!”
Having been exposed to K-pop and Korean dramas from the age of 13, Shaima has fallen in love with everything that is Korean. Her dream and ambition is not only to go and visit, she also strives to live there in the near future.
Big dreams from such a young woman; dream big, kid, you’ll get there one day.
Saudi girls catch ‘K’ fever
Saudi girls catch ‘K’ fever
Saudi, Japanese firms to release new game in MENA
- The action game will immerse players in legendary battles and strategic combat
Riyadh: Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation, has signed a publishing and distribution agreement with Koei Tecmo to release Dynasty Warriors: Origins in the Middle East and North Africa, scheduled for Jan. 17, 2025.
The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, according to a press release.
Manga Productions will collaborate with Koei Tecmo to localize the game for MENA audiences, involving Saudi talents in the process, in addition to handling its publishing and marketing.
The action game will immerse players in legendary battles and strategic combat, set in the iconic Three Kingdoms world of ancient China, appealing to both new and returning fans of the series.
Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary said: “Saudi Arabia and the MENA region are among the fastest-growing game markets globally. Manga Productions has successfully produced, distributed, and licensed content in recent years. We’re excited to partner with Koei Tecmo to publish this AAA game and invest in Saudi talent to further develop the gaming and creative industries in the region.”
Koei Tecmo President and Chief Operating Officer Hisashi Koinuma said that this partnership with Manga Productions goes beyond publishing to deliver a fully localized version tailored for regional gaming enthusiasts.
Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh, business development and content licensing director at Manga Productions, said that video games are a core part of the company’s business. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to expand into the MENA region, benefiting both parties, he added.
Matcha lovers, anime fans flock to Japan Festival in Riyadh
- Festival celebrates Japanese technology and products
- Major car brands demonstrate new models
RIYADH: Thousands of people flocked to the Japan Festival held recently in Riyadh, which attracted businesspeople, matcha tea lovers, anime fans, and car enthusiasts alike.
Organized jointly by the Embassy of Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization, and the Japanese Society in Riyadh, the festival was held at the Saudi capital’s Cultural Palace and hosted around 8,000 visitors over two days.
A JETRO spokesperson told Arab News that more than a few Japanese have been keeping a close eye on Saudi Arabia’s future potential.
“For Japan, Saudi Arabia has been one of the most important trade partners due to two reasons. One is that Saudi Arabia has been the biggest exporter of crude oil to Japan and the other (is that) Saudi Arabia highly evaluates Japanese technologies, in particular transportation equipment,” the spokesperson said.
On Japan-Saudi exports, the JETRO spokesperson noted that Japanese exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $6.36 billion in 2023, up 25.2 percent from the previous year.
Of that total, transportation equipment accounted for 70.2 percent of total exports. Automobiles grew 31.3 percent to $4.25 billion, with passenger cars and buses/trucks growing 32.8 percent and 24.2 percent respectively.
Imports declined $34.78 billion, down 19.2 percent from the previous year. Crude oil and crude oil imports, which account for 95.7 percent of total imports, declined 17.9 percent to $33.3 billion due to lower crude oil prices and production cuts. In 2023, oil imports from Saudi Arabia accounted for 40.4 percent of Japan’s total.
Major car brands like Mitsubishi and Toyota were on display at the event, as well as several technology, beauty, art and recreational brands.
Trading house Itochu, and Kumon, the children’s educational network, were some of the big name brands participating in the event.
Stage performances showcased a number of Japanese cultural offerings including a drum performance by the students of the Japanese School in Riyadh, a martial arts demonstration, a tea ceremony, umbrella juggling, live painting, and performances of popular traditional and anime songs.
Guests were able to learn about Japanese tourism, play with traditional toys, learn origami, and try on a Japanese kimono or yukata.
Visitors were also educated on Japanese tourism, and enjoyed traditional Japanese toys, calligraphy and craft workshops.
In the booth area, Japanese industrial products with cutting-edge technology and Japanese cars from major brands were displayed.
Camel organization welcomes Saudi HQ approval
RIYADH: The International Camel Organization welcomed the Saudi Cabinet’s decision to approve a headquarters agreement between the Kingdom’s government and the organization.
The decision reflects Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for the camel sector and its efforts to elevate its role internationally, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Fahd bin Falah bin Hathleen, chairman of the camel organization, expressed his gratitude for the Cabinet’s decision.
He said: “The organization has worked over the years to develop strategies and policies to promote the global camel economy. These efforts aim to advance rural and desert communities, preserve heritage and culture, foster scientific research, and encourage camel-related sports that attract global interest.
“Additionally, we have organized international events, expanded partnerships with global organizations, and prioritized camel welfare, health, and regulations governing their movement.”
Bin Hathleen said that the Saudi Cabinet’s decision underscores the government’s commitment, under King Salman’s leadership, to strengthening the organization’s role and enhancing international cooperation in the camel sector.
He noted that the decision aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to foster sustainable development, support key sectors, and boost international collaboration to benefit camel breeders and owners locally, regionally, and globally.
This achievement also supports the Year of the Camel and the International Year of the Camelids 2024 initiatives, which are designed to highlight the untapped potential of the animals, SPA reported.
These initiatives advocate for increased investment, further research, capacity-building, and the adoption of innovative practices and technologies in the camel sector.
3rd Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity underway in Riyadh
- More than 300 talented individuals and local and international speakers from over 50 countries were attending the three-day conference
RIYADH: The third edition of the Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity opened in Riyadh on Sunday, bringing together a select group of experts and talented individuals in science, technology, and innovation.
More than 300 talented individuals and local and international speakers from over 50 countries were attending the three-day conference, which was inaugurated by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as "Mawhiba," the conference is being held at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) until Tuesday.
Themed "Beyond Creative Minds," the conference aims to showcase the potential of the gifted, develop a comprehensive care system to support them, bolster integration and strategic partnerships, and enhance opportunities for global exchange and cooperation.
An exhibition and various cultural visits are being held on the conference sidelines, the SPA report said.
According to the Mawhiba site, the conference reflects the success achieved in the two previous editions, and "provides an opportunity for partners to contribute to sponsoring the journey of talented people from different countries of the world."
Saudi-European talks to strengthen cooperation in environmental fields
- Saudi minister, EU security and political officials discuss reinforcing existing work on coping with climate change
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met with European officials on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Jubeir, who is also the Saudi climate envoy, held talks with Delphine Pronk, chair of the EU Political and Security Committee, and Luigi Di Maio, EU special representative for the Gulf region.
They discussed issues surrounding climate change and environmental cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the EU, as well as ways in which existing cooperation on tackling climate change could be strengthened. They also talked about the recent development in foreign policy in Europe and the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia maintains a strong dialogue with the EU, with both parties sharing views on several foreign policy issues, including the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative for the Middle East.
The EU and Saudi Arabia are also linked through trade relations, with the EU becoming the Kingdom’s second main trading partner after the volume of trade exchange between Riyadh and Brussels peaked at $80 billion in 2023.
