Jae-Ha Kim: What are you looking forward to seeing when you visit the U.S. in the future? Ha Seung: I want to go to In-N-Out Burger. Jae-ha: The Chicago Theatre. I saw that place in a lot of movies and a lot of videos and I want to go there. (1st time I interviewed someone with my name!)

Go away with ... WHIB

Since their November 2023 debut, the K-pop group, WHIB, has won over international fans with their precise showmanship, infectiously catchy songs that transcend languages, and sharp wit. Their second ...

stltoday.com

I was a guest on @wbur.org's HERE & NOW with Scott Tong to discuss BTS' decision not to submit songs from "Arirang" for Grammy contention. www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

Unpacking BTS' decision to boycott the Grammys

BTS announced last week that the group would not be submitting an entry for consideration.

wbur.org

"The best way to experience New York is simply to walk. You always stumble upon something or someone memorable." -Ava Dash store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

My latest for @rollingstone.com is about BTS and the Grammys. I also explain the obvious that seems to be foreign to the Recording Academy: Asia isn't a music genre, it's a continent. 😒

BTS Boycott the Grammys, But Will Other Artists Follow?

After the Grammys announced a Best Asian Pop category, BTS announced they won't submit their album. Will other artists follow their lead?

rollingstone.com

Kim Theory’s motto is “Part-time band, full-time friends.” Named after the holy trinity of Kim Gordon, Deal & Shattuck, this all-female pop-punk quartet of LA teens'll make their Lollapalooza debut on 7/30, where they'll perform songs from their EPs Bitch Scene & Trophy Wife. @rollingstone.com

Kim Theory: Meet the L.A. Teen Punk Band That's Playing Lollapalooza

Kim Theory is a punk band of four L.A. teenagers who love Kim Gordon, Kim Deal, and Kim Shattuck. We interviewed them before they play Lollapalooza

rollingstone.com

One of the recurring themes in BTS' BURN THE STAGE is how the band comfortably jokes w/each other, but rarely takes it to a level where they'll hurt each other. There is a Korean word called 눈치/noonchi that translates to something like tact/ability to read a person’s wishes w/o their saying so.

BTS' "Burn The Stage" Finale is a Love Letter to Their Fans

Also, this episode reminded me of how much I miss "Eat Jin."

jaehakim.substack.com

"Space makes Earth better. Every new place fills me w/more curiosity. What changed after space is how I see Earth. When you look down at this planet from 100km up, every destination looks impossibly precious. If anything, space made me want to explore more of this world, not less." -Aisha Bowe

Go away with ... Aisha Bowe

Former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe made history last year as a member of the all-female Blue Origin crew. “The mission was about so much more than going to space,” Bowe said. “As a science payloa...

travel.yahoo.com

My interview with BRIDGERTON star and musician Oli Higginson in print nationwide (in outlets like the Sunday @chicagotribune.com). store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

"'Next Gen NYC' feels a lot more personal this season. People will see me navigating a new chapter of independence, building unexpected friendships and saying yes to opportunities that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It’s definitely a side of me viewers haven’t seen before." -Ava Dash

Go away with ... Ava Dash

For New York City-based activist and model Ava Dash, traveling is less about an itinerary than it is about embracing the moments she never planned for, like “watching the sun

stltoday.com

"Being an AsAm artist in country music isn't something I saw much growing up, so all my experiences have influenced the stories I tell and the perspective I bring to my music." —Travis Yee in print in the Sunday @chicagotribune.com 🔗 store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

Jae-Ha Kim 김재하@jaehakim.com · 4w ago

"Being an Asian American artist in country music isn't something I saw much growing up, so all my experiences [in the Bay Area, Las Vegas and Nashville] have influenced the stories I tell and the perspective I bring to my music." —Travis Yee

For anyone who couldn’t attend a loved one’s funeral, Kevin Jin Kwan Kim’s latest short film "Goodbye, from Afar" captures how heartbreaking it can be. At just over a minute long, Kim succinctly conveys grief, guilt & regrets. He also depicts why it's not so easy to go back to where you came from.

Kevin Jin Kwan Kim's “Goodbye, From Afar” is a Beautiful 1-Minute Film About Love, Death, and Immigration

"Go back to where you came from!" is an unhinged racist motto

jaehakim.substack.com

“From as early as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with acting & singing. I liked the weird and kind of shamanic exercise of becoming someone else, like that line between Norma Jean & Marilyn Monroe, Bowie and Ziggy Stardust.” -BRIDGERTON's Oli Higginson

Go away with ... Oli Higginson

Oli Higginson is an actor who's best known as Footman John in the “Bridgerton” franchise. But he also has the musical alter ego Modern Oli who released the song “People Pleaser” and toured the U.S. ea...

travel.yahoo.com

Broadway star Melissa Errico says if you're ever at Wimbledon, there's more to check out than just tennis: "The Cannizaro House for tea. Wimbledon Common for a long walk. Wimbledon Village Stables, because horses somehow make every place feel more civilized." store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

Jae-Ha Kim 김재하@jaehakim.com · last mo.

Broadway star Melissa Errico says if you're ever at Wimbledon, there's more to check out than just tennis: "The Cannizaro House for tea. Wimbledon Common for a long walk. And the Wimbledon Village Stables, because horses somehow make every place feel more civilized."

"Atmosphere can’t be conveyed through movies or K-dramas. Because Chunhyang and Mongryong fell in love in a particular place that is so specific, I had to go to Namwon. And East End is a combination of my childhood in Rhode Island and writing retreats in Cape Cod." — @jiminhanwriter.bsky.social

Jimin Han's "Dreamt I Found You" Retells a Famous Korean Folklore

The author offers a fresh, modern take on "Chunhyangjeon"

jaehakim.substack.com

Based on the real-life Hwaseong Serial Killer who brutally murdered 15 South Korean girls and women, "The Scarecrow" covers much of the same ground as Bong Joon-ho’s 2003 film Memories of Murder. But this K-drama more than holds its own, adding fictional twists to keep viewers engaged and guessing.

"The Scarecrow" is the Best K-drama of 2026 (so far)

Based on the real-life Hwaseong Serial Killer, "The Scarecrow" is a masterful whodunnit.

jaehakim.substack.com

2026 has already been strong for K-dramas, with top stars like SQUID GAME’s Park Hae-soo & MR. SUNSHINE’s Yoo Yeon-seok starring in 2 of the year's best. It's also been a year where Kim Mu-yeol & Heo Nam-jun became international stars, thanks to TEACH YOU A LESSON and MY ROYAL NEMESIS, respectively.

The 7 Best K-dramas of 2026 So Far

This year has already been a strong one for K-dramas.

teenvogue.com

I reviewed a few songs from BTS' latest album, ARIRANG, for @rollingstone.com. 😘

The 100 Best BTS Songs

We count down the top 100 BTS songs, from "Burning Up (Fire)" to "Butterfly" and beyond.

rollingstone.com

"Being an Asian American artist in country music isn't something I saw much growing up, so all my experiences [in the Bay Area, Las Vegas and Nashville] have influenced the stories I tell and the perspective I bring to my music." —Travis Yee

Go away with ... Travis Yee

Born in San Francisco and raised in Millbrae, California, and Las Vegas, singer-songwriter Travis Yee now calls Nashville home. “Each place shaped me differently,” said Yee, whose latest singles are “...

travel.yahoo.com

Asked where she's like to visit next, AtHeart's ARIN told me, "Philippines. I’d love to learn more about where Katelyn's from & what makes it so special, try the local food, explore the culture and spend time experiencing the beautiful beaches and scenery." 🔗 store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

If you could change places with a wealthy acquaintance, would you? THE GOLDEN SPOON has similarities to Song Joong-ki’s K-drama “Reborn Rich,” with both shows dealing with how you could live your life if fate intervened; and your life of poverty was traded for one of extreme wealth. Would you do it?

If You Could Obtain Enormous Wealth by Trading Parents, Would You?

The K-drama "The Golden Spoon" reveals complicated answers. (You might need a flow chart!)

jaehakim.substack.com

Broadway star Melissa Errico says if you're ever at Wimbledon, there's more to check out than just tennis: "The Cannizaro House for tea. Wimbledon Common for a long walk. And the Wimbledon Village Stables, because horses somehow make every place feel more civilized."

Go away with ... Melissa Errico

Tony Award-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico said she remembers being unsure at first when she was asked to join the cast of “Les Misérables.” “I had to drop out of Yale to do it [which] sou...

travel.yahoo.com

“Traveling creates an energy that spurs me on to write. I notice more things than I do when I’m home. Right now, I’m sitting on a terrace in a hotel in Myeongdong in Seoul. Already, I’ve written on the flight." —DREAMT I FOUND YOU author @jiminhanwriter.bsky.social in the Sunday @chicagotribune.com

"One thing I’ve always said is that I want to perform in all of the members’ hometowns, and of course in the Philippines! I’d also love to perform at iconic music festivals and stadiums like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Wembley Stadium someday," said AtHeart's KATELYN.

Go away with ... AtHeart

For the K-pop group AtHeart, traveling around the world is a perk of their job that they don’t take for granted. “Even though I had been to Los Angeles before,

tulsaworld.com

"There’re difficulties to these questions because as one of the main English speakers in the group, I was asked questions about the economy, about the political state of the world. You know, it felt like it felt like I was preparing for pageant, like I was trying to be Miss Universe." -Prince Vatani

GHOST9's Prince Vatani is One of K-pop's Most Entertaining Idols

Ask him about stalkers, Wattpad, and Mr. Jigglypuff, and the Thai idol will reply with humorous clarity.

jaehakim.substack.com

“My first gig was at the World Famous Comedy Store [in Hollywood],” Rosalee Mayeux said. “It was such an honor and I had a blast! We had a fire audience, courtesy of one of their resident producers, comedian Jimmy Shin. So it was a very cushy beginning!” 🔗 store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

Jae: Where have you eaten a meal so delicious that you still think about it? @jiminhanwriter.bsky.social: Perfect question! In Seoul near Namdaemun, I had the best jjajangmyeon. I don’t know if it’s still there. Be sure to read Jimin's novel DREAMT I FOUND YOU, which is fantastic!

Go away with ... Jimin Han

For “Dreamt I Found You” novelist Jimin Han, putting herself in different environments is a great way to channel her creativity. “Traveling creates an energy that spurs me on to write,” said Han, who ...

travel.yahoo.com

"I'd love to film in Asia. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity where I can afford to leave home for several weeks. Working on a project for a couple of months would be a perfect opportunity to check that off my bucket list." -Megan Lawless, OBSESSION 🔗 store.chicagotribune.com/product/7QAM...

I was going to write a short bullet review of the superb K-drama TEACH YOU A LESSON.😬 But 2,500 words later, I ended up writing a review and a quasi think-piece about bullying in South Korean schools, and whether it's OK for adults to slap kids around. Yes, but only in fictional settings.

"Teach You a Lesson"

Is violence ever justified? This new K-drama presents arguments that it can be,

jaehakim.substack.com

Even though this BTSxOREOS collab has absolutely nothing to do with me, the fact that it exists makes me feel 정 (jeong/jung) for this amazing group of Korean artists. They helped create a cookie that evokes all these memories of home for those of us who are no longer there.

Oreos, BTS, and Me

When we were new immigrants, my mother sent me to school with Oreos to make friends

jaehakim.substack.com

"My grandfather was a rice farmer, so my happy place is somewhere I can put my feet in the dirt. It heals and grounds me. The other place I love to weekend is San Francisco, where I get to just hang out with family. It’s the sweetest." -Rosalee Mayeux

Go away with ... Rosalee Mayeux

In her debut comedy special “Rosalee Mayeux: Model Mom,” the former high fashion model-turned-stand-up comic shares stories about her life as a model, actress (“The Lawnmower Man,” “Blast from the Pas...

travel.yahoo.com