Ever wonder how Korean celebrate Christmas in Korea? Like other countries, shops and streets will be fully decked out in twinkling lights and Christmas decorations. If you want to feel the Christmas spirit, visit major department stores like Hyundai Department Store in Gangnam, Lotte Department Store or Shinsegae Department Store in Myeong Dong as the malls will be decorated with life-sized Christmas displays and beautiful LED lights which is worth stopping by. Christmas is not just a festival but a joy-filled holiday for Koreans to enjoy a day off to relax and spend time with their loved ones - also, a day for gift-giving! 

When it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, we have so many options - gift cards, self care items and more. So instead of grabbing something basic in store, you may consider THE APRILAB's Holiday Gift Set as this holiday season is the perfect time to boost your outer and inner beauty. Thanks to THE APRILAB we get to try the current in-trend beauty supplements. So...what's THE APRILAB and what's so special about the Holiday Gift Set? 

About THE APRILAB

THE APRILAB is a best-selling brand offering ready-to-consume Korean beauty supplements — also known as 'Korean edible skincare'. Some vitamins need to mix with water but THE APRILAB comes in powder sachets or “blasts” which you can consume the powder directly - super portable and convenient while providing maximum impact. This is how Koreans consume their beauty supplements nowadays. 

THE APRILAB offers three different variants - 'Time Blast', 'Super Balance' and 'Ultrabright', each specifically formulated to cater to a specific skincare need. Let's start with THE APRILAB best selling product 'Ultrabright'. 

THE APRILAB 'Ultrabright' is a citrus-flavoured powder containing high purity of glutathione and vitamin c. It's formulated for skin brightening, whitening and UV damage repair. Glutathione, derived from yeast, has been clinically proven to help lighten skin tone, reduce redness caused by UV, even out acne scars and also solve other skin issues. 

'Super Balance' however is one of our favourite products. It's a mango-flavored probiotic and prebiotic powder that's formulated to lower levels of inflammation in the body. When inflammation occurs, it may cause acne flare-ups, dry skin and sensitive skin. By integrating both probiotic and prebiotic it can help to balance both the good and bad bacteria on your skin and within your body. As a mango-mania, 'Super Balance' is definitely our must-have as it's smooth to eat and gives a rich mango taste. 

Lastly, 'Time Blast' which is THE APRILAB anti-aging/restorative range that comes in strawberry and blueberry-flavour. It contains a powerful dose of marine collagen and milk ceramides for anti-wrinkle, moisturising and skin elasticity. Korean beauty supplements are renowned for their supremely high quality and easily-absorbable ingredients, allowing the body to process them smoothly and efficiently. 

Korean skincare regime isn't limited to what you put into your skin but also on what you eat. Although this edible skincare may be new to us, but, consuming beauty supplements is very common in Korea and has grown in popularity since years ago. A healthy and glowing complexion says alot about your skin, so consistency is important when consuming beauty supplements - consume daily and maintain a good skin health. 

The Ultimate Gift Set

THE APRILAB Holiday Gift Set includes 6 boxes of the Korean Edible Skincare (2 boxes of each variant, which each box containing 10 sachets), THE APRILAB Water Bottle, THE APRILAB Canvas Bag and also a FREE holiday postcard packed in a gorgeous, matte silk, winter-themed gift box. 

This December, THE APRILAB is having a 50% discount during this 12.12 Sale where you can get the Holiday Gift Set at only RM105 - with original price of RM210. 

We all know that beauty comes from within, so don't miss out this 12.12 deal and give your loved ones the beauty they deserve. Check out THE APRILAB Official Shopee store to purchase.

For more info, check out theaprilab.com.

A second teaser poster and a teaser trailer have been unveiled for sci-fi mystery thriller series The Silent Sea, which premieres 24 December on Netflix. The show is about an elite team who goes on a special mission to an abandoned research base on the moon in a dystopian 2075 where Earth has been devastated by resource depletion. The new ensemble teaser poster shows the elite team members tasked with a grave mission to reach the moon to find new means of mankind’s survival. Astrobiologist Song Jian (Bae Doona), team leader Han Yunjae (Gong Yoo), head engineer Ryu Taesuk (Lee Joon), team doctor Hong Gayoung (Kim Sun-young), head of security Gong Soohyuk (Lee Mu-saeng), and spacecraft pilot Kim Sun (Lee Sung-wook) look tense as they are about to enter uncharted territory. Meanwhile, the teaser trailer captures volatile situations the team members are thrown into. The spaceship carrying the elite team is forced to make an emergency landing on the moon due to technical issues, threatening the mission from the get-go. The team barely escapes as the ship tenuously hangs on a cliff, makes it across the desolate surface of the moon engulfed in endless silence, and finally reaches Balhae Lunar Research Station. The team must risk their lives to find the answer to mankind’s survival and complete their mission in this secret room-like research base. The Silent Sea is set to premiere on 24 December, only on Netflix.

Travel up, up, and away to faraway places with the 2-episode premiere of the original animated comedy, We Baby Bears, Saturday, January 8 at 10.30am on Cartoon Network (Astro Ch 615 HD) followed by a new episode that will premiere every subsequent Saturday. Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, We Baby Bears embarks on magical adventures with the beloved siblings in search of a place they can call home. The original theme song for the series is performed by up-and-coming Universal Music Korea K-Pop supergroup, TRI.BE. Their first-ever, highly anticipated mini-album, “Veni Vidi Vici” was recently released in October and they have been steadily growing their fanbase worldwide. Quadrilingual, the group is the first of its kind speaking and singing in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. 

21st century pop icons BTS' 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour was celebrated by fans all over the world with a whopping 68M Tweets globally throughout the tour from November 27th to December 2nd. Whether they were at the concert or not, fans came to Twitter and enjoyed the act’s first face-to-face concert since 2019, using hashtags like #PTD_ON_STAGE_LA, #Stage_For_ARMY, #BTS, #방탄소년단, #BTSARMY. On the 27th and 28th November, and 1st and 2nd December, tens of thousands of lucky fans got to see BTS perform live at the 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour at LA’s SoFi Stadium while plenty more from all over the world tuned in to the moment on Twitter.A truly unforgettable concert, many fans gathered on Twitter to rejoice and celebrate their favourite moments both in the lead-up to the performance, and after the event. For example, we saw conversation volume peaks when Jimin Tweeted just before the first concert, when Jin and RM Tweeted after the first concert, and when BTS Tweeted their photo with Halsey who attended the third concert.Be it to complement virtual or in-person activities, fans everywhere come to Twitter to join in the fun and have conversations about them. So, even though things appear to be slowly returning to normal again and K-pop stars reunite with their fans, Twitter will continue to play an important role to drive conversations and connections within the K-pop community.For instance, to celebrate ARMY meeting BTS in real-life this time, Twitter launched various activations for fans, including special emojis and a Live Event Page dedicated to curating all the latest action in one place. This ensured that fans were always kept updated on all the happenings and content related to the concert - never missing an important moment.

Global superstars Stray Kids, gets into the holiday spirit with the release of their very first holiday single album Christmas EveL, following the record-breaking success of their last full studio album NOEASY, which sold over 1.1 million units within less than 2 weeks of release and earned them the historic title of JYP Entertainment’s first million-selling artist!Riding the momentum of an action-packed year, Stray Kids fulfills their goal of producing a seasonal song as outlined in their STEP OUT 2021 video with the release of Christmas EveL, a surprise gift to repay the neverending love and support of STAY, Stray Kids’ loyal fandom. The 4-track album marks the group’s first-ever seasonal release, and in true Stray Kids’ fashion, consists of a hip sound with witty lyrics. Christmas EveL doubles the fun with double title tracks “Christmas EveL” (of the same title as the single album) and “Winter Falls”, and also includes songs “24 to 25” and “DOMINO (English Ver.)”.Produced and written by 3RACHA (comprised of members Bang Chan, Changbin, and HAN) and tapping into Stray Kids’ playful, mischievous side, “Christmas EveL” puts a fresh spin on the typical holiday song with witty lyrics and a funky, hip-hop sound. In contrast to the usual calm music played during the holiday season, Stray Kids charges “Christmas EveL” with their free-spirited, unique energy to provide a different perspective and hip-hop version of Christmas.

Cast of 'Hellbound': Yang Ik-June, Yoo Ah-In, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong Min and Won Jin-ah

What would you do if you knew the exact date and time that you are bound for hell?

On 16 November, the cast of the upcoming  Netflix series, 'Hellbound', Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong Min, Won Jin-a, Yang Ik-june and Director Yeon Sang-ho, attended the online press conference to share more about the highly-anticipated thriller-fantasy series.

The cast shared more on their first impression on the series 'Hellbound':

What is your first impression of #Netflix’s #Hellbound?#YooAhIn: The title itself is really strong and direct and although I have seen how hell is portrayed in other works, I was drawn to the series ‘Hellbound’. pic.twitter.com/h6FNxcEFZ6

— GOKPOP (@goKPOP) November 16, 2021

#ParkJeongmin: Although #Hellbound is about supernatural events, I thought that some aspects of the series is realistically happening around us. It is a meaningful series and significant to me. pic.twitter.com/gfc6wwK8Ae

— GOKPOP (@goKPOP) November 16, 2021

#YangIkJune: The universe and story of #Hellbound was a challenge to play as I had to portray the role of a dad and protect my family with my life. Director Yeon is very creative in telling stories in his own universe and he is a great colleague. pic.twitter.com/0rHcGi7ZK9

— GOKPOP (@goKPOP) November 16, 2021

#Netflix’s highly anticipated series #Hellbound will be released on 19 November. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wCF0biIJV4

— GOKPOP (@goKPOP) November 16, 2021

Director Yeon, who directed the global hit movies 'Train To Busan', 'Peninsula' and more, shared that directing the series 'Hellbound', had no significant difference as compared to directing movies. 

Director of Netflix's 'Hellbound', Director Yeon Sang-Ho

"If I had to compare directing movies and series, I would say that there is not much of a significant difference as I am working with the same group of staff so filming a series compared to a movie is quite similar except that there are different running times. Filming a series is like filming a few movies back-to-back and in fact, I enjoyed it more." shared Director Yeon.

Director Yeon also mentioned that although 'Hellbound' depicts supernatural events, viewers can focus on the message and intent of the show: to take a look at our present society today and to figure out what is right and wrong.

'Hellbound' has also been forecasted as Director Yeon's best work yet.

Q: How did you portray your role as Jung Jin-soo in 'Hellbound'?

Yoo Ah-in, plays cult leader Jung Jin-soo in Hellbound

Yoo Ah-In: I did not have to put much thought into my acting as the script was perfect. I followed the script and Director Yeon's instructions and thought of what Jin-soo would have done. I did not make any special preparations for the role, instead, I immersed myself into the environment and the storyline.

Director Yeon also sang praises about the actor and mentioned that he was confident that Yoo Ah-In was perfect for the role of Jin-soo.

We are ready for more spine-chilling acting from Yoo Ah-In!

Q: Tell us more about your character, Min Hye-Jin.

Kim Hyun-Joo, plays lawyer Min Hye-Jin in Hellbound

Flawed yet grounded to her beliefs and morals, viewers can look forward to the true human character of Min Hye-Jin in 'Hellbound'.

Park Jeong-min, plays Bae Young-Jae in Hellbound

The actor introduced his character as a normal man who lives for his family. When his family member gets involved in the supernatural events, he has no choice but to be drawn into the story to save his loved ones.

In fact, Park Jeong-min also shared that he is a huge fan of the webtoon and even wrote a recommendation of it!

The story of Bae Young-Jae begins in the second half of the series, where he brings a fresh new start to the series, and he will be a character whom the audience is able to connect and empathise with.

We would say that Park Jeong-min's passionate acting is indeed one of the main highlights that viewers should anticipate in Hellbound!

Won Jin-A, plays Song So-Hyun in Hellbound

Actress Won Jin-A plays Song So Hyun, the wife of Bae Young-Jae. The actress expressed that she followed the flow of her character and delivered her lines thinking of how people will react differently in such a situation. 

In the series, So Hyun conveys the confusion, sadness and desperation of an individual living in the supernatural and twisted world where anyone could be bounded for hell.

"When I think of hell, I think of a fiery pit. But actually, if the society is twisted, I think the society is also hell when people cannot differentiate between what is right and wrong." shared the actress, when asked about how 'Hellbound' has changed her personal beliefs.

Get ready for a roller-coaster of emotions for the talented Won Jin-A!

Yang Ik-June, plays Jin Kyung-Hoon in Hellbound

Yang Ik-June, plays Jin Kyung-Hoon in Hellbound, a detective who does not believe in 'The New Truth' and views the supernatural events as murder cases.

The actor disclosed that when he was feeling a little unsatisfied with his performance for a scene in the series, his on-screen daughter, actress Lee Re encouraged him and handed him a cookie.

"It was so comforting. Lee Re cheered for me and she was a delight to have on set. Thank you Lee Re!" voiced the actor who conveyed his gratitude to the child actress.

Cast of 'Hellbound', together with Director Yeon Sang-Ho

Before the press conference came to an end, the cast and Director Yeon shared their closing comments and revealed what viewers can keep in mind while watching 'Hellbound'.

All rounder B.I, releases his first solo half album, COSMOS on 11 November and the title track of the same name has skyrocketed to over 1 million views in just a few hours, with current views 9.3million (as we write on 15 Nov). Having participated in all the writing and composing throughout this album, B.I states “COSMOS, the title of this half album, is the name of a flower but it also means "universe." I have always liked the word “unchanged” more than the word “forever," because I once believed that things didn't last forever.” He elaborates; “Your love, which is impossible to put into words, was what kept me alive even during the hard times. So now I want to love you forever. What is your cosmos? You are my cosmos.”

Consisting of 7 tracks, B.I’s half album 'COSMOS', explores the kind of love that makes you dream about eternity and allows you to give everything without anything in return. What was the love that gave birth to new cosmos in your life? Who was it that made your heart race to the point of bursting? This is the story about the times when unadulterated love filled the universe, and of different forms of love-fueled passions. 

Netflix series Hellbound explores a world swept by a supernatural phenomenon where executors from Hell suddenly start to condemn people to Hell, and a new religious group called the New Truth emerges amidst this chaos, while others try to uncover the truth behind the series of events.

Disney+ Hotstar has unveiled plans to launch the first two episodes of the highly anticipated Korean variety show “Outrun By Running Man” across several Asia Pacific Disney+ Hotstar markets on November 12.

“Outrun By Running Man” is the first spin off of the wildly popular South Korean variety show “Running Man” on SBS and will see the original cast of Kim Jong-kook, HAHA and Jee Seok-jin come together to take on brand new missions and challenges alongside a number of celebrity guests.

Directed by Lim Hyung-taek, this exciting new original series on Disney+ under the Star banner features a new production team, and will bring a fresh feel to the popular “Running Man” concept that originally saw participants compete against each other in games and challenges at famous landmarks across Korea and Asia.

Today’s announcement comes less than a month after Disney+ Hotstar’s APAC Content Showcase, which saw the popular streaming service unveil over 20 new APAC content titles, including 18 Originals, local language productions, and the first ever glimpse at “Outrun By Running Man.”