Korean isn't LE SSERAFIM Kazuha's native tongue, so she's still constantly learning new words and phrases that she uses in her everyday life. These words range from professional to slang words and even puns that she learns from instructors, members, and fans themselves. There's one word that has become one of her recent favorites that she dubs as a "magic word".

그니까

geunikka

That's right!/I think so, too/That's what I'm saying!

Now, there are various usages for 그니까, and one of the ways you can put it to use is as an exclamative. When someone says something you agree with, you can simply reply with 그니까. And if you want to be like Kazuha, you can say it two times in quick succession to emphasize your agreement.

Listen to how Kazuha says it here!

Come back for more fun Korean lessons with Your Korea Tutor - Kpopmap!

Do you know what is the latest K-Beauty trend taking over the world? It is none other than "tanghulu lips"!

After the sweet candied fruit snack went viral last year, beauty enthusiasts in Korea took to creating this look or, rather, rebranding an existing lip look in this way, true to the trend of food-related looks like "strawberry makeup", "latte makeup", and so on.

So, what is the "tanghulu lips" look, you ask?

Just like tanghulu looks glossy, shiny, and juicy because of the hardened sugar coating on fruits, the "tanghulu lips" look aims for a similar high-shine, glowy, and bouncy appearance.

The main principle behind the "tanghulu lips" is a flush of color and a layer of gloss.

You can achieve this look with multiple products or even just one single product, depending on the texture and consistency you prefer.

Similarly, while Koreans are mostly going for the "strawberry tanghulu" look, it's not necessarily the only option you have.

The strawberry tanghulu look can be too bright for you or could wash you out, depending on your skin's undertone. I personally opt for a darker berry shade.

So, instead of recommending products with specific shades, I'll recommend some products below that worked for me in terms of formula, feel, and achieving the desired result, and you can pick the shade that best suits you!

Then, take a look at these K-Beauty products that can help you achieve "tanghulu lips" easily at home!

 

💋 The Jang WonYoung Combo - rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint + rom&nd Glasting Water Gloss

This lip combo has gone viral time and time again for achieving the "doll lips" look that IVE's Jang WonYoung is famous for. However, this same exact lip combo also works for creating the "tanghulu lips" because the Juicy Lasting Tint offers the perfect touch of color that's neither too overwhelming nor too subtle, and the Glasting Water Gloss adds a plumping, sparkly juiciness to the lips.

Buy rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint here and rom&nd Glasting Water Gloss here.

 

💋 fwee 3D Voluming Gloss + fwee 3D Changing Gloss

fwee is one of the hottest K-Beauty brands going viral right now. So, if you've been looking for a new K-Beauty lip product, you do not want to miss out on fwee. The 3D Voluming Gloss is extremely comfortable on the lips without feeling sticky and gives the lips volume without the sting of lip plumpers. The shade range is impressive and you can choose between 30% tint or 70% tint for each shade, based on your preference.

While you can use the fwee 3D Voluming Gloss by itself, you can amplify the "tanghulu" look by maximizing the gloss layer with the fwee 3D Changing Gloss. Even real tanghulu wouldn't look as shiny as your lips with this product.

Buy fwee 3D Voluming Gloss here and fwee 3D Changing Gloss here.

 

💋 Amuse Bebe Tint

Amuse is an extremely popular K-Beauty brand in Korea. The Amuse Bebe Tint, is the perfect product for achieving the "tanghulu lips", especially if you're looking to do so with one product only.

The Amuse Bebe Tint is described as a hydrating lip oil tint that creates a healthy tinted glow while nourishing and caring for your lips. It comes in 8 shades, with choices for warm, cool, and neutral undertones, so there should be something for everyone.

Buy Amuse Bebe Tint here.

 

💋 Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm

Peripera has garnered as much love and attention overseas as it has in Korea. This recommendation list would not be complete without the viral Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm.

As the name suggests, this is a balmy product with tint, so you get the color, the shine, and the care - all in the same product! The melted texture of the balm looks gorgeous and juicy but never feels heavy on the lips, even if you keep retouching. The tint lasts for a long time and never disappoints.

This is truly a must-have product.

Buy Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm here.

So, there you have it! Those are our recommended K-Beauty products for getting "tanghulu lips". You can also mix and match the products mentioned above. For instance, if you have the rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint and the fwee 3D Changing Gloss, it's totally fine to create a combo using those two products, and you'll still achieve your "tanghulu lips".

Similarly, if you own a lip product that's not mentioned above but falls in the same category (that is, lip tint, lip balm, or gloss), that works perfectly fine too!

Just take the recommendations as a guide, and don't be afraid to experiment!

After all, it's all about having fun!

Want more trending K-Beauty recommendations? Stay tuned to Kpopmap!

If you've been following the K-Pop industry, you will have noticed the sudden boom of groups from small to mid-sized companies achieving glorious success regardless of competition in recent years. This usually comes in the form of viral hits, organic "word of mouth" promotion, which is further followed up with activities that keep the spotlight shining. One such K-Pop girl group is H1-KEY, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that these young women are quickly becoming the next "it-girls" of K-Pop. How did this happen? Keep reading to find out!

H1-KEY is a 4th generation girl group that currently consists of members SEOI, RIINA, YEL, and HWISEO. The group debuted on January 5, 2022, with their first single album, "Athletic Girl", which was largely considered to be a strong debut. The title track, 'Athletic Girl' raked in millions of views on the music video and even showed impressive presence in several charts.

K-Pop fans could easily spot the brimming potential and could not help but support the group's music, especially considering the novel concept and empowering message of the debut song. Quickly, H1-KEY became a group that fans knew to keep an eye out for, with high expectations for their comeback.

Despite a change in the lineup with the departure of former member Sitala and the addition of HWISEO, H1-KEY made a wonderful comeback with their 1st Maxi Single Album, "RUN" which grew to be somewhat of a sleeper hit as it continues to gain traction and appreciation from fans even now. The bright, youthful sound of the title track 'Run' was reminiscent of early 2000s teen movies and drew in more fans as well as critical acclaim.

The members gained much praise for their stable live vocals as well as their charming and spirited stage presence. Fans also commended the group for retaining their concept of "healthy beauty" while also venturing into newer sonic territory and doing it incredibly well! There was simply no way not to stan.

This steady growth and success made itself evident through sales, as H1-KEY went from selling 264 copies in 1st-week sales (Hanteo) with "Athletic Girl" to 1,940 copies sold in 1st-week sales (Hanteo) with "Run". Little did they know, this number was to multiple manifolds with their next comeback.

H1-KEY's big break that finally launched the group from monster rookie status to rising stars came with their first mini-album, "Rose Blossom". The title song, also called 'Rose Blossom' or '건물 사이에 피어난 장미', written by DAY6's Young K and composed by Hong JiSang, attracted incredible attention for its profound and universally resonant lyrics, which naturally intrigued non-fans, introducing more and more of the general public to H1-KEY.

"I’m a rose among the concrete 
Until this bleak city becomes filled with color 
I’ll keep my head up, stand my ground until the very end 
Until they get drunk off of my scent and smile"

Several other factors, such as Young K's participation in and generous promotion of 'Rose Blossom', added to the surging popularity of the track. H1-KEY's performance of the song alongside Young K himself on "The Seasons: Long Day, Long Night with AKMU" and Young K's own cover of the song on "K-909" had an undeniable contribution towards sustaining the viral effect. The endearing relationship between both artists, with H1-KEY dubbing Young K the "mother of music" and Young K thanking H1-KEY for bringing the song to life, effortlessly fostered a crossover between fandoms. Moreover, sincere support from beloved celebrities like Lee MiJoo kept the momentum going until H1-KEY's outstanding talent was acknowledged on a global scale. Undoubtedly, the influence of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts also played a pivotal role in "trending" the song and spreading its charm worldwide. As a result, 'Rose Blossom' is currently H1-KEY's most-streamed song on Spotify (5,554,506 streams). Many M1-KEY have also noted that H1-KEY's YouTube channel is proactive about making videos accessible to global fans through subtitles, which increases interest and immersion into the group's various contents.

For new fans, H1-KEY's mature concept/sound, meaningful lyrics, and impressive vocals presented the perfect image of a breakout star that deserves more attention. However, for long-time M1-KEY, the viral success of 'Rose Blossom' felt less like a surprising sensation and more like an affirmation of what they already knew: "as expected, this is H1-KEY". Rather than catering to ongoing trends in K-Pop, H1-KEY stuck to their musical signature and consistently delivered hits that stayed true to their style yet were diverse and fresh. In this regard, 'Rose Blossom' served as an excellent representation of H1-KEY's versatility and scope, piquing curiosity about what the group could have in store for us next.

'Rose Blossom' became a chart-topping hit, propelling H1-KEY to the big leagues. Their popularity in the mainstream snowballed, and so did sales, with "Rose Blossom" selling 6,920 copies in the 1st week (Hanteo). This journey of H1-KEY, blooming against all odds and making their name known all over the world through their art, is precisely the essence of 'Rose Blossom', which adds a layer of significance to this release.

Meanwhile, H1-KEY members RIINA and HWISEO participated in the idol survival show "Queendom Puzzle", further popularising the group both in South Korea and overseas. Being an Mnet show, especially a spin-off of the highly popular "Queendom", "Queendom Puzzle" was a remarkable platform for RIINA and HWISEO to cement their position in the K-Pop industry as individuals and also boost the buzz around H1-KEY. HWISEO ultimately won the competition, ranking 1st and becoming a part of the project girl group EL7Z UP, which in turn amplified interest in H1-KEY's discography. As new fans were directed to old songs, comments mentioning how they "came here" from "Queendom Puzzle" cropped up more often, indicating the impact of the show.

Not only was RIINA and HWISEO's participation in "Queendom Puzzle" effective, but it was also well-timed. Fans could not get enough of H1-KEY, and the demand for new music was evident. So, within months of "Rose Blossom" and days after the finale of "Queendom Puzzle", H1-KEY returned with their 2nd mini-album, "Seoul Dreaming" on August 30, opening up a new era of hopes, dreams, and fantastic music.

"Seoul Dreaming" sold 74,231 copies in 1st week of sales (Hanteo) - ten times what their previous album sold. H1-KEY also took home their first music show win on "The Show" with 'SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)', the title track, once again written by Young K and composed by Hong JiSang, proving the magic of the unbeatable "Trust & Listen" combination. The synth-pop, retro-funk sound captivated listeners at once, confirming H1-KEY's streak of success.

In conclusion, H1-KEY has the formula down pat - music that resonates with the world, energy that reaches M1-KEY everywhere, and a strong identity that is unforgettable. This is not just how H1-KEY went viral but also how they entered our hearts, crept into our playlists, and made us fall head over heels in love. So, as H1-KEY continues to break records, top charts and achieve their dreams, we will keep cheering these lovely, talented women on.

Are you a M1-KEY? What is your favorite H1-KEY song? Tell us in the comments section down below!