“MINJU’s Pink Cabinet” (KBS Kpop)
Yee Siyeon: Hot on the success of “EUNCHAE’s Star Diary” comes “MINJU’s Pink Cabinet,” an online variety show that embraces the “what’s in my bag” format. Guests come on with their bags and pull out some of their favorite things, or “super real items,” share a bit about them, and even swap them with other guests. Each week, ILLIT member MINJU plays host—when she’s not busy filling the role of the 39th host of the KBS show “Music Bank”—to visiting artists and delves into their “super real” offstage personas. From health products that help with live performances to things that hold a special place in their owners’ hearts, MINJU asks thoughtful questions about the prized possessions, drawing out her guests’ true selves in the process. MINJU, a self-professed pure introvert, even helps her shier guests feel more comfortable about opening up. For example, when IVE member GAEUL recalls summoning up the courage to approach MINJU while filming “Music Bank,” MINJU fosters an inviting atmosphere by excitedly responding, “You’re an ISTJ, right?” and confessing she was thrilled by GAEUL’s gesture. When MARTIN from CORTIS, also under HYBE, pulls out music production equipment from his bag, MINJU creates an opening for conversation by asking him at what age he started composing music. She even loosens things up by complimenting him, saying how “it’s amazing that you understood the concept of writing lyrics at age nine.”

Although MINJU’s always busy casting her guests in a good light, sometimes it’s MINJU who’s on the receiving end of all that kindness. YENA reassures MINJU that her habit of spontaneously clapping her hands or exclaiming “I love it” to make people feel more comfortable is part of her personal charm and encourages her to stay just the way she is. Then there’s LE SSERAFIM member HONG EUNCHAE, former “Music Bank” host and the first-ever guest on “MINJU’s Pink Cabinet,” who tells MINJU she understands how nerve-wracking a first episode can be, and the fact that she comes onto the show with a gift in hand (“Who will give a gift to MINJU then?”) shows just how thoughtful she is for making sure it’s not just the host making her guests feel good. MINJU pays it forward in a later episode by empathizing with CORTIS after their first “Music Bank” interview, telling them, “I was really similar too.” Maybe “MINJU’s Pink Cabinet” is about more than merely stars showing off the things they love—maybe it’s a record of MINJU growing into her true self, as seen through the eyes of her guests.

“LUCHADOR” (RAKUNELAMA)
Kim Hyojin (music columnist): If you’re not familiar with the word “luchador,” it’s a Spanish term referring to a wrestler in the pro wrestling style known as “lucha libre,” which itself means “freestyle wrestling.” The most notable trait of a luchador is their mask, serving as both their identity and a tool to command a room with their mere presence. A key feature of this art form is the use of striking costumes and performances to emphasize their individuality.

RAKUNELAMA’s appropriately titled EP “LUCHADOR” exudes a bold and powerful presence of its own. For the duo, their mask is their music. Just as luchadores captivate audiences with their agility and dynamic moves, RAKUNELAMA’s music, crafted in an atmosphere free of any restraints, likewise has the power to capture the curiosity of listeners. And the heart of this freedom lies in Latin American music. Track by track, we’re pulled right into a lively, carefree festival. “Cool Perc” draws you in with the cool percussion suggested by its title, “YARR” makes you want to samba, and “B” is loaded up with intentionally second-rate lyrics like “asalabiyyah Colombia.” For a luchador, the ultimate humiliation is having their mask removed. RAKUNELAMA’s music, though, is like a mask that reveals more faces the more you peel away. It possesses the power to reveal rather than conceal, to liberate rather than confine.

“The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing” (Juhee Mun)
Kim Boksung (Writer): “The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing” by Juhee Mun is itself a love letter to a nearly lost art. The author is justified in writing from a position of authority on the topic, too. Mun owns and operates Guelwoll, a shop in Seoul. A stationery store at first glance, the pens and papers are really there to allow patrons to lose themselves to opening up through the meditative act of putting pen to paper. They can even send them off anonymously to brighten someone’s day.

Mun’s book does dive into this biographic detail, and makes good on the promise in the title with letter-writing tips, but it’s ultimately about imparting inspiration. The book’s 18 short chapters—some practical, others almost spiritual—gently nudge us to cherish our personal connections in a fast-paced world, exploring an old and deliberate artform to search for yourself and consider your recipient.

In many ways, this cozy read itself is like the letter-writing culture it encourages: asking you to slow down, building anticipation before you open and read it, making a gift out of the written word. Set down your textbook for a moment for a more inspiring instructional read, then make someone’s day by filling their mailbox with something much more uplifting than a utility bill.