Love K-Pop? These South Korean Idols Are Actually Thai

Pageant fans, the host country for the Miss Universe 2025 pageant has finally been announced. 

Last Feb. 7, 2025, the Miss Universe Organization revealed that Thailand will be hosting the 74th Miss Universe beauty pageant, with the coronation night slated to be on Nov. 21, 2025. This marks the fourth time that “The Land of Smiles” will be hosting the competition, following its third in 2018. 

Thailand was chosen from six other candidate countries, which were Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Spain, South Africa, Nigeria, and the Philippines.  

In its series of announcements, the Miss Universe Organization revealed the key places in Thailand for its upcoming edition.

The final competition is scheduled for the evening of Nov. 20 in the United States, and the morning of Nov. 21, 2025, in Thailand. The pageant will once again be held at the Impact Arena in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, and will be the third time that the arena has served as the Miss Universe pageant stage, following its first in second times in 2005 and 2018 respectively. 

The cities of Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket will also serve as key host cities for the duration of the pageant. 

Much like its previous editions, the competition will take place beyond one night. Contestants will be taking part in fashion shows, charity events, and cultural experiences that encompass the Miss Universe’s 3Ps strategy — Pageantry, Platform, and Products. 

In her announcement last Feb. 7, 2025, CEO of Miss Universe and President of JKN Global Group Anne Jakreajutatip promised that the pageant will be “bigger, bolder, and more exciting than ever before.” 

More details about the competition will be revealed in the months to come. 

Stay updated with the latest from Miss Universe by following them on their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Preparations for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) are well underway!

The upcoming international multi-sport event is set to take place from Dec. 9 to 20, 2025, across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, and the provinces of Chonburi and Songkhla, Thailand. The upcoming games mark Thailand’s seventh time of hosting the event, and the first time that Chonburi and Songkhla will be serving as the main host cities. 

Thailand has recently unveiled the official logos and mascots of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, which were designed by Thiranop Wangsillapakun from TNOP Design.

The Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has also explained the ideas behind logo and mascot’s creation. 

Logo: A Balance Between Rules and Splendor

The concept of the logo embodies the saying, “Play by the rules,” drawing inspiration from the principles of discipline and fair play in sports. It also reflects how creativity and innovation can thrive even within set boundaries.

The design uses sports field markings combined with traditional Thai grid patterns, with the gable triangle pattern in Thai art being the most noticeable. 

The final design resembles intersecting curved tracks, forming the shape of a “triple-tiered gable,” also reminiscent of a flaming torch. The typography for “THAILAND 2025” also follows the same structured aesthetic, strengthening the connection between sports, culture, and national identity.

Mascot: Reflecting Diversity and Unity

The mascots are a group of five characters called The Saan, designed to be vibrant and full of energy. The characters come in different and bold colors – green, blue, pink, yellow, and red – to represent the diversity of the Thai society.

Each of the characters was designed using geometric patterns inspired by traditional Thai elements, ultimately blending modernity with Thai identity. Together, the mascots symbolize celebration, creativity, cultural connections, and promote diversity in sports and society. 

Thailand’s vision: Blending Traditional Culture with Modern Perspectives

The logo and mascots fundamentally reflect Thailand’s vision in their hosting of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this 2025 — uniting member nations in their goal to harmonize tradition with modernity at an international level. 

According to the Thailand Creative Culture Agency, “This competition is a celebration of the unity, strength, and excellence of athletes from Southeast Asia. Reflecting the spirit of sports competitions and the richness of Thai culture. Create iconic symbols both locally and internationally. This is where the SEA Games 2025 logo and mascots come from.”

The leading music conference and showcase festival in Thailand, Bangkok Music City (BMC) is back, and it’s shaping up to be even better than last time, with Live Nation Tero, Fungjai, and NYLON Thailand leading the charge.

Bangkok Music City 2025 will take place over the weekend, on Mar. 1 and 2, 2025, and they have just dropped their lineup! This year will feature a whopping total of 58 artists, including some of Thailand’s biggest and brightest stars, and over 18 international acts — all coming together for an electrifying weekend in the Charoenkrung Creative District.

Out of the homegrown headliners, legendary Thai rock band Slot Machine is set to bring the energy. With seven studio albums and a career spanning 25 years under their belt, they have garnered international acclaim for their anthemic sound. The Thai rapper, singer, and all-around superstar, MILLI will also be gracing the stage, as well as KIKI, the indie trio behind the hit song “My World,” blending dreamy English lyrics with infectious melodies. Fresh off their latest album New Dawn No.01, they’re bringing their signature sound to the main stage.

But that’s just the beginning. This year’s lineup spans across Asia, bringing in some of the region’s most exciting artists, everything from Korean math-rock to Mongolian shoegaze and Myanmar’s hardest-hitting metalcore. From South Korea, there is Jooyoung, Cotoba, Jacqui, Moher, and Dabda. Meanwhile, Myanmar will bring talents such as Against The Gravity, a metalcore band, while Hong Kong rapper and singer Achi will be gracing the stage with his melancholy beats.

With an eclectic mix of sounds and styles, Bangkok Music City 2025 is a must-see event. Get ready to soak up the vibes and good tunes (for free!)

Location: Charoenkrung Creative District, Charoenkrung Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand

For more information, visit Bangkok Music City on their website, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Ever wondered how the things we lose—both big and small—shape who we are?

Taipei-based illustrator Zito Hsu dives into this emotional journey in her solo exhibition, titled “Sometimes I Lost, Sometimes I Found," running at River City Bangkok, until Feb. 23, 2025.

The idea for this exhibition began during Zito’s residency in Taiwan, where she started “Lost & Found LAB.” She invited people to share their stories of items—not just everyday things like pens and umbrellas, but also deeply personal intangibles like lost friendships, freedom, or the carefree joy of childhood.

These heartfelt submissions inspired Zito to create a collection of works that explore these themes, using a palette of light blue hues for her playful characters, who express a wide range of emotions. One of her key symbols, a cat’s milk tooth, represents transformation—a nod to her beloved pet cat, Choco, and the changes we go through in life.

The exhibition is split into zones, each offering a unique take on loss. In the "Cloud Memory Gate," you’ll find 12 thought-provoking sentences capturing shared feelings of loss. At the "Blue House – Lost & Found LAB," there’s a memory “tree hollow” where you can leave your own story of something you’ve lost.

Then there’s the "Walker" zone, which steps into the 3D world with wooden sculptures exploring modern social culture.

Finally, the "Audience Response Sharing" zone allows you to reflect on others’ experiences—and maybe even find some solace in their stories.

"Sometimes I Lost, Sometimes I Found" is a powerful reminder that every loss, no matter how small, carries an emotional connection and can sometimes lead to surprising rediscovery, offering a chance to reflect, connect, and heal.

Location: RCB Galleria 2, 2F, River City Bangkok, 23 Soi Charoen Krung 24 Talard Noi, Sampantawong, Bangkok

Opening Hours: Daily from 10 AM to 8 PM

Admission is free. For more information, visit River City Bangkok on their website, or check them out on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Shop all things cute, popular, and everything in between, as beloved retailer and variety store chain MINISO has opened its new flagship store in Bangkok!

Located at the Asiatique the Riverfront, MINISO’s newest store houses over 20 Intellectual Property (IP) collections featuring well-known pop culture characters, including Harry Potter, Disney’s Stitch and Lotso, Sanrio’s Kuromi, and Hello Kitty, among many others.

Aside from adorable merchandise items, customers can also look forward to multiple immersive IP-themed experience zones, such as the Harry Potter-themed fireplace zone, giant displays featuring Winnie the Pooh characters, and a super-sized Lotso Bear area.

In celebration of its opening last Jan. 11, Thai actress Davika Hoorne joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony and explored the store’s newest offerings.

MINISO’s new store in Thailand is part of the brand’s ongoing expansion efforts in Southeast Asia. This includes the recent opening of its 1 Utama store in Malaysia, as well as the launch of its largest Singapore store last December in PLQ Mall.

“Through this store, we aim to provide Thai consumers with superior and diverse shopping options. At the same time, we aspire to lead the market with innovative IP collaborations and experiential designs, propelling the brand toward greater global achievements,” said MINISO Thailand’s CEO, Jun Wang, during the grand opening event.

Check out MINISO’s new store at Asiatique the Riverfront or follow them on Instagram for updates.

Location: MINISO, Asiatique the Riverfront, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok

Bangkok’s burgeoning art scene is taking a bold step forward with the debut of Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s latest immersive project, "A Conversation with the Sun," premiering at the One Bangkok Forum from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, 2025.

The acclaimed Thai filmmaker — best known for his Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winning film “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” — is renowned for pushing cinematic boundaries. Now he is entering a new realm, blending virtual reality, moving pictures, and performance art to create an introspective, sensory experience.

Presented as part of the 7th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival, “A Conversation with the Sun” invites viewers to explore the ephemeral nature of existence through light, memory, and the cycles of life.

Supported by CHANEL, the project reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to championing the arts and culture scene in Thailand by collaborating with visionary artists like Apichatpong and previously, Korakrit Arunanondchai.

"A Conversation with the Sun" encourages participants to step beyond the physical world, bringing together a powerhouse of artistic collaborators, making it a truly cross-disciplinary masterpiece.

Among them is Ryuichi Sakamoto, the legendary composer whose haunting soundscapes set the emotional tone for the piece. Joining him in the piece is the Japanese digital artist Katsuya Taniguchi, who crafts striking VR landscapes, merging shadow, light, and movement to elevate the experience into something both immersive and otherworldly.

Location: One Bangkok Forum, Wireless Road, Lumphini, Patumwan, Bangkok

For more information, visit One Bangkok on their website and Facebook.

Kick off the new year with a literary adventure at the Naiin Book Fair, Bangkok’s first major book event of 2025! Running from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, 2025, this 10-day extravaganza will take over the fifth-floor hall of Samyan Mitrtown on Rama IV Road, transforming it into a cozy, storytelling haven inspired by the theme “Reading Recreation Around a Campfire.”

Hosted by Naiin Bookstore, a beloved destination for readers across Thailand, the event promises more than just great book deals. Expect a campfire storytelling experience led by celebrated authors, artists, and other likeminded readers. It’s the perfect way to bring stories to life — beyond the page and into the heart of the community.

From bestsellers to hidden gems, the fair will feature a wide selection of titles from top publishers at special discounted prices. Whether you’re looking to stock up on new reads or discover fresh voices, this is a must-visit for book lovers of all ages.

Conveniently located at Samyan Mitrtown, the fair is easily accessible by MRT, making it a breeze to swing by and dive into your next great read.

For more updates and details, visit Naiin on their website, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

Location: 5F, Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall, Rama IV Road, Pathum Wan

Opening Hours: from 10 AM to 9 PM