Squid Game was a revelation for Netflix. Besides jumpstarting a new franchise for the platform, the critically acclaimed series heralded a wave of Korean content coming to the mainstream. Now, Netflix enjoys a wealth of titles from South Korea. Seeing the appeal of K-dramas, the company is now investing a lot more in Korean content.

Announced by co-CEO Ted Sarandos (via the platform’s Korean website), Netflix is investing a whopping US$ 2.5 billion in the creation of more South Korean titles. The announcement comes soon after Sarandos met with the country’s president Yoon Suk-yeol. The co-CEO believes that Korean content will still flourish and blossom over the next four years.

The upcoming infusion is double of what the platform has spent on Korean titles so far. In 2016, Netflix invested around US$ 700 million for the genre before boosting it further with US$ 500 million in 2021. Though paling in comparison to the new investment, the initial round saw the rise of globally recognized titles such as Squid Game, Physical: 100, The Glory, and Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Regardless, an entire platoon of K-dramas are coming to Netflix in the next few years.

No new titles were announced from the investment. However, there are South Korean titles already coming to Netflix including the upcoming second season of Squid Game. The platform is facing an upcoming change in strategy as its tentpole franchise Stranger Things is finally winding down with a definitive end.

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Here’s one thing we left out of our 2023 bingo card: the start of the Lofi Cinematic Universe. After a day of teasing a sweeping change for the channel, Lofi Girl has launched a new livestream catered to synthwave fans and featuring an all-new character.

Yesterday, the popular Lofi Girl left her post to presumably go on a break, leaving an empty chair. All signs pointed to a new character coming, including an all-new channel with the title “?”. The new channel even had a countdown.

When the timer reached zero, the original channel showed a short video of a new purple-clad character arriving with their dog and hunching over an old CRT monitor. The original channel then returned to its original programming. The new channel updated and showed the new character at their new post. It also has the title, “synthwave radio – beats to chill/game to.”

As the name says, the new channel showcases synthwave music, a genre that rose in popularity alongside lo-fi music. Though the genre also presents a good ambiance, it has its fair share of differences from lo-fi, namely more upbeat melodies and a decent amount of bass. In terms of looks, it tailors itself towards gamers, night owls, and those who love the aesthetic of ‘80s nostalgia.

Currently, the new character does not have a name or a gender yet. Lofi Girl’s official platforms have not announced more details yet.

SEE ALSO: Lofi Girl is missing

Everyone online knows about or has seen the Lofi Girl. Live for years now, Lofi Girl has been streaming lo-fi music for YouTube users who want a relaxed ambiance when they work or study. Barring the odd conflict with YouTube policies, the mascot has never left her post. Until now, that is. For a currently unknown reason, Lofi Girl is officially missing.

Now, that doesn’t mean that the stream is down. The stream, which still grabs tens of thousands of users at any given time, is still broadcasting music. However, the aforementioned mascot is missing, showing only an empty desk. She disappeared approximately four hours ago from the publication of this writing. The stream itself has also been renamed to just “?”.

Notably, the empty graphic is slowly zooming into the cityscape in the background. There is also a suspiciously blue window far off into the distance.

A more blatant hint as to what’s coming, the channel has started another livestream also titled “?”. The new stream shows a blue room with a desk, an aquarium, a calendar that highlights April 11, and a countdown timer. Presumably, it’s the same one in the original stream. Currently, the stream is broadcasting the same ambient music on loop.

For years, Lofi Girl has made themselves a permanent fixture in the landscape of YouTube. More than a music channel, the channel offers a comfy place to just hang out. When YouTube policies inexplicably shut the stream down, the clamor of fans helped buoy the stream back up.

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