Ep 291: As the Energy Crisis Impacts Spread Across Asian Travel, Can K-pop Save the World?

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19 Mar 2026 β€’ 22m55s

As the energy crisis impacts start to diversify across Asia, Gary and Hannah ask a simple question: Can K-pop save the world? This week’s journey takes us from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos to Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, plus Maldives and Sri Lanka. En route we assess some of the radiating outcomes of war in the Middle East that go far beyond airlines and air connectivity. And we turn to South Korea for hope and inspiration. Will the BTS World Tour that kicks off this weekend inspire a bigger economic boom than Taylor Swift’s Eras money machine? And can K-pop Demon Hunters’ concert dates instil an upbeat vibe throughout the region?

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