K-festa looks to boost Korea's performing arts market

The Culture Ministry on Friday announced it is introducing K-Stage Festa as a festival that aims to gather attention for the nation’s vibrant yet struggling performing arts scene. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 10, a total of 140 theater, dance and classical music performances will be introduced under the banner of K-Stage Festa across various venues, such as the National Theater of Korea, the Seoul Arts Center, Cheong Wa Dae Heliport and regional cultural and art centers. A special series will also

PerformanceSept. 8, 2024

Another victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery dies, leaving 8 survivors

A victim of Japan's sexual slavery of Korean women during World War II has died, a civic group said Saturday, bringing down the number of officially registered surviving victims to eight. The woman died recently, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said, without revealing her identity. At 18, the late victim traveled to China with a friend to find work at a sewing factory but was forced into sexual servitude for Japanese troops

Social AffairsSept. 7, 2024

[Weekender] Feeling lazy but craving tteokbokki? Try a meal kit

A quiet revolution is sweeping through one of Korea’s most iconic street foods: tteokbokki. Once the beloved snack of schoolgirls and the young at heart, these chewy rice cakes drenched in sweet and spicy sauce have transcended their street food origins, thanks to the relentless innovation of the local meal kit industry. At an E-mart outlet in central Seoul, Korea's largest discount store chain, which this reporter visited on Aug. 27, there were over 20 different varieties of ready-to

Hashtag KoreaSept. 7, 2024

3 out of 4 shops, restaurants plan to stay open during Chuseok: survey

With the Chuseok holiday period approaching, three out of four small business owners plan to keep their shops and restaurants open during the holiday break, a recent survey shows. Alba Heaven, one of the largest part-time job portals, conducted a survey of 96 small business owners, and 85.4 percent said they would operate their businesses during the Chuseok holidays. This figure marks an increase of 5.7 percentage from the previous year. This year, the Chuseok holiday period will stretch over fi

Social AffairsSept. 7, 2024

Blue-skinned teen struggles with identity, alienation in 'Melanin'

"My skin is blue, and my mother is Vietnamese. I don't know which is the bigger problem," begins Ha Seung-meen's award-winning novel “Melanin.” The coming-of-age novel follows Jae-il, a teenage boy born to a Korean father and a Vietnamese mother, as he grapples with life in a world that rejects him for his strange blue skin and his multicultural heritage. His unusual complexion becomes a marker of alienation, making him a target for ridicule and bullying from clas

BooksSept. 7, 2024

Designed with cacti, floating stone, dining bar Vuur gives creative kick to local ingredients

South of Seoul's Han River, Gangnam, is an on-trend area for drinks and bar bites. Chock full of fine dining restaurants and wine bars, it’s very hard to choose just one place from the list. Whether for catching up with a friend, a date with your loved one or even a cordial meal with your colleagues, dining bar Vuur in Gangnam-gu is a place where you can experience good food at the level of fine dining, in a creative atmosphere for more reasonable prices. Opened last year, Vuur is loc

FoodSept. 7, 2024

[What to attend] 'The Golden Chaos Club,' 'Hadestown,' 'Yujin and Yujin'

Though many want to spend more time outdoors as the summer heat subsides this month, be sure not to miss these musical productions that are closing soon. "The Golden Chaos Club" offers a fun and entertaining experience, while "Hadestown" captivates audiences of all ages with its powerful music. "Yujin and Yujin" explores the healing process and offers hope for those facing trauma. The Golden Chaos Club: A fun show on forbidden things "The Golden Chaos Club

CultureSept. 7, 2024

[Feature] Behind the scenes at pet-friendly hotels

Staycation at a pet-friendly hotel or pension is not likely to be a mere passing fad in South Korea -- a country where almost 15 million people or 30 percent of the total population, as of 2023, are estimated to live with at least one companion animal according to data by Korea Rural Economic Institute. In a country where 30 percent of the population owns a pet, a growing number of accommodations are catering to guests' furry friends, with hotels even designating some rooms exclusively for

TravelSept. 7, 2024

Gov't urges doctors to return to med school quota talks

The government said Saturday that the medical community should draw up its plan for proposed talks over an increase in the medical school admissions quota amid prolonged strikes by junior doctors. On Friday, the presidential office said it is open to readjusting the country's quota for 2026 and would welcome it if a negotiating panel is formed among the rival parties, the government and the medical community to discuss the issue. The ruling People Power Party proposed launching a four-way

Social AffairsSept. 7, 2024

Korea, US held simulation drills for nuclear deterrence in Washington this week: defense ministry

WASHINGTON-- South Korea and the US held simulation drills in Washington this week to enhance nuclear deterrence cooperation, both sides said Friday, as the allies are stepping up security coordination to counter evolving North Korean threats. Seoul and Washington held the first table top simulation of the Nuclear Consultative Group, the allies' key nuclear deterrence dialogue body, on Thursday and Friday, Seoul's defense ministry and the Pentagon said in a joint statement. The TTS

Foreign AffairsSept. 7, 2024

North Korea floats 190 trash balloons in resumed campaign

North Korea has launched around 190 balloons filled with scrap paper and other waste toward the South in its resumed balloon campaign, with many found in Seoul and surrounding areas, military officials said Saturday. North Korea floated the balloons from Friday night to early Saturday morning, and around 100 have landed in the capital and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province so far, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. No hazardous materials have been found in the balloons, which contained only scrap

North KoreaSept. 7, 2024

Korea picks up 2 silver medals at Paris Paralympics

PARIS (Yonhap) -- South Korea has collected two silver medals at the Paris Paralympics as the competition enters its final weekend. Yoon Ji-yu grabbed silver in the women's singles (WS3 classification) in para table tennis at South Paris Arena 4 on Friday, after losing to Andela Muzinic Vincetic of Croatia in the final by the score of 3-2 (11-7 11-8, 10-12, 10-12, 13-11). After dropping the first two games, Yoon battled back to take the next two. She held a gold medal point in the deciding

More SportsSept. 7, 2024

Frieze Seoul sees slower sales, yet confirms stronger art scene in Seoul

The economic slowdown has affected the third edition of Frieze Seoul, which started Wednesday at Coex with relatively slow sales. Galleries brought works at lowered prices as though they were bracing for the economic impact on the art market. Some galleries were hesitant to share sales figures, saying that collectors appeared to be taking more time to make purchases, or that sales had been similar to -- or worse than -- last year. “We know that the economy here has not been at its best, ev

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

[2024 IFA] Samsung CEO weighs in with AI connectivity to take on rivals at IFA

BERLIN -- Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and co-CEO Han Jong-hee said the Korean tech giant is looking to artificial intelligence connectivity to take on its rivals, as this year’s IFA in Berlin, one of the world’s largest consumer appliance trade shows, kicked off Thursday. “Who can provide consumers with a richer experience of connecting products” is the key message to convey, Han told The Korea Herald on Thursday at Samsung Electronics pavilion, upon his visit to th

TechnologySept. 6, 2024

Farewell summit: Yoon, Kishida pledge to keep momentum in revitalizing ties

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed the vital importance of sustaining the momentum in bilateral cooperation and exchanges -- an effort driven by their leader-to-leader diplomacy -- during Kishida's farewell visit to Seoul on Friday. Seoul and Tokyo signed a formal agreement to strengthen cooperation in protecting their nationals abroad and pledged to boost people-to-people exchanges by streamlining immigration procedures ahead of

Foreign AffairsSept. 6, 2024

Perfectionism ties together Louis Vuitton, Park Seo-bo: official

A relentless pursuit of perfection is what identifies Park Seo-bo and Louis Vuitton, said Lee Yoo-jin, executive director of the Parkseobo Foundation, on Wednesday as the French luxury house launched a collaboration with the prominent Korean artist at the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul. “We were just amazed to witness the sheer attention to detail by the fashion house,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “That attitude isn’t far different from Park’s when h

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

Runways show off pastel luxury, flamboyance, sustainability

Designers showcasing spring-summer 2025 collections at Seoul Fashion Week were just as diverse in their choice of materials as the messages highlighted on the runway, where 21 brands are making their pitch during the five-day fashion week ending Saturday. Cahiers, a womenswear brand led by designer Kim A-young, started Friday’s runway shows focusing on what she calls “pastel luxury” -- ready-to-wear fare inspired by ballet costumes -- a symbol of elegance and delicacy, accordin

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

Prosecution panel advises against indicting first lady over Dior bag acceptance

The Supreme Prosecutors Office's investigation review committee advised Friday against indicting first lady Kim Keon Hee for accepting a luxury handbag from a Korean American pastor. The panel, comprising 15 outside experts, reached the conclusion after a meeting at the top prosecutors office to review the first lady's case involving allegations that she illegally received a Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,248) and other expensive gifts from pastor Choi Jae-young in 2022. Followin

Social AffairsSept. 6, 2024

S. Korea to freeze health insurance premiums for 2nd year in 2025

South Korea will keep next year's state health insurance premiums unchanged for a second straight year in an effort to help ease people's financial burdens, the health ministry said Friday. Under the plan, the health insurance premium rate will remain unchanged at 7.09 percent in 2025, marking the first time the government has implemented a two-year freeze in the insurance scheme. The government also froze the rate last year. Previously, the government has raised health insurance premi

Social AffairsSept. 6, 2024