[Photo news] LGBT festival in Incheon

CultureNov. 2, 2024

[Photo News] In celebration of martyrs

CultureNov. 2, 2024

[What to see] Autumn gallery-hopping in Seoul

A number of new art exhibitions have begun in Seoul, inviting the aesthetically inclined to take an autumn stroll to one of the city's many galleries. The following is a selection of three shows that stand out, featuring works by international artists. Galerie Eva Presenhuber’s pop-up exhibition in Seoul Based in Zurich and Vienna, Galerie Eva Presenhuber has opened a pop-up exhibition with Seoul-based P21 gallery in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, showcasing a solo exhibition by Scottish artist

Arts & DesignNov. 2, 2024

Medongaule: Garden of all gardens

YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Gardens are a place of serenity. The Gardens of Medongaule -- formally “Les Jardins de Medongaule,” a garden complex scheduled for full opening next year -- are no exception. Even more, the sheer size of the gardens will leave you awestruck. The compound of Medongaule, meaning a valley (gaule) of bindweed (medon), spans some 200,000 square meters. That’s roughly the size of Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul. Medongaule is divided into two main gard

TravelNov. 2, 2024

Grand Bell Film Awards in doubt as organizer goes bankrupt

The Motion Pictures Association of Korea, the organizer of Korea’s oldest film awards, the Grand Bell Film Awards, has gone bankrupt with debts exceeding 800 million won ($580,000), raising doubts as to whether this year’s events will take place in December as planned. The festival was once regarded as the country’s top film awards, but it had been struggling to meet financial and reputational challenges. “After the court announced bankruptcy in December last year, the

FilmNov. 1, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Amazon Bullseye,’ motley comedy of forced empathy, outdated wordplay

The most successful comedy flick in the history of Korean cinema is the 2019 movie “Extreme Job,” which sold 16.2 million tickets and grossed 140 billion won ($101 million). Expectations had been high for “Amazon Bullseye,” which billed itself as the reunion of “Extreme Job” stars Ryoo Seung-ryong and Jin Seon-kyu, as well as screenwriter Bae Se-young. Such expectations were dashed, however, when it opened in theaters on Oct. 30. As the movie unfolds, with f

FilmNov. 1, 2024

Three choreographers redefine Korean dance through NDCK Project

A dancer in a floppy hat and loose, wide-leg pants steps onto the stage, wielding a white fan with remarkable finesse. With deft movements, he conjures an almost magical sequence -- opening and softly folding the fan with a flick of the wrist, each motion seamless and barely perceptible, while his feet shuffle with agility. Moments later, two more dancers join, positioning their right arms and legs between two tilted mirrors that cast uncanny reflections. Their arms, legs and fans move in harmon

PerformanceNov. 1, 2024

Korean Gallery reopens at Art Institute of Chicago

The Korean Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago is reopening Friday, US time, three times larger and showing more than its previous offering of ceramics. “The gallery will feature several themes including Buddhist Art, Celadon and Tea Culture, Symbolism in Motifs, Buncheong ware, Confucianism and White Porcelain and Treasures of Scholars,” an official from the art museum told The Korea Herald. “The new Korean Gallery will provide an opportunity for visitors to see 60 objects

Arts & DesignNov. 1, 2024

Park Sae-eun and Kim Ki-min reunite on stage in 'La Bayadere'

At the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater on Sunday evening, the Paris Opera Ballet etoile (principal dancer) Park Sae-eun warmly embraced the Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer Kim Ki-min, who had flown in directly from a performance in China. The two shared a wide smile as they hugged patting each other’s shoulders. Selected for the lead roles of Nikiya and Solor in the Korean National Ballet production of "La Bayadere," Kim and Park are set to go on stage Friday and Sunday

PerformanceNov. 1, 2024

[Well-curated] Explore history of coffee in Korea, grab a book and savor Disney magic

Coffee, just drink? Coffee is a drink South Koreans cannot live without; it’s what they grab in the morning to wake up, in the afternoon for a quick pick-me-up and later to stay alert and work overtime. “What A Brew-tiful Day!” is a special exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea that sheds light on how coffee has become an intrinsic part of Korean life. “Koreans on average consume 405 cups of coffee in a year, more than twice the global average. Koreans’ se

Arts & DesignNov. 1, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Amazon Bullseye” (South Korea) Opened Oct. 30 Drama/Adventure Directed by Kim Chang-joo Former archer Jin-bong (Ryoo Seung-ryong) crash-lands in Boledor where he meets Amazon tribe members and ends up bringing them to Korea to make them the national archery team of Boledor, with the help of a Korean interpreter Bbang-sik (Jin Seon-kyu). “Venom: The Last Dance” (US) Opened Oct. 23 Action/Sci-fi Directed by Kelly Marcel Former journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his

FilmNov. 1, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Park Hyatt Seoul offers package for luxury hotel experience Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, unveiled a new room package, promoting the hotel’s newly renovated Diplomatic Suite for guests who wish to enjoy a luxurious hotel experience. The “Diplomatic Family Suite” package includes a one-night stay in the Diplomatic Suite, with the connected Deluxe Twin room for four guests, a 300,000 won dining credit, breakfast, and free access to the sauna, fitness studi

CultureNov. 1, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Geoje Island Flower Festival The free flower festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday at the Geoje Agricultural Development Institute, which also serves as a theme park in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. Over 100 different types of chrysanthemums and 250 kinds of camellias will be showcased. Artworks like paintings and photos shedding light on the region will be on exhibit as well. Check out the latest at geoje.go.kr. Pink Muhly Festival Admire the shining pink muhly g

TravelNov. 1, 2024

[Exclusive] MCM to open flagship store in Lotte’s metaverse next week

Luxury fashion and leather goods company MCM plans to launch its metaverse flagship store on a platform powered by Lotte Innovate as early as Nov. 7, joining global luxury brands tapping into the virtual world with a digital second life. MCM products can be purchased directly on the platform Caliverse once a market develops, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. “Initially, we will link users interested in buying to the official MCM website. We’ll see how that pan

Arts & DesignOct. 31, 2024

World Pansori Festival to celebrate unique vocal art form

The second annual World Pansori Festival will kick off at Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul this weekend, showcasing a blend of traditional culture and modern musical innovation. Co-hosted by the World Pansori Association and Namsangol Hanok Village, the festival running from Friday to Sunday celebrates pansori, Korea’s expressive vocal art form of narrative singing of epic stories and folklore. The Main Concert will have live pansori beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, followed by pansori buski

PerformanceOct. 31, 2024

Lim Yunchan named artist in residence for 2025 TIMF

South Korean piano sensation Lim Yunchan, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, has been named artist in residence for next year’s Tongyeong International Music Festival, one of South Korea's most celebrated music festivals which is held annually in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. The 20-year-old pianist, recently honored with the Gramophone Classical Music Awards prize in the piano category and named its young artist of the year, will join anot

CultureOct. 31, 2024

KTO names best public campgrounds of 2024

The Korea Tourism Organization unveiled a list of 20 top public campgrounds of 2024 to promote the excellence of the country’s public campsites and continue to develop sustainable camping cultures across the country. The public camping grounds were recommended by the provincial, city governments and public institutions and they were organized and evaluated in four categories -- family-friendly, pet-friendly, eco-friendly area and barrier-free. The campsites were assessed once again with th

TravelOct. 31, 2024

Looking for love, and drama? 'I am Solo' now casting foreign residents

"I am Solo," one of Korea’s most popular dating-themed reality shows, is accepting applications from foreign nationals interested in joining its matchmaking program. According to the program, the show is seeking "single foreign nationals living in Korea who are fluent in Korean," as well as "Korean national men who are interested in marrying foreign national women." Applicants should send a self-introduction email to lovematch911@naver.com. Selected candidates

TelevisionOct. 31, 2024

[Herald Interivew] Composer and conductor Yoon Han-kyeol on why 'Grium' is 'Grium'

The year 2024 has been a whirlwind of a year for Yoon Han-kyeol, winner of the 2023 Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award. The rising conductor led the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic in all-Brahms symphony concerts in May and many other performances in Europe. Earlier this month, he debuted with the Munich Philharmonic, an unexpected opportunity that he enjoyed immensely. Then, there was his debut with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna in August at the Salzburg Festival. Returning to the

CultureOct. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Park Sang-young aims to break taboos through his works

Novelist Park Sang-young is now a screenwriter, following the release of the television adaptation of his 2019 novel, “Love in the Big City.“ Park wrote the script for all eight episodes of the drama which explores the romantic and personal life of a young gay man in Seoul. The series was released in full on the local streaming platform Tving on Oct. 21. “As you may have guessed, it took some time to cast the actors and confirm the platform on which it will air due to the uni

TelevisionOct. 30, 2024