CHA chief revisits Goryeo lacquerware, seeks greater awareness

Mother-of-pearl lacquerware dating back to the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) represents a work of art of exceptional sophistication recognized worldwide -- a reason to make continuous efforts to reclaim other similar pieces located overseas, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. At a lecture Wednesday dedicated to the topic, Choi Eung-chon, the CHA’s chief since May 2022, recalled the repatriation of a lacquered mother-of-pearl box inlaid with chrysanthemum and vine scrolls, or &l

CultureJan. 7, 2024

Celine Song’s ‘Past Lives’ named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics

Korean Canadian filmmaker and playwright Celine Song’s directorial debut, “Past Lives,” was named Best Picture of 2023 at the National Society of Film Critics Awards. “Past Lives,” a semi-autobiographical romantic drama film about Korean writer Nora (Greta Lee) living in New York who reunites with her childhood sweetheart, Hae-sung (Teo Yoo), after 20 years, won the top prize at the 58th annual awards. Other contenders were “Oppenheimer” and “The Z

FilmJan. 7, 2024

Busan to open K-pop high school in 2028

A high school specializing in educating students on K-pop and related performances will open in the southeastern port city of Busan, the city's education authorities said Sunday. The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education said it will push for turning a middle school, which is soon to be closed, into a specialized public high school with a goal of opening it in March 2028. It will be the first public school dedicated to K-pop courses to be established in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast

CultureJan. 7, 2024

Escape winter’s chill, dive into paradise in Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam -- If the abounding lush green paddies and the Trump-Kim Hanoi summit click in your mind about Vietnam, you’re missing out on a big part, because the country has much more to offer. From waves gently hitting the shores and palm trees swaying in the distance to natural wildlife experiences, Vietnam aims to be South Korean travelers’ most sought-after destination this year, with its unique blend of traditions, cuisine and customs. The country had welcomed over 11.2 milli

TravelJan. 6, 2024

Fried chicken voted most popular K-food overseas

Korean-style fried chicken was selected as the favorite Korean food outside of Korea, according to the results of a government survey announced Thursday. In an international study involving some 9,000 people living in 18 major cities across the world, officials investigated the global perception of Korean food. The study excluded anyone of Korean descent and surveyed people in New York, Toronto, Paris, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Rio de Janeiro. About

FoodJan. 6, 2024

[New in Town] Baby Pumpkin offers savory, creative 'pumpkin' experience

Pumpkin, known as a seasonal superfood, is generally enjoyed either in soup, as a garnish or as a side dish. While there are different kinds of pumpkins from yellow pumpkin to green pumpkin --known as aehobak in Korean -- not many people here think of using them in a grilled salad or cooking it with rice. To break the mold, Kim Seung-kyu, a young chef in charge of menu development and cooking at Baby Pumpkin, says he wanted to offer diners a fun experience while making the most of his restaurant

FoodJan. 6, 2024

Indoors doesn't have to mean boring

The winter may have you huddling indoors to avoid the weather, but that doesn't mean you have to narrow your horizons. To prove this, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has announced six indoor destinations in Gyeonggi Province for travelers looking to enjoy the holidays while avoiding the cold weather. The recommended destinations include museums featuring trick art, comics, a virtual reality studio and more. Paju Heyri Trick Art Located in northwestern Gyeonggi Province, Paju Heyri Trick Art

TravelJan. 6, 2024

[Eye Plus] Hanji adds ethereal touch to furniture

When hanji is put into epoxy resin, the paper soaks up the fluid and solidifies in the form of a panel. The panels are carved and connected into furniture, while hanji’s unique patterns can be seen through its transparent surface. This is how Son Sang-woo, a furniture designer, makes his works. Hanji is traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark. As the bark’s texture is visible on the paper, Son’s works display unique patterns and gloss. “Many people are curious wh

CultureJan. 6, 2024

Park Eun-bin drops first single ahead of fan concert

Actress Park Eun-bin released her first digital single, "Present," on Thursday, ahead of her first fan concert. The new album consists of three songs, including the vibrant, catchy title song, “Do-re-mi-fa," a rhythmical electronic pop genre song, "Into The Light," and a heartfelt ballad, "Now." Park has released some songs from the TV series she had starred in, but this is the first official album of her career. While Park was already well-known for her

PerformanceJan. 5, 2024

Oh Eun-young hopes to promote harmony, awareness of disabilities

Oh Eun-young, a prominent South Korean child psychiatrist, is set to host an upcoming talk concert through which she hopes to raise awareness for people with disabilities and promote respect and understanding for them. "What is most needed in families who have someone who is disabled is attention and hope. I promised to create content involving people with disabilities early last year, and this talk concert marks the beginning of that commitment," she said during a press conference, Th

CultureJan. 5, 2024

'Gyeongseong Creature' spin-off webtoon to be released

Kakao Entertainment, a content arm under Korea’s IT giant Kakao Corp., said Friday that a spin-off webtoon series of the Netflix original "Gyeongseong Creature" will be released on Kakao Webtoon and KakaoPage starting Jan. 20. Netflix's 10-part thriller drama "Gyeongseong Creature" centers around the stories of Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-jun) and Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee), who infiltrate a hospital in the city of Gyeongseong (now Seoul) in 1945 -- where human experime

TelevisionJan. 5, 2024

S. Korea's content industry sees record exports in 2022: data

South Korea's content-related exports and sales reached a new record in 2022, an industry survey report showed Friday, reflecting the global popularity of Korean pop culture. The content industry's exports reached $13.24 billion in 2022, a 6.3 percent rise from the previous year's $12.45 billion, according to a 2022 research study on the cultural content industry conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The content industry encompasses 11 different sectors, incl

CultureJan. 5, 2024

Celebrated pastry chefs to mesmerize with desserts in Seoul on Jan. 14

Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, looks to attract those with a prominent sweet tooth in a one-time, dessert-themed event at the hotel’s top floor restaurant, The Lounge, on Jan. 14. The upcoming food event, “Four Hands Dessert: A Taste of Seoul and Paris,” invites renowned chefs Kim Na-rae and Lee Ji-myung to showcase their creativity and inspiration. The event offers an eight-course dessert menu along with a glass of Champagne and a cocktail. While visitor

FoodJan. 5, 2024

BTS story to be turned into comic book

A comic book narrating the growth of K-pop sensation BTS from trainees to a global pop sensation, as well as their recent transition to enlistment, will be released in the US, according to a news outlet on Friday. According to Reuters, US comic book and graphic novel publisher TidalWave Productions will release a 22-page comic book centered on BTS in its latest edition of the "Fame" series. TidalWave Productions' "Fame" series introduces the life stories of singers, acto

BooksJan. 5, 2024

Seoul to renovate city walking trail to be more accessible, attractive

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it will renovate the city’s footpaths, called “dullegil” in Korean, to allow more travelers to finish the complete walking trail safely. Though the total length of the trail remains the same, major changes will be made with the courses and tourism facilities. Seoul Dullegil circles the city on a 156.5-kilometer course divided into eight paths. Feeling most of the courses were too long -- averaging nearly 20 kilometers -- Seoul Met

TravelJan. 5, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Moxy Seoul Myeongdong presents special staycation package Located in one of Seoul’s main tourist districts, Moxy Seoul Myeongdong offers the “Beauty Hunter” package to quench beauty enthusiasts’ thirst. The promotion presents an opportunity to experience Korean beauty, food and culture with a one-day stay at the hotel. Guests receive a free welcoming drink after check-in. The hotel also offers five sheet masks from vegan beauty brand Lapcos. The package includes the oppor

CultureJan. 5, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Noryang: Deadly Sea” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 20 History/Action Directed by Kim Han-min In 1598, the seven-year Japanese invasion of Korea nears the end as Joseon national hero Adm. Yi Sun-sin leads an allied fleet of Joseon and Ming to the Noryang Strait and annihilates the Wae army. “12.12: The Day” (South Korea) Opened Nov. 22 Drama/Action Directed by Kim Seong-su Over the course of nine hours on Dec. 12, 1979, Gen. Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min) attempts a coup,

FilmJan. 5, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

All-in-one park in Paju At First Garden Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, visitors can try everything from riding a train that runs across the park to fishing for smelt. Street food is available too. The festivities run through the end of February. All-inclusive tickets, covering up to six attractions and sledding without snow, are priced at 27,000 won for admissions starting at 11 a.m., and 23,000 won for those entering the park after 1 p.m. The fees are the same for adults and children. For

TravelJan. 5, 2024

World-famous ice fishing festival to kick off in Hwacheon on Saturday

A world-renowned annual ice fishing festival is to kick off in Hwacheon, a remote mountain town in the northeastern province of Gangwon, on Saturday, organizers said. The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will continue for 23 days through Jan. 28 in Hwacheon, located just 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border and about 90 km northeast of Seoul, the organizers said Thursday. Sancheoneo is a species of trout known to live only in very clean fresh water. This year's festival is ex

CultureJan. 4, 2024

National museums surpass 10 million visitors

The National Museum of Korea and its 13 regional museums across the country attracted 10,471,154 visitors combined last year, breaking through the barrier of 10 million for the first time. According to the state-run institution on Thursday, the number of visitors rose 17.1 percent on-year, exceeding the previous record of 9,980,837 in 2019. NMK officials attribute the surge to special exhibitions regularly held at museums, citing in particular collections donated by the late Samsung Group Chairm

CultureJan. 4, 2024