[New in Korean] Chang Kang-myoung explores science, technology, society in SF collection

"The World You Want to See" By Chang Kang-myoung Munhakdongne Publishing The journalist-turned-writer Chang Kang-myoung, known for addressing pressing social issues in works like "The Bleached” and "Because I Don’t Like Korea," ventures into the realm of science fiction with his latest, "The World You Want to See." The compilation consists of seven SF short stories, three of them new. While he has established his reputation as a realist author, Chan

BooksAug. 19, 2023

Culture Ministry mulls withdrawal of financial support for artist Lim Ok-sang

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is taking steps after artist Lim Ok-sang was found guilty in the first trial on Thursday of indecent assault, the ministry announced on Friday. The Ministry said it is considering discontinuing or excluding financial support for Lim in accordance with the "Act on the Status and Rights of Artists." Under Article 35 of this law, the ministry may consider discontinuing or excluding financial support for individuals with a final guilty verdict in

CultureAug. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kim Nam-gil says working with director Jung Woo-sung ‘not an easy choice’

Actor Kim Nam-gil, who stars in actor Jung Woo-sung’s directorial debut film, “A Man of Reason,” said working with Jung was not “an easy choice,” despite his close friendship with one of the country’s top actors. "To be honest, I had decided to avoid doing projects with actors-turned-directors because they know acting too well and there is no way for me to escape. Jung knows about acting very well and has accumulated expertise in working with actors. That

FilmAug. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Come, see and listen': Choi Jae-rim invites audiences to his 'Phantom of the Opera'

“Listen” is the request that comes into his mind when he appears on the stage to sing his first song for “The Phantom of the Opera” as the Phantom. “The number is a song for Christine, so I’m asking her to listen,” he explained. But this request to others to get ready and "listen" also shows the 38-year-old actor's confidence, which is well-founded. Choi joined “The Phantom of the Opera” in Seoul, which began on July 14 after t

CultureAug. 18, 2023

Chang Uc-chin's rare 'Family' painting returns from Japan after 60 years

A painting by renowned Korean artist Chang Uc-chin (1917-1990) titled "Family" has returned to South Korea 60 years after Japanese collector Shiozawa Sadao bought it in 1964 at Chang's first solo exhibition in Seoul. The painting, the first piece the artist sold, is known to have been cherished by the artist, who placed the painting by his bedside. With the money he earned by selling the painting, he bought a violin for his daughter. The whereabouts of the painting had been unknow

Arts & DesignAug. 18, 2023

[Photo News] Palace at night

CultureAug. 18, 2023

[Well-curated] Seoul Plaza Night Library, SAC outdoor cultural events, DIY stained glass

Literary escape to Spain, Brazil Seoul Plaza’s Night Library continues its weekend events with a thematic focus on Spain and Brazil. The outdoor library operates during the hours of 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering the feeling of "traveling" to different countries while relaxing with books. Imagine lying on a bean bag at Seoul Plaza, surrounded by the warm glow of LED bookshelves and moon balloon lights. There are booths dedicated to recommending books and cultural programs that repr

CultureAug. 18, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

LCK Fan Festa, Daejeon The League of Legends Champions Korea’s Fan Festa is scheduled to be held at the Daejeon Convention Center Hall 1 in Daejeon from Friday to Sunday. The three-day esports festival is held to entertain fans prior to the upcoming LCK 2023 Summer final match, which takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Both final match ticket holders and visitors of all ages are welcome without any admission fees. The event features various programs, including Riot's games such as League

TravelAug. 18, 2023

Buoyed by government support, Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul confident of successful second collaboration

The second collaboration between Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul will bring together some 330 galleries from around the world in early September at Ceox, a convention center in southern Seoul, with the festive atmosphere in the city boosted by the city government's support. “Kiaf Seoul will be supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government this year. We had transportation issues for foreigners during the two fairs (Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul) last year, which is expected to be resolved w

Arts & DesignAug. 17, 2023

SAC Summer Music Festival set to present variety while establishing prominence

Seoul Arts Center’s annual Summer Music Festival is back with more diversity as it returns to its original goal of becoming a leading international summer music festival, organizers said Thursday. For this year’s festival, SAC will present a diverse array of genres, ranging from baroque to contemporary composers to jazz. The lineup will feature musicians with both domestic and overseas backgrounds, encompassing both emerging artists and seasoned performers. This includes South Korean

CultureAug. 17, 2023

Dokdo Museum exhibits documents on 1947 Dokdo exhibition

The opening ceremony for “1947, Scientific Expedition to Ulleungdo and Dokdo,” a special exhibition organized by the Northeast Asian History Foundation, was held Wednesday at the Dokdo Museum in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Established in 2012, the Dokdo Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting documents and records on the Dokdo islets in the East Sea, which Japan also claims sovereignty over, to promote public awareness of the island. The highlight of the special ex

CultureAug. 17, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Yojaya Yojaya,' Ahn Eun-me's ode to 'modern girls'

A group of 12 dancers dressed in white jeogori, or the upper piece of a hanbok, paired with black skirts move tirelessly through the practice room. The sound of gunshots can be heard as dancers mimic shooting using long plastic pipes. When the music quiets down, the dancers cast off their jeogori and put on vibrant red, yellow, green and blue skirts. Through a sequence of choreographed movements, they eventually discard the skirts as well, tossing them high into the air. The dancers then move gr

PerformanceAug. 17, 2023

Netflix Korea to make first animation film ‘Lost in Starlight’

Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung have been confirmed as voice actors for Netflix’s new animation film, “Lost in Starlight.” “Lost in Starlight” will be Netflix’s first Korean animation project and will center on the unique love story of long-distance lovers -- Nan-young (Kim), an astronaut, and Jay (Hong), a musician. Nan-young's dream is to land on Mars to find traces of her mother, who failed to return to Earth after a research mission on the planet. While rep

FilmAug. 17, 2023

Autistic character joins EBS children’s show in a first for Korea

Educational Broadcasting System recently announced that its “Ding Dong Dang Kindergarten” will welcome its first autistic character in its upcoming episode, marking the first time a local children’s show will feature a character with autistic spectrum disorder. The new character “Byeori” will make her debut on the Friday episode of the show, aired every weekday at 8 a.m. The show describes the child character as perceiving sound, smell and color more strongly than o

TelevisionAug. 17, 2023

Ra Hee-duk's 'Possibilist' and 15 others receive Daesan translation grants

Poet Ra Hee-duk’s collection of poems, “Possibilist” (2021), and 15 other Korean literary works have been selected for the 2023 Grants for the Translation, Research and Publication Literary Works, the Daesan Foundation said Wednesday. Since 2010, the Daesan Foundation has been awarding the annual grant, which introduces Korean literature to the world in various languages. This year, the foundation is providing a total of 230 million won ($171,800), supporting the translation an

BooksAug. 16, 2023

Family fun at Museum of Gugak

The National Museum of Gugak in southern Seoul will hold a special exhibition on Saturday and Sunday, featuring various indoor and outdoor programs, the National Gugak Center announced Wednesday. At Yeakdang, the museum’s auditorium on the first floor, a group of master craftspersons will demonstrate making traditional instruments such as the pyeongjong, pyeonkyeong, gayageum and buk. Visitors also can participate in craft classes to make the "danso" woodwind instrument and tra

CultureAug. 16, 2023

‘Beef’ creator Lee Sung-jin shares importance of being yourself at BCWW 2023

Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) 2023, an annual event showcasing South Korean content and insights to broadcasters around the world, kicked off its three-day run at Coex Hall D in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. Organized by the Korean Creative Content Agency, BCWW kicked off on opening day with a special session featuring Lee Sung-jin, the creator behind the hit US Netflix original series “Beef.” The black comedy revolves around Danny Cho (played by Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau (played by Ali Wo

TelevisionAug. 16, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kim Jun-han finds acting success in synergy of life and script

Kim Jun-han, who began his acting career in 2012 in indie films, really began to draw attention in “Anarchist From Colony” in 2017. Since then, he has appeared in various hit series, such as “Hospital Playlist” and “Anna,” as well films “The King’s Letters” (2019) and “Beasts Clawing at Straws” (2020). It was the 2020 film that convinced Jung Woo-sung that Kim should star in his directorial debut, “A Man of Reason.” &l

FilmAug. 16, 2023

Cinema operators, film distributors sent to prosecutor for allegedly inflating box office numbers

South Korean police said Wednesday that they have booked 69 people from local cinemas and film distributors they claim were involved in fabricating box office figures over the past several years, on charges of obstruction of business. According to police, the ticket sales for at least 323 movies that opened in local theaters from March 2018 to June this year were manipulated to bump up movies’ box office rankings. Multiplex cinema operators like CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox are alleged to

FilmAug. 16, 2023

[Herald Interview] Bek Hyun-jin defies definition

Bek Hyun-jin's authentic portrayals of a villainous CEO in "Taxi Driver" and an oppressive executive in the film "Samjin Company English Class" might have cemented his position as a supporting actor specializing in antagonistic characters. But Bek's identity extends far beyond these roles. In his own words, he describes himself as "a single guy born in 1972 living in Yeonnam-dong," a locale renowned for its indie bands and thriving nightlife. As for his pr

CultureAug. 16, 2023