Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul to open in 2025

The Hanwha Foundation of Culture and the Centre Pompidou in France have officially finalized a deal to establish and operate a Pompidou branch in Seoul, the cultural arm of Hanwha Group said Friday. The announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a partnership by the two parties in France on March 19. The parties have been discussing the outlines of the basic framework for the establishment and operation of the art center at 63 Square -- more commonly known as 63 Buildi

Arts & DesignJuly 28, 2023

Kim Woo-bin to star in Netflix film ‘Officer Black Belt’

Global streaming service Netflix on Thursday confirmed that actors Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun will star in "Officer Black Belt," an action comedy. The project will mark Kim Woo-bin’s second Netflix film, following the dystopian movie “Black Knight,” which premiered in May. “Officer Black Belt” revolves around Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin), a martial arts officer who works with a probation officer to keep an eye on criminals wearing ankle monitors. Kim Sung-

TelevisionJuly 28, 2023

Korean films make Australian debut at 2023 KOFFIA

Hit Korean films are scheduled to make their Australian cinematic debut at the upcoming 2023 Korean Film Festival in Australia. According to the Korean Cultural Center in Sydney, a Culture Ministry affiliate, the 14th edition of KOFFIA will take place in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. The festival kicks off with an opening ceremony at Event Cinema George Street in Sydney on Aug. 24 with "The Night Owl,” a mystery thriller revolving around the suspicious death of Crown Princ

FilmJuly 28, 2023

Outdoor 'Moonlight Theater' to screen NTOK's changgeuk, dance dramas

The National Theater of Korea is set to host a series of outdoor screening events on the first-floor balcony of the Haeoreum Theater, starting at 7:30 p.m. over three consecutive Wednesdays. Live performance recordings of three productions from the 2022-2023 NTOK Repertory Season will be screened. The event will kick off on Aug. 9 with the National Changguek Company’s innovative production of “Rabbit's Eight Sufferings.” This reinterpretation of the traditional pansori &ld

PerformanceJuly 28, 2023

[Well-curated] Children’s garden, modern art show and water slides at Gwanghwamun

Yongsan Children’s Garden holds exhibition ‘Gentle Light’ Since its opening on May 5, Yongsan Children’s Garden has been holding the exhibition “Gentle Light,” an interactive media art show with lighting installations. Directed and designed by studio Silo Lab, the exhibition aims to display the warmth of the house as a space, reinterpreting the warmness inside home through lights. Some 1,500 tiny, dangling lanterns mimicking traditional Korean windows called &

CultureJuly 28, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Barbie” (US) Opened June 19 Comedy/Drama Directed by Greta Gerwig Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) live in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. But, when Barbie discovers a crack in a portal that connects Barbie Land and the real world, she and Ken get a chance to travel to the real world and live among humans. “Insidious: The Red Door” (US) Opened July 19 Horror/Mystery Directed by Patrick Wilson The fifth installment of the "Insi

FilmJuly 28, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Jinan Red Ginseng Festival The Red Ginseng Festival is set to take place in the northern region of Maisan in Jinan, North Jeolla Province, from Sept. 22 to 24. The event entertains visitors with various programs and cultural activities, including a red ginseng cocktail experience, a special stamp tour, a concert with local artists, a trot festival and more. It also offers a chance for festival-goers to purchase Jinan’s renowned red ginseng at discounted prices. Admission fees vary by progr

TravelJuly 28, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul presents outdoor dining promotion Grand Hyatt Seoul's outdoor restaurant Pooolside Barbeque is offering Peruvian dishes in celebration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Peru. Poloa A La Brasa, or Peruvian-style roasted chicken, and barbecued pork are among the dishes available. The dining promotion will be available through Oct. 3, priced at 138,000 won ($108) for adults and 69,000 won for kids. For inquiries, call (02) 799-8495. La M

FoodJuly 28, 2023

Village de Ananti adds colorful layer to Gijang's tranquility

Gijang-gun, BUSAN -- When it comes to must-visit destinations in Busan, the spotlights often fall on the breathtaking Haeundae Beach and the bustling Jagalchi Market, not to mention the internationally acclaimed Busan International Film Festival area. However, nestled in the tranquil northeastern side of Busan City lies a hidden gem that remains relatively unknown to many: Gijang-gun. This hidden coastal enclave boasts stunning blue waters less affected by urban pollution, and is a haven for sur

TravelJuly 27, 2023

Pinkfong, creator of 'Baby Shark,' amasses 1 billion streams on Spotify

Pinkfong, the creator behind “Baby Shark” and other children’s songs which feature animated animal characters, has surpassed a combined 1 billion streams on Spotify, according to Pinkfong Co., the South Korean entertainment company. An official from the company said that this is the first time a South Korean animated production has achieved such a milestone. With a monthly listener count of 4.3 million, the company has been releasing a diverse range of children's songs sin

PerformanceJuly 27, 2023

Frieze, Kiaf Seoul to present variety of events in September beyond art fair

Frieze Seoul has unveiled the program for its fair, bringing together film, music, talks, exhibitions and other events in the heart of the city, from Sept. 6 to 9 at Coex in southern Seoul. Launched for the first time in Asia in 2022, the global art fair is set to return with a variety of programs on the sidelines of the main event, which will host some 120 galleries hoping to meet collectors in the Asian market. This year's fair will host a number of galleries from Asia, accounting for 4

Arts & DesignJuly 27, 2023

'Every performance becomes shared journey of musical exploration': Ray Chen

Ray Chen, a Taiwanese Australian violinist, wears many hats. In addition to performing with top orchestras around the world and bringing life to classical music, Chen, the winner of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition, is also a music educator and music director for video games. Driving the 34-year-old violinist in all these activities is his desire to share the magic of music with others. “Whether it's on stage, in a practice app, or a video online, each platform allows me to reach

PerformanceJuly 26, 2023

Hanbok, photo studio experiences popular with foreign tourists

Incoming foreign tourists appear increasingly interested in daily life in Korea, including photo studios and hanbok, Korea's traditional costume, data showed Tuesday. According to Creatrip, a Korean content and commerce platform aimed at travelers, the number of searches it handled related to traveling in Korea in the first half of the year came to just over 945,000, up 88 percent from the previous half. Hanbok and photo studios were the most- and second-most searched-for topics, respective

TravelJuly 26, 2023

Poet Kim Hye-soon invited to poetry reading at Harvard

South Korean poet Kim Hye-soon is to give a poetry reading at Harvard University in October. Kim has been invited to the T. S. Eliot Memorial Reading event at the Woodberry Poetry Room in Harvard University’s Lamont Library on Oct. 2, according to Moonji Publishing on Wednesday. The English edition of Kim's 13th volume of poems, “Phantom Pain Wings,” was published in the US by New Directions Publishing in May. The original Korean edition of the collection of 72 poems was p

BooksJuly 26, 2023

Heritage agency to implement climate crisis management system

In the face of climate change that has led to more frequent and powerful typhoons, extreme rains and termite propagation, the Cultural Heritage Administration has established a comprehensive plan for safeguarding the nation's cultural and natural heritage. The plan, announced Wednesday, aims for a systematic response to the challenges posed by climate change. As of Friday, at least 65 heritage sites were damaged by torrential rains this summer, according to the CHA. Between 2002 and 2021, a

CultureJuly 26, 2023

Korean viewers grow indifferent to stars’ troubles

Reality and talk shows featuring the personal stories of Korean celebrities may have enjoyed huge popularity several years ago, but that is no longer the case. In recent years, many Korean TV personalities have revealed their homes and starred on reality shows with friends and family members, allowing viewers to observe almost every moment of their lives. Actors Choo Ja-hyun and Yu Xiaoguang are among many celebrities who starred in SBS’ reality show “Same Bed, Different Dreams 2:

TelevisionJuly 26, 2023

South Korean art market more volatile than global market: report

South Korea's art auction market almost halved in the first half of this year, demonstrating greater volatility compared to the global art market, a report from the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Research Center showed Monday. The total amount of winning bids at South Korean auction houses Seoul Auction, K-auction and Myart Auction amounted to 61.3 billion won ($47.9 million) in the first half of 2023, a 47 percent decline from the same period of the preceding year, even though th

CultureJuly 25, 2023

Modern architectural legacy renewed at French Embassy in Seoul

The French Embassy in Korea has been known as a masterpiece that displays Korean aesthetics and the exterior form of which is reminiscent of "cheoma," Korea’s traditional overhanging eaves that gently curve upwards. The embassy building, designed by pioneering Korean modern architect Kim Chung-up, has stood near Chungjeongno in central Seoul since its completion in 1962. Following a five-year revamp, the building has been reborn with both a renovation and two newly built building

Diplomatic CircuitJuly 25, 2023

Vice culture minister aims to foster tourism through sports events

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Second Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran expressed her determination to make Korea an appealing destination for foreigners and to create a safer and more enjoyable tourism environment for domestic travelers. Jang, who established herself as one of the world's top female weightlifters, winning four consecutive world titles at the World Weightlifting Championships, also mentioned her hopes to combine her expertise in sports with tourism. During a mee

CultureJuly 25, 2023

Culture Ministry, Seoul book fair organizer clash over audit

Tensions between the Culture Ministry and the Korean Publishers Association, the organizer of the Seoul International Book Fair, reached a boiling point Tuesday as the two exchanged allegations and criticisms over the association's earnings disclosure. On Tuesday morning, the ministry said in a statement that the chairman of the KPA is attempting to "evade responsibility" and "distort facts" over the ministry's audit of the book fair, in which it said it found finan

BooksJuly 25, 2023