[Reading Korea Through Books] SayNo's advice inspires with candid, realistic message

SayNo, a won billionaire whose real name is unknown to the public, has seen his book, "The Lessons of SayNo," (translated) top the Yes24 and Kyobo Book Center charts for a whopping 15 weeks since its release on March 2. There are several interesting facts to note about this book: Although it was published earlier this year, much of its contents are nearly two decades old. The author is not receiving any payment or royalties for the book. The book is 734-pages long but costs only 7,20

BooksJune 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] Christian Burgos finds roots, opportunities in Mexico

In 2017, Mexican TV personality Christian Burgos told The Korea Herald that his dream was to one day become Mexico's ambassador to Korea. Although not quite there yet, the 30-year-old star has stepped closer to that dream, taking on various roles beyond the small screen to connect the two countries. Returning to The Korea Herald's building after six years, Burgos said, "I still have that dream with me, but so much has happened since. The pace and direction of my life has changed.

TelevisionJune 28, 2023

Ari Aster makes ‘unhomelike’ home in his movies

The masterful filmmaker behind hit horror films “Hereditary” (2018) and “Midsommar” (2019) arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for the release of “Beau Is Afraid,” another film that deals with the protagonist’s darkest fear becoming a great adventure. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the American surrealist tragicomedy horror film starring Joaquin Phoenix revolves around Beau, a paranoia-ridden middle-aged man. His epic journey begins as he heads home to

FilmJune 28, 2023

How hit Korean dramas plan to avoid sophomore slumps

A number of smash hit Korean dramas that enjoyed both local and global popularity are scheduled to return for second seasons this summer, gunning to shoot past a sophmore slump. Global streaming service Netflix confirmed that the military series “D.P.” (2021) will return for a second season on July 28. Short for “Deserter Pursuit,” the series presents the lives of Pvt. Jun-ho (played by Jung Hae-in) and Cpl. Ho-yeol (played by Koo Kyo-hwan). The show reveals the reasons w

TelevisionJune 28, 2023

Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder expresses undying love for Beethoven

Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is finally bringing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas to South Korea, marking his 60th cycle since he embarked on the journey in the 1970s. Starting from Wednesday, he takes the stage seven times at Seoul Arts Center through July 9. Several hours before his first performance of the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle, for which he will perform Nos. 1, 4, 10, 13 and 14, the famed "Moonlight Sonata," he met with reporters and delved into his dedication t

PerformanceJune 28, 2023

Five-star hotel in Gangnam found in violation of food safety laws

Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection, Seoul Gangnam, was found to be in violation of food safety laws during an inspection by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on May 22, the ministry said Wednesday. Constans, Josun Palace's buffet restaurant, was found to have ingredients past their expiration date, according to the ministry. The restaurant is renowned for its luxurious dining experience, evident in its pricing of 160,000 won ($122) for weekday lunches and 185,000 won for weekend lunches.

FoodJune 28, 2023

Benois de la Danse winner Kang Mi-sun reflects on 21-year career in Korea

It has been a week since Kang Mi-sun won the top prize at the Benois de la Danse, yet she said the surreal feeling of her win has yet to fully sink in. “I still find it hard to believe that I received such a huge honor,” said Kang during a press conference held to mark her win at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul on Tuesday. The principal dancer at the Seoul-based Universal Ballet shared the best female dance award with China’s Qiu Yunting at the awards ceremony held at the Bo

PerformanceJune 28, 2023

Robot to conduct orchestra for the first time in Korea

Can a robot conduct an orchestra? Would a robot replace a human conductor? A National Theater of Korea rehearsal which was open to the press on Monday aimed to answer the questions amid growing concerns that cutting-edge technology may challenge a job that has been regarded one that only humans can do. As soon as the host said, “We will now begin,” the human-like robot named EveR 6 raised its hands. When EveR 6 swished its baton, the sound of a gong resonated in the rehearsal room. W

PerformanceJune 27, 2023

Chung Sang-hwa's enduring art on show at Gallery Hyundai

Artist Chung Sang-hwa is one of Korea's leading art figures, whose process of repeatedly peeling clay from the canvas and filling in the gaps resembles his lifelong self-discipline as an artist. Gallery Hyundai, which discovered Chung in Paris, has represented the artist since 1983 in Korea and abroad. The exhibition, “Chung Sang-hwa: Infinite Breath,” is the artist's ninth solo exhibition at the gallery and the first in 10 years. The 40 pieces on display range from C

Arts & DesignJune 27, 2023

Director over “The Moon” with sci-fi blockbuster

Director Kim Yong-hwa, whose two movies “Along with the Gods” in 2017 and 2018 notched up more than 10 million admissions each, returns with sci-fi film “The Moon.” Starring actors Sol Kyung-gu, Do Kyung-soo and Kim Hee-ae, the movie was motivated by director Kim’s long-yearning to set story around the moon and backed by Korea’s sophisticated visual effects. “While I was shooting the ‘Along With the Gods,’ I thought that even a fantasy story

FilmJune 27, 2023

[New on the Scene] Ka Sung-moon portrays human imperfections in ‘Dream Palace’

Director Ka Sung-moon described the four years he spent working on his debut feature film, “Dream Palace,” as a time of breaking barriers in the indie film scene. “For short, indie films, (I tend to work with) people who know me well, so communication is easy and the staff all understand who I am and what kind of life I have lived. But working on a long feature film required me to communicate with a variety of people and meant that I often had to persuade them (of my vision),&r

FilmJune 27, 2023

Enchanted evenings with star-studded ballet gala

Enchanted evenings of ballet gala performances by a group of star dancers from prestigious international dance companies are in store this week. The Korea World Dance Stars Festival 2023, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will take place at the Universal Arts Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday and Thursday. This year’s star-studded lineup includes Kang Hyo-jung, first soloist from the Vienna State Ballet, Lee Eun-won, principal dancer from the Washington Ballet, Chae Ji-young, prin

PerformanceJune 27, 2023

[Rising Virtuosos] Violinist Park Sueye: an evolving talent with five albums and counting

Korean violinist Park Sueye and her parents decided to move to Germany when she was 9 years old to pursue Park's music education. She had been offered a chance to study with Ulf Wallin after attending his masterclass in Seoul. Fast forward to 2023, and the 23-year-old has been increasingly active in her motherland. She has been steadily making a name for herself without having to win a major competition -- one of the fastest ways to gain broader recognition. She has created an impressive tr

CultureJune 27, 2023

Gwangju Biennale 2024 to explore sound, space of 'pansori'

The Gwangju Biennale 2024 will be held under the title “Pansori -- a soundscape of the 21st century,” led by French director Nicolas Bourriaud. "Pansori," a form of Korean traditional musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer, will be a metaphor of the overarching theme for the 15th edition of the biennale. Bourriaud will explore the concept of space correlating to sound, spurring a discussion about our changing senses and perceptions of space. Literally mean

Arts & DesignJune 26, 2023

Shin Gu says ‘Freud’s Last Session’ could be his last play

When asked to recite a line from his latest play, Shin Gu adjusted his posture and transformed himself into Freud. “When I was a child, the two of us were walking down the street. When a man knocked his hat off, the man shouted at him, ‘Jew! Get off the sidewalk!’” Starting his lines quietly, the 86-year-old's voice crescendoed into a bellow, stunning the audience. Returning for the third season, following previous runs in 2020 and 2022, Shin is set to play Freud in

PerformanceJune 26, 2023

[Photo News] Dondeokjeon opens to foreign visitors

Diplomats and social media influencers got a sneak preview of Dondeokjeon in the Deoksugung palace, central Seoul, on Monday, ahead of its official opening in September. The Western-style building was used as a royal guesthouse and a venue for diplomatic events during the reign of King Gojong, the last king of Joseon. Michael Reiffenstuel, German ambassador to Korea, Wolfgang Angerholzer, Austrian ambassador to Korea, and Francois Bontemps, Belgian ambassador to Korea, attended the event, along

CultureJune 26, 2023

Ancient Koreans' thoughts on afterlife portrayed through earthenware exhibition

An exhibition that explores how ancient Koreans contemplated death and the afterlife is underway at the National Museum of Korea's Special Exhibition Hall. Entitled "Companions on the Eternal Journey," the exhibition features some 300 clay figurines and vessels discovered in tombs from the Three Kingdoms period. Through the tranquil and serene atmosphere created by muted lighting, specially commissioned piano music and compelling storytelling, visitors are immersed in the experien

CultureJune 26, 2023

International conference to look into digital technology's role in English education in Seoul

Ten major English-language education societies based in South Korea will hold a joint academic conference to discuss issues arising in English language teaching amid the ongoing digital transformation. The 2023 Joint International Conference on ELT in Korea will begin its three-day session on July 6 at Konkuk University in Seoul, with the theme “English Language Education in the Era of Digital Transformation: Opportunities, Connectivity and Sustainability,” the Korea Association of T

PeopleJune 26, 2023

Picture book artist Baek Hee-na's magical worlds come to life

Tong Tong from "Magic Candies" jumps into the real world at acclaimed picture book artist Baek Hee-na's first solo exhibition, which opened Thursday at Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Art Museum. Baek, who has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2020 -- the highest international honor in children's literature -- captivates readers with her imaginative storytelling and meticulously crafted visual worlds. "It feels like I have

BooksJune 25, 2023

Art fair featuring Lee Ufan, Takashi Murakami to kick off at Shilla Hotel

An art fair featuring a collection of 1,800 art pieces by renowned and emerging artists is set to kick off at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, central Seoul, from Friday to Sunday. The Grand International Art Fair will feature some 60 galleries and 300 artists highlighting the works of internationally recognized artists alongside promising talent. This is the first time in eight years that an art fair is held at the hotel, which is expected to span across 67 rooms. Works of renowned figures such as

Arts & DesignJune 25, 2023