National Theater Company of Korea to stage Chekov's tragicomedy

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage Anton Chekhov’s posthumous work of Russian theater, “The Cherry Orchard,” at the National Theater of Korea’s Myeongdong Arts Theater from May 4 to 28. Chekhov’s final full-length play will be directed by Kim Kwang-bo, the artistic director of the NTC who has been at the helm of the state theater since 2020. Although Chekhov labeled this work as a comedy in his notes, the play is known for its realistic portrayal

PerformanceApril 24, 2023

[Stories of Artifacts] Transcending 1,400 years in time: Two pensive bodhisattva statues

"Time to lose yourself deep in wandering thought," the text at the entrance to “Room of Quiet Contemplation,” in the permanent exhibition hall at the National Museum of Korea, reminds visitors. Opened in November 2021, the exhibition attracted over 660,000 viewers during its first year, making it one of the museum's most viewed exhibitions. Inside the 439-square-meter space where the dim lights cast against red soil-covered walls create a calm, mysterious aura, sit t

CultureApril 24, 2023

Walk among Joseon royal tombs

A series of guided tour programs at the royal tombs of the Joseon era (1392-1910) will be conducted May 13 to Nov. 11, the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center announced Monday. Titled “Wangneungcheonhaeng,” meaning “A thousand ways to travel the royal tombs,” the program will offer 22 tours led by experts in the field on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The program takes a two-month break in July and August. There are six themes under th

CultureApril 24, 2023

‘Yonder’ tops Paramount+ international series chart

Tving’s 2022 sci-fi series “Yonder,” which was released globally via Paramount+ on April 11, has topped the streamer's international series chart. “Yonder” became the most-viewed work among other international series that were aired this year the first week after its release, Tving said in a press release Monday, quoting Paramount+. The international series chart includes all non-American projects that are serviced by Paramount+. “Yonder,” which was

TelevisionApril 24, 2023

Seoul, Busan to host 2023 LoL World Championship

The annual League of Legends World Championship is scheduled to be held in Seoul and Busan in October. According to Riot Games Korea, a new game system will be introduced at this year’s LoL Worlds with a total of 22 teams vying for the grand prize of the Summoner’s Cup. Starting Oct. 10, eight teams -- four pairs -- are set to compete in a double elimination tournament on the Play-In Stage. The preliminaries will take place at LoL Park, the stadium for LoL Champions Korea (LCK), in J

CultureApril 24, 2023

Edward Hopper retrospective goes back to realist painter's roots

Ever since it was announced early this year that American realist painter Edward Hopper’s exhibition was going to open in Seoul, there has been a huge interest in the show, prompting more than 100,000 early bird tickets to be sold before the opening last week. The exhibition “Edward Hopper: From City to Coast” at Seoul Museum of Art, which opened Wednesday, marks the first-ever exhibition in South Korea of the New York-born artist (1882-1967), known for his paintings of ordinar

Arts & DesignApril 23, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Pansori Les Miserables,' blend of pansori, band music and theater

A pansori adaptation of Victor Hugo’s timeless classic “Les Miserables” performed by Ip Koa Son, a pansori creative group, ended its 13-day run at Doosan Art Center’s Space 111 in Seoul on Saturday. A seamless blend of old and new, “Pansori Les Miserables” follows the general plot of the original narrative, but reconstructs it with the traditional form of pansori, in which a “sorrikkun” (vocalist) and “gosu” (drummer) lead the story. Se

PerformanceApril 23, 2023

[Herald Interview] Damrau and Teste to bring royal dramas to Korea

German opera singer Diana Damrau will returned to South Korea with a tour titled "Royal Affairs – Kings and Queens of Opera" together with her husband, French opera tenor Nicolas Teste. The program introduces a selection of arias of the most famous kings and queens in opera. “What is really interesting to see is what happens behind or under the crown. We see and feel these men and women struggle with their feelings and normal private human problems like we all do. Some co

CultureApril 23, 2023

[Weekender] Cozy, affordable ‘imokase’ course menus trending in Seoul

Located in the narrow alleyways of Seoul’s industrial district Euljiro -- dubbed “Hipjiro” for its renaissance as a hotspot for younger locals -- Joil Food is one of the city’s growing number of popular “imokase” joints. Stemming from the Japanese term “omakase,” which translates into “leaving it up to you,” an imokase establishment is a small eatery where the chef, who locals call “imo,” serves an affordable meal for custom

TravelApril 22, 2023

Seoul's 'Spring Day' provides opportunities for students to experience cultural performances

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has kicked off its annual “Spring Day” program, enabling some 66,000 elementary and middle school students in Seoul to attend a free performance. The program, whose pilot program was launched in 2021, aims to provide students with opportunities to enjoy cultural performances, at the same time creating work opportunities for performing groups during the daytime. This year, the city government has expanded eligible groups to include middle school stude

CultureApril 22, 2023

Shiny domes of chocolate bonbons offer rare kind of sweetness

Stick With Me Sweets, which started as a modest, tiny chocolate shop in New York in 2014, quickly gained popularity for cute little bonbons with a variety of unique fillings. Last week, SWMS opened its first boutique shop outside the US, here in Seoul. Korean American chocolatier Susanna Yoon said her second shop had to be in Seoul for many reasons. “I’m deeply rooted here (as a Korean American) and returning here feels like I’m at home and it feels really reconnected. I&rsqu

FoodApril 22, 2023

[One with Nature] Gwangyang has more to offer than just plum blossoms

GWANGYANG, South Jeolla Province -- Gwangyang, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, is home to vast fields of plum blossom trees, which draw huge crowds from around the country each spring. The flowers that blossom here are some of the first to bloom on the peninsula, signaling the arrival of the new season. From early to mid-March, the city and Hongssangri Plum Farm, widely known as Maehwa (plum) Village, is crowded with people who come to see the flower-filled fields. As the popcorn-like blosso

TravelApril 22, 2023

[Eye Plus] Stories carved out of wood

“I am working on ‘eopgyeongdae.' Buddhist myths say that every person faces this mirror after death, before they are brought to the King of Hell,” said Kwon Da-eun, a student at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage majoring in traditional arts and crafts. “When a deceased person confesses the wrongdoings committed during his or her life, the mirror shows how the person lived. This story is what inspired me to carve the eopgyeongdae,” she added. Wo

CultureApril 22, 2023

British Japanese artist Simon Fujiwara's 'Whoseum' opens in Seoul

British Japanese artist Simon Fujiwara’s art seems playful and mischievous at first glance, as presented at an exhibition at Gallery Hyundai in Seoul. The recurring presence of a bear in his oeuvre piques the curiosity of viewers, leading them to question what the artist wants to tell the world -- and who the bear is. Fujiwara has brought together some 40 works of art at a solo exhibition in Seoul that opened on April 5. An identity-free cartoon bear named “Who” -- which seemin

Arts & DesignApril 22, 2023

MMCA brings back revamped Korea Artist Prize

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea has selected four finalists for the Korea Artist Prize 2023, following a short hiatus last year to make improvements to the 10-year-old annual award, which had fallen under growing criticism for its quality and low recognition. The museum earlier this week announced four artists -- sound artist Kwon Byung-jun, Korean-Colombian artist Gala Porras-Kim, Lee Kang-seung whose work explores queer history, and interdisciplinary artist Jun S

Arts & DesignApril 22, 2023

Booker-winning Han Kang to meet UK readers with ‘Greek Lesson’

South Korean novelist Han Kang of “The Vegetarian” will meet readers in the UK ahead of the publication of the English edition of the author's novel "Greek Lessons," the Korean Cultural Center in England said. Han is scheduled to attend a book talk event on Sunday at the 295-seat Purcell Room at the Southbank Center, in London. Writer and broadcaster Octavia Bright will moderate the event. The English edition of “Greek Lessons,” translated by Deborah Smith

BooksApril 21, 2023

Korean bands to perform at New York’s Lincoln Center

Punk band Crying Nut and indie band Say Sue Me will be performing at Damrosch Park at New York's Lincoln Center on July 19. According to the Korean Cultural Center in New York, Crying Nut and Say Sue Me will be the second group of Korean bands to perform at the Lincoln Center, following Jannabi and byebyesea last year. The bands will play at the K-Indie Music Night, a highlight of the Lincoln Center’s Korean culture and arts-themed festival, Korean Arts Week. Having debuted in 1995, C

PerformanceApril 21, 2023

‘The Uncanny Counter’ to return with season 2

South Korea’s beloved 2020 fantasy thriller “The Uncanny Counter” is scheduled to return in the second half of the year with expanded stories for its second season, featuring new and original faces. Cable channel tvN confirmed Thursday the star-studded lineup for “The Uncanny Counter 2.” Adapted from Kakao Page’s popular web comic of the same title written by creator Jang Yi, “The Uncanny Counter” presents the story about the counters, a group of p

TelevisionApril 21, 2023

Traditional craft exhibition in modern setting

An exhibition introducing traditional craftworks by artisans against a backdrop of pop-art designs is open at Gyeol, the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Center exhibition hall, in Gangnam, until Oct. 31. Titled “The Greatest Artisan’s Market,” the exhibition features some 72 craftworks by 21 National Intangible Cultural Heritage title holders and instructors. Among the highlights of the exhibition are "ipsa," an in-lay of ornamental silver or gold strin

CultureApril 21, 2023

[Well-curated] Hop on Swiss train, play gugak instruments and pose with teddy mascot

Hop on Swiss train Imagine a quick train ride to some of the most popular sights and landmarks in Switzerland this weekend without having to leave Korea. At the Gyeongui Line Book Street in Mapo district, western Seoul, an exhibition set up inside a spacious train replica takes visitors on a taster of Switzerland's Grand Train Tour, a panoramic 1,280-kilometer route across the country. The Swiss Spring Street Festival, organized by Switzerland Tourism, showcases scenic tourist spots, from

CultureApril 21, 2023