[Herald Design Forum] AI composer enhances human creativity, says creator of Korea’s 1st AI composer EvoM

“AI is not a Genie of the Lamp -- it’s more like Jarvis, the intelligent assistant from Iron Man,” Ahn Chang-wook said during his keynote speech at the Herald Design Forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Ahn, a professor at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and the creator of South Korea’s first AI composer, EvoM, highlighted the supportive role AI can play in the creative process. EvoM, trained to write music at a level comparable to human composers, is one of the wor

Arts & DesignOct. 9, 2024

Netflix's latest runaway hit is a Korean reality cooking show

Netflix’s latest bet on Korean reality series has created another runaway hit. For the last two weeks, the cooking competition "Culinary Class Wars" topped its global weekly TV chart for non-English titles. The unscripted, 12-episode show started off with 100 chefs, divided into two categories. The “white spoons” run acclaimed places, many with Michelin stars; they’re pitted against underdog chefs tagged as “black spoons.” The final two episodes were

TelevisionOct. 8, 2024

[History through films] ‘A Taxi Driver’: Simple-hearted man’s adventurous ride to Gwangju Democratic Uprising

“A Taxi Driver,” a 2017 action drama flick by Jang Hoon (“The Front Line,” “The Secret Reunion”), is not the first movie to have depicted the Gwangju Democratic Uprising of May 18, 1980. But unlike other movies cover the student-led democratization movement — “Peppermint Candy,” “May 18,” “26 Years” — “A Taxi Driver” sets itself apart by following the day’s events from an outsider’s point

FilmOct. 8, 2024

Korean language teaching expert says demand has outstripped supply

The Korean language and its writing system Hangeul are not easy to learn, let alone teach. Two non-Korean scholars have shown that that notion might be changing -- and the Korean government agrees. The two scholars will be awarded the Order of Culture Merit, the highest national recognition for contributions in the field of culture, at an official ceremony marking Hangeul Day on Wednesday morning in Sejong City. The city is named after King Sejong the Great (1418-1450), the fourth Joseon king wh

PeopleOct. 8, 2024

Cheonan World Dance Festival celebrates creativity, diversity

The 20th edition of the Cheonan World Dance Festival showcased awe-inspiring performances by some 4,000 dancers and crew members from 54 countries, reaching an all-time high number of participants since its launch in 2003. The event, which ran from Sept. 25 to 29, entertained 880,000 spectators from South Korea and abroad with diverse dance competitions, parades, cheerleading shows and more. As the 28 dance troupes from around the world competed in the International Dance Competition at Cheonan

CultureOct. 8, 2024

Buddhist festival reaches old and young through culture

An annual festival run by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will officially host performances by Jogye Buddhist followers for the first time in the festival’s history. Now in its fifth year, the Buddhist Culture Festival, running Oct. 17-24, includes a series of performances -- singing and dancing -- delivered by nine teams of 60 Jogye followers on Oct. 19 at the Historic Cultural Memorial Center of Korea Buddhism at the Jogyesa complex in Seoul, the headquarters of the nation’s lar

Arts & DesignOct. 7, 2024

Netflix, streaming platforms come under fire for loose ratings

Global streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+ have been applying loose ratings, violating the Promotion of the Motion Pictures and Video Products Act, according to a report from a lawmaker on Monday. According to Korea Media Rating Board data obtained by Rep. Cho Gye-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Netflix led in violating the law by applying lax ratings for provocative content, recording 76 such violations since the government approved the self-rating sy

FilmOct. 7, 2024

Travel agencies rush fall tourism products as fall foliage expected to arrive early

With the country experiencing chilly fall weather in recent days, peak fall foliage will arrive a little earlier than last year. According to WeatherI -- a Korea Meteorological Administration-associated weather forecasting company -- the first autumn leaves were spotted at Seoraksan, one of the highest mountains on the Korean Peninsula, spanning over multiple cities and counties in Gangwon Province, on Sept. 29, two days ahead of 2023. The weather company added that the country’s central r

TravelOct. 7, 2024

[Herald Interview] Cellist Mun Tae-guk takes up challenge of Bach Cello Suites earlier than expected

For cellists, Bach’s Cello Suites hold deep significance. Many renowned cellists have recorded their interpretations of the masterpieces — some multiple times throughout their careers, others only once in a lifetime. The 30-year-old Korean cellist Mun Tae-guk said he felt significant pressure about recording Bach’s Cello Suites but decided to take up the challenge. “Honestly, I felt a lot of pressure. When I first received the proposal, I had many doubts, wondering if

CultureOct. 7, 2024

Korean art in full swing in UK this fall

Korean art will be at the center of attention in the UK this fall, with a variety of exhibitions featuring established Korean artists and projects set to coincide with Frieze London, which runs Wednesday to Sunday. The Korean Cultural Center UK will host events on Thursday and Friday, bringing together artists and art enthusiasts alike for networking and a viewing of the ongoing exhibition “Digital Heritage, Now! AI With You.” The exhibition showcases the beauty and significance of K

Arts & DesignOct. 7, 2024

[Herald Interview] Always around but never understood: ‘Tiger Stripes’ speaks up for teenagers

BUSAN -- Written and directed by Malaysian director Amanda Neel Eu, “Tiger Stripes” follows carefree 12-year-old Zaffan who starts to experience unexpected bodily changes as she is the first to get her period among her group of friends. For Zaffan, puberty becomes something she fights for in front of others after being publicly ostracized at school and in the community. Later, she embraces her anger and wrath to show everyone the beauty of her changing body. “Going through pube

FilmOct. 7, 2024

More Korean content getting Japanese adaptations

Japanese adaptations of popular Korean content are increasing, driven by growing challenges the Japanese content industry faces in importing Korean content as well as broadcasters' desire to air potential hits on their own terms. Naver Webtoon's "Hell is Other People," a horror that enjoyed immense popularity as both a webtoon and TV show, has since been adapted into a Japanese film set to release in theaters in Japan on Nov. 15. Directed by Wato Kodama, known for horror projects

TelevisionOct. 7, 2024

'Culinary Class Wars' producers deny trying to spice up results

Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" is indisputably one of the hottest shows in Korea right now. The 12-episode series features 100 participants divided into two teams: the white team of star chefs and the black team of lesser-known cooks and local restaurant owners. The contestants face various elimination challenges judged by popular restaurateur Paik Jong-won and Korea’s only Michelin three-star chef, Ahn Sung-jae. Since the first episode was released on Sept. 17, the show ha

TelevisionOct. 7, 2024

Musical artists dazzle at Wellness Seoul 2024’s grand finale

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Banpo Bridge’s fountains cascading over the Han River, Wellness Seoul 2024 concluded on Sunday evening with performances by an orchestra, popera singers and a guitarist -- all delivering a message of embracing a quality, healthy life through the appreciation of music in everyday life. The highlight of the evening event -- the namesake Wellness Seoul Concert -- was British popera singer Paul Potts, who performed pieces including “Impossible Dr

PerformanceOct. 7, 2024

Changwon sculpture biennale tells story of city as industry mecca

Changwon, a South Korean city known as a manufacturing hub and the capital of South Gyeongsang Province, is hosting the seventh edition of the Changwon Sculpture Biennale, exploring the relationship between urban development and sculpture. As the nation’s sole sculpture biennale, the event kicked off on Sept. 27, spanning unique venues that encapsulate the city’s modern history -- Seongsan Shell Mound, Changwon Cultural Complex Center Dongnam Ground, Seongsan Art Hall and Changwon Ci

Arts & DesignOct. 6, 2024

[Herald Design Forum] Jean-Michel Wilmotte shares his vision for Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul

Space, matter and light define beautiful architecture, says renowned French architecture luminary Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who has been chosen to design the Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul, set to open in 2025. Celebrated for his visionary work at locations such as the Louvre Museum and the Elysee Palace, the 76-year-old architect will speak at the Herald Design Forum 2024, scheduled to take place at Sevit Island in Seoul on Tuesday under the theme of “Inspiration, Limitless?” In a written

Arts & DesignOct. 6, 2024

Baseball star Hwang Jae-gyun, T-ara's Jiyeon file for divorce mediation

Baseball star Hwang Jae-gyun and Jiyeon of girl group T-ara have filed for divorce mediation to end their two-year marriage, the singer said Saturday. In a statement released by her legal representative, Jiyeon said the couple initiated the process by mutual consent after failing to overcome a dispute. The couple reached an agreement to part ways after living separately due to an unresolved dispute and the process has been filed with the Seoul Family Court, according to the statement. The two ti

TelevisionOct. 5, 2024

Take your dog to a festival this October

From outdoor book festivals to fireworks and flower exhibitions, a wide range of festivals are set to entertain visitors wanting to savor the cooler weather while taking in the autumn atmosphere with friends and family. Ganak-gu and Gangnam-gu -- two districts located in southern Seoul -- plan not to leave furry friends and their owners out of the fun. Nakseongdae Park will become a small theme park for pet dogs where they can enjoy various activities. Dogs and their owners can build precious me

TravelOct. 5, 2024

From thrillers to animation: Netflix's 2025 Korean originals promise universal fun, fresh stories

Netflix, a global streaming service, plans to roll out seven Korean original films next year, responding to rapidly evolving content consumption trends as movie viewing extends beyond traditional theaters. The company prioritized "enhancing quality and expanding diversity" when selecting the films for next year, Kim Tae-won, director of the Content & Business team at Netflix Korea, said at a press conference Friday night on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival (BI

FilmOct. 5, 2024

Biannual palace festival to kick off next week

The biannual festival at the four biggest Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces in Seoul will start a five-day run Wednesday packed with performances from ballet to classical music and musicals. The K-Royal Culture Festival, held in spring and fall, will host performances at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung. At Gyeongbokgung, “The Royal Concert: Ballet and Sujecheon” will be performed Oct. 10-13, showing a blend of ballet and the royal court music of Joseon. On O

Arts & DesignOct. 4, 2024