[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, Pyeongchang The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival will run from Jan. 20-29 in the area around Songcheon Stream in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The annual festival began in 1993, and has become among the most famous winter festivals in South Korea. The event features beautiful snowy hills and enjoyable activities for both children and adults. Admission fees for the snowgloo park and snow sledding cost 8,000 won and 10,000 won, respectively. Online reservations can be made

TravelJan. 13, 2023

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (United States) Opened Jan. 4 Adventure/Comedy Directed by Joel Crawford Puss in Boots decides to live a life as a pet cat instead of a hero, after discovering that he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Knowing that an adventure will take its toll, Puss departs for a legendary journey to find the mythical Last Wish for the Wishing Star and restore the rest of his eight lives. With his unexpected companions -- Kitty Softpaws and the kind-hearted

FilmJan. 13, 2023

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents dim sum and small bites The Lounge at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul has reinvented its signature dim sum and small bites menu. Authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum highlights include chewy prawn har gau and black pork siu mai. The dim sum menu is accompanied by a selection of small bites. The highlights include tree ears with black vinegar, lychee and prawn balls and lotus leaf sticky rice. A la carte dishes are priced between 18,000 won and 60,000 won, while set menus, f

FoodJan. 13, 2023

[Graphic News] Korean mask dance added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list

The traditional Korean mask dance, or “talchum” in Korean, was inscribed onto a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Nov. 30. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided to put “Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 17th session in Rabat, Morocco. Talchum is a performing art that encompasses dance, music

CultureJan. 13, 2023

'Korea Grand Sale 2023' kicks off with various advantages for tourists

The 48-day Korea Grand Sale 2023 kicked off on Thursday for foreign nationals who look to visit South Korea. Korea Grand Sale, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has taken place each year since 2011. The campaign aims at boosting the tourism industry during the winter season, when the lowest number of tourist visit South Korea. Dozens of companies including major airlines and hotel chains opened online booths with special advantages in four categories of “flight,&rdq

TravelJan. 12, 2023

CICI honors those who boost Korea's image

Well-known figures who have contributed to building a positive image of Korea at home and overseas were honored at the Korea Image Awards ceremony organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute at the InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Emmy-winning actor Lee Jung-jae from Netflix’s global phenomenon “Squid Game," former Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna, teen swimmer Hwang Sun-woo and European fashion houses received this year's awards, w

CultureJan. 12, 2023

[Newsmaker] Fallen ancient Buddha statue to be put upright by 2025

A 1,300-year-old rock-carved Buddha statue in Gyeongju’s Namsan, discovered with its face down a mere 5 centimeters away from a giant rock, is to be reerected, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism announced Wednesday. The Jogye Order announced the Maaebul restoration project during its New Year’s press conference held at the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno, central Seoul, on Wednesday. "The Buddha (statue) spent a thousand years lying face down, to bear

CultureJan. 12, 2023

[Herald Review] Thriller play ‘Misery’ keeps audience on edge of seats

Outside the window, it is raining heavily as lightning cracks. In the dreary atmosphere, Annie Wilkes barges into the room, her face distorted in anger, she screams, “Misery cannot be dead! How could you? You murdered her!” Unable to control her rage, Annie almost swings a chair at Paul Sheldon, unable to move due to leg injuries. Then suddenly in a surprisingly soft voice, she whispers: “Try to experience what pain is. Don’t even dream that someone will come and save you

PerformanceJan. 12, 2023

Artists question identity at Art Sonje Center

Shows by artists Oh Hein-kuhn and Kang Hyun-seon running at Art Sonje Center in Seoul prompt visitors to think more deeply about identity. Kang and Oh use different media. Oh is a photographer while Kang uses digital technology, including virtual reality, which she has employed for the first time. While the artists’ works are quite different, they lead visitors to look both inward and outward -- to think about who you are and who they are. On the first and third floors is the exhibition &l

Arts & DesignJan. 12, 2023

Park Chan-wook misses out at Golden Globe Awards

Internationally acclaimed director Park Chan-wook’s romance thriller, “Decision to Leave,” failed to win the best non-English language film prize at the 80th Golden Globe Awards Wednesday. The award went to "Argentina, 1985," an Argentine historical drama film written, produced and directed by Santiago Mitre. The film became the first recipient after the award was renamed from best foreign language film, amid controversy over ethical lapses and a lack of diversity in

FilmJan. 11, 2023

16th century mother-of-pearl-inlay stationery box donated to National Museum of Korea

A 16th century mother-of-pearl inlay lacquered floral stationery box and cover from the Joseon era was donated to the National Museum of Korea on Wednesday by the Young Friends of the Museum which purchased the piece at a Sotheby's auction late last year. Young Friends of the Museum is a group of young entrepreneurs who sponsor and promote Korean culture and arts. Established in 2008, the group bought and donated a Goryeo-era Buddhist relic to the museum in 2018. Finely inlaid with mother

CultureJan. 11, 2023

MMCA Director Youn pledges improvement after special audit finds illegalities

Youn Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, said on Tuesday that while it is “unfortunate” the museum was subjected to a special audit, he would use the audit results to improve the museum. At a press conference that had been scheduled to announce the museum's plans for the year, including its lineup of exhibitions and projects, Youn briefly spoke on the audit report released Monday. However, questions from press were mostly about the Cu

Arts & DesignJan. 10, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director He Shuming tells Singaporean story through Korean drama in ‘Ajoomma’

In Singaporean film director He Shuming's debut “Ajoomma,” the description of "ajumma," a Korean term for middle-aged women, is somewhat different from what Koreans understand it to be. The film centers on a widowed housewife played by Singaporean TV actor Hong Huifang, who steps out of her comfort zone by making a trip to South Korea by herself. During her trip she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and strikes up an unexpected friendship. The director said he wan

FilmJan. 10, 2023

Poet Ko Un releases new books five years after sexual harassment allegation

Korean poet Ko Un, 90, who had stayed away from the literary scene after sexual harassment allegations were made against him in 2017, has returned with a new collection of poems. Silcheon Munhak published Ko’s latest collection of poetry, “Song of Nothingness,” along with a collection of conversations, “Conversation With Ko Un,” on Dec. 20. The publisher said 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of the poet's debut in 1958. The two books are Ko's first publicat

BooksJan. 10, 2023

Jeon Do-yeon excited to return with romance series after 17 years

Jeon Do-yeon shared a mixed bag of emotions about her long-anticipated return to a romance series in “Crash Course in Romance.” “It has been a very long time to read a script with bright stories. I was simply drawn to the series’ bright, positive energy,” Jeon said during an online press conference Monday. “My character revealed some of the sides that I had forgotten for a long time.” The Cannes-winning actor shared that she felt pressure and questioned

TelevisionJan. 10, 2023

[Graphic News] South Korean art market surpasses 1tr won in 2022

The South Korean art market surpassed 1 trillion won ($782 million) in total sales for the first time in 2022 on strong sales of artworks through galleries and art fairs, the Culture Ministry said. The trade volume of artworks increased 37.2 percent from 756.3 billion won in 2021 to 1.037 trillion won in 2022 despite the global economic woes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. By sector, art fairs experienced the largest growth of 59.8 percent from

CultureJan. 10, 2023

Harry’s racism 'olive branch' dismissed in UK as book comes out

　 London (AFP) - Prince Harry‘s denial that he accused his family of racism was interpreted in the UK press Monday as a bizarre peace offering, but commentators argued the damage had already been done as his unflinching memoir comes out. The midnight release of “Spare” is being accompanied by four television interviews in Britain and the United States, where Harry now lives with wife Meghan. In the first to air, with Britain’s ITV, the Duke of Sussex caused bafflement b

BooksJan. 9, 2023

MMCA inappropriately purchased artworks, illegally spent funds: audit

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea was found to have committed 16 illegal or inappropriate deeds in managing the museum, according to the result of a special audit released by the Culture Ministry on Monday. The 16 cases include inappropriate process of purchasing artworks and illegal spending of the MMCA Foundation fund as incentives to the museum’s employees. The foundation, also led by the museum's director, was established in 2013 to support the museum. The

Arts & DesignJan. 9, 2023

Korean production of 'The Phantom of the Opera' to return after 13 years

The Korean production of the musical “The Phantom of the Opera” is returning for the first time in 13 years. The third Korean-language revival after the 2001 and 2009 runs, the latest production is set to premiere in Busan and will feature headlining actor Cho Seung-woo, musical actor Jeon Dong-suk and baritone Julian Kim as the Phantom. Sohn Ji-soo and Song Eun-hye will take the role of Christine. The Busan performances will kick off at Dream Theatre, a venue dedicated to musicals

PerformanceJan. 9, 2023

[Newsmaker] Is Kim Yo-jong a spare for Kim Jong-un?

To the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his younger sister Kim Yo-jong is a very special figure. Kim Yo-jong assists Kim Jong-un at close range for official events. She is intimately involved in important international affairs and wields great influence over the politburo. Is Kim Yo-jong a successor to Kim Jong-un? Or a top spare for the Kim dynasty? asked Yoshihiro Makino, a reporter and former Seoul bureau chief of the Asahi Shimbun, one of the four largest newspapers in Japan, in his recently

BooksJan. 9, 2023