'Hansan: Rising Dragon' tops 7 mln admissions

The Korean historical epic "Hansan: Rising Dragon" surpassed 7 million admissions Sunday, the movie's local distributor said. The film about Adm. Yi Sun-shin -- one of Korea's most celebrated legendary admirals -- hit the milestone in the afternoon, Lotte Entertainment said. The second installment of director Kim Han-min's trilogy talks about the famous Battle of Hansan Island on the southern coast of Korea in July 1592, when Yi defeated the larger Japanese force through intelligent

FilmAug. 28, 2022

[Korean artists of Note] ‘A painting is a painting’: Hejum Ba refuses to define images

Following is the third in a six-part series highlighting the next generation of Korean artists active in the international art scene. – Ed Bold color field paintings come into sight upon entering Hejum Ba’s studio in Seoul. The vivid paintings evoke a feeling of mystery in viewers, who may stand in front of the artworks, trying to figure out the subjects of the painting or decipher the artist’s intentions. When it came to explaining the paintings, Ba was reserved. People t

Arts & DesignAug. 28, 2022

Spin-off series of movie ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ to start production in 2023

A spinoff series of action-packed Korean thriller “Deliver Us From Evil’ will start production in 2023, according to the local production firm of the original film, Hive Media Corp. The new TV series titled “Ray,” being created for a streaming platform, will be produced alongside Artist Studio, a production company known for works like Netflix series “The Silent Sea” and actor Lee Jung-jae’s directorial debut feature “Hunt.” The original

FilmAug. 28, 2022

Get a glimpse of Jeju ... in Seoul

Want to sample the gorgeous sunny beaches of Korea‘s popular holiday destination, Jeju, but can’t get away? Don‘t worry. Some places are bringing the island’s exotic vibes to Seoul. Gochibi The owner-chef of Gochibi, an Italian fusion restaurant located in Seochon, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jongno-gu in northern Seoul, was born and raised in Jeju. Gochibi is a word from the Jeju dialect meaning “go family.” The small restaurant has fewer than 10

FoodAug. 27, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Joseon royal tombs’ eternal presence in pristine settings

The Korean landscape has an abundant number of royal tombs dating back to Ancient Joseon from 2333 BC to the Joseon Kingdom of the 20th century. While most of the royal tombs of previous kingdoms still remain unidentified, all of the royal tombs of the Joseon Kingdom from that of the founding father of Joseon Yi Seong-gye to the last Emperor Yunghui of the Korean Empire are clearly marked and maintained in pristine condition. During the Joseon era, when the Yi family of Jeonju ruled Korea cont

CultureAug. 27, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Bullet Train (US)　 Opened Aug. 24 Action Directed by David Leitch In Tokyo, grieving father Yuichi Kimura (Andrew Koji) seeks revenge after a mysterious person pushes his son off a rooftop. Meanwhile, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), a down-on-his-luck assassin, is on a mission to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. While on his mission, he discovers other assassins on board who seem to have the same goal. Nope (US) Opened Aug. 17 Horror Directed by Jordan Peele O.J

FilmAug. 27, 2022

Leading filmmakers call for fair remuneration

Leading voices in the Korean film industry will gather at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on Wednesday to seek their rights as content creators, the Directors Guild of Korea said Friday. Five acclaimed directors will discuss the issue of revising the Copyright Act, and call for fair remuneration and guarantee of directors’ rights, the statement said. The current copyright law stipulates that the rights to cinematographic works “shall be presumed to have been tr

FilmAug. 26, 2022

BIFF to screen 12 films by emerging Korean directors

Busan International Film Festival on Friday unveiled 12 films for the “Korea Cinema Today-Vision” section, a section dedicated to discovering the latest independent films and emerging Korean directors. First or second full-length films by the selected Korean filmmakers will be premiered at the section. This year’s selection ranges from drama, silent film to stop-motion animation and thriller, exploring the directors’ different approaches to their subject and filmmaking.

FilmAug. 26, 2022

Tving, Paramount+ to present Lee Joon-ik’s ‘Beyond the Memory’

Lee Joon-ik, a master of period films who was behind “The King and the Clown” (2005), “The Throne” (2015), “Anarchist from Colony” (2017) and “The Book of Fish” (2021), is set to make his Tving debut with the sci-fi drama “Beyond the Memory.” The filmmaker’s upcoming series will be released in October, according to Tving, local entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM’s subscription-based streaming platform. “Beyond the Memo

TelevisionAug. 26, 2022

Seowon exhibition to take place in Andong

A special media exhibition on “seowon” -- Korean Neo-Confucian private academies established in the mid to late Joseon era for the aristocratic upper class -- will be held at Byeongsan Seowon in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, from Saturday to Tuesday, Andong City announced Friday. A newly released documentary on seowon will be released at the exhibition titled “Heading to Seowon,” jointly organized by the Cultural Heritage Administration and Andong City, and hosted

TravelAug. 26, 2022

Iron Museum founding director Chang In-kyung appointed vice president of International Museums Council

The International Council of Museums named Chang In-kyung, former head of the ICOM Korea Committee and founding director of the Iron Museum in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, as co-vice president of ICOM headquarters, on Thursday. The announcement was made after the 37th ICOM General Assembly held in Prague, on Thursday. Emma Nardi, professor in University Rome Tre’s Experimental Pedagogy studies department, was elected president, and Terry Simioti, assistant curator of Ichthyology

PeopleAug. 26, 2022

[Well-curated] Fall means Hangang night market, browsing books and hanbok for Chuseok

Banpo Hangang Park will stay brightly lit into the night this weekend with over 100 food trucks and arts and crafts vendors setting up shop. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Seoul Hangang Moonlight Night Market will offer international food, street food and special beverages from some 40 different food trucks. Around 60 arts and crafts vendors will be showcasing their unique products, from postcards and accessories to perfumes and pet supplies. The colorful changing of lights at the Banpo Bridge

CultureAug. 26, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul unveils Chuseok gift sets JW Marriott Hotel Seoul celebrates the Chuseok holiday season with a selection of gifts chosen by expert connoisseurs, available for purchase until Sept. 6. 2022 Chuseok gift sets come in six categories: Beef, Seafood, Gourmet, Beverage, JW Exclusive and JW Experience. The Beef Selection includes aged lamb chops, marinated bulgogi and six other premium meat sets. The Seafood Selection presents Wando abalone on seaweed. The Gourmet Selection

FoodAug. 26, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Pohang International Fire and Light Festival The Pohang International Fire and Light Festival is scheduled to be held at Hyeongsangang Sports Park from Sept. 23 to 25 in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The three-day event offers a spectacular fireworks competition with a DJ party, busking, a parade and more. Teams from four countries -- South Korea, Sweden, Italy and the Philippines -- are taking part in the competition that takes place at 8 p.m., Sept. 24. More information can be found a

TravelAug. 26, 2022

New York-based artist Lee Kyung-lim turns cardboards into art

Lee Kyung-lim has been exploring corrugated cardboard for more than 15 years. The harmony of acrylics, resin and corrugated cardboard create a unique texture of her works that embody scenes of nature and cities she has traveled to around the world. “Corrugated cardboard has winding symmetrical curves on the surface. They have straight lines as well. They are easy to cut, and they absorb water fast. Corrugated cardboards are an attractive material for me,” Lee said. The 54-year-o

Arts & DesignAug. 26, 2022

Forum explores meaning of space and its impact on cultural communication

Physical space is as important as ever in the post-pandemic era contrary to suggestions that virtual space would largely eliminate physical space, according to experts. A group of noted scholars and architects discussed the meaning of space and its impact on cultural communication in the pandemic era at the 2022 Culture Communication Forum on Thursday. The 13th edition of the forum, organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute, was held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, central

Arts & DesignAug. 25, 2022

[From the Scene] Seoul Popcon returns after two-year COVID-19 break

Seoul Pop Culture Convention, a rebranding and expansion of comic culture festival Seoul Comic Con, kicked off its four-day run at C and D halls at Coex, southern Seoul. The offline festival returned after a two-year hiatus as South Korea continues to remove its COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. The huge crowds of masked attendees, the din of camera shutter sounds and the huge lines in front of booths proved that the long-anticipated return of this event has been well-received. &rdquo

CultureAug. 25, 2022

MBN to air first metaverse-based music survival show ‘Avatar Singer’

As the metaverse rise in prominence, South Korean cable channel MBN decided to launch the first-ever music survival program using metaverse technology. “Avatar Singer” will feature 10 top-tier musicians that conceal their identities behind a digital character. The contestants, represented by their 3D avatars with supernatural powers, will compete to become the show‘s winner. Their performances will transcend the physical limitations of the stage for a uniquely immersive viewi

TelevisionAug. 25, 2022

‘Taken’-style action film ‘Limit’ features female lead and villain

Singer-turned-actor Lee Jung-hyun said her new thriller “Limit,” directed by Lee Seung-joon, is similar to “Taken,” the hit Hollywood film about a former spy who goes to great lengths to find his kidnapped teenage daughter. But unlike “Taken,” the action film features a mother and a female villain as the main characters. “We hoped to create a Korean version of ‘Taken’” that features a mother as the main character, Lee said during a

FilmAug. 25, 2022

Hackberry from ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ receives natural monument status

A 500-year-old protected tree in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, which recently gained fame following its appearance in the global hit drama series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” is to be designated a natural monument by the end of September, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Wednesday. The East Asian hackberry of Bukbu-ri, Changwon, also known as “Sodeok-dong paengnamu” in the TV series, stands 16 meters tall with a circumference of 6.8 meters. It h

CultureAug. 25, 2022