Ahn Cheol-soo visits HYBE to talk ways to promote Korean culture

Presidential transition committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo visits the headquarters of HYBE, the K-pop powerhouse that manages BTS, in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul. With an attempt to discuss ways to promote Korean culture, Ahn and the members of different subcommittees hoped to listen to what the new administration can do for start-ups and entertainment industry. Officials of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team and HYBE continued the discussion on ways to provide sustainable environmen

CultureApril 2, 2022

Sorae Marsh Ecological Park, beloved place for birds and tourists

  INCHEON -- As the cold winter steps aside and the government eases social distancing rules, people are more interested than ever in traveling to enjoy the spring. But with the country experiencing the worst wave of the pandemic, surpassing 10 million cases last week, many people are trying to enjoy simple outdoor activities at open spaces with few crowds. The Sorae Marsh Ecological Park, about 40 kilometers from Seoul in Incheon’s Namdong-gu, was created in 2009, replacing the for

TravelApril 1, 2022

23rd Jeonju International Film Festival announces selections for this year

The upcoming Jeonju International Film Festival will feature 217 films, including works by “Hellbound” director Yeon Sang-ho and “Pachinko” creator Kogonada, its organizing committee said Thursday during a press conference at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul. The 23rd edition of Jeonju IFF will kick off April 28 and run through May 7 at five theaters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. It will be an online-offline hybrid festival, similar to last year, but the committee sa

FilmApril 1, 2022

S. Korean content creators poised for Hollywood

In response to expanding excitement for Korean content, particularly since Netflix’s “Squid Game” became an international sensation last fall, local content creators are being brought into the spotlight, poised to embark on Hollywood careers. Major South Korean drama production company Studio Dragon has agreed to co-produce a drama series with US company Skydance Television for Apple TV+ in the second half of 2021. Recognized for producing outstanding, hit dramas “Guar

CultureApril 1, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul announces ‘2022 Garden Wine Fair’ JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents the 2022 Wine Fair with more than 220 different wines from outstanding wineries in 11 countries — including France, the United States, Italy and Australia. The fair runs for three days from April 6, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Margaux Grill’s seventh-floor outdoor garden. Wines reserved in advance from a selection of 220 labels between March 26 and 30 will be available to pick

FoodApril 1, 2022

[Well-curated] Feast for your eyes: Adults-only comics store, multimedia BTS show and cherry blossoms

Koreans today enjoy digital comics via computers and smartphones, but if you miss printed comic books and the joy of turning the pages, consider visiting Graphic this weekend. Within a 20-minute walk from Itaewon Station Exit 2 or Station Exit 1 on Subway Line No. 6, Graphic offers a quiet, cozy place for comic book fans. The three-story building is filled with graphic novels, comic books and art books in both Korean and English. With tables and chairs of different sizes and styles, the visit

CultureApril 1, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Blossom Picnic at E-World The Blossom Picnic is scheduled to kick off on March 19 and run through April 3 at E-World in Daegu. Visitors can catch the earliest-blooming cherry blossoms at the venue and it is one of the best spots to see the pink and white blooms at night. The areas around the 83 Tower, a famous Daegu landmark, are divided into zones with unique themes -- healing zone, camping zone and picnic zone -- allowing visitors to enjoy spring in a variety of settings. Red double-decker

TravelApril 1, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Hot Blooded (Korea) Opened March 23 Crime, Action Directed by Cheon Myoung-kwan In 1993 in Kuam, a small port town outside Busan, third-rate gangster Hee-su acts as a hotel manager under Don Son (Kim Kap-soo). One day, Yong-kang (Choi Mu-sung), who fled the country suspected of murder, returns home and begins causing trouble. Hee-su finds out that the trouble was caused by the drugs that Yong-kang has been smuggling. Moonfall (US) Opened March 16 Science-fiction Directed by Roland Emmer

FilmApril 1, 2022

'Crash Landing on You' couple Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin wed in private ceremony

Top actors Hyun Bin, 39, and Son Ye-jin, 40, were married in a private ceremony Thursday afternoon. The couple’s parents, relatives and friends attended the ceremony at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, that was held under tight security. “Actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are holding their wedding ceremony, taking their first step as a married couple,” Son’s agency MSTeam Entertainment said in a press statement Thursday afternoon. “Conside

PeopleMarch 31, 2022

[Reporter’s notebook] What Youn Yuh-jung has taught us: It’s OK to be yourself

My first memory of Youn Yuh-jung dates back to 1991 when she played the role of a talkative and fussy mother in the television series “What is Love,” which holds the record for the third-highest average viewership of any Korean television broadcast here. In the eyes of a 9-year-old child, Youn looked far from the stereotypical Korean moms that I’ve seen on TV before. It was not just because of the snobbish role she played. It was more about her stiff appearance and husky v

PeopleMarch 31, 2022

Korean books to watch for this spring

Park Sang-young's queer coming-of-age tale “Love in the Big City” (translated by Anton Hur) is one of two Korean novels longlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize. Together with Bora Chung’s ”Cursed Bunny,“ Park‘s debut novel and first book to be translated into English highlights the diversity of contemporary Korean literature. Chung’s short story collection tackles a variety of styles and concepts, from surreal horror and dark fairytales to sci

BooksMarch 31, 2022

Musical ‘Kpop’ featuring Luna to hit Broadway

“Kpop,” an original musical about what it takes to be a K-pop star, is hitting Broadway in October after five years as a smaller scale show that has grown in popularity in tandem with the global rise of Korean music. “Kpop” premiered as an immersive off-Broadway show in the fall of 2017. The production received the 2018 Richard Rodgers Award, three Lucille Lortel Awards, including best musical, the Off Broadway Alliance Award, and seven Drama Desk Award nominations. It

PerformanceMarch 31, 2022

[Herald Interview] Giving back to Southeast Asia by introducing region’s art, literature to Korea

With South Korea riding high on the wave of its international success in the pop culture arena, ranging from the hugely popular “Squid Game” to children’s book illustrator Suzy Lee winning the prestigious Andersen Awards just last week, a foundation hopes to pay it forward by introducing Koreans to relatively unknown Southeast Asian literature. In pursuit of this goal, the Hansae Yes24 Foundation, established in 2014 and privately funded by Kim Dong-Nyung, chairman of Hansae Y

BooksMarch 31, 2022

[Herald Interview] World’s top DJ hopes to work with BTS

K-pop has become a truly global phenomenon, thanks to its distinctive blend of melodies, powerful choreography and an endless parade of attractive performers. Amid the popularity of K-pop worldwide, an increasing number of big-name artists are wooing Korean musicians. It is a desire shared by Brazilian DJ Alok, who has worked with global artists such as John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Jason Derulo, Dua Lipa and Steve Aoki. While the world’s top DJ is still thirsty for more collaboration project

PerformanceMarch 31, 2022

MBC presents new webtoon-based drama ‘Tomorrow’

Terrestrial broadcaster MBC starts airing a new fantasy series “Tomorrow” on Friday. The broadcaster’s new Friday-Saturday drama is an adaptation of a highly rated Naver Webtoon of the same title created by author Llama. Helmed by Kim Tae-yun, the director and screenwriter behind hit films “Perfect Number” (2012) and “New Trial” (2016), the series presents a star-studded lineup, including veteran actors Kim Hee-sun, model and actor Lee Soo-hyuk, actor

TelevisionMarch 31, 2022

‘Crash Landing on You’ couple Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin to wed in private ceremony

Top actors Hyun Bin, 39, and Son Ye-jin, 40, are getting married in a private wedding ceremony Thursday. Set to be held at Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Hyun and Son’s parents, relatives and friends will be attending the wedding starting at 4 p.m. While most details about the stars’ wedding have not been released, actor Jang Dong-gun, a long-time friend of Hyun, is reportedly delivering a congratulatory speech. After co-starring in the film “The Nego

PeopleMarch 31, 2022

Stage set for T1, Gen.G to clash for LCK Spring title

Two Korean League of Legends powerhouse teams -- T1 and Gen.G -- are set to face each other for this year’s spring title, with esports fans and spectators excited to watch the two battle it out in the first in-person showdown in almost three years. “In accordance with the government’s COVID-19 measures, a total of 3,500 seats will be available for the upcoming finals. We hope to bring a stadium filled with the crowd’s chants this summer,” said the secretary-gener

esportsMarch 30, 2022

Korea Herald, Peninsula agree to enhance media cooperation in Gulf region

DOHA, Qatar -- The Korea Herald signed a memorandum of understanding with the Peninsula, an English-language daily newspaper published from Doha, Qatar, to enhance media cooperation between Korea and the Gulf region at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel in Doha on Sunday. Signed on the sidelines of 20th Doha Forum, the agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journalistic content, boosting Korea-Qatar friendly relations and solidifying people-to-people contact by hosting e

PeopleMarch 30, 2022

‘Queendom’ season 2: Six female K-pop acts face fiercer competition

Mnet’s hit survival program “Queendom” is returning with a second season, featuring six high-profile female K-pop acts vying to take home the top honor, along with an opportunity to air its global comeback show through the cable channel. The show will take on the same format as the previous season, which ended in October 2019, but this time also allows global fans to participate in the voting to pick their No. 1 “global queen.” The program’s first season r

TelevisionMarch 30, 2022

Korean pavilion at Venice Biennale will feature the theme ‘Gyre’ as world’s disorder

The Korean Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale in April will be held under the theme of “Gyre,” as a metaphor for the confusion that the world goes through with seven installations created by artist Kim Yun-chul. “The word ‘Gyre’ connotes multiple meanings. The Korean Pavilion will become a massive work itself, organically combined with Kim’s works. We will tear off the pavilion ceiling, so that the space mingles with nature with smell and natural light,&r

Arts & DesignMarch 30, 2022