[Herald Interview] Charles B. Wang Center Director Jin Jin-young tells stories of Korean art to global audiences

Jin Jin-young, director of cultural programs at the Charles B. Wang Center in New York, increasingly feels the rising popularity of Korean culture stemming from pop music, films and dramas. And that interest is spreading to Korean art amid the fast-growing Korean art market, she notes. While there is a wealth of information about Korean pop culture, she found there are few reliable sources for global audiences looking for more information about Korean culture, history and art, whether they be

Arts & DesignNov. 14, 2021

Song Hye-kyo makes triumphant return with first episode of ‘Now We Are Breaking Up’

Actor Song Hye-kyo made a triumphant return to the small screen Friday with her first TV drama in two years, SBS’ “Now We Are Breaking Up.” The first episode recorded the highest viewership rating of all Friday-Saturday dramas that aired over those two days. The first showing on Friday marked an average nationwide rating of 6.4 and a peak of 8.4 percent. The ratings improved the following day, with the second episode scoring nationwide viewership ratings of 8.0 percent and

TelevisionNov. 14, 2021

SPO to go onstage with Chopin Competition winner

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is to hold a concert with the winner of the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition, Bruce Liu. Liu, 24, the first prize winner of the competition which took place in Warsaw, Poland, in October, will go onstage with the Seoul-based orchestra on Nov. 27 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, under the baton of associate conductor Wilson Ng. The Canadian pianist will perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11. Other works on the prog

PerformanceNov. 14, 2021

Joseon pop: Tradition gets makeover

Young musicians’ efforts to create new styles of traditional Korean music are finally bearing fruit with a new school of music winning over television audiences. While artists such as gender-bending singer Lee Hee-moon, and traditional Korean music-inspired avant-rock band Jambinai have paved the way for fusion music, Joseon pop is now breaking through with a more mainstream sound. A reference to the Joseon era (1392-1910), Joseon pop mixes traditional music, known as “gugak,&rd

PerformanceNov. 14, 2021

Culture ministry to co-host in-person K-pop concert for 3,000 people

The South Korean government will host a big in-person K-pop concert to be attended by 3,000 people Sunday to help the people gradually return to their normal lives after almost two years of restrictions meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated private foundation, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, said the one-day "World K-pop Concert: B.I.T. 4U Concert" will take place at the Korea International Exhib

CultureNov. 14, 2021

[Eye Plus] Tracing the history of Korea’s Anglican Church in island town

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church sits in a small town of Onsu, Ganghwado, one of the around 150 islands and islets in the Incheon archipelago.  The church was built by British missionary Mark N. Trollope, who came to Ganghwado in 1896 and later went on to become the third Anglican bishop in Korea from 1911 until his death.  Designed and completed during the early years of the imperial reign of Gojong -- the last king of the Joseon era who assumed the title of emperor in 1897 -- the

CultureNov. 13, 2021

German-style baked goods at Backerin

After learning how to make bread in Germany, owner-chef Lee Ho-kyoung opened a small bakery, christening it Backerin, in Seoul’s Samseong-dong in July 2020. From her small perch, she sold her take on German bread -- several varieties of pretzels and brotchen -- and sweets like her moist mini lemon gugelhupfs. Even before Lee opened Backerin, she was fond of bread. “While living in Korea I already loved bread so much I baked bread at home on occasion,” Lee, 30, revealed in

FoodNov. 13, 2021

[Visual History of Korea] Wooden block printing perfection of Tripitaka Koreana

No civilization accomplished documenting all-known Buddhist thought as the Goryeo Kingdom did, some seven centuries ago during a time of war and a clash of empires. Written Hanja, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, have been steadily developing in Korean culture since before the common era. Along with indigenous beliefs and Confucianism thoughts, Buddhism became the most entrenched religion for Koreans from early on. One of mankind’s great innovations in history is the invention of

CultureNov. 13, 2021

Royal library at Changdeokgung to open to public

While Korea’s recently implemented “living with COVID-19” scheme has allowed royal palaces to welcome visitors with special programs, the royal library and its grounds at Changdeokgung are to be opened to the public for a week in November. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday that it will run a guided tour of the Gyujanggak area at the royal palace of Changdeokgung in central Seoul, twice a day from Saturday to Wednesday.  Founded in 1776 inside the

CultureNov. 13, 2021

[Photo News] Merchants make kimchi for people in need

Merchants at Yukgeori Market in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, gathered Thursday to make kimchi for people who are struggling financially. 　 Approximately 80 people, including Cheongju Mayor Han Beom-deok and North Chungcheong Province Gov. Lee Si-jong, participated in the kimchi-making event using 1,000 heads of cabbage. “As merchants of the landmark traditional market of this region, all of the members of our merchant association will contribute to our local community and spread

CultureNov. 13, 2021

Singer-songwriter Sam Kim, Indonesian singer Raisa drop single ‘Someday’

Singer-songwriter Sam Kim and Indonesian singer Raisa dropped their song “Someday” on Friday. It is the Korean American musician’s first time collaborating as a producer with a non-Korean artist. The two artists held a joint global press conference Friday afternoon in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Kim and the South Korean media attending through Zoom. Kim produced the song with the assistance of another Korean singer-songwriter, Jukjae, and it will be part of Raisa’s upcom

PerformanceNov. 12, 2021

MMCA to finish cataloging Lee Kun-hee collection by 2022, transfer works to new hall

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, said Friday that it will hand over the bequest from the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee to the new hall that is scheduled to be built in 2027 in central Seoul. In the meantime, it is examining and cataloging the works. “We are undertaking thorough research on 1,488 artworks from the Lee Kun-hee collection, such as the names and materials of the works and year of creation. We will finish registering them next year and sha

Arts & DesignNov. 12, 2021

Oh Na-ra talks about portraying a secret love affair in rom-com ‘Perhaps Love’

“Perhaps Love,” a new movie directed by Cho Eun-ji and starring Oh Na-ra, offers a different take on relationships than most South Korean films. Oh’s character, Mi-ae, secretly dates Soon-mo (played by Kim Hee-won), a close friend of her ex-husband, Hyun (played by Ryoo Seung-ryo). Soon-mo, a publisher, works with Hyun, a writer struggling to overcome writer’s block. Oh explained during an interview with a group of reporters via Google Meet that she hadn’t exper

FilmNov. 12, 2021

[Newsmaker] Gov’t sets W649b in loans for tourism industry in 2022

Gradually pivoting to a return to normal from the pandemic, the Korean government has mapped out efforts to attract foreign travelers and boost domestic tourism. The 6th National Tourism Strategy Meeting to discuss ways to attract tourists and revitalize the travel economy, chaired by the prime minister, was held Friday. The government made plans to inject 649 billion won ($550 million) in tourism loan funds next year, which is a 55 billion-won increase from this year, to aid the industry for

CultureNov. 12, 2021

Korean art master Park Seo-bo draws line at NFTs

South Korean art master Park Seo-bo confirmed that he would not allow his works to be produced as NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, stressing that digital art belongs to a new generation. Park made his stance known on social media Thursday amid growing attention to the digital art trend, saying people had asked him whether he was interested in tokenizing his works. Park’s paintings are highly popular in the market, and some of his 1.3-meter-by-1.6-meter works have sold for more than 400 mil

Arts & DesignNov. 12, 2021

'Squid Game' emerges as big contender in upcoming year-end awards season in US

The South Korean breakout hit "Squid Game" has emerged as a big contender in the US year-end awards season, possibly to become the first Korean-made TV series winning a trophy at prestigious awards ceremonies. Starting in late fall, the highly competitive race for great TV shows and movies of the year is the biggest celebration for the US entertainment industry eying for the Emmys and Oscars next year. In the past two years, the American awards season unprecedentedly caught the eyes

TelevisionNov. 12, 2021

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel presents ‘Go Bubbly’ promotion The Lounge, situated on JW Marriott Hotel’s eighth floor, presents the “Go Bubbly” promotion that provides unlimited servings of popular dim sum and small bites every Thursday. The selection of 11 dim sum creations includes har gau with soft skin and prawn filling, black pork shu mai made from tender Jeju-grown black pork, xiao long bao dumplings and hanwoo shu mai filled with chopped hanwoo eye of round steak. Some

FoodNov. 12, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Eternals (US) Opened Nov. 3 Action Directed by Chloe Zhao Ten superheroes, known as Eternals, have been on Earth for 7,000 years protecting humans from the threat of Deviants, a bestial and savage race that swallow humans, without revealing their identity. In 1500, the heroes killed the last of the Deviants. However, in present day, the Deviants have returned, and the Eternals have to work together to protect mankind. Ron’s Gone Wrong (US) Opened Oct. 27 Animation Directed by Jean-Phili

FilmNov. 12, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Seoul Lantern Festival The Seoul Lantern Festival is scheduled to kick off Nov. 26 and run through Dec. 12 at various sites in Jongno, central Seoul. The representative festival of Seoul features a number of large paper lanterns and illuminated sculptures along the Cheonggye Stream. The event will be an online-offline hybrid event, where people can enjoy an augmented reality exhibition and join the festival via social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. The offline venues offer visitors

TravelNov. 12, 2021

[Well-curated] Seoul streets come to life with live performances

Even for Seoulites, the city will look very different when seen as a backdrop for eye-opening performances and art exhibitions.   Seoul Street Arts Festival, which is organized by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, will be held in three districts -- Mullae, Yongsan, Seodaemun – and on Nodeul Island in the capital through Sunday. A total of 30 different art groups are showcasing 30 different performances and art exhibitions during the festival. Along with the offline event, t

CultureNov. 11, 2021