CJ vice president headed for Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra: report

The new head of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is likely to be a CJ vice president who led the company’s marketing strategy for the Bibigo brand. According to a report by Kookmin Ilbo Monday, the committee in charge of appointing a new head for the orchestra has decided on Sohn Eun-kyung, the executive vice-president at CJ CheilJedang. An announcement on the CEO appointment is expected soon, an SPO official told The Korea Herald. Since Kang Eun-kyung stepped down as president and CEO

PeopleSept. 27, 2021

Leeum Museum of Art starts afresh

The Leeum Museum of Art is set to reopen on Oct. 8 after undergoing an “exceptionally large-scale” renewal, according to the Samsung Foundation of Culture on Monday. The museum will reopen with “Human, 7 Questions” as its first thematic exhibition since Hong Ra-hee, wife of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, stepped down as director in March 2017 after 13 years. Her resignation came as her only son, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, was embroiled in

Arts & DesignSept. 27, 2021

[Newsmaker] Netflix unveils 10 upcoming Korean dramas, shows after ‘Squid Game’ success

Days after “Squid Game” became the first Korean drama series to rank first on Netflix’s US top 10 TV show list, the global streaming service has unveiled its line-up of Korean programming for the upcoming months, spotlighting 10 drama series and reality shows. Netflix Korea introduced the shows during Tudum, Netflix’s global fan event, on Saturday, which was streamed on Netflix Korea’s YouTube channel. The real-time fan event was moderated by K-pop band Super J

TelevisionSept. 26, 2021

Symposium talks about museums’ expanding role in post-pandemic world

A real-time discussion, “What Do Museums Connect?: Museums in a Post-Pandemic World,” between art experts across the globe and the general public, will be livestreamed on Thursday by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The discussion is part of an MMCA symposium that started earlier this month to explore the changing environment for museums and their expanding role in post-pandemic times. The symposium offers 10 talks by art experts consisting of two section

Arts & DesignSept. 26, 2021

Seoul International Writers’ Festival to shed light on literature’s role in post-pandemic era

  The lingering pandemic has brought about uncertainties on how to engage in dialogue with others, but communication between writers and readers will carry on at the 10th Seoul International Writers’ Festival, scheduled to be held from Oct. 8 to 24. A total of 33 writers -- including 16 national writers -- from 16 different countries will join this year’s festival to share their views on the role and duties that literature will hopefully serve in the post-pandemic era, under t

BooksSept. 26, 2021

[Eye Plus] Travel the world in Kyoha Central Park

Kyoha Central Park is one of the most scenic places to enjoy the autumn breeze in Gyeonggi Province. Visitors can walk along beautiful gardens with different themes. Each garden features traditional styles of seven countries: Korea, India, France, Italy, England, Japan, and China.  Greeting visitors from the entrance is the Korean garden. The garden has a number of replicas of historical architecture and landmarks, such as the gardens of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. A pavilion with a t

TravelSept. 25, 2021

Ilsan Coffee Factory launches first offline showroom

After amassing 14 years of coffee roasting expertise in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Ilsan Coffee Factory’s head roaster and CEO Jung Kang-jin launched a showroom called Standard System in Seoul’s Cheongdam-dong this past August.  Until then, Ilsan Coffee Factory’s roasts were only available wholesale or online. “We received a lot of requests from our regulars to open a showroom for a very long time,” Standard System brand manager Lee Ji-hye, 33, explained in a

FoodSept. 25, 2021

[Herald Design Forum 2021] British architect Amanda Levete fills need for public spaces

British architect Amanda Levete, who founded the architecture studio AL_A in London, has emphasized community values as an architect, bringing public spaces into buildings and architectural spaces. In the pandemic times, she believes, such public spaces have become crucial. “Public spaces are more important now than ever before. We need to make opportunities to connect people because when you do, relationships are formed and ideas exchanged -- and that creates progress,” Levete tol

Arts & DesignSept. 25, 2021

[Visual History of Korea] The Mungyeongsaejae mountain pass and all that it has seen

An ancient mountain pass called Mungyeongsaejae separates the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula from the middle-region, where the capital city is located. Mungyeongsaejae, which literally means a mountain top so high that even birds have difficulty flying over it, cuts over the Baekdudaegan, the mountain range which runs through entire length of the Korean Peninsula. Since the 10th century, in order to take imperial examinations, equivalent to civil service exams today, those from sout

CultureSept. 25, 2021

Seoul International Music Fair seeks to pave way for future of K-pop

The 2021 Seoul International Music Fair (MU:CON), known as Asia’s largest music market fair, will be held online from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, MU:CON has consistently kept up with its aim to promote “K-pop Hallyu,” by establishing a network of domestic and foreign music industry stakeholders and promoting exchanges among them. Under the theme “A Decade of K-pop and the Future ahead,” MU:CON is set to broaden the scope and vision

PerformanceSept. 25, 2021

‘Squid Game’ pop-up set to close amid concerns on quarantine rules raised

A temporary replica set of Netflix original drama series “Squid Game,” installed at Itaewon Station in Yongsan, central Seoul, closed earlier than scheduled after doubts over violations of quarantine rules had been raised. In response to the growing concerns of the public, the Seoul Metro announced that it will close the operation of the set, Ogame World, on Saturday, a day earlier than the expected closing date. The set, situated on an underground common waiting at the station ope

TelevisionSept. 25, 2021

K-pop band NCT 127 debuts on British Official Albums Chart

South Korean boy band NCT 127 has made it onto Britain's Official Charts with its latest album "Sticker." Its third studio album debuted at No. 40 on the Official Albums Chart Top 10 on Friday (local time), just one week after its release on Sept. 17. The nine-piece K-pop act has been listed on the Billboard charts of the United States several times. But this is the first time for the band to enter the top British albums chart, which is compiled by the Official Charts Company based o

PerformanceSept. 25, 2021

SPO to take stage with Erina Yashima, Kim Han

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off its third and final season of 2021 with Japanese-German conductor Erina Yashima and clarinetist Kim Han. The SPO will hold concerts on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul under the baton of Yashima. It is the first time for Yashima, assistant conductor at the Philadelphia Orchestra since 2019, to lead the Seoul-based orchestra. Under her lead, the orchestra will present Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin,&rdqu

PerformanceSept. 24, 2021

Phone number shown on 'Squid Game' leads to onslaught of prank calls

As the Netflix drama series “Squid Game” has become a worldwide sensation, a number of people have come forward claiming that they are receiving endless calls and text messages after the show featured a phone number.　　 In the show, an unnamed character, played by actor Gong Yoo, gives Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae) a business card, asking him to join the Squid Game contest. In the competition, 456 contenders compete for the prize money, risking their lives. The business card has an eight-

TelevisionSept. 24, 2021

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

InterContinental Seoul Coex introduces ‘Mister Chu’ package InterContinental Seoul Coex presents the “Mr. Chu Package,” dedicated to male guests. It includes malt whiskey, a cosmetic product gift pack and access to the Club Lounge. The Men’s All-in-One Skincare Set from L’Occitane Homme is complimentary. Room service includes a whiskey on-the-rocks set comprising four 50-milliliter bottles of Naked Malt, chocolate bonbons made with Naked Malt, tonic water,

FoodSept. 24, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Mungyeong Chasabal Festival The Mungyeong Chasabal Festival will be run as an online-offline hybrid festival from Oct. 1 to 10. The festival will be held at Mungyeongsaejae Open Set Studio in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, an area famous for traditional ceramics. Visitors can learn the different steps of making traditional ceramics. Programs include a stamp tour, exhibition hall and more. An online Chasabal shopping and additional auction program will be held at the Mungyeong Cultural To

TravelSept. 24, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Candyman (US) Opened Sept. 22 Mystery Directed by Nia DaCosta Visual Artist Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) goes back to his hometown in search of inspiration for his new artwork. In the city, Anthony is told a ghost story about the Candyman, a supernatural killer, and becomes fascinated by it. He then creates a mirrored art exhibit based on the legend and showcases it at his girlfriend’s art gallery. From that night, unexpected murders start happening. Miracle: Letters to the Pre

FilmSept. 24, 2021

[Eye interview] Artist open to different genres, novel attempts

A colorful postcard bought in Amsterdam “just because it was so pretty,” notes and letters from friends and a large card with black-and-white graphics -- a ticket to a show by a Korean electronic music group from two years ago he kept because he was very impressed and wanted to remember it -- are lined up neatly inside violinist Yang In-mo’s violin case, affording a glimpse of his taste. “I think it is fun to decorate the interior with postcards like this,” he says

PerformanceSept. 24, 2021

[Well-curated] Korea’s coasts, DMZ, Busan featured in shows

American artist Mark Dion -- who doubles as an amateur ecologist, archaeologist and naturalist -- showcased his first solo exhibition in South Korea at Barakat Contemporary in central Seoul after going through thorough on-site research in South Korea’s western and southern coastlines. Dion’s solo exhibition “The Sea Life of South Korea and Other Curious Tales” includes his new large-scale installations “Cabinet of Marine Debris” and “Sea Life of South

CultureSept. 23, 2021

Culture Minister hints at expansion of Korean gallery at the Met

The Korean government will push for the expansion of the exhibition hall for Korean art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Culture Minister Hwang Hee on Thursday said the government will look into expanding the Arts of Korea Gallery at the renowned museum at a press event held with New York correspondents. “The director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art suggested moving the Arts of Korea Gallery,” Hwang said at the meeting, following the visit to the museum wit

Arts & DesignSept. 23, 2021