62 singers deliver message of hope

Well-known singers have come together with a message of hope in a remake of the 1999 song “Become One” (unofficial translation). The original song was created to deliver that message amid the 1997 financial crisis in South Korea. Big-name singers of the time, from Shin Seung-hun and Kim Jong-seo to Um Jung-hwa and hit K-pop acts such as H.O.T, Sechs Kies and Fin.K.L, took part in the recording, earning the iconic song the moniker “the Korean version of ‘We are the World

PerformanceMay 17, 2021

S. Korean temple enshrines Buddha's statue gifted by India

YANGSAN -- A statue of Buddha donated by India has been enshrined at Tongdo Temple, a South Korean Buddhist temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the temple said Monday. The enshrinement ceremony was held on Sunday at the temple in Yangsan, about 420 kilometers southeast of Seoul, attended by monks from the temple and Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan. It said the bronze statue, which weighs 225 kilograms, was placed at the Cheongpungdang hall for its internationa

CultureMay 17, 2021

Busan art fair wraps up with record 80,000 visitors

An annual art fair held at the country's southeastern port city of Busan wrapped up Sunday with a record number of visitors snapping up billions of won worth of artworks, organizers said Monday. The art fair, now in its 10th year, saw a record 80,000 visitors -- including 15,000 during a preview for art collectors -- visit its stalls despite expectations that attendance would be lackluster amid the new coronavirus pandemic. The previous record was 63,000 in 2019. Around 110 galleries at home a

Arts & DesignMay 17, 2021

[Photo News] Social Media Snapshots

Participants of “Self-PR Era, SNS Marketing: Taking pictures with smartphones,” a lecture led by keith Studio CEO Keith Park, pose for a photo at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday.  New Zealand Ambassador Philip Turner, spouse of New Zealand Ambassador Hiroshi Ikeda, Mexican Ambassador Bruno Figueroa, spouse of Mexican Ambassador Veronica Gonzalez Laport, InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel General Manager Brian Harris, Ewha Womans University Professor Sohn Jie-ae, President of

PeopleMay 17, 2021

Japanese animation becomes 2nd movie to top 2m admissions this year

An animated Japanese film has become the second title attracting more than 2 million moviegoers in South Korea in 2021, box office data showed Monday. The dark fantasy "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" sold 29,000 tickets over the weekend, surpassing the 2 million threshold nearly four months after its release in late January, according to the data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It is the second film released in 2021 to hit 2 million in the country, followi

FilmMay 17, 2021

Artists in Myanmar take part in art fest marking May 18 Democratic Uprising

The May 18 Democratization Movement Art Festival kicked off in Gwangju on Saturday, commemorating the 41st anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising. With the slogan “Spreading peace through solidarity,” the festival aims to connect the historical significance of the past with the need for future engagement and action. An art wall has been installed at May 18 Democracy Square, located within the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju. Nine other joint exhibitions and artists’ w

Arts & DesignMay 16, 2021

[Photo News] Lotus lanterns light up Jogye Temple

The annual Lotus Lantern Festival, called “Yeondeunghoe” in Korean, is held on a rainy Saturday in celebration of Buddha’s birthday at the Jogye Temple in Seoul. This year’s parade of lanterns was scaled down over concerns of a spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, after last year’s cancellation. Buddhist communities at home and abroad participate in “Yeongdeunghoe,” the Lotus Lantern Festival, via Zoom at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul, sharing words o

CultureMay 16, 2021

Pianist Kim Su-yeon wins top prize at Concours Musical International de Montreal

Kim Su-yeon became the first Korean pianist to win the first prize at the Concours Musical International de Montreal. The list of winners for this year’s competition, held for the piano discipline, was unveiled Friday, with Kim announced as the first prize winner. Kim will receive awards and scholarships valued at a total of over $180,000, along with a concert tour in three North American cities, a concerto performance with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal and a solo album record

PerformanceMay 16, 2021

[Photo News] Farewell to Safari Bus, Hello to Wild Tram

Safari Bus passengers look at tigers at the event “Adieu Safari Bus, Welcome Safari World Wild Tram” at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.  The Safari Bus ferries its final Safari tour as Everland is set to replace it with a tram with frameless windows and a lower floor height to allow passengers to get a better view of the wildlife.  Staff wave at the Wild Tram as it sets off for the first time.  Everland staff take a commemorative photograph in front of the

CultureMay 15, 2021

Hands-on eats at Bistro Anthro

When owner-chef Yoon Areum quietly opened her gem of a restaurant in southern Seoul’s Sinsa-dong this February, she was determined to take a hands-on approach with the menu. Everything from the pasta to the bread to the bacon served at Bistro Anthro is made from scratch. While one might find such an undertaking to be ambitious, Yoon and the crew seem to have mastered it all. Their take on pan de cristal, a high-hydration bread hailing from Catalonia, is airy with a textured crumb and

FoodMay 15, 2021

Traditional Korean ware pop-up to open at Hyundai Department Store

A special pop-up store featuring traditional Korean items will open at Hyundai Department Store’s Apgujeong branch in Seoul on Monday, the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation said. The store will be a special space where visitors can view and purchase items made by those whose work have been declared as intangible cultural properties by the Korean government. “The pop-up store will catch the eyes of trendsetters who are interested in traditional items,” an official from the

CultureMay 15, 2021

Sculpture-devoted Plastic Art Seoul 2021 to kick off Sunday

Plastic Art Seoul 2021, Korea's largest art fair devoted to sculptures and installation works, will kick off on Sunday at Coex in southern Seoul, under the theme “New Generation.” While the art fair features sculptures, it will also present a variety of different artworks including installation art, paintings and media art. A total of 89 galleries from home and abroad will join the show bringing 2,500 artworks by 700 artists together under one roof. “Last year, sales reac

Arts & DesignMay 14, 2021

Korean art master Suh Se-ok’s collection donated to his second hometown

A majority of the collection by Korean abstract art master, the late Suh Se-ok has been donated to Seongbuk-gu, northern Seoul where the artist lived for 60 years. Suh’s family donated a total of 3,290 artworks, including the artist’s works and those he collected throughout his life. The donation was made without any condition, according to the Seongbuk Museum of Art. The donated works will be stored at the Seongbuk Museum of Art until a museum dedicated to the artist is establi

Arts & DesignMay 14, 2021

Culture Ministry appoints Kwak Hyo-hwan as LTI Korea head

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Friday appointed poet Kwak Hyo-hwan as the new president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. His term will run through May 13, 2024. “With new president Kwak Hyo-hwan, we hope that LTI Korea expands its role as the key player in exporting Korean literature overseas,” a Culture Ministry official said. “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to reinforce our support for LTI Korea and boost global inte

BooksMay 14, 2021

Comedian Yoo Jae-suk, film director Lee Joon-ik win top prize at Baeksang Arts Awards

Korean comedian Yoo Jae-suk and Lee Joon-ik, the director of period film “Book of Fish,” won the grand prizes in the TV and film categories respectively at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. This year’s award ceremony took place at Kintex exhibition hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Thursday night and it was hosted by comedian Shin Dong-yup and singer-actress Suzy. Yoo, the winner of this year’s TV categories’ grand prize, was recognized for hosting multiple suc

TelevisionMay 14, 2021

Director Lee Joon-ik of 'Book of Fish' wins grand prize at Baeksang Awards

Director Lee Joon-ik of the historical drama "Book of Fish" and comedian Yoo Jae-suk have won the grand prize in the film and TV categories, respectively, at this year's Baeksang Arts Awards. Lee, known as a master of period films in South Korea for his previous hits like "King and the Clown" (2005) and "The Throne" (2015), took the top prize for films at the prestigious entertainment awards show held at KINTEX exhibition hall on Thursday in Goyang, just northwest

FilmMay 14, 2021

BTS company Hybe unveils music museum dedicated to fans, artists

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, Seventeen and Enhypen, has opened what it calls a "music museum" for its artists and fans at its new headquarters in central Seoul. The 4,700-square meter venue spread across two basement floors at Hybe Yongsan features giant screens that show a rotating selection of videos of its artists as well souvenirs from music production and miscellaneous objects that helped create the K-pop powerhouse. A preview of Hybe Insight on Wednesday began with an

PerformanceMay 14, 2021

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Wine night at Walkerhill’s Pizza Hill The Pizza Hill is holding a wine night every Thursday until Sept.16. The wine night opens at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the outdoor Pizza Hill terrace at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul. The promotion includes unlimited offer of seven types of Spanish Tapas dishes and four different kinds of wine. The wine night is priced at 99,000 won per person. Designed by the late Kim Swoo-geun, the Pizza Hill building is well known for its unique design. JW Marrio

FoodMay 14, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Boryeong Mud Festival The 24th Boryeong Mud Festival will be held both online and offline, under the slogan “On and Off,” from July 23 to Aug. 1. According to organizers, the hybrid festival will connect online and offline content, introducing properties and uses for the mud of Boryeong and other local specialties. Details will be released after monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases through the end of May. The festival, which takes place at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, will fe

TravelMay 14, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Those Who Wish Me Dead (US) Opened May 5 Action Directed by Taylor Sheridan Smoke jumper Hannah Faber (Angelina Jolie) lives with trauma after failing to save three children from a wildfire. One day, in a forest, she meets Connor Casserly (Finn Little), a boy on the run from the two assassins who killed his father. Hannah has to help Connor get out of the forest safely. 　 The Courier (US) Opened April 28 Thriller Directed by Dominic Cooke In 1960, Soviet agent Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) h

FilmMay 14, 2021