[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Park Hyatt Busan presents ‘Just 4 Fun’ The Park Hyatt Busan provides a comfortable and safe staycation for four guests with its new package Just 4 Fun, until the end of the year. The package includes a one-night stay in one of its family suites with extra beds. A complimentary breakfast at the hotel restaurant, welcome amenities including one bottle of red wine and fruit, and late checkout are among the benefits offered. The package starts at 490,000 won and is available until Dec

FoodFeb. 5, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train　 (Japan) Opened Jan. 27 Animation Directed by Haruo Sotozaki Tanjiro joins a secret organization of demon slayers after his family was brutally murdered and his sister turned into a demon. For his new mission, Tanjiro gets on the Mugen Train with his comrades Inosuke and Zenitsu. On the train, they meet legendary demon slayer Rengoku. Soon after boarding, the group is attacked by some demons.  Three Sisters　 (Korea) Opened Jan. 27 Drama Directed by Lee Seung-won

FilmFeb. 5, 2021

PyeongChang Peace Forum 2021 to open Sunday

PyeongChang Peace Forum 2021 will open Sunday for a three-day run in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, featuring discussions on recent challenges to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Marking the third anniversary of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation will hold its third annual forum at the PyeongChang Alpensia Convention Center from Sunday to Tuesday under the auspices of Gangwon Province, PyeongChang County and t

PeopleFeb. 4, 2021

‘Minari’ nominated for best foreign-language film at Golden Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Wednesday nominated “Minari” to compete in the Golden Globes’ best foreign-language film category. “Minari,” directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, depicts the story of a family of four first-generation immigrants from South Korea. In the movie, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Han Ye-ri) move to rural Arkansas with their two kids to pursue their own version of the American dream. Chung’s film will compete wit

FilmFeb. 4, 2021

Historical comedy series 'Mr. Queen' on roll despite controversy

The period comedy series "Mr. Queen" on tvN has become the biggest cable TV hit over the past year despite criticism over its Chinese original and some historically controversial scenes. The series' 16th episode that aired Sunday recorded 14.9 percent in viewership, according to data by Nielson Korea. It is the fifth-highest rated tvN's drama series of all time, following 21.7 percent by the romantic comedy "Crash Landing On You" (2019), 20.5 percent by the fantasy romance

TelevisionFeb. 4, 2021

Immigration film 'Minari' nominated for best foreign language film at Golden Globes

The immigrant film "Minari" on Wednesday was nominated for best foreign language film at this year's Golden Globe Awards.    According to the full list of nominees for the 2021 Golden Globe Awards slated for Feb. 28 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), Korean American director Lee Isaac Chung's semi-autobiographical film will compete for best motion picture in foreign language with "Another Round" from Denmark, "La Llorona" from Guatemala,

FilmFeb. 3, 2021

National Museum wants people to visit Korea to see its artifacts

An exhibition hall for two Pensive Bodhisattvas, a science center for artifacts and the expansion of a children’s museum are some of the projects ahead this year for the National Museum of Korea. Director General Min Byoung-chan outlined the plans during a press conference Wednesday. “I hope that foreigners can one day say that they came to the country to visit the National Museum of Korea,” Min said. Other projects for the year include renovation of the exhibition halls show

CultureFeb. 3, 2021

KBS denies ‘Song to the Moon’ airing on President Moon’s birthday was intentional

Terrestrial broadcaster KBS has denied claims that it intentionally aired the aria “Song to the Moon” during one of its shows on President Moon Jae-in’s birthday to gain approval from the nation’s leader. On Tuesday, KBS’ music program “Open Concert” released an official statement in response to a controversy over soprano Kang Hye-jung’s performance of the “Song to the Moon” during the program which aired on Jan. 24. That date also h

TelevisionFeb. 3, 2021

Emerging artists get their own online platform with launch of 'Manifold'

While the coronavirus has closed borders and restricted travel, virtual space remains wide open, offering new possibilities. Taking advantage of such possibilities is the online exhibition platform “Manifold,” which introduces emerging Korean artists to the international arts scene at a time when the pandemic hinders in-person exhibitions. Manifold is part of the Korea Arts Management Service’s Grant for Artists Management’s project, begun in 2019, that aims to suppo

Arts & DesignFeb. 3, 2021

4 dance works by Matthew Bourne to be streamed in March

The LG Arts Center will stream four never-before-seen works in Korea by celebrated choreographer Matthew Bourne. The four pieces created by Bourne -- “The Red Shoes,” “The Car Man,” “Cinderella” and “Romeo and Juliet” -- will be streamed in March, the arts center announced Tuesday. Bourne’s dance company New Adventures was to perform “The Red Shoes” in Korea last year at the LG Arts Center, but was later canceled due to the CO

PerformanceFeb. 3, 2021

It’s settled. Modern art master’s name in English is Lee Jung-seop

The sole public museum dedicated to Korea’s modern artist Lee Jung-seop has decided to adopt “Lee Jung-seop” as the artist’s official name in English. This means the museum, located on Jeju Island, will change its current name -- Lee Jung-seob Gallery -- to one using the current romanization. For decades, various organizations and exhibitions have used many different romanizations of Lee’s name. “We have long recognized the need to decide on the English

Arts & DesignFeb. 3, 2021

‘Space Sweepers’ signals first blockbuster K-sci-fi flick

Anticipation for Friday’s worldwide Netflix release of the first Korean sci-fi blockbuster movie set in space, “Space Sweepers,” could be felt by the cast members and director during an online press conference and fan meeting held Tuesday. Set in 2092, “Space Sweepers” from director Jo Sung-hee revolves around a space cleanup crew trying to sell a weapon of mass destruction: humanoid Dorothy. “Around 10 years ago, a friend of mine told me about the trash i

FilmFeb. 3, 2021

Spotify begins service in Korea without IU’s songs

The world’s largest music streaming platform Spotify on Tuesday announced the official launch of its service in Korea. “We’re looking forward to working even closer with the entire Korean music industry to uncover more artists and connect them with fans in Korea and the world, while also continuously working on providing an ever-improving, unrivaled listening experience to Korean listeners,” Alex Norstrom, Spotify’s chief freemium business officer, said in a state

PerformanceFeb. 2, 2021

Culture ministry aims to revive pandemic-hit culture sector, spread 'hallyu' in 2021

The culture ministry said Tuesday it will focus on reviving the pandemic-hit culture and tourism industries here, as well as continue to support the spread of "hallyu," or the Korean Wave, around the world in 2021. Under the plan, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism laid out four major policy goals for the year, which were then divided into 15 agenda items, such as supporting sectors that took a blow from the new coronavirus, helping content producers go digital, strengthening

CultureFeb. 2, 2021

MBC, Wavve’s ‘Love Scene Number’ talks of love, marriage and sex

Omnibus drama “Love Scene Number,” spotlights themes of love, marriage and sex, with an emphasis on showcasing a woman’s point of view. The drama, made by streaming platform Wavve and terrestrial broadcaster MBC in a collaborative effort, kicked off Monday on both platforms. Wavve, the streaming platform created by three terrestrial broadcasters -- KBS, MBC and SBS -- and SK Telecom released all four episodes of “Love Scene Number” on Monday morning as soon as t

TelevisionFeb. 2, 2021

13th Gwangju Biennale postponed to April

The 13th Gwangju Biennale, which was scheduled for Feb. 26, will now be held in April as the pandemic continues to ravage the country, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation announced on Monday. “We have decided to put off the biennale due to the pandemic, but other things, including the participating artists and commissioned artworks, remain as planned. We are preparing online exhibitions as well,” a public relations official from the Gwangju Biennale Foundation told The Korea Herald. Fe

Arts & DesignFeb. 1, 2021

Musicals return to stage as social distancing measures are eased

The local culture scene is gearing up for a rebound, after the government announced eased social distancing rules, with a middle-seat vacancy restriction relaxed at performing art venues and cinemas. On Sunday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism informed local production companies and cinemas that two seats must be left vacant between each party or a seat should be left empty between each audience member under the Level 2.5 social distancing rules. The government initially required t

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2021

[Feature] K-pop stars subjected to sexual objectification online

K-pop singers have risen to global stardom in recent years, but their popularity has a dark side: Many have become victims of sexual objectification online. The issue came to the fore recently as controversy surrounding artificial intelligence chatbot Lee Luda led to online debate about the sexual harassment of K-pop singers. The chatbot, developed by local startup Scatter Lab in December, came under fire after users taught it to use vulgar language against women and make discriminatory comme

CultureFeb. 1, 2021

Video artist Paik Nam-june remembered 15 years later

The Nam June Paik Art Center on Friday hosted a conversation with Lev Manovich, a professor at City University of New York and the leading theorist of digital culture and media art, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of video art pioneer Paik Nam-june’s death. The conversation took place at the Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and was led by the director of the art center, Kim Seong-eun. The talk, which will be uploaded online in early February, was livestreamed v

Arts & DesignJan. 31, 2021