[History through films] ‘Ode to My Father,’ story of Korean fathers in the post-war era

Director Yoon Je-kyoon’s 2014 hit drama flick “Ode to My Father,” which drew crowds of 14.2 million upon its release, is the fourth most successful film in South Korea's history. The movie is still talked about as a work that helped foster a deeper understanding of Korea’s modern history and how people lived through the post-war era. The movie follows the journey of Deok-soo (Hwang Jung-min) and his efforts to protect his family, spanning from his early adulthood to

FilmMarch 18, 2024

Kim Jong-kook to hold first Japan fan meeting in 16 years

Singer Kim Jong-kook will meet his Japanese fans in April for the first time in 16 years. The "Loveable Fanmeeting in Japan 2024" will be held at the Tempo Harbor Theater in Osaka, Japan, on April 6, according to his agency Turbo JK Co. Kim Jong-kook's last fan meeting in Japan took place in Tokyo in 2008, and he last performed in Japan in Tokyo and Osaka in 2010. Kim's agency noted that the singer is preparing a variety of events to entertain his fans, as it has been a long

PerformanceMarch 18, 2024

Noel Gallagher to return to Korea in July

Noel Gallagher, the lead guitarist and a vocalist of 1990s megahit rock band Oasis, will visit Korea in July. Live Nation Korea, the organizer of the concert, said the singer-songwriter will hold a concert at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, on July 26. Local indie rock band Silica Gel will be the opening act. Gallagher posted an image to promote the concert on his Instagram and added, in Korean, "You are all living young and invincible, right? See you in the summer." His most recen

PerformanceMarch 18, 2024

10,000-won passes to five palaces in Seoul go on sale

Tickets went on sale Monday for Seoul’s late-April spring festival, which will include exhibitions and performances across the city’s five palaces. The tickets to the K-Royal Culture Festival cost 10,000 won ($7.5) and will be sold through April 26, according to the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. Tickets will be available at the following websites: seoultravelpass.com; travelnote.net; trippose.com; klook.com and kkday.com. Tickets for the 9-day event starting April 27 allow unli

TravelMarch 18, 2024

Caregiver dies and donates organs, saving 2 lives

The organs donated by a 62-year-old woman who worked as a volunteer caregiver for elderly citizens were used to save the lives of two people, the state-run organ donation agency said Monday. The bereaved family of Im Bong-ae agreed to donate her liver and both of her kidneys after she was declared brain dead on Feb. 29, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency. Im had collapsed and lost consciousness as she was coming home after making a meal for a senior citizen on Feb. 11 and never recov

PeopleMarch 18, 2024

Palace tours offer new look at two ‘East Palaces’

Special palace tours opened Sunday to raise awareness of the historic grounds of Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung captured in a 19th century painting, a national treasure. Every Sunday until May 12, the first 20 visitors to arrive at the Okcheon Bridge just past the main gate of Changgyeonggung will be able to tour areas depicted in “Donggwoldo,” or the Painting of the East Palaces. The paintings depicting the palaces east of the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, are believed to be made s

TravelMarch 17, 2024

Late poet Park Mok-wol’s 166 unpublished verses unveiled

A collection of 166 previously unreleased poems penned by Park Mok-wol, one of South Korea's preeminent poets, has been uncovered. Park (1915-1978) reveals a broader spectrum of his literary prowess through these newly unveiled works, which delve into social realities and embrace prose poetry, according to the Park Mok-wol Literary Works Publication Committee during a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. Led by Professor Woo Jeong-gwon of Dankook University, the committee, comprising profe

BooksMarch 17, 2024

Ryu Joon-yeol, Han So-hee confirm dating since early 2024

The admission by South Korean actors Ryu Joon-yeol and Han So-hee Saturday that they have been in a relationship since early this year has led to mixed reactions from the public, with some speculating that Ryu had met Han before breaking up with Hyeri, a popular singer-turned-actor. Ryu and Hyeri starred in the hit 2015 TVN drama “Reply 1988” and began dating in 2017. Han wrote on her blog on Saturday that she started dating Ryu after he had ended his relationship with Hyeri. “

FilmMarch 17, 2024

Park Chan-wook’s HBO original, 'The Sympathizer,' to release in April via Coupang Play

HBO original series “The Sympathizer,” marking auteur director Park Chan-wook’s return to the small screen, will be available in Korea via the local streaming platform Coupang Play in April. The exact date of the Korean release has not been confirmed, but the series will hit HBO and its streaming platform, Max, in the US on April 14. The small-screen adaption of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by Vietnamese American author Viet Thanh Nguyen boasts a stel

TelevisionMarch 17, 2024

Calling all bakery buffs -- Seongsu-dong's must-visit bagel shops

The success of London Bagel Museum has opened a new phase in Seoul’s bakery scene, with numerous unprecedented "styles" of bagels being enjoyed more like a dessert with a distinct Korean style than a simple breakfast bite topped with cream cheese. Seongsu-dong, a former industrial complex and an area known for shoemakers' shops, is a must-stop area for people on a "bread pilgrimage" seeking sweet and savory bagel variations. Some of the trendiest bakeries take rese

FoodMarch 16, 2024

[Drama Tour] Springtime stroll around hanok straight out of 'Red Sleeve'

NAMWON, North Jeolla Province -- While South Korea has made a name for itself as a drama powerhouse with sweet rom-com series and heart-pounding zombie thrillers -- think “Crash Landing on You” (2019), “Kingdom” (2019), “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” (2021), “All of Us Are Dead” (2019) and more -- another genre fond in the hearts of many viewers is the period drama. In addition to the exciting stories -- often based on historical tales -- the dramatic sett

TravelMarch 16, 2024

Pro-Putin Russian ballerina's Seoul performance canceled amid backlash

A Seoul ballet performance featuring Russia's star ballerina, Svetlana Zakharova, was canceled Friday due to public backlash over staging shows by individuals supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially amid the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. The Ukrainian-born Russian principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet was scheduled to perform in "Modanse" at the Seoul Arts Center on April 17 and 19-21 with leading dancers from the same ballet troupe. Despite her position

PerformanceMarch 15, 2024

Seoul foundation aims for city never short of culture, art

Celebrating 20 years, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, a key organization under the Seoul city government responsible for carrying out its cultural policies, on Friday unveiled a new vision, “A City for Artistic Souls, Seoul.” With the vision, the foundation said it is expanding programs so that the capital city is never short of cultural and artistic activities in all four seasons. To achieve this goal, the foundation said Seoul will be armed with global cultural content

CultureMarch 15, 2024

Galleries Art Fair 2024 to kick off in April amid art market dry spell

More than 150 galleries based in South Korea will join the country’s oldest art fair in early April amid a slowdown in the art market. The 42-year-old art fair is the first major art fair of the year, providing a glimpse of the year ahead. The Galleries Art Fair 2024 will begin April 3 with a VIP and press opening and will run through April 7 at COEX in southern Seoul. The 153 galleries taking part encompass Korea’s leading galleries such as Gallery Hyundai, the Kukje Gallery and Hak

Arts & DesignMarch 15, 2024

Controversy forces cancellation of Svetlana Zakharova's performances in Seoul

The upcoming performances of renowned Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova in Seoul have been canceled, according to organizer InArts Production on Friday. "We have been planning and preparing for a long time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, considering various situations. However, recently, we have decided to cancel the event due to concerns about the safety of both artists and audiences, as well as at the request of the Seoul Arts Center," the organizer said in an announcement. Th

CultureMarch 15, 2024

Ryu Jun-yeol, Han So-hee spotted together in Hawaii; agencies decline to confirm dating rumors

South Korean actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee have been spotted on vacation at the same hotel in Hawaii, but both the actors' agencies on Friday declined to confirm rumors that the two are dating. According to posts on social media, Han and Ryu were reportedly seen vacationing together at a luxury hotel swimming pool in Hawaii. Amid the circling dating rumors, Ryu's agency released an official announcement. "It is true that Ryu is staying in Hawaii for photography work. We kindl

TelevisionMarch 15, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kim Dong-jun challenges himself in 'Korea-Khitan War'

Kim Dong-jun, an actor and member of the K-pop group ZE:A, said he felt a lot of pressure in his role in "Korea-Khitan War," not only because it was such a large-scale project, but also when it came to portraying King Hyun-jong of the Goyreo Kingdom. Kim said he used the pressure he felt as an opportunity to challenge himself and tried to reflect the pressure in his acting. "Korea-Khitan War" is a 32-part historical drama produced by KBS, which narrates the story of the eig

TelevisionMarch 15, 2024

Seoul Metro expands real-time translation at subway stations

Seoul Metro, one of two major operators of the Seoul Subway, has expanded real-time translation services for overseas travelers to 11 stations in Seoul to improve convenience for foreigners. Artificial intelligence-based translations, which allow foreign travelers and station staff to communicate in their respective languages while facing each other through a transparent OLED screen, was unveiled at Myeong-dong Station on Subway Line No. 4 in December last year for a trial run. After the trial,

TravelMarch 15, 2024

Ulsan Buk-gu Office presents digital stamp tour in 2024

Ulsan is set to promote the northern part of the city’s beauty and charm through a new stamp tour featuring 35 tourist destinations. Buk-gu Office, representing the northern district, recently announced that travel spots will include the district’s own seven representative mountains as well as “Buk-gu Shipigyeong,” meaning Buk-gu’s 12 iconic sights, the cherry blossom street, a wellness-themed road and other historical sites. On Ulsan Buk-gu's mountain tour, tr

TravelMarch 15, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Past Lives” (US) Opened March 6 Drama/Romance Directed by Celine Song Deeply connected childhood friends Hae-sung (Teo Yoo) and Nora (Greta Lee) are pulled apart when Nora's family emigrates from Korea to Canada. Time passes and the two are finally reunited for a fateful week after 24 years. “Poor Things” (US) Opened March 6 Comedy Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos Bella (Emma Stone), a Frankenstein-like woman brought back from the dead by scientist Godwin Baxter (Will

FilmMarch 15, 2024