Braving wind and high water to celebrate Dokdo Day

ULLEUNGDO, North Gyeongsang Province -- On Oct. 19, more than 100 eager individuals embarked on a journey, hoping to set their feet on the Dokdo islets, South Korea's easternmost outpost, just days before Dokdo Day on Oct. 25. The sense of anticipation and yearning to reach the remote and symbolic islets was palpable. For many, this opportunity to visit Dokdo was a rare and cherished one, and the journey itself was a testament to their determination. One of the groups on that boat, guided b

CultureOct. 24, 2023

Silversmith William Lee wins Craft Prize 2023

Silversmith William Lee is the winner of this year's Craft Prize, an annual craft award given by the Culture Ministry and the Korea Craft and Design Foundation. Lee, based in Seoul, studied silversmithing and metalwork at Camberwell College of Arts, part of the University of London. He re-creates a form of traditional Korean ceramics with silver that features delicate flowing lines and subtle marks that appear to be melted on the surface. Lee's silver objects -- such as vessels and jar

Arts & DesignOct. 24, 2023

Italian, Egyptian, Taiwanese, Japanese webtoonists to attend Busan Webtoon Festival

The seventh iteration of the Busan Webtoon Festival is set to kick off Thursday for a four-day run at KT&G Sangsang Madang Busan, with domestic and overseas webtoonists in attendance. Under the theme of "Back to the Future," the BWF will present webtoons with plots that revolve around the main characters traveling through time to cities around the world. Italian webtoonists Andera Mancini's "The Cities of Past" and Stefano Casini's "The New York's Futu

CultureOct. 24, 2023

[New on the Scene] Lee Jun-young shows new level of villain in latest role

Actor Lee Jun-young, who was recognizable for his villainous roles in “D.P.” and “Mask Girl,” has shown another level of villian in his first film “Brave Citizen” directed by Park Jin-pyo. In "Brave Citizen," Lee stars as a student named Han Soo-gang (Lee Jun-young), dubbed "crazy dog" for his bullying antics, constantly beating up not-so-well-off classmates. His merciless bullying is hard to stomach, such as when Soo-gang puts a plastic ba

FilmOct. 24, 2023

[Our Museums] Ride through nation's train heritage at Korea Railroad Museum

Korean railroad history is vividly displayed in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, often referred to as the "city of rail." Run by Korail, the national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Museum is an hour's drive from central Seoul. Uiwang's railway history goes back to 1944, with the opening of Bugok Station. During the process of redistributing the functions of the original railway hub at Seoul's Yongsan Station, an official residence for railway personnel was also establish

CultureOct. 24, 2023

Chinese restaurant ‘threatened’ by peers for free delivery

An owner of a Chinese restaurant in Incheon claimed to have been threatened by nearby restaurant owners, who took issue with its free delivery policy. According to the owner, who made his claims on his restaurant's page at a mobile delivery application, he has been receiving calls from a group calling itself “Jungsik Yeonhap," which translates as Chinese Restaurants Association. The owner said the group demanded that he abolish the free delivery policy and raise his prices, or

FoodOct. 24, 2023

'The Boys' director says blending fact, fiction necessary to deliver message

Adding a completely new character to "The Boys" was necessary to make the based-on-a-true-story film more compelling, director Chung Ji-young said Monday. "Some people call me the Ken Loach of South Korea. But I create more dramatic devices than (he does) to share my story with a wider audience," Chung said at a press conference in Seoul. He referred to British director Ken Loach, who is famous for making films based on true events. "The Boys" revisits a 1999 case i

FilmOct. 23, 2023

Lee Sun-kyun drops out from ‘No Way Out’

Prolific actor Lee Sun-kyun, who has recently come under police investigation for suspected drug use, is dropping out from his latest project, “No Way Out,” a mystery thriller series that began shooting this month. According to the entertainment industry, the production company notified its actors and staff that shooting would be postponed for two weeks to reorganize the cast. Following the police announcement on Friday concerning the investigation into Lee, staff of “No Way Ou

FilmOct. 23, 2023

Exhibition at holy site highlights Catholic presence in Korea

A special exhibition that focuses on the Roman Catholic Church’s presence in Korea since the late 19th century is underway at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul. The Seosomun Shrine History Museum, which opened in 2019, stands on a holy site where a number of Catholics in Korea were martyred during the Joseon era (1392-1910). Titled “Love and Peace for All,” the exhibition presents originals and copies of papal documents and letters, and governme

CultureOct. 23, 2023

Inaccurate artifacts removed from Korean exhibition in Germany

The Humboldt Forum in Berlin has removed pieces from its special exhibition of Korean artifacts in response to reports of inaccuracies in the displayed information, the National Museum of Korea said Monday. The exhibition, titled "Ari-Arirang," was aimed to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany and to introduce Korean traditions and culture. Opened on Oct. 12, the exhibition is scheduled to run until April 21, 2024. About 120 items fr

CultureOct. 23, 2023

[Exclusive] Asia's Tang Contemporary Art to open first Western outpost in London

Tang Contemporary Art, one of the most influential commercial galleries in Asia, will launch a new space in London next year, its first gallery in the West after 26 years in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, the gallery represents Chinese contemporary art masters such as Ai Weiwei, Yue Minjun and Zhao Zhao. It has presented some 80 artists, mostly from Asia, including Korean artists Paik Nam-june, Chun Kwang-young, Woo Kuk-won and Lee Diren. The gallery is currently working on the interior desig

Arts & DesignOct. 23, 2023

Emerging artists unveil works of enduring times at Park Seo-bo's Gizi Foundation

Standing in front of the works by Korean artists Kim Deok-han and Keem Ji-young can be a solemn experience, as the artists’ laborious effort and sincerity hit home. The exhibition “Keem&Kim’s Glowing Overlaid Hour” at Gizi Foundation’s Art Base in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, shows 11 works by the young artists whose works are created through the tedious and time-intensive process of layering colors over each other. Born in 1981, Kim applies traditional Korean lacquerin

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Ian Bostridge enjoys incorporating great works of literature into music

The Hic Et Nunc! music festival, which strives to focus on subtly changing trends in the classical music world, is set for its sixth edition next month. From Nov. 9-22, Hic Et Nunc!, a Latin phrase that means "here and now," will present six main programs with its organizer Sejong Soloists, featuring emerging Korean musicians as well as acclaimed international musicians like tenor Ian Bostridge and saxophonist Steven banks. Presenting the festival's goal of nonconformity and bound

CultureOct. 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kang Ik-joong weaves Hangeul philosophy into Spain mosaic art

MADRID -- A grand mosaic wall art installation by New York-based Korean artist Kang Ik-joong has made its Spanish debut, featuring more than 6,000 hand-drawn Korean characters on tile canvases. The 6,072 three-by-three-inch tiles, covering three walls at the Korean Cultural Center's exhibition space in the Spanish capital, were created by around 365 students studying the Korean language in Spain. They were asked to inscribe their favorite Korean phrases, or the things they know, along with

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Brave Citizen,' a delightful comic action flick that punishes school bullies

Director Park Jin-pyo, behind the 2005 romance movie “You Are My Sunshine,” has returned with a delightful comic action hero flick that shows a straightforward tale of a high school teacher seeking vengeance on a school bully. In Park's "Brave Citizen," substitute civic education teacher So Si-min (Shin Hae-sun) silently endures exploitation, having to grade test paper of her peers, and sexual harassment by the vice principal, for the sole purpose of making it as a ful

FilmOct. 22, 2023

Savor the irresistible taste of tteokbokki

When it comes to Korean street food, few dishes are as beloved and iconic as tteokbokki. This spicy treat is a must-try for anyone seeking an authentic Korean culinary experience. Tteokbokki is a popular Korean snack of chewy cylindrical rice cakes slathered in a spicy sauce made primarily with red pepper paste. Fish cakes and other vegetables are often added. The dish is spicy, sweet, chewy and addictive. Tteoksan, a tteokbokki eatery, located in Seoul's Bukchon neighborhood, just a few

FoodOct. 21, 2023

Kangwon Land's wellness facilities offer quiet retreat

JEONGSEON, Gangwon Province -- Nestled in the pristine landscape of Gangwon Province, Kangwon Land is an enticing oasis for those seeking an adventure-filled escape from city life. Set in the rugged mountains and lush valleys and offering a plethora of recreational activities, the resort is an unforgettable experience. Established in 1998 with the objective of repurposing abandoned mines into family-friendly entertainment hubs, Kangwon Land is a large-scale integrated resort with a casino, a gol

TravelOct. 21, 2023

[From the Scene] Kang Ik-joong's 'Things I Know' shows people's inner voices in Hangeul

MADRID -- Heavy rainfall in Madrid caused the city to declare a red alert for adverse weather conditions at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Several subway stations and city parks were shut down, but the downpour did not dampen the spirit of the crowd who had gathered to celebrate a vibrant display of art and Korean culture. About 150 people gathered at the Korean Cultural Center in Spain to attend the opening of the public installation work “Things I Know” -- a colorful series of wise words writ

Arts & DesignOct. 20, 2023

81-year-old K-pop star to receive highest national cultural merit

Eighty-one-year-old singer Lee Mi-ja will receive the highest national cultural merit on Saturday for her contributions to Korean pop culture. Lee was selected as the recipient of the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of her status as the most influential Korean pop artist of the 1960s, the Culture Ministry said Friday in announcing the recipients of various honors for popular culture. Lee is the first K-pop artist to win the highest rank of the Order of Cultural Merit. Lee, who de

PeopleOct. 20, 2023

43 films to premiere at Seoul International Pride Film Festival

The Seoul International Pride Film Festival, focusing on films dealing with LGBTQ+ themes, is set to kick off for a seven-day run from Nov. 2 at the CGV Cine Library in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. This year, a total of 116 films from 39 countries around the world will be screened throughout the festivities. Among the lineup, 27 films will be world premieres. The 2023 SIPFF will open with "Femme," directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. "Femme" revolves around around dra

FilmOct. 20, 2023