Sustainability, recycling continue to take center stage at Seoul Fashion Week

Seoul Fashion Week, the biggest and single most important fashion event here that has continued since 2000, held 2024 spring-summer shows that ended Saturday with the participation of 30 local brands. SFW, held twice a year, shifted its schedule for the first time to March and September starting this year -- a month ahead of other major fashion weeks in Paris and Milan -- to grab global buyers’ attention and set trends with Seoul’s unique fashion caliber and potential. This year show

CultureSept. 10, 2023

New York's The Armory Show at crossroads following acquisition by Frieze

NEW YORK -- The 2023 edition of The Armory Show kicked off Thursday at the Javits Center in New York, and was joined by more than 225 galleries from 35 countries. Established nearly 30 years ago, the art fair is the oldest fair in the US and has been a continuous presence in the international art scene. "The Platform" section of this year's fair saw a number of large-scale installations draw the attention of visitors. Among the works in the section was Jean Shin's “Hudd

Arts & DesignSept. 10, 2023

Experience Swedish fine dining inside a Korean hanok

Nestled among the narrow streets of Seoul's traditional Samcheong-dong neighborhood, amidst the royal palace and galleries, a hidden culinary gem awaits in the setting of a Korean hanok. Mangata, a relatively recent addition to Seoul's dining scene, seamlessly blends Swedish fine dining with the rustic charm of traditional Korean architecture. The word "Mangata" itself has a poetic meaning in Swedish, signifying the road-like reflection cast by the moon on water. Since its

FoodSept. 9, 2023

[Life in Korea] Expectations vs. Reality of teaching English in Korea with Annie Jeong

“Things that you thought you knew, you're going to have to change on the spot every single day, every single hour, whether that's things about work or just in general.” Annie Jeong’s decision to move to Korea was born from a transitional phase in her life. Amid job uncertainties, she found herself at a crossroads. She seized the opportunity to explore her Korean roots and embark on a journey that was both educational and personal by immersing herself in teaching Engl

PeopleSept. 9, 2023

Queensland promotes tourism to bounce back above pre-pandemic levels

Tourism and Events Queensland, a statutory body of Australia's Queensland government, announced on Tuesday the ambitious goal of promoting state’s tourism with beautiful nature-themed programs and unique cultural experiences. “Travelers can experience nature-based tourism, adventure and discovery. Queensland will offer an exciting opportunity for the visitors to come across indigenous culture programs as well,” Katie Mills, international director of TEQ, said during a pres

TravelSept. 9, 2023

[Eye Plus] Nongak is a 'lifelong friend'

“Gochang nongak first came into my life at a college traditional music band. Since then, I've gone to Gochang every summer and winter to learn the music,” said Kim Mi-jung, a kkwaenggwari player of Gochang nongak, a type of traditional farmers’ music developed in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province. The kkwaenggwari is a metal percussion instrument or gong with a radius the length of the span of one's outstretched hand, and a wooden mallet. With its high-pitched tone,

CultureSept. 9, 2023

World Pansori Association recruits singers for 20-hour pansori relay project

The World Pansori Association is seeking pansori singers to be part of its very first World Pansori Festival commemorating the 20th anniversary of pansori's UNESCO recognition. On Nov. 7, the date when pansori was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the association will present the “20-hour Pansori Relay Project” over two days at Seoul's Namsan Gukakdang. The performances will be streamed worldwide on YouTube. The association is seeking 60 pansori singers, welc

PerformanceSept. 8, 2023

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize goes to Pakistan program for nomadic children, two others

The Himalayan Literacy Network Mobile Schools Program, created by a nongovernmental organization in Pakistan to empower nomadic children, received this year's UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, the Culture Ministry announced Friday. Launched in 1998, the mobile program was designed to provide basic education to nomadic Bakarwal children by developing mobile schools that could travel with them on their biannual migrations through the high mountain regions. Finland-based GraphoGame, an online

CultureSept. 8, 2023

Netflix’s ‘The Devil’s Plan’ to premiere in September

Global streaming platform Netflix confirmed the release of a new mind game survival show titled “The Devil’s Plan” in September. Starring 12 South Korean TV celebrities -- including Seungkwan of K-pop boy band Seventeen, renowned host Park Kyeong-rim, actor Ha Seok-jin, Canadian professional gamer Guillaume Patry and more -- “The Devil’s Plan” awards the final winner 500 million won ($375,000) prize money. Brought together for a week, the participants compete

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

‘Moving’ screenwriter Kang Full presents special posters

Webtoon creator Kang Full has expressed his gratitude to fans of “Moving” in special cartoon illustration posters, which have been released on all Disney+ social media accounts. “Moving” started as a webtoon project on Daum Webtoon, garnering more than 200 million accumulated reads in Korea. Global streamer Disney+ adapted the webtoon, releasing 20-part action fantasy series “Moving” on Aug. 9. According to the streamer, “Moving” made history by be

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

Musical 'Frida' continues as actor faces school bullying allegations

Amid allegations of school bullying made against her, Kim Hieora, best known for her role in Netflix series "The Glory," will continue to play her part in "Frida" as scheduled, according to the stage musical's production company EMK Musical on Friday. Kim, who has been accused of bullying in her middle school years, has denied all such allegations. Kim plays the titular role of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, as one of three cast in the role in "Frida," which start

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

AI-based Korean language contest takes place through October

A Korean language contest using artificial intelligence technology to measure Korean proficiency is underway with the aim of encouraging Korean language learners of foreign nationalities in South Korea. Hancom Genie-K, a subsidiary of the software company Hancom, said Friday that it is holding the Hancom Genie-K Korean Speech Contest from Aug. 28 through Oct. 4. The Korean language contest consists of an online preliminary round and an on-site final round. Hancom’s indigenous artificial

CultureSept. 8, 2023

Media art to illuminate cultural heritage sites

A series of Korean cultural heritage media art events using digital technology will be showcased at seven cultural heritage sites across the nation, starting Saturday. Jointly hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the event kicks off at two sites in South Chungcheong Province — Gongsanseong in Gongju and the stone pagoda Mireuksaji in Iksan. The final event will be held at the Marisan Tumuli in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 8. On

CultureSept. 8, 2023

Korea, Japan, China culture ministers vow youth-centered cooperation

The culture ministers of South Korea, Japan and China met at the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Thursday and Friday, in person for the first time in four years, where they vowed to strengthen cultural cooperation among the three Northeast Asian countries. On Friday, the three culture ministers -- South Korea's Park Bo-gyoon, Keiko Nagaoka of Japan and Hu Heping for China -- signed the Jeonju Declaration, which includes the expansion of cultural ex

CultureSept. 8, 2023

[Well-curated] Hop on over to high-end stationery store, Hangang dog pool and DDP new media exhibit

Point of View The Hyundai Seoul, the biggest department store in Seoul, has everything there is for anyone to spend their precious weekend. Visitors can enjoy almost 13 football fields filled with with sports facilities, contemporary retail, luxury brands, restaurants, an in-door garden and more. And of course, the department store offers a cool summer getaway with abundant air conditioning. For those who prefer to hand-write things on paper, stationery shop Point of View is one of the must-vi

CultureSept. 8, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Yulbom Botanical Garden Impatiens Flower Season, Gwangju The Impatiens Flower Festival, which kicked off on July 31, will run through Sept. 10 at Yulbom Botanical Garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Flower lovers can enjoy both impatiens and sunpatiens flowers spread around the 66,000 square meter areas. As there are plenty of benches and bedsteads, visitors can relax and enjoy their break to the fullest. Visitors can dye their fingernails orange using impatiens flowers as well. Other hands-on

TravelSept. 8, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

L'Escape Hotel launches ‘Fall in Alberta, Canada: Tasteful Journey’ L’Escape Hotel offers the “Fall in Alberta, Canada: Tasteful Journey” package through Oct. 9. The package includes one-night's stay with dinner for two at the hotel’s restaurant, Palais de Chine. The menu at Palais de Chine consists of barbecue beef ribs, beef dim sum and cucumber salad with garlic sauce, using ingredients from western Canada province Alberta. The package prices st

FoodSept. 8, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Sleep” (South Korea) Opened Sept. 6 Mystery/Thriller Directed by Jason Yu A pregnant Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) finds out her husband Hyun-soo (Lee Sun-kyun) starts exhibiting strange behaviors while asleep. Overcome with anxiety that he may cause danger to the family, Soo-jin goes to great lengths to protect them and their baby. “Oppenheimer” (US) Opened Aug. 15 Drama/Thriller Directed by Christopher Nolan Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is appointed to lead the top-secret

FilmSept. 8, 2023

Frieze alludes to helping Kiaf’s overseas expansion

Frieze hinted it is willing to cooperate with the Galleries Association of Korea if it asks for help in expanding its presence overseas. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at Coex in southern Seoul, Frieze CEO Simon Fox and Frieze Seoul’s director Patrick Lee said, “We would always be delighted to activate Frieze with Kiaf throughout the year.” In 2022, the London-based organizer and Seoul’s leading art fair Kiaf Seoul signed a five-year partnership in a bid to en

Arts & DesignSept. 7, 2023

Art performance invites 100 participants to read newspapers on stage

Sung Neung-kyung, a 79-year-old conceptual artist known for his ongoing exploration of various mediums of communication like newspapers and photography, organized a unique performance art event on Wednesday. Sung invited a hundred foreigners to join him on stage at L'espace etnah's Lightroom Seoul hall in eastern Seoul, for a collective art performance project, where they jointly read newspapers aloud as a group performance. The Korea Herald newspapers were used for English-readers, al

PerformanceSept. 7, 2023