Seoul Performing Arts Festival to explore 'Borderless Questions'

The Seoul Performing Arts Festival, an annual event that brings together top performers, is coming back in October with the theme of “Borderless Questions.” From Oct. 6 to 29, this year’s edition will showcase 19 performance works spanning an eclectic array of genres -- encompassing theater, dance, multidisciplinary arts and experiential performances -- to various venues across Seoul including the National Theater of Korea, the National Jeongdong Theater of Korea, ARKO &

CultureSept. 1, 2023

[Photo News] "Love is in the Bin"

CultureSept. 1, 2023

[Well-curated] Plant hospital, Joseon-era wedding and Yongsan Family Park

Free plant health care consultation Ample sunlight, regular water and cool breeze are crucial for the growth of most plants and the continued heavy rain and hot weather that we have been having this summer make it difficult for some potted plants to thrive. Home gardeners dealing with sick or withering plants may consider booking a spot this weekend to visit a plant hospital on a weekday. Seoul city's plant general hospital is located inside the Agricultural Technology Center in Seocho-gu i

CultureSept. 1, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul to present Thai culinary experience Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s restaurant, The Market Kitchen, is to host a culinary event in celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Thailand. Thailand’s perennial favorites -- som tam (green papaya salad), tod mun goong (deep-fried shrimp) and tom yum goong (spicy and sour soup) -- will be served from Sept. 8 to 17. Complementing the dining experience, a variety of Thai beverages includi

FoodSept. 1, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Wonju Dancing Carnival The Wonju Dancing Carnival will be held at the Wonju Sports Complex in Gangwon Province from Sept. 22 to 24. The event will feature various programs, including art performances, a dance competition, a fringe festival, a free dancing festa and more. K-pop girl group Fromis_9 and singers Insooni and Kim Bum-soo are scheduled to perform on stage. Admission for all seats costs 10,000 won. Wonju residents can buy tickets for 5,000 won. More information can be found at www.ddcwj

TravelSept. 1, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Honey Sweet” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 15 Drama/Comedy Directed by Lee Han Chi-ho (Yoo Hae-jin), a nerdy, workaholic researcher at a confectionery company falls in love with Il-young (Kim Hee-sun), a single mother and a remarkably passionate and optimistic telemarketer at a money lending company. “Oppenheimer” (US) Opened Aug. 15 Drama/Thriller Directed by Christopher Nolan Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is appointed to lead the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheim

FilmSept. 1, 2023

Guam invites visitors for unforgettable Chuseok holiday

The Pacific island of Guam is just a four-hour flight away from Seoul, and the island is beckoning Korean visitors over the upcoming Chuseok holiday. The traditional holiday has been extended to a six-day break this year -- Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 -- with Oct. 2 being designated as a temporary holiday, connecting the Chuseok holiday to National Foundation Day on Oct. 3. Guam, although a small island of 549 square kilometers, is abound with resorts near Tumon Bay for all kinds of travelers: young and

TravelAug. 31, 2023

[Herald Review] Nuanced local adaptations, sound effects transplant suspense of '2:22 A Ghost Story' from West End to Seoul stage

The unidentifiable footsteps heard at 2:22 a.m. and the mysteries surrounding their origin intensify the suspense of “2:22 A Ghost Story,” the title of which captures the essence of the plot. The story revolves around Sam and Jenny, a couple who have newly moved, inviting Sam's longtime friend Lauren and her boyfriend Ben to their home. What starts as an ordinary evening meal takes a turn with Jenny’s confession. Jenny says she hears footsteps and sobs around her baby&rsqu

PerformanceAug. 31, 2023

Symposium looks back on 15 years of cultural heritage aid projects

Cultural heritage scholars, experts and public officials convened on Wednesday in Seoul to engage in discussions concerning the past, present and future of Korea's official development assistance (ODA) programs for cultural heritage. Organized by the Foreign Ministry and the Cultural Heritage Administration, the symposium aimed to reflect on the heritage ODA project's 15-year journey since its inception in 2009. It also served as a platform to commemorate a decade of accomplishments fo

CultureAug. 31, 2023

Art and culture festival for the disabled to take place at former presidential house

A culture and art festival to celebrate the achievements of disabled people will take place at the former presidential office in central Seoul starting Friday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Thursday. Titled A+ Festival, the event will run from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 at Cheong Wa Dae venues including Chunchugwan, the former press center for the presidential office, and the helicopter landing pad. The 15-day event will kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday, with acto

CultureAug. 31, 2023

First lesbian to become a mother in S. Korea on struggle to be a 'normal' parent

On Wednesday, Kim Kyu-jin became the first openly gay Korean woman to give birth. While the birth of her child is a unique event here, it was a casual conversation over lunch which first sparked the idea of becoming a mother. “You are married? You are going to have a baby, right?” The question was posed to her by her boss at a multinational company in France. The question got her thinking, “If this kind of question can be so easily asked over lunch on the first day of work beca

PeopleAug. 30, 2023

[Space for All] Jongam Square fills niche, fulfills community role

With more than 9.4 million people living in the capital city sprawling 605 square kilometers, Seoul is one of the most crowded cities in the world. It boasts a population density of some 15,567 people per square kilometer. New York City, by comparison, has a population density of about 11,313 people per square kilometer. It comes as no surprise that in Seoul, where space is scarce, we build not only above ground and underground, but over and under existing structures as well. We also cover strea

Arts & DesignAug. 30, 2023

Gugak welcomes autumn

Autumn is drawing near and the weather sets the stage for a harmonious indulgence in the sounds of gugak, or Korean traditional music. Major traditional music orchestras and troupes are gearing up for colorful programs this September. Taking the lead for the 2023-24 season is the National Orchestra of Korea, a traditional Korean music orchestra affiliated with the National Theater of Korea, set to grace the stage this Friday night with “Discovery” at the Haeoreum Theater. The inaugur

PerformanceAug. 30, 2023

28th Busan Film Festival unveils selection for Asian auteur, rookie directors

The 28th Busan International Film Festival announced the list of films selected for its New Currents and Jiseok competition sections, which will showcase the works of Asia’s rookie and auteur directors. The New Current competition section focuses on showing up-and-coming Asian filmmakers’ works, reserved for those making their first or second feature films. Ten works are nominated, including two from Japan, two from Korea, two from Bangladesh and one each from China, Thailand, Malays

FilmAug. 30, 2023

Gumiho becomes new symbol of beauty in Korean drama series

The “gumiho,” a shape-shifting nine-tailed fox, has solidified its position as a character that symbolizes captivating beauty, replacing one of the best-known royal concubines of the Joseon era, Jang Ok-jung , more widely known as Jang Hui-bin. Born to a middle-class family, Jang worked as a lady attendant in the palace and eventually became a consort of King Sukjong, the 19th king of Joseon. The tales of Jang, with a love triangle between the king and Queen Inhyeon, the palace intri

TelevisionAug. 30, 2023

[Space for All] Singil Middle School proves school design needn't be stuck

Sunlight streams into the school library from a small courtyard where students can sit outside with a book during breaks. The courtyard is among 19 such spaces in Singil Middle School, which opened two years ago in southwestern Seoul. As soon as the bell rang indicating a 15-minute recess, students headed to the courtyard on the second floor, where a snack vendor market sold drinks, chips and other small snacks. Other students got started on homework in another courtyard, while taking in the fre

Arts & DesignAug. 30, 2023

Seoul International Writers’ Festival to bridge language and discord through literature

A literary festival bringing together 24 Korean and international writers will take place on Nodeul Island in Seoul in September. Under the theme of “Crossing the Bridge of Language,” the 2023 Seoul International Writers’ Festival responds to the heightened isolation and discord brought about by the pandemic. The annual festival is organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, also known as LTI Korea. “There was an anticipation that things would return to no

BooksAug. 29, 2023

Culture Ministry’s budget next year nears W7 trillion

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s budget for next year, which was passed during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, has been set at 6.97 trillion won ($5.27 billion), a 3.5 percent increase from 2023, the ministry announced the same day. The Culture Ministry outlined its plans based on two main objectives: boosting economic vitality through K-content and tourism and ensuring fair access to culture for the public. To achieve these goals, the budget allocation includes 1.5 trillion won

CultureAug. 29, 2023

'Revenant' a ghost story about lost generation

SBS' "Revenant," an occult thriller series crafted by star screenwriter Kim Eun-hee, ended with an 11.2 percent viewership rating last month. The positive response for a terrestrial broadcaster whose ratings have plummeted in recent years is thought to be a result of the use of folklore to shed light on today's social issues. "Revenant" takes familiar characters from folklore and puts them in a modern setting, dealing with day-to-day life problems. While the story r

TelevisionAug. 29, 2023

Nodeul Island to turn into outdoor stage for 'Swan Lake' and 'The Barber of Seville'

Every Saturday and Sunday night from Oct. 14 to 22, a small island at the center of the Han River will be turned into a stage for spellbinding ballet and opera performances. Under the theme of “Timeless Classic,” the second edition of Hangang Nodeul Island Festival by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture will present one ballet and one opera, bringing together Korea’s top performers. After presenting “The Magic Flute” at the inaugural festival last year, this y

CultureAug. 29, 2023