[Reading Korea Through Books] K-dramas and movies through Japanese eyes

This year is known as the 20th anniversary of the start of the Korean Wave in Japan, which many consider to be when “Winter Sonata” first aired in Japan on NHK in April 2003. Since then, the popularity of Korean dramas and films hasn't been continuous, however. For younger generations in Japan, the Korean Wave, and in particular the ways Korean TV dramas and films are portrayed, have long been presumed something for older generations. After former President Lee Myung-bak visit

CultureAug. 22, 2023

Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul confident in successful, inclusive 2027 World Youth Day

The Archdiocese of Seoul vowed a successful and inclusive World Youth Day when Seoul hosts the event in 2027, the Roman Catholic Asian branch in South Korea said at a press conference Tuesday at the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. On Aug. 6, Pope Francis selected Seoul as the next host city for World Youth Day, a Catholic Church initiative to unite young individuals from across the globe every three to four years. The event was introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1985. "The 2027 World Youth D

CultureAug. 22, 2023

Two Seoul palaces to open nighttime tours, programs this fall

As the anticipation of the autumn season builds, two of Seoul's royal palaces are gearing up to welcome visitors for their annual nighttime tours. The Cultural Heritage Administration's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center has unveiled the schedule for evening palace expeditions, which will take place throughout September and October. This year, the CHA has transformed the reservation process for guided tours from a first-come, first-served online booking system to a lottery-based approach t

CultureAug. 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Lee Jung-ha on playing his favorite webtoon character in ‘Moving’

With an unexpectedly low voice and tranquil demeanor, any trace of Kim Bong-seok -- a schoolboy character from the webtoon "Moving" -- was long gone from 25-year-old actor Lee Jung-ha. At the mention of the webtoon, however, Lee's voice reached a higher pitch, revealing his excitement over the Disney+ action fantasy series. “I was a long-time fan of webtoon creator Kang Full. It might sound like a lie, but 'Moving' was my favorite webtoon among his projects and Bon

TelevisionAug. 22, 2023

Gang Dong-won returns as comical exorcist in ‘Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman’

Forget about Gang Dong-won as a serious seminary student Choi in “The Priests” (2015), who supports exorcism with Father Kim. In September, Gang returns with another occult flick titled “Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman” -- this time as a comical, fraud-committing exorcist. Directed by Kim Seong-sik, the film tells the story of fake exorcist Dr. Cheon (Gang) and his encounter with a strong demon. Heo Jun-ho, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Som and Kim Jong-su also star. “It was a

FilmAug. 22, 2023

Musical 'Frida' paints empowering story of Frida Kahlo

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is well-recognized for expressing pain through her art. Based on her life, the musical "Frida" sings of her experiences, painting her story just as vividly as her painting "Viva La Vida" (1954), meaning "Long Live Life" in Spanish. Premiered in March 2022, the original production by the EMK Musical Company follows the life of Kahlo. The 110-minute show takes on the form of “The Last Night Show,” where Kahlo appears as a guest a

PerformanceAug. 21, 2023

[Space for All] Seosomun Shrine History Museum revives dead place, invites all

Architecture brings life to a deserted place. And in the case of the 21,000-square-meter park in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul, it rejuvenated one that had been neglected. The public park had been taken over by homeless people, who drifted in day and night from Seoul Station, about 10 minutes' walk away, until it was remodeled and Seosomun Shrine History Museum was built in the underground space there in 2019. Other people had avoided the park, created in 1973, because of the atmosph

Arts & DesignAug. 21, 2023

Classical music concerts to take place at Cheong Wa Dae in Sept.

The 2023 Blue House Concert will take place on Sept. 9 and 10 at the heliport of the former presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Monday. Cheong Wa Dae, the former residence and office site of South Korean presidents, opened its doors to the public after President Yoon Suk Yeol decided to move his office to the buildings of the Defense Ministry in Yongsan, Seoul, in May 2022. With Cheong Wa Dae as the backdrop in the early autumn season

PerformanceAug. 21, 2023

Think pink: ‘Barbiecore’ sweeps local fashion scene

Who knew that so many different shades of pink could become so fashionable again? The pink trend, sparked by Valentino’s “Pink PP” concept in in its 2022 fall-winter Milan show, has become a mainstay in global fashion scene. Boosted by Greta Gerwig’s recent film “Barbie,” which has been riding on an enormous marketing budget, the pink-based “Barbiecore” trend is not going away anytime soon. Barbiecore is a 1980s retro fashion trend based on what Ba

CultureAug. 21, 2023

Korea tourism festival to be held in Frankfurt

Stories of Korean culture and tourism are set to captivate Germany at a major outdoor festival held in Frankfurt this weekend, in commemoration of the 140 years of diplomatic bond between the two nations, the Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday. Kicking off on Friday, the three-day festival will unfold at the Rossmarkt Square in Frankfurt. The festival is held in connection to the renowned Museum Embankment Festival, also known as Museumsufer Fest, an annual celebration of art and cultur

TravelAug. 21, 2023

Prolific actors ready to compete at Chuseok box office

Another peak time for box office competition, besides the summer holidays and Lunar New Year is Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving. As this year’s Chuseok will be an extended holiday over the weekend from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, even more moviegoers are expected to hit the cinema. Prolific actors like Song Kang-ho, Ha Jung-woo and Gang Dong-won will compete at the Chuseok box office with their respective much-awaited films completed before the pandemic, raising anticipations among mov

FilmAug. 21, 2023

Traditional liquors win hearts of millennials, Gen Z

South Koreans are known for their unmatched love for alcohol, whether soju, beer, or both at the same time. But among younger drinkers, a different type of liquor is trending -- traditional Korean liquor. "Makgeolli (unfiltered rice wine) and other traditional liquor used to have an outdated image," said Park Ja-hye, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul. "But now those liquors are sold in cans and bottles with modern and beautiful labels. They are now a popular gift," she add

FoodAug. 21, 2023

ChangMu festival showcases contemporary within tradition

The ChangMu International Performing Arts Festival, led by choreographer-dancer Kim Mae-ja, is set to take place from Wednesday to Aug. 31 at various venues in Seoul, including the Arko Arts Center, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang and the National Jeongdong Theater. Kim is the founder of the festival and a leading figure of changmu, a contemporary dance rooted in traditional Korean dance. Since 1993, the annual festival has been inviting dancers and dance groups from around the world who are committed to

PerformanceAug. 20, 2023

Intangible Heritage Festival to foster public dialogue on heritage

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the National Intangible Heritage Center's establishment, the NIHC is hosting the 2023 Intangible Heritage Festival at its site in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Running from Sept. 1 to 10, the festival also is a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage — a UNESCO treaty adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in October 2003. At the opening ceremony on Sept. 1, some 240 individu

CultureAug. 20, 2023

[New in Korean] Son traces stories of conscripted soldier father and comfort woman mother

"Mom Was There" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Yun Jeong-mo Dasan Books “Mom Was There,” by the million-selling author Yun Jeong-mo, encapsulates the turbulent moments of modern and contemporary Korean history, delving into the sufferings endured by individuals. While Yun's previous works have dealt with major moments in Korean history such as the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the "East Berlin Affair,” the Korean War and the Vietnam War

BooksAug. 20, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] Ongozisin offers blended tea, coffee and dessert experience in Korean way

“Ongojishin,” a Korean idiom meaning “learn from the old to know the new,” also applies to the burgeoning coffee scene here. The cafe trend here was once dominated by sleek, trendy cafes that offered a decent cup of joe, something that’s not too watery or not too burnt. Now more cafes are creating their own, unique tastes and offering a whole new cafe experience by incorporating with Korea’s traditional taste and culture. Ongozisin is one example, offering ble

FoodAug. 19, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul offers ‘1+1 Stay’ promotion Grand Hyatt Seoul has unveiled its “1+1 Stay” promotion, targeting the upcoming long weekend at the end of September into October for the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok, and National Foundation Day. The promotion covers a two-night stay for the price of one night’s stay in rooms with a backdrop of beautiful Namsan Mountain. Reservations are available from Aug. 16 to 18. Be sure to check in between Sept. 23 to Oct.

FoodAug. 19, 2023

Gwanaksan, a popular southern Seoul mountain in summer

Gwanaksan, the mountain stretching across parts of southern Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, always welcomes hikers of all ages with a total of 15 hiking trails that can be approached from multiple subway stations in Seoul, Anyang and Gwacheon. With its subway-accessible trails, Gwanaksan is one of Seoul's most popular mountains, especially among those in southern Seoul, in any season. This summer, an outdoor swimming pool opened on July 7 in Gwanaksan, but the seemingly endless monsoon rains,

TravelAug. 19, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Oppenheimer” (US) Opened Aug. 15 Drama/Thriller Directed by Christopher Nolan Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is appointed to lead the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and his fellow scientists are directly involved in developing the atomic bomb from scratch, without knowing their research would forever change the course of history. “Honey Sweet” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 15 Drama/Comedy Directed by Lee Han Chi-ho (Yoo Hae-jin), a nerdy, workaholic researcher

FilmAug. 19, 2023

Korean songs claim No. 2 spot among Billboard Hot 100 non-English top 10 hits

Korean has been the second most dominant language among the non-English songs that have reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, according to a recent report by Billboard. The US music magazine said in an online article published Wednesday (US local time) that only 35 songs recorded either entirely or mostly in a non-English language have been in the top 10 since the chart was introduced in 1958. Of those, 19 are in Spanish, the most of any language, followed by Korean with eight son

CultureAug. 19, 2023