How can Korea recover from Jamboree debacle?

The World Scout Jamboree, a mega event that brings together tens of thousands of teenaged Scouts worldwide, presents a pivotal opportunity for the host country to boast its global brand value. The ability to organize such large-scale events leaves lasting impressions on participants and observers alike, offering a platform to showcase the country's hospitality, dynamism and cultural richness. With soaring expectations for the event in Saemangeum -- a reclaimed tidal flat area of Buan, North

CultureAug. 8, 2023

Art Busan to launch design, art fair in Seoul in November

Art Busan, a leading art fair based in Busan, will expand to Seoul, launching Define Seoul, a new art fair that combines design and art. The five-day fair will kick off Nov.1 in Seongsu-dong under the theme of “A Look Within Matter,” led by artistic director Yang Teo. Yang was selected as one of the world’s top 100 designers by Architectural Digest, a leading US magazine of architecture and interior design. Yang directed the 17th edition of the Craft Trend Fair held last Dece

Arts & DesignAug. 8, 2023

S. Korean conductor Yoon Han-kyeol wins Karajan prize

South Korean conductor Yoon Han-kyeol clinched the prestigious Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award in Salzburg, Austria, on Sunday. Taking to the stage at the main auditorium of the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation, Yoon led the Camerata Salzburg orchestra in performances of four works in the final competition: Overture from Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville); Mozart’s Aria for Soprano and Orchestra in F major, K. 538; a chamber orchestra piece t

PerformanceAug. 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘D.P. 2’ had to complete unfinished story: Jung Hae-in, Han Jun-hee

Hoping to live up to the viewers’ love for the first season of “D.P.” and high expectations for the next installment, director Han Jun-hee decided at the end of 2021 to return with a second season. The director had never expected to make a second season while shooting the original series, which was released in August 2021. And the unplanned season 2 made Han think hard about the story he wished to share with the audience in “D.P. 2.” “I needed to know why I wo

TelevisionAug. 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] Actor Ju Ji-hoon couldn’t ask for more working with favorite team in ‘Ransomed’

For Ju Ji-hoon, his latest action comedy, “Ransomed,” means something different compared to his previous works because it was a project with two of his favorite colleagues, director Kim Seong-hun and actor Ha Jung-woo. Ju and Kim have worked together on the global hit Netflix series “Kingdom” and with Ha on another megahit film, “Along with the Gods.” “For the first time in my acting career, I decided to star in ‘Ransomed’ without even readin

FilmAug. 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] What becomes of ‘Privacy’ under constant surveillance

Indian film star Rajshri Deshpande had a rough time getting to Korea for the world premiere of “Privacy” at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival earlier this summer. “It was chaos,” she said. Her flight from Delhi had been delayed six hours, meaning she would land at Incheon Airport just as she should be at the festival’s opening ceremony. The film’s director, Sudeep Kanwal, was doing everything he could. “I was holding ground,” he sai

FilmAug. 7, 2023

KNB presents back-to-back productions of modern, classical ballet

The Korean National Ballet is set to present separate productions of modern and classic ballet in August, with a back-to-back schedule. Kicking off on Aug. 25, “Triple Bill” features three distinct works within a single program, while “Ballet With Commentary, Le Corsaire” is scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 3. Both productions will be staged at the CJ Towol Theater of the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. In “Triple Bill,” the audience will experience

PerformanceAug. 6, 2023

K-pop concert for Jamboree to take place at Jeonju World Cup Stadium

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday morning called for tour programs to be offered for participants of the World Scout Jamboree suffering under extreme heat at their campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, but no decision has been made on possible itineraries, according to the Culture Ministry on Sunday. Meanwhile, a K-pop show originally scheduled for Sunday evening at the World Scout Jamboree campsite’s outdoor stage has been postponed to Aug. 11, the day of the closing ceremony,

Social AffairsAug. 6, 2023

[New in Korean] Post-apocalyptic novel set near Seoul where no humans live

"No Human's Land" By Kim Jeong Changbi Publishers Heat wave warnings are a daily occurrence and the UN says Earth is now in an "era of global boiling." What will Seoul look like in 2050? In “No Human’s Land,” an unprecedented climate disaster strikes and the UN designates various places as uninhabitable. The Korean Peninsula, too, sees its entire territory designated as a “No Human's Land,” and people have left, leaving behind a desolat

BooksAug. 6, 2023

[New in Korean] 21st century Faust 'Mundus,' inspired by disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk

"Mundus" By Kim Jong-young Galmuri Publisher The Hwang Woo-suk scandal in 2005 plunged the entire nation into shock and confusion. The promising scientist claimed an epic scientific breakthrough by successfully cloning human embryos. However, after a series of controversies, it became apparent that his revolutionary research had been manipulated. Kim Jong-young, a sociology professor at Kyung Hee University, created a 21st-century Faust inspired by the disgraced scientist, who was once

BooksAug. 5, 2023

[New in Korean] Award-winning ‘Tank’ explores faith, belief through cinematic storytelling

"The Tank" By Kim Hee-jae Hankyoreh Publishing A debut novel by Kim Hee-jae, “Tank,” won the 28th Hankyoreh Literary Award with a gripping, speedy narrative, according to the Hankyoreh Publishing. At the core of the novel lies a unique concept called the “autonomous prayer system,” which is a space that exists without a religious leader or doctrines. The tank is an empty container -- a prayer room of about 5 pyeong or 16.5 square meters -- standing on a hill in

BooksAug. 5, 2023

Bestselling books since 2000: Self-help, essays reign supreme

"The Lessons of SayNo" (direct translation), penned by an anonymous writer who goes by the pseudonym SayNo, achieved an impressive 20 consecutive week reign at the top spot in the weekly bestseller rankings of Kyobo Book Center, as of Thursday. Since its release on March 2, the book has been a top-selling title, dominating the bestseller list for the first half of the year. Although it briefly relinquished the top spot to “A Study of Science by Liberal Arts Man” by former h

BooksAug. 5, 2023

[Weekender] Hurry up and wait

People started arriving one after another holding parasols to line up at the entrance of Kokkili Bagel, a local bakery in Yeongdeungpo-gu, western Seoul, a little after 7 a.m on July 29. Though the door was closed and the lights were off, more bagel lovers gathered and formed a long line that stretched to the street’s end as it neared 8:30 a.m., the bakery’s opening time. They were all there to do their Kokkili Bagel “open run” that morning. Origins of 'open run�

CultureAug. 5, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] Step into hidden leafy haven in Ikseon-dong

The neighborhood of Ikseon-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, offers a unique mood that is both very Korean and exotic, stemming from the mix of sleek interior inside the low-rise decades-old hanok buildings. In one of the Ikseon-dong alleys stands Cheongsudang Bakery, the perfect place to linger over your Americano. Cheongsudang’s calm and peaceful gardenlike interior makes visitors' cafe experience all the more rewarding. A stepping stone pathway, surrounded by bamboo trees with artfully hun

FoodAug. 5, 2023

[Herald Interview] Singaporean chef cooks up Japanese European cuisine with Korean flair

Popular chefs today often venture beyond their home turf, organizing pop-ups and tasting events in foreign cities to connect with new diners and seek future business opportunities. However, Singaporean chef Javier Low, 31, is taking a boldly different approach Javier arrived in Seoul on Sunday with a team of five from his restaurant Iru Den, known for its exquisite modern Japanese French cuisine. Javier's primary motive for the trip was to connect with Korean diners and learn from their fee

FoodAug. 5, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Smuggler” (South Korea) Opened July 26 Crime/Action Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan Jo Choon-ja (Kim Hye-soo) returns to her old town after three years away. Her best buddy, Um Jin-sook (Yum Jung-ah), who spent time in prison on a smuggling conviction during that time, feels betrayed when Choon-ja reappears. But they soon resolve their misunderstanding and collaborate on a mutual goal. “Elemental” (US) Opened June 14 Animation Directed by Peter Sohn Four different anthropom

FilmAug. 5, 2023

[By the Highway] Taste local specialties at Osu, Chungju rest stops

As food-based tours have become a popular trend in South Korea, pushing historical sites and beautiful tourist attractions down in the list of vacationers' priorities, well-known restaurants and unique cafes garner unprecedented attention from holidaymakers. Though highway rest stops were considered a place to quench one's thirst and relieve hunger with instant food and snacks, some roadside establishments -- which promote their local specialties with unique culinary offerings -- are l

TravelAug. 5, 2023

Pentaport Incheon opens big, rocks out in sweltering heat

"We performed right here in front of an empty field three years ago, and it's awesome to be back with a full crowd!" South Korea's long-loved rock band Galaxy Express shouted to a frenzied crowd Friday at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, which was held via livestream for two years due to the pandemic. Even the sweat-dousing humid weather couldn't hold back the live music enthusiasts from sticking close to the main stage and jumping up and down to the band's psyc

PerformanceAug. 4, 2023

[Herald Interview] Park Seo-joon, Park Bo-young see selves in ‘Concrete Utopia’ roles

Actors Park Seo-joon and Park Bo-young said the characters they played in upcoming disaster thriller “Concrete Utopia” are similar to their actual personalities. Park Seo-joon plays Min-sung, a reliable, seemingly good-hearted neighbor who is sometimes shy and reserved. He is one of the residents of Hwanggung Apartment building No. 103, the only building to have survived a major earthquake. Min-sung quietly supports Young-tak (Lee Byung-hun) to keep things in order and establish a sy

FilmAug. 4, 2023

Seoul Architecture Awards 2023's grand prize goes to LG Arts Center

The LG Arts Center and LG Discovery Lab, designed by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates and Gansam, snatched the grand prize of the Seoul Architecture Awards 2023, according to the organizer on Thursday. The building, located in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, opened its doors to the public in October 2022. The LG Arts Center was relocated to the current space after 22 years in Gangnam, southern Seoul. The architecture nestled in Seoul Botanic Park houses the LG Arts Center and LG Discovery Lab, f

Arts & DesignAug. 4, 2023