[Herald Interview] Shin Kyung-sook on the art of saying farewell

On a scorching summer day in June, The Korea Herald met award-winning South Korean author Shin Kyung-sook at a cafe nestled in the foothills of Bukhansan in Seoul. In such a place brimming with vitality, she spoke about farewells and the art of saying goodbye. “In your twenties and thirties, there are countless opportunities to make new friends,” said Shin. “Of course, that still happens. But lately, I find myself living in a time where goodbyes and separations have become more

BooksJuly 12, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director of Japanese all-women theater troupe impressed by Korean musicals' quality, state support

Kazunori Nakamura, director of Takarazuka Revue Company, has been observing South Korea’s musical industry over the past three decades. This was his first time at K-Musical Market and he was impressed by efforts put on by the Korean government. "I am surprised that there is a systematic effort for international expansion. And it's not just for the sake of overseas expansion. I felt that the quality of the creative teams, the productions and script writing were at a high level,&

PerformanceJuly 12, 2023

Gonjiam Music Festival kicks off with peace gala concert

The 2023 Gonjiam Music Festival commenced Monday with a gala concert harmonizing musicians across diverse genres and backgrounds. The opening was the Opening Peace Gala Concert, highlighting the importance of peace on the 70th anniversary of The Korea Herald’s founding, the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement and the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US Alliance. The Korea Herald was founded on Aug. 15, 1953, less than a month after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, which

CultureJuly 12, 2023

KTO's revamped tourism service platform supports 8 languages

The Korea Tourism Organization has announced the launch of a revamped VisitKorea, KTO's tourism information service platform, as an integrated marketing platform for Korean tourism in eight languages. The available languages are English, Japanese, simplified and traditional Chinese, Spanish, German, French and Russian. Launched in 2008, VisitKorea showcases new and appealing travel-related content incorporating digital technologies to effectively promote tourism industries' latest pr

TravelJuly 12, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘I Haven’t Done Anything’ a viral-chasing, fast-paced mystery comedy

A blistering 80-minute comedy made for the digital age, in which there seems to be no greater goal than going viral, “I Haven’t Done Anything” comes to the big screen this week after premiering at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on June 30. The film begins with a YouTube-style video documentary about former child actor Oh Tae-kyung, better known as “Little Oh Dae-su” for his role as the younger version of Choi Min-sik‘s character in “Ol

FilmJuly 11, 2023

‘Concrete Utopia’ sets itself apart with grand-scale, realistic set designs

Director Um Tae-hwa’s upcoming black comedy disaster thriller “Concrete Utopia” is expected to wow moviegoers with its grand-scale, realistic set designs. The film -- based on the second part of a webtoon about an earthquake and its aftermath, “Pleasant Neighbor” -- tells the story of apartment residents whose homes threaten their lives. Focusing on depicting the reality of an apartment complex in Seoul destroyed in a large earthquake, the production team spent five

FilmJuly 11, 2023

[New on the Scene] Kang Tae-ju on giving 100 percent for acting roles

After rookie actor Kang Tae-ju beat 1,980 candidates to land one of the main roles in the action noir flick "The Childe," all he could think about was being able to deliver a stellar performance for his first-ever film project. “It was important for me fulfill my duty. There were so many things that I had to complete in a short period of time, so there was no time to worry (about how to do well) but to focus on what was in front of me,” the 28-year-old actor told The Korea

FilmJuly 11, 2023

Drama ‘King the Land’ criticized for cultural insensitivity

Cable channel JTBC’s latest rom-com series, “King the Land,” has come under fire over its character Prince Samir, with criticisms directed at the show's misleading representation of Arabic culture. Samir -- who is introduced as a prince with an Arabic background -- made his first appearance in the seventh episode of “King the Land” on July 8, surrounded by the women in a club. As Samir was scheduled to visit South Korea to negotiate the import of Korean warplan

TelevisionJuly 11, 2023

[Herald Interview] Young Chinese interested in musicals starring Korean idols

K-Musical Market was launched in 2021 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service to promote Korean original musicals internationally. The Korean government's hope is that Korean musicals might replicate the achievements of K-pop, movies and dramas. And that hope is not groundless. Musicals account for 75 percent of ticket revenue in the country's performing arts industry and the musical scene is burgeoning with countless bi

CultureJuly 11, 2023

[Herald Interview] Gwangju Biennale will continue to evolve, stay rooted in 'Gwangju Spirit'

The Gwangju Biennale -- widely considered the oldest and most prestigious biennale in Asia -- marks its 30th anniversary next year. To celebrate the occasion, the 15th Gwangju Biennale, scheduled to take place in September 2024, will be its largest event yet, with more national pavilions than before. For Park Yang-woo, president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, the biennale is a platform in which to show art in an experimental way, beyond the confines of a museum, and encourage ideas and di

Arts & DesignJuly 10, 2023

Korean Literature Review Contest invites readers to submit book reviews

The Korean Literature Review Contest, hosted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), invites passionate readers from all around the world to share their reviews of Korean books. Review submissions in English, Chinese, Indonesian, Arabic or Spanish are being received from Monday until Sept. 30. The annual contest which began in 2021 is open to non-Korean nationals aged 14 and above. Participants are encouraged to review the five selected books via written book reports, drawi

BooksJuly 10, 2023

Netflix to release new zombie-themed project ‘Zombieverse’

Netflix on Monday confirmed that its upcoming action variety program “Zombieverse” will premiere on Aug. 8. The global streaming service, which mesmerized many viewers with its hit zombie-themed projects -- “Kingdom” (2019) and “All of Us Are Dead” (2022), seeks to expand the Korean zombie sensation in variety shows as well. Popular TV directors Park Jin-kyung, who was behind MBC’s iconic entertainment show “My Little Television,” and Moon Sa

TelevisionJuly 10, 2023

My Art Museum shows extensive collection of Germany's Museum Ludwig

My Art Museum in Seoul is showcasing pieces from the Museum Ludwig in Germany in celebration of the 140th anniversary of Korea’s bilateral relations with Germany. The exhibition “Picasso and the 20th Century Masters” will run through Aug. 27. Located in Cologne, Museum Ludwig houses a collection of modern art including pop art, abstract and surrealism. The cornerstone of collection was laid in 1976 with a donation of 250 pieces to the city of Cologne by the collectors Peter a

Arts & DesignJuly 10, 2023

Jeonju International Sori Festival to highlight array of pansori sounds

A festival featuring the sounds of pansori in 105 performances will kick off in September. The Jeonju International Sori Festival is scheduled to take place at Jeonju Hanok Village as well as 14 cities across North Jeolla Province, from Sept. 15 to 24. “We aim to create a unique program with top-notch performances that cannot be experienced elsewhere,“ said Lee Wang-jun of the festival’s organizing committee during a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday. Lee added that a

CultureJuly 9, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Beasts of a Little Land’ author Juhea Kim on love, nature and upcoming screen adaptations

Korean American author Juhea Kim’s creative journey is taking an exciting turn as she expands her passion into the film industry, with both her short story “Biodome” and debut novel “Beasts of a Little Land” set for screen adaptations. Kim’s 2021 short story “Biodome,” published in the triennial literary magazine ZYZZYVA, is slated to be adapted into a film. Set in futuristic Seoul, the dystopian sci-fi romance centers around an engineer named Park

BooksJuly 9, 2023

Broadcasters experiment with drama release dates, schedules

Responding to the fast-changing environment of the content industry, South Korean broadcasters are changing up drama release schedules. Terrestrial broadcasters SBS and MBC recently announced that they will showcase their upcoming drama projects with a different strategy, parting ways with the traditional schedule in which new episodes are released back-to-back over two consecutive days per week. While many TV channels air new episodes on either Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or

TelevisionJuly 9, 2023

[Weekender] Chilling tales and haunted trails: unlocking thrilling summer adventure

As summer sweeps across the country, the allure of sandy beachfront getaways and outdoor adventures beckons. Paradoxically, it is precisely during these sizzling months that haunted mansions and ghost houses reclaim their attraction to thrill-seekers and the curious. Brace yourself as you step into the haunted corridors of these popular attractions, for what awaits is a bone-chilling immersive encounter that will send shivers down your spine. A twist on the traditional concept of a haunted house

TravelJuly 8, 2023

Korea's experimental artists reborn in different context at MMCA

Korean avant-garde artist Lee Kun-yong stood in front of the audience at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Seoul, performing “In Snail’s Gallop,” just as he did when it premiered in 1979. But the reception to the performances couldn't be more different. “My performance is about interacting with audiences. I feel like the audience’s attitude on art has changed a lot from the 1970s. They were quite stiff and seemed to find it difficult to in

Arts & DesignJuly 8, 2023

[Herald Interview] MMCA curator Kang Soo-jung sees Korean avant-garde artists remaining 'forever young'

Art transcends time and space. The exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s” brings Korea’s avant-garde art from decades ago into the present with a glimpse into how the young artists challenged rapid industrialization and authoritarianism. The exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea attracted attention from home and abroad even before its May 26 opening. The show, co-curated by the national museum and the Guggenheim M

Arts & DesignJuly 8, 2023

Cool off at scenic valleys

For those looking to escape the scorching heat, valleys offering cool shade and a chance to splash about in cold water from the mountains is a popular choice. For the month of July, Korea Tourism Organization recommends scenic valley destinations that offer quiet, cool respite. In certain valleys, visitors can follow in the footsteps of ancestors by seeking solace from the sweltering temperatures and enjoying the gentle breeze. Alternatively, lesser-known valleys offer a tranquil and awe-inspiri

TravelJuly 8, 2023