Seoul Fashion Week still has work to do

For the last 24 years, Seoul Fashion Week has been the face of the fashion landscape Korea wants to project onto the fashion world -- one that is as fresh in creative aesthetics as it is powerful in demonstrating timeless beauty. Still, local designers need to be empowered with more financial as well as administrative support to help achieve the decades-old mission, fashion experts said Monday, calling for more active support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government -- the host of Seoul Fashion We

Arts & DesignSept. 9, 2024

Flower festivals around the country welcome fall

With the days getting shorter, a crisp breeze in the morning and late at night, one can feel fall is just around the corner. Fall flower events around the country are a sure sign of the arrival of autumn. Starting Friday, Hadong -- a small county in South Gyeongsang Province -- will begin its 17-day cosmos flower festival, attracting tourists with cosmos, buckwheat and other hands-on agricultural programs. This annual fall festival is the earliest fall event featuring a fall flower in South Kore

TravelSept. 9, 2024

Chin Unsuk, Lim Yunchan recordings shortlisted for Gramophone Awards

The recordings of South Korean composer Chin Unsuk and pianist Lim Yunchan have been shortlisted for the 2024 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. Their albums were among a total of 33 recordings in the 11 categories -- three per category -- shortlisted for the award. In the piano category, Lim’s two albums have made the shortlist: "Liszt: Transcendental Etudes" and his debut album "Chopin: Etudes." "The Liszt Transcendental Etudes" contains Lim’s semifi

CultureSept. 9, 2024

Diva Gheorghiu's encore interruption diminishes the magic of 'Tosca'

A well-executed production featuring top opera singers ended on a sour note. On Sunday, the audience at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul erupted in applause and cheers after tenor Kim Jae-hyung's powerful rendition of the iconic aria "E lucevan le stelle" (When the stars were brightly shining) in Puccini's "Tosca," produced by the Seoul Opera Company. Kim, also known as Alfred Kim, was onstage for his second performance as Cavaradossi, Tosca's

CultureSept. 9, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kim Myung-min takes cue from 'The Godfather' for 'Your Honor'

Veteran actor Kim Myung-min said he drew inspiration from the iconic American gangster film "The Godfather" while portraying the crime lord in the hit series "Your Honor." "Your Honor," an adaptation of the Israeli series "Kvodo," follows Judge Pan-ho (played by Son Hyun-joo), who seeks to cover up a murder committed by his son, and Gang-heon (played by Kim), a merciless crime lord who is determined to uncover the truth behind his son's murder. The se

TelevisionSept. 9, 2024

[Reporter’s Notebook] Why are so many districts in Seoul hopped up on beer fests?

With the growing trend of beer festivals across Seoul, many districts are joining the movement, with Seorim Happiness Beer Festival in Gwanak-gu and Baekmaek Festival in Gangbuk-gu having concluded their two-day events on Saturday. By the end of this year, over half of Seoul’s 25 districts will have hosted or sponsored beer festivals, reflecting a wider city initiative to boost nightlife and promote local food culture. While beer festivals have long been popular in regions with cultural ti

TravelSept. 8, 2024

Seongsu-dong to host first-ever World Webtoon Festival

South Korea is set to host its first-ever global webtoon festival and awards ceremony, highlighting the country's leading role in the growing global popularity of webtoons, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Sunday. The 2024 World Webtoon Festival will run from Sept. 26 to 29 at various venues across Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The festival will kick off with the 2024 World Webtoon Awards on the opening day at S-Factory in Seongsu-dong, a retail, event and cultu

CultureSept. 8, 2024

Linkin Park regroups after 7 years, to hold concert in Korea

Linkin Park has announced the band's comeback, along with the release of a new album with new members in November and a concert in South Korea for the first time in 13 years. The band has added vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, and on Friday released a new single titled “The Emptiness Machine.” Armstrong was previously a co-vocalist for Dead Sara, while Brittain has worked as a producer for artists such as Illenium and One Ok Rock. Linkin Park’s upcoming

PerformanceSept. 8, 2024

K-festa looks to boost Korea's performing arts market

The Culture Ministry on Friday announced it is introducing K-Stage Festa as a festival that aims to gather attention for the nation’s vibrant yet struggling performing arts scene. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 10, a total of 140 theater, dance and classical music performances will be introduced under the banner of K-Stage Festa across various venues, such as the National Theater of Korea, the Seoul Arts Center, Cheong Wa Dae Heliport and regional cultural and art centers. A special series will also

PerformanceSept. 8, 2024

Blue-skinned teen struggles with identity, alienation in 'Melanin'

"My skin is blue, and my mother is Vietnamese. I don't know which is the bigger problem," begins Ha Seung-meen's award-winning novel “Melanin.” The coming-of-age novel follows Jae-il, a teenage boy born to a Korean father and a Vietnamese mother, as he grapples with life in a world that rejects him for his strange blue skin and his multicultural heritage. His unusual complexion becomes a marker of alienation, making him a target for ridicule and bullying from clas

BooksSept. 7, 2024

Designed with cacti, floating stone, dining bar Vuur gives creative kick to local ingredients

South of Seoul's Han River, Gangnam, is an on-trend area for drinks and bar bites. Chock full of fine dining restaurants and wine bars, it’s very hard to choose just one place from the list. Whether for catching up with a friend, a date with your loved one or even a cordial meal with your colleagues, dining bar Vuur in Gangnam-gu is a place where you can experience good food at the level of fine dining, in a creative atmosphere for more reasonable prices. Opened last year, Vuur is loc

FoodSept. 7, 2024

[What to attend] 'The Golden Chaos Club,' 'Hadestown,' 'Yujin and Yujin'

Though many want to spend more time outdoors as the summer heat subsides this month, be sure not to miss these musical productions that are closing soon. "The Golden Chaos Club" offers a fun and entertaining experience, while "Hadestown" captivates audiences of all ages with its powerful music. "Yujin and Yujin" explores the healing process and offers hope for those facing trauma. The Golden Chaos Club: A fun show on forbidden things "The Golden Chaos Club

CultureSept. 7, 2024

[Feature] Behind the scenes at pet-friendly hotels

Staycation at a pet-friendly hotel or pension is not likely to be a mere passing fad in South Korea -- a country where almost 15 million people or 30 percent of the total population, as of 2023, are estimated to live with at least one companion animal according to data by Korea Rural Economic Institute. In a country where 30 percent of the population owns a pet, a growing number of accommodations are catering to guests' furry friends, with hotels even designating some rooms exclusively for

TravelSept. 7, 2024

Frieze Seoul sees slower sales, yet confirms stronger art scene in Seoul

The economic slowdown has affected the third edition of Frieze Seoul, which started Wednesday at Coex with relatively slow sales. Galleries brought works at lowered prices as though they were bracing for the economic impact on the art market. Some galleries were hesitant to share sales figures, saying that collectors appeared to be taking more time to make purchases, or that sales had been similar to -- or worse than -- last year. “We know that the economy here has not been at its best, ev

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

Perfectionism ties together Louis Vuitton, Park Seo-bo: official

A relentless pursuit of perfection is what identifies Park Seo-bo and Louis Vuitton, said Lee Yoo-jin, executive director of the Parkseobo Foundation, on Wednesday as the French luxury house launched a collaboration with the prominent Korean artist at the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul. “We were just amazed to witness the sheer attention to detail by the fashion house,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “That attitude isn’t far different from Park’s when h

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

Runways show off pastel luxury, flamboyance, sustainability

Designers showcasing spring-summer 2025 collections at Seoul Fashion Week were just as diverse in their choice of materials as the messages highlighted on the runway, where 21 brands are making their pitch during the five-day fashion week ending Saturday. Cahiers, a womenswear brand led by designer Kim A-young, started Friday’s runway shows focusing on what she calls “pastel luxury” -- ready-to-wear fare inspired by ballet costumes -- a symbol of elegance and delicacy, accordin

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2024

13th Swedish Film Festival opens Sept. 10 in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu

The 13th Swedish Film Festival will open on Sept. 10 and take place in Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Daegu until Sept. 29. This annual film festival aims to introduce the latest Swedish films as well as shed light on the creativity of Swedish creators and their introspection through films. The 13th edition of the festival will look into the definition of “community” and “individual” through movies, according to the event organizer. The festival will kick off at Seoul’s

FilmSept. 6, 2024

Leading summer festival BBC Proms to arrive in Korea this winter

The Korean edition of BBC Proms, a leading summer festival that takes place in London, is set to launch in Korea this winter. From Dec. 2 to 8, BBC Proms Korea, organized by Lotte Foundation for Arts, will offer a total of eight programs, featuring top domestic and overseas artists. The festival will kick off with a concert by BBC Scotland Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) under the baton of conductor Ryan Wigglesworth, a British composer, conductor and pianist, and a collaboration with cellist Han J

CultureSept. 6, 2024

Park Bo-young, Ahn Jae-hong to host Busan film fest opening ceremony

Actors Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong have been announced as the hosts of the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Oct. 2. The 29th BIFF’s opening ceremony takes place at the Busan Cinema Center BIFF Theater at 7 p.m., Oct. 2. Park, 34, made her acting debut with drama series “Secret Campus” (2006) and rose to prominence as a leading rookie in Korean cinema after hit family comedy “Scandal Makers” (2008). In 2015, her film

FilmSept. 6, 2024

Park Chan-wook-produced Netflix period flick ‘Uprising’ to be released Oct. 11

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will be released Oct. 11, the global streaming platform confirmed Friday. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. “I’ve been writing the screenplay (for this project) for a long time and completed it in 2019. Because it’s a perio

FilmSept. 6, 2024