Korea’s art market boom continues in 2022

South Korea’s art market is estimated to mark about 532.9 billion won ($410.2 million) for the first half of 2022, according to a report by the Korea Arts Management Service last week. The six-month figure amounted to 58 percent of the annual art market size of 2021, which was 915.7 billion won. Six major art fairs held in the first half of the year showed strong growth. The total sales reached 142.9 billion won, up 165.6 percent from the previous year. The total number of visitors also

Arts & DesignJuly 10, 2022

Jang Hyuk, Ryu Seung-ryong win awards at NY film fest

Acclaimed Korean stars and content creators are set to take center stage at the upcoming New York Asian Film Festival 2022, with actors Jang Hyuk and Ryu Seung-ryong, among others, winning awards at the fest. According to NYAFF, Jang won the Daniel A. Craft Award for excellence in action cinema for his roles in “The Swordsman” (2020) and “The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die,” which will be shown during a special screening at NYAFF. Ryu will receive the inaugural Bes

FilmJuly 10, 2022

Bingsu, cold delights to chill you

A popular summertime dessert in Korea, bingsu, shaved ice traditionally topped with red beans and drizzled with milk, keeps getting fancier with endless varieties of toppings and presentations. At the forefront of bingsu’s eye-catching makeover are five-star hotels that spare no effort in coming up with ever more decadent shaved-ice variations each summer. At the height of indulgence, a bowl of bingsu for two can cost as much as 90,000 won ($69) at hotels, while more humble varieties ser

FoodJuly 9, 2022

[Scholars and their spaces] ‘Wander alone like a rhinoceros’

“Even if your husband blames and leaves you, do not be too critical of yourself if you think that it was not your fault. Do not harm the self, given to you by your parents, with concerns and deep worries when you have nothing to be ashamed of before the sky and sun, even though no one may recognize it.” 　 Kim Hoyeonjae (1681-1722) wrote poems depicting countryside scenery or communicating with siblings. In her work on vigilance, written after more than 10 years of marriage, she conf

CultureJuly 9, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Gaya Kingdom of Korea with formidable culture and enduring legacy

　 Korean history has always favored the victors as the kingdoms which have disappeared have no voice except for their legacy. 　 The Gaya Kingdom of Korea, more accurately Gaya Confederacy, founded in 42CE, had a relatively short history by Korean standards, but we are still learning about them from their music and the artifacts buried with their rulers. 　 The Three Kingdoms, Goguryeo (37 BC - AD 668 ), Baekje (18 BC - AD 660) and Silla (57 BC - AD 935), had a formidable neighbor called Gaya in

CultureJuly 9, 2022

[Temple to Table] Versatile summer dishes: Gondeure tofu and corn jeon

Regarding its summer menu, Kim Ji Young, Balwoo Gongyang’s chef, says that the objectives are “rehydration and the restoration of stamina,” and that all the dishes are “invigorating and made with veggies instead of meat.” “Because one perspires profusely in summer, temples pay more attention to health management. Monks need supplemental nutrition in summer. One often thinks of meat or fish as invigorating foods. However, superbly invigorating dishes can be

FoodJuly 9, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas launches ‘Summer Cruise Royal High Tea’ Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Seoul’s Samseong-dong is offering an ocean landscape-inspired tea set at the Lobby Lounge and Bar on the ground floor, through Aug. 31. A raffle will also be hosted for customers to win a chance to board a luxury yacht, as well as other hotel vouchers. The Summer Cruise Royal High Tea promotion offers pearl-setting macarons and blue lemonade. Following four diff

FoodJuly 8, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Suwon Culture Night Suwon Culture Night will take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 12-14. Held at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Temporary Palace, the areas are decorated with media art installations, titled “Eight Nights.” Every corner of the fortress offers a historical and cultural experience to visitors. Admission fees vary by program, including the docent-led tour, augmented reality experience, talk show, cooking program, bike taxi tour and more. More informati

TravelJuly 8, 2022

[Well-curated] Jazz club, immersive art and bindaetteok for rainy weekend

If high-end jazz clubs with pricey finger food are beyond your budget, “Take-out Jazz” might be the place for you, where you can bring your own food and drinks and watch live jazz performances. A 20-minute walk from Yangjae Citizen Forest Station in Gangnam, the Naeum Art Hall hosts four sessions of “Take-out Jazz” on weekends. The performances are held at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Fridays and at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. The basement club has a cozy ambience, co

CultureJuly 8, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Thor: Love and Thunder (US) Opened July 6 Action Directed by Taika Waititi Thor (Chris Hemsworth) attempts to find inner peace, but his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. Thor forms a special team to fight against Gorr and uncover the mystery behind his enemy’s revenge plans. Decision to Leave (Korea) Opened June 29 Romance Directed by Park Chan-wook Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) is a hardw

FilmJuly 8, 2022

Gaon Chart aims to become global K-pop chart with new name

South Korean music sales tracker Gaon Chart has debuted a new name with an aim to provide the most accurate and diverse K-pop data for fans all around the world. The Korea Music Content Association, which operates the Gaon chart, held a proclamation ceremony in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Thursday, during which it layed out a road map for its renewed K-pop chart, as well as unveiling the brand new name for the chart -- Circle Chart. Gaon Chart, founded in 2010, has operated as the country‘

PerformanceJuly 7, 2022

Sinchon Water Gun Fest canceled due to pandemic resurgence

This year’s Sinchon Water Gun Festival, which had been scheduled for two days starting July 30, was canceled by the Seodaemun-gu Office on Wednesday, according to Heyway, the main organizer of the event. Jointly sponsored by the city of Seoul, Seodaemun-gu Office and Sinchon Merchants’ Association, the Sinchon Water Gun Festival attracted over 1 million cumulative participants from 2013 to 2019. The festival has been halted for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The

CultureJuly 7, 2022

Seoul eyes becoming art destination during September’s Frieze Seoul, Kiaf Seoul

An unprecedented number of galleries from around the world will come together in Seoul in early September for the inaugural Frieze Seoul, Kiaf Seoul and Kiaf Plus, the first joint opening of local and global art fairs in South Korea. Some 350 galleries will participate in Frieze Seoul, Kiaf Seoul and Kiaf Plus -- a satellite art fair of Kiaf Seoul which will feature newer galleries. As part of partnership between Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul, a single ticket will enable visitors to enter both

Arts & DesignJuly 7, 2022

‘The Roundup’ banned in Vietnam

“The Roundup,” a Korean action comedy that topped 10 million admissions in local theaters, will not be screened in Vietnam, officially because the film is considered “too violent.” Looking to distribute the film in the Southeast Asian country, Korea’s leading entertainment company Lotte Entertainment had applied for film certification for “The Roundup” from the Vietnamese Film Department, an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports

FilmJuly 7, 2022

[Interactive] Rental hanbok: Between legacy and modern demands

CultureJuly 7, 2022

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk denies new school bullying rumors

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk has denied another round of bullying allegations raised against him. Management Soop, Nam’s agency, said Wednesday that they had sought to verify the facts through various channels after the rumors were raised and found that such allegations were “not true.” The controversy erupted on Tuesday last week when a local media outlet ran a report alleging that Nam had bullied a classmate in high school. The article was based on a tip-off from an anonymous pers

PeopleJuly 7, 2022

Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder' tops S. Korean box office on its 1st day

Marvel Studios' latest blockbuster "Thor: Love and Thunder" has topped the South Korean box office on its opening day, data showed Thursday. The film posted 382,000 attendees on Wednesday, accounting for 70 percent of the day's total ticket sales, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. It beat the debut numbers by the previous No. 1, "Top Gun: Maverick," which garnered 188,000 viewers upon its debut on June 22. But its opening score is far behind Marvel

FilmJuly 7, 2022

Legendary rock band Songolmae to take time-slip adventure at reunion concert tour

Iconic South Korean rock band Songolmae is ready to start a time-slip adventure to the 1980s by embarking on a nationwide tour with the long-awaited reunion of Bae Cheol-soo and Koo Chang-mo. At a press conference to introduce Songolmae’s upcoming concert series, titled “Songolmae Live Tour 2022” in Hapjeong, Seoul, on Wednesday, the two best-known members of Songolmae shared their excitement for the upcoming rock ‘n’ roll event. “We will perform as if we a

PerformanceJuly 6, 2022

ENA’s ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ to become webtoon series

Television channel ENA’s courtroom series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” will be adapted into a webtoon, media content company Astory announced Tuesday, unveiling a cartoon image of the lead character Woo Young-woo. According to the production company, the webtoon “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” will be serialized in 60 episodes, drawn by illustrator HwaUmJo and written by Yuil. The webtoon will be serviced in four languages -- Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, t

CartoonJuly 6, 2022

‘The Killer’ is an easy-to-watch action romp

If you‘re looking for an exciting action movie that doesn’t require too much thinking, “The Killer: The Girl Who Deserves to Die,” directed by Choi Jae-hoon, could be the film for you. During a media meeting that followed the press screening of the film at Yongsan CGV on Monday, director Choi noted that he intentionally kept things simple as he aimed to create an action film that people may enjoy without overthinking. “I focused on making the film entertaining and

FilmJuly 6, 2022