From model violin to world stage: Kim Seo-hyun's musical journey has just began

Without her violin, Kim Seo-hyun appears even younger than her age of 15. But once she holds the violin, she transforms into a charismatic violinist who captivates her audience with every note. Just a year ago, she became the youngest winner of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in Switzerland, where she not only secured first prize but also won the Youth Jury Prize, as well as the prize for best interpretation of a commissioned compulsory piece by Silvia Colasanti. She entered t

CultureAug. 31, 2024

Seoul Fashion Week rethinks sustainability, latest tech

Sustainability is back in the limelight as the spring-summer 2025 Seoul Fashion Week kicks off its five-day run Tuesday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, addressing the urgent concern shared by the fashion industry. One of the 21 brands showcasing their collections on the runway is Julycolumn led by Park So-young. The 41-year-old designer, who opened the previous fall-winter 2024 show in February, will feature pieces that use materials created using recycled plastic bottles. The materials com

Arts & DesignAug. 31, 2024

[What to Watch] 3 summer horror films that are killer at beating the heat

The summer heat seems to be taking its time in going away, meaning there are still ample reasons to watch the latest horror films in theaters. Several horror movies, from Korean occult genre to entertaining Hollywood films, are being released in cinemas now through early September. “Spring Garden” Directed by Koo Tae-jin, the movie revolves around So-hee (Jo Yoon-hee) who lost the joy of everyday life after the sudden death of her husband. She goes to live at a rural mansion -- N

FilmAug. 31, 2024

Kim Ae-ran reflects on evolving views of growth in 'One of Them Is a Lie'

Describing her latest novel, “One of Them Is a Lie,” author Kim Ae-ran reflected on how her perspective on growth has changed since the release of her debut work, “My Brilliant Life” (2011). "I wanted to view growth differently. We often think of growth as getting bigger or advancing, but I’ve come to see it as more about shifting perspectives -- when other people’s stories and places enter into us, and those spaces grow within us,” said Kim during

BooksAug. 31, 2024

World-renowned singers unite for Puccini's 'Tosca' in Seoul

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s death, the Seoul Metropolitan Opera and Bucheon Philharmonic are presenting his most dramatic work, “Tosca.” The opera singers featured in this production, which will be performed four times from Thursday to Sept. 8, bring with them not only decades of experience, but also personal connections and unique stories with Puccini’s “Tosca." Renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu, who has portrayed the role of Flor

CultureAug. 30, 2024

'Past Lives' star Yoo Teo cast as lead in Hollywood film 'Karoshi'

South Korean actor Yoo Teo, acclaimed for his performance in the Oscar-nominated romance drama "Past Lives" (2023), has been officially cast as the lead in the upcoming Hollywood action thriller "Karoshi." "Karoshi" is written and directed by US filmmaker Takashi Doscher, who is known for his award-winning thriller "Still" (2018). The film is produced by 87eleven Action Design, a US production company popular for producing multiple hit action flicks such a

FilmAug. 30, 2024

[Photo News] Lonely hackberry in Changwon

The popularity of an East Asian hackberry tree in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, that shot to nationwide fame following its appearance in megahit legal drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022) seems to have cooled off as of late. The small, quiet village of Bukbu-ri was overflowing with travelers and TV drama fans from across the country who had come to see the 500-year-old protected tree, also known as “Sodeok-dong paengnamu,” in the TV series. The sensational t

TravelAug. 30, 2024

Songpa-gu presents new guide book

Songpa-gu, a district in eastern Seoul, hopes to guide local and overseas travelers to memorable experiences with it’s restaurant guide book “Eat Local Songpa.” Home to popular dining and shopping spots such as Lotte World Mall and Songridan-gil, a street filled with trendy cafes and artsy restaurants, Songpa-gu is a go-to date spot for many Koreans. The guide book contains detailed information for a total of 183 shops, restaurants, tourist destinations and places to experience

TravelAug. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Hanna Kiel's 'BODY' to explore chaotic harmony in cross-cultural dance collaboration at SIDance

When choreographer Hanna Kiel begins her creative process, she doesn’t hand out steps or sequences to her dancers. Instead, she assigns tasks. The dancers interpret these assignments through movement, and then Kiel guides and shapes the final choreography. For example, she might ask the dancers to describe their most physically or mentally challenging experiences. One dancer might express the agony and frustration of rehabilitating from a back injury, while another might channel the franti

PerformanceAug. 30, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul collaborates with Valrhona Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, is scheduled to offer a new afternoon tea promotion featuring various chocolates at Gallery, its lobby lounge cafe, from Sept. 2 to Nov. 30. The collaboration with French premium chocolate brand Valrhona offers desserts created from recipes by pastry chef Guillaume Lopvet, allowing hotel’s guests to enjoy a gastronomic journey featuring seasonal fruits and Valrhona chocolate. The main afte

TravelAug. 30, 2024

[Well-curated] French butter cake, gugak festival and Pachinko pop-up

The kouign-amann go-to Kouign-amann, a delicacy of Brittany in France meaning “butter cake,” is something like a caramelized croissant. This opulent pastry balances caramelized crust with light, moist layers with salted butter baked between, which crumble into sweet flakes upon a bite. One of the best places to try a slice is b. Patisserie at the mall complex Shinsegae Central City in Seocho-gu -- one of the three branches in South Korea operated by the San Francisco-based pastry sho

Arts & DesignAug. 30, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go out for an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only to face the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a closed-down space. “Twisters” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Action/Adventure Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Retired tornado chaser and meteorologist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is persuaded to return to Oklah

FilmAug. 30, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

DongGang photo festival The longest-running annual festival of photography in Korea since 2002, the DongGang International Photo Festival is the go-to for photography enthusiasts and hobbyists. The festival -- held at the DongGang Museum of Photography in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, and around the museum -- looks at the history of photography and photos by artists from Korea and overseas. The event will end Sept. 29. Admission costs 3,000 won. Go to dgphotofestival.com for more informati

TravelAug. 30, 2024

[Herald Review] Tori Kelly thrills fans, hints her love for Korean artists

American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly thrilled fans with her unrivaled charisma and voice. The 31-year-old singer held her first concert in Korea, titled "Tori Kelly Live in Seoul," at the Myunghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, as part of her world tour "Purple Skies." Initially scheduled for April 2020, the concert was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Tuesday's gig her first performance in the country. In a written interview with The Kore

PerformanceAug. 29, 2024

Korea's cultural gems find new home in Daegu

Kansong Art Museum Daegu brings together several designated national treasures in the largest-ever show of national treasures in its collection. The museum's inaugural exhibition “Treasures of the Kansong Art Museum Daegu,” which opens Sept. 3, marks the opening of a new home for the country's oldest private museum. “It took nearly 10 years to open the museum in Daegu, and I am glad we can offer an opportunity to people outside Seoul to enjoy our collection of natio

Arts & DesignAug. 29, 2024

Sejong Summer Festival turns Gwanghwamun Square into lively dance floor

The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts’s Summer Festival kicked off Wednesday with enthusiastic cheers and vibrant dance moves filling the Gwanghwamun Square, which will remain a lively dance floor both for performers and audiences until Sunday. On Wednesday, approximately 1,000 people, including preregistered attendees and those who queued at the venue, filled the standing area, immersing themselves in the dynamic performances. Those unable to enter the square shared in the excitement

CultureAug. 29, 2024

29th BIFF selects 12 world premiere films of emerging directors

The 29th Busan International Film Festival announced Thursday 12 selections for the “Korean Cinema Today -- Vision” section, which premieres indie films of up-and-coming independent film directors in Korea. A world premiere in this section has been regarded as a stepping stone for garnering attention in the domestic and international film industries, as the films go through official release at cinemas here or receive invitations to prestigious international film festivals. The select

FilmAug. 29, 2024

'Please find her': Man dies amid 25-year search for missing daughter

A 71-year-old man who dedicated a large part of his life to searching for his missing daughter has died, a civic group said Wednesday. Song Gil-yong, whose daughter, Song Hye-hee, went missing in 1999, died Monday in a car accident, according to the local group dedicated to finding missing people here. The head of the group, Na Ju-bong, said in a media interview that Song had been suffering from deteriorating health, even showing signs of dementia in recent years. Na described Song as "a

PeopleAug. 28, 2024

Table tennis star Shin Yu-bin lands BHC Chicken ad after Olympic snacking fame

Table tennis star and Paris Olympic double-bronze medalist Shin Yu-bin has become a favorite in the Korean food industry, landing major ad deals with top brands. The 20-year-old athlete brought home medals in mixed and women’s doubles, ending the country’s long medal drought in table tennis. Cameras caught her munching on snacks -- bananas, rice balls, and energy gels -- during breaks as the competition heated up. These endearing moments quickly went viral, adding to her charm alongs

FoodAug. 28, 2024

Blues musicians across generations to gather at blues festival

Korea's premier blues festival is set to take place in Seoul next month. The 2024 Seoul International Blues Festival, which brings together top-tier blues musicians in Korea, will be held from Sept. 20 to 22 at CKL Stage in Jung-gu, Seoul. Now in its 7th year, the festival will feature blues musicians representing every generation, from the first wave of Korean blues to millennials and Gen Z. The first day of the festival presents a special collaborative performance titled "All-Star Bl

PerformanceAug. 28, 2024