Marking 20th anniv., Tongyeong music fest to return this week

The Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF), a leading annual classical music gala in South Korea, will begin this year's edition Friday as it marks its 20th anniversary. The 2022 festival will run through April 3 in Tongyeong, on the southern coast, presenting some 30 classical concerts and performances under the theme "Vision in Diversity." The 2020 edition of TIMF was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been held in-person since last year. The Tongyeong Festival

CultureMarch 24, 2022

[From the Scene] ‘2022 Special Concert for World Peace’ presents hopes for world peace, harmony

Ranging from classical, jazz and pop to traditional Korean sounds, music filled the Seoul Arts Center’s concert hall Wednesday night in a concert held to wish for peace amid the war in Ukraine. The “2022 Special Concert for World Peace,” co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the Seoul Arts Center, delivered a message of peace and harmony led by the Seoul Pops Orchestra’s director and conductor Ha Sung-ho. “I am touched and amazed by how many people in Korea are sendin

PerformanceMarch 23, 2022

Beauty of royal hanbok presented at ‘The Hanbok’ show at Gyeongbokgung

“The Hanbok,” a fashion show event promoting Korea’s traditional costume, hanbok, was held Wednesday in front of Gyeonghoeru, a two-story pavilion structure located inside Gyeongbokgung, a Joseon-period royal palace. In a declaration, the event announced hanbok as Korea’s native culture with a 5,000-year story. The history behind hanbok and its distinctive features were also shared, along with distinguishing it from two Chinese costumes -- qipao and hanfu. Oxford Engli

Arts & DesignMarch 23, 2022

Yoon suggests Moon should keep his dogs, gift from NK leader

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol suggested Wednesday that President Moon Jae-in should keep his local breed Pungsan dogs, which were gifted to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The dogs, named Gomi and Songang, were given by Kim during the Inter-Korean Summit of 2018 as a symbol of peace in the peninsula. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae confirmed hours earlier that the dogs belong to the state, as the gifts were for the president of South Korea, not Moon himself. “If (Moon) were

PeopleMarch 23, 2022

[Herald Interview] Jung Woo says he was instinctively attracted to noir film ‘Hot Blooded’

Jung Woo said he was instinctively attracted to the noir film “Hot Blooded,” directed by Cheon Myoung-kwan. “My heart told me to join the project, not my head,” he said in an interview with a group of local reporters Tuesday. “The film does not have the plot of a typical commercial film, but I really wanted to do a noir film.” He hesitated a little, however, when he found out that the film was set in Busan, as he had played multiple characters already from

FilmMarch 23, 2022

Cellist Mischa Maisky and daughter to perform in Korea

Cellist Mischa Maisky is coming back to South Korea for the first time in five years, with three recitals in April and May. The cellist will be accompanied by pianist Lily Maisky, who is also his daughter. Maisky and his daughter will kick off a three-concert series at Gunsan Arts Center in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on April 29. After performing at the Seoul Arts Center on May 1, the duo will travel to Gwangju for the last recital here at Gwangju Culture & Art Center on May 3. Bo

PerformanceMarch 23, 2022

Seoul signs deal with Parisian trade show Tranoi to promote Korean designers' European inroads

The Seoul city government on Wednesday signed an agreement with Tranoi, the official trade fair of Paris Fashion Week, to help South Korean designers expand to the European fashion market, officials said. Under the memorandum of understanding on the "nurturing of global fashion brands and development of the fashion industry," the two sides will pick promising Korean fashion brands and support their European inroads through various channels, including fashion shows, the city officials s

Arts & DesignMarch 23, 2022

[Herald Interview] Seoul Pops Orchestra violinists Sergiy Salo and Olga Knyazeva seek to deliver message of world peace, harmony

Not having performed in a concert since December, two violinists of Seoul Pops Orchestra revealed their mixed emotions for the 2022 Special Concert for World Peace, which is to be held Wednesday at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. “Due to the COVID-19 situation and the fast-spreading omicron variant, we did not have a concert for almost three months. I was happy to see my colleagues to prepare for tomorrow’s concert. I am excited, but nervous at the same time,” violinist S

PerformanceMarch 22, 2022

‘Squid Game’ creator hints at return of Jung Ho-yeon in season 2

After “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said the series will return with a second season due to popular demand, one burning question remains: Who will be starring in the next season? On the red carpet at the Producers Guild Awards ceremony on March 19, Hwang said told the press that he was working on many ideas and hinted that Jung Ho-yeon might play the role of a twin sister to Sae-byeok, Jung’s character who died in the final game of season 1. However, it may be prematu

TelevisionMarch 22, 2022

Korean illustrator Suzy Lee wins prestigious Andersen Award

  South Korean illustrator Suzy Lee won one of the most prestigious prizes given to authors and illustrators of children‘s books Monday. The International Board on Books for Young Children on Monday announced Lee as the 2022 winner of the illustration section of Hans Christian Andersen Award, which is specifically given in honor of the lifetime work of an illustrator. With the award, Lee has become the first Korean to receive or be nominated at the Hans Christian Andersen Award an

BooksMarch 22, 2022

Three leading string quartets come together for spring concert

South Korea’s three leading chamber ensembles are set to join forces for a concert in April, according to classical music management company MOC Production. Titled “Quartet Plus,” the concert on Aprill 20 will feature performances by three award-winning quartets -- Novus Quartet, Abel Quartet and Arete Quartet. Abel Quartet will open the concert with Haydn’s Hob III:70 - String Quartet Op. 71, No. 2 in D major. The youngest ensemble, Arete Quartet, will perform Shum

PerformanceMarch 22, 2022

’Can’t Stop This Party’ a new challenge for singer-songwriter Seori

Singer-songwriter Seori returned to the stage with her fifth digital single “Can’t Stop This Party” Tuesday, after a seven-month hiatus. “The newly launched single was a new experience and a challenge,” the artist said at a press showcase event held in western Seoul ahead of the single’s release at 1 p.m. online. “Can’t Stop This Party” is an all-English language single and a follow-up to “Dive with You,” which was released la

PerformanceMarch 22, 2022

[International Galleries in Seoul] Lehmann Maupin continues to ‘break the mold’ in global art scene

The following is part of a series that explores international galleries that have opened in Seoul, a new art hub in Asia. --Ed. Lehmann Maupin is one of the pioneers exploring the potential of the Korean art market from a global perspective. The 26-year-old gallery based in New York opened its Seoul venue in 2017 in Samcheong-dong in central Seoul, a cozy neighborhood located right next to Gyeongbokgung. The gallery’s relationship with Korea dates back more than two decades when it sta

Arts & DesignMarch 22, 2022

Galleries Art Fair 2022 a big success with record sales

The Galleries Art Fair 2022 closed Sunday with a record number of visitors and sales, continuing the ongoing art fever in South Korea. Some 143 galleries participated in the country’s oldest art fair, making it the largest in its history. The five-day art fair kicked off Wednesday at Seoul Trade Exhibition Convention in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. It attracted some 5,300 visitors and clinched 17.7 billion won ($14.5 million) in sales, more than twice last year’s sales figure of 7.

Arts & DesignMarch 22, 2022

[Herald Interview] Creator of ‘A Business Proposal’ delighted by global attention to webtoon and drama series

Recently adapted into a television drama, the Kakao webtoon “A Business Proposal” has captured the interest of both local and international viewers with its unique, heart-fluttering storyline and dramatic romance of two couples that were brought together because of an unexpected blind date. Because of the different cultural backgrounds of potential viewers, the global launch of “A Business Proposal” began with concerns rather than excitement, webtoon author and illustra

CartoonMarch 21, 2022

Seoul Independent Film Festival to hold ‘Indie Picnic 2022’ in April

Seoul Independent Film Festival on Monday announced that it will hold a screening event, “Indie Picnic 2022,” at Indie Space in Seoul starting on April 8. The screening event, which will be held from Friday to Sunday over a two-week period, will run from April 8 to 10 and also from April 15 to 17. The event organizer selected 23 short films and nine features, which include “Sinner” directed by Yang Jae-joon, the top winner of the short film section during last year&rs

FilmMarch 21, 2022

Gyeongbokgung Palace to open for nighttime viewing

Joseon royal palace Gyeongbokgung will be open for nighttime viewing from April 1 to May 29, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday. The night view of Gyeongbokgung in spring is noted for its beautiful blossoms, including the weeping cherry blossoms and bright azaleas that light up the night. Up to 1,300 visitors will be admitted per evening and reservations are required through the 11Street website. Online reservations will open Thursday morning, with each person limited to two tick

TravelMarch 21, 2022

Hybe, FNC to kick off series of US auditions in April

Hybe, the agency behind BTS, and FNC Entertainment, the company behind SF9, Monday announced plans to hold a series of auditions in the US aimed at finding new talents. Hybe’s seven subsidiaries -- Big Hit Music, Belift Lab, Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, Koz Entertainment, Hybe Labels Japan and Hybe America -- are set to hold their first joint auditions in Las Vegas next month. “Hybe Multi-label Audition” will take place four times on April 8-9 and April 15-16 there. An

PerformanceMarch 21, 2022

Artist Heo Wook’s artwork for ‘Special Concert for World Peace’ issued as NFT

An artwork created for the “2022 Special Concert for World Peace” is being sold as a non-fungible token on digital art platform and marketplace Evei starting Sunday. Drawn by artist Heo Wook, who graduated from Beaux-Arts de Paris with degrees in drawing, painting, architecture and multimedia, the main image is also featured in the poster for the March 23 concert co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the Seoul Arts Center. Based on Heo’s latest work “Cheom Cheom,” th

CultureMarch 20, 2022

Lee Byung-hun to play traveling salesman in star-studded ‘Our Blues’

Top actor Lee Byung-hun, 51, is set to make his small-screen return in tvN’s new Saturday-Sunday drama “Our Blues” scheduled to premiere April 9. Playing Jeju-born salesman Lee Dong-suk, he travels the island in a truck selling all kinds of household goods and clothing. Lee’s new role is a stark contrast to his previous role as a charismatic US Marine in period drama “Mr. Sunshine” released in 2018. “Our Blues” is one of the most anticipated dra

TelevisionMarch 20, 2022