[Eye Plus] Indulge in Joy of reading at first public book museum

Songpa Book Museum, situated in eastern Seoul, is an establishment dedicated to reading.  The museum, which opened in 2019, is the first public book museum in Korea. At the museum, visitors can learn more about the practice of reading through various exhibitions. Some exhibitions explain how Korean ancestors read books during the Joseon era (1392-1910) or during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945). It also has a vast reading space for those who want to indulge in books.  The baseme

BooksJan. 29, 2022

[Photo News] Lunar New Year’s greetings from stingrays

Aqua Planet Gwanggyo, an aquarium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, celebrated the Lunar New Year ahead of schedule on Jan. 24. For this eye-catching ceremony, divers wearing traditional Korean clothing called “hanbok“ swam with stingrays. Stingrays are closely related to sharks, and feed on clams, shrimp, and mussels. Aside from stingrays, there are over 30,000 sea animals of 210 unique species in the aquarium. The facility also provides diverse educational programs and interactive ex

TravelJan. 29, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Jeju haenyeo, an extreme job putting fresh seafood on our tables

On Jeju, Korea’s largest island, it’s common for women to wear the pants in the family. For a long time, the Jeju women, many of whom are primary income earners for their households, are literally responsible for putting seafood on our tables. Jeju haenyeo, which roughly translates to “women of the sea,” are free-diving seafood gatherers who can hold their breaths for long periods as they harvest from the sea floor. “They used to call us ‘jomnyeo’ whic

CultureJan. 29, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Tteokbokki, spicy Korean rice cakes

Having a dish full of spicy Korean rice cakes, or tteokbokki, recently in a busy Korean street market brought me a lot of nostalgia. The chewy rice cakes with mildly spicy gochujang sauce … mmm! It was like a taste of my childhood. I recently went to Korea to visit my family. The two weeks of mandatory quarantine upon arrival was well worth the effort. After the quarantine was over, I was thrilled to go out and hit different places for meals. Enjoying Korean street food was no exception

FoodJan. 29, 2022

[Weekender] Tteokguk with jidan, beef topping

Basic ingredients - 400 grams rice cake slices (tteokguk tteok) - 130 grams minced beef - 2 green onion stalks - 2-3 eggs For beef seasoning - 1 tablespoon soy sauce - 1 tablespoon sesame oil - 1 teaspoon minced garlic - 1 teaspoon sugar - pepper to taste - a little cooking oil to coat frying pan For soup - 5 cups of dried kelp (dashima) broth - 1/2 big spoon soup soy sauce - 1 small spoon minced garlic - salt and pepper to taste Directions - If rice cake slices

FoodJan. 29, 2022

Culture minister vows to support pandemic-hit movie theaters

Hwang Hee, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, met with six executives of the top three local multiplex operators -- CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox -- at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Saturday, on the first day of the five-day Lunar New Year holiday. After a thorough quarantine inspection at the theater, he listened to the difficulties the movie operators are experiencing while doing business under the government’s stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “S

PerformanceJan. 29, 2022

Mnet’s ‘I Can See Your Voice’ aims to become long-running music show

The ninth season of “I Can See Your Voice,” a mystery music game show from South Korean cable music network Mnet, is set to premiere Saturday at 10:40 p.m. In line with the program’s global popularity, it hopes to become a long-running music show. “I wonder how long ‘I Can See Your Voice’ can last. I wish it to become a long-running program like ‘Show Me the Money’ and ‘National Singing Contest,’” Super Junior’s Leeteuk, on

TelevisionJan. 28, 2022

‘The Beatles’ Get Back: The Rooftop Concert’ to hit local IMAX theaters

A documentary film on the Beatles featuring the group’s final performance will hit local theaters next month. “The Beatles’ Get Back: The Rooftop Concert” will be screened Feb. 11-13 at IMAX theaters, according to Walt Disney Company Korea on Friday, The one-hour movie is the edited highlights of Peter Jackson’s documentary series “The Beatles: Get Back,” which was released on Disney+ last month. Jackson completed the documentary series based on 60

FilmJan. 28, 2022

Lee Yong-kwan to continue as BIFF chair

The Busan International Film Festival decided to renew Lee Yong-kwan’s term as chairman in an extraordinary general meeting held Thursday at the Busan Cinema Center‘s BIFF Hill. Lee will lead the annual film festival for the next four years. As one of the founding members of the BIFF in 1996, Lee has held several posts at the organization, including programmer-in-chief, vice-director and director of the board before being appointed as chair of the board in 2018. “Not only has

CultureJan. 28, 2022

'Squid Game' nominated for best TV drama series at US producers guild awards

South Korean global phenomenon "Squid Game" has been nominated for the annual Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards. The PGA on Thursday (US time) announced nominations for this year's awards show, honoring excellence in film and TV productions. The 33rd edition will take place on March 19. "Squid Game," a Korean-language Netflix original, was listed as a contender for the category of Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television - Drama. It will vie

TelevisionJan. 28, 2022

[Well-curated] Long holiday perfect for a bit of indulgence

If you are interested in learning about Joseon, the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, watching local broadcaster JTBC’s period drama “My Country: The New Age” (2019) via its official website or streaming platforms Netflix and Tving might be the perfect way to spend your weekend. The series, a fictional story based on historical facts, centers around characters who led the charge to establish a new kingdom at the end of the Goryeo period. Aside from the political rivalry between

CultureJan. 28, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

E-World Miracle Winter Night E-World Miracle Winter Night is running through Feb. 28 at E-World in Daegu. The festival features a garden of 10,000 light-emitting diode roses, a 15-meter-tall Christmas tree and 100 photo zones ready for Instagram. While all activities will still be masked and socially distanced, visitors can still enjoy rides and attractions in the E-World theme park. Ticket prices vary by age. Updates can be found at www.eworld.kr. Yangju Snow Festival The Yangju Snow Fes

TravelJan. 28, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Andaz Seoul Gangnam launches ‘Romance at Andaz’ package Andaz Seoul Gangnam, a lifestyle hotel under Hyatt Hotels & Resorts located in Apgujeong, is offering a special package for couples’ staycation. The “Romance at Andaz” consists of a night’s stay at a room of your choice, and breakfast for two at the hotel’s luxury restaurant Jogakbo. A bottle of sparkling wine, cake, and a La Cuvee Maison bath bomb set is also included in the package. Access

FoodJan. 28, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Pirates: Goblin Flag (Korea) Opened Jan. 26 Action, Comedy Directed by Kim Jung-hoon Set in the Joseon era, pirate captain Hye-rang (Han Hyo-joo) and her crew members go on a journey to look for hidden treasures of the Goryeo Kingdom that no longer exist. Trouble-making swordsman Muchi (Kang Ha-neul) and his followers also decide to join the pirates. However, on their way, they are met with all sorts of adversities.  Kingmaker (Korea) Opened Jan. 26 Drama Directed by Byun Sung-hyun O

FilmJan. 28, 2022

Two national treasures left unsold in auction

Two state-designated national treasures failed to sell at an auction held Thursday in Seoul, after South Korea’s oldest private museum sparked controversy for putting the national treasures up for auction. The two artifacts were the first national treasures to be put on the block in the country. National Treasure No. 73, Portable Shrine of Gilt-bronze Buddha Triad, and National Treasure No. 72, Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha Triad with Inscription of Gyemi Year, were put up for auction at

Arts & DesignJan. 27, 2022

Movieland Wax Museum from Hollywood makes home on Jeju

Standing face-to-face with Hollywood stars and well-known politicians may be a lifelong dream to some. Those wishes may be partially achieved when in Jeju. The Movieland Wax Museum, which has on display some 150 wax dolls that resemble global celebrities and beloved animated characters, opened in Jeju Island’s Jungmun Tourist Complex, Jan. 6. The MWM, the oldest and largest wax museum, opened in Buena Park, California, in 1962. During its four decades of operation before shutting down in

TravelJan. 27, 2022

Director Jang Cheol-soo returns after nine years with provocative romance film

Director Jang Cheol-soo has returned after nine years with a provocative romance film titled “Serve the People.” Jang is known for creating “Bedevilled,” which was invited to the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival, and hit film “Secretly, Greatly” which drew over 6.9 million moviegoers. “Every director’s dream is to create a movie that can be screened in front of an audience. But it was not easy. I think I grew up a lot during the last nine

FilmJan. 27, 2022

Netflix's 'All of Us Are Dead' brings a different class of zombie

For 51-year-old director Lee Jae-kyoo of Netflix’s “All of Us Are Dead,” adapting a classic zombie webtoon was a high-pressure project, but he was certain that the thriller would entertain viewers with its fascinating storyline and heart-pounding action sequences. “I would be lying if I said I felt no pressure in reproducing the legendary webtoon into a 12-part Netflix series. However, I consulted with author Joo Dong-geun numerous times to create the series and I am ex

FilmJan. 27, 2022

[Herald Interview] Artist commemorates independent corner stores

Old ramshackle mom-and-pop stores have provided a lasting subject for Lee Me-kyeoung, a 53-year-old painter, from the human life cycle to childhood nostalgia, when no one even showed the slightest interest in them. “When I started to draw small stores back in late 90s, people hated to see outdated and obsolete things,” Lee said during an interview with The Korea Herald. Lee has produced more than 450 pen drawings on mom-and-pop stores in small villages across the nation in the

Arts & DesignJan. 27, 2022

Korean ramen craze continues

Packaged instant noodle products of different flavors, from spicy beef broth to stir-fried black bean sauce and kimchi soup, are stacked on a shelf covering about two-thirds of the store’s wall on the right. On the left, a row of automatic machines to pour hot water into paper cups and boil it at the touch of a button are ready to cook the noodles. After buying a packet of ramen through a self-ordering kiosk, all you need to do is open the bag and put the dried noodles in the paper contai

FoodJan. 27, 2022