30 years of restoration, history of Gyeongbokgung Palace in full view

To mark the 30th anniversary of the excavation and restoration carried out at Gyeongbokgung, the National Palace Museum of Korea located within the palace grounds is presenting a special exhibition, “Glory of the Royal Palace.” The exhibition that aims to look back on the history of the Joseon era’s primary palace is grouped under the theme of the four seasons. Each theme features one of the four buildings of the palace complex: Heungbokjeon Hall, the Sojubang kitchen site, t

CultureDec. 7, 2021

'Squid Game' wins three nominations at Critics Choice Awards

South Korea's sensational survival drama "Squid Game" has been nominated in three categories, including best drama series, at the 27th Critics Choice Awards. According to the nominations announced by the Critics Choice Association Monday (US time), "Squid Game," a Netflix original, was listed in the categories best drama series, best actor in drama series and best foreign language series. In the best drama series section, "Squid Game" will compete with seven other

FilmDec. 7, 2021

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra unveils programs for upcoming season

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has unveiled its schedule for the first half of 2022, with 15 concerts planned. SPO music director Osmo Vanska kicks off the season by taking the baton for Mozart‘s Requiem on Jan. 29 and 30. The music director, who has been leading the SPO since January 2020, will team up with violist Richard Yongjae O‘Neill on May 19 and 20. 　 In March and April, Vanska will collaborate with Augustin Hadelich, an Italian German American Grammy-winning classic

PerformanceDec. 6, 2021

Two Lotte Concert Hall artists-in-residence prepare challenging yet appealing concerts

Lotte Concert Hall, a major classical music concert venue in South Korea, on Monday unveiled two artists-in-residence and the programs they have designed. Pianist Shin Chang-young and cellist Mun Tae-guk will each present two concerts next year as its artists-in-residence. This is the second year that the concert hall is running the program. “The biggest attraction of the artist-in-residence program is that I can try more challenging things that I’ve been dreaming about. So I t

PerformanceDec. 6, 2021

MMCA, Incheon International Airport Corp. present artworks at airport

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea and Incheon International Airport Corp. jointly opened the exhibition “Warming-up” at the country’s main gateway, allowing travelers to appreciate works of art during their layover at the airport. The art is part of the collection of the Government Art Bank, which is run by the museum. Some eight works by Korean contemporary artists are shown on the fourth floor of Incheon Airport Terminal 1, where a variety of amenit

Arts & DesignDec. 6, 2021

‘Sing Again 2’ to feature more talented unknown singers

JTBC’s hit music competition “Sing Again” is returning with a second season, featuring a lineup of heavy hitters who hope to become famous after having been largely forgotten. Just like before, the second season of “Sing Again” aims to give a second chance to singers who never quite rose to the top ranks of the entertainment scene, despite their superb singing and performing skills. This season, viewers will see 73 singers audition on the program. The program&rsq

TelevisionDec. 6, 2021

Four movie stars become directors of their own story

Korean movie stars Park Jeong-min, Lee Je-hoon, Son Suk-ku and Choi Hee-seo are stepping behind the camera to direct a slate of short films for Korean streaming platform Watcha’s “Unframed” project. The omnibus short film project is jointly organized by Watcha and HardCut, a new production company co-founded by actor Lee Je-hoon, film producer Kim Yoo-kyung and film director Yang Kyung-mo. The project aims to gather unique and unconventional stories and marks the directorial

FilmDec. 6, 2021

Gina Alice Redlinger releases debut album

Gina Alice Redlinger’s marriage to superstar pianist Lang Lang has perhaps dominated the headlines more than her professional career as a pianist, though this may be set to change. On Thursday, the 27-year-old Korean German musician, who has trained as a pianist for 23 years, released her debut album, “Wonderworld,” produced by Universal Music. Featuring 30 pieces that cover a variety of genres, including classical, modern, traditional and even Korean children songs, the br

PerformanceDec. 6, 2021

First British envoy to NK to receive Woodang Award

  The Woodang Foundation for Education and Culture is honoring James Edward Hoare, former member of the British diplomatic service and current research associate in Korean studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London, for his contributions to the nation with this year’s Woodang Award. Initiated in 2019, the annual award goes to domestic and foreign figures who follow the spirit and vision of Woodang Lee Hoi-young, who worked for the nation’s indepe

PeopleDec. 6, 2021

Web comic-based dramas turn viewers’ attention to original works

As an increasing number of web comics make the jump from online to both local television channels and global over-the-top platforms, the rich storylines of the original works are once again enjoying the spotlight. While the web comics brought local broadcasters smash hit dramas, the success of the adaptations have also played an essential part in growing the popularity of webtoons. Web comics, also known as webtoons, are comics posted online that are read by scrolling down the screen, mostly

CartoonDec. 6, 2021

18-day Live Club Day lights up Seoul’s indie stages after 2-year break

A longtime staple of Seoul’s indie scene, Live Club Day resumed Friday after a two-year hiatus, at CJ azit Gwangheungchang in Mapo-gu. Normally a monthly one-day event, the Live Club Day is being this time in a festival format running until Dec. 21. Over the three weeks, 32 bands will perform in concert halls and clubs in Hongdae, long the center of live indie music in Seoul. Singer-songwriters Park So-eun, Song Ye-rin and vocalist Lee Luli starred on the opening day. It was the first

PerformanceDec. 5, 2021

Israel proposes new Western policy for Korea

South Korea should implement a “new Western policy” to further strengthen ties with Israel, Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor proposed at the Eurasian Economic and Cultural Forum on Dec. 1. Tor recommended forging a new defense alliance, as Korea and Israel are both democracies facing severe nuclear and missile threats. “We need a new Western policy for Korea and a new Eastern policy for Israel: Korea should seek to form an alliance in West Asia based on relations with t

PeopleDec. 5, 2021

[Eye Plus] A glimpse into Guro, S. Korea’s first industrial complex

The Guro Industrial Complex, located in Guro-dong, southwestern Seoul, was once the heart of South Korea’s labor-intensive light industries back in the late 20th century.  The Guro Industrial Complex, established in 1965, was the first of its kind in South Korea. The district, which was relatively empty before, was soon filled up with manufacturing facilities and factory workers. The complex, which included textile manufacturing and other labor-intensive industries, continued to gro

TravelDec. 4, 2021

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Bossam, boiled pork belly wraps

If you are hosting a dinner party, this Korean pork dish will definitely be delicious and memorable for your guests. Have a bossam party! You will love the taste and texture, and most of all, it’s fun dining together making bossam wraps with varying ingredients. What is bossam? Bossam is a popular Korean dish, consisting of boiled pork belly wrapped with napa cabbage leaves or lettuce, and served with dipping sauce. Traditionally a thick cut of pork belly is boiled in a slightly flavore

FoodDec. 4, 2021

[Visual History of Korea] Ondol: Original Korean floor heating system

One of the most efficient uses of energy to heat our homes is right under our feet. Koreans have been staying warm for millennia by using a minimum amount of fuel to cook while warming the home at the same time. The “ondol,” an elevated indoor floor, is heated when fire used for cooking is simultaneously repurposed for heating the house. Thermal energy from fuel burned for cooking or warming the room is transferred upward as the heat rises from the underfloor, warming up the sto

CultureDec. 4, 2021

[Weekender] The collaboration 'X' factor: When consumption meets cultural code

Looking back on what we have consumed over the year could be one way to wrap up the year 2021, while preparing to make better choices in the new year. Whether an impulsive purchase or a considered decision, consumption patterns show what we desire and what cultural codes and trends are leading the society today. The pandemic challenges the once taken-for-granted in-person connections and communications. But this year also saw active communication between the market and businesses, leading to s

CultureDec. 4, 2021

[Well-curated] Hot and cold: Indoor botanical garden for a preview of spring and festive lanters on Cheonggye stream

If you want to take a break from urban life, Seoul Botanic Park at Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, offers an emotional refuge with plants from 12 cities around the world and Korean gardens. From plant-loving visitors to gardening experts, programs are on offer for the public to enjoy education, experience, culture and art related to plants. The botanic garden is an area within the Seoul Botanic Park, consisting of outdoor theme gardens, greenhouse and Magok cultural hall. Though it is the winter c

CultureDec. 4, 2021

[Herald Interview] Actor Yoo Ah-in believes our world is not much different from ‘Hellbound’

“Having blind faith about unverified information and online-offline bullying with that knowledge are very common in our modern society,” Yoo Ah-in said in an online interview with a group of reporters Wednesday. “There were reviews about ‘Hellbound’ less than an hour into its release. People were making a huge fuss about the information that they heard from a five-minute YouTube video, believing that was the absolute truth. The collective madness, hatred and viole

FilmDec. 3, 2021

Two Korean villages designated UN’s Best Tourism Villages

The Purple Island in Sinan, South Jeolla Province, and Ungok Village in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, have been included in the final Best Tourism Villages list announced at the UN World Tourism Organization General Assembly in Madrid on Thursday. 　 Out of the 174 villages from UNWTO’s 75 member states proposed, 44 were chosen from 32 countries this year. All villages were evaluated based on nine criteria, such as cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural re

TravelDec. 3, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Incheon Romance Market Festival The Incheon Romance Market Festival is running through Dec. 26 at the north square at the Dongincheon Station and at the nearby market district. The fourth edition of the event provides various programs, including a free black and white photo studio and classic movies -- “Dr. No,” (1962) “The Magnificent Seven,” (1960) and “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” (1957) -- at Incheon Milim Cinema. The tickets are priced at 5,000 won. The v

TravelDec. 3, 2021