City of Seoul opens new hub to promote tourism industry

The Seoul metropolitan government opened a new tourism hub in the nation's capital Thursday, saying it will support the growth and development of the tourism industry. Seoul Tourism Plaza, located inside Samil Building in the central Jongno Ward, is spread across floors one and four to 11, with a tourism information center and souvenir shop on the first floor and the offices of various tourism organizations, associations and startups on the upper levels. The city government said the plaza aims

TravelApril 29, 2021

Life of Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk was born into a Catholic household in Seoul on Dec. 2, 1931, although his registered birthday is Dec. 7. He was baptized four days after he was born and received the baptismal name Nicholas. While Cheong’s mother was pregnant with him, she dreamt of a young man calling her mother and telling her that he has become a bishop. Cheong was born and raised in his wealthy maternal grandfather’s house. His mother’s side of the family had been devout Ca

PeopleApril 29, 2021

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk dies at 89

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, former Roman Catholic archbishop of Seoul, died at the age of 89 on Tuesday at 10:15 p.m., the office of the Seoul Archdiocese said. A requiem Mass for the cardinal took place at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Wednesday in the early morning hours, celebrated by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the incumbent archbishop. “If Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan was our father, Cardinal Cheong Jin-suk was our mother,” Yeom said during the requiem Mass. Cheong cur

PeopleApril 28, 2021

Around 23,000 artworks owned by late Samsung chairman to be donated

The late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection, estimated to be worth trillions of won, will be donated to public museums across the country. The announcement by Samsung on Wednesday marks the single largest donation of artworks in Korea. Around 23,000 art pieces -- 21,600 antique works and 1,600 modern and contemporary works -- held by the late chairman are to be donated. “Most of works by Lee were donated, which is the largest scale of donation (in the art field

Arts & DesignApril 28, 2021

[From the Scene] Catholics mourn passing of Korea’s second cardinal

After Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk died Tuesday night at the age of 89, Roman Catholics gathered at the Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on Wednesday to pay their respects to South Korea’s second cardinal. There was a long line of people waiting. The late cardinal was in a glass coffin before the altar in the cathedral, where attendance at a requiem Mass held in Wednesday’s early morning hours was limited to 80 people out of concern about COVID-19. The crowd was much sma

PeopleApril 28, 2021

Lee’s art collection to be split up, donated to public sector

The long-anticipated announcement on the fate of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection, delivered Wednesday, drew mixed reactions from the art world. Around 23,000 art pieces -- 21,600 antique works and 1,600 modern and contemporary works -- will be donated to a number of public museums around the country as well as to Seoul National University, according to Samsung. While the antique art collection, which includes some 60 state-designated treasures, will be dona

Arts & DesignApril 28, 2021

[Herald Interview] Soprano Im Sun-hae still thirsts for the stage

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the globe, last year was still a major milestone for soprano Im Sun-hae who celebrated her two decadelong career. Since making her debut with conductor Philippe Herreweghe in Antwerp, Belgium in 1999, Im, 45, has been leading a singing career around the globe for more than 20 years. “Who knew this would happen? I had not known that I would debut in Europe, sing for more than 20 years,” Im said during a recent interview with The Korea

PerformanceApril 28, 2021

'Minari' eyes 1m attendees on Youn Yuh-jung's historic Oscar win

The number of combined moviegoers for "Minari" is expected to surpass 1 million in South Korea this weekend, boosted by supporting actress Youn Yuh-jung's history Oscar victory, data showed Wednesday. The US drama film on the struggles of a first-generation Korean immigrant family in America sold 8,500 tickets on Tuesday, bringing its combined total to 952,000, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. Its box office ranking bumped up to second after the thriller "Reca

FilmApril 28, 2021

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk dies

Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, former Catholic archbishop of Seoul, died Tuesday, Catholic officials said. He was 89. Cheong passed away at 10:15 p.m. while at a hospital for treatment, according to the officials. Born in 1931, he entered the priesthood in 1961 after his graduation from the Catholic University of Korea. He served as the archbishop of Seoul for 14 years starting in May 1998, when he was appointed to the post after Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan stepped down. Cheong was ordained a

PeopleApril 28, 2021

‘Congratulations Youn Yuh-jung’ heard all around

With Youn Yuh-jung making history by becoming the first Korean to win an Academy Award for acting, social media was flooded with posts congratulating the feat by the 73-year-old veteran actor. Actors Lee Seo-jin, Choi Woo-sik, Park Seo-joon and Jung Yu-mi who appeared with her on recent tvN entertainment show “Youn’s Stay” all congratulated the veteran actor. “As I’ve said many times, I thought Youn would win this award and despite her saying that I was counting

FilmApril 27, 2021

[After COVID-19] Linear parks emerge as model public spaces

Following is the third article in a three-part series that explores housing in the post-pandemic era. - Ed. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, Lee Min-joo, a college student in Seoul, has been looking for safe places to go walking. She laments the fact she has no nearby parks where she can simply walk to. “I have to take a bus or subway to reach a park. It’s like I have to make time to visit a park,” Lee said. I wish we had more parks so we can take a walk and enjoy

CultureApril 27, 2021

Global music streaming giants target Korea with tailor-made lists

The two biggest music streamers Spotify and Apple Music are attempting to penetrate the Korean market with unique playlists and music charts. Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, announced the launch of “Jazzy Korea,” a new playlist curated to introduce a wide range of rising Korean jazz artists and tracks to celebrate the upcoming International Jazz Day on April 30. The new playlist containing 30 tracks by 30 Korean jazz artists was launc

PerformanceApril 27, 2021

Oscars finally acknowledges Youn Yuh-jung's decadeslong contribution: Bong Joon-ho

Director Bong Joon-ho has said that South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung's history-making Oscar victory is the result of the US Academy Awards' belated acknowledgement of her versatility and decadeslong contribution to the South Korean film industry. The 73-year-old screen veteran was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in the immigrant film "Minari," written and directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung. She is the first South Korean to win an acting Oscar. Bong's

FilmApril 27, 2021

Lee Kwang-soo to step away from 'Running Man' after 11 years

Lee Kwang-soo, a core member of the long-running popular TV show "Running Man," will step away from the program after 11 years, his management agency said Tuesday. The 35-year-old actor-entertainer will film his last episode for the show on May 24, KingKong by Starship said. According to the agency, Lee has been having trouble playing his role on the show due to an injury he suffered from a car accident last year, though he has been doing physical therapy. Lee decided to take some t

TelevisionApril 27, 2021

Youn’s Oscars win tops prestigious acting awards won by Koreans

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung, 73, opened a new chapter in Korean cinema by becoming the first actor to win the best supporting actress prize at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her role in “Minari.” She portrays an unconventional Korean grandma Soon-ja who comes to America to look after her two grandkids while Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica are (Han Ye-ri) are out working to pursue the American dream in Arkansas. With the Oscar trophy, Youn has bagged more than 40 trophies at

FilmApril 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung’s 50-year film career: filmography

Since making her film debut in 1971 as the lead actor in “Women of Fire,” Youn Yuh-jung has taken on numerous roles, eventually winning the Best Supporting Actress at the 93rd Academy Awards for her portrayal as quirky grandmother Soon-ja in “Minari.” Here are some of her major films. Woman of Fire (1971) After gaining domestic fame with her TV drama appearances, Youn debuted on the big screen with “Woman of Fire” in 1971 by director Kim Ki-young, starting

FilmApril 26, 2021

‘Minari family’ rocks red carpet at Oscars

While veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung made history by winning the Oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of a Korean grandmother in “Minari,” her “wonderful Minari family” made its presence felt on the red carpet by sporting iconic looks. Youn showed up at the 93rd Academy Awards in a boxy midnight blue brocade gown designed by Egyptian semi-couture designer Marmar Halim, based in Dubai and London. She completed the look with a velvet belt, a diamond bracelet f

Arts & DesignApril 26, 2021

[Photo News] Youn makes history at the Oscars

 Youn Yuh-jung and Han Ye-ri arrive at the 93rd Academy Awards, at Union Station, in Los Angeles, US, Sunday.  Youn Yuh-jung, winner of the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Minari," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, at Union Station in Los Angeles.  Actress Youn Yuh-jung in her early days. Youn Yuh-jung's debut flim, 'Women of Fire.' By Gha Hee-sun (lizka98@heraldcorp.com) (Photos: Yonhap)

FilmApril 26, 2021

Actor Youn clarifies her name in a witty speech at Academy Awards

Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung showed her witty and candid personality in her acceptance speech for the best supporting actress award at the 93rd Academy Awards, mentioning how her name has been mispronounced in different ways. “As you know I am from Korea, and my name is Yuh-jung Youn, and most European people call me Yuh-young, and some of them call me Yoo-jung, but tonight you are all forgiven,” Youn said in the beginning of her speech in English, evoking laughter from the audience

FilmApril 26, 2021

Consumption expenditures on tourism and leisure hit hard by COVID-19

Consumption expenditures in South Korea's tourism and leisure sector decreased by more than 20 percent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a state-funded think tank said Monday. In particular, foreigners' spending in the domestic tourism and leisure sector plunged by nearly 80 percent and the travel industry was hit hardest among the relevant industries, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute said. Last year, consumption expenditures in the nation's tourism and leisure industries were

TravelApril 26, 2021