[Weekender] Vietnamese coffee and sandwiches in Seoul

To refresh oneself with Vietnamese coffee in Seoul, Cong Caphe in Yeonnam-dong, western Seoul, is the prime destination. The successful Hanoi-based cafe chain offers visitors a glimpse inside Vietnamese cafe culture, serving various Vietnamese-style coffees and coffee variation drinks, such as the famous Coconut Smoothie Coffee. Coconut Smoothie Coffee features sweet coffee mixed with a coconut-flavored smoothie. In this rather chilling weather, the drink can be brain freezing, but the flav

FoodNov. 22, 2019

[Weekender] Taiwan arrives on Korean cafe scene

Myeong-dong is a symbolic battlefield in Korea’s franchise world. To be considered successful, one has to have a store or two there -- ideally right at the center of the busy tourist district. New store openings and closures are watched by many for signs of changes in food trends. A visit to the area earlier this week revealed the increased presence of one particular Asian country among Myeong-dong’s cafes and dessert shops -- Taiwan. Taiwanese tea chain Tiger Sugar has an impre

FoodNov. 22, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Year-end afternoon tea at Park Hyatt Seoul Park Hyatt Seoul’s The Lounge is offering the “Festive Afternoon Tea” to celebrate the Christmas and year-end season. The afternoon tea set includes honey cheese panini, bulgogi sandwich and mushroom cream soup. Desserts that resemble winter-related icons such as present boxes and mini trees will also be included. The food items will be served on traditional Korean pottery plates. 　The promotion is available from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. an

FoodNov. 21, 2019

Chef sues Michelin Guide for listing his restaurant against his wish

Controversy surrounding Michelin Guide Seoul now shows no signs of abating, as a South Korean chef has accused the fine dining guide of the crime of “insult” for including his restaurant on its list. On Nov. 15, chef Eo Yun-gwon, 49, who runs modern Italian eatery Ristorante Eo in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, took legal action against Michelin Travel Partner, formally accusing it of insult, which is a crime under Korean law, after the gourmet guide included his restaurant in the M

FoodNov. 21, 2019

Paris Korea Center opens to spearhead second coming of Hallyu

Paris -- The ceramic vases and Hangeul-inspired tables on display and the Korean cuisine experience zone right smack in the heart of Paris are a testament to the power of Hallyu, as the government-run Korean Cultural Center reopened at a new venue on Wednesday as the Paris Korea Center.Nearly four decades after its opening, the Korean Cultural Center in France decided to build its nest in a refurbished marble-white seven-story building near Paris’ Champs-Elysees and the Elysee Palace in th

CultureNov. 21, 2019

BTS chosen Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year

BTS was chosen as Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year, becoming the first South Korean act to attain the honor as it swept up prizes and stayed on the Billboard 200 for a year. Variety, an influential US entertainment magazine, announced that it had selected BTS as “Group of the Year” on Tuesday (US time), elaborating that “the record-breaking septet has solidified their status as global superstars, rounding out one of the largest stadium tours of the year and releasing a stri

PerformanceNov. 20, 2019

Unique ondol found at Gyeongbokgung pavilion

Designated Treasure No. 1761, Hyangwonjeong -- a two-story hexagonal pavilion on a small artificial island in the middle of a pond on the northern grounds of Gyeongbokgung -- was built by King Gojong around the time of the construction of the royal couple’s private quarters, between 1867 and 1873. The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea on Wednesday unveiled the unique floor heating system found at the pavilion. Korea’s traditional heating system ondol generates warmth using di

CultureNov. 20, 2019

BTS will not be exempted from military service: culture minister

PARIS -- Globally acclaimed superstars BTS and other high-flying K-pop stars will not be exempted from mandatory military service under the government's new guidelines on conscription waivers, the culture minister has said. Since early this year, a government task force has been working to revamp the guidelines to raise fairness in military conscription, and the final result is due for announcement this week. The government has been facing rising calls to allow BTS a military service waiver, whi

PerformanceNov. 20, 2019

SuperM, BoA to perform at 2020 Global Goal in South Korea

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- K-pop supergroup SuperM and singer BoA will perform at a Global Citizen event in Asia as part of a massive multi-continent concert next year.The advocacy organization says the performers will join the lineup of Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 26, 2020. The event is a part of a yearlong initiative to achieve the United Nations' Global Goals to end poverty and tackle climate change. The goal is to secure $350 billion for the next 10 years.Th

PerformanceNov. 20, 2019

Rice connects cuisines of Italy, Korea

Rice was the focus of a culinary event jointly organized by the Korean Food Promotion Institute -- affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs -- and the Embassy of Italy in Seoul at the Korean Cuisine Culture Center in central Seoul on Tuesday. Italy and South Korea have very different culinary cultures, but rice is an important ingredient in both.  “I think rice is a great ingredient that works (harmoniously) with the body for both Italians and Koreans,&rdquo

FoodNov. 20, 2019

Pangovernmental Hallyu team to be launched this year: culture minister

PARIS -- As Korean culture gains influence around the world, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is seeking to launch a pangovernmental team that would serve as a Hallyu control tower. Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said the government is planning to support the Hallyu in a way that will enable it to have a positive influence in diverse fields, in addition to culture. “I believe Hallyu should be linked to other fields like export, manufacturing and service industries. For this, the

CultureNov. 20, 2019

S. Korea, UNESCO to cooperate toward listing DMZ as world heritage

PARIS -- Culture Minister Park Yang-woo and UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay agreed Tuesday to make a concerted effort to have the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea added to the UN body’s World Heritage list.Park met Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris and asked for the UN body’s cooperation, saying the joint inscription of the DMZ on the list by both Koreas would be “in keeping with the spirit of UNESCO, which is for pe

CultureNov. 20, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Aida’ brings spectacle and drama to stage

One thing that is certain about the musical “Aida” is that no matter what version you check out, there is plenty happening onstage. The clever use of props and stage design was effective in making the show as grand as possible, even overcoming limitations in depicting various aspects of Africa.The Sunday performance of the show -- which runs through Feb. 23 at the Blue Square Interpark Hall in central Seoul -- was truly a sight to behold. Beyond the colorful and creative stage and co

PerformanceNov. 20, 2019

Go master Lee Se-dol, the only human to beat AI AlphaGo, retires

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who is the only human to score a win against the artificial intelligence Go player AlphaGo, retired Tuesday. The 36-year-old officially retired from Go competition by submitting his letter of retirement to the Korea Baduk Association, which overseas Go professionals in South Korea.    He hinted at his impending retirement following his defeat to Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel in March. This puts an end to Lee's lege

CultureNov. 19, 2019

Culture minister to request UNESCO's cooperation to list DMZ as World Heritage

In a meeting with the head of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Tuesday, South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo plans to ask the United Nations body to inscribe the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone as a World Heritage, according to the ministry. Park is scheduled to meet with Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture, set to begin Tuesday morning in Paris. In the bilateral meeting, Park will request UNESCO's coope

CultureNov. 19, 2019

Newly selected national treasures of Korea to be unveiled to public

The National Museum of Korea will hold an exhibition next year featuring national treasures designated in recent years, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday. The upcoming exhibition between April and June 2020 will unveil some 100 newly designated national treasures and treasures. The items include those owned by temples, private galleries and individuals.One highlight is “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” a representative written record of the history of th

CultureNov. 19, 2019

Myth-based production connects tradition with modern fantasy

The National Gugak Center presented its much-anticipated production “Man in Red and Lady Youngsan” on Tuesday. The musical production is a gugak (traditional Korean music) fantasy drama based on a myth that originated in Hamgyong Province in North Korea.  The myth has been adapted into a modern tale. The story centers on Ji-hong, who is a biology teacher. While he is on a mountain field trip with his students, a wildfire breaks out. He loses consciousness trying to save wild ani

PerformanceNov. 19, 2019

National maritime museum opens on west coast

A national maritime museum has opened in Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province, opening up its entire exhibition space and its maritime artifact collection to the public. The Taean Maritime Museum partially opened its exhibition space in December last year and introduced some of its collection. About 60,000 visitors have come to the museum to date, the institution reported.  The museum has recently finished works to open its other exhibition halls, in which the museum will present its 30,00

Arts & DesignNov. 18, 2019

Beloved musical duo to return with ‘Beethoven’ premiere

Lyricist Michael Kunze and composer Sylvester Levay revealed their next production will be about the maestro Beethoven, set for its world premiere here in 2021. The duo behind hit musical productions, including “Mozart!” “Elisabeth,” “Marie Antoinette” and “Rebecca,” recently visited Korea.They made the announcement about their new musical at a press event held Monday at The Shilla Seoul. The musical will have its world premiere here, as it is bein

PerformanceNov. 18, 2019

Doorbell song from 'Parasite' hits internet

As Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" continues to make waves as an international film in North America, a short catchy song from the movie has gone viral on the internet across the world.The so-called Jessica jingle is a brief chant that the character Ki-jung, played Park So-dam, sings with her brother Ki-woo (Choi Woo-sik) in order to remember her false identity and alias, Jessica, before ringing the doorbell of a rich family's house.The wily siblings sweet-talk the affluent fami

FilmNov. 18, 2019