Frieze Seoul's 3rd edition to revive Seoul art scene

Frieze Seoul will return in September with its third edition, launching the inaugural Frieze Live to spotlight performance-based art and strengthen ties with the local art scene. Some 110 galleries from around the world will participate in the art fair, which runs Sept. 4-7 at Coex in southern Seoul. Dubbed “Frieze Week,” the week features late-night gallery openings, a variety of special exhibitions at local art institutions and on-site programs such as Frieze Film and Frieze Music.

Arts & DesignJune 4, 2024

AI restores lost music by King Sejong

The latest technology and ancient music came together at the "Reviving 600-year-old Korean Music with Artificial Intelligence" (direct translation) seminar Sunday, demonstrating how generative artificial intelligence can restore lost ancient music. According to the records, King Sejong (1397-1450) composed a large work of music, "Bongnaeui," which includes three scores: "Yeomillak," "Chihwapyeong" and "Chwipunghyeong." Among the three, "Yeom

CultureJune 4, 2024

[Bridging Cultures] Ask questions, Goethe-Institut director says

The arts are all about asking questions, even if the answers to everything are not presented all at once, according to the director of the Goethe-Institut Korea. In a recent interview with The Korea Herald, Clemens Treter, director of the Goethe-Institut Korea, said his mission is to help open up space for such exploration -- a job he has been busy performing since he took the post in September 2022. “We will also then get back to society and maybe influence and get other people to think,&

PeopleJune 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] Actor Byeon Woo-seok says he loved Seon-je in 'Lovely Runner'

The tvN romance series "Lovely Runner," which aired its last episode May 28, has taken not only Korea but also the world by storm. The show, topping the charts in 130 countries on the global streaming platform Rakuten Viki, also made history in the Korean streaming services sector. On the day of the series finale, Tving, the exclusive domestic streaming platform for "Lovely Runner," surpassed Netflix in daily viewing hours for the first time. According to Mobile Index, Tving&

TelevisionJune 4, 2024

Seoul Opera aims to expand reach with outdoor performances

Seoul Metropolitan Opera will present “Cavalleria Rusticana,” its second outdoor performance following last year’s successful “Carmen.” From June 11 to 12, the city opera company will stage the 80-minute opera by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni at Gwanghwamun Square, chosen for its short length and familiar music. "This will appeal to audiences who are not familiar with opera but (still) want to experience an opera. We hope this encourages people to see an ope

CultureJune 4, 2024

KTO holds photography contest

The Korea Tourism Organization announced that it is accepting applications for a photo contest aimed at discovering the charms of South Korea. Under the theme of “Discover Amazing Moments in Korea,” this year’s contest, which started on Tuesday, offers the applicants an opportunity to present their photos of South Korea from three different sections: digital camera, smartphone and drone. The submitted works will be evaluated in four categories -- photography, tourism, promotion

TravelJune 4, 2024

Thriller 'The Consultant' shortlisted for Dagger award

Im Seong-sun's crime thriller "The Consultant," translated by An Seon-jae (also known as Brother Anthony), has been shortlisted for a prestigious crime fiction award, said the book's Korean publisher, EunHaengNaMu Publishing, on Monday. The novel is among the six finalists in the Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation category at the 2024 Crime Writers' Association Dagger awards. Originally published in Korean in 2010, Im's debut novel, which won the Segye Literary

BooksJune 4, 2024

[Photo News] Tanzanian leader meets singer Cho Yong-pil

President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania met with the legendary South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul on Monday. The meeting took place as Hassan visited Seoul ahead of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. During their meeting, Hassan highlighted the deep connection the singer has with Tanzania. Cho released the megahit song "Leopard of Kilimanjaro," part of his eighth album released in 1985, which has remained one of his sign

PeopleJune 3, 2024

[New on the scene] Director Lee Yo-sup remakes his favorite film into ‘The Plot’

A few years ago, Lee Yo-sup, who directed the 2016 small-budget film“Queen of Crimes,” had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to remake his all-time favorite movie “Accident” (2009). While he changed the majority of the plot and added a different array of characters, one thing he wanted to keep was the original work’s mood. “I wrote the scenario (of the remake version) as a big fan of the original work. That gave me a lot of things to consider, and it took some

FilmJune 3, 2024

Inspection to add prehistoric carvings of Bangucheon to UNESCO list completed

UNESCO wrapped up a three-month review of the petroglyphs at Bangucheon, a stream in Ulsan, initiating the final step in deciding whether to list the prehistoric rock carvings as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Korea Heritage Service on Monday, an official with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, last week completed a five-day on-site inspection of the carvings, capping the monthslong review initiated by ICOMOS i

CultureJune 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Met Orchestra to showcase its strength in first Korea tour

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is making its debut in South Korea this month. The resident orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, founded in 1883, the same year the Metropolitan Opera House opened, is s currently under the direction of Yannick Nezet-Seguin, who has been leading the orchestra as the music director since the 2018-19 season. Throughout its history, the orchestra has been led by renowned conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Gustav Mahler, Bruno Walter and James Levine,

CultureJune 3, 2024

Applications open for CJ-Fulbright Music Award

CJ Cultural Foundation said Monday it is seeking applicants for its scholarship program titled the CJ-Fulbright Music Award, which aims to assist students in pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in popular music at US graduate schools. From Monday until July 7, South Korean citizens who hold a bachelor's degree or are on track to receive one by February 2025 can apply for CJ-Fulbright Music Award through the official website of the CJ Cultural Foundation. Applicants are also required

CultureJune 3, 2024

Richly detailed teen romance will explore 'Hierarchy' at elite school

The Netflix teen romance series "Hierarchy," rife with luxurious mise-en-scenes, will chronicle the tales of youths attempting to break free from an established hierarchical structure based on wealth, according to producers, Monday. The 7-part series follows the story of Kang Ha (played by Lee Chae-min), who, after receiving a scholarship, transfers to Jushin High School, where the wealth and social status of students' families are pivotal in assessing the students' value.

TelevisionJune 3, 2024

[Music in drama] Legendary ballads fan alien romance

“My Love from the Star” was one of the most successful drama series 2013 -- as was its soundtrack. The series features a magical romance between Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun), an alien pretending to be a human for hundreds of years after accidentally falling on Earth, and Chun Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun), a top actress who is spirited yet lonely. With its touching romance and well-timed comic scenes, the series garnered die-hard fans beyond Korea, reaching China, Jap

TelevisionJune 3, 2024

Two takes on 'Macbeth': Barrier-free through sign language, pansori

The National Theater of Korea is set to premiere a barrier-free adaptation of "Macbeth" that intertwines Korean sign language and pansori, a traditional Korean musical storytelling. The NTOK’s in-house production is scheduled to be performed at the National Theater of Korea's Daloreum Theater in Jung-gu from June 13-16 before heading to France for a performance in July. The story brings six deaf actors playing the key characters in sign language, while four pansori singers n

PerformanceJune 2, 2024

Two takes on 'Macbeth': Classic with contemporary mis-en-scene by Yang Jung-woong

This summer, the National Theater of Korea will host two distinct renditions of Shakespeare's “Macbeth,” bringing both classic and contemporary flavors to the stage. The Shakespearean tragedy tells the story of the Scottish general Macbeth who, driven by a prophecy from three witches, murders the king to ascend the throne, only to spiral into madness and ruin. Helmed by renowned director Yang Jung-woong, the SEM Company's production starring veteran actors Hwang Jung-min,

PerformanceJune 2, 2024

Controversy ignites over regulation of online entertainment shows

A rash of complaints about offensive remarks on online variety shows have stirred up controversy over the relatively light regulation given to online-only content. Some experts argue that while the freedom given to digital platforms helps enrich Korea's content landscape, there is also a need for new regulations to guard against the potentially damaging effects of some shows. YouTube channel Psick Univ, featuring comedians Lee Yong-ju, Kim Min-su and Jung Jae-hyung, recently caused controve

TelevisionJune 2, 2024

Korail offers sneak peek trip on East-West Trail of Korea

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., is offering a sneak peek of East-West Trail of Korea, a backpacking-friendly walking trail -- scheduled to be completed in 2026 -- on June 22. The East-West Trail of Korea is an 849-kilometer trail course connecting Anmyeondo in Taean, South Chungcheong Province to Mangyangjeong Pavilion in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province. Collaborating with Korea Forest Service, Korail Tourism Development has prepared a day trip to Yeongju,

TravelJune 2, 2024

[Better Together] Where anyone who loves LG Twins is welcome

Kim Yong-ki, a passionate, 31-year-old LG Twins fan who has been heading to Jamsil Baseball Stadium -- the home turf for the Twins -- in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, every baseball season since 2011, started watching baseball games with total strangers in 2023. He knew nothing about them, but that was not a problem as long as they were LG Twins fans. “‘LG Eopsineun Motsara’ -- meaning ‘No LG, no life’ in Korean -- is a live baseball game-watching crew whose member

CultureJune 1, 2024

Heal your mind, body in Jeju forest

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- From palm trees to black basalt stone walls, South Korea’s southern island of Jeju mesmerizes both local and overseas holidaymakers with beautiful nature that differs from that found on the rest of the Korean Peninsula. However, changes in Korean travel trends have led many Jeju visitors to opt for tours of unique cafes and restaurants offering the island’s specialties, as well as Instagrammable attractions like The Snoopy Garden or Osulloc Tea Museum, over i

TravelJune 1, 2024