Roll in esports experiences in Seoul

With South Korea hosting the annual global esports event League of Legends World Championship for the third time in the event's 13-year history, the year 2023 was truly a feast for esports, or League of Legends, fans in Korea. Celebrating one of the most popular competitive multiplayer video gaming events around the world, Seoul was filled with events, activities and attractions aiming to capture the hearts of esports enthusiasts. Though unique esports stamp tours, pop-up stores, live conce

TravelFeb. 17, 2024

[Photo News] Busan baseball stadium to get a new look

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yu in-chon, on Saturday visited the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan, which is undergoing reconstruction. The reconstruction of Sajik Baseball Stadium is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026, to be completed in the second half of 2028. In 2021, the city of Busan adopted a joint declaration with the Lotte Giants on the reconstruction and conducted a study to carry out the reconstruction. “This year, we plan to hold discussions with Lotte Grou

CultureFeb. 17, 2024

Tapas, aiming to tap potential in N. America, unveils winners of first romance web novel contest

Tapas Entertainment, a North America-based web novel and webtoon platform, announced 15 winners of its romance web novel contest, its parent company Kakao Entertainment said Friday. The “True Love on Tapas” competition ran for approximately two months starting from October last year, with 15 entries selected out of a total of 264 submissions. It took place as part of Kakao Entertainment's strategy to strengthen its web novel expansion in North America this year. Despite being in

CultureFeb. 16, 2024

Hong Kong's art landmark touches on ecology with female artists around the world

Hong Kong -- Tai Kwun Contemporary, the non-profit visual art program of Tai Kwun, stands in an interesting place - a former prion complex that has now become a landmark in Hong Kong. Tai Kwun is an arts complex that is home to 16 revitalized heritage buildings, including the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. Since its establishment in 2018, Tai Kwun Contemporary, located in a building designed by world-renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron,

Arts & DesignFeb. 16, 2024

Netflix co-CEO expresses excitement for return of popular Korean series this year

Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive officer of Netflix, said on Friday he is excited about the return of several popular Netflix originals this year. "We're very excited about the return of 'Physical: 100' and 'Sweet Home,' and of course, 'Squid Game' this year," Sarandos said during a brief meeting with reporters at Netflix headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Friday. Sarandos is on a two-day visit to the country, which marks his second visit since Jun

TelevisionFeb. 16, 2024

Busan releases new food guidebook

Busan on Friday announced that it updated the annual food-themed guidebook "2024 Taste of Busan." The food guide map, created by 10 food-related experts, including a city official in the hygiene department, a university professor, a columnist, a food influencer and more, recommends Busan's 144 must-visit restaurants. "2024 Taste of Busan" not only offers the restaurant's location, menu and prices, but also presents some of their recipes and renowned Busan-based chef

TravelFeb. 16, 2024

K-content illegal streaming site shut down after US court ruling

A US court decided to shut down Kokoa TV, a streaming website which illegally streamed a slew of Korean contents to overseas streamers, while ruling in favor of Wavve Americas -- which raised a suit against the website for copyright and trademark infringement. According to the US District Court, District of Arizona, Tumi MAX, the operator of Kokoa TV, has been ordered to cease activities such as storing, reproducing, displaying, or distributing any of the copyrighted works, as of Feb. 9. The US

TelevisionFeb. 16, 2024

Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival to charge admission for first time

The Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival, one of South Korea’s most favored spring flower events, will not be offered for free this year, opting instead to charge admission for the first time since its launch in 1997, the Gwangyang City Government, which organizes the event, said Thursday. According to the city in South Jeolla Province, admission for the upcoming festival now in its 23rd edition, will be 5,000 won for adults and 4,000 won for teenagers under 19 years old. The decision was made

TravelFeb. 16, 2024

Star pianists Cho Seong-jin, Lim Yun-chan to return to Carnegie Hall next year

Two of South Korea’s best-known pianists, Cho Jeong-jin and Lim Yun-chan are to return to Carnegie Hall next year. As part of Carnegie Hall’s Great Artists series, Cho, the first prize winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, will celebrate the 150th birthday of Ravel by performing the composer’s complete solo piano works on Feb. 5, 2025. It will mark the pianist’s fourth performance at the hall since his debut there in 2022, stepping

CultureFeb. 16, 2024

[Well-curated] LP cafe, Pinkfong Baby Shark pop-up store and action painting studio

A cup of coffee and music If you find yourself walking the Namsan trail to enjoy the last few weeks of winter, you may come across a small, serene cafe full of music and the aroma of coffee. With the motto "All you need is music and more coffee," Illuso Coffee has a selection of LP albums, turntables and music-related props. The cafe is located in a narrow building, so the space is not large, but if you climb the narrow stairs, there is seating space available up to the third floor. T

CultureFeb. 16, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

WE Hotel offers special discounts for wellness programs WE Hotel, a premium health resort located in Seogwipo, southern Jeju Island, began offering wellness programs with special discounts at its wellness center in February. A therapy session is offered at 100,000 won ($75) with a 67 percent discount. The hotel’s hydro program -- a signature wellness program using the natural volcanic bedrock water -- costs 100,000 won with a 44 percent discount as well. Meanwhile, WE hotel’s beauty

TravelFeb. 16, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

‘Royal taste’ at Korea House Through February, Korea House in central Seoul is offering a “royal desserts” special. The traditional snacks associated with the Joseon era (1392-1910) include rice cakes and jeonggwa -- dessert prepared by boiling dried fruits like apples or edible plants like ginseng in honey. Citron stuffed with jujubes or pomegranates, also braised with honey, is also part of the assortment of royal desserts that are served with mandarin orange tea. A

TravelFeb. 16, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wonka” (US) Opened Jan. 31 Fantasy Directed by Paul King Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet), who dreams of becoming the world’s best chocolatier, encounters a “chocolate cartel” and a plot to kick him out of town as its business is threatened. But next to him are four trustworthy supporters whom he meets at Mrs. Scrubitt’s launderette. “Citizen of a Kind” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 24 Drama Directed by Park Young-ju Duk-hee (Ra Mi-ran), who lives an

FilmFeb. 16, 2024

[Graphic News] Exports of red pepper paste, Korean sauces hit record-high in 2023

South Korean exports of red pepper paste and sauces reached an all-time high last year on the back of the growing popularity of Korean food and cultural content, the Korean customs agency said. Overseas shipments of gochujang, soy sauce and various kinds of seasonings amounted to $384 million in 2023, rising 6.2 percent on-year, according to the Korea Customs Service. In terms of volume, the country shipped 131,800 metric tons of such items last year, the second-largest amount ever after 2021, w

FoodFeb. 16, 2024

‘Concept Korea’ ends on high note on sidelines of NY Fashion Week

The “Concept Korea” show, held on the sidelines of the biannual New York Fashion Week, drew to a close Tuesday with the state-run agency supporting the event for 14 consecutive years calling the latest runway a “success.” Womenswear label Mmam and unisex brands Kimmy.J and Charm’s -- each led by a Korean designer -- showcased their fall-winter 2024 collections, leaving behind a lasting impression, according to the state-run Korea Creative Content Agency, which repor

Arts & DesignFeb. 15, 2024

Chanel meets ballet 'Modance' to come Korea in April

In a collaboration between the French fashion house Chanel and the world of dance, a ballet performance will get a Korean premiere in April. "Modanse" is scheduled to be staged at the Seoul Arts Center on April 17 and 19-21, starring the renowned ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, according to InArt Production on Wednesday. The title "Modanse" is a combination of the French words "mode," meaning fashion, and "danse," meaning dance. The 120-minute performance is

PerformanceFeb. 15, 2024

Five Korean films to be shown at 74th Berlin Film Festival

Five Korean films will be screened at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which kicked off Thursday for a 10-day run in Berlin. One of the top three film festivals around the world, along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, this year’s Berlin Film Festival opened with Belgian director Tim Mielants’ “Small Things Like These.” South Korean director Heo Myeong-haeng, who debuted recently with Netflix's original film “Badland Hunter

FilmFeb. 15, 2024

Visit Korea Year campaign

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Thursday announced plans to attract both local and overseas tourists for the Visit Korea Year 2023-24 campaign, hoping to turn Korea into an Asian tourism powerhouse. The tourism campaign will not only be an opportunity to enjoy Korean culture, including food, K-pop, cosmetics and esports, but it will also be a chance to experience the lesser-known sides of the country in provincial areas and towns. One of the campaign's most notable programs

TravelFeb. 15, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korea must have strategy to promote art globally: MMCA Director Kim Sung-hee

As the Korean cultural scene has gained in stature globally, its art scene is being recognized widely as well. With that momentum, Kim Sung-hee, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, argues that it is time to draw up a strategy for pushing Korean art on the global scene. “Korea has a variety of art content that has accumulated for thousands of years. Now, we need a strategy at the national level to herald Korean art, turning the popularity of Korean culture

Arts & DesignFeb. 14, 2024

Big discounts offered for Travel Month in March

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday announced March as this year’s Travel Month to promote local tourism with large-scale discounts on public transportation, accommodation and domestic tourism products. Travel Month is a promotion, first launched in June 2023, to meet rising public demand for travel after the lifting of social distancing measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. From Feb. 20 to March 31, a 30 to 50 percent disco

TravelFeb. 14, 2024