[History through films] ‘Taegukgi,’ a tearful story of two brothers in battle that divided Korea

Director Kang Je-gyu’s 2004 war action film “Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War” follows a simple storyline that revolves around two brothers – Jin-tae (Jang Dong-gun) and Jin-seok (Won Bin) -- who are drafted to the South Korean Army to fight in the Korean War that broke out on June 25, 1950. The brutal and inhumane conditions on the battlefield leave little room for thinking about the implications of the war. Jin-tae, the eldest son in the family, is the breadwinner and r

FilmFeb. 14, 2024

[Bridging Cultures] Overseas outposts promote cultural exchange: Italy culture envoy

The following is the first in a series of interviews with heads of foreign cultural centers at the forefront of cultural exchange. --Ed. Setting up more cultural centers overseas is one way South Korea can bolster its international presence, an effort that requires backing from a centralized leadership, according to the director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul. Italy runs about 90 cultural centers around the world, a little more than twice the number South Korea operates. Such cente

PeopleFeb. 14, 2024

NFT art platform ArtToken joins LA Art Fair

ArtToken will join the upcoming art fair LA Art Show 2024, running from Wednesday to Sunday, to bring together five Korean artists at a booth curated under the theme “At the Edge of Existence: Echoes of Surreal Fantasy.” LA Art Show 2024 takes place at the LA Convention Center, with the participation of more than 120 galleries from around the world, exhibiting paintings, sculptures, works on paper, installations, photography, video art and performances. The Seoul-based online non-fun

Arts & DesignFeb. 14, 2024

[Herald Review] Kyugrockjeol mesmerizes audience with music, drinks and rock spirit

Audiences of various ages flocked to Musinsa Garage, the largest concert hall in Hongdae area, Seoul, on Tuesday night, to take part in the fourth day of Kyungrockjeol. Kyungrockjeol is one of South Korea’s largest annual indie rock music festivals, which started in 2005 as a birthday party for Han Kyung-rok, the bassist of the punk band Crying Nut. The festival soon became an opportunity for unknown musicians to present themselves to larger audiences. Tuesday's show featured five art

PerformanceFeb. 14, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ji Pyeong-kwon’s gugak crossover resonates in ballet ‘Korea Emotion’

In a poignant duet of daegeum and pansori, vocalist Kwon Song-hee, a member of the alternative pop band Leenalchi, sings achingly. An orchestral blend of Western classical string instruments, daegeum and pansori plays out in a strangely harmonious manner with waltz-like rhythms that brighten the mood. Against this backdrop of crossover music, two ballet dancers gracefully move under the silvery moonlight. Acclaimed ballerina Kang Mi-sun, a principal dancer at Universal Ballet, earned the title o

PerformanceFeb. 13, 2024

Universal Ballet opens season with ‘Korea Emotion’

Universal Ballet, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, kicks off its 2024 season with the original ballet production, "Korea Emotion," an artistic blend of traditional Korean music and ballet. The neo-classical ballet with gugak crossover scores is to be staged Feb. 16-18, at the Universal Arts Center. Choreographed by Universal Ballet Artistic Director Liu Bingxian, “Korea Emotion” is a collection of nine short episodes drawing inspiration from the complex and multi

PerformanceFeb. 13, 2024

Coin fraud scandal rocks Korean entertainment industry

Allegations of cryptocurrency fraud are growing against multiple South Korean celebrities and popular YouTubers, with some denying their involvement and some admitting to having invested in the cryptocurrency. Winnerz -- a Korean blockchain sports platform that operates several businesses including issuing cryptocurrency -- has been accused of running a coin scam after anonymous investors alleged that the company was issuing fake cryptocurrency, gathering investments and forbidding investors t

TelevisionFeb. 13, 2024

Heritage agency-run school to help Egypt’s cultural preservation efforts

The Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, run by the Cultural Heritage Administration, plans to help Egypt preserve its cultural heritage, starting by digitizing records as part of a five-year project the school started last year. Through December, KNUCH will finish setting up a center within the Manial Palace Museum in Cairo that will keep digital replicas of key pieces of cultural heritage currently housed in six state-run institutions in the Egyptian capital. The antiquities to be d

CultureFeb. 13, 2024

Maroon 5 to be first foreign act at Inspire arena

American pop-rock band Maroon 5 is visiting Korea in March and holding a concert at the country's first multipurpose arena. According to Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, Maroon 5 will hold a two-day concert at Inspire Arena in Yeongjong-do, Incheon, on March 8 and 9. It will be the first performance by an overseas act at the venue. Inspire Arena, the first multipurpose arena in South Korea operated by Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, opened in December last year. It is part of Ins

PerformanceFeb. 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kim Ho-young performs as Angel in 'Rent' for final time

When musical actor Kim Ho-young was named the best supporting actor at the 8th Korean Musical Awards last month for his role as Angel in the musical “Rent,” he came to the stage for his acceptance speech with a mysterious bag. Instead of simply calling out the names of people to whom he was thankful, Kim selected two names from the bag to receive his gratitude on behalf of everyone he wished to acknowledge, transforming the moment into a vibrant celebration with his trademark wit a

CultureFeb. 13, 2024

No need to fly 15 hours to Barcelona to satiate craving for authentic churros

An unusually long queue formed in the basement floor of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido last month. Shim Young-mi, 37, was one of the people who waited in line to try the New York-based Luke’s Lobster. She said she didn’t mind the long wait and the relatively high price for a palm-sized lobster roll that costs 21,500 won ($16.50). The price varies depending on how much lobster meat is in the roll -- a lobster roll with 100 grams of lobster meat sells for 29,500 won. “I wanted to t

FoodFeb. 13, 2024

Lotte World Adventure opens Valentine’s Day-themed events

Lotte World Adventure, one of the most popular theme parks in South Korea, said it's presenting romantic Valentine's Day-themed events for first-time visitors as well as returning lovers. The theme park, located in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, announced Monday that the entrance gate to Magic Island, featuring the sky blue roof -- will turn into an interactive photo zone with moving backdrops on Valentine's Day, Wednesday. When visitors stand in the photo zone and strike a pose,

TravelFeb. 12, 2024

Kwon Byung-jun wins Korea Artist Prize 2023 for work with robots

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea has declared Kwon Byung-jun as winner of the Korea Artist Prize 2023 for presenting unique art of his own that delves into humanity and explores a world where people and robots coexist. “Kwon Byung-jun has presented beautiful work that uses an immersive robot theater approach to raise questions about the expansive potential of human communities,” said Kim Sung-hee, director of MMCA. Kwon is the first artist to receive the awar

Arts & DesignFeb. 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'A Shop for Killers' an action drama with stories to tell

“A Shop for Killers” might appear to be an action drama, but the 8-part series is about the story of a lonely girl growing up, the choices various characters make and their consequences, which should give strength to the audience in enduring hardships, according to director Lee Kwon and the actor who portrayed the girl, Kim Hye-jun. Disney+ original "A Shop for Killers" narrates the story of Jung Ji-an (played by Kim Hye-jun), who is targeted by a slew of killers after her

TelevisionFeb. 12, 2024

What does J-pop revival mean for S. Korea?

Choi Mi-yeon, a 25-year-old college student, recently purchased a ticket for Japanese band King Gnu's upcoming concert in Korea. Among her friends who attempted to buy tickets, she was the only one lucky enough to get a ticket for the concert, which is set to take place twice in April. All 6,000 tickets quickly sold out. "It feels like more and more Japanese musicians are visiting Korea since last year, and it's getting really hard to get tickets. J-pop is certainly gaining streng

PerformanceFeb. 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Finding solace through the second-hand market

"The Second Hand Market Angel" By Her Tae-yeon Noll/Dasan Books In the upscale neighborhood of Hannam-dong, a unique morning ritual unfolds on a second-hand market app, showcasing an array of new items that are difficult to come by at a good price. From imported luxury curtains straight from Spain to limited-edition designer bags, the platform becomes a marketplace for Sun Ye-hwi, a woman of wealth who appears to revel in a life of opulence. Sun's life had taken a tragic turn a de

BooksFeb. 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Woo Da-young invites readers into 'a darker night' with latest SF collection

"But Someone Wants a Darker Night" By Woo Da-young Moonji Publishing The third collection of stories penned by Woo Da-young, titled "But Someone Wants a Darker Night," includes five short stories in which characters frequently engage in contemplation, reflecting upon the boundaries between the self and others. In the coming-of-age narrative, "There Was a Knife Between Us," Alpha and Omega, initially born as a singular entity but later separated as twins, reunite on

BooksFeb. 11, 2024

[New in Korean] Booker shortlisted Bora Chung returns with autobiographical SF tales

"Surrender, Earth Creatures" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Bora Chung Rabbit Hole Bora Chung, a finalist for the UK International Booker Prize and the US National Book Award for her genre-defying work, "Cursed Bunny" (translated by Anton Hur), has returned with a collection of science fiction stories titled "Surrender, Earth Creatures." "Surrender, Earth Creatures" is a delightful, animated compilation of stories that incorporates Chung�

BooksFeb. 11, 2024

Paju attractions open during Lunar New Year holiday

Paju, a city some 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul, looks to attract visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday when many stores, restaurants and travel spots are closed. Tourist sites located near the banks of the Imjin River in Paju, including the Imjingak Peace Gondola, DMZ LIVE Experience Hall and Dokgae Bridge, will be open without any schedule changes. The gondolas will be free for those aged 80 or older. From Feb. 10 to 11, visitors can experience Korean traditional games for free. The Na

CultureFeb. 10, 2024

Govt. mandates 'holdback period' for govt.-funded films

The culture ministry has recently mandated films receiving government funding must wait a certain period after their silver screen debut before becoming available on IPTVs and streaming platforms. The so-called holdback period was specified as a condition for new Korean films receiving government funding in a public notice posted on Jan. 31 for the funding program, ministry officials said Friday. Details of the holdback period have yet to be disclosed. However, officials said the ministry intend

CultureFeb. 9, 2024