Korean TV programs show former couples together amid cultural shift

South Korean entertainment shows which invite past lovers on the program are gaining popularity. Following a shift in Korean culture towards more openly discussing past relationships, there is an increase in audience demand for shows to more directly fulfill innate desires, according to experts. Korean streaming service Tving said the reality dating show "Transit Love 3" ranked first among the platform's original titles in contributing to the rising number of paid subscribers on

TelevisionJan. 23, 2024

Hong Sang-soo’s 'A Traveler's Needs' invited to 74th Berlinale

South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo’s upcoming “A Traveler’s Needs,” the auteur director's 31st film, will compete in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which is slated to take place Feb. 15-25. This marks the 63-year-old filmmaker’s fifth consecutive invitation to one of the world’s three largest film festivals. “A Traveler’s Needs” revolves around a woman from France who relies on makkeolli – Korean rice wine – f

FilmJan. 23, 2024

Sejong Light Festival to be extended until mid-February

Light installations, lamps and lanterns for the Sejong Light Festival will stay in place through Feb. 18, giving people more time to enjoy the luminous nightscape of Sejong City. Though the 2023 Sejong Light Festival was initially scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2023, Sejong had extended the annual light festival until Jan. 14. Recognizing the growing popularity of the festival, the city chose to extend the festival once again. “With the extended schedule, more Sejong residents and visit

TravelJan. 23, 2024

Director Hong Sang-soo's film to compete in upcoming Berlin Int'l Film Festival

South Korean director Hong Sang-soo's new film, "A Traveler's Needs," will compete in the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival next month, the event's website showed Monday. The film by Hong was among the 19 full-length titles announced on the website to compete in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from Feb. 15-25. The 31st feature film by Hong stars French actress Isabelle Huppert, alongside Korean actors and actresses such as K

FilmJan. 22, 2024

National Museum of Korean Literature to open in 2026

The Culture Ministry, in partnership with the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation, will establish the National Museum of Korean Literature, in Eunpyeong-gu, northern Seoul. Culture Minister Yu In-chon held a meeting with officials at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday, and signed the agreement with SH Corporation, the owner of the museum site. “The museum has long been an aspiration in the literary community,” said Yu. “It is also significant tha

BooksJan. 22, 2024

Producer Shin Chun-soo’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ to open on Broadway in March

"The Great Gatsby," a musical production by South Korean producer Shin Chun-soo, will open at the Broadway Theatre in New York in March. After the one-month pre-Broadway run from Oct. 12 to Nov. 12 last year at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, Shin’s company, the OD Company, decided to bring the musical, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same title, to Broadway. The preview will run from March 29 before it officially kicks off on April 25. Jer

CultureJan. 22, 2024

Author Lee Geum-yi shortlisted for Hans Christian Andersen Award

Children's book and young adult novelist Lee Geum-yi has made the shortlist for the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award, a prestigious accolade often referred to as the "Nobel Prize" of children's literature. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) recently announced the shortlist for this year’s award, listing Lee among the six finalists. This is the first time a South Korean novelist has been shortlisted for the literature biennale, which started in 19

BooksJan. 22, 2024

Overseas artists to visit Korean fans

A number of overseas musicians are set to visit South Korea to entertain local fans this year. Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 will visit Korea in February, as part of the group's final world tour before disbanding. The five-member group formed in 1996, rising to global acclaim after the success of its first studio album, "All Killer No Filler," in 2001. The band continued to release several hits, including "Still Waiting," "Make No Difference" and "Undercl

PerformanceJan. 22, 2024

Korean dramas depicting countryside youth enjoy bump in popularity

The end of 2023 and start of 2024 have been flooded with South Korean dramas depicting the lives of youth who lead their lives in countryside, amid the increase in demand from the audience for stress relief, according to experts, Monday. "Welcome to Samdal-ri," a popular 16-part JTBC romantic comedy drama, which released its first episode on Dec. 2, 2023, wrapped up with its last episode on Sunday. The drama series narrates the story of Cho Sam-dal (played by Shin Hye-sun), who lived i

TelevisionJan. 22, 2024

Royal palace festival to offer better access for anniversary

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the annual K-Royal Culture Festival will offer more convenient access to visitors. For the first time, foreign nationals will be able to buy tickets themselves online via a designated link for the annual event involving the five main palaces in Seoul connected with the Joseon era (1392-1910), according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday. The CHA is also planning to sell 10,000 all-pass tickets, up from the previous 1,000. The all-pass ticket offer

CultureJan. 22, 2024

Hermes emphasizes versatility at menswear show for Paris Fashion Week

Hermes emphasizes versatility at menswear show for Paris Fashion Week By Mimosa Spencer PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Veronique Nichanian, the artistic director for menswear at Hermes, presented a textured lineup of polished looks for the label’s winter runway show on Saturday, showing the versatile side of the high-end fashion label. Models filed past brightly-lit columns in thick sheepskin coats, checked suits, trim leather jackets and a silky bomber jacket in pea green. A glossy leather coa

Arts & DesignJan. 21, 2024

[Herald Review] In ‘Nature of Forgetting,’ movements speak louder than words

In the vibrant season of youth, Tom dashes eagerly to catch up with his school crush, who rides ahead on her bicycle. Next moment, he finds himself in the lead, with her at his back, their heartbeats echoing the fluttering memories. Through an ordinary moment, the audience gets a glimpse of Tom’s most cherished memories. But the recollections are gradually slipping away as he grapples with dementia. Maybe it’s the fleeting nature of the memories that renders the beauty, or its poigna

PerformanceJan. 21, 2024

Chile university opens space dedicated to Korea

A private university in Chile has opened a space dedicated to learning about Korea, bringing the tally of such spaces worldwide to 34, the Culture Ministry said Friday. The state-run National Library of Korea provided the materials for the space. “Window on Korea,” as the space is officially named, at la Universidad Central de Chile has some 1,607 books about Korea. The university is the only institution offering a master’s degree in Korean Studies in all of Central and South A

CultureJan. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] ‘Citizen of a Kind’ shows power of film based on true story

Director Park Young-ju’s upcoming commercial film debut, “Citizen of a Kind” is based on true events from 2016 in which Kim Seong-ja, a middle-aged laundry shop owner, helped lead to the arrest of a criminal organization boss after a gang member had asked her to rescue him in a phone call. The film revolves around Duk-hee (Ra Mi-ran), who travels to Qingdao, China, to capture the boss of a criminal organization after she falls victim to a voice phishing scam. It was Son Jae-min

FilmJan. 21, 2024

Sanggodae: Chuncheon’s icy winter phenomenon

CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province -- From its regional delicacy dakgalbi -- spicy stir-fried chicken -- to the Legoland Korea Resort, Chuncheon does not disappoint as a top Korean tourist destination. The city, located some 100 kilometers from Seoul, has almost everything travelers of all ages could want -- popular cafes, restaurants, the country’s renowned Soyang River, lakes and mountains. Among both professional and amateur photographers, Chuncheon is a much sought-after spot, especially in w

TravelJan. 20, 2024

Luxury brand flagship stores are now gourmet hot spots

With Seoul quickly becoming a center of luxury spending, even when compared to cities like London and Paris, global luxury powerhouses are flocking to the city to launch gourmet programs at their flagship stores as part of their efforts to cement their loyal fan base, as well as attract an influx of new buyers. Industry insiders say such high-end gourmet experiences allow clientele to enjoy a unique atmosphere that incorporates the diversity and identity of the brand. Woori Louis Vuitton At th

FoodJan. 20, 2024

Winter Youth Olympics kicks off in Gangwon

The Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games kicked off Friday evening with a grand opening ceremony at the Gangneung Oval, some 160 kilometers east of Seoul, and PyeongChang Dome in Gangwon Province. A total of 1,802 athletes aged between 15 and 18 from 78 National Olympic Committees, including 102 South Koreans, are taking part in the Fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games, according to the Organizing Committee of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024. Gangwon 2024 also marks the first Asian

CultureJan. 19, 2024

Cellist Han Jae-min to present most anticipated program as Lotte Concert Hall's artist-in-residence

Han Jae-min, who won first prizes at the Isangyun Competition in 2022 and George Enescu International Competition in 2021, will present one of his most anticipated programs this year as the artist-in-residence at Lotte Concert Hall. The 18-year-old cellist, the youngest musician to be named Lotte's artist-in-residence, will take the stage at least twice this year, in the Solo Cello Recital on March 27 and Trio Recital on Oct. 30. Labeling the March 27 concert as one of the most anticipated

CultureJan. 19, 2024

Kakao Entertainment names new CEOs amid continued controversy

Kakao Entertainment said Friday it has designated the company's Chief Operating Officer Kweon Ki-su and Global Strategy Officer Joseph Chang as the company's co-chief executive officers, in a bid to push for reform amid public criticisms surrounding the company's alleged stock manipulations. According to Kakao Entertainment, before Kweon and Chang are officially appointed, which will take place after Kakao's board meetings and shareholders' meetings, the two co-CEO nomin

TelevisionJan. 19, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ra Mi-ran expresses story of self-esteem, personal growth in "Citizen of a Kind"

Ra Mi-ran, best known for her comic relief roles in a slew of hit Korean dramas such as "Reply 1988" (2015) and "Dr. Park's Clinic" (2022), said her new comedy film "Citizen of a Kind" tells story of the personal growth of an individual and what it means to maintain one's self-esteem through hardships. "Citizen of a Kind" is the story of an ordinary individual named Duk-hee, who falls victim to a voice phishing scam and travels to China to captur

FilmJan. 19, 2024