German Village plaza to be restricted until April

Namhae German Village, located in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, is scheduled to undergo a partial renovation starting on Feb. 13. The village has long been recognized for its distinctly foreign ambience in South Korea. Hoping to improve visitors' travel experience, Namhae German Village will replace the sidewalks and install a sound system around the village’s plaza, according to Namhae County on Thursday. Shops and facilities nearby the affected area, including Namhae German Exh

TravelJan. 19, 2024

Pioneering sculptor Kim Yun-shin lands in 2 commercial galleries ahead of age 90

Sculptor Kim Yun-shin will work with two leading galleries, American gallery Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery in Seoul, marking her first partnerships with commercial galleries the six decades of her artistic career. The 88-year-old artist had her inaugural institutional solo exhibition in South Korea at the Nam-Seoul Museum of Art in 2023, with “Kim Yunshin: Towards Oneness” comprehensively showcasing her work. The exhibition reignited both renewed and belated interest in the artist

Arts & DesignJan. 19, 2024

[Photo News] Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival sculptures

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, known as the “gapjin” year in the 60-year sexagenary cycle, the upcoming Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival presents a stunning, dragon-themed snow sculpture. As a popular motif in Korean art and myth, dragons symbolize power and are considered to be sacred gods that prevent misfortune and disaster. Snow sculptures aside, the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival features exciting works of art from snow carving contests for university students, an igloo

TravelJan. 19, 2024

[Well-curated] Cute goods, hotteok in special sauce and paintings of old Paris

Butter in Gangnam At a glance, the shop looks like a toy store, making passersby wonder how it manages to pay rent in this prime retail area, less than a five-minute walk from bustling Gangnam Station. But it doesn’t take long to figure out that the shop, Butter, stays afloat selling household goods. Almost every item on the shelves or hanging on the walls features characters including those from children’s movies such as animated comedy “Minions.” From stationery and hom

CultureJan. 19, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alienoid Part 2” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 10 Action Directed by Choi Dong-hoon Lee Ahn (Kim Tae-ri) accidentally falls back in time to the late Goryeo Kingdom, and all she needs to do to come back to 2022 is to find the divine sword, which happens to also be sought by several different stakeholders for various reasons. “Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifi

FilmJan. 19, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Haeundae Lighting Festival Streets, markets and shops close to the popular Haeundae Beach in Busan will be lit up every day from 05:30 p.m. through midnight during the Haeundae Lighting Festival, which runs to the end of January. Visitors can get snaps at the photo zone and have them developed right away for a fee of 1,000 won or 2,000 won, depending on the size. Those who make a purchase at nearby markets and shops will receive raffle tickets. For more information, visit haeundae.go.kr/tour

TravelJan. 19, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Kolon Hotel offers Lanco-themed rooms Kolon Hotel, located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has unveiled its new Lanco-themed rooms. Collaborating with Spain-based baby toys company Lanco, the rooms feature yellow pillow covers, cushions, a door mat, towels and cups, all inspired by Lanco’s yellow rubber duck. A total of six Lanco-themed rooms are available, each accommodating a maximum of four guests. The rooms come with a beam projector and screen. The hotel also has a miniature z

CultureJan. 19, 2024

Director Jang Jae-hyun’s ‘Exhuma’ invited to Berlinale

Occult thriller "Exhuma" by Jang Jae-hyun, known as a master of Korean occult films, has been invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The film's distributor, Showbox, said Thursday that the movie will be presented in the Berlinale’s Forum section, dedicated to “avant-garde and experimental” film genres and discovering “fascinating new faces,” according to the festival organizer. Berlinale opens Feb. 15 for a 10-day run. Previously invi

FilmJan. 18, 2024

Culture Ministry to take charge of overseas promotion of Korea

The government has decided to close down the Korean Culture and Information Service, the agency tasked with promoting South Korea overseas, handing over the role to the Culture Ministry to bolster its power to oversee interagency efforts toward expanding Korea’s soft power overseas. The move announced Thursday was largely expected, with Culture Minister Yu In-chon hinting at the change in December, two months after taking office. At a meeting Wednesday with the heads of government bodies l

CultureJan. 18, 2024

Seoul book fair organizer, Culture Ministry clash again over book fairs

As interest in Korean literature surges around the world, the publishing industry is actively participating in international book fairs to introduce Korean books. However, ongoing conflict between the publishing sector and the government regarding subsidies is expected to lead to a reduction in the scale of book-related events and their participation this year. Korean Publishers Association Chairman Yoon Chul-ho addressed the press Tuesday at the KPA office in Jongno, central Seoul, emphasizing

BooksJan. 18, 2024

'Argylle' actors say director Matthew Vaughn's new spy action thriller 'feels at home here'

Actors Henry Caville, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell from English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming spy action thriller, “Argylle,” began a promotional tour in Seoul, Thursday. Director Vaughn, well-known here for his “Kingsman” spy franchise, was absent due to health reasons. “Argylle” follows Elly Conway (Howard), a reclusive author who writes best-selling espionage novels in which an agent, Argylle (Caville), unravels a global spy syndicate. B

FilmJan. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'The Bequeathed' merges concepts of horror and family

Yeon Sang-ho, star director of mega-hits such as the 2016 zombie film "Train to Busan" and the 2021 Netflix original fantasy drama series "Hellbound," is back with "The Bequeathed," a new Netflix original thriller drama series. "The Bequeathed" is a 6-part series that focuses on a series of ominous events which occur after Yoon Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo) receives a family grave site as inheritance following the death of her uncle. Conflict heightens as her half

TelevisionJan. 18, 2024

'LTNS' satirizes realities of today's sexless, adulterous couples

The life of a married couple who have lost interest in each other will be examined in "LTNS," Tving's new original series, offering a no-holds-barred depiction of the realities of couples today, promised actors Ahn Jae-hong and Lee So-young, also known as Esom, during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. "LTNS," short for "Long Time No Sex," is a 6-part drama series that uses black comedy to tell the story of Woo-jin (played by Esom) and Samuel (played by Ahn

TelevisionJan. 18, 2024

KBS employees fined W30m for abuse and death of horse

A Seoul court on Wednesday fined three KBS employees a total of 30 million won ($22,338), holding them accountable for the death of a horse on the set of a drama production in 2021. The Seoul Southern District Court convicted the three employees -- a 59-year-old drama producer surnamed Kim, a martial arts director and an equestrian -- of animal abuse among other charges for the torture and killing of a horse while shooting a scene for the local broadcaster’s "The King of Tears, Lee

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2024

ARKO Selection presents diverse spectrum of works

ARKO Selection's second set of six productions scheduled for mid and late-January includes two family-friendly musicals, two contemporary dance performances and two music concerts. The topics covered in the productions range from borderline personality disorder to the life story of Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time. Other themes include human brutality and humanity in the digital age. The works are among the 28 new repertoires funded by Arts Council Korea, an

PerformanceJan. 17, 2024

Spaceship-themed train package offers chance to visit space research center

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., offers the chance to catch a glimpse of the country’s space industry and explore local tourism. According to Korail Travel on Wednesday, the "Space Science Train" (unofficial translation), a spaceship-themed train launched in 2023, is a two-day travel package featuring a visit to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as trips to popular tourist destinations and traditional markets in the south of the

TravelJan. 17, 2024

Lady Dior handbag re-imagined by three Korean artists

French luxury brand Dior’s iconic Lady Dior handbag has reinvented itself since its first debut on Princess Diana’s arm in 1995. It had been given as a gift by the first lady of France. The bag has since become one of the most beloved handbags around the world. Since 2016, the fashion house has collaborated with artists, recreating its iconic bag into works of art. Marking its eighth edition, the Dior Lady Art project collaborated with 12 artists from around the world, including Kore

Arts & DesignJan. 17, 2024

Kyuhyun to embark on first solo Asia tour

Singer Kyuhyun plans to embark on his first solo Asia tour since his debut. His agency, Antenna, released a poster for the "2024 Kyuhyun Asia Tour Restart" on its official social media, announcing the schedule for Kyuhyun's Asia tour. Kyuhyun will kick off the Asia tour with a three-day concert at Blue Square MasterCard Hall in Yongsan, Seoul, from March 8-10. The soloist will then meet with fans in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Osaka and Yokohama in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and

PerformanceJan. 17, 2024

[Herald Interview] Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee say historical themes drew them to 'Gyeongseong Creature'

Actors Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee said they most wanted to portray the lives of people living in 1945, when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, through their roles in "Gyeongseong Creature." The final episode of the first season of the 10-part Netflix original series aired on Jan. 5. "Gyeongseong Creature" tells the story of Jang Tae-sung (Park Seo-joon) and Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee), who investigate clandestine operations taking place in a hidden basement of a hospita

TelevisionJan. 17, 2024

'Captivating the King' to capture love-hate relationship between king and spy

Sparks are set to fly as South Korean actors Jo Jung-suk and Shin Se-kyung star in tvN's new historical romance drama "Captivating the King," in which they will portray a love-hate relationship between a king and a spy. The 16-part drama series centers around the relationship between Lee In (played by Jo Jung-suk), who rises to the position of king of Joseon, and Kang Hee-soo (played by Shin Se-kyung), a spy who approaches him seeking revenge. "Although it is a fusion histo

TelevisionJan. 17, 2024