[Video] Korean dance, communication delivered through the body

People dance for many reasons -- for imparting love and joy, in celebration or when they try to overcome something unexpected through passion. Similarly, the aesthetic movement is an art that can work as a form of communication. The bodily conveyance could be directed toward ourselves, but it could also serve others and even play the role of a medium for emotional release. South Korea’s traditional dances, along with its chronicled history, have developed over a long period -- including th

Dec. 11, 2019

Exhibition reveals imperial life of Qing Dynasty

The National Palace Museum of Korea is holding the exhibition “Treasures from the Shenyang Palace Museum,” featuring national treasures and relics from the Chinese museum in Shenyang. The Shenyang Imperial Palace was the official residence of Nurhaci and Hong Taiji, the founder of the Later Jin Dynasty and Nurhaci’s son, who built the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). After the capital was relocated from Shenyang to Beijing, the Shenyang Imperial Palace remained a secondary capital.

Dec. 10, 2019

Exhibit sheds light on ancient confederacy of Gaya

The National Museum is holding an exhibition on Gaya, an ancient confederacy of small city-states in the central-southern region of the Korean Peninsula around AD 42-562. Titled “Gaya Spirit -- Iron and Tune,” the exhibit comprises archeological findings of the past three decades, shedding light on the entity, which has often been overlooked in history due to the more powerful three kingdoms -- Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo -- that thrived on the peninsula in Gaya’s last centuries

Dec. 3, 2019

[Weekender] Kimchi season

Korea is in the midst of the kimchi-making season. In early winter, when temperatures just start to fall below zero, Koreans go through the annual ritual of gimjang -- making large quantities of the spicy, fermented cabbage dish to last the coming year. It is such an important family event that “have you done this year’s gimjang already?” becomes a typical icebreaker among housewives during this time of year. Added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in

Nov. 29, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Amateur cooks compete at Korea Food Contest Final

Representatives from eight of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations faced off at the ASEAN-KOREA: Korea Food Contest Final, showing off dishes that reflect Korean culture and identity with a common ingredient: rice.The final round of the multinational cooking contest was held Tuesday at the Korean Cuisine Cultural Center in Jung-gu, central Seoul. The contestants, all nonprofessional cooks, came from Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos a

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] S. Korea to seeks more cultural exchange with ASEAN

President Moon Jae-in on Monday vowed to push for the mutual prosperity of Korea and ASEAN member states through cultural exchange, stressing the importance of cultural content in an event held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan.Speaking at the ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit at Bexco, Moon praised the power of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc’s cultural content, and its potential to extend further into the world. He also pointed out how Hall

Nov. 25, 2019

[Feature] Independent bookstores in Korea thrive, defying the dying paper industry

People who get together for the monthly meetings at SeochonBooks, a small bookstore housed in a hanok near the palace Gyeongbokgung, may feel awkward at first. But soon they form friendships as they share their thoughts about a book that Ha Young-nam, the owner of the bookstore, recommends. “I visit this bookstore every month. ... I have craved for communities where I could meet people, which have now mostly disappeared compared to the past,” said Jeon Ji-yeon, who is in her 50s. &ld

Nov. 24, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea and ASEAN jointly create harmony

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, was yet again engulfed in a wave of enthusiasm for South Korean soccer coach Park Hang-seo. On Nov. 14, the country’s national soccer team, led by Park, beat the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup’s second qualifying round, securing first place in its group. Waving Korea’s national flag, the Taegeukgi, Vietnamese soccer fans sang their national team’s fight songs. This scene is not unfamiliar to us anymore.In September, Ba

Nov. 24, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Mouthwatering ‘ASEAN-ROK Food Street’ illuminates Busan

BUSAN -- Perhaps it is fitting that a city known for a wide range of unique delicacies should host an inaugural event showcasing dishes from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states. The 2019 ASEAN-ROK Food Street event kicked off Nov. 15 and is slated to continue until Wednesday at the Busan Cultural Complex Center for Youth, or Norimaru, near Seomyeon Station -- an area known as the “streets of youth” for its vast collection of bars, coffeehouses and restaura

Nov. 24, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Busan bustling on eve of ASEAN-Korea summit

Busan -- Busan is no stranger to a large influx of guests, but South Korea’s second-largest city was even more robust than usual this weekend with multiple events taking place on the eve of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.Subway cars were plastered with ads for the ongoing ASEAN-themed events, including the “ASEAN Crafts: From Heritage to the Contemporary” exhibition running at ASEAN Culture House until Jan. 15. The subway is a wise choice if you wish to bypass the

Nov. 24, 2019

Paris Korea Center opens to spearhead second coming of Hallyu

Paris -- The ceramic vases and Hangeul-inspired tables on display and the Korean cuisine experience zone right smack in the heart of Paris are a testament to the power of Hallyu, as the government-run Korean Cultural Center reopened at a new venue on Wednesday as the Paris Korea Center.Nearly four decades after its opening, the Korean Cultural Center in France decided to build its nest in a refurbished marble-white seven-story building near Paris’ Champs-Elysees and the Elysee Palace in th

Nov. 21, 2019

Unique ondol found at Gyeongbokgung pavilion

Designated Treasure No. 1761, Hyangwonjeong -- a two-story hexagonal pavilion on a small artificial island in the middle of a pond on the northern grounds of Gyeongbokgung -- was built by King Gojong around the time of the construction of the royal couple’s private quarters, between 1867 and 1873. The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea on Wednesday unveiled the unique floor heating system found at the pavilion. Korea’s traditional heating system ondol generates warmth using di

Nov. 20, 2019

Pangovernmental Hallyu team to be launched this year: culture minister

PARIS -- As Korean culture gains influence around the world, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is seeking to launch a pangovernmental team that would serve as a Hallyu control tower. Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said the government is planning to support the Hallyu in a way that will enable it to have a positive influence in diverse fields, in addition to culture. “I believe Hallyu should be linked to other fields like export, manufacturing and service industries. For this, the

Nov. 20, 2019

S. Korea, UNESCO to cooperate toward listing DMZ as world heritage

PARIS -- Culture Minister Park Yang-woo and UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay agreed Tuesday to make a concerted effort to have the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea added to the UN body’s World Heritage list.Park met Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris and asked for the UN body’s cooperation, saying the joint inscription of the DMZ on the list by both Koreas would be “in keeping with the spirit of UNESCO, which is for pe

Nov. 20, 2019

Go master Lee Se-dol, the only human to beat AI AlphaGo, retires

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who is the only human to score a win against the artificial intelligence Go player AlphaGo, retired Tuesday. The 36-year-old officially retired from Go competition by submitting his letter of retirement to the Korea Baduk Association, which overseas Go professionals in South Korea.    He hinted at his impending retirement following his defeat to Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel in March. This puts an end to Lee's lege

Nov. 19, 2019

Culture minister to request UNESCO's cooperation to list DMZ as World Heritage

In a meeting with the head of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Tuesday, South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo plans to ask the United Nations body to inscribe the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone as a World Heritage, according to the ministry. Park is scheduled to meet with Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture, set to begin Tuesday morning in Paris. In the bilateral meeting, Park will request UNESCO's coope

Nov. 19, 2019

Newly selected national treasures of Korea to be unveiled to public

The National Museum of Korea will hold an exhibition next year featuring national treasures designated in recent years, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday. The upcoming exhibition between April and June 2020 will unveil some 100 newly designated national treasures and treasures. The items include those owned by temples, private galleries and individuals.One highlight is “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” a representative written record of the history of th

Nov. 19, 2019

[EYE] A treasure house of antique books

On the bustling main street of Insa-dong -- which once symbolized Korean traditional culture, but is now crowded with souvenir shops -- visitors nonchalantly pass by a store that holds centuries-old treasures.Tongmunkwan, the oldest bookstore in South Korea, keeps its door closed most of the time.  Stepping inside, one is instantly overwhelmed by its massive collection of antique books, stacked from floor to ceiling, and the thick smell of old volumes. The oldest here is from the late Gorye

Nov. 14, 2019

[ASEAN-ROK summit] ASEAN Cinema Week 2019 to be hosted in Busan

A film festival showcasing works from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states will take place in Busan on Friday and Saturday, on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. The venue for ASEAN Cinema Week 2019 -- ASEAN Cinema NOW! is the Busan Cinema Center, a landmark of the southern port city that is best known for hosting the annual Busan International Film Festival. Ten films will be screened at the ASEAN event, one from each member state. The films are &ldquo

Nov. 12, 2019

Senior citizen group hosts hanbok fashion show to bring harmony to society

The Korea Senior Star Association, a civic group for senior citizens, hosted a fashion show Saturday to promote the beauty of the Korean traditional costume, hanbok, and break down the barriers that divide generations.Around 1,000 people attended the event, titled “Our Beautiful Costume Hanbok That Moves Forward Into the Future,” held at Namsangol Hanok Village, a collection of five Korean traditional houses at the foot of Namsan’s north side. “We hope this event hel

Nov. 10, 2019