[Eye Plus] Migratory birds say adieu to S. Korea as spring arrives

With the arrival of spring in South Korea one can witness the spectacle of migratory wild birds leaving back to their homes across the world in huge numbers. After enduring a slightly less cold winter on the Korean Peninsula, wild birds are getting ready to return home in regions spanning from Siberia to the eastern Manchuria area of China. Korea is host to more than 100 types of migratory birds every winter.From September to November, birds from northern Russian and China fly several thousands

March 7, 2019

LTI Korea worries about division of two Koreas’ literature

Poet Kim Sa-in, head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, has expressed worries about division of the literary works of North and South Korea. His comments came as LTI Korea, a state-funded institute that aims to link Korean literature to foreign readership, announced its plans for this year, including events to promote the expansion of the boundaries of Korean literature. Kim Sa-in, head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, speaks during a press event in central Seoul

March 6, 2019

S. Korean Go master Lee Se-dol considering retiring at end of 2019

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who was famously defeated by Google’s artificial intelligence program AlphaGo, said Tuesday that he might retire at the end of this year.Lee, 36, made the surprising announcement after he fell to his Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel.“I started playing Go when I was six years old, and I became professional player in 1995,” Lee said. “That’s quite a long time. I think this year may be my last year.” (Yonhap)Lee said he hasn’t definitely de

March 5, 2019

More pets travel in, out of Korea

With the idea of traveling with pets (companion animals) is becoming the norm, travel-related industries are welcoming pet owners and their pets by launching related services.The number of service animals on flights has been increasing significantly in recent years. (123rf)According to the Ministry of Land and Transportation, in 2017, 41,343 pets were carried on planes, marking a 46.7 percent increase from 28,182 of 2015. Compared with 33,437 of 2016, it is a 23.6 percent increase. Reflecting th

March 1, 2019

[Eye Plus] Remembering Yu Gwan-sun, icon of Korea’s March 1 Independence Movement

As Korea celebrates the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919 on Friday, an iconic figure of the tumultuous period returns to the spotlight: Yu Gwan-sun.Yu, who was 16 years old at the time, was an active participant and martyr of the independence movement. She is remembered as a brave, young patriot who inspired others to join Korea’s resistance against Japan’s colonial rule.Yu was born in 1902 to Christian parents in the small town of Byeongcheon near Cheonan, South Ch

Feb. 28, 2019

[Weekender] Tracing footsteps of March 1 Movement

Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung and Seoul Station: These are all places in central Seoul, frequented by thousands of locals and foreigners every day.Some of them are destinations, others fall on the way to their final destination. Nonetheless, they are some of the busiest spots in the city, always packed with people. Exactly 100 years ago on this day, these streets were also busy. On March 1 1919, the places mentioned above were swarming with crowds. Though the people were in di

Feb. 28, 2019

[Weekender] Notorious colonial-era prison commemorates sacrifices of March 1

The Seodaemun Prison History Museum, a grotesque shrine dedicated to fallen patriots who fought Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula, is holding an exhibition of artifacts related to their struggle and the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919.The ongoing exhibition “100 Years of History Preserved in Cultural Heritage,” which runs until April 21, is divided into three sections. The first focuses on preparations for the March 1, 1919, protest and the simultaneous Proclamation of K

Feb. 28, 2019

Royal palaces, tombs to open gates to commemorate March 1 Movement

Royal palaces and tombs across the country will be open to all visitors free of charge this Friday to mark the centennial of the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919.According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Joseon-era palaces Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung will be open free of charge on Friday, along with the shrine Jongmyo and the royal tombs of the Joseon Kingdom. It is the first time they will be open free of charge for the March 1 holiday.  This b

Feb. 25, 2019

German museum to repatriate pair of Joseon era statues to Korea

The Museum am Rothenbaum in Hamburg, Germany, will return a pair of Joseon era stone statues to South Korea, the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation announced Thursday.The two statues will be returned on March 19. Estimated to have been produced in the late 16th or early 17th century, the statues were initially believed to have been shipped to Germany after a German national acquired them from a local antique shop in Seoul in 1983. The museum purchased the pair in 1987. A pair of stone statues

Feb. 21, 2019

[Eye Plus] Traditional Korean culture alive at King’s Street

It’s easy to spot beautiful palaces when you walk around Seoul, a city that blends modern and traditional Korean cultures. Changdeokgung, a royal palace built in 1405, is among them. Donhwanum is the main gate of Changdeokgung, the second royal palace built in 1405. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)The palace Changdeokgung viewed from above. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Visitors clad in traditional Korean hanbok take pictures in front of Donhwamun. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)The main gate

Feb. 21, 2019

[Eye Plus] Cassette tapes make stand in digital era

Many remember listening to a cassette tape on a deck or portable player like Sony’s Walkman. Pressing the rewind and stop buttons to find the right track and flipping the tape to listen to the reverse side were all part of the reel-to-reel tape ritual. Not to forget the messy moment of a tape getting chewed inside of a deck or the importance of having a pencil handy. The heyday of cassette tapes came to a close late in the 1990s, as they lost out to digital compact discs. A resurgence of the onc

Feb. 7, 2019

Mobile apps reflect trends, changing lifestyles

From home interior design to baby care, mobile apps cater to users’ interests and lend a hand in their daily lives. After all, an average of three hours is spent on mobile apps daily, according to global app intelligence platform App Annie. During a press event Wednesday at Google Campus Seoul, Google Play introduced four app developers catering to the lifestyles of millennials: Bucket Place, Simfler, Culture Hero and Home Story. From left: App developers Lee Seung-jae of Bucket Place, Yang Duck

Jan. 30, 2019

Solo activities, watching TV most popular forms of leisure in Korea

With the Moon Jae-in administration stressing the importance of balancing one’s work and leisure, a government survey announced Tuesday found that most Koreans prefer spending their free time alone, watching TV. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a survey on 10,498 men and women aged over 15 and found that 59.5 percent said that they spend most of their free time alone. It was followed by 29.7 percent who replied “with family” and 8.7 percent who said “with a friend.” (Yonhap)

Jan. 29, 2019

Early 20th century theater building at center of high-brow vs. popular culture debate

Located in a vibrant shopping district at the heart of Seoul is a five-story building that stands as a unique example of colonial architecture.The Myeongdong Theater, a National Theater Company of Korea venue and a sanctuary of South Korean theater, is at the center of heated debate over what performing arts genres it should allow under its roof. Myeongdong Theater (National Theater Company of Korea)The theater has gone through a series of transformations since opening its doors as a cinema in 1

Jan. 29, 2019

Donation delivered to WT for taekwondo education for underprivileged

The Asia Development Foundation delivered a $90,000 donation to World Taekwondo on Friday, with the money to be used in providing taekwondo education to the underprivileged in Asian countries.According to the WT, half of the donated amount will be used for WT Taekwondo Cares projects in Nepal, such as free taekwondo education and training for the disadvantaged, including female victims of domestic violence, students of schools build by the Um Hong Gil Human Foundation, and underage offenders at

Jan. 27, 2019

S. Korea finds, requests revision of over 200 errors about the country

South Korean authorities have identified and requested the revision of 222 cases of incorrect information about the country at 105 homepages of state-run or public organizations in other countries and international bodies, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.The ministry and its affiliate Korea Culture and Information Service said that since July 2017, they have monitored information related to Korea that are on sites run by organizations, including the United Nations, the Organizat

Jan. 24, 2019

Writings by last princess of Joseon return home

A collection of 68 writings by Princess Deokon (1822-1844), the last legitimate princess of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897), and her family has returned home. The National Hangeul Museum and Culture Heritage Administration recently announced the acquisition of the collection, citing that it has great value as an example of court writings in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. According to officials, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, a subsidiary of the CHA, purchased the collection from

Jan. 21, 2019

'Collection of Korea' exhibits relics, struggles for Korean culture

Armed resistance was not the only line of defense to keep alive the spirit of Koreans living under Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. Some fought for preservation of the language with their lives, others for its literature and other forms of art. Chun Hyung-pil’s battle was to keep the country’s cultural properties within its territory.Achievements of Chun, also known by his penname “Kansong,” are commemorated in the special exhibit “A Collection for Korea” that will continue through March 31 at Don

Jan. 20, 2019

Photo essay about rescued puppy Injeolmi becomes best-seller

A photo essay titled “Hi! My Name Is Injeolmi” (unofficial translation) recently became a bestseller, proving the dog’s popularity even outside the realm of social media. The book of photos and short anecdotes about rescued puppy Injeolmi ranked within the top 10 on the Kyobo Book Centre’s best-seller list for the second week of January. Released Monday, the book documents Injeolmi’s life and rescue story.  (Wisdom House) Instagram account @zzangjeolmiA farmer’s daughter rescued Injeolmi from a

Jan. 18, 2019

[Weekender] A seer’s guide to marriage

It is undeniable that many things in life are determined by the circumstances of one’s birth -- nationality, genetics and socioeconomic class not least of all. Added to that list, it was the three-hour window in which I was born in June 1985 that determined I’d be focused on justice and live a life defined by wanderlust. Similarly, the time of my partner’s birth almost exactly a year later decided she would be a “straightforward and simple” person who speaks her mind with a strong will. Moto Saj

Jan. 17, 2019