Artists lambast blacklist as ‘cultural savagery’

Novelist Hwang Sok-yong and comedian Kim Mi-hwa on Monday formally requested official investigation into the blacklisting of cultural figures under former President Lee Myung-bak, as the scandal snowballed to engulf two previous conservative administrations.Prior to submitting the request, Hwang and Kim held a press conference at the headquarters of the joint civilian-government investigative committee looking into the blacklist scandal in Seoul, criticizing the Lee and Park Geun-hye administrat

Sept. 25, 2017

Free entry to cultural heritage sites during 10-day Chuseok holiday

For the 10-day-long holiday starting this Saturday, major cultural heritage sites have announced festivities ranging from free admission to special event offerings. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that major royal palaces and tombs across the country will stay open during the 10-day holiday, free of admission fees. Junghwajeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace (Cultural Heritage Administration)The promotion will take place at the royal palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changd

Sept. 25, 2017

[Eye Plus] Take in the autumn breeze at Sangam Sky Park

There have been many big incidents in South Korea this year.But let bygones be bygones. It is right time to enjoy the scenic beauty because autumn is the most beautiful season of the year.And there are places where you can find its special charms, even in the middle of the city.One such recommendation is the Sky Park in Sangam-dong, Seoul.Visitors can appreciate tall metasequoia trees while hiking to the park, located 98 meters above sea level.It is the highest neighborhood park Seoul, where vis

Sept. 22, 2017

[Herald Interview] ‘The hands that raised candles should now hold books’

[Eye] Located smack in the middle of downtown Seoul, Sunhwadongcheon is an oasis offering respite from the hustle and bustle of life in a megalopolis.Finding it is not easy -- it is situated in a residential apartment complex and there are no easily discernable signs pointing to it. But once inside, you will appreciate the quiet of the book cafe, William Morris prints on display at the gallery space as well as the bookstore selling Hangilsa Publishing’s publications from over the years.It also a

Sept. 22, 2017

7 out of 10 Korean stars putting off military duties

Serving in the military is a duty that falls upon every able-bodied Korean male, but 73.9 percent of entertainers here have delayed enlistment, according to a local lawmaker.Of the 794 male entertainers due for enlistment, 587 have yet to enlist, according to a statement released by Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party Thursday.The percentage of those putting off enlistment among entertainers was far higher than those in other fields of work. The figure was 43.3 percent

Sept. 21, 2017

Unorthodox ensemble to bring ‘L’Appartement’ to life on stage

Theater director Ko Sun-woong is a man predicted to be unpredictable; it is not often you see a re-creation of a classic morality tale featuring aliens, like in Ko’s version of “Heungbuga.”For the theatrical remake of 1996 film “L’Appartement (The Apartment),” Ko chose film and TV actor Oh Ji-ho and ballerina Kim Joo-won to play lead characters Max and Lisa. Kim Joo-won (left), Ko Sun-woong (center) and Oh Ji-ho pose for a photo after a press conference at LG Arts Center in Seoul last Tuesday. (

Sept. 20, 2017

New edition of ‘My Straw’ sweeping social media

The new edition of “My Straw” generated a buzz on social media after Binggrae rolled out a specially designed straw in the online market Monday. (Binggrae)According to the company, the “S.O.S. Straw” was added to the list of the “My Straw” editions with a price of 8,900 won ($8). The 10,000 available are currently on sale via Gmarket.The straw, which features a distinctive fire extinguisher-shaped design, helps consumers cool down a burning mouth by spraying the drink directly on the tongue.The

Sept. 19, 2017

[Photo News] Cosmos in full bloom

Visitors take in the view of a cosmos field in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday prior to the local festival’s opening. A yearly celebration of the season’s blooms, “Guri Cosmos Festival 2017” will take place for a three-day run from Friday.By Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com)

Sept. 19, 2017

Civilian-government committee to target all culture blacklists

The joint civilian-government committee investigating the Park Geun-hye administration’s blacklist of cultural figures said Monday it will expand its activities to probe the blacklist that precedes the Park administration.Lawyer Cho Young-sun, the head of investigative subcommittee of the group, said that documents indicate that the blacklisting of controversial figures has been going on since at least 2008, when former President Lee Myung-bak was in office. Former politician and actor Moon Sung

Sept. 18, 2017

Live cinema performance of ‘2001’ to land in Seoul

Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey” is a sci-fi classic that seems fresh even in 2017 -- particularly as we celebrate the Cassini spacecraft’s plunge into the Saturn last week, ending its 13-year exploration of the ringed planet and its moons. The groundbreaking film has had a lasting influence on popular culture and its discussion of mankind’s place in the universe, particularly with its philosophical outlook.And any mention of the film would be incomplete without reference to t

Sept. 17, 2017

Han Kang wins Italian literary award for 'Human Acts'

South Korean writer Han Kang has been chosen to win this year's Malaparte Prize, Italy's most-authoritative literary award, for her latest work, the prize's organizer said. Korean author Han Kang, who wrote the three-part novella "The Vegetarian." (Yonhap)Han was chosen Thursday for her 2014 novel "Human Acts" that tells the story of a young boy named Dong-ho who is killed in the military's bloody crackdown on the Gwangju citizens' pro-democracy uprising of May 1980.The book was published Thursd

Sept. 15, 2017

Celebs build safety net in cafe, restaurant business

Cao Lu,of popular K-pop girl group Fiestar, recently said in a TV show that she hopes to one day open her own store as a side business, confessing even celebrities suffer from financial difficulties and uncertainties. Many celebrities in Korea recently have talked about their struggles with fluctuating income and unsteady employment, even referring to themselves as “nonregular workers.”Whether as an investment for the future or out of pure interest in the business, celebrities are venturing into

Sept. 14, 2017

Bongeunsa to offer Korean culture program for Chuseok

Bongeunsa Temple plans to hold a tea ceremony celebrating the Chuseok holiday, offering separate sessions for children and adults. The ceremony will take place on Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 19 for two hours from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fee for each session is 20,000 won ($18) for both children and adults.  (Bongeunsa Temple)For the children sessions, up to 10 Korean or foreign children aged between 6 and 8 can apply on a first-come, first-served basis. The children should be accompanied by guardia

Sept. 14, 2017

Celebrity muzzling in Korea dates back to Lee Myung-bak administration

In light of revelations that two previous administrations had blacklisted “leftist” cultural figures since 2009, investigators are expected to expand their probe to target the Lee Myung-bak administration as well.A National Intelligence Service investigation on irregularities of past administrations on Monday turned up a blacklist of 82 figures in the culture and entertainment circles that was drawn up during the term of former President Lee.It was revealed earlier in the year that former Presid

Sept. 12, 2017

[Photo News] ‘Beolcho’: Weeding of ancestral tombs

The annual Weeding around ancestral tombs is ongoing ahead of the Chuseok holidays at Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province.“Beolcho” is an effort by descendants to maintain their ancestors’ burial spots in respectable conditions. It normally takes place two to four times a year following a Joseon-era tradition.(phko@heraldcorp.com)

Sept. 12, 2017

Ever-expanding universe of ramen

Ramen -- or ramyeon, as instant noodles are known locally -- is widely recognized as Korea’s soul food. 　 Korea is the leading consumer of ramen per person in the world, each person eating about 76 bowls per year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 　 The dish’s popularity was palpable at the annual Ramen Fair that took place at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul from Sept. 9-11. In its third year, some 80 companies set up 230 booth at the fair

Sept. 11, 2017

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Award goes to Concordia University, Jordan’s Rana Dajani

The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Award this year went to the Center for the Study of Learning and Performance at Concordia University in Canada and Rana Dajani from Jordan.The annual award honors outstanding contributions made to literacy. 　The center at Concordia University was recognized for a project that uses technology to develop essential educational competencies in Sub-Saharan Africa. 　The project, which seeks to increase literacy through mobile apps, is being expanded to North America, Br

Sept. 7, 2017

Controversial novelist found dead

Controversial novelist and literary scholar Ma Kwang-soo was found dead at his home Tuesday, in what appears to be a suicide.The writer‘s family members found Ma’s body around 12:51 p.m. at his home in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and reported it to the police. Officials believe it to be a suicide.It was reported that Ma, 66, had been suffered from depression since retiring as a professor of Korean literature at Yonsei University last August. Ma Kwang-soo (Yonhap)Ma’s bumpy career was marked by years of c

Sept. 5, 2017

Translators uplift Korean literature to global heights

Every time Goksel Turkozu browsed through a bookstore in Turkey, he felt there could be more books of Korean literature in translation in his country where the passion for everything Korean runs high.A devotee of Korean literature and professor at Erciyes University in the city of Kayseri, Cappadocia, Turkozu has adapted several well-known Korean novels into the Turkish language since he first set foot in Seoul in 1990 as a student. His decadeslong dedication to spread Korea’s literary imaginati

Sept. 5, 2017