Performers showcase traditional Korean music at the Jongmyo Shrine. (Julie Jackson/The Korea Herald)An annual series of performances of traditional music in Seoul’s royal palaces will reopen next month, offering free gugak and pansori concerts against palatial backdrops. This year’s performances will be held simultaneously at the Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine from Sept. 5 to Oct. 11. Each venue will vary in its themes and hold a total of 34 performances, and unlike i

Aug. 26, 2015

On the 28th floor of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel in Guro-gu, southwest Seoul, there is nothing much to see from the window of its fitness center but a panoramic view of the area that includes apartment complexes near Shindorim Station.But after a hearty meal at the hotel’s signature Feast buffet restaurant serving a variety of Asian cuisines ranging from Korean and Chinese to Japanese and Thai, visitors will feel the urge to burn some calories at its 24-hour gym.Once you press the start but

Aug. 26, 2015

The King Sejong Institute Foundation’s seventh annual World Korean Educators Conference kicked off Monday, inviting 180 guests committed to the teaching of Korean from 43 countries for a three-day exchange conference in Seoul. With 90 institutions across the world, the King Sejong Institute is dedicated to establishing educational institutions where citizens of all ages can attend to learn the Korean language. Invited as a guest to this year’s conference is Korean teacher Stepanka Horakova from

Aug. 25, 2015

It’s hot, it’s humid and you find yourself too tired after work to even head out to the gym and run a few laps on a treadmill to refresh your mind and body.When lacking self-motivation and self-esteem in the summer, maybe it is time to try exercising with a professional to guide and push you, and help you regain your confidence.Working out with a personal trainer is obviously more expensive than doing it yourself at a fitness center in your neighborhood. But trainers can not only provide health

Aug. 19, 2015

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday that it would create multipurpose cultural centers in Seoul in an effort to rediscover Korea’s traditional arts and culture and spur the development of Korean content.In partnership with Hanjin Group, the government will build a high-tech facility called “K-Experience” next to Gyeongbokgung Palace to allow tourists to experience the country’s traditional and modern arts and culture.The center, which will be built by 2017 on the former site

Aug. 18, 2015

An original manuscript of “Jingbirok,” a memoir of the 1592-1598 Imjin War that is also known as the “Book of Corrections,” covering the 16th century Japanese invasion of Joseon era (1392-1910) Korea, is on view at the National Folk Museum of Korea. The museum showcases the book, one of the most popular accounts of war in Korea, written by the “yeonguijeong” -- a Joseon era equivalent to the prime minister -- Ryu Seong-ryong (1542-1607), along with his possessions, including armor, a helmet, a s

Aug. 17, 2015

In less than a year, K-pop Herald (www.kpopherald.com) has established itself as the go-to website for people who want to keep up with up-to-date news and information on Korea’s pop culture trends and entertainment scene in English. 　Operated by the nation’s No. 1 English news outlet, The Korea Herald, the K-pop Herald launched on Sept. 24 with two things in mind: creating the most credible K-pop news in Korea and delivering rich Korean cultural contents across the globe. 　“There were many media

Aug. 16, 2015

South Korea has achieved many great feats over the last seven decades in political and socioeconomic areas since it gained independence.Its economy, with per capita income much smaller than that of African countries such as Ghana and Gabon in the aftermath of the inter-Korean conflict, was able to grow rapidly through policies that promoted technology, manufacturing and exports, in order to develop from farming and fishing.Once a poor country that relied on development aid, Korea emerged from it

Aug. 16, 2015

The Korea Herald Podcast, designed to help Koreans learn English through the latest news articles, is celebrating its second anniversary.　The Korea Herald launched the podcast in August 2013 with the aim of better interacting with its readers and satisfying the needs of intermediate English learners. 　Hosted each week by two members of the paper’s editorial staff -- one Korean and one foreign -- the show features English vocabulary and listening lessons through a range of news articles. Yoon Min

Aug. 16, 2015

Korean content, ranging from films and music to TV drama and fashion, is attracting more attention now globally than ever before, with Hollywood star Emma Stone saying she is “obsessed” with K-pop.But Song Sung-gak, president and CEO of the Korea Creative Content Agency, said the domestic content industry has reached an inflection point, as the popularity of Korean content, referred to as the Korean Wave or hallyu, is showing signs of waning abroad, especially in its biggest market, Japan.He sai

Aug. 13, 2015

Celebrating the 2015 Gyeonggi Folk Culture Year, a special exhibition sheds light on the history and culture of Gyeonggi Province. The province surrounding Seoul constitutes 10 percent of the Korean Peninsula and its population tops among other provinces at 12 million, 24 percent of the nation’s total. Historically, most of the areas that we now know as belonging to Seoul were part of Gyeonggi Province. Only the districts located within the four gates such as Jongno, Euljiro and Gwanghwamun were

Aug. 13, 2015

The beauty and reality of Kenya is captured in “Stories on Kenya,” an exhibition at Gana Art Space by artist Nam Eun-ju. Nam, a former professor of fine arts at Dong-A University, has long explored the culture and wilderness of Kenya in her oil paintings since her first visit there in 2001.Her work is characterized by the use of warm, vibrant colors that radiate with the region’s vivacity. Nam’s Kenya is one of rich variety and energy, with a pervading sense of harmony among human beings, nature

Aug. 12, 2015

A festival celebrating 70 years of Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule will take place at the Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung palaces from Aug. 13-30.From Aug. 13-15, the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion inside Gyeonbokgung Palace will see a nighttime performance featuring “seonyurak,” a royal court dance from the Joseon Dynasty; “ohgomu,” a glamorous dance performed with five Korean drums; “buchaechum,” a fan dance; and performances by gugak -- Korean traditional music -- artists. The show will be

Aug. 12, 2015

The 10th Seoul International Drama Awards has widened its global reach and incorporated new formats, such as Web series, in this year’s nominations. 　“The past 10 years have seen a big change in world drama,” the awards’ secretary-general, Kim Jong-hwa, said of the efforts for global expansion. “Whereas in the past, only dramas from a handful of countries, such as the U.S. or Japan, were introduced to the world, now, we are seeing work from a wide variety of countries.”　Nominated for the grand p

Aug. 12, 2015

Korea is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its independence from Japan’s colonial rule with a slew of cultural events this week.Amid the festive mood, museums are presenting exhibitions and special events that provide an understanding of various aspects of the anniversary and how life in Korea has changed over the past seven decades. Museums will also open for free during the three-day weekend starting Friday, as Aug. 14 was designated a special holiday. The turbulent and dynamic lives of Kore

Aug. 11, 2015