[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

Jan. 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

Jan. 19, 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

Jan. 18, 2024

Korean animated film 'Circle' to compete at Berlin International Film Festival

South Korean animation director Joung Yu-mi's short animated film, "Circle," has been invited to compete in the short film category at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, according to industry sources Tuesday. With a running time of some seven minutes, "Circle" metaphorically explores the barriers created by societal perceptions. The short animated film narrates the story of a girl drawing a circle. People gather one by one in the circle, and after the space bec

Jan. 16, 2024

With competition and star musicians, classical music scene to remain vibrant

The year 2023 was characterized by visits from world-class orchestras and the realization of numerous previously postponed concerts. While there will be fewer such performances this year, South Korea's classical music scene is anticipated to maintain its vibrancy with competition among top domestic orchestras and star performers. Two of the four leading South Korean orchestras now have new artistic directors -- Jaap van Zweden for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and Kim Sun-wook for the

Jan. 15, 2024

Nighttime tours of Changgyeonggung to open in April

Nighttime tours will be available from as early as April this year at Changgyeonggung, one of the five royal palaces in Seoul connected with the Joseon era (1392-1910), the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday. The program, already available in the three other agency-run palaces including the main palace Gyeongbokgung, is most likely to take place April 27 through May 5. Gyeonghuigung is under supervision by the Seoul city government. During that period, the CHA also holds its annual K-R

Jan. 15, 2024

Donors hail National Museum revamp

For the late Choi Young-do, a prolific antiquities collector, earthenware represented “radiating warmth and charm.” Choi is one of 114 donors recognized Thursday as the National Museum of Korea unveiled its renovated donor galleries, showcasing 1,671 pieces ranging from pottery and craft to paintings and relief, following a two-year overhaul. “Pottery in particular was of interest to my father and he made it his mission to ‘protect what’s rightfully Korea’s,&r

Jan. 14, 2024

[Eye Interview] Filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho translates creative intensity into commerical, genre success

Filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho stands out as one of the most adept creators in the content industry, adapting swiftly to its ever-evolving landscape and working across platforms. Having gained attention through his early independent animations with unique themes and techniques, Yeon's big break came when the 2012 debut animation, "The King of Pigs," was screened at the Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, he has taken on the roles of directing and wri

Jan. 13, 2024

More ‘mobile museums’ to open for marginalized groups

Expect to see more “mobile museums” around the country as containers equipped to allow visitors to not only see artifacts but to feel what it is like touring cultural heritage sites will be stationed at more schools and other institutions from March to November. The Cultural Heritage Administration will operate more mobile museums where underprivileged students, people with disabilities and seniors can have immersive cultural experiences, the state agency said Friday, in an effort to

Jan. 12, 2024

[Media Art Now] TZUSOO engenders new cybernetic imagination

When advanced technologies bring about radical changes in society, there is always a collision of utopian and dystopian views. The heated debate last year over generative AI is one example. If you want to learn how to have your own point of view, why not turn to artists of our time, to their “anthropologically” attentive exploration of the contemporary conditions of the world? A group of young, free-spirited Korean artists stands out in this respect. Born digitally and technologica

Jan. 12, 2024

[Well-curated] Templestay, seasonal cooking and sledding

Templestay at Naesosa Immerse yourself in Buddhist culture by starting the day with prostrations and the sound of the “moktak,” a wooden percussion instrument used by Buddhist monks. Naesosa, a temple in Buan County, North Jeolla Province, has a staff dedicated to assist overseas visitors who want to take part in its templestay program. A total of 137 temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism offer three types of templestay programs: One-day programs, experience-oriented programs

Jan. 12, 2024

CICI recognizes individuals, businesses that enhanced Korea's image

The Corea Image Communication Institute awarded those who contributed to enhancing South Korea's image globally at the Korea Image Award ceremony held at the InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul, on Wednesday. This year's awards were given to Hyundai Motor's luxury vehicle brand Genesis, Swiss architect Mario Botta, Korean operatic pop tenor Lim Hyung-joo and French pansori singer Mafo Laure. Some 500 guests, including head of the Presidential Committee of National Cohesi

Jan. 10, 2024

Study sheds light on Joseon royal processions to tombs

South Korean researchers have identified how royal processions in the Joseon era (1392-1910) evolved over time. Released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday, the study found that Joseon kings in the latter years saw their roles expanded in the procession to royal tombs. The change in “neunghaeng,” or visits to the graves of Joseon kings and queens, aimed to reinforce the ruling Yi family’s legitimacy, the study said. The guards accompanying the king in the proces

Jan. 10, 2024

Goryeo bronze bell at Naesosa made National Treasure

The Cultural Heritage Administration held a ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the designation of an 802-year-old bell from the Goryeo Kingdom as a National Treasure. Known as the “Bronze Bell of Naesosa,” a Buddhist temple in North Jeolla Province, the bell was named a National Treasure two weeks ago, an elevation of its status from Treasure, also a state designation. “It’s a textbook bell of the 13th century,” said Choi Eung-chon, the CHA chief, in a speech, noting the

Jan. 9, 2024

Sejong Center unveils new season that will defy growing competition

Facing increasing competition from business, The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will introduce more in-house productions and adopt innovative marketing and sales strategies, its CEO Ahn Ho-sang said during a press conference Tuesday. “Hotels and resorts have emerged as new competitors as they sell experiences rather than mere consumer goods. We are considering how to deliver meaningful experiences to our audience,” Ahn explained. The Sejong Center’s new season, which run

Jan. 9, 2024

Seoul Philharmonic invites 100 Seoulites to Zweden's inaugural concerts featuring Lim Yun-chan

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is inviting 100 Seoul residents to the much-awaited inaugural concerts of Jaap Van Zweden on Jan. 25 and 26, which will also mark the orchestra's first collaboration with piano sensation Lim Yun-chan. Fifty Seoul residents selected through a draw will each be given two tickets to the concert. Korean and foreign nationals with a valid resident registration number aged 14 and above can participate in the draw. Winners will be selected using a lottery sys

Jan. 9, 2024

NMK opens exhibitions on Indian, Native American cultures

South Korean state-run museums will present a diverse range of exhibitions this year, including cultural exhibits on India and Native Americans, and a retrospective on South Korea’s modern history. Through mid-April, the National Museum of Korea is showcasing early Buddhist art from India. The first-ever exhibition on the topic in Korea features 97 pieces brought together from museums in India, the US, the UK and Germany. The show is an adaptation of “Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhi

Jan. 9, 2024

What to expect in Korean art scene this year

With museums and galleries announcing their exhibitions for the year, the issue of gender is getting attention at two major museums in the country. The privately run Hoam Museum of Art will showcase “Women and Buddhism” in March, the largest-ever exhibition examining East Asian Buddhist art from a new perspective through the lens of gender. The exhibition will present masterworks of Buddhist art in cooperation with overseas art institutions. “(The exhibition) will showcase the

Jan. 8, 2024

Pianist-conductor Kim Sun-wook looks to grow together with Gyeonggi Philharmonic

Pianist Kim Sun-wook spoke calmly during a press conference on Monday to mark his inauguration as the artistic director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, one of South Korea’s top five, but his words were full of confidence and expectations. The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra appointed the 35-year-old pianist and conductor to fill a post that had remained empty for one year. Kim began his two-year tenure this month, with the New Year’s event on Friday to mark his first official

Jan. 8, 2024

CHA to unveil technologies to protect cultural heritage

Authorities will soon roll out technologies that can better protect cultural heritage from natural disasters, the result of a yearlong project, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday. According to the agency, special structures will be used to shield historic sites from disasters like wildfires and technologies using radiation analysis will be available to identify the best preservation methods. A center dedicated to employing high-end technologies will be set up, the agency added. &ld

Jan. 8, 2024