Unauthorized AI-generated music sparks copyright debates

First released in August 2022, K-pop girl group NewJeans' "Hype Boy" is gaining popularity once again thanks to a rendition "sung" by well-known 61-year-old rock singer Yim Jae-beom. But Yim didn't actually record the cover, an AI program generated the song that sounds like Yim singing it. Some of Yim's fans were surprised by how accurate artificial intelligence was able to mimic the singer's voice, down to the exact way he breathes, pauses and sighs. &quo

Nov. 5, 2023

[Our Museums] Legacy of early Catholics at Korean Catholic Martyrs' Museum

Sitting tall on a cliffside on the Han River, the Korean Catholic Martyrs' Museum is located in a spot of historical tragedy and religious significance. A five-minute stroll from Hapjeong Station, visitors pass through a memorial park at the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine before reaching the museum entrance. In the late Joseon period, many Koreans faced execution for believing in Catholicism, which was introduced to the country in the 1780s through books sent by European missionaries in Chi

Nov. 5, 2023

[Weekender] Pop-up store on a date?

Showcasing exclusive content and top-notch merchandise at a pop-up store has become a must for many brands in Korea as a means of promotion. Pop-ups open for a brief period to reach new customers by giving them an opportunity to experience the brand and strengthen the brand loyalty of existing clients. Though commercial, such fleeting spaces have also become one of the most sought-after date spots for friends and couples here, developing into a new kind of playground, particularly for millennial

Nov. 4, 2023

RCO to come to Seoul with maestro Fabio Luisi and pianist Yefim Bronfman

During the second week of November, Seoul will be the stage for three of the world's top orchestras, offering classical music enthusiasts a splendid treat. In addition to the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Vienna Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, returning after six years, will grace the stage at Lotte Concert Hall on Nov. 11 with a repertoire of Beethoven, Liszt and Tchaikovsky. The orchestra will perform Beethoven's Overture "Leonore" and Liszt’s Piano

Nov. 4, 2023

The Beatles release new track ‘Now And Then’ after 27 years thanks to AI

The Beatles on Thursday released a new song, “Now And Then," their first track in 27 years, according to an announcement by the English band’s publishing agency Universal Music Group on Friday. According to the agency, “Now And Then” will be the last song in which all the members of The Beatles participated in its production. Before the release of "Now And Then," the last song released by the group was "Real Love" in 1996. "Now And Then"

Nov. 3, 2023

35 foreign individuals to be awarded for promoting Korean culture

Foreign individuals who promote Korean culture on the global stage will be honored with an award by the Korean Culture and Information Service, affiliated with the Culture Ministry, at the 2023 K-wave Festival on Saturday. The winners comprise a total of 35 individuals; eight outstanding Korea.net Honorary Reporters; eight K-influencer teams (nine individuals); eight winners of 2023's Talk Talk Korea, a global online contest of Korea-related content; and three winning teams (10 individual

Nov. 3, 2023

Lee Dong-wook pop-up store to open next week

A pop-up store based on South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook is scheduled to open at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido on Nov. 9. According to Lee’s agency King Kong by Starship, the upcoming offline flash event, titled “Fancy Being Friends?” will mainly feature the actor’s avatar Wookdong, a white lion character which embodies the actor’s appearance, hobbies and personality. “Lee Dong-wook will be the first Korean actor to hold a character-themed pop-up shop here,&r

Nov. 3, 2023

[Well-curated] Seoul nightscape from revolving restaurant, painting over coffee and dazzling Christmas village

This weekend may be the last chance to see the red and gold fall foliage at its peak in Seoul. N Seoul Tower is where you can enjoy the autumn colors while hiking the trail to the tower on top of Namsan. If you arrive at the top at night, you can enjoy panoramic views of central Seoul as well as check out Namsan Octagonal Pavilion. On top of N Seoul Tower is n.Grill, a French restaurant that offers a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner. The restaurant rotates, giving a complete 360-degree panora

Nov. 3, 2023

Somber palaces, tombs swathed in fall colors

Now is a perfect time to visit royal palaces and tombs as several trails and tombs normally closed to the public are open for a few weeks in autumn when leaves change colors. While the peak foliage season varies from year to year and in different locations, this year, the leaves are expected to be at their most colorful and vibrant through early November. The eight forest trails of the Joseon royal tombs, including some that are usually closed to the public, which opened on Sept. 28, will remain

Nov. 1, 2023

[Herald Interview] Journey to find her voice has brought Vittoria Yeo to peak performance

When Ji-won Yeo took to the stage in the title role for Bellini's opera "Norma" on Oct. 26, she might have been nervous. After all, despite performing just about every major role possible overseas, it was the 43-year-old's first lead role in her motherland. But the South Korean soprano, better known overseas as Vittoria Yeo, proved why she has been only taking main roles since her debut despite some doubts earlier in her career. When she decided to go study abroad in 2005,

Oct. 31, 2023

Epitaph plaque for wife of first Korean diplomatic minister in US returns to Korea

The epitaph plaque for Madam Jo (1841-1892), the wife of Park Chung-yang (1841-1905), the first Korean diplomatic minister sent to the US in 1887, has been brought back to Korea and returned to their descendants, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Tuesday. Professor Emeritus Mark A. Peterson from Brigham Young University, who owned the artifact for more than 40 years after purchasing it in an antiques store, donated the epitaph plaque to Park Chan-su, the current head of the Bannam P

Oct. 31, 2023

Hybe artists could be returning to MBC

Terrestrial broadcaster MBC appears to be burying the hatchet with K-pop powerhouse Hybe. The company on Monday announced Bang Si-hyuk’s visit to its headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, to discuss measures to enhance the rights of K-pop artists in TV productions. MBC President Ahn Hyung-joon said he hoped to root out past, abusive conduct that hurt young artists several years ago, according to the press release by MBC on Monday. Ahn said he wished to create a healthy content prod

Oct. 31, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korean Cultural Center in Madrid aims to extend, expand Korean culture in Spain

MADRID -- With the flourishing popularity of Korean culture, now is the time to contemplate its sustainability and expansion, according to the newly appointed director of the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid. Shin Jae-kwang, who took on the role in September, sat down with The Korea Herald for an interview at the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid on Oct. 19. He expressed his hope to not only extend the influence of K-pop and K-drama, but also to broaden the scope of Hallyu to encompass various cu

Oct. 30, 2023

Culture minister vows greater scrutiny over arts funding

Yu In-chon, the new minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, called for a wide-ranging revamp of the ministry’s support programs for artists and the role of its affiliates. “The environment has changed so much that you can take it to mean building the government support from scratch," Yu said on his planned changes during a press conference Monday at the Modu Art Theater in Seoul, the country’s first disability arts performance venue. "I want the programs to be effe

Oct. 30, 2023

Over half of Koreans say they won't continue jesa: survey

More than half of adults of South Korean nationality do not plan to continue holding the “jesa,” the traditional ritual held in honor of one’s ancestors, a recent survey showed. According to the Sung Kyun Kwan, a traditional Confucian educational institution, its survey of 1,500 Korean men and women aged 20 or older across the country found that while 62.2 percent of the respondents still perform the jesa ritual, 55.9 percent are considering discontinuing it in the future. The

Oct. 30, 2023

Special brochure brings together Korean-themed events in New York

With the growth of the Korean wave, the Korean Cultural Center New York has launched the "It's Time for K-Culture" campaign to promote Korean culture and Korean-themed events in New York. The campaign features a special brochure with a list of New York's museums, stores and restaurants that are holding, or will hold, Korean-themed events in November and December. For instance, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will hold the “Lineages: Korean Art at The Met" starting N

Oct. 29, 2023

Sumi Jo awarded Geumgwan Order, highest honor for artists

Soprano Sumi Jo received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit on Friday. The nation's highest honor is given to artists by the president of South Korea in recognition of contributions to enhancing Korea's global cultural reputation. Thirty-two individuals, including Jo, received awards at a ceremony recognizing their contributions, organized by the Culture Ministry, which took place at the Modu Art Theater in central Seoul. Hwang Eul-sun, intangible cultural heritage holder of royal si

Oct. 29, 2023

[Eye Plus] Haegeum music filling in the blanks of life

“Haegeum is like ink that has permeated into my life,” Kim Sae-jin said. Kim majors in haegeum at the Korea National University of Arts, a special educational institution to foster artists. Haegeum is a traditional Korean string instrument that is played by pulling the bow across its two strings. It is also nicknamed the “ggaeng-ggaeng-i” for its high-pitched sounds. The haegeum's body consists of a soundbox made of bamboo and oak, a bamboo bar and two tuning pegs. T

Oct. 28, 2023

Police to question actor Lee Sun-kyun on drug use suspicions

INCHEON (Yonhap) -- Police will summon actor Lee Sun-kyun of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" on Saturday for questioning on suspicions of his drug use. Lee has recently been booked for investigation on charges of using illegal drugs in violation of the Narcotics Control Act. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency plans to conduct a drug test when he shows up for questioning to determine whether he used illegal drugs and, if he did, how often and what kinds. On Friday, the police imposed

Oct. 28, 2023

[Photo news] Works of Korean Buddhism in English

The "Selected Works of Korean Buddhism" collection is displayed at Daewoongjeon Hall at the Buddhist temple of Jogyesa in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 27. The Educational Institute of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, held a ceremony to celebrate the publication of 10 volumes of selected Korean Buddhist scriptures, representing Korean Buddhism from the Unified Silla Kingdom to the modern era. The English translation of the collection took six ye

Oct. 27, 2023