[Scholars and Their Spaces] Never despair. But if you do, work on in despair

It was devastating for Kim Jung-hui (1786-1856), a member of the royal family born into the prestigious Gyeongju Kim clan, to be imprisoned inside a shabby house with a thorn fence on a remote island as punishment. Exiled to Moseulpo in the southwestern part of Jeju Island, he suffered from chronic illnesses and loneliness for over eight years. In reading and writing, his sole pleasures, he found the strength to endure his pain. Ironically, his distinctive calligraphy style called “Chusach

Aug. 6, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Ancient art of traditional calligraphy

Civilizations are judged by the quality of historical knowledge they document and leave behind. For about 3,000 years, “seoye,” the art of calligraphy, has been a visible documentation of East Asian civilizations and culture. The ink used in traditional calligraphy, “meok,” made from burnt carbon, is long-lasting. In traditional calligraphy, each brush stroke carries philosophical thoughts beyond just the literal meaning of the written characters. For example, a dot

Aug. 6, 2022

[Well-curated] Time travel to ‘70s alley, Joseon-period valley

For those looking for a unique experience this weekend, how about a quick travel in time to the ’70s? The National Folk Museum of Korea, located inside Gyeongbokgung, is hosting special events outdoors where bustling streets from the 1970s and 1980s have been recreated. Named “Street of Memories,” the neighborhood has its own evening school, a barbers hop, a coffee house, a comic books store, a photo studio and more. At Yaksok Dabang, visitors are offered a complimentary c

Aug. 5, 2022

Hybrid forum to be held on impact of space on cultural communication

A forum convening a group of noted scholars and architects for a discussion on how physical space and virtual space impact cultural communication will be held later this month in Seoul. “After the pandemic, ‘space’ is newly emerging as a place for the diverse experience of touch and smell, while a growing number of people are seeking shared spaces,” said the Corea Image Communication Institute Tuesday in announcing the 13th Cultural Communication Forum on Aug. 25 at the

Aug. 3, 2022

[Visual history of Korea] Arirang folk songs, original improvisational rap music of Korean people

Arirang songs evoke powerful emotions and often lead to spontaneous shoulder dance moves among Koreans, at home or abroad. Arirang is a genre of Korean music featuring heart-wrenching laments of tragedy, hardship, suffering and injustice. Arirang‘s improvisational nature enables anyone to easily weave their own poignant life stories into the song, like modern-day rap. Life has always been tough for ordinary Koreans, especially in remote areas. Poverty, hard labor, and abrupt political ch

July 30, 2022

Hongcheon beer festival is back

A local summer festival in Hongcheon county, Gangwon Province, is set to kick off next week. The five-day “Hongcheon Beer Festival” will offer programs and activities running from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7. “World Wet Dance Contest,” on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, will see more than 20 dance crews competing on a stage filled with water. The festival will be divided into four different themes -- main, healing, cooling and youth -- offering different moods and vibes for the visitors. Mus

July 29, 2022

Concert marking Liberation Day to be held at Cheong Wa Dae

Marking the 77th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day on Aug. 15, a special concert will be held as part of the “Visit Korean Heritage Campaign” at the Cheong Wa Dae compound on the evening of Aug. 13, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. Hosted by the CHA and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the event has been held at different historical locations in the past, including Suwon Hwaseong in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province in 2020, and Gwanghanruwon in Namw

July 29, 2022

[Well-curated] Paddle on Han, watch outdoor screenings of performances and catch an exhibition at museum storage

Paddle down Han River Are you feeling exhausted or drained under the hot weather? There’s a riverside festival coming up this weekend to cool you down. “2022 Han River Festival - Summer” kicks off this Friday, offering more than 20 programs spanning the 11 riverside parks in Seoul until Aug. 15. How about hopping onto a “king canoe” and paddling through the Han River’s waterway? The 12-person canoe leaves at a dock near Seorae Island, and passes by Sebits

July 29, 2022

‘Managing Cheong Wa Dae is a losing game’: CHA head

Two months after the Cultural Heritage Administration was delegated operational management of Cheong Wa Dae, tentatively until the end of this year, the CHA remained hesitant to speak up on issues regarding Cheong Wa Dae’s future use. At a press conference announcing the vision and upcoming plans of the CHA held Wednesday in central Seoul, the overlying theme of the statement was on upgrading systems and data-based support for preservation and use of cultural heritage in general. The e

July 28, 2022

Incense grows in popularity with mindfulness trend

  For Sung Hyun-jeong, 32, lighting an incense stick in her room has become an evening ritual. “After having a hard day at work, I want to have me-time. The fragrant smoke that fills up my room helps relaxation and energetic flow,” said the real estate agent who has been carrying out the routine for more than five months. Incense burning has been practiced for centuries. Historians tell us that it was broadly spread on the Korean Peninsula, from the 8th to the 14th centurie

July 27, 2022

Joseon era royal seal box comes home

A box for holding the royal seal called “borok,” estimated to be made after the 1800s, has returned home from the UK, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation announced Wednesday. The state heritage foundation initially obtained information of the borok last year, which had been in possession of a British corporation. The British company acquired the borok via an auction and was in the process of selling it to an unknown buyer. The item was acquired on July 12, after a seri

July 27, 2022

Met Museum’s Mesopotamian artifacts in Seoul for National Museum of Korea exhibition

An exhibition on the Mesopotamian civilization is underway at the National Museum of Korea in conjunction with the US’ Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Mesopotamia: Great Cultural Innovations, Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art” is the first long-term exhibition in Korea dedicated solely to the theme of Mesopotamian cultural heritage. It is also the third special world-themed exhibition to be held at the NMK following the Egypt Gallery, which operated from December 201

July 27, 2022

Korean diaspora literature to be discussed at LTIK seminar

A seminar that will shed light on Korea’s diaspora literature is scheduled to take place Friday, its organizer, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, said on Monday. The offline seminar, titled “2022 Korean Literature in Diaspora and Anthropogeography,” will take place at LTIK’s headquarters in southeast Seoul. Co-hosted by The International Association for Literature of Korean Residents Abroad, this seminar aims to reflect the growing interest in Korean li

July 25, 2022

Experience royal cuisine at home

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation are hosting an online royal palace tour program, “Gung On.” The annual “Gung On” was launched in 2020 amid the pandemic to offer wider access to palace-related content to be enjoyed at home. This year, participants will be chosen by lottery. A total of three events are available -- Dalbitgihaeng (Moonlight travel), Byeolbityahaeng (Starlight nighttime walk) and Saenggwabang. A total of 1,100

July 25, 2022

Year after opening, National Folk Museum, Paju holds special exhibition

The National Folk Museum of Korea, Paju, a massive open storage facility in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, is marking its first anniversary with a special exhibition, “Folklore x Crafts: Simple and Neat.” the first-ever exhibition at the venue. Some 49 works by 13 contemporary craft artists bridging tradition and modernity are on display in collaboration with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation. The 200 other pieces on show come from the NFMK Seoul’s collection. Two types of cr

July 25, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Hanbok represents spirit of Korean people throughout history

Clothing is an extension of our self-image. It helps define who we are. Five colors of nature -- blue, white, red, black, and yellow -- are found in traditional Korean hanbok, including wedding garments. The colors in children’s clothes bring balance with nature: blue for spring, white for fall, red for summer, black for winter and various shades of yellow representing the land. “In history books, Koreans were said to have clean clothes, to wear silk clothes and to revere white cl

July 23, 2022

[Scholars and Their Spaces] Intellectual journey beyond anthropocentrism

In 1762, Hong Dae-yong (1731-1783), at the age of 32, built the first private astronomical observatory, Nongsugak, in his hometown of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and installed Honcheonui, which can measure the location of celestial bodies. Hong, who was eventually known as the “Copernicus of Joseon,” was the first Joseon scholar to argue that the Earth rotates. He was the first Silhak scholar of Joseon to study practical materials, but his claim was rejected by the mainstr

July 22, 2022

Cheong Wa Dae, K-cultural products at the center of Culture Ministry‘s presidential briefing

The former presidential office site Cheong Wa Dae will be transformed into a cultural complex, while a fund worth 4.8 trillion won ($3.66 billion) aimed at supporting Korean content will be set up. In the first policy briefing to President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday, Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon outlined the ministry’s priorities, including converting Cheng Wa Dae into a cultural landmark and measures to support the country’s cultural industry. With the principle of preserving

July 21, 2022

‘Hanbok saenghwal’ joins National Heritage list

Hanbok saenghwal -- a series of cultural practices which encompass the whole experience of making, wearing and enjoying hanbok -- made it to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Wednesday. The Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee decided to finalize the official name as “hanbok saenghwal” instead of its provisional title, “hanbok wearing,” announced earlier in March, considering the name to be a better rep[resen

July 20, 2022

[Herald Review] Tales, music and light at Cheong Wa Dae evening tour

Guards slowly opened the gates to welcome visitors to Cheong Wa Dae as dusk fell. On Tuesday evening, a day before the official opening of the Cheong Wa Dae nighttime tour, a press event was held with some 50 reporters and public honorary promotion ambassadors in attendance. The 90-minute tour was led by Shim Yong-hwan, a historian, writer and professor, who gave a brief overview of the buildings and facilities. He also provided fun facts and tidbits about former presidents who worked and li

July 20, 2022