[Eye Plus] ‘Age of Light’ showcases immersive media project in Gwanghwamun

Located in the heart of Seoul, Gwanghwamun has been an essential hub for Korea’s history, culture and art. A new project there offers a glimpse of what the future might look like, with the help of cutting-edge 5G and artificial intelligence technologies. 　 The immersive media art project “Age of Light,” or “Gwanghwa Sidae” in Korean, was unveiled by the Korea Creative Content Agency and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  The project provides eight dif

Feb. 26, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Jeju citrus fruit variety delivers juicy, sweet and sour oranges

Jeju Island has been known for its citrus fruits since its days as the Tamna Kingdom -- its identity before it was taken over by the Goryeo Kingdom in 1105. When residents of Jeju Island, who were forced to send citrus fruits to the Joseon king in the capital Seoul during the Joseon period (1392-1910), were not always able to meet growing demand, the issue was elevated to the Kingdom's policy. “The Joseon government nationalized citrus farms to secure harvests and managed 36 citrus orcha

Feb. 26, 2022

Number of bookstores in S. Korea marks first rise on record

The number of bookstores in South Korea exceeded 2,500 at the end of last year, increasing by more than 200 from two years prior. The yearly increase in bookstores was the first recorded since 2003, when the tally began. According to the Handbook of Korean Bookstores, a biyearly publication by the Korea Federation of Bookstore Association released Thursday, the number of bookstores recorded 2,528 as of December last year. That number was a 0.9 percent increase from 2,320 in 2019. The initial fi

Feb. 25, 2022

[Well-curated] Discover all things hanji, Yongsan Park

For those wondering how hanji, traditional Korean paper made from mulberry trees, is used in everyday life, a visit to the Hanji Culture and Industry Center is a one-stop place to learn all there is to know. Different types of hanji are on display at the center located in Bukchon, showing how the traditional material has been developed to meet modern design applications. Hanji feels coarse but lustrous to the touch, revealing the nature of the raw ingredient used to make hanji – the in

Feb. 25, 2022

Flitto CEO shares insights on metaverse platform

The CEO of language data platform startup Flitto, Simon Lee, also known as Lee Jung-soo, shared his insights on how his company has integrated the metaverse into their everyday work, during an event held by the Corea Image Communication Institute Tuesday. The translation platform’s employees are currently using the beta version of the metaverse platform Metapolis, created by Korean real estate brokerage startup Zigbang, as a virtual office. “From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. around 140 peopl

Feb. 23, 2022

Culture minister proposes ‘Culture Olympics’ to IOC

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee on Tuesday said that he plans to officially propose “Culture Olympics” to the International Olympic Committee. Hwang said that he pitched the idea to IOC President Thomas Bach at the Beijing Olympics, saying that an Olympics dedicated to culture would fit the goal of the sports event which brings the global communities together, providing opportunities for athletes to have various exchanges, reduce differences and enhance harmony. &ld

Feb. 22, 2022

Facing myriad challenges, Sejong Center unveils renovation plan

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts unveiled Monday a series of plans to revitalize the ageng cultural complex that is facing competition from newer facilities as well as financial difficulties. Ahn Ho-sang, who took the helm of the center in October, said that the Sejong Center faced competition not just from other performance facilities but also digital content platforms such as Nexflix. Ahn, a former CEO of the National Theater of Korea, said it was therefore “inevitable that center

Feb. 22, 2022

MCST to spend W67b to support workers in performing arts and sports sectors

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday said it will inject another batch of capital to support workers in the performing arts sector, which has been hit hard by COVID-19. The ministry and the Arts Council Korea, a state-run organization dedicated to supporting the arts and performers, will support 2,000 workers in the sector with a budget of 22.8 billion won ($19 million). The latest plan follows three similar three packages in 2020 and 2021, totaling 73.9 billion won which went

Feb. 21, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Staff Sgt. Reckless -- Korean warhorse celebrated on both sides of the Pacific Ocean

The United States Marine Corps motto “Semper Fidelis,” which means “Always Faithful” does not leave anyone behind on the battlefield. After fighting in the Korean War, also known as “the Forgotten War,” a Korean warhorse named Reckless was not left behind by the US Marines. When the US 5th Marine Regiment returned to California in 1954 following the July 27, 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, the horse came with them. Standing 1.32 meters tall at the withers,

Feb. 19, 2022

[Well-curated] Discover Korea’s first Western-style painter at his home-turned-museum

Ko Huidong Art Museum, located west of Changdeokgung and a 14-minute walk from Anguk Station, is the home of artist Ko Hui-dong, Korea’s first Western-style painter. Surrounded by low-rise housing and hanok, the museum gives off a serene and peaceful vibe. Ko Hui-dong (1886-1965), also known by his penname Chungok, is recorded as the first Korean painter to adopt Western-style painting.  Ko studied French at Hansung French School, influenced by his interpreter father. After becom

Feb. 18, 2022

Efforts to recover from ‘blacklist’ scandal still ongoing: culture minister

Five years after a blacklist of cultural figures drawn up by previous administrations was first revealed, efforts to recover from the scandal and prevent a repeat are still ongoing, the minister of culture, sports and tourism said on Thursday. Culture Minister Hwang Hee named a legislation that guarantees status and rights of artists, which is expected to take effect in September, as the biggest accomplishment. Out of the 85 subtasks that had been set, 62 have been completed while the rest ar

Feb. 17, 2022

ACC embarks on fresh start with long-awaited chief

The first official chairman of the Asia Culture Center finally took office on Tuesday after years of an interim head system. Lee Kang-hyun became the first chair to lead the organization for the next three years. Previously, ACC was run by several interim heads since it was launched in 2015 as its previous five attempts failed to find a qualified person. ACC, located in the old center of the southwestern city of Gwangju, is a multicultural complex backed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports an

Feb. 16, 2022

Virtual influencers rush into entertainment scene

While a growing number of businesses are choosing virtual social media influencers to promote their brands, others are seeking to take these artificial intelligence personalities into the entertainment industry as well. Rozy, the first virtual social media influencer in South Korea, is set to debut as a singer with her first single “Who Am I” on Feb. 22. The debut single is produced by Vanilla acoustic’s Jung Jae-won, who has worked with artists such as Bolbbalgan4. Prior to

Feb. 15, 2022

Korean content’s global popularity reaches new heights: survey

Korean cultural contents, led by the rise of K-pop and K-dramas, continued to gain global popularity in the past year, a survey showed on Monday. An annual report jointly released by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, revealed consumption of Korean cultural contents rose in all categories -- beauty, drama, fashion, entertainment show, game, animation, publication -- in 2021. Some 61.1 percent of all respondents who said

Feb. 14, 2022

[Eye Plus] Special museum dedicated to craft artworks from past, present

  The Seoul Museum of Craft Art located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul is a special space where people can enjoy all kinds of crafts from the past to the present. Opened last year, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art has more than 23, 257 craft artworks and related data.   The new museum is built on the former Poongmoon Girls‘ High School site. This location is special because it is where the house of King Sejong’s son Prince Yeongeung was located and the place where King Sejong

Feb. 12, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Cutting-edge Stone Age tool Jeongok-ri handaxe of Korea

Long before the Upper Paleolithic Period, the late Stone Age, during which our immediate ancestors the Homo sapiens inhabited the Korean Peninsula, there were ancient Hominin, a group consisting of extinct human species and all our immediate ancestors who lived in Korea. The Stone Age all over the world was characterized by the use of rudimentary chipped stone tools, of which an abundant variety are found in Korea. When an Acheulean-like handaxe, a Paleolithic period tool, which was the cutti

Feb. 12, 2022

What the Korean dictionary says about society

Korean men who grew up in the 1980s or 90s would likely remember the first time they were taken to the barber shop, a transformative moment of entering the realm of men instead of tagging along with their mothers to join other women at the hair salon. Hair salons are for women, and barber shops are for men. This was the mainstream view back then. But these places are no longer defined as such, and changing definitions in the Korean language reflect changes in society. The National Institute of

Feb. 12, 2022

Three years into pandemic, single Koreans in no rush to find new dates

A twenty-eight-year old surnamed Lee has been watching Netflix‘s “Single’s Inferno” and Tving’s “Transit Love” over the past month, despite the many controversies surrounding the hit dating shows. “Seeing men and women in such ideal conditions, in exotic places, and, what’s best, without a mask, somehow gives me a sense of excitement and energy,” said Lee who works at a data analysis management company in Seoul. Lee has not dated an

Feb. 11, 2022

[Well-curated] Trip down memory lane begins with piping hot bowl of sujebi

To make “sujebi,” a humble winter dish to warm the heart and the stomach, bite size flour dough pieces roughly torn and pulled thin by hand are added to boiling savory broth and served at the table in a clay pot. Records show that the dish originated in the royal kitchen of Joseon. However, the hearty one-pot meal is better known today as a poor man’s fare -- a stripped-down version might just require some flour and dried anchovies. Indeed, it is now seen as nostalgic food amo

Feb. 11, 2022

How our ancestors asked, ‘Will you be my Valentine?’

Heart-shaped chocolate gifts, flower bouquets and cute stuffed toys are prominently displayed at brick-and-mortar retail stores and online shopping malls. Restaurants and hotels are decked out with romantic decorations, enticing couples with special promotions. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  An apparent foreign import, the annual Feb. 14 festivity has now firmly taken root in Korea as one of the most romantic days on the calendar.   “Valentine’s

Feb. 10, 2022