[Trending] TVXQ’s Yunho rises as icon of relentless passion

K-pop idol Yunho of TVXQ has become an icon of positive energy and can-do spirit, inspiring many of the nation’s frustrated young people.  (JTBC) The veteran singer, who made his debut more than 15 years ago and has been performing ever since, recently appeared on various TV programs and shared his self-empowerment tips.Yunho’s morning routine, which he revealed on MBC’s “I Live Alone” in March, starts with dance practice. As soon as he gets out of bed, he turns on the TV, plays his concert vide

Oct. 18, 2018

Sharing life with furry friends through ‘PetTube’

After spending a hard day at work or school, many hit YouTube in search for pet-related videos. In Korea, these furry creatures can be referred to as “LAN cable pets,” or “online pets.” Those who want to live with a furry companion but who are not in a situation to do so have recently turned to YouTube to meet their dream pets online. In recent years, pets have become heavyweight players on the online platform. According to YouTube, total hits on dog-related videos from January to July increased

Oct. 17, 2018

Changgyeong Palace to stay open at night starting next year

Changgyeong Palace, one of the four main Korean palaces, will stay open till 9 p.m. all year round, starting next year, for those who love to enjoy its night views, the head of the government office that manages the palaces said Tuesday.The Cultural Heritage Administration has allowed nighttime sightseeing of two palaces located in central Seoul -- Gyeongbok and Changgyeong -- on a limited basis. This year, Changgyeong Palace will open for night tour programs for 70 days and admit only 3,500 vis

Oct. 16, 2018

Koreas to resume Manwoldae dig around next week

South and North Korea are presumed to resume the joint excavation of an ancient palace site in North Korea as early as next week, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.The joint dig of Manwoldae, where the remains of the royal palace of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) once stood, has been considered both a symbolic and substantial step for the two Koreas to reconcile their differing views on Korean history.Officials said North Korean scholars told their South Korean counterpart

Oct. 15, 2018

Hanbok designer to receive top culture honors post-death

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday announced that it will present the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor of its kind, to late designer Lee Young-hee, who specialized in the Korean traditional hanbok.Lee, who passed away on May 17 aged 82, was one of the best-known designers in the country.“For the past 40 years, she contributed to promotion of hanbok culture, its modernization and worldwide proliferation of hanbok while also educating those who followed in her

Oct. 15, 2018

[Photo News] ‘We Dance’ at Han River

“We Dance Festival” took place at Yeouido Hangang Park on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The festival comprised of ballet, urban, jazz, tango, salsa and swing dance, flash mobs and open dance lessons. Guerrila performances of B-boy breakdancing and jazz dance were held from 1 p.m., followed by 500 swing dancers and a live band performed for the 6 p.m. opening show.Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., 39 dance teams spanning six genres of dance, selected to perform through prior contest, held a relay perf

Oct. 14, 2018

[Weekender] Rapidly-expanding universe of BTS merchandise sweeping global market

As BTS’ rising global presence sends its brand value soaring the group is putting out an ever-expanding array of merchandise.At the forefront of the endeavor is Line Friends’ BT21 -- a collection of characters created by BTS members and related merchandise. BT21’s official site says BTS falls in line with the global character brand’s keywords: global, millennials and trending.Fans formed a line from early dawn when BT21 was officially released at Line Friends flagship store in Itaewon on Jan. 8.

Oct. 11, 2018

After renovation, JW Marriott Seoul aims for high-end luxury with fewer but bigger rooms

JW Marriott Seoul announced Wednesday that it is now fully ready for business with a new sports complex and two penthouse rooms.The hotel located next to the Express Bus Terminal reopened in August after an extensive eight-month renovation, but some of the hotel’s key facilities and rooms were not ready at the time. Radu Cernia, general manager of JW Marriott Seoul, speaks during a media briefing Wednesday. (JW Marriott Seoul)“Traditionally, a (hotel) renovation is not done by closing down the w

Oct. 11, 2018

[Photo News] Korea celebrates Hangeul’s birthday

Tuesday is the annual Hangeul Day that commemorates the creation of the Korean alphabet in the 15th century, with events scheduled throughout the country.Hangeul, which can be translated into “writings of Koreans,” was created by King Sejong of Joseon in 1443 and was promulgated three years later. As the king himself wrote upon the promulgation, it was created to help commoners read and write. Up until that point, the Korean language existed without a writing system and people had to use Chinese

Oct. 8, 2018

Seoul International Writers’ Festival to examine where literature stands today

Local and foreign writers are set to gather in Seoul to discuss literature later this month, when the Literature Translation Institute of Korea hosts the Seoul International Writers’ Festival. The biennial event, which started in 2006, is in its seventh edition this year. This year’s festival, which runs Oct. 21 to 28, will tackle the theme “Nowhere / Now Here.” Poster image for 2018 Seoul International Writers’ Festival (LTI Korea)“As (the institution) focuses on introducing Korean literature t

Oct. 8, 2018

Typhoon Kong-rey jeopardizes Saturday’s fireworks festival

The 16th Seoul International Fireworks Festival, slated for Oct. 6, might have to be postponed if the rain brought by Typhoon Kong-rey does not subside.According to international weather agencies, the worst of the storm will be felt Friday night and into Saturday as Kong-rey makes landfall on the southern coast of Korea.Hanwha Group, the organizer of the fireworks event, said it will closely monitor the weather and decide Saturday morning around 10 a.m. whether to go ahead with the festival.  (H

Oct. 5, 2018

Seoul invites citizens to share ideas on digital city

Seoul City is inviting citizens to share ideas on creating a “smarter city.”The Seoul International Digital Festival, organized by the Seoul Digital Foundation, will open on Oct. 27 at Gaepo Digital Innovation Park and Dongdaemun Digital Plaza for a five-day run, according to the city government on Friday.The third SIDiF features forums and contests held under the slogan “We Digitalize Seoul,” in an effort to share insights and discuss the use of digital technology to resolve urban problems.  (Y

Oct. 5, 2018

Poet Heo Su-Kyoung dies of cancer in Germany

The poet Heo Su-kyoung has died of gastric cancer in Germany where she had been studying archaeology for the past 26 years, her publishing agency said Thursday. She was 54.Heo passed away at around 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday at her home in Germany, Kim Min-jeong, the head of Nanda, Heo's publisher, told Yonhap News Agency. Heo will be buried in a woodland in Germany, Kim said, citing Heo's acquaintance. (Yonhap)Since her debut in 1987, Heo's regular subjects have been human hunger, grief and longing

Oct. 4, 2018

Hanyangdoseong Festival to offer glimpse into life in Joseon

Commonly known as the Seoul Fortress, the Hanyangdoseong is a series of walls built during the Joseon era (1392-1910) to protect the kingdom’s capital -- today’s Seoul -- against invaders. 　Completed in 1396, the 18.6-kilometer wall remains a significant historical monument in South Korea today. Originally built along the ridges of Seoul’s four inner mountains -- Baekgaksan, Namsan, Naksan and Inwangsan -- the fortress has undergone a number of reconstruction projects to be in today’s form. 　An

Oct. 4, 2018

Enjoy city picnic amid flowers, trees at Seoul Garden Show

Seoul Garden Show kicked off Wednesday at Yeouido Park, aiming to offer a picnic-like experience for visitors. This year, the annual show now in its fourth edition, is held under the theme of “Seoul Picnic.” Around 95 gardens are spread across the park. Local and foreign garden designers created the small garden spaces, showcasing gardening trends as well as the hobby’s beauty. Thirty-two gardening equipment businesses have also set up booths, with parasols, benches, interior plants and home gar

Oct. 4, 2018

Gyeongju calls on presidential office to return Buddhist statue

A civic group in the southeastern city of Gyeongju said Tuesday it will form a committee with the city government and the city assembly as part of its efforts to have a ninth century Buddhist statue returned from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul more than 100 years after it was displaced by a Japanese man.    The committee, if launched, will visit the presidential office and related institutions to obtain the return of the statue to the city, the civic group told a press conference

Oct. 2, 2018

Korean-learning foreigners invited to Seoul

Foreigners learning Korean language across the world via state-run King Sejong Institutes will visit the country from Oct. 2-10, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday.According to the ministry, 147 foreigners who got high scores at Korean speaking contests at the 172 institutes across 56 countries have been invited, with 12 of them participating in the finals Thursday. Students of King Sejong Institute in India try on traditional hanbok in this Sept. 24 file photo. (Yonhap)Part

Oct. 1, 2018

[Trending] Aged barbers’ trimming skills impress young customers

The barbershop, once considered a place of the past, has come back around as an essential grooming parlor for young hipsters in Korea. Many of the newly opened shops are operated by young barbers who garner customers by featuring trendy hairstyles.The professional trimming skills of more aged barbers, however, have caught the eyes of the youth, as videos of YouTubers experiencing old-school barbershops in Seoul have gone viral online.  (YouTube channel "That Russian Guy")YouTube creator Art from

Sept. 28, 2018

1 in 3 regional museums substandard: report

About 34.7 percent of the museums run by regional governments have failed the government’s certification system, according to a Culture Ministry data submitted to an opposition lawmaker.Rep. Kim Jae-won of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said Thursday that 66 of the 187 public museums across the country fell short of the standards set by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  Rep. Kim Jae-won (Yonhap)The ministry has been assessing the public museums via its certification system i

Sept. 27, 2018

[Weekender] In fall, Seoul offers bit of tradition, flair for fun

Breezy, sunny and cool, fall is arguably the best season to explore Seoul -- the capital filled with tradition, history and a flair for fun.　As the fall weather is ideal for outdoor activities, the city is offering an array of festival and events -- from traditional music festival to those that feature international cuisine in Itaewon.　For those who would like to get a taste of Korea’s traditional music and dance, Seoul Arirang Festival, which is taking place at the Gwanghwamun Plaza in central

Sept. 27, 2018