[Visual History of Korea] Jeju island‘s volcanic lava caves reveal Earth’s history

Some of the most powerful forces in nature are volcanoes and the hot molten lava which flows from the Earth’s mantle, often hundreds of kilometers deep underground. The Earth’s inner core is almost as hot as the surface of the sun at an estimated temperature of nearly 5,500 degrees Celsius. The hot molten lava, known as magma, bursts out of the Earth’s surface from time to time. The openings where such eruptions occur are called volcanos. As the molten lava snails around the

June 11, 2022

[Scholars and their Spaces] ‘Ye’ makes others comfortable

“Most government officials today seem to have the intention of stepping down, rather than to fulfill the responsibility of their posts. I am concerned that certain selected group of people monopolize political authority in this political situation.” Kim Jang-Saeng (1548-1631), who studied the principle of “Yehak (Study of Rites)” which were regarded as a crucial part of Korean Neo-Confucianism during the Joseon era, expressed anxiety about separatist politics of the tim

June 11, 2022

[Well-curated] Sample liquors, mediate on national treasures or take time out at eco park

If you are a fan of traditional liquors, pack your bags this weekend for a trip to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Traditional liquors of Korea, China and Japan are being showcased at the 2022 East Asia Traditional Liquor Festival, held at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center, until Sunday. The four-day festival will have tastings and workshops, as well as outdoor performances. At the promotion center, visitors will be able to try some of the most popular liquors from

June 10, 2022

Seoul Arts Center revives forgotten Korean music genre

Yoo In-taek, head of the Seoul Arts Center, sees the potential of “gagok” -- a genre of Korean vocal music with poetry -- as many feel nostalgic for the nearly forgotten genre of music in South Korea. “We have a 100-year history of gagok, which may be remembered by the older generations. Some 15 million people from the older generations have nostalgia about gagok they used to learn in class and hear in their childhood. We are planning for performances of gagok targeting tho

June 9, 2022

[From the Scene] BCM 2022 poised to raise Busan’s reputation as S. Korea’s cultural city

BUSAN -- The home of Busan International Film Festival, Korea’s first international film festival, is hoping to cement its position as the country’s top cultural city with the opening of Busan Content Market 2022. Returning as an offline event for the first time in three years, BCM 2022 showcases Korean content to the global market. The event will also explore the rising popularity of the metaverse, artificial reality, high-tech media-based convergence and many other things includi

June 9, 2022

No wedding photos, watermelons, soup: New Cheong Wa Dae visitors’ guidelines

A month on from the opening of Cheong Wa Dae to the public, guidelines for visits and use of the Blue House compound was issued Tuesday by a special team under the Cultural Heritage Administration, spelling out activities that are banned on the former presidential grounds. Foods that generate large amount of wastes, such as melons, and soups, including cups of instant noodles, cannot be brought inside. Visitors who damage or harm facilities, cultural properties, animals, plants or other things

June 8, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (6) Noble bloodlines...of everyone, apparently

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Answer: c Like in other countries, there are family names in Korea that can be traced back to royal lineages or aristocrats, known as “yangban,” during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). For example, a person with the last name Kim originating from Gimhae is part of the Gimhae Kim clan. This person can theoretically be descended from the bloodline of the ancient Geumgwan Gaya

June 8, 2022

Walk, listen and meditate at royal tombs

A series of guided tour programs to royal tombs of the Joseon era (1392-1910) will be conducted starting next Monday to Nov. 7, the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center announced Tuesday. The program titled, “Wangneungcheonhaeng,” which means “a thousand ways to travel the royal tombs,” will offer 23 tours led by a number of experts in the field. There are five themes under the program which include two to three royal tombs, palaces or

June 7, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Hahoe mask dance, a humorous social satire that mocks elites

Humor has been the essential grease that nourishes life’s joy for ordinary Koreans. Among many humorous Korean music and performing arts, Andong Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori, or the Hahoe mask dance, gives performers the courage to say and do a multitude of outrageous things at the expense of the social elite. Nine surviving masks from the Goryeo Kingdom, some 900 years ago, combine to make National Treasure No. 121. They represent the monk, nobleman, scholar, butcher, bride, Bune the ente

June 4, 2022

[Scholars and their Spaces] Sacrifice for the common good

“If my appeal to the king is improper, hit my neck with an axe.” Jo Heon (1544-1592), who came to Seoul from Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, appealed to the king in front of the palace for three days to behead the Japanese envoy who demanded that Joseon make way for the Tokugawa shogunate -- the military government of Japan -- going to war against Ming Dynasty China. While most government officials were uncertain about what to do, Jo, with an ax, voiced his opinion fearlessly

June 4, 2022

Singer Rain to record Netflix show at Blue House even as future remains undecided

One of the new government’s core commitments underscored was to “return Cheong Wa Dae to its citizens” promptly, but a month into its term, roles are yet to be defined of the former presidential office’s current and future usage. In the meantime, another outdoor event is expected to be held at Cheong Wa Dae, following the KBS’ “Open Concert” on May 22, this time, an hourlong solo performance stage with Neflix. Singer Rain will hold a performance for N

June 3, 2022

[Well-curated] Just the right time to enjoy spring garden, outdoor concert by Han River

This weekend is your last chance to take pictures with the cute, charming characters of “Yumi’s Cells” at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul. Celebrating the arrival of the second season of tvN’s hit romantic comedy, the Meeting Plaza in Olympic Park is decorated with beloved characters from “Yumi’s Cells.” Ranging from the love cell and emotional cell to the rational cell, the unique characters catch visitors’ attention not only with their

June 3, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Look out for K-crafts’

From K-pop to K-dramas, Korean cultural products are gaining popularity worldwide -- but little is yet known about Korean craft arts outside of the country. Kim Eun-bi, 35, founder and CEO of Middle Studio, believes that the field of traditional crafts has the potential to gain as much spotlight as other already popular cultural products. Kim founded Middle Studio in 2017, and launched the Chi brand of everyday items and fashionwear inspired by traditional Korean crafts and culture. Working wi

June 1, 2022

Director Yang Jeong-woong on PyeongChang Winter Games’ successful opening ceremony

When the grand opening of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games unfolded, it wowed viewers with various spectacular scenes, including 1,217 drones in the air and hundreds of South Korean snowboarders in light-emitting jumpsuits who slid down the slopes with the drones flashing above them. There was also a controversial feature: Inmyeonjo, a mythological bird with a human face that often appears in ancient tomb murals of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Some viewers were disappointed when watching

May 31, 2022

Don’t miss out on TikTok opportunities: SOON ENT CEO

Park Chang-woo, founder and CEO of multichannel networking firm Soon Ent, said businesses should not misunderstand TikTok and must grab opportunities the platform presents. Speaking at The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on Wednesday, Park emphasized that TikTok, a short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is more than an alternative to video-streaming juggernaut YouTube. YouTube focuses on creating intellectual property, while TikTok is more like a soci

May 31, 2022

Residents move into controversial high-rises near UNESCO-listed royal tombs

Despite an ongoing lawsuit, residents of apartments near the UNESCO-listed Jangneung royal tombs in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, began moving into their new homes on Tuesday. The Seo-gu Incheon Metropolitan City Office on Monday approved Daekwang Construction’s high-rises for occupancy. Some 735 households are expected to move in. “We have given permits according to procedures and on-site inspections of Daekwang Construction’s apartments,” an official from the Incheon ci

May 31, 2022

[Photo News] ALL CLEANED UP

A 19th century folding screen painting from Korea, “The Joyous Banquet of Guo Ziyi,” owned by the Art Institute of Chicago, is revealed to the press Monday after extensive conservation work. Jung-jae Conservation Center began work on the Joseon period work last August, funded by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.  Regarded by experts as being on par with royal court paintings, the restored folding screen will be available for public viewing at the Art Institute o

May 31, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Tradition of worshipping the heavens continues in 21st century Korea

In Korean spirituality, the soul and spirit of a person is defined as “honbaek”: “Hon” is the soul that rises to heaven, while “baek” is the spirit body that is interred underground. From the earliest times in Korean civilization, Koreans looked to the heavens for spiritual strength. Chamseongdan, one of the oldest altars for worshiping heaven, dates back to the Gojoseon (Ancient Joseon) period, and is still used atop Manisan in Ganghwa island. The indige

May 28, 2022

[Scholars and their Spaces] Understanding differences

In the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” it is recorded that when Lee Ji-ham (1517-1578), who served as Asan County chief at the age of 62, died three months after his inauguration, local residents poured out into the streets, shedding tears in mourning. Why were the people so stricken by his death? Lee, who excelled in science, math, medicine, astronomy and geography, also studied the art of fengshui under the noted scholar Hwaam Seo Gyeong-deok. Lee was born into the prestigious fa

May 28, 2022

Sample Joseon royal cuisine at Gyeongbokgung

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation are jointly hosting “Invitation to Gyeongbokgung’s Kitchen” at the Sojubang complex of Gyeongbokgung from June 8-20. Visitors can choose between the Saenggwabang and Sikdorak programs. The Saenggwabang program includes a live performance of gugak, Korean traditional music, playing in the background during the meal. The Sikdorak program offers detailed explanations of royal cuisine and drinks giv

May 24, 2022