[Photo News] Joseon DIY glass lamp attracts the public

The National Palace Museum of Korea is offering a do-it-yourself kit for making glass lamps in the style of the Joseon era. The DIY kit, which was previously distributed free of charge, has returned for sale due to the enthusiastic response from the public. During the Joseon period, the square glass lamps were used to brighten banquets held at night. The photo above displays the finished products hanging under the eaves of a royal palace. (Photos: National Palace Museum of Korea) By Lee Jae

Oct. 31, 2020

[Herald Interview] ‘Our model is to continue to invest in journalism’

Seoul will become the de facto Asian headquarters for the New York Times with the relocation of its Asia digital hub from Hong Kong to South Korea, according to Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, international president of the New York Times. The move, announced in July after China passed the new National Security Law in June that threatened the safety of reporters in Hong Kong, is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, Dunbar-Johnson said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday a

Oct. 29, 2020

Culture Ministry awards recognize efforts to raise awareness about gender equality

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday recognized cultural figures, groups and content that helped raise awareness about gender equality in South Korean society. Artist Jung Jung-yeob was honored for her works spotlighting the lives and labor of Korean women, which had long been overlooked in the arts. She is best known for her painting “The First Supper,” a response to Leonardo da Vinci’s 1490s painting “The Last Supper.” In her painting, the m

Oct. 28, 2020

Income disparity in entertainment industry on the rise

The income gap among artists in the entertainment industry in Korea has widened over the past several years with the disparity among singers the most stark, surpassing that among actors and models, government figures showed. The total annual income of 63 singers in Korea – the top 1 percent of singers in Korea in terms of earnings -- recorded 217 billion won ($192.2 million) in 2018, accounting for 53 percent of the total income of singers, according to the document submitted by the Nati

Oct. 26, 2020

Mukbang star Tzuyang returns with two videos after a 2-month break

Popular mukbang, or “eating show,” YouTuber Tzuyang uploaded videos on Friday and Sunday, the first of 10 promised while announcing her retirement in August. The videos titled “Yokji Island 1” and “Yokji Island 2” showed Tzuyang, who has 2.64 million subscribers, eating large portions of ramen, kimbap and cow intestine at Yokjido, South Gyeongsang Province. Known for her big appetite, Tzuyang ate 9.4 kg of cow intestine in the second video and said that she s

Oct. 26, 2020

[Eye Plus] Nocturnal splendor at Seoul palaces

Palaces in Seoul, formerly home to Joseon royalty and now must-see tourist spots, showcase the country’s cultural history. Their architectural style represent what was most aesthetically pleasing at the time of their creation. Hundreds of years have only added depth of time to the stories that are told through aged wood and weighty foundation stones. Given their significance, old palaces awash with bright lights form an out-of-this-world backdrop for pansori performances. At Gyeonghoeru

Oct. 24, 2020

[Video] Asia Culture Week 2020 illuminates Gwangju, connecting past and present Asia

In the heart of Gwangju’s bustling downtown district, the historic building that witnessed the May 18 Democratic Movement became the inspiration for the creation of the Asian Culture Center. Opened in 2015, the ACC’s overarching concept, “The Forest of Light” was planned by architect Woo Kyu-sung. The protest song “March for the Beloved” plays every afternoon at the May 18 Clock Tower, which is located at the entrance of the square. In the spring of 1980,

Oct. 23, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Artists stress sustainable design for innovation

Tomas Saraceno, an Argentinian contemporary artist who is behind the launch of a fuel-free air balloon, stressed sustainability during a Q&A session at the Herald Design Forum on Thursday. Saraceno launched a project, titled “Fly with Aerocene Pacha,” an air balloon powered only by the sun and air, forgoing helium or fossil fuels, as a way of exploring environmentally friendly flight. The project was exhibited as part of “Connect BTS,” a global public art project i

Oct. 22, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Herald Design Forum envisions next 10 years of design, innovation

　 The annual Herald Design Forum kicked off Thursday morning, marking its 10th edition by envisioning how design could change the world in the coming decade. 　 Under the slogan “Another 10 Years,” the largest design forum in Asia brought together prominent designers, architects, artists, curators and directors. The event was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1,400 participants livestreaming the sessions. In compliance with the government&rsquo

Oct. 22, 2020

[Video] A glimpse into cafes with unique visual design

Coffee districts in Seoul are moving beyond the old aesthetics and have turned into highly Instagrammable spots. Quirky yet trendy cafes in old settings have infused fresh energy and unbelievable ambiance into these areas. These districts have since placed themselves as the latest “it” spots among the younger generation. A case in point is Yeonnam-dong. The majority of the cafes, restaurants and old vintage shops are nestled in narrow alleyways, allowing visitors to easily stumble

Oct. 22, 2020

K-Friends to promote Korea overseas

  The Korea Tourism Organization is receiving applications to join K-Friends, its online team of online supporters. With in-person marketing almost impossible these days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the KTO hopes to attract tourists to Korea through contactless promotions, according to the KTO. Application is open to foreign nationals with more than 100 social media followers. The organization hopes to gather 10,000 supporters this year, 50,000 by 2023, and 100,000 by 2025. The parti

Oct. 22, 2020

What did the Russian architect see?

An exhibition titled “The Life and Works of Russian Architect Afanasy Seredin-Sabatin” opened in Seoul at the palace Deoksugung on Tuesday, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Russia. Afanasy Ivanovich Seredin-Sabatin arrived in the port city of Incheon as a tidewaiter and stayed on in the country, working as an architect from 1890 to 1904. The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 11 in Jungmyeongjeon -- a building within the palace that Sere

Oct. 20, 2020

Gyeongbokgung’s main throne hall to open to public for 10 days

Gyeongbokgung’s main throne hall Geunjeongjeon will be open to the public from Oct. 26 to Nov. 7. Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday that it is organizing two group tours daily from Monday to Saturday, except Tuesdays when the palace is closed. Each group will consist of 10 people. Geunjeongjeon, National Treasure No. 223, is the main throne hall of the Joseon era palace. Originally built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung’s main throne hall was destroyed by fire during the Japanes

Oct. 19, 2020

Royal Culture Festival impresses with wire-flying show

With the government having eased its social distancing guidelines from Level 2 to Level 1 in a three-tier system on Oct. 12, the Royal Culture Festival successfully completed eight days of offline events from Oct. 10-18 at four palaces -- Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung -- as well as the royal shrine Jongmyo. Of the 12 performances, exhibitions and hands-on experiences at the palaces, the highlight was a musical based on a Korean folktale in which the young heroine

Oct. 18, 2020

[Eye Plus] Seoul's smallest palace shows less can be more

One of the five grand palaces built during the 1392-1897 Joseon dynasty, Gyeonghuigung Palace, which means “Palace of Joy and Light,” is the least well-known and smallest of the palaces in Seoul. But the historic significance of the palace located west of the main palace of Gyeongbokgung equals that of its better known counterparts.  The palace, which was built during the reign of Gwanghaegun, the 15th king of Joseon, was completed in 1620 and served as a secondary palace for

Oct. 17, 2020

Fans, family and friends remember Sulli on first anniversary

S.M. Entertainment, friends, fans and family commemorated the first anniversary of death of Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, on Wednesday. S.M. Entertainment posted on Sulli’s official Facebook page a photo of Sulli on Wednesday with the caption, “We remember your smile.” Actress Kim Sun-a, who was a close friend of Sulli and who took custody of Sulli’s cat after her death, posted a photo of herself visiting Sulli’s grave on Wednesday. “Not a day no

Oct. 17, 2020

Hallyu festival ‘KCON:TACT season 2’ kicks off online Thursday

The Korea Creative Content Agency and CJ ENM will host “KCON:TACT season 2,” an online affair that will kick off Thursday and continue through Oct. 25. The shows can be viewed at the Mnet K-pop and KCON official YouTube channel by purchasing a membership. “I hope ‘KCON:TACT season 2’ sets an example for promoting stellar K-contents like games, webtoons, characters among others to the international audience,” said Park Seung-ryong, head of KOCCA’s overs

Oct. 12, 2020

Gyeongbokgung’s main throne hall worth just W3.29b

Geunjeongjeon -- the main throne hall of Gyeongbokgung from the Joseon era (1392-1910) -- is worth around 3.29 billion won ($2.87 million), less than the average price of an apartment in Gangnam-gu, a district of Seoul known for its sky-high real estate prices. Three other halls in the palace, which are designated as national treasures, were valuated at less than 2 billion won each, according to a document submitted by the Cultural Heritage Administration at the request of Rep. Kim Seung-su o

Oct. 12, 2020

Event marks 30th anniversary of Russia, Korea’s cultural exchange

The Russia-Korea Arts and Culture Society (KORACS) and The Gorchakov Fund on Thursday jointly held a seminar to mark the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ cultural exchanges and discussed their future relationship. “Following the first forum which was held in 2017 in Seoul, this year’s event was supposed to be held at Moscow. But due to the virus pandemic, it had to take place in virtual space via video conference to connect Moscow and Seoul. I would like to express speci

Oct. 11, 2020

[Eye Plus] Eulji-ro 4-ga turns into gallery at night

At nighttime, Euljiro 4-ga in Seoul, long a home to craftsmen and hardware shops, takes on a wholly different look from the day. Walking the streets in the area during the day, you can see a variety of small shops selling ironware, wood, tool supplies and household goods such as lighting and tiles, as well as craftsmen with decades of experience. The streets ring with the roar of machines, and various tools and tiles wait for customers. When night falls and the metal and acrylic shops pull

Oct. 10, 2020