Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong offers cosmetics package Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong is offering “Premium Beauty Travel with d’Alba” package in cooperation with the vegan cosmetics brand. The package includes one night’s stay and a set of d'Alba cosmetic products including double cream, double serum, sunblock, oil cream cleanser and treatment facial masks. A dinner for two and free access to the hotel’s indoor pool are also included. Package prices start at 445,0

Food Oct. 27, 2023

Cirque Du Soleil has returned to Seoul with its latest masterpiece, “Luzia: A Waking Dream of Mexico," along with 50 cast members for the performance. In South Korea, the Canadian circus ensemble has attracted more than 1 million spectators over the previous performances: "Quidam" in 2007 and 2015, "Alegria " in 2008 and 2022, “Varekai" in 2011, "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" in 2013 and "Kooza" in 2018. Luzia, derived fro

Performance Oct. 26, 2023

The seventh iteration of the Busan Webtoon Festival is set to kick off Thursday for a four-day run at KT&G Sangsang Madang Busan, with domestic and overseas webtoonists in attendance. Under the theme of "Back to the Future," the BWF will present webtoons with plots that revolve around the main characters traveling through time to cities around the world. Italian webtoonists Andera Mancini's "The Cities of Past" and Stefano Casini's "The New York's Futu

Culture Oct. 24, 2023

A special exhibition that focuses on the Roman Catholic Church’s presence in Korea since the late 19th century is underway at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul. The Seosomun Shrine History Museum, which opened in 2019, stands on a holy site where a number of Catholics in Korea were martyred during the Joseon era (1392-1910). Titled “Love and Peace for All,” the exhibition presents originals and copies of papal documents and letters, and governme

Culture Oct. 23, 2023

Eighty-one-year-old singer Lee Mi-ja will receive the highest national cultural merit on Saturday for her contributions to Korean pop culture. Lee was selected as the recipient of the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of her status as the most influential Korean pop artist of the 1960s, the Culture Ministry said Friday in announcing the recipients of various honors for popular culture. Lee is the first K-pop artist to win the highest rank of the Order of Cultural Merit. Lee, who de

People Oct. 20, 2023

The Seoul International Pride Film Festival, focusing on films dealing with LGBTQ+ themes, is set to kick off for a seven-day run from Nov. 2 at the CGV Cine Library in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. This year, a total of 116 films from 39 countries around the world will be screened throughout the festivities. Among the lineup, 27 films will be world premieres. The 2023 SIPFF will open with "Femme," directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. "Femme" revolves around around dra

Film Oct. 20, 2023

Korean heritage built with Lego A special Lego exhibition titled "HEstorical Lego" is underway on the second floor of Moryham in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. Themed around Korea's traditional cultural heritage, mostly from the Joseon era (1392-1910), the “HEstorical Lego” exhibition comprises a total of 42 Lego works by Colin Jin. The 49-year-old artist introduces himself as a "Lego Maker" on his Instagram profile. The highlight of the exhibition is “Jon

Culture Oct. 20, 2023

The Plaza Seoul welcomes autumn with new menus The Plaza Seoul's restaurants are offering new menus for the fall season. The Plaza Dowon, a Chinese restaurant at the hotel, has prepared a course meal, composed of fried abalone, beef tenderloin steak and dao xiao mien, or Chinese knife-cut noodles. The highlight of the menu is the dim sum filled with shrimp, mushrooms and water chestnut. The hotel’s Korean restaurant Seven Square is offering grilled shad and grilled deodeok, or bellflo

Food Oct. 20, 2023

Given South Korea and Vietnam's complementary roles, there is more room for bilateral cooperation between the two countries, said Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung on Wednesday. "Vietnam and South Korea can formulate such a good partnership. With Vietnam's abundant labor forces, I bet South Korean companies will be able to enjoy a new wave of business opportunities based on their advanced technologies," said Tung at the Global Biz Forum held at Summit Galler

People Oct. 19, 2023

The National Dance Company of Korea is set to perform “Scent of Ink” at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in Washington on Wednesday as part of its tour in North America, which kicked off on Oct. 10 in Ottawa, Ontario. Directed by Jung Ku-ho and choreographed by Yun Sung-joo, the dance performance has been praised for its meticulous mise-en-scene. The stage and choreography for "Scent of Ink" highlights the beauty of traditional Korean dance through strong yet e

Performance Oct. 16, 2023

A display of hanbok from the late 19th century to early 20th century will be shown at the National Folk Museum of Korea, located at the main palace Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul, during the annual Hanbok Culture Week that kicks off Monday. The period from 1876 to 1910 marked the introduction of Western culture to Korea. The museum will also offer a variety of interactive events, from hanbok wearing, hanbok quizzes and a traditional tea ceremony, or dado, to traditional shoe crafting. At Cheo

Culture Oct. 15, 2023

L'Escape Hotel presents ‘Bittersweet Night’ L’Escape Hotel has launched the “Bittersweet Night” package to celebrate the fall season. The package offers one night’s stay along with a set of petit-fours and two glasses of whiskey at the hotel’s rooftop bar Marque d'Amour. The French confectioneries come in various flavors, including fig, cinnamon and pecan. The package is available through Nov. 30 with prices starting at 230,000 won. Le Meridi

Food Oct. 13, 2023

"Trend Korea," a trends forecasting book series published annually, has returned with 10 predictions for 2024 along with the subtitle "Dragon Eyes." The term "Dragon Eyes" highlights the essential role humans play in using artificial intelligence technologies, explained Kim Rando, a professor of Seoul National University's consumer science department, during a press conference Thursday at the Press Center in central Seoul. The term derives from an old Chinese s

Books Oct. 11, 2023

GAPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- South Korea’s biggest jazz festival completed its four-day run on Monday with a total of 42 acts from around the world. The Jarasum International Jazz Festival, which started in 2004, takes place in October every year on Jara Island, a river island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province -- some 40 minutes from Seoul by the ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train. This year, more than 30,000 music lovers attended the paid areas of the festival, the event organizer said. The 2

Performance Oct. 9, 2023

Singer-songwriter Lee Min-hwi's serene acoustic music and soft melodies disguise a cynical edge. "Your tongue and ears were never yours" she says on her first album "Borrowed Tongue." Lee's lyrics -- delivered in a whispering tone, sometimes like reciting poetry -- are the part of songwriting she finds most time-consuming. "Once I sat down to work on my music, many questions pop up in my head, and usually they lead to one question," Lee told The Korea He

Performance Oct. 9, 2023