Pushbutton will grace the runway in London once again, having established itself as an internationally sought-after fashion brand based in Seoul. Named after a line in Madonna’s catchy 2003 dance hit “Hollywood” -- “Push the button, don’t push the button” -- the label is led by creative director and founder Park Seung-gun. It will present a new collection on Sept. 17 at London Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2020.  It is the brand’s third time on the cat

Arts & Design Aug. 14, 2019

To be a solo percussionist is an unusual career choice, as percussionists are usually a part of a larger team such as an orchestra or band. But Lee Hyun-gi is carving out a successful career as a solo percussionist based in London, and she plays a variety of instruments -- not just the drums but also the vibraphone and her specialty, the marimba, an instrument featuring a set of wooden bars that the player strikes with a pair of rubber mallets.“People are unfamiliar with percussion instrum

Performance Aug. 13, 2019

The 16th Music in PyeongChang event, also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, finished its 11-day run Saturday.The finale concert, “Happily Ever After,” took place in the Alpensia Music Tent, with the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra taking the stage under the baton of conductor Pablo Gonzalez. The summer music festival, titled “A Different Story,” kicked off July 31 in the Olympic city of PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. The presentation marked the 210th annive

Performance Aug. 11, 2019

Stylish afternoon tea time at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Cilantro Deli presents a stylish afternoon tea set consisting of desserts that resemble fashion items.On top of their choice of coffee or tea, customers can enjoy either a blue high-heeled shoe or a pink clutch bag, both made out of chocolate, along with other miniature sweets in the shape of a lipstick, a perfume bottle and other accessories. Also included in the set are “fatcarons,” or thick macaro

Food Aug. 9, 2019

Trying to stand on ferociously turbulent water is definitely an effective way to get an adrenaline rush. And indoor facilities allow enthusiasts to experience that all year round, amid the growing popularity of surfing here.  “In South Korea, it is hard to surf. Japan blocks the waves, so beaches do not really pick up swells. Given this, indoor surfing can be a nice option,” said Lee Sang-jun, who manages Flow House Yongin, an indoor surfing facility, at the Lotte Premium Outlet

More Sports Aug. 9, 2019

SOKCHO, Gangwon Province -- A bustling port city on the east coast with Seoraksan in the backdrop, Sokcho, a three-hour drive from Seoul, is a much-favored summer destination for South Koreans.Defined by its lively beaches, abundant seafood and vibrant city atmosphere, the city is packed with vacationers in summer. Its recent rise as a surfing destination has led to even more visitors. Though Gangwon Province does not have a thriving culinary scene, Sokcho is still home to various delicacies cre

Food Aug. 8, 2019

Grand Hilton Seoul is gearing up for Oktoberfest. The 14th Grand Hilton Seoul Oktoberfest will be held Sept. 7 at the hotel’s Convention Center, ahead of Oktoberfest, the famed beer festival held in Munich, Germany.General Manager Bernhard Brender, who is from Germany, has hosted the hotel’s event since 2007, inviting more than 1,000 guests each year.  The festival features a German buffet, including homemade sausages, schweinshaxe -- roasted pork knuckle -- and pretzels. This y

Culture Aug. 8, 2019

The Novus String Quartet is to embark on a nationwide tour, highlighting composers from the Czech Republic.The tour, slated to take place Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, kicks off in Gwangju and will move on to Seoul, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province before a final concert in Seoul. Titled “Slavic,” the program includes Dvorak String Quartet No. 7 in A minor, Janacek String Quartet No. 1 “The Kreutzer Sonata” and Smetana String Quartet No. 1

Performance Aug. 7, 2019

Trio Owon, consisting of cellist Yang Sung-won, pianist Emmanuel Strosser and violinist Olivier Charlier, will embark on a nationwide tour in November in celebration of its 10th anniversary.The tour will kick off in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 15, followed by performances in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 16; at the Changwon International Chamber Music Festival in Seoul on Nov. 18; and Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on Nov. 22. The final concert will be held Nov. 24 i

Performance Aug. 5, 2019

The night can hold a beauty unseen in the daytime, especially in Seoul. Though the capital city is often defined by its towering skyscrapers and busily rushing people, the atmosphere abruptly changes as darkness descends on a summer evening.And when the mercury does not fall even after the sun does, a visit to a hip rooftop bar can help beat the heat.Though rooftop bars have long been the thing for cities with warmer climates -- Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong -- more spots in Seoul are now embrac

Food Aug. 5, 2019

Stylish afternoon tea time at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Cilantro Deli presents a stylish afternoon tea set consisting desserts that resemble fashion items.On top of their choice of coffee or tea, customers can enjoy either a blue high heel shoe or a pink clutch bag, both made out of chocolate, along with other miniature sweets in the shape of a lipstick, a perfume bottle and other accessories. Also included in the set are “fatcarons,” or thick macarons st

Food Aug. 2, 2019

Maestro Chung Myung-whun will play the piano and also take the baton at One Korea Orchestra’s upcoming concert. One Korea Orchestra, led by the 66-year-old maestro, will hold its third performance at the Seoul Arts Center on Aug. 18, presenting Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor. The organizers had hoped to invite a North Korean pianist to perform the Mozart piece, but failed. Instead, Chung will play the piano for the piece.&n

Performance Aug. 1, 2019

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- A two-hour drive from Seoul, PyeongChang is widely known as a Winter Olympics host city filled with ski slopes, rental shops and resorts. But this week PyeongChang got a sudden infusion of classical music.“A Different Story,” the 16th Music in PyeongChang event also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, kicked off Wednesday and will continue until Aug. 10. 　Located 700 meters above sea level in PyeongChang, the Alpensia Resort welcomed visitors

Performance Aug. 1, 2019

Conductor Chung Myung-whun and pianist Kim Sun-wook will join the Staatskapelle Dresden during its visit to Korea in September for two concerts in Seoul. 　The orchestra’s visit to Korea is its first in four years.   The Staatskapelle Dresden will go on stage at the Sejong Center on Sept. 27, followed by another concert at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 29. While the Sejong Center performance will include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, the

Performance July 31, 2019

Italian luxury fashion house Bulgari is to change the description on a costume on exhibition, after a Korean anchorman pointed out the error.On Monday, SBS anchorman Jung Woo-young wrote on his Instagram account (@woo0c) that he saw a hanbok on display at exhibition “La storia, Il Sogno by Bvlgari” held at Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy. The Italian fashion house, however, noted it as kimono, traditional Japanese garment. According to the description, the “black silk s

Arts & Design July 30, 2019