Seoul International Book Fair 2021, the oldest and largest book publishing trade festival in South Korea, successfully ended its five-day-run Sunday afternoon. Hosted by the Korean Publishers Association, the festival kicked off Sept. 5 at S Factory in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, an area filled with brunch cafes and small ateliers of independent artists that is widely known as a gathering place for people in their 20s and 30s. The fair was held online last year. This year it operated under strict pa

Books Sept. 12, 2021

 In celebration of National Reading Month in September, some 8,700 book festivals and related programs are planned to promote the classics and new works to the public, according to the Culture Ministry.Adults read an average of 10 books per year while school-age children read an average of 41 books a year, Culture Ministry data from early 2020 showed. Culture critics attribute this significant drop in reading after the teenage years to “reading fatigue” stemming from pressure t

Travel Sept. 11, 2021

Park Hyatt Busan presents ‘2021 Chuseok Gift Sets’ In celebration of the Chuseok holiday, Park Hyatt Busan is offering an array of Chuseok gifts. They include a selection of meat and lobster by the chef of Park Hyatt Busan, a stewed abalone set, a danji set for enjoying tea or other refreshments, as well as restaurant gift certificates that can be used within the hotel. The gift sets are available until Sept. 17, and gift certificates until Sept. 26. The Chuseok gift sets can be pur

Food Sept. 10, 2021

China’s top search engine giant, Baidu, is facing criticism for its misrepresentation of hanbok. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, strongly criticized Baidu’s encyclopedia portal, demanding a correction to the entry on hanbok, via email Tuesday, according to Seo. Baidu states that hanbok originates from “hanfu,” and that the costume represents “traditional clothing of ethnic minority Koreans (living in China),” and therefore

Culture Sept. 7, 2021

Following the great popularity of tourism campaign videos featuring Leenalchi and the Ambiguous Dance Company last year, mixing pansori with a modern twist and contemporary choreography, season two of the series offers another fresh mix: Korean hip-hop and traditional folk music. The second season of “Feel the Rhythm of Korea,” produced by the Korea Tourism Organization, was released via YouTube on Friday, with the episode shot in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, attracting over

Travel Sept. 6, 2021

Culture Minister Hwang Hee discussed future policies on arts and culture in communication with the nation’s young artists through the metaverse on Thursday, the ministry announced the following day. The event in the metaverse was organized to celebrate and evaluate the results of the ministry-led campaign, “The Youth Made Changes - Culture Ministry,” which had been in operation since May. Hwang accessed the metaverse space provided and supported by ifland, a social communica

Culture Sept. 3, 2021

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul presents ‘Summer Days’ package Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul has released a “Summer Days” package in collaboration with Daze Dayz, a swim & resort wear brand that encompasses attire for travel and daily life. Customers will receive a Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul’s special edition of shower robe, fabric bag and sunblock products set made in collaboration with Daze Dayz. This year’s limited special edition is design

Food Sept. 3, 2021

When news spread that Bulgwang Bookstore, a local bookstore located in Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul, will be closing next month due to financial struggles, local residents in the neighborhood immediately filed a petition at the local district office to seek help. Bulgwang Bookstore, a modest bookstore which opened in 1996, is only a block away from Bulgwang Station exit no. 8. At the time of its opening, libraries or bookstores did not exist around the area, which naturally turned the book

Books Aug. 29, 2021

Among the commonly held preconceptions about Korea’s drinking culture and manners, one that tops the list is the practice of “pour-and-drink,” referring to Korean’s heavy and fast-paced style of imbibing alcohol. To challenge the stereotype, OneshotKorea, located near Cheonggyecheon, central Seoul, serves traditional Korean liquor, while also introducing the history of the region each drink hails from and the distinctive brewing processes involved. The belief that &ldqu

Food Aug. 28, 2021

Westin Josun Seoul launches Fall in Record package The Westin Josun Seoul‘s Fall in Record package offers unforgettable memories to take home with film cameras and quality music this fall. Black-and-white film brand Ilford Photo’s camera will be provided to guests staying in executive rooms, and up to 27 images can be taken. Junior suites will be equipped with turntables and a collection of records, and guests will be given two complimentary glasses of a Macallan whisky cocktail.

Food Aug. 27, 2021

A nation’s renowned traditional dish does not always have to be cooked and served by the locals to be the best-tasting version. Chefs from around the world today often discover their own mix of recipes, adding unique flavors while still maintaining the essence of the original. An online preliminary round of the 2021 World Paella Day Cup hosted by the Tourist Office of Spain is currently under way to decide on the eight chefs who will compete in the final round on Sept. 20, to be held i

Food Aug. 27, 2021

Two books of Korean poetry have recently been published in the US, one by a veteran poet and another by an emerging young talent. The Daesan Foundation announced Monday the publication of “Monarch Butterfly,” with selected poems by poet and literary critic Choi Dong-ho, and “Catcalling,” another collection by Lee Soho, in English by Mudus Artium Press and OpenLetterBooks, respectively. “Monarch Butterfly” is a selection of 51 of Choi’s poems from his 5

Books Aug. 24, 2021

The Korean Film Archive announced that it will sequentially post a collection of South Korea’s earlier films censored by the state through the Korean Movie Database online history archive center, starting Thursday. The KOFA received donations and preserved some 10,000 materials regarding censorship from the Korea Council for Performing Arts Promotion, the predecessor of the current Korea Media Rating Board, from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s. In the past, the materials had only been avai

Film Aug. 20, 2021

With the aim of boosting the presence of Ulleungdo as a global tourist destination for both local and global visitors in the next five years, the Korea Tourism Organization has joined hands with Ulleung County and Kolon Glotech, Inc., the KTO announced Friday. Ulleungdo, an island east of South Korea is 72.86 square kilometers in size, and has a population of about 10,153. The island is known for its well preserved natural environment along the coast and its geographic significance, overlookin

Travel Aug. 20, 2021

JW Marriott Hotel offers ‘Truly Flavors’ promotion Flavors, the luxury buffet dining establishment at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, is offering the “Truly Flavors” promotion, with a special selection of pass-around dishes that celebrate the restaurant’s variety of cuisines. 　 The promotion began Monday and runs to Sept. 30, featuring freshly cooked dishes served by the chefs. Dishes are decided daily, chosen from among filo pastry lamb chops, macaroni with a three-chee

Food Aug. 20, 2021