Women leaders in media, fashion and culture will talk about women’s leadership and style at the Beautiful Women Conference, scheduled for June 13-14 in Seoul. The conference, in its second year, will bring seven figures from media, fashion, makeup, interior design and classical music, who will give tips on enriching life as well as leadership among women. The conference will be held at Auditorium at Coex, Samseong-dong, Seoul. The invited speakers are Sohn Ji-ae, former president and CEO of Arir

Culture June 2, 2014

In the age of digital content available at your fingertips, comics have fallen as mere entertainment for killing time during commuting hours. But cartoonist Park Heung-yong’s works have been more than a flip-through. In fact, they have been highlighted with unconventional subjects and depth usually found in novels. Park has created works that are grounded in Korean sentiment and the lives of average people and the underprivileged. Instead of conforming to publishers’ tastes, he has set his own p

Performance June 1, 2014

Sarangchae, a museum just outside the presidential residence Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, has reopened this week with a new promotional hall for Korean food. The museum was closed for renovations for about two months to more effectively showcase Korean culture and tradition. Existing exhibition halls have been refurbished, with the Korean food promotion hall and a cafe added. The new hall is open only to those who make phone or Internet reservations. They can taste Korean dishes and also watch cookin

Travel May 30, 2014

Other than Arabic script written on colored balloons, nothing directly tells what the four balloons placed on sand tower intend to convey. Though it looks like any other conceptual contemporary art installation, “The Arab Spring” sums up the current political situation in Arab countries. Made by Saudi Arabian artist Faisal Samra, the work consists of four balloons in white, black, red and green, each representing flag colors of Arab nations. The balloons speak for countries on the verge of upris

Performance May 29, 2014

Buddhist statues, stupas and ceramics have been associated with the image of Korea in overseas exhibitions of its culture and traditions. But an exhibition underway at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea seeks to break the stereotype with art inspired by Korean landscape. One of the exhibition walls displays images of Korean landscapes captured by observant artists ― majestic white clouds in a blue sky; small islands on the distant horizon; tall pine trees and the effect of

Performance May 27, 2014

As more people are choosing clothes and jewelry that highlight the wearers rather than specific brands, jewelers have started creating one-of-a-kind jewelry that can showcase the wearer’s personal history. Jewelry designer Jung Soo-yeon, who launched her jewelry brand Tanello in 2000, says she has succeeded in attracting both foreigners and Koreans in Seoul looking for such unique jewelry. “I focus on the private feeling that the jewelry can give to the wearer,” said Jung in a recent interview w

Arts & Design May 23, 2014

Mount Jirisan offers stunning scenery from every peak and ridge, but also holds a trove of unique culture and rich tradition well preserved for centuries. The biggest mountain range in South Korea sprawls across seven cities and counties in the Jeolla region and South Gyeongsang Province. Hikers visit there year-round to appreciate its majestic peaks, the highest of which towers 1,915 meters above sea level, and to tread trails that weave in and out of the foothills of the mountain. The popular

Travel May 23, 2014

Artist Lee Wan discovered one day that the ingredients of the bread and carrot juice he had for breakfast came from more than 10 countries. The bread was made with flour from the U.S. and cooking oil from Malaysia, baked in China and sent to Korea. For him, the process was incomprehensible and even seemed inefficient. To understand the complex system behind his breakfast, he thought he had to become part of the process. “I decided to become a producer,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea He

Performance May 22, 2014

In Pyongyang, there are none of the narrow alleys that are commonly found in old cities. Instead, streets are up to 50 meters wide, lined with buildings with perfect symmetry. They are among major features of socialist architecture. Architecture in North Korea is little known to the world. North Korean architects have been out of the spotlight, as they are not considered as individual, independent artists, but workers who follow “Kim Jong-il’s Architectural Theory,” a set of architecture guideli

Arts & Design May 20, 2014

Paintings inspired by the beauty of Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo will be on exhibit at the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza area in August. Given the tension between Korea and Japan over the sovereignty of the rocky islets, the exhibition seems a rather bold move. The artist behind the daring attempt is Jeong Jai-young, 50, who has been painting abstract images of the islets for the last decade. Through his representative Lee Il-young, director of the Korea Art Center, a private gallery in Seoul, t

Performance May 18, 2014

Pop musicSeoul Jazz Festival 2014: Every year the annual two-day Seoul Jazz Festival features a wide variety of musical acts, from legendary jazz musicians to popular contemporary figures. This year’s headline artists include Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, jazz-pop musician Jamie Cullum, jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, the Jack DeJohnette Trio and R&B soloist Eric Benet as well as local bands Jang Kiha and the Faces and Urban Zakapa. The 2014 Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Seoul Olympic

Culture May 16, 2014

The Diamond Princess Cruise ship is one of the three cruise ships deployed in Asia by Princess Cruises for the 2014-2015 season.At first glance, the Diamond Prince ― set to sail from Busan to Japan ― looks like a high-rise building placed horizontally. A staff member hints that the ship is longer than the length of the South Korea’s tallest 63 building. The ship, one of the 17 cruise ships owned by U.S. cruise line Princess Cruises, was on a 10-day cruise to Japan. It was anchored in Busan on th

Travel May 16, 2014

Coex Aquarium (Oakwood Premier Coex Center)Oakwood Premier Coex Center, a leading luxury serviced residence in Seoul, offers family-friendly accommodation packages in celebration of Family Month. The “O My Junior” package includes a one-night stay at an apartment, two Coex Aquarium tickets, free entrance to the children’s play area and an indoor swimming pool, free DVD rental and a discount for the breakfast buffet. Two types of apartments are available under the package: One is a 96-square-mete

Travel May 16, 2014