Hanok-themed Cafe Onion in Jongno If you’re looking for a place to rest while strolling through Bukchon Hanok Village, a cluster of old-style Korean houses, pay a visit to a hanok-themed cafe for delicious desserts in a unique traditional setting. If you walk toward the Hyundai Building for two to three minutes from Anguk Station Exit No. 2 or 3 on Subway Line No. 3, you can see wooden doors supporting a traditional tiled roof -- called “giwa” -- signaling the entrance to Cafe

Culture Jan. 13, 2023

Shows by artists Oh Hein-kuhn and Kang Hyun-seon running at Art Sonje Center in Seoul prompt visitors to think more deeply about identity. Kang and Oh use different media. Oh is a photographer while Kang uses digital technology, including virtual reality, which she has employed for the first time. While the artists’ works are quite different, they lead visitors to look both inward and outward -- to think about who you are and who they are. On the first and third floors is the exhibition &l

Arts & Design Jan. 12, 2023

Youn Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, said on Tuesday that while it is “unfortunate” the museum was subjected to a special audit, he would use the audit results to improve the museum. At a press conference that had been scheduled to announce the museum's plans for the year, including its lineup of exhibitions and projects, Youn briefly spoke on the audit report released Monday. However, questions from press were mostly about the Cu

Arts & Design Jan. 10, 2023

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea was found to have committed 16 illegal or inappropriate deeds in managing the museum, according to the result of a special audit released by the Culture Ministry on Monday. The 16 cases include inappropriate process of purchasing artworks and illegal spending of the MMCA Foundation fund as incentives to the museum’s employees. The foundation, also led by the museum's director, was established in 2013 to support the museum. The

Arts & Design Jan. 9, 2023

The Korean art market has enjoyed an unprecedented period of growth over the past couple years, seeing a record-breaking number of visitors to successive art fairs, including last year's inaugural Frieze Seoul. The timing also coincided with international galleries opening or expanding in Seoul, lending credence to the claim that the capital was on its way to becoming the next hub of the Asian art market. The value of the Korean art market surpassed one trillion won for the first time. Befo

Arts & Design Jan. 9, 2023

British contemporary artists Rose Wylie and Michael Craig-Martin have been brought together for the first time at Seongnam Cube Art Museum, presenting different artistic worlds of their own, but sharing one thing in common: wit. The joint exhibition “Two Seasons” shows some 50 artworks by the two artists who had solo shows in past years in Seoul. Their works were put together at Seongnam Cube Art Museum in Gyeonggi Province for visitors who wish to see the paintings by the two promin

Arts & Design Jan. 6, 2023

Celebrate Year of the Rabbit with NewJeans' rabbit-shaped cake Hop into the Year of the Rabbit at pop-up store "OMG! NU+JEANS" near Dosan Park in Gangnam-gu for a sweet pick-me-up and all things NewJeans. The pop-up is a collaboration between dessert brand Nudake and the K-pop group and runs through Jan. 21. The signature item is the rabbit-shaped “OMG! NU+JEANS” cake that comes in five different colors -- white, yellow, pink, blue and green. You also won't be abl

Culture Jan. 6, 2023

Every time you look back on the past year, it feels like the year passed so quickly, and when the new year comes, you think about how you will spend time more meaningfully in the year to unfold. Three artists whose works are on show at Koenig Seoul offer a time to contemplate about time; time is absolute, yet feels subjective. The German gallery in Gangnam, southern Seoul, is showing the exhibition “Measure by Measure.” Upon arriving to the fifth floor at the MCM Haus building, w

Arts & Design Jan. 5, 2023

South Korea's art market has grown into a trillion-won market last year for the first time backed by increased liquidity and interest in art, with more people visiting museums and galleries across the country. Museums and galleries are ready to present high-quality exhibitions this year, and two major biennales -- Gwangju Biennale and Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism -- will take place in March and September, respectively. The second edition of Frieze Seoul in September will be

Arts & Design Jan. 1, 2023

Fire and ash have been at the center of Thai artist Korakrit Arunanondchai's art practice for the past 10 years. The artist’s solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery in Seoul is a place where visitors can contemplate on death and life. The gallery’s K3 space appears to be a completely different space from the rest of the gallery – the floor is made from compressed ash mixed with earth and paint, making visitors feel as if they were standing on volcanic rock. Prayer text is scul

Arts & Design Dec. 27, 2022

Fashion designer Martin Margiela of French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela is holding his first exhibition in Seoul -- and third overall -- showcasing his creativity beyond the catwalk. The self-titled exhibition that opened Friday showcases some 50 works by the designer and artist. Goo Hye-jin, director of exhibition business, and the exhibition team prepared the show for a year after she learned the designer had opened his first solo show at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris in 2021. His

Arts & Design Dec. 26, 2022

An exhibition of 20 artists shortlisted for the 22nd edition of the Songeun Art Award opened Wednesday at Songeun Art Space in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. The works, ranging from paintings and sculptures to digital works and installations, will run through Feb. 18. Organized by the Songeun Art and Cultural Foundation, the Songeun Art Award is one of the country's most prestigious art awards. The 20 artists were selected from a pool of 503 applicants -- the largest number of shortlisted ca

Arts & Design Dec. 26, 2022

Amid increasing global attention on the South Korean art market, where trade volume surpassed the trillion won ($784 million) mark this year for the first time, a recent report showed that the art boom in South Korea peaked in the third quarter of last year with a slowed-down phase ahead. Seoul National University recently published its first English-language report on the country’s art market, in conjunction with the Paradise Cultural Foundation and the support of the Korea Art Management

Arts & Design Dec. 24, 2022

  　Myeong-dong, a famous shopping district in central Seoul for locals and foreign visitors, is crowded with people to enjoy the Christmas spirit on Saturday. Some 40 safety guards will be deployed in the neighborhood over the weekend, according to Jung-gu office. Myeongdong Cathedral, founded in 1898, will have a Christmas mass late Saturday without restrictions on the congregation size.  　 　By Park Yuna (yunapark@heraldcorp.com) 　

Social Affairs Dec. 24, 2022

Celebrate the New Year at the World Trade Center Seoul Looking for a unique way to celebrate the New Year? Visit Korea’s biggest digital display at Coex K-pop Square in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. As 2023 -- the Year of the Black Rabbit -- approaches, the country's largest multiplex cinema chain CGV and Korea International Trade Association are showcasing a 3-D animation video, featuring giant rabbits. Samseong-dong in Seoul, where Coex K-pop Square is located, was declared Korea’s f

Culture Dec. 23, 2022