Seoul’s largest cultural heritage festival highlights new technology in traditional contents, from media facades to digital ‘black tiger dance’

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Answer: b Netflix’s megahit series “Squid Game” didn’t just happen to have the ocean creature in its name. In South Korea, the invertebrate makes frequent appearances at school cafeterias, pubs and on dinner tables at home as a dish loved by people of all ages. In recent years, pe...

Ancestral rites for Joseon royals, tight rope walking entertains visitors to the former presidential office

On the afternoon of Friday, just two days before Parent’s Day, a flower shop at Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, is crowded with people buying carnation flowers as a gift for their parents. Parents’ Day in South Korea was established in 1973, replacing the Mother‘s Day previously marked on May 8, and includes diverse public and private celebrations. In South Korea, Koreans seek to honor thei...

On the morning of Friday, two days before the anniversary of Buddha’s birth, Buddhists perfume the image of Buddha as part of a ceremony to commemorate the baby Buddha’s arrival at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Buddhists chant prayers under colorful lanterns. Buddhists chant prayers under colorful lanterns. Officials of Jogyesa Temple put name tags under colorful lanterns as Buddhists an...

Ven. Junggoong, one of the disciples of Haekook, has been practicing Chamseon for 20 years, getting up at 2:40 a.m. daily to start his Seon meditation at 3 a.m. which continues until bedtime at 9:40 p.m. Junggoong says when you dig deep into Seon meditation, through long sustained breathing, “I feel my brain cells open up. Things I usually don’t remember come up. At the same time, I feel my own ...

Yi is recognized as one of the nation’s most significant cultural figures. His life is remarkable in the history of Korean neo-Confucianism. To solve the social problems that Goryeo faced, Yi fulfilled his responsibilities as a scholar, educator and politician from his experience of having studied at Guozijian, a national university in China’s Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), in his 20s. As the head of...

Recent researches have revealed that the long-held images of violence are rooted in the distorted stories conjured by European conquerors, who used historical narratives to justify their invasion of the American continent. In addition to showing the Aztec artifacts, some of the finest sculptural works are reimagined through video materials. A 3D version of the Aztec Sun Stone is on display, and ...

The workshops offered are knot-making and small wooden furniture classes. Beginners are also welcome at the workshops. Up to 10 adults are accepted per day, with prior reservations required. Workshops are free but the participants need to pay for the cost of the materials that will be provided. The last section on intangible cultural heritage in everyday life will be held from May to June and a...

Gyeongbokgung, the Joseon royal palace, will host its spring season starlight tour from May 18 to 29. Organized by the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the tour takes visitors through the northern area of Gyeongbokgung, where they can enjoy a dining experience, watch a traditional music performance and go for a stroll u...

The Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute is participating in the 15th World Forestry Congress, which runs at Seoul’s Coex for five days until Friday. The institute’s chairperson Ryu Kwang-soo said, “I hope the World Forestry Congress will serve as an opportunity to directly or indirectly experience the arboretum and garden cultures designed by the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute.” At the c...

Civic groups accuse head of the Cultural Heritage Administration of ‘illegal’ opening of Legoland

Starting Thursday, the National Folk Museum of Korea will open “Children’s Day! Today the World is Ours,” a festival that centers around children’s tales and literature written by Bang. A variety of performances and games can be enjoyed through Saturday. Each event invites 30 guests per session, and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Festival schedules are available at the museum’s officia...

The Lotus Lantern Parade, one of the highlights of Yeondeunghoe, illuminates Seoul’s Jongno district Saturday evening. Starting at Heunginjimun, the parade proceeded to Jogyesa, a Buddhist temple in central Seoul. This year marked the first Yeondeunghoe after its UNESCO listing in December 2020. More than 35,000 faithfuls participated in this year’s parade, according to the Yeondeunghoe Preserv...

Bloody heads often don’t lead to a bull conceding the fight, but experienced older fighting bulls with multiple fights under their hides sometimes forfeit and choose not to fight at the onset of the battle. “We have veterinarians on site to provide first aid to any injured bulls,” said Nam Seong-chul at the Cheongdo Public Business Corporation, which manages bullfighting events at the Cheongdo Bu...