Paris Opera Ballet to perform in Korea for first time in 30 years

The Paris Opera Ballet is set to perform in Korea for the first time in 30 years, presenting “Giselle,” as part of the LG Arts Center’s signature program “CoMPAS23.” The LG Arts Center, which reopened in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, in October after its relocation from southern Seoul, unveiled the lineup for next year on Wednesday. Contemporary Music and Performing Arts Season, or CoMPAS, is a specially curated series of eight performances by top Korean and internatio

Dec. 22, 2022

KOCCA expands budget to take nation's content industry to global stage

The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) plans to provide active assistance against a highly competitive global content market industry in 2023, with an increased budget plan of 623.8 billion won ($485.1 million) for next year. Although yet to be confirmed by the government, the expected budget is a 14 percent increase from 2022. KOCCA President Jo Hyun-rae announced that the budget will not only be used in strengthening the competitiveness of Korean content in the global intellectual propert

Dec. 21, 2022

Choreographer Ahn Eun-me redefines dance in media art

Today, dance is not solely an art to be enjoyed on stage or through videos. The movements of dancers can be a source of many different online media, said choreographer and contemporary dancer Ahn Eun-me. A one-day exhibition presenting seven media art pieces in Ahn’s six-month project, “Eun Me Pong Festival,” was held at Insa-dong, central Seoul, on Friday. “We wanted to celebrate and have an offline exhibition to have them all in one place,” said Ahn. The celebrate

Dec. 20, 2022

[Photo News] Gimjang volunteers

Honorary members of the Korea Herald’s Global Biz Forum gathered to volunteer for a gimjang kimchi-making event, on Tuesday, at Kim Il-do's barbecue restaurant in Mapo-gu, Seoul. All kimchi made at the event will be delivered to the Gongdeok-dong Community Service Center to help support the elderly in the local community.

Dec. 20, 2022

Address book showing foreign buyers of Korean cultural relics donated to Korea

Three significant historical materials that can help trace the whereabouts of Korean cultural heritage located abroad have been donated to Korea. The donation was made by 97-year-old American collector Robert Mattielli. Among the donated materials is an address book showing foreign clients kept by Samuel W. Lee & Co., an antique art shop in Seoul in operation from the Japanese colonial period through Korean War. Also included are 58 business cards that Mattielli has kept of various art deale

Dec. 20, 2022

[Herald Review] Last Joseon royal banquet brought back to life

The year 1902 was a turbulent time for the Korean Empire. King Gojong declared a change of name for the country from Joseon to Daehan Empire, or Korean Empire, in 1897, in what would turn out to be a futile effort to protect the country's sovereignty against foreign powers. Emperor Gojong oversaw partial modernization and westernization of the country but the Daehan Empire was weak among the world’s great powers. Hoping to consolidate the imperial rule and dignity through a demonstrat

Dec. 19, 2022

Creative content industry grows 7% in first half, KOCCA report

South Korea's creative content sales rose 7 percent in the first half of the year amid overseas expansion and eased COVID-19 curbs, the Korea Creative Content Agency said Monday. The combined sales by 11 sectors of the creative content industry, including film, music, webtoon and more, came to a total of 66.9 trillion won ($50.8 billion) in the first half of the year, compared with 62.5 trillion won in the same period a year earlier, according to data compiled by the agency. Sales from mo

Dec. 19, 2022

[Feature] How Christmas evolved into a day for merrymaking in Korea

When Christmas nears, cities are decorated with sparkling lights and Christmas trees are set up everywhere. Young people get excited as they plan where to go on Christmas Eve with friends and lovers. They search for holiday spots where they can take photos for their social media accounts, to show that they are enjoying the holiday spirit. Considering the origin of Christmas – a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus – some may wonder about when South Koreans began celebr

Dec. 17, 2022

Culture Ministry recommends Korea's must-see spots

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization have unveiled the 100 Must-visit Tourist Spots in Korea list for the years 2023 to 2024. The list is updated every two years, with the aim to introduce and promote Korea's tourism to both Koreans and foreigners. The latest list includes a total of 61 cultural attractions and 39 natural attractions. By region, 24 destinations are located in the greater Seoul area, 10 in Gangwon Province, 13 in Chungcheong provinces, 1

Dec. 17, 2022

National Folk Museum holds exhibition 'Year of the Rabbit'

In celebration of the upcoming “Year of the Rabbit,” the National Folk Museum of Korea is hosting a special exhibition on rabbits. "Here Comes a Rabbit" exhibition interprets the folkloric symbolism of rabbits through some 70 collections of rabbit-themed art pieces and books. The exhibition explains how rabbits inspired old proverbs, traditional folktales and novels. The fourth of the 12 animals in the zodiac, the rabbit is often depicted in Korean folktales and proverbs a

Dec. 16, 2022

[Well-curated] Art, sledding and space shows this weekend

If you can't make it to New York to see American figurative artist Alex Katz’s eight-decade retrospective at Guggenheim Museum, you have a chance to view some of the artist’s works in Seoul at the exhibition “Reflection” at Espace Louis Vuitton Seoul. The exhibition is the third presentation of the renowned artist’s works at the exhibition space located on the fourth floor of Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, the French luxury brand’s flagship store in Gangnam-gu, s

Dec. 16, 2022

KTO sets eyes on 30 million international tourists by 2027

The Korea Tourism Organization seeks to attract 30 million foreign tourists by 2027. The tourism organization proposes to achieve the number through digital tourism platform services and K-content storytelling tour programs. The most recent target figure of 20 million in 2020 could not be met due to the pandemic. "Korea’s tourism has suffered tremendously due to the pandemic and I view it as only half recovered at this point," Kim Jang-sil, president of the Korea Tourism Organi

Dec. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] Street dance meets classical music

Dancer and choreographer Lip J, who rose to stardom in Mnet’s dance survival show “Street Woman Fighter” last year will perform a special collaboration with an orchestra. Lip J will show off a waacking dance performance of Sarasate’s “Zigeunerweisen” by violinist Cho Jin-joo and Hankyung arte Philharmonic at a year-end concert held at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, on Dec. 31. “It will be a performance where the beauty of music is e

Dec. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] Overseas heritage foundation head stresses need for consistent support after heritage return

Three months into her term as the chair of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, Kim Jung-hee, 65, seeks to foster interest in repatriated Korean cultural heritage as well as those overseas. "When I was young, overseas cultural heritage was thought of as 'our properties' that had been plundered during Japanese invasions and by other countries who took advantage of our diplomatic vulnerability," said Kim in an interview with The Korea Herald at the foundation

Dec. 13, 2022

167-year-old orchestra with young masters at the fore to perform in Korea

A 167-year-old historic French orchestra is set to perform in Korea this month with two young music masters at the fore. The Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Strasbourg -- a French city on the border with on Germany -- will perform a repertoire that shows the musical connection between France and Russia, its music director Aziz Shokhakimov told reporters on Thursday. The orchestra will perform Bizet’s Carmen Suite No.1, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.2 and Mussorgsky&rsqu

Dec. 13, 2022

Lee Jung-jae, Kim Yuna to receive CICI awards for boosting Korea's image

Emmy-winning actor Lee Jung-jae from Netflix’s global phenomenon “Squid Game” will be honored by the Corea Image Communication Institute for his contribution to building a positive image of Korea at home and overseas. Lee will be presented with the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award at CICI’s annual award ceremony which will take place at the InterContinental Seoul Coex on Jan. 11, marking the institute’s 20th anniversary next year. “Lee won the Emmy Award for h

Dec. 12, 2022

[Subway Stories] Rice shops, tteokbokki and hipsters at Sindang Station

  The following is part of Seoul Subway Stories, a Korea Herald series exploring the subway stations and surrounding areas across the city. -- Ed.   In the ’70s and ’80s, before the proliferation of cafes and clubs in Seoul, the area near Sindang Station led a peculiar youth culture here -- hipsters hanging out at trendy tteokbokki restaurants where DJs play pop music. Nearly half a century later, the Sindang-dong neighborhood’s then-revolutionary tteokbokki scene may

Dec. 12, 2022

NGO publishes English map of Korea and world cultural heritage

The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea has unveiled a world map showing 21 UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage of Korea. Talchum, Korean mask dance-drama which was added to the UNESCO list on Nov. 30, is not show on the map. The cultural heritage map is part of the civic group's "New Hayllu" project, aimed at encouraging some 150 million hallyu fans to expand their interest in Korea beyond Korean pop culture, according to the civic group. "In the midst of Japan's

Dec. 11, 2022

Bowl of hot beef soup to warm your day

While Koreans enjoy many different types of soup at each meal, seolleongtang, a hearty bone broth soup, easily tops the list during the winter months. Seolleongtang is made by simmering ox bones, specifically leg bones, with brisket and other cuts of beef for hours. The density of the smooth, milky soup depends on the quantity and types of the beef cuts that go into the broth making. Those who love this hearty Korean beef soup cannot help but wonder, “What is the difference between seolleo

Dec. 10, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul Launches ‘Joyful Winter Memory at JW’ package JW Marriott Hotel Seoul's new winter package features one night in a JW Marriott guest room offering panoramic views of the Han River and downtown Seoul through floor-to-ceiling windows and a selection of exclusive gifts, from wines to new year diaries, diffusers and more. Package guests also receive one bottle of choice between two varieties of special wine produced in collaboration with Roc de Saint Jean (es

Dec. 10, 2022