It is no wonder that a tale of fiery yet innocent romance between a young, naive soldier and a sultry gypsy touches the hearts of many Koreans. “Carmen,” the tragic love story of exotic dancer Carmen and Don Jose by Prosper Merimee, was named the most-loved opera in a National Opera survey in 2012. From November through December, the story and music will be reinterpreted on three very different ...

The National Theater Company of Korea has released a compilation of three Korean plays translated into English, titled “Three Plays.” The 150-page book features the well-loved plays Bae Sam-sik’s “March Snow,” Ko Yeon-ok’s “The Master Has Arrived,” and Park Geun-hung’s “Red Bus.” The book also contains commentaries written about the writers’ lives and works by honorary professor at Pennsylvania ...

A gilt-bronze cap from the 9th Tomb at Sinchon-ri (National Treasure No. 295) and gilt-bronze accessories and shoes as well as silverware from Bogam-ri, which are both located in Naju, will be highlighted in the first exhibition hall. Also on exhibit will be a gilt-bronze headpiece from Andong Tomb in Goheung, a nearby county; earthen vessels discovered at Haenam; and other items that show activ...

Lee Charm, CEO of the Korea Tourism Organization, is in hot water for allegedly receiving favors from a subcontractor by visiting a brothel in Japan last year. While the German-turned-Korean admits to visiting the business, he insisted that he paid for the services on his own, saying it was only a “pure massage to take away the fatigue.” According to a report by jTBC on Tuesday, the KTO CEO vis...

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor of General Education at Sungshin Women’s University, well-known for his efforts for promoting Korea’s position on sovereignty over the Dokdo Islets, and has recently published a book titled, “Do you Know? 10 Things you Must Know About Korea.” Seo, who is known for his efforts to promote Korean culture, has selected a wide range of issues, historical moments and cultur...

President Park Geun-hye ordered her staff Monday to strictly investigate cultural restoration projects, saying those found responsible for shoddy repair work should be severely punished. Park gave the order to her chief of staff Kim Ki-choon ahead of a meeting of senior presidential secretaries early in the day, citing recent revelations that the ancient Sungnyemun Gate was poorly restored, acco...

PARIS (AFP) ― The United States and Israel lost their UNESCO voting rights Friday after suspending funding to the organization in 2011 over Palestinian admission, a source from the U.N. agency told AFP. Neither the U.S. nor Israel provided documentation by Friday needed “to avoid losing their right to vote,” the source said on condition of anonymity. Both countries stopped paying their contribu...

Four veteran entertainers, Cho Yong-pil, Gu Bong-seo, Ahn Sung-ki and Patti Kim, are to receive the Order of Cultural Merit from the Korean government. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Sunday, the four entertainers have been selected to receive the silver crown medal, Korea’s second-highest cultural honor. Cho was recognized for his enormous impact on the Korean pop m...

Demographic changes spur libraries to beef up resident-centered programs for seniors and multicultural families

Offline libraries trying to redefine their roles for the digital era