The World Health City Forum, set to take place in Incheon's Songdo Convensia from Monday, is poised to illuminate the intricate challenges posed by globalized risks in an era shaped by the intricate interplay of pandemics, climate change and economic downturns. Under the theme "Globalization of risks, how to make the world safer?" the three-day gathering will bring together some 150 distinguished thought leaders, including scholars, government officials and business experts across

Culture Nov. 17, 2023

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province -- At the heart of Korea's dynamic performance culture is the captivating tradition of "tal" and "talchum" -- masks and mask dancing. This form of masked performance art unveils a hidden world of storytelling and symbolism, enchanting audiences. Since the period of the Three Kingdoms, talchum has been more than entertainment. Masks have the power to empower individuals to air secrets, stir up deep emotions and recount age-old tales, crea

Culture Nov. 14, 2023

Gotaek, which translates to "old house," signifies a historic family residence. Typically, these homes were inhabited by the upper class, including scholars, and have been diligently preserved by generations maintaining much of their original form. The Korea Tourism Organization has selected five gotaek destinations to explore, each with a unique and compelling story to share. The destinations are: Yeoyudang in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province; Incheon Citizens' Home in Incheon; Myeon

Travel Nov. 11, 2023

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province is gearing up to open its doors to the public this Sunday to offer important documents that show the history of the dynasty (1392-1910) year-round. "Due to the delicate nature of paper book preservation, museums have previously limited the exhibition duration of these artifacts," a senior researcher commented during a press conference organized by the Cultural Herit

Culture Nov. 9, 2023

진행자: 김혜연, Naomi Ng 1. S. Korea, Thailand to work to resolve entry denial claims 기사 요약: 정부, 태국과 체류 및 입국 심사 불만 문제 논의할 의사 밝혀 [1] South Korea and Thailand are to jointly address the growing number of undocumented residents of Thai nationality here in response to complaints of some regular Thai travelers being denied entry to Korea. - undocumented residents 미등록 거주자들 [2] Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday that First Vice Minister Chang Ho-jin proposed holding a bilateral consu

Podcast Nov. 9, 2023

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, once again agreed to return only the sarira from the 13th century silver-gilt Lamaistic pagoda-shaped sarira reliquary to Korea, according to Hyemun, a former Buddhist monk and the leader of a non-profit civic group dedicated to repatriating cultural heritage, Wednesday. The decision comes more than a decade after previous talks fell through, after the same offer was made in 2009. The civic group announced Wednesday that it had met with Julia McCarthy, interim he

Culture Nov. 8, 2023

JEONGSEON, Gangwon Province -- "Arirang Arirang Arario ..." The melancholic yet oddly comforting melody resonates deeply in the hearts of Koreans. While the song's exact origins remain unclear, historical records suggest that Arirang became popular in the late Joseon era, cementing its position as one of the most beloved Korean folksongs, evoking a sense of home to many. In December 2012, Arirang, the lyrical folk song of the Republic of Korea, was named UNESCO Intangible Cultur

Culture Nov. 7, 2023

Discussions on the return to Korea of the silver-gilt Lamaistic pagoda-shaped sarira reliquary dating back to the 13th century in the Goryeo era, which is currently on exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, are set to resume, 10 years after the previous talks fell through. Hyemun, a former Buddhist monk and the leader of a non-profit civic group dedicated to repatriating cultural heritage, emphasized the need to restart discussions and focus on bringing the sarira back to Korea, in a p

Culture Nov. 7, 2023

The Mayplace Hotel, situated in the heart of Seoul in Jongno-gu, has announced a special promotional event for November in celebration of its ninth anniversary. Having opened in 2014 as a sub brand of the five-star hotel Mayfield Seoul, Mayplace Hotel caters to business travelers as well as tourists exploring Seoul's historical and cultural sites. The special promotion offers a nine percent discount on all room types, available on both weekdays and weekends for November reservations. A

Culture Nov. 5, 2023

Sitting tall on a cliffside on the Han River, the Korean Catholic Martyrs' Museum is located in a spot of historical tragedy and religious significance. A five-minute stroll from Hapjeong Station, visitors pass through a memorial park at the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine before reaching the museum entrance. In the late Joseon period, many Koreans faced execution for believing in Catholicism, which was introduced to the country in the 1780s through books sent by European missionaries in Chi

Culture Nov. 5, 2023

Often requiring many hands and hours of labor, gimjang, in which large batches of kimchi are made for the coming winter, appears to be on its way out. Increasingly, people make kimchi throughout the year in smaller amounts or buy it at stores. Yet, kimchi remains a staple on Korean dining tables and people want more healthy choices when it comes to something that they consume daily. Dongwon F&B's Yangban Kimchi has been conducting its Gimjang Tour since 1999. These tours take place at t

Food Nov. 4, 2023

This weekend may be the last chance to see the red and gold fall foliage at its peak in Seoul. N Seoul Tower is where you can enjoy the autumn colors while hiking the trail to the tower on top of Namsan. If you arrive at the top at night, you can enjoy panoramic views of central Seoul as well as check out Namsan Octagonal Pavilion. On top of N Seoul Tower is n.Grill, a French restaurant that offers a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner. The restaurant rotates, giving a complete 360-degree panora

Culture Nov. 3, 2023

Now is a perfect time to visit royal palaces and tombs as several trails and tombs normally closed to the public are open for a few weeks in autumn when leaves change colors. While the peak foliage season varies from year to year and in different locations, this year, the leaves are expected to be at their most colorful and vibrant through early November. The eight forest trails of the Joseon royal tombs, including some that are usually closed to the public, which opened on Sept. 28, will remain

Culture Nov. 1, 2023

The epitaph plaque for Madam Jo (1841-1892), the wife of Park Chung-yang (1841-1905), the first Korean diplomatic minister sent to the US in 1887, has been brought back to Korea and returned to their descendants, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Tuesday. Professor Emeritus Mark A. Peterson from Brigham Young University, who owned the artifact for more than 40 years after purchasing it in an antiques store, donated the epitaph plaque to Park Chan-su, the current head of the Bannam P

Culture Oct. 31, 2023

Soprano Sumi Jo received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit on Friday. The nation's highest honor is given to artists by the president of South Korea in recognition of contributions to enhancing Korea's global cultural reputation. Thirty-two individuals, including Jo, received awards at a ceremony recognizing their contributions, organized by the Culture Ministry, which took place at the Modu Art Theater in central Seoul. Hwang Eul-sun, intangible cultural heritage holder of royal si

Culture Oct. 29, 2023