Nine major forest trails near Joseon royal tombs opened to the public Tuesday, and will stay open through June 30. In northern Seoul, there is a 1.8-kilometer path from Gangneung, the royal tombs of Joseon King Myeongjong and his Queen Consort Insun, that leads to Taereung. A 970-meter forest path from Uireung, the royal tomb of Joseon King Gyeongjong, starts at the foot of Cheonjangsan. In the eastern part of Gyeonggi Province, trails of Donggureung in Guri, Gwangneung and Sareung in Namya

Travel May 17, 2022

The 2022 Deoksugung Spring Concert will be held at the fountain located in front of Deoksugung’s Seokjojeon at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Deoksugung Palace Management Office and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, the program for the evening includes popular pieces such as Johann Strauss’ “Voices of Spring Waltz,” Johannes Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5,” Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,&rdquo

Culture May 16, 2022

Choi Eung-chon, an art history professor at Dongguk University, has been appointed the new head of the Cultural Heritage Administration. Choi previously served as chair of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation from 2019. He succeeds Kim Hyun-mo, who had served in the role since December 2020. Known as an expert in Buddhist art, Choi graduated from Dongguk University and holds a doctoral degree from Kyushu University in Japan. Choi started his career as a curator at the National

People May 15, 2022

A newly renovated hanok, Binkwan, in central Seoul's Bukchon Hanok Village is the latest traditional Korean house to be turned into an accommodation by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The space is designed by Rakkojae, a major hanok stay brand. Upon entering, guests will appreciate the calm background music playing in the serene atmosphere of Binkwan which affords a panoramic view of Seoul, including Namsan Tower. Only a few minutes from the bustling tourist area of Bukchon, Binkwan

Travel May 14, 2022

"Should we go for jajangmyeon or jjamppong today?” This is a typical question asked at a Chinese restaurant in Korea, where the two dishes are the most popular. Jjamppong refers to a Korean-Chinese noodle dish with either a spicy seafood broth or pork broth, made with red gochugaru, or red chili powder. In recent years, the traditional jjamppong has been getting a makeover, just like other fusion dishes that have mixed cultural roots. While retaining the spicy kick, jjamppong t

Food May 14, 2022

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents Japanese breakfast menus Tamayura, the luxury Japanese restaurant at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, presents three authentic Japanese breakfasts prepared with seasonal ingredients. Abalone Ozen is a rice porridge dish made with carefully selected abalone from the waters off Wando Island. Eel Ozen is a donburi-style breakfast dish of sea eel, served on pot-steamed rice. Sea Urchin Roe Ozen features saffron-steamed rice topped with sea urchin roe, tofu skin and aspara

Food May 13, 2022

Learning, working and contributing to society -- these are the three steps that one should take every three decades in order to live a responsible and fulfilling life, according to Kim Hyung-seok, a 103-year-old professor emeritus at Yonsei University. At The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum held Wednesday evening in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, the esteemed scholar spoke of his own contemplations on the true meaning of life. Born in North Korea’s South Pyongan Province in 1920

People May 12, 2022

The 2022 Royal Culture Festival’s opening performance was held at Heungnyemun Square in Gyeongbokgung, on Tuesday evening, after having gone virtual for two years due to the pandemic.　 Jointly hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palace and Tombs Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the spring edition of the biannual festival is being held under the theme of “Narye and Yeonhui“ through May 22. The festival centers around royal court ritua

Culture May 11, 2022

Cheong Wa Dae opened its doors to the public on Tuesday soon after Yoon Suk-yeol, a former prosecutor general, was sworn in as South Korea’s 20th president.  　The opening of the gates to Cheong Wa Dae was broadcast live as part of the presidential inauguration ceremony, bringing an end to its function as the office and residence of 12 Korean presidents, from President Syngman Rhee to President Moon Jae-in, since the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. 　Jongmyo Jerye

Culture May 10, 2022

The fame of “K-food” was not built in a day. Korean cuisine, an important component of the country’s soft power along with K-pop and K-dramas that have a relatively short history, dates back centuries, with written records of it going back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC–AD 668). In metropolitan cities, fine dining restaurants that serve ornate contemporary Korean cuisines and small eateries with bite-sized Korean snacks are easy to find. However, places that serv

Food May 7, 2022

Canadian nature documentary “Geographies of Solitude” has won the Grand Prize in the international competition section at this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival. The feature debut by Jacquelyn Mills was among the 20 winners announced by the 23rd Jeonju IFF organizing committee Thursday. The festival comes to an end Saturday after a 10-day run. “Geographies of Solitude” is about Zoe Lucas, an environmentalist who has been cataloging the flora and fauna of

Film May 6, 2022

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents special dining promotion for families Flavors, a buffet restaurant at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, greets the arrival of May with a special buffet menu dedicated to families. During the month of May, the buffet features seafood, grilled meats, Korean dishes and other cuisines prepared at seven live stations. On Children’s Day, May 5, kids’ favorites including beef tacos, rose tteokbokki with chewy noodles, mini burgers and mozzarella hotdogs will be av

Food May 6, 2022

In hopes of promoting intangible cultural heritage to the public, the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, is holding special workshops onsite every Saturday until November. The program is divided into three sections -- outdoor folklore games, traditional handicraft workshops, and intangible heritage in everyday life. Visitors can learn traditional games, including arrow-throwing “tuho,” traditional board game “yutnori,” “jegichagi

Culture May 5, 2022

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 under the stars by the moonlit palace. Tours will be held twice a day starting at 6:40 p.m. an

Culture May 4, 2022

 After 11 years of numerous obstacles and criticisms, the Lego blocks are finally stacked and Legoland Korea Resort is ready to open on Children’s Day. However, historical artifacts found near the site and the surrounding areas -- the source of opposition to the theme park in Chungcheon, Gangwon Province -- remain neglected inside plastic greenhouses. As Legoland Korea Resort’s Thursday grand opening nears, the amusement park is under fire once again for dragging its feet wit

Culture May 3, 2022