-
Peabody Essex Museum reopens Korea gallery
The Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts, US, has reopened the Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture. The gallery, receiving visitors since Saturday, is named after Yu Kil-chun, a reformist leader and diplomat who met Edward Sylvester Morse, the PEM executive director, while on Korea’s delegation to the US in 1883. Their ties led to the US museum keeping a rich Korean collection, according to the National Museum of Korea, which had supported the reopening. The gallery displays over 100
May 19, 2025 -
Six decades of Korean contemporary art unfold in UAE’s largest showcase
The history and evolution of Korea’s contemporary art scene is now on view in the United Arab Emirates through the most extensive presentation to date in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Titled “Layered Medium: We Are In Open Circuits,” the exhibition opened Friday at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, featuring 48 works by 29 Korean artists and spanning the 1960s to the present. All works are part of the Seoul Museum of Art’s collection, and the exhibition was co-curated by UK-based independ
May 16, 2025 -
Discover old Seoul, inland tidal flat and art of Patti Smith
This weekend, get a feel for old parts of Seoul by joining a guided tour by tram. If you are a fan of Patti Smith, you won't want to miss the iconic rocker's unique exhibition at Piknic featuring immersive audio installation, video work and paintings. Outside of Seoul, the 22-meter wooden spiral observatory at the salt farm-turned-eco park in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, affords a panoramic view of the surrounding wetlands. Ride through Seoul on WeRide Seoul Tram Explore Seoul’s historic neighbor
May 16, 2025 -
Star chefs bring their signature dishes to Jeju
SEOGWIPO, JEJU-- A select group of culinary stars brought bold flavors and personal stories to life at the 10th Jeju Food & Wine Festival’s “Master Chef Class,” held as part of the island’s growing campaign to establish itself as a global culinary tourism hub. The Jeju Food & Wine Festival, a nonprofit cultural initiative hosted by Korea Food & Wine Festival and Cheju Halla University, celebrates Jeju’s pristine local ingredients and unique food culture. This year, it featured "Master Chef Class
May 15, 2025 -
Interpreter to presidents: Choi Jung-wha becomes first Korean woman to receive Legion d'Honneur Officier
Choi Jung-wha, president of the Corea Image Communication Institute, has become the first Korean woman to be awarded the Legion d’Honneur Officier, the highest decoration in France, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to strengthening Korea-France relations and advancing cross-cultural exchange. The award was presented on Thursday during a ceremony at the French Embassy in Seoul’s Seodaemun-gu. Approximately 70 distinguished guests attended the event, including Poongsan Chairman Ryu
May 15, 2025 -
Culture Ministry overhauls hiring process for national arts leadership
In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a sweeping overhaul of how leaders of national arts organizations are selected. The ministry will replace the long-standing, opaque recommendation-based system with an open and publicly accountable recruitment process — an approach it describes as “radical.” “We’re introducing an open recruitment process for national arts organizations, which we believe is quite radical,” said First Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong d
May 15, 2025 -
PlayX4 packs punch with gaming, entertainment
PlayX4, one of the nation's largest gaming fests, is set to take place at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from May 22 to May 25. PlayX4 serves as a platform to spotlight the latest gaming industry trends while fostering connections between domestic and international developers and consumers. This year's PlayX4 highlights include Daewon Media's new game release showcase, Neowiz's indie game showcase, a Steam Deck demo lounge and the Korea round of the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival.
May 15, 2025 -
Korea brings together artists, producers, cultural leaders at ARKO Global Week
Arts Council Korea, a national institution dedicated to promoting arts and culture, is launching ARKO Global Week — a comprehensive celebration of global artistic exchange, cross-disciplinary collaboration and cultural vision. Scheduled from May 24-30, the cultural week brings together leading voices in the arts for a series of international programs in Seoul. Set within the event is the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture, to take place from May 27-30 in Seoul. It is the first time this globa
May 14, 2025 -
Defining ‘hanok’ right opens up possibilities
Koreans have long taken pride in the traditional Korean house, “hanok,” for its embrace of a lifestyle seeking harmony with nature. However, what truly makes hanok the kind of house that embodies such ideals is still debated — a discussion now in need of a conclusion, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s director of hanok preservation. “Hanok has survived generations, meaning its adaptations today are varied, catering to the needs of many contemporary architects and homeowners,” said
May 14, 2025 -
Webtoon Entertainment reports Q1 net loss despite meeting revenue projections
Webtoon Entertainment, the global arm of South Korea’s Naver Webtoon, reported a net loss of $22 million in the first quarter, despite slightly exceeding revenue forecasts. The Los Angeles-based webcomics platform, which went public in June 2024, recorded revenue of $325.7 million, narrowly surpassing the $324 million estimate from analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. While the figure remained largely unchanged from the $326.7 million reported a year earlier, revenue increased 5.3 per
May 14, 2025 -
At 93, Gachon University president goes viral for youthful appearance
At 93 years old, Lee Gil-ya, president of Gachon University, has once again become the subject of widespread admiration online for looking significantly younger than her age, following her appearance in a recent promotional video posted on the university’s official YouTube channel. In the recent video, Lee sits upright as she addresses students and viewers. “The era of AI and platform we are entering is defined by the absence of thresholds and boundaries,” she said. “Exceptional students and lea
May 14, 2025 -
The AI artist who refuses to lose himself
When one introduces oneself as an “AI artist,” the question almost always follows: Who is the true creator -- the machine or the human behind it? The recent boom in AI-generated images, particularly those mimicking the look of Studio Ghibli, has made this question become even more widely asked. Yoon Seok-kwan, an "AI artist" who works under the pseudonym Keepkwan, shares this concern. While he believes originality is still possible when working with AI, he worries that much of what is being prod
May 14, 2025 -
Architects across globe urge climate action at Venice Biennale
VENICE, Italy — Visitors confront darkness in a room filled with suspended air conditioners and water pools; the uncomfortable, stuffy and humid environment alerts people to the issues at stake without saying a word. The installation “The Third Paradise Perspective” at the Venice Biennale 2025 calls for collective responsibility and action. “Architecture has always been a response to climate — an act of shelter, survival and optimism. From the first primitive huts to the submerged foundations of
May 13, 2025 -
Pursuing living tradition: Architect Daniel Tandler on reimagining hanok tradition
For Korean German architect Daniel Tandler, understanding the essence of "hanok" is conducive not only to good design, but also to grasping the broader values embedded in Korean life. Over the past decade, Tandler has immersed himself in studying, designing and living with hanok — traditional Korean houses known for their harmony with nature, wooden joinery, "ondol" underfloor heating and open spatial flow. Through his Seoul-based practice, the Urbandetail Architecture co-founder and principal a
May 13, 2025 -
Lay Buddhist Association commemorates 70th anniversary
The Lay Buddhist Association commemorated its 70th anniversary Monday with a ceremony dedicated to praying for national unity through harmony and mutual growth, and reaffirming its commitment to practicing the teachings of the Buddha. The event -- held at the Shilla Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul on Monday -- drew approximately 700 attendees, including ordained monks, leaders of lay Buddhist associations from across the nation and political figures. The ceremony featured an opening declaration, a broad
May 13, 2025