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Police suspend probe of woman who kissed BTS’ Jin at hug event
The South Korean police announced Monday that they have suspended their investigation into a Japanese woman in her 50s who unexpectedly kissed Jin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, at a fan-hugging event last year. The woman, who is currently in Japan, was called for questioning in February on charges of sexual harassment in a public space. However, she did not cooperate, the police said. Given that it will take more than a few months to summon the suspect, the authorities decided to put the cas
March 31, 2025 -
Teenage virtuoso Kim Sae-hyun wins Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition
South Korean pianist Kim Sae-hyun has won the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition, the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation said Monday. The 17-year-old virtuoso performed Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 3, Op. 30, with the Orchestra of the Republican Guard, conducted by Bastien Stil, in the final round Saturday, competing against four other finalists. Kim made his debut in 2018 through the Kumho Prodigy Concert. In July 2023, he claimed the First Prize, Audience Prize and Junior Jury Prize at the Clevelan
March 31, 2025 -
Korean Cultural Center in Osaka promotes traditional crafts through exhibition
The Korean Cultural Center in Osaka is showcasing traditional Korean crafts through a yearlong exhibition and program series to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Japan and the upcoming 2025 World Expo in Osaka. The exhibition is structured around the four seasons, with each segment highlighting a different aspect of Korean craftsmanship. Opening the series is “Reflections of the Season: Spring,” which runs from March 28 to June 4. This segment will feature round
March 30, 2025 -
Weekly open-air market with live music at Namsan
Themed markets at National Theater of Korea in April, May The National Theater of Korea will be hosting its outdoor cultural festival, “Art in Series,” every Saturday from April 5 to May 24 at the plaza in front of Haeoreum Grand Theater, at the foot of Seoul's Namsan. This year's edition of the weekly festival will feature an open-air market with a different theme each week — crafts, flowers, seasonal produce and coffee — while live music adds to the festival's vibrant atmosphere. The festival
March 30, 2025 -
Art evolves through accumulation of time, two artists show
Kukje Gallery exhibitions of Ha Chong-hyun, Choi Jae-eun show how art changed in later years Artists persevere to express what they hold inside or deliver messages through art — and galleries nurturing long-running relationships with artists are crucial in showing how that art evolves through time. Kukje Gallery in Seoul presents two exhibitions, focusing on contemporary artists Ha Chong-hyun and Choi Jae-eun, showing how they have continuously evolved in their artistic practices into their late
March 28, 2025 -
Intertwined with history of oil, layers of memory unfold in Kim A-young's show at Hermes
Using cutting-edge technologies, Kim brings her memories to new work about her father Kim A-young is a Korean artist rising fast in the global art scene, her works winning recognition around the world. Kim’s newly unveiled video and installation works at Atelier Hermes in Seoul revolve around the history of the late 20th century, with a focus on Arab oil. While oil has been a crucial motif in several works by the artist who considers the natural resource an engine driving modernism, the artist h
March 28, 2025 -
Korea’s worst wildfires prompt massive artifact relocation
27 cases of damage to cultural heritage tallied since last week Over 1,000 cultural artifacts protected by the government have been moved as a precaution as South Korea races to contain its worst wildfires on record. According to the Korea Heritage Service, 1,566 such items of historical importance have been taken out mostly from temples and old houses in the southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, where the blazes started last week. Unmovable objects like pavilions and halls have been covered with f
March 28, 2025 -
Online reservations open for Gyeongbokgung dessert tours
Fancy some tea and dessert at a royal palace? Online reservations have opened for “dessert tours” of Saenggwabang, the royal kitchen at Gyeongbokgung, the main Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul, running April 16 to June 23. Reservations for the tours, offered four times daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., can be made through April 1 on Ticketlink. Admission costs 15,000 won. Participants can enjoy royal snacks such as “juak,” or deep-fried glutinous rice cakes, and herbal tea prescribed by ro
March 28, 2025 -
Damage to heritage grows amid raging wildfires
Key UNESCO sites in Andong still intact, officials say The tally of damage to cultural heritage overseen by the government has been steadily increasing since last week, when one of the worst wildfires in South Korean history started in the country’s southeastern region. The Korea Heritage Service has so far reported 18 cases of damage, including natural monuments, two state-designated treasures and three scenic sites. No National Treasures — the highest rank of state-designated treasures — has b
March 27, 2025 -
Royal kitchen at Gyeongbokgung to show jang-making
April 4 event to mark UNESCO recognition of practice last year The traditional Korean ways of making fermented pastes and sauces, or “jang,” will be showcased at Gyeongbokgung, a Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul. On April 4, the palace will open to the public a space dedicated to jang-making, inviting visitors to look around the place and study the tools and ingredients used for jang-making. At Saenggwabang, the palace kitchen where desserts and refreshments were prepared for the royals, v
March 27, 2025 -
2025 LCK league games to feature major changes
One of most premier leagues in League of Legends landscape to kick off next week The 2025 League of Legends Champions Korea league games begin next week, with significant changes aimed at making the tournament more exciting for esports fans. LCK, South Korea’s professional LoL esports league, is one of the five major regional leagues in the LoL scene, alongside China’s LPL and North America’s LCS. The league is widely regarded as one of the premier leagues in the LoL ecosystem, holding the recor
March 26, 2025 -
Firefighters race to protect cultural heritage
Two UNESCO sites in Andong remain at risk One of the deadliest wildfires in South Korean history has culture officials scrambling to protect cultural heritage in the country’s southeastern region ravaged by the fast-burning blazes. Officials at the Korea Heritage Service, the agency handling sites and items of historic importance, have raised the four-level disaster alert to its highest level for the first time in response to the fires, which began Friday in the Gyeongsang provinces. The unprece
March 26, 2025 -
Gugak figures question fairness, motive behind National Gugak Center head selection
Experts urge Culture Ministry to restart hiring process for National Gugak Center head, post traditionally held by gugak community The ongoing recruitment process for the new head of the National Gugak Center has sparked controversy, as members of Korea’s traditional music community raise concerns over one of the three finalists — a senior official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. On Tuesday, an emergency committee of former directors and researchers at the center urged the Cult
March 26, 2025 -
Breakdancing, parkour at Sydney Opera House’s forecourt in April
Two Korean street art groups, Letitle and A-Run Crew, will transform the Sydney Opera House’s forecourt into a stage for street dance, breakdancing and parkour. The event marks the first of its kind at the iconic Western Broadwalk, offering audiences a chance to experience contemporary Korean street performances outdoors. Letitle will present “Purpose,” a 30-minute performance specially choreographed as a dance “conversation” with the Opera House building and its forecourt. Five performers will
March 26, 2025 -
Fan meeting with actor Kim Soo-hyun in Taiwan canceled amid controversy
A fan meeting with South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun in Taiwan has been canceled, 7-Eleven Taiwan said Tuesday, amid an ongoing controversy over his underage dating allegations. In a notice posted to its Instagram, 7-Eleven Taiwan said the fan meeting, originally scheduled for Sunday, was canceled due to changes in Kim's schedule. The event had drawn attention as it would have been the actor's first public appearance since YouTubers have raised speculation that he dated late actress Kim Sae-ron wh
March 25, 2025