Palaces shut down over record snow

Historic sites in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, including royal palaces, royal tombs and the Jongmyo royal shrine, will be closed Thursday over safety concerns prompted by record snow. According to the Korea Heritage Service, the four of the five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces -- Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeongung and Deoksugung -- and Jongmyo, all in Seoul, will be closed. The royal tombs in the capital and Gyeonggi Province will also be closed. The state-run agency cited concerns over

Nov. 28, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Thirty-Three Blooms

The "Thirty-Three Blooms" solo exhibition by artist Hwang Do-you (born 1987) is on display at Art Side Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Dec. 28. This exhibition delves into abstract floral forms through simple brushstrokes and vivid colors, featuring approximately 10 works that reflect the artist's distinctive sense of flatness. Hwang conveys floral forms through areas of color and rhythm, emphasizing the purity and autonomy of painting. Notably, the exhibition showcases works c

Nov. 27, 2024

[Herald Review] Aladdin: The Korean Genie is out of the bottle in magical adaptation

The Genie is out of the bottle in Korea, a decade after the hit musical "Aladdin" hit Broadway. The Korean edition of "Aladdin," which debuted on Friday, delivers a winning combination of Disney’s beloved story and tunes, standout performances by Korea’s top actors, and humor that resonates with local audiences. The role of the Genie is shared by three actors: Jung Sung-hwa, Kang Hong-seok and Jeong Won-yeong. Aladdin is played by Kim Jun-su, Park Kang-hyun -- kno

Nov. 27, 2024

Composer Shin Dong-hoon, once aspiring novelist, shares inspirations behind his work

On Monday, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and cellist Han Jae-min will kick off the inaugural Korean edition of London’s leading summer festival BBC Proms, a week-long festival of classical music, choral music and music from West End musicals. South Korean composer Chin Un-suk’s “Subito Con For

Nov. 26, 2024

Hangeul Calligraphy to be designated as cultural heritage

The traditional calligraphy of the Korean alphabet Hangeul will be designated as part of the country's National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Korea Heritage Service said Tuesday. The state-run agency announced the plan to include "Hangeul Calligraphy (Hangeul Seoye)" in the new list of intangible cultural heritage, following a 30-day period in which it will receive opinions from experts in related fields, and a deliberation by the Intangible Heritage Committee. Hangeul Calligr

Nov. 26, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Raum der Gedanken

Lee So-jeong (born 1993), an artist based in Dusseldorf and gaining attention across Europe, explores the unconscious and dreams, capturing the depth of emotions with delicate precision through her focus on human figures as the primary subject. Through her painted narratives, the artist reveals the emotions and experiences inherent in the human psyche, presenting works that intertwine autobiographical memories and sentiments. The exhibition is on view at DIA Contemporary, located in Samcheong-do

Nov. 25, 2024

Choi Ha-young: Cellist of many languages, both musical and spoken

The 26-year-old cellist to offer two programs as Lotte Concert Hall‘s in-house artist for 2025 South Korean cellist Choi Ha-young, next year‘s Lotte Concert Hall in-house artist, speaks fluent English, Korean and German, reflecting her multicultural upbringing and dedication to learning across sever

Nov. 25, 2024

Naver Webtoon promises creative freedom, responsible webtoon platform

Naver Webtoon, South Korean tech giant Naver’s online platform for comics, manga and webtoons, announced Friday that it will improve policies to create an appropriate environment for its creators and readers, while apologizing for the recent controversy involving webtoon series “Pong Pong Man From Another World.” The series follows the story of a 39-year-old man and his wife, who married a financially stable man purely for economic gain. It came under fire for misogyny in Sep

Nov. 22, 2024

Cho Seong-jin album a tribute to Ravel

South Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin is set to release a series of recordings celebrating the 150th anniversary of French composer Maurice Ravel, marking the first time the 30-year-old pianist has recorded a composer’s complete works. The project takes the form of two albums, produced by record label Deutsche Grammophon. The first, "Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works," will launch on Jan. 17, 2025, in digital and CD formats. This will be followed by the release of a second album

Nov. 22, 2024

[Cimer down, design at Wappen, familiar space

Luxuriate at water retreat, slap on a ‘wappen’ at a sew-on patch store and contemplate the meaning of space Swim and sauna in paradise For those torn between swimming and a sauna experience, Cimer provides a luxurious retreat with its combination of swimming pools and spa facilities. Located in Jung

Nov. 22, 2024

[More than APT] Home as personal manifesto in a sea of apartments

Winston Churchill's observations on architecture suggest that we shape our buildings, thereafter, they shape us. In today's Korean society, the buildings shaping many people's lives are cookie-cutter apartment complexes, practical havens that prioritize convenience, safety and investment value over individual expression. These standardized structures have become the go-to choice for many, reflecting the priorities of a fast-paced urban lifestyle. However, there are those challen

Nov. 21, 2024

Young composers add traditional music flavor to 20-year-old game

The National Orchestra of Korea, dedicated to contemporary interpretations of traditional Korean music, is bringing back a program gaining popularity among gamers -- the soundtracks of hit games reimagined using traditional Korean instruments. Two previous collaborations with game developers were presented in the “Soso Music Concert” series, aimed at children and young people, featuring mobile games such as "Cookie Run: Kingdom" in 2021 and 2022, and "Crazyracing Kar

Nov. 20, 2024

Pianist Cho Seong-jin to tour Asia with BRSO and maestro Simon Rattle

The world-renowned Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is returning to South Korea after six years, this time with Simon Rattle as chief conductor, for concerts featuring celebrated pianist Cho Seong-jin as soloist. Cho, who joined Rattle on his last three world tours with different orchestras, will be the sole featured artist for the German orchestra's two-week-long Asia tour, with performances in Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The Asia tour will begin Wednesday at the Lotte Concert Hall in Jams

Nov. 19, 2024

Korean content industry reaches record-high exports at $13.2 billion

The Korean content industry exports reached an all-time high of $13.2 billion (18.38 trillion won) in 2022 as Hallyu continued to expand around the world. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that revenue from the Korean content industry grew from 128 trillion won in 2020 to 151 trillion won in 2022. Exports also reached an all-time high, rising from $11.9 billion (16.57 trillion won) to $13.2 billion (18.38 trillion won) during the same period. Building on this succ

Nov. 19, 2024

[Herald Interview] Veteran creators take on new roles in 'Swing Days: Codename A'

Korean screenwriter Kim Hee-jai and American music director, producer and composer Jason Howland, both seasoned veterans in their respective fields, stepped into unfamiliar territory with "Swing Days: Codename A," a new musical set to premiere later this month. Kim, 55, a playwright with a string of successful films and dramas to her name including “Silmido” (2003), the first film in South Korea to surpass 10 million admissions, has ventured into musical production for th

Nov. 18, 2024