-
1
First Korean lesbian dating reality show to stream on Wavve
-
2
Youn Yuh-jung owns it: 'I’ve been in this job too long'
-
3
Park Eun-bin talks becoming psychopath doctor in 'Hyper Knife'
-
4
Gyeongbokgung royal library open for limited time
-
5
Imagine reuniting with your husband in heaven, but you are 80, he is 30
-
6
Coldplay thrills 'No. 1 audience' with music, light and messages of love
-
Baritone Park Jusung to present recitals as Mapo artist-in-residence
Two moments changed the course of Korean baritone Park Jusung's life. The first came in his freshman year of high school, when he saw the opera “Carmen” for the first time. At the time, Park dreamed of working in media as a producer or film director, but after watching the performance he was deeply drawn to the world of opera and hoped to be involved in some way -- even though he never imagined himself as a singer. “I didn’t think I had the voice for it,” said Park, who is the 2025 artist-in-res
April 20, 2025 -
Jongmyo main hall reopens after restoration
Jongmyo Jeonjeon, the main hall of the royal shrine of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), where ancestral tablets of its kings and queens are placed, was unveiled to the public Sunday after extensive restoration on the building since 2020. The Hwananje ceremony -- the returning of important relics to their original place -- kicked off at 2 p.m. in front of Changdeokgung in Seoul, where ancestral tablets ("sinju") had temporarily been placed. After a ceremonial march of 3.5 kilometers in Jongno-gu,
April 20, 2025 -
Coldplay’s record-breaking Korea visit thrills fans with jokes, collabs, heartwarming vibes
Coldplay is currently in South Korea as part of its "Music of the Spheres" world tour, performing six shows in total. After completing three performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the band will return to the stage on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. With an estimated 50,000 attendees per show, the tour is expected to attract a combined 300,000 concertgoers -- the most ever for a foreign musical act visiting Korea. From record-breaking attendance numbers to unexpected jokes about Korean pol
April 20, 2025 -
Museum chief talks national identity, global profile
For the National Museum of Korea, conveying the national identity of Korea is a starting point to demonstrating and informing about culture, according to the museum’s general director, Kim Jae-hong. In an interview with The Korea Herald on April 10, Kim emphasized curating exhibitions quintessentially Korean. “This year is all the more meaningful to us and the country,” Kim said, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. The “Art of Early
April 19, 2025 -
Brewing heritage: How Korea’s traditional alcohol is finding new life
Once overshadowed by mainstream choices like soju and beer, traditional Korean alcohol has experienced a resurgence since the early 2020s. The market for traditional drinks in Korea grew from 62.7 billion won ($43.8 million) in 2020 to 147.5 billion won in 2023, and the trend appears to be continuing, with major department stores reporting double-digit on-year increases in their traditional alcohol sales in 2024. This rapid growth is largely driven by younger generations seeking flavors beyond t
April 19, 2025 -
Court upholds ruling against artist’s family over ‘fake’ painting
An appeals court upheld a ruling against the family of the late artist Chun Kyung-ja, who had sought damages from the state for declaring authentic a museum-held painting that Chun had disavowed as a fake. The Seoul Central District Court said Friday that Kim Jeong-hee, the complainant — a daughter of the late artist — did not present sufficient evidence to reverse an independent assessment secured by prosecutors in an earlier case, which found that the painting “Beautiful Woman” was by Chun. Ki
April 18, 2025 -
Why actor Park Jeong-min became a publisher and put audiobook first
Actor Park Jeong-min has introduced a new initiative as the head of his publishing company Muze, aiming to make literature more accessible to readers with visual impairments. The project, titled the “Listening Novel Project,” launched with the release of Kim Keum-hee’s new full-length novel "First Summer, Wanju" as an audiobook. Departing from the conventional practice of releasing print editions first, the audiobook version was completed and distributed ahead of the print release. On April 4, c
April 18, 2025 -
Two ‘Hedda Gabler’ productions in May: Lee Hye-young, Lee Young-ae star in separate stage revivals
This spring, theatergoers will witness a rare theatrical coincidence: two productions of "Hedda Gabler," both starring major stars, are opening just one day apart. The National Theater Company of Korea will revive "Hedda Gabler" at Myeongdong Theater for the first time in 13 years, beginning May 8. The play was a critical and commercial success when it premiered in Korea in 2012, with Lee Hye-young’s portrayal of the title role earning her best actress honors at both the 5th Korea Theater Awards
April 18, 2025 -
South Korea to help preserve Machu Picchu
South Korea will assist Peru with the preservation of Machu Picchu, an Inca-era stone citadel nestled in the eastern Andes Mountains in the South American country. The latest official development assistance project will start in 2026, with the Korea Heritage Service currently seeking interagency agreement as required by law before initiation. The state-run agency has been providing ODA to mainly countries in Asia, such as Laos and Cambodia, later expanding to Uzbekistan in 2020 and Egypt in 2023
April 18, 2025 -
Director Joung Yu-mi's 'Glasses' invited to Cannes Film Festival
Director Joung Yu-mi’s short animated film “Glasses” has been invited to compete in the short film category at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, making it the only South Korean work selected for this year’s prestigious event so far. “Glasses” will be showcased in the Critics’ Week short film competition, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival dedicated to highlighting emerging voices in global cinema. The 15-minute animation follows Yu-jin, who, after breaking her glasses, visits an opticia
April 18, 2025 -
Campaign to monitor Korean travel destinations ahead of APEC summit
A 100-member team of South Korean nationals and other citizens has been launched by the state-run Korea Tourism Organization to improve travel in the country. The team is tasked with visiting multiple travel destinations nationwide and come up with suggestions to make each experience better. Gathering complaints and feedback from those who have already made visits will be part of the mission. The team started work this week, stopping at Gyeongju, the city in North Gyeongsang Province hosting thi
April 18, 2025 -
Movies in theaters this week
"Yadang: The Snitch" (South Korea) Opened April 16 Crime/Thriller Directed by Hwang Byung-guk A falsely imprisoned survivor (Kang Ha-Neul) strikes a deal with an ambitious prosecutor (Yoo Hae-jin) to serve as an informant between police and drug cartels, only to discover he's a pawn in a deadly game of betrayal and corruption. "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" (US/UK/France) Opened April 16 Romance/Comedy Directed by Michael Morris Widowed, Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) returns to the dating
April 18, 2025 -
Packages and promotions
Grand Hyatt Seoul celebrates Children’s Day with family-friendly events Grand Hyatt Seoul will offer a variety of special programs May 5, Children's Day. Highlights include the Floating Sounds Bath, a tranquil bonding session for mothers and children set to soft music and nature sounds, and a lively K-pop Zumba class. The hotel also offers a flower class for children where, in an outdoor garden setting, they can design flower pots and create floral gifts for their parents at 36,000 won for guest
April 18, 2025 -
Weekend picks: Bojagi, budget bites, rooftop brews
For this week, The Korea Herald offers three spots — a traditional bojagi exhibition, a beloved student malatang joint and a scenic cafe — to enjoy simple pleasures in different forms. “Bojagi, Embracing Daily Life” is the kind of exhibition sparking contemplation on everyday household items, namely the traditional Korean wrapping cloth known as “bojagi.” The exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art looks through 98 pieces, brought together by the late Huh Dong-hwa, a Korean collector who ded
April 18, 2025 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The cherry blossom festival on Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, will run through April 20. It will feature trails, performances, craft shops, pedal boats and snack booths. Adult admission is 16,000 won. ITX runs from Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeong Station. A 10-minute bus ride from there will take you to the dock that has a ferry to the island. Skylight Garden in Jangheung-gun, South Jeolla Province, is a place to check out all varieties of tulips. The garden is home to some 1,000
April 18, 2025