League of Legends Champions Korea to hold first-ever cup tournament

'Fearless Draft' employed to offer fans dynamic viewing experience The world of League of Legends esports in Korea is set to evolve with the launch of the LCK Cup. The event will be held at the LCK Arena in LoL Park, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, beginning Wednesday. One of the most defining characteristics of the 2025 LCK Cup will be the "Fearless Draft" rule, which prevents players from selecting characters already used by the opposing team in the next match. This rule was previously im

Jan. 13, 2025

Goethe-Institut Korea offers 25% discount on online German courses

Goethe-Institut Korea is ringing in the New Year with a special discount of 25 percent on all of its online German language courses from January through February. As a leading institution for German language education and cultural exchange, Goethe-Institut Korea offers a variety of courses for all proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Students can take a personalized level test to determine the most suitable course, with classes designed to balance listening, speaking, reading

Jan. 13, 2025

Bora Chung’s 'Your Utopia' nominated for Philip K. Dick Award

Booker-shortlisted author's second English-language book delves deeper into science fiction themes Internationally acclaimed South Korean author Bora Chung’s science fiction collection "Your Utopia" has been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the award organizers announced Friday. Translated by Anton Hur and published by Algonquin Books, "Your Utopia" is among six candidates for the 2025 award, which honors distinguished science fiction works published in paperback original form in the US d

Jan. 13, 2025

[Herald Gallery] Discharge

The two-person exhibition “Pluto,” featuring Juree Kim (born 1980) and Gyungsu An (born 1975), is currently on display at Museumhead in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Jan. 25. An, who works with paintings, and Kim, who creates sculptures, have consistently explored themes of "death" and "the dissolution of life" as they manifest in various forms within the urban environment. The exhibition reflects on the contradictions of a city that overlooks the pervasive presence of death, constructing scenes withi

Jan. 13, 2025

Seeking love? Seoul city's matchmaking event has it all

Seoul city aims to help 100 single men and women find romance on Valentine‘s Day If looking for love has not been going as well as you would have liked. the Seoul Metropolitan Government is ready to play Cupid. To help Seoulites find love on Valentine's Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Hanwha General Insurance are jointly hosting a matchmaking event dubbed "An Exciting Art Night (unofficial translation)" on Feb. 14. The event, scheduled to be held at the Hanwha General Insurance buildi

Jan. 13, 2025

Immersive 'Squid Game' experience to open in Seoul

After New York, Madrid, Sydney, 'Squid Game: The Experience' lands in Seongsu-dong An immersive experience of global phenomenon "Squid Game" is coming to Seoul next month, offering a unique opportunity to step into the world of the hit series. Netflix announced Monday that it will operate "Squid Game: The Experience," an all-in-one immersive space where visitors can engage in various games, enjoy themed food and drinks, explore photo zones and browse exclusive merchandise, in Seongsu-dong, easte

Jan. 13, 2025

Seoul Lantern Festival extended due to popular demand

Lanterns to illuminate Cheonggye Plaza through end of January The annual Seoul Lantern Festival will extend its run through the end of January. According to the Seoul Tourism Organization, the festival organizer, some 2.5 million people have visited the festival taking place around the Cheonggye Stream in central Seoul since its opening Dec. 13 for a one-month run. The annual lantern show, launched in 2009, features lantern installations illuminating the downtown Seoul area from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m

Jan. 13, 2025

'Harbin' tops box office for 3rd consecutive weekend, surpasses 4m admissions

The Korean historical drama "Harbin" has maintained its position at the top of the box office for a third consecutive weekend, attracting over 4 million viewers. The film drew an additional 308,000 viewers from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative admissions to 4.18 million, according to data from the Korean Film Council on Monday. It is now the fifth most-watched Korean film released last year. Directed by Woo Min-ho, the film has dominated the local box office since its release on Dec. 24

Jan. 13, 2025

Jewelry collector Kazumi Arikawa's first museum exhibition sparkles at Lotte Museum of Art

Japanese collector Kazumi Arikawa is one of the world’s most influential collectors of historic and artistic jewels, with a collection that has been admired for some 40 years. Now, for the first time, his collection is being showcased in a solo museum exhibition, titled “The Art of Jewellery,” at the Lotte Museum of Art in Seoul. “The Art of Jewellery” spans ancient times, the middle ages and Renaissance to contemporary times, showing some 200 jewelry items Arikawa has collected. Upon entering t

Jan. 12, 2025

Lee Soon-jae becomes oldest actor to win top honors at KBS Drama Awards

Lee Soon-jae, a veteran actor and legendary figure in Korean broadcasting history whose career spans 69 years, claimed the grand prize at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards held Saturday night. KBS traditionally hosts the awards on Dec. 31 to celebrate excellence in its annual programming. However, due to the Jeju Air tragedy at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, this year’s ceremony was recorded on New Year’s Eve and broadcast later. Lee received the grand prize for his role as lead character Soon-j

Jan. 12, 2025

K-pop and K-drama... How about K-fashion?

K-fashion shifts focus to global expansion as domestic sales struggle, with brands eyeing premium markets in Europe and Asia Korean fashion brands will actively target the global market this year as they are experiencing a domestic recession due to high inflation and climate change. Handsome Corp., a leading apparel maker under the Hyundai Department Store Group, is going after the French market with its private brands such as System and Time by expanding its distribution channels. For instance,

Jan. 12, 2025

Warm up with hearty Korean beef stews in Seoul

As temperatures in Seoul have dropped below freezing this week, the need for a hearty, warming dish has never been greater. One comforting option that locals swear by during the cold months is suyuk jeongol, a boiled beef hot pot that is both satisfying and perfect for braving the chill. If you're planning to indulge in this traditional Korean dish this weekend, here are two must-visit restaurants that offer their own delicious takes on suyuk jeongol. Neungdong Minari For anyone craving a classi

Jan. 12, 2025

Actor-writer Cha In-pyo revisits his 2nd novel with heartfelt updates

"Their Day" By Cha In-pyo Sayuwagonggam Publishers Actor-novelist Cha In-pyo has recently released a revised edition of his second novel “Today’s Forecast,” now retitled “Their Day.” The new edition of this omnibus human drama-comedy follows the tumultuous day of four men, depicting their struggles with humor and heart. Originally published in 2011, the novel has been extensively rewritten, adding a new protagonist and reworking its narrative. In doing so, Cha offers a fresh portrayal of middle

Jan. 12, 2025

Unraveling of secrets, mysteries beneath once grandest greenhouse

"The Grand Greenhouse Renovation Report" By Kim Keum-hee Changbi Publishers The Grand Greenhouse at Changgyeonggung is the first glass greenhouse in Korea and was once the largest in the East. The place holds a controversial history as a symbol of Japanese imperialism, as the palace was demoted into a recreational park with a zoo and botanical garden during the Japanese colonial period. Kim Geum-hee’s latest historical novel, "The Grand Greenhouse Renovation Report," is set against the backdrop

Jan. 11, 2025

Boulder rhino and penguin take stage after book's success

The last white boulder rhinoceros on Earth and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg might seem an unlikely pair to anchor a story. Yet, in the musical adaptation of “The Longest Nights,” their journey in search of an ocean they have never seen leaves audiences rooting for them every step of the way.

Jan. 11, 2025