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Changdeokgung garden opens for morning strolls
A chance to experience the garden of Changdeokgung in the quiet calm of morning will be available from May 15-18. The Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace, one of five royal palaces in Seoul, will open at 7:30 a.m. for four days, allowing visitors to explore its naturally landscaped garden for 90 minutes before general admission begins. Tickets will go on sale from 2 p.m. Monday for 10,000 won per person via the booking website Interpark. Each session is limited to 25 adults on a first-come, first-serv
May 8, 2025 -
Han Kang documentary clinches top honors at WorldFest-Houston
A documentary on Nobel laureate Han Kang won top honors at the 58th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, the film's producer EBS, a public broadcaster, announced Thursday. The WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival is a prestigious annual event that celebrates and showcases independent films from around the globe. Alongside the New York Television Festival and the Banff World Media Festival, it is recognized as one of North America’s three major media festivals. “Han Kang Chroni
May 8, 2025 -
Japanese woman who kissed BTS’ Jin without consent referred to prosecutors
A Japanese woman accused of unexpectedly kissing K-pop group BTS’ member Jin at a fan-hugging event in June 2024 was transferred to prosecution, according to police. The Songpa Police Station said Thursday that it transferred the case to the prosecution on charges of sexual harassment in a public space. The transfer comes a little after two months since the police booked the suspect on Feb. 27. The Japanese woman in her 50s is accused of kissing the K-pop star during a “free hug event” attended
May 8, 2025 -
Restoring cultural heritage destroyed by wildfires to cost 48.8b won
The restoration of government-designated cultural heritage sites damaged by the wildfires that ravaged across southeastern South Korea in March is expected to cost about 48.8 billion won ($34.9 million), the Korea Heritage Service said Thursday. A joint investigation conducted by the agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed 36 instances of damage to cultural assets. Among these, 13 items and structures were state-designated national treasures, heritage sites or state-recogniz
May 8, 2025 -
Late Kim Sae-ron's family lodges complaint against Kim Soo-hyun over child welfare violations
The family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against actor Kim Soo-hyun, accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act and making false accusations. Bu Ji-seok, the family's legal representative, discussed this latest legal action during a press conference in Seoul earlier in the day, reiterating the late actress's previous claims that she had been romantically involved with the actor starting when she was in her second yea
May 7, 2025 -
Tom Cruise visits Seoul to promote new 'Mission: Impossible' film
Hollywood star Tom Cruise returned to South Korea on Wednesday, marking his first visit in two years -- this time to promote the latest installment in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Cruise arrived at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul aboard his private jet around 4:20 p.m. He was greeted by a large crowd of enthusiastic fans, some chanting his name and waving posters featuring scenes from his blockbuster films, including the "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun" series. Wearing a
May 7, 2025 -
Explore emotional duality of high-profile choreographer at Asia premiere of double bill
Acclaimed Swedish dancer-turned-choreographer Johan Inger says he is impressed with Korea’s growing commitment to contemporary dance and sees a bright future for the newly established Seoul Metropolitan Ballet. The 57-year-old artist is in Seoul for the Asia premiere of his double bill, “Walking Mad” and “Bliss,” set to run Friday through May 18 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Following Ohad Naharin’s “Decadance” in March, Inger is the latest high-profile figure in the company’s bo
May 7, 2025 -
Son donates liver to mother, tells her, 'Don't worry about it'
A story of a 54-year-old son donating part of his liver to his severely ill mother was shared by Chung-Ang University Hospital on Wednesday, ahead of Parents' Day on Thursday. According to the hospital, the 75-year-old woman surnamed Moon made a full recovery from the April 15 liver transplant and was discharged Friday. It marked the 100th successful liver transplant of the hospital’s organ transplant center. The medical staff celebrated the full recovery of patient and her son surnamed Oh, who
May 7, 2025 -
South Korea's first deaf news anchor joins KBS newsroom
The country's first-ever deaf news presenter went on air at noon Wednesday, presenting the life news segment of "KBS News 12." Roh Hee-ji, 26, was selected through the state broadcaster's recruitment program for anchors with disabilities, which has been running since 2011. She is the eighth person with a disability to take on an anchor role at KBS, following in the footsteps of Lee Chang-hoon, the broadcaster’s first anchor with low vision. In a press release, Roh expressed her hopes for the rol
May 7, 2025 -
William Kentridge returns with provocative works that ask rather than answer
This month, audiences in South Korea will once again encounter the haunting, layered world of the South African artist known for collapsing the boundaries between drawing, film, music and performance. William Kentridge, whose diverse works have previously been showcased at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, the Asia Culture Center and the Amorepacific Museum of Art, returns to Seoul with two of his recent works under the GS Arts Center’s Artists series: "Sibyl," and multi
May 7, 2025 -
Jeonju film fest announces 2025 award winners
Director Joel Alfonso Vargas' "Mad Bills to Pay" took home the grand prize in the international competition at the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival, while Cho Hyun-suh's "Winter Light" received the same prize for the Korean competition on Tuesday, at an awards ceremony held at Jeonbuk National University's Samsung Cultural Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Winners across the festival's international, Korean and short film competitions were crowned at the awards ceremony, with 50 fi
May 7, 2025 -
Explore advent of Korean contemporary art
The personal exchanges of four leading figures in Korea's modern and contemporary art scene are being brought to light in a New York exhibition that opened Monday. Tina Kim Gallery in New York has organized an exhibition titled "The Making of Modern Korean Art: The Letters of Kim Tschang-yeul, Kim Whan-ki, Lee U-fan and Park Seo-bo, 1961–1982" that offers a close look at the artistic and intellectual relationships that helped shape modern Korean art in the years after the 1950-53 Korean War. Alt
May 7, 2025 -
Bookings open for royal dinner with music
Starting later this month, the main palace of the Joseon era (1392-1910), Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, will invite the public to sample royal cuisine while listening to court music. From May 28 to June 5, the royal kitchen, known as “sojubang,” will invite 136 people on tours with either a royal dinner or a selection of desserts. The tours, to take place twice daily for an hour from 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., will feature royal court music playing in the background. Participants will be able to take part
May 7, 2025 -
Boy saves mom with CPR, commended on Children's Day's ceremony
An elementary school student who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on his mother received a certificate of appreciation, city officials in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province said Wednesday. Jeong Tae-wun, a third-grader of Bucheon Elementary School, was commended in the Children's Day ceremony at Bucheon City Hall last Thursday, for his swift actions that saved his mother's life on Jan. 8. When his mother collapsed at home that evening, the boy called the 119 emergency service to report the case a
May 7, 2025 -
'Maybe Happy Ending' wins top award from New York Drama Critics' Circle
The original Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending" has been named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics' Circle. According to the organization's website on Wednesday, the musical -- a collaboration between writer Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, and composer Will Aronson -- won the prestigious award at the 89th annual ceremony. It secured a majority on the first ballot, receiving 15 out of 23 votes from active New York-area drama critics. The New York Drama Critics' Circle, presented an
May 7, 2025