Why K-ballet's brightest are gathering in Seoul for professor's retirement

Star-studded gala celebrates legacy of Kim Sun-hee credited with training Korean ballet dancers for the international stage Park Sae-eun, an etoile with the Paris Opera Ballet and the first Asian dancer to be principal dancer at the prestigious company, is among the celebrated performers gathering in Seoul this weekend to honor their mentor, Kim Sun-hee. Ahead of Professor Kim’s retirement from Korea National University of Arts in February, her students -- now prominent figures in the internatio

Jan. 9, 2025

Lee Byung-hun discusses assuming 3 identities in ‘Squid Game’ season 2

After cameo appearance in first season, Lee now returns as main villain A household name in Korea with a career spanning 34 years, Lee Byung-hun returns to the screen as the enigmatic villain in season two of Netflix’s global hit "Squid Game." Having made a tantalizing cameo in the show’s inaugural season, Lee now commands center stage as the complex mastermind known as Frontman. The acclaimed actor -- whose filmography boasts iconic hits such as "Inside Men" and "Mr. Sunshine" -- tackles the in

Jan. 9, 2025

Adaptation of Baek Hee-na's 'Magic Candies' makes Oscars shortlist

Japanese animation based on Korean author‘s tale of magical sweets and hidden voice among 15 international contenders for Academy Award A Japanese adaptation of acclaimed Korean children's author Baek Hee-na's work has landed on the Academy Awards shortlist. "Magic Candies," directed by Daisuke Nishio of Toei Animation, joins 15 entries from 13 countries competing for Best Animated Short Film. The film qualified for Oscar consideration after winning the Jury Prize at the New York International C

Jan. 9, 2025

Lee Young-ae in talks for stage return after 32 years in 'Hedda Gabler'

Actor Lee Young-ae is in talks to make her stage return in the LG Arts Center’s production of the play "Hedda Gabler." “We are currently discussing Lee Young-ae’s participation in 'Hedda Gabler,' but nothing has been finalized yet,” an LG Arts Center official told The Korea Herald on Thursday. "Hedda Gabler" is scheduled to run from May 7 to June 8 at LG Arts Center Seoul. One of the most renowned works by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, the play explores themes of societal expectations and p

Jan. 9, 2025

'Culinary Class Wars' chefs cater to masses

Pop-up event at Starfield Suwon to be held through March 31 Fans of Netflix megahit "Culinary Class Wars" and gourmands who had trouble reserving a table at restaurants run by the chefs on the cooking reality show can now sample their dishes outside of their dining establishments. Riding high on the show's fame, Starfield Suwon in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, just an hour from Seoul, is running a special food and beverage pop-up event dubbed "Bites Place Season 4" on the first floor of the shopping

Jan. 8, 2025

Asian submissions surge for Jeonju International Film Festival

Chinese entries lead with 91 films among 328 Asian submissions Jeonju International Film Festival has received 662 submissions from 86 countries for its upcoming International Competition, organizers announced Wednesday. Asian films dominated the entries with 328 submissions, followed by Europe (269) and North America (110). China led individual countries with 91 entries, while India and Iran submitted 65 and 48 films, respectively. Narrative films made up the majority with 380 entries, while 21

Jan. 8, 2025

'Unmasked' to offer insight into Korean society, real life of TV producers in Korea

Household name Kim Hye-soo returns to TV screens for first time in three years as hard-hitting investigative reporter "Unmasked," which follows the journey of investigative TV producers seeking justice through hard-hitting reporting, is poised to offer a poignant reflection on Korean society while realistically portraying challenges faced in the demanding field. The 12-part series delves into the life of investigative program producer So-ryong (Kim Hye-soo) as she is joined by her new teammate H

Jan. 8, 2025

'Single's Inferno' season 4 promises steamiest season yet

Netflix‘s hit dating show returns with bold cast, spicier scenes The production team of Netflix's hit dating show "Single's Inferno" gathered at Hotel Naru Seoul in Mapo-gu Wednesday for a preview of its fourth season, with the producers and panels touting their hottest iteration yet. "This season zeroes in on the essence of dating," producer Kim Jae-won said, promising a rollercoaster of romance. "What happens in Paradise will have viewers questioning if this is the same show." Fellow producer

Jan. 8, 2025

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At the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the exhibition "Lee Kang-so: Where the Wind Meets the Water" is on view until April 13. Lee Kang-so (b. 1943) is a leading figure in contemporary Korean art, renowned for his conceptual experiments in perception and cognition through various media, including painting, sculpture and installation. This exhibition showcases Lee’s artistic world, featuring over 100 works that reflect his diverse conceptual explorations

Jan. 8, 2025

Virtuoso teens lead New Year's concerts

Rising star violinists Kim Seo-hyun and Lee Hyun-jung, and cellist Han Jae-min showcase their extraordinary talent As the new year begins, three of South Korea's major orchestras are set to captivate audiences by featuring teenage prodigies who exemplify how early dedication and exceptional talent can achieve extraordinary results. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, and Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra will each showcase a rising virtuoso: violinist Kim Seo-hyun, violinist

Jan. 8, 2025

Park Ji-hyun talks comedic turn in 'Forbidden Fairytale'

When serious sister-in-law of ‘Reborn Rich’ decides to make people laugh, result is unexpectedly charming Park Ji-hyun slouches comfortably in a fleece jacket, her hair in a medium-length bob, radiating more of a college sophomore vibe than silver screen starlet. Speaking with a group of reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Monday, she presents a stark departure from her breakthrough role as the ice-cold, calculating sister-in-law of a corporate dynasty in "Reborn Rich," a character tha

Jan. 8, 2025

Museum highlights of the new year

Joseon art to headline exhibitions at National Museum of Korea Museums around the country have released their exhibition plans for the year, with the National Museum of Korea announcing “Art of Early Joseon,” a three-month exhibition that opens in June. Museum officials characterized the exhibition as one of the most definitive to date at the state-run institution. “It will be about highlighting the expressive and technical achievements in art of the early years of Joseon. We’ve been working wit

Jan. 8, 2025

Korean historical drama 'Harbin' sold to 117 countries

The Korean historical drama film "Harbin" has been sold to 117 countries, its distributor said Wednesday. "It is meaningful in that the movie with a distinctly Korean narrative achieved successful international sales," CJ ENM said in a press release. The movie has already premiered in several markets, including the United States, Singapore and Indonesia, with releases scheduled in Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan later this month. The distributor attributed the strong global interest to multipl

Jan. 8, 2025

MMCA to see biggest global collaborations yet, this year

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea will open the year with hyper-realist sculptor Ron Mueck's first museum show in Asia in collaboration with Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea will collaborate with foreign institutions on the largest scale ever this year, co-hosting exhibitions with more than six foreign institutions in Asia, Europe and the US. “We are getting many calls from overseas institutions for outbound exh

Jan. 7, 2025

Tak Young-jun wins 24th SongEun Art Award

Media artist is known for works exploring LGBTQ+ identity Media artist Tak Young-jun, 35, whose art often explores LGBTQ+ identities won the 24th SongEun Art Award, the SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation announced Wednesday afternoon. Tak's third ongoing choreographic film series “Love at First Sight,” which transforms the nature of orally transmitted transcendent love stories into choreography, is on view as part of the exhibition entitled “The 24th SongEun Art Award” underway at SongEun Art S

Jan. 7, 2025