After 13 years, Naver's 'OnStage' music show bids farewell

"OnStage," a weekly music show on Naver that has been praised for discovering indie musicians and expanding the domestic music scene, has come to an end after 13 years, Naver Cultural Foundation said Friday. It aired its final episode on Nov. 16, a video on the Korean rock band Peppertones, the foundation said in a blog post. "Over the past 13 years, various live video platforms have emerged, making it easy for anyone to create video content and directly connect with music fans. T

CultureNov. 24, 2023

Chung Myung-whun, Clara Jumi Kang to take stage with Munich Philharmonic

Two of the most sought-after Korean classical musicians will take the stage with the Munich Philharmonic next week. Maestro Chung Myung-whun and violist Clara Jumi Kang, whose relationship dates back more than a decade, will perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the orchestra. “Since childhood, I frequently listened to live recordings of Beethoven's Symphony by the Munich Philharmonic and Sergiu Celibidache. The distinct, sharp yet warm and intricate sound unique to the Munich

CultureNov. 24, 2023

Kim Hye-soo to step down as host of Blue Dragon Film Awards after 30 years

Actor Kim Hye-soo will wrap up 30 years of hosting one of South Korea's most prestigious film awards on Friday. Kim will host the Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony, the 44th edition, for the last time at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Fellow actor Yoo Yeon-seok will co-host the ceremony. Kim first took on the role as emcee in 1993 after rising to stardom through her debut film “Ggambo” (1986). She has since hosted the ceremony every year, except for in 1998. During her decadeslong

FilmNov. 24, 2023

[Photo News] Sisters acting on stage

The remake of stage musical "Sister Act" began its Seoul run on Tuesday at D-cube Link Arts Center, following eight days in Busan. The adaptation of “Sister Act” is based on the hit 1992 film of the same title. The musical originally made it to the stage in 2006. The recently updated rendition retains the music and lyrics of the original musical while infusing vibrant colors into the stage design, costumes and physical movements. The cast members highlight diversity, with s

CultureNov. 24, 2023

[Well-curated] Seokchon Lake light festival, indoor zoo and Singaporean fashion

Enjoy luminous night view at Seokchon Lake With the days getting shorter, more light festivals illuminating the long dark nights of winter are on their way. Seokchon Lake -- a popular destination for watching cherry blossoms in spring --- in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, seeks to become a beautiful night view spot. The lake’s 4.17-kilometer circular walking trail is decorated with various lamps, lanterns and media art, entertaining those who stop by. While strolling along the path, you can s

CultureNov. 24, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Westin Josun Seoul presents ‘Warner Bros-themed’ package Westin Josun Seoul is offering the “J & Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Celebration” package until Feb. 29. The package covers one night’s stay and two complimentary tickets for the “Warner Bros. 100th: Celebrating Every Story” exhibition at the DDP in central Seoul. The exhibition features special goods featuring the film production company’s symbolic movie works such as the Harry Potter

FoodNov. 24, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Haeundae Lighting Festival, Busan One of Busan’s most famous winter festivals is set to begin on Dec. 2 and runs through Jan. 31 at areas around Haeundae Beach in the southeastern city. The special lighting ceremony is scheduled to take place at the event square at Haeundae Beach at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2. The festival features various light fixtures, lanterns and media art on display to entertain those who stop by. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll around Haeundae Beach, Haeundae Market, Gu

TravelNov. 24, 2023

Ready meals gain attention at 2023 Coex Food Week

Convenience food ruled at 2023 Coex Food Week, an expo that focuses on the food industry as well as culture and trends in South Korea. While dedicated to promoting business-to-business opportunities, the food expo is also open to the public. This year, it kicked off Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Coex in southern Seoul. On Wednesday, visitors flocked to booths offering free samples. Perennial favorites included tteokbokki, dakbal, or fried chicken feet, dumplings and pizza. Convenience w

FoodNov. 23, 2023

Pianist Kim Jun-hyung named Kumho Art Hall's artist-in-residence for 2024

Pianist Kim Jun-hyung, the second prize winner of the 2022 ARD International Music Competition’s piano category, is Kumho Art Hall’s artist-in-residence for the next year, according to the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation Wednesday. Born in 1997, Kim took his first piano lesson at age 10 and made his debut as Kumho Prodigy Concert Series in 2012. He is currently pursing a master's degree in New Music at The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich where he studies with Ant

PerformanceNov. 23, 2023

City becomes attractive when social minorities are empowered: Seoul mayor

Strengthening social minorities and developing a city’s competitiveness should not be considered separately from each other when establishing city policies and development projects, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a forum on Wednesday. “The Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to accompany and assist social minorities while transforming Seoul into a more attractive and appealing city for everyone,” said Oh at the Global Business Forum hosted by The Korea Herald. Oh presented a set

PeopleNov. 23, 2023

German ambassador advocates 'de-risking' at Global Biz Forum

The German ambassador to Korea, Georg Schmidt, addressed the need to pursue a "de-risking" strategy to protect the economy in the face of global uncertainties, at the Global Biz Forum in Seoul on Wednesday. In his remarks, Schmidt recalled the perils of relying heavily on a single source, citing Germany's vulnerability caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, when gas supplies from Russia were disrupted. Germany swiftly adapted by diversifying its sources, constructing LNG terminals and

Foreign AffairsNov. 23, 2023

‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ whets appetite for next ‘Squid Game’

The poster for a new Netflix original showing contestants wearing iconic green tracksuits might have confused some people into thinking that long-anticipated “Squid Game Season 2” may have come out sooner than expected. But what they mistook as Season 2 of the international hit series is actually “Squid Game: The Challenge,” a US-made survival reality show based on the South Korean phenomenon, “Squid Game.” With the same number of participants, unique game set

CultureNov. 23, 2023

Story of first female leader of traveling entertainers reimagined

Meet Baudeogi, who was born to a poor peasant in Anseong in 1848 and joined the Namsadang, a traveling entertainment troupe, at age 5. Anseong was one of the largest marketplaces during the Joseon era. Raised by a troupe of male acrobats, she mastered the art of singing, dancing and jultagi, or a traditional Korean performance of tightrope-walking. Before long she made a name for herself, captivating audience hearts with her looks and unparalleled talent and earning a reputation that echoed thro

PerformanceNov. 23, 2023

Two Koreans named among world's top 200 art collectors

Two Korean entrepreneurs – Kim Woong-ki and Seo Kyung-bae -- were listed on the annual Top 200 Collectors list published by ARTnews for its 2023 edition. Kim, chairman of Global Sae-A Group, an apparel manufacturing conglomerate, became known in the global art scene when it was revealed in 2022 that Kim was the winning bidder for modern art master Kim Whan-ki’s painting titled "Universe 5-IV-71 #200" at a Christie’s Hong Kong auction in 2019. It marked the highest p

CultureNov. 22, 2023

Leeum Museum ecological project starts Dec. 1 with Chanel Culture Fund

The Leeum Museum of Art will launch a long-term public program entitled “Idea Museum: Ecological Turns” in conjunction with Chanel Culture Fund to explore diverse ways ecological issues can be made part of art institution practices, convening leading international and Korean artists, academics and designers, among others. The three-year project will evolve around themes such as the climate crisis, sustainability, ecology, women, care and education through seminars, film screenings an

Arts & DesignNov. 22, 2023

Culture minister hints at charing admission to state museums

Charging admission at state-run museums could be considered through public discussion, Yu In-chon, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, said during a meeting with 29 members of the art community at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Tuesday. He made the remarks in response to a request by Savina Lee, director of the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, who said, "Due to the free admission policy of national museums

CultureNov. 22, 2023

Heritage expert You Hong-june pens new cultural travelogue series

Our entire country is a museum, wrote You Hong-june a professor emeritus of art history at Myongji University, at the very beginning of his 1993 bestseller travelogue series, “My Exploration of Cultural Heritage.” It means every corner of the country is a breathing and living museum of history and culture, said the author. You, who is also the chair of the executive board of the Academy of Korean Studies and former head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, has been at the forefro

BooksNov. 22, 2023

Disney+ brings romance to year's end

Winter is here, and that means prime time for heartwarming love stories. While Disney+, the flagship streaming service of US media giant Walt Disney Co., caught many viewers’ eyes with exciting superhero action flick “Moving” and spy thriller “Vigilante,” the streamer is set to wrap up the year with two romantic love stories in “Tell Me That You Love Me” and “Soundtrack #2.” Adapted from a 1995 Japanese drama series of the same title, “

TelevisionNov. 22, 2023

More relevant than ever, closer to original musical 'Rent' returns for 9th run

The successful premiere of "Rent" in South Korea in 2000 set the stage for seven subsequent revivals, extending until 2011. Over the course of about a decade, the Korean production garnered adoration from enthusiasts -- though not necessarily from the masses -- and served as a launching pad for emerging talent in the musical theater scene. When Seensee Company decided to bring it back in 2020 after a nine-year hiatus, it sought to revive the vibe of the original Broadway production. It

CultureNov. 22, 2023

S. Korean literary giant Jo Jung-rae embarks on final chapter of his journey as writer

South Korean literary giant Jo Jung-rae said his latest novel, “Golden Paper,” marks the beginning of the ultimate chapter in his literary journey. Reflecting on his extensive career since his debut in 1970, Jo categorized his years so far into two phases: The initial phase of short stories and novellas and the second phase which he dedicated to exploring the country's turbulent history through a number of epics -- “Taebaek Mountain Range,” “Arirang” and

BooksNov. 21, 2023