Heritage agency to implement climate crisis management system

In the face of climate change that has led to more frequent and powerful typhoons, extreme rains and termite propagation, the Cultural Heritage Administration has established a comprehensive plan for safeguarding the nation's cultural and natural heritage. The plan, announced Wednesday, aims for a systematic response to the challenges posed by climate change. As of Friday, at least 65 heritage sites were damaged by torrential rains this summer, according to the CHA. Between 2002 and 2021, a

July 26, 2023

South Korean art market more volatile than global market: report

South Korea's art auction market almost halved in the first half of this year, demonstrating greater volatility compared to the global art market, a report from the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Research Center showed Monday. The total amount of winning bids at South Korean auction houses Seoul Auction, K-auction and Myart Auction amounted to 61.3 billion won ($47.9 million) in the first half of 2023, a 47 percent decline from the same period of the preceding year, even though th

July 25, 2023

Vice culture minister aims to foster tourism through sports events

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Second Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran expressed her determination to make Korea an appealing destination for foreigners and to create a safer and more enjoyable tourism environment for domestic travelers. Jang, who established herself as one of the world's top female weightlifters, winning four consecutive world titles at the World Weightlifting Championships, also mentioned her hopes to combine her expertise in sports with tourism. During a mee

July 25, 2023

Seoul Summer Beach 2023 water festival kicks off in Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul Summer Beach 2023, part of government-planned water festivals installed throughout Seoul, kicked off Friday in Gwanghwamun Square and run through Aug. 13. The festival features various attractions, including Korea-themed splash pads, a 20-meter-long waterslide, and an air bounce house surrounded by 600 years of history. All attractions are available free of charge. Splash pads will run for 50-minute sessions from 10 a.m. to 9:50 p.m., with 10-minute breaks between each session. The watersl

July 25, 2023

Global meeting on intangible cultural heritage to explore sustainable livelihoods in digital era

A global meeting dedicated to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage will be held at the Westin Josun Seoul in central Seoul, from Tuesday. The two-day event titled, "Unleashing the Power of Living Heritage for Sustainable Development and Peace," jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Culture Heritage Administration, commemorates the 20-year anniversary of the implementation of the UNESCO "Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultur

July 24, 2023

Revamped musical presents challenges faced by Joseon firefighters

"Myeolhwagun," a musical which initially premiered in 2021 about Joseon's first-ever fire service department during King Sejo's reign, has returned with vibrant enhancements. The original 90-minute musical has been transformed into a 135-minute piece. The revamped musical's director Woo Jin-ha emphasized how he delved deeper into detailed depictions of how Joseon firefighters bravely fought to extinguish mass fires at a press conference held at the Uniplex Theater in Jon

July 23, 2023

Series of music, theater festivals to fill the summer

This summer the stage is set for a series of thrilling arts festivals, starting with the Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival on Friday. As the season unfolds, various other festivals will return every week through the end of August. The 23rd edition of the Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival will run until July 29 at Miryang Aria and other venues in the small city located in South Gyeongsang Province. The city has a population of about 100,000, but it will temporarily become the nation

July 21, 2023

[Photo News] K-beauty summer sale kicks off

The Korea Summer Beauty Sale, a beauty and cosmetics event designed to attract overseas travelers and showcase the best of Korea's beauty industry, kicked off on July 20. The event continues until Aug. 20 with various promotions and discounts on Korean beauty products as well as hands-on programs.

July 21, 2023

[Well-curated] Stay cool inside with underground art space, trampolines and comics

Explore art and architecture at Songeun Art Space Songeun Art Space is located in a building designed by world-renowned Swiss architecture firm, Herzog & de Meuron, in Cheongdam-dong, an affluent neighborhood in southern Seoul. Opened in 2021, visiting the building that houses Songeun Art and Cultural Foundation offers a chance to check out the architects’ first-ever project in South Korea, as well as an exhibition of an emerging media artist Kwon Hye-won. The geometric 11-story buildi

July 21, 2023

Cartoonists say govt. order for ‘Black Rubber Shoes’ is not enough

A group of comics and cartoon artists raised concerns Thursday over the government’s recent corrective order aimed at handling the “Black Rubber Shoes” incident, saying that it lacks any power to hold the publisher responsible. The Artist Lee Yoo-young Incident Task Force said Thursday through a statement they “welcome the corrective order as it confirms the ‘Black Rubber Shoes’ contract was unfair.” However, the group is worried that the order lacks va

July 20, 2023

[Herald Interview] There's a difference between archaeology, heritage: ICCROM director-general

When conflicts arise concerning the preservation of relics and urban development in a city, people often seek solutions by looking at how other countries have handled similar cases. However, Webber Ndoro, the director general of the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, emphasizes that the ultimate decision should lie with the leaders and people within the community or city, as they must determine which aspect to value at the present moment.

July 20, 2023

Fifty cultural heritage sites damaged by torrential rains

The government on Wednesday confirmed more cases of damage to national heritage sites from the torrential rains that pounded the country over the weekend. In addition to the 41 cases announced a day ago, the Cultural Heritage Administration said nine more national heritage sites have been damaged since the summer monsoon season began June 23. The 50 cases included one national treasure, three lower-level treasures, two state-registered cultural heritages, seven natural monuments and 20 historic

July 19, 2023

Archaeology symposium invites global experts to Seoul

An international symposium focusing on research into ancient archaeological sites in historical cities worldwide is to take place Thursday, at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, central Seoul. Titled "World Archaeology: Ancient Cities and Royal Capitals," the symposium is cohosted by the CHA's National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. In addition to providing briefings on histori

July 19, 2023

Culture Ministry orders ‘Black Rubber Shoes’ publisher to pay original creators

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday ordered a local publishing firm to pay a valid share of the profits of the cartoon series “Black Rubber Shoes" to the original cartoon artists. According to the ministry's corrective order, publisher Hyungseul should pay a fair amount of the profits the publisher earned to "Black Rubber Shoes" cartoonist Lee Yoo-young and his brother and co-creator Lee Woo-jin. “While reviewing the contract between the two copy

July 18, 2023

K-Diaspora exhibition to kick off in New York

The K-Diaspora Worldwide Network is to hold an art event, “Everyone Knows: K-Diaspora Art Exhibition & Panel Talk” in New York on Friday and Saturday. The event takes place at LUME Studios (393 Broadway) in New York during the Lincoln Center's Korean Arts Week, scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday. A range of engaging activities, including panel discussions, media art displays and community engagement initiatives, will be showcased during the event. The event will feature di

July 18, 2023

Landslides, flooding damage 39 cultural heritage properties

Continued heavy rainfall has left 39 cultural heritage properties damaged across the nation as of Monday morning, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. Among the 39 damaged sites and artifacts reported by the CHA are one national treasure and two treasures. Josadang Shrine at Buseoksa, located in Bonghwangsan in Yeongju, South Gyeongsang Province, saw soil erosion damage at the temple's main entrance caused by the heavy rain. The shrine has been designated a national treasure i

July 17, 2023

KTO to showcase K-tourism roadshow in New York

The K-tourism Roadshow event showcasing Korea's traditional and contemporary culture will be hosted in New York from Wednesday to Saturday, the Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday. The event has been strategically organized in New York with the aim to generate interest among global travelers to visit the peninsula, while also commemorating the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance, the KTO said. As part of the event, the tourism agency will hold a session dubbed “Cel

July 17, 2023

[Herald Interview] Singing together changes lives, says founder of diverse children's choir

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), a renowned multicultural youth chorus known for its exceptional talent and pioneering diversity model, embarked on its first journey to South Korea this month. A delegation of 100 choristers, aged between 11 and 18, set foot in Gangneung, a coastal city in Gangwon Province, to participate in the 12th World Choir Games from July 3 to 13. Over the course of the 11-day event, the choir showcased its virtuosity and brilliance, earning five go

July 17, 2023

CHA aims to enshrine petroglyphs of Ulsan Bangucheon as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Efforts to register petroglyphs at the stream Bangucheon in Ulsan, considered the pinnacle of prehistoric culture on the Korean Peninsula, have officially commenced, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. The decision, made Thursday at the meeting of Cultural Heritage Committee, comes 13 years after it was placed on the CHA's provisional candidates list for UNESCO World Heritage Site registration in January 2010. The final decision had been delayed due to insufficient pres

July 14, 2023

Summer festival Dongdaemun Vibe to take place in late July

Update: The Dongdaemun Vibe festival has been canceled due to safety issues from the recent heavy rainfalls. The summer season gets underway at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza with the Dongdaemun Vibe festival later this month. The Seoul Design Foundation announced Friday it will hold the summer festival from July 28 to 30 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul. The main programs of the festival include DD-Pub and DD-Roll, an arcade with beer and wine pop-up shops and a roller-skating area, res

July 14, 2023