[Reporter's notebook] 'Stories of Our Presidents': Good intentions, bad execution

A special exhibition commemorating the transformation of the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, into a cultural complex commenced on Thursday. Titled "The Stories of Our Presidents," the exhibition seeks to illuminate the lesser-known, humane facets of the individuals who once wielded the country's highest political power. Artifacts used by 12 former presidents at Cheong Wa Dae -- where the country’s history was recorded for 74 years until May 9 last year -- are on d

June 4, 2023

S. Korean baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition

South Korean baritone Kim Tae-han has won the Queen Elisabeth Competition for voice, becoming the first Asian male singer to win the coveted classical music contest held in Belgium. Kim was named the first prize winner during an awards ceremony held in Brussels on Saturday, which was broadcast live online. He is the third South Korean singer to clinch the top prize following sopranos Hong Hae-ran in 2011 and Hwang Sumi in 2014. Established in 1937, the competition named after the late Belgian qu

June 4, 2023

Lotus dating back to Goryeo to be shown at Sejong National Arboretum

An exhibition of lotuses is to take place at the Sejong National Arboretum in Sejong City. The Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute announced on Friday its plan to host "Special Exhibition on 700 years of Ara Hongryeon," a showcase of historical Korean lotuses Ara Hongryeon and Beopsu Hongryeon from June 13 to July 31. Ara Hongryeon refers to red lotuses that blossomed from seeds that were discovered during the excavation of Seongsansanseong Fortress in Haman County, South Gyeongsang

June 2, 2023

[Well-curated] Scented cocktails, Seoul Philharmonic and B-boy fest

Unique scent-themed cocktail bar There are various perspectives on what defines a good drink, but before captivating one's palate, a beverage initially captures the eyes and the nose with its visual and olfactory appeal. Bar Geranium, situated in the posh Rodeo Street neighborhood of Apgujeong, is an exceptional cocktail bar that draws inspiration from the world of perfumes. Opened in late 2021, this unique bar skillfully incorporates a wide array of flowers and perfume elements to craft it

June 2, 2023

Saudi Arabia seeks to attract 53,000 Korean travelers in 2023

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to welcome 53,000 Korean visitors in 2023, almost five times the 11,000 visitors recorded last year, aided by direct flight routes, stopover visas and diversified travel packages, according to the Saudi Tourism Authority on Monday. During a tourism roadshow at the Westin Josun Seoul on Monday, the STA introduced a wide range of experiences available to Korean holidaymakers in the kingdom, centered around the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle refers to three major ci

June 1, 2023

BIDF 2023 promotes dance, Busan Expo bid

The Busan International Dance Festival 2023 will be held in Busan from Friday through Sunday, aiming to promote dance and to support Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Orchestrated by the BIDF organizing committee and the Busan city government, the 19th BIDF will feature performances by some 40 dance troupes from around the world at various venues around Busan, including Haeundae Beach, Busan Cinema Center and Busan Citizens Park. BIDF 2023 is an international event that partners with

May 31, 2023

[Stories of Artifacts] How Joseon strove to make exams fair: Gangseosigwon

Throughout Korean history, there has been a deeply ingrained cultural belief that pursuing a career as a public servant is a prestigious endeavor. This cultural ethos can be traced back to the establishment of the "gwageo" system, or public service examinations. Gwageo was first introduced during the reign of Goryeo's King Gwangjong (925-975) and persisted until 1894 of the late Joseon era. Despite the retirement of gwageo, which was held every three years, the country still adm

May 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] Seo Bo-hyeon, "Debater": On the art of disagreeing

A boy moved to Australia at the age of 8 with his parents. For the first two years, he was a very agreeable boy, not knowing how to disagree with people. Then an “accident” happened -- a teacher asked him to join the debate team. And the boy then known as Bo, not knowing how to say no, had no choice but to join the team. Several years later, he not only can disagree with others, but the man whose full name is Seo Bo-hyeon has also become a master of disagreement by winning not one bu

May 28, 2023

Exhibition explores Korea's deep affection for seafood

The National Folk Museum of Korea, located within the grounds of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, is hosting an exhibition that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich fishing and seafood dining culture of Korea. Titled "Korea's Top 3 Dried Seafood," the special exhibition provides detailed insights into the process of catching, processing, distributing and consuming seafood in the country. It highlights how Koreans have cherished and enjoyed seafood in their meals over the year

May 28, 2023

Pianist Cho Seong-jin to embark on nationwide recital tour

Cho Seong-jin, one of the most sought-after South Korean pianists, is set to embark on a nationwide recital tour, two years after he performed Chopin’s complete Scherzos in 2021. This time, Cho will present a recital featuring Baroque music by Handel, Brahms, Schumann and more from July 4 to 5 at the Seoul Arts Center. After the performances in the capital city, he will visit Daejeon on July 8, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on July 9 and Ulsan on July 12. The upcoming performances will be

May 26, 2023

[Well-curated] 4D naval battle, video games as art and Byhomie bag exhibition

Explore history of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-shin Two statues stand at Gwanghwamun Square representing two iconic figures of Korean history: Adm. Yi Sun-shin, a national hero who triumphed over Japanese invaders during the Imjin War (1592-1598), and King Sejong, an ingenious ruler who invented Hangeul, the Korean writing system, in 1443. Two permanent exhibitions have been set up underneath these statues, housed in the basements of Gwanghwamun Square and the Sejong Center for the Performing

May 26, 2023

Scholar urges restoring Cheong Wa Dae's historicity

Marking the first year of the full public opening of Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, on May 10, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History hosted an academic seminar on Thursday, where scholars and field experts discussed the historical meaning and significance of the space. The four-hour seminar “History of Cheong Wa Dae Space” provided a platform for presenting diverse perspectives on Cheong Wa Dae, spanning different periods in Korean history

May 25, 2023

CHA insists buildings around World Heritage Site follow UNESCO standards

The Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday that future discussions on the lifting of height restrictions near UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Jongmyo Shrine, Changdeokgung and the Joseon royal tombs, should take UNESCO's Heritage Impact Assessments into consideration. UNESCO recommends the use of a structured process called HIA to evaluate any proposed changes in the vicinity of designated heritage sites. The CHA statement was made after a local media report Monday said that S

May 24, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Cheonmachong excavation started as practice run for larger tomb'

This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the excavation of Cheonmachong, an ancient royal tomb from the Silla Kingdom located at the Daereungwon Tomb Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The tomb, from which more than 11,000 artifacts, including numerous treasures, were unearthed, tells a story of the ancient burial customs of the Silla Kingdom. One of the seven field researchers behind the Cheonmachong excavation in 1973 was Choi Byung-hyun, a professor emeritus of history at

May 24, 2023

'Merchants of Venice' meets Korean traditional opera

William Shakespeare’s famous play "The Merchant of Venice," will be reborn as "changgeuk," a traditional Korean opera, next month, with a contemporary twist. From June 8 to 11, the National Changgeuk Company of Korea will present the first changgeuk adaption of “The Merchant of Venice,” a highly anticipated production that has brought together renowned theater creators and talented "pansori" performers. “The Changgeuk Company has made numerou

May 23, 2023

Stolen Buddhist statues, paintings to return home

Thirty-two Buddhist relics that were once stolen from temples across the country will finally return to their rightful homes, after some of which had been gone for more than three decades. The 21 Buddhist statues and 11 Buddhist paintings were put on display at the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno, central Seoul, Tuesday, and a ceremony was held to celebrate their homecoming. The relics, which were taken from 14 different temples between 1988 and 2004, will go to the

May 23, 2023

Saudi Arabia seeks to attract 53,000 Korean travelers in 2023

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to welcome 53,000 Korean visitors in 2023, almost five times the 11,000 visitors recorded last year, aided by direct flight routes, stopover visas and diversified travel packages, according to the Saudi Tourism Authority on Monday. During a tourism roadshow at the Westin Josun Seoul on Monday, the STA introduced a wide range of experiences available to Korean holidaymakers in the kingdom, centered around the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle refers to three major ci

May 22, 2023

[Photo News] The art of spacing out

The annual Hangang Space-out Competition returned Sunday, with a total of 70 teams showing off their art of zoning out. On Jamsoo Bridge over Seoul's Han River, the participants – some of them dressed in costumes -- turned off their phones and sat with blank expressions, while their heart rates were checked every 15 minutes. Anyone who laughs, talks or dozes off was eliminated. A player dressed in a tuxedo took the first prize after successfully spacing out for 90 minutes. The winner

May 22, 2023

Naver Webtoon to make English version of Toon Filter

Naver Webtoon, South Korean tech giant Naver’s digital comics platform, announced that the company is scheduled to launch an English version of its recent artificial intelligence art generator Toon Filter on Monday. Toon Filter is Naver Webtoon’s AI image maker, which recreates the users’ selected photos in an art style from one of the company’s 10 beloved webtoon artists, including Lee Dong-geon of “Yumi’s Cells,” 232 of “Love Revolution,” P

May 22, 2023

[Stories of Artifacts] 18th-century fort built along meticulous records: ‘Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe’

When planning a new building, it is challenging to envision its potential collapse or destruction, along with the subsequent rebuilding process. However, a remarkable example of resilience can be found in the 18th-century Hwaseong fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Despite enduring multiple instances of damage, the fortress, situated at the foot of the mountain Paldalsan, still proudly stands as it was built hundreds of years ago. The secret behind its enduring presence lies in its "Hw

May 22, 2023