Most Popular
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Seoul vows action over Naver's Line, Yahoo dispute
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[KH Explains] Hyundai Motor’s plan for new landmark keeps hitting bumps
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Key S. Korean, USFK special operations officials to hold rare meeting amid NK threats
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Samsung doubles down on Vietnam
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In Beijing, S. Korean top diplomat aims to jumpstart ties with China
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Prosecutors summon pastor involved in Dior bag scandal
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Suspect behind murder of Korean tourist in Pattaya arrested
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[Grace Kao] American racism against Stray Kids
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NewJeans' members' parents complained to Hybe, email shows
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[Graphic News] Over 80% of people filing bankruptcy in Seoul in their 50s and older
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Out of the sun
For some, summer might mean a time to strip down and get toasty in the sun; Koreans, however, have developed a myriad of ingenious ways to shield themselves as much as possible from the harsh rays. Granted, the aversion to sun may not be as great as it is in China, where vacationers frequently don “face-kinis” -- rubber masks that cover the skin of the entire face -- when going to the beach, according to recent news reports. A woman veils her face with a scarf to escape the sun in this July 2015
Aug. 5, 2015
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Enjoy clean-air fitness at Millennium Seoul Hilton
Every summer, Koreans are faced with relatively few options to beat the scorching heat.Some hop on a plane and travel overseas for sightseeing and shopping, while others stay in the country and drive long hours to beaches like Haeundae to enjoy a splash of ocean waves and a suntan.And there are those who would rather work in their air-conditioned office and save their vacation for later, rather than travel and rub shoulders with the crowd.A fresh option is beginning to gain attention ― hotels.No
Aug. 5, 2015
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Splendor and simplicity of Korean art
Rare pieces of Korean traditional art, spanning from the Bronze Age to the 19th-century Joseon era, have been brought together to present the exquisite beauty of Korean art this summer. The Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art showcases national treasures of Korea and valuable Korean artifacts on loan from leading foreign art institutions that highlight lavish features, exquisite details and refined artistry. Crown, 5-6th century, Gaya (Leeum)In contrast to the Leeum exhibition exploring the opulence o
Aug. 4, 2015
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Korea to mark eve of 70th Liberation Day with gala concert
A large-scale pop concert will be held in Seoul on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, the government said Tuesday.The concert will take place in Seoul Plaza, central Seoul, at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, the eve of Korean Liberation Day, said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.The event will commemorate the people's journey through 70 years of turbulent modern history and drum up festivity for the anniversary, it said."This event wil
Aug. 4, 2015
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Cheongju to host chopsticks festival in Nov.
A chopstick-themed cultural festival, the first of its kind around the globe, will kick off in this provincial city in November, organizers said Monday, as part of a project to enhance cultural exchanges among three nations in the Northeast Asian region.Under a joint cultural project, South Korea, China and Japan designate a "culture city" every year to represent their respective nations and hold a slew of programs for both domestic and overseas visitors. For South Korea, the city of Cheongju, 1
Aug. 3, 2015
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Anniversary revitalized ‘The Last Empress’ soaks in nationalism
The first Korean musical shown on Broadway and London’s West End, the first Korean musical to perform more than 1,000 shows and the first Korean musical to reach an audience of more than 130 million worldwide -- “The Last Empress” -- is now on its 20th anniversary open-run in Seoul.After premiering in 1995 at the Seoul Arts Center, the historical production became an unforeseen local and international success never-before experienced in Korea, setting milestones in the country’s relatively short
Aug. 2, 2015
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Cat cafes become cultural export
There’s nothing quite like sitting down to a cup of tea with a cat on your lap. These days, with the advent of cat cafes, you don’t even need your own cat to experience it. While they have been around in South Korea for some time, the rest of the world is beginning to catch on, and the trend that was once the cultural domain of Japan and Korea is spreading globally. Although the first cat cafe was founded in Taiwan in 1998, the concept blossomed in Japan and Korea, particularly in the last deca
July 28, 2015
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Time travel to your imaginary destination
When you accidentally find a boarding pass from your last trip, it instantly reminds you of the time and place you had been, bringing an urge to leave everyday work behind and travel to an exotic place. This may be what visitors to the Plateau Samsung Museum of Art feel when they walk into new exhibition “Aeroport Mille Plateaux.” The exhibition hall has been transformed into an airport by artist duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. The admission ticket looks just like a boarding pass. Exhib
July 26, 2015
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International forum to ignite discussion of Korean culture
An international cultural forum in Seoul in late summer will assemble the world’s creative opinion leaders to experience, discuss and globalize Korean culture. The Culture Communication Forum, organized by the Corea Image Communications Institute, will be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, inviting 14 influential figures, including a festival director, dance director, museum director, performance producer, policy advisor, architect, curator, journalist, former broadcaster, cartoonist, musician, singe
July 23, 2015
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Stolen Buddhist painting returned from U.S.
South Korea has reclaimed a stolen 18th century Buddhist painting from a U.S. art collector, the cultural agency said Tuesday. The Cultural Heritage Administration said the work, presumed to be from about 1738, was donated by the American who had initially offered it at an auction in March. The agency reclaimed it last month after asking the collector to cancel its sale. The work, which is 65 centimeters wide and 97 centimeters long, is a portrait of a great Seon monk that used to be kept insi
July 21, 2015
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[Herald Interview] Ascott Limited to open country’s first Citadines property in Busan
The Ascott Limited is gearing up to open the Citadines Haeundae Busan next month, marking not only the first Citadines in Korea, but also the largest Citadines-branded “apart’ hotel” in its vast stable of global properties.The soon-to-be opened 468-room, fully serviced residence Citadines Haeundae Busan will officially open its doors on Aug. 15 and will become the property of its kind in the port city. “We will be the first international serviced residence brand in Busan,” said Max Phillips, are
July 20, 2015
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Police to hire detectives to protect cultural assets
Police said Sunday they will hire detectives specifically tasked with protecting the country's cultural assets. Police said they wanted to ensure more expertise in investigating thefts of cultural properties and that the candidates for the new position will receive relevant education at a national training center for traditional culture. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, 27,675 pieces of cultural properties have been stolen from the start of 1985 to the end of March this year.
July 19, 2015
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Calendar
THEATRE MUSICAL 'ARIRANG' - A scene from "Arirang," a musical adaptation from the epic novel of the same title by Jo Jung-rae, currently playing at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul (Seensee)“The Last Empress”: After premiering in 1995, “The Last Empress” musical is considered to be the first big-time hit Korean original musical. The story tells the 19th-century tale of the first wife of the nation’s first king -- Empress Myeongseong, who was considered as a strong opponent of Japan’s colonial
July 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Mango bingsu, a summer delight
A bowl of shaved ice topped with sweet red bean paste has long been a classic summer dessert for Koreans. The traditional combination of ice, red bean paste and condensed milk has been an inspiration for many other creative summer desserts, too. This summer, the traditional summer treat, “bingsu,” has become tropical, as mango has emerged as a new variant. Sweet, fragrant chunks of mango have become a substitute to the classic red bean paste. For Homibing, a local shaved ice dessert chain that o
July 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Surviving summer
The blazing sun, sticky air, sultry sleepless nights and mosquito bites -- yes, it’s summer again. You know what it brings. Iced drinks and shaved ice desserts called “bingsu” will be selling like hot cakes on streets of Seoul. Women will pay extra attention to shield their skin from the sun, with layers and layers of sun block and sun visors with the widest possible brims. Popular beaches and swimming pools will crowd to a mixture that locals joke is “half people and half water.” (Yonhap)And fr
July 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Beat the heatwave, traditional way
Traditionally, when the summer heatwave strikes, Koreans tuck in to hot bowls of stamina-boosting soups under the mantra of “battling heat with heat.”Although seemingly counterintuitive, it was believed that the internal organs in your body became cold during the hot weather, and eating hot food restored balance by warming your body inside and cooling your body outside through sweat. Regardless of the scientific validity of this theory, this tradition is still alive and well. On three “bok” day
July 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Spine-chilling horror for mid-summer goosebumps
Haunted houses, horror films and even venturing into abandoned estates: such fear-inducing activities have long been a way for many Koreans to escape -- or at least momentarily forget -- the country’s sweltering summer, and chill the spine. Between the months of June and August every year, Korean cinemas see mass premieres of horror flicks, while a number of Halloween-ish festivals take place, with zombie marathons, goblin-themed mazes and booths where professional makeup and costume artists hel
July 17, 2015
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The making of a Joseon queen
Wedding gown of Empress Consort Sunjeong, 1919 (Seojong University Museum)Stories of women at the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) do not occupy major chapters in the 518 years of history for the monarchy. Rather than being major players, queens and concubines are often seen as symbols of jealousy or, sometimes, victims of political strife. Despite little attention paid to their individual lives, these women shaped the sophisticated and splendid royal culture of Joseon that people o
July 13, 2015
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Ancient Baekje historic areas named a UNESCO world heritage site
Eight ancient Baekje historic areas were collectively named as a UNESCO World Heritage site Saturday, becoming Korea’s 12th item on the much-coveted World Heritage list. It joins the ranks of the volcanic island of Jeju, Seoul’s Changdeokgung Palace and the mountain fortress of Namhansanseong. The Baekje historic areas are a collection of sites built over the different periods of Baekje, spanning nearly 700 years from B.C. 18 to A.D. 660. The sites, including royal palaces and fortresses, tombs,
July 5, 2015
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'Nanta' creator appointed Pyeongchang Olympic ceremony artistic director
Song Seung-hwan, creator of the famous percussion performance “Nanta,” will direct the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the organizing committee said Thursday. Song, 58, was chosen as artistic director of the ceremonies, the committee said in a press announcement, citing his “directorial skills” and “understanding of the audience, media and human network.”Song Seung-hwan (Yonhap)An acclaimed show producer, Song runs PMC Production Co. in
July 2, 2015