Celebrating 70th year of The Korea Herald

This year, The Korea Herald celebrates the 70th year since its first publication on Aug. 15, 1953, upon the signing of the armistice agreement from the Korean War. The Korea Herald has been in the front line of current affairs through the seven decades. Writing in a foreign language, The Korea Herald reporters were outsiders from the inside, trying to tell the stories with a purpose different from those of Korean-language journalists. Through the historical upheavals, economic accomplishments, f

Jan. 2, 2023

South Korea offers condolences over death of former Pope Benedict XVI

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea on Saturday offered their condolences over the death of former Pope Benedict XVI, who died at the age of 95 on the same day. "Korean bishops remember that the former Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the unity of the Korean people and reunification of separated families, and also praised and encouraged Korean missionaries and laymen during his regular visits to the Apostolic Church," Bishop Matthias Ri Yong-hoon, the chairman of the CBCK said i

Jan. 1, 2023

IU and actor Lee Jong-suk are dating: agency

Singer-actor IU, also known as Lee Ji-eun, and actor Lee Jong-suk are dating, according to their agencies on Saturday. “Lee Jong-suk and IU have recently progressed from close colleagues into a relationship,” said Lee’s agency, High Zium Studio in an official statement. IU’s agency EDAM Entertainment also confirmed, “Two of them have been close colleagues for a long time and have recently begun dating.” Lee won the grand prize for his role in the crime thrille

Dec. 31, 2022

Webtoon 'The Uncanny Counter' returns with prequel

Kakabo Page’s beloved web comic “The Uncanny Counter” returned Thursday, a year and a half after its second season came to an end in June 2021. “I think I took the longest break in my career as a webtoon artist. I am feeling a little nervous and excited to continue the stories of ‘The Uncanny Counter’ with this new season,” Kakao Page press release quoted the creator Jang Yi as saying. The series is a prequel to the original story featuring the origin of

Dec. 30, 2022

Places to see first sunrise of 2023 in S. Korea

With only days left until the new year, popular spots for watching the sunrise on Jan. 1 are getting ready for crowds that are expected to be the largest since the pandemic hit the world in early 2020. Prime spots are typically atop mountains and beaches where you can watch the glowing sun rise over the horizon. On Jan. 1, 2023, the sun is expected to come out between 7:26 a.m. and 7:40 a.m, according to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. In Seoul, major mountains, including Namsan

Dec. 30, 2022

The biggest culture moments of 2022

1. K-dramas and movies receive global recognition Squid Game, the Netflix smash hit, brought home six historical wins from the Emmy Awards 2022. It became the first non-English series to win Outstanding Directing, while Lee Jung-jae, the show's lead, became the first Asian to win best actor. At the Cannes Film Festival 2022, South Korean director Park Chan-wook won best director for his erotic thriller "Decision to Leave," while Song Kang-ho became the first Korean to win best act

Dec. 30, 2022

[Well-curated] Rabbit-themed exhibition, retro game and cafe at historic building

As the new year approaches, various rabbit-themed events, attractions and exhibitions are scheduled to entertain the public, celebrating the Year of the Black Rabbit. Rabbit-themed carton exhibition Cartoon exhibition Eol-To-Dang-To, an abbreviation word for “Way to go rabbit! What a confident rabbit!” in Korean, feature eye-catching works drawn by the members of the Korea Cartoonist Association and Japanese artists. Korean traditional comic artist Lee Doo-ho and renowned Japanese ma

Dec. 30, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Fairmont Ambassador Seoul presents ‘Strawberry High Tea at Fairmont’ promotion The Atrium Lounge at Fairmont Ambassador Seoul Hotel presents Strawberry High Tea at Fairmont, an indulgent celebration of winter’s favorite fruit, from Jan. 2 to March 12. This season’s high tea features a selection of desserts and beverages crafted from fresh strawberries, complemented by savory items. The dessert menu includes strawberry mousse, terrine, mont-blanc filled with jam and monte

Dec. 30, 2022

Top orchestras with Korean musicians highlight classical music calendar in 2023

As most of the world returns to pre-pandemic normalcy, the coming year is expected to bring in worldwide talents and provide many occasions to showcase collaboration between Korean musicians and renowned orchestras. As early as March, the 475-year-old German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden, with its principal guest conductor Chung Myung-whun, will hit the stage of the Seoul Art Center. On March 5, featuring Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin, the orchestra will perform a Tchaikovsky piano concerto a

Dec. 29, 2022

[Best Brand] Hyundae Rose Garden brings world’s flower to S. Korea

Since Hyundae Rose Garden opened in 1995, the company has been striving to become a front-runner in the field of rose breeding. Aiming to produce and distribute the finest roses to South Korea, the company made technical license agreements with leading rose breeders around the world, including Harness Roses of the UK and Poulsen Roser of Denmark. Hyundae Rose Garden has been breeding and growing 600 varieties of roses for more than 25 years. Almost 400,000 to 500,000 seedlings are provided by th

Dec. 28, 2022

Elementary school musical: Seoul schools to teach breakdancing

Breakdancing will be included in after-school classes provided by elementary and middle schools in Seoul starting next year, the city’s education authorities said Wednesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the Korea Breaking Federation -- the administrative body of breakdancing events and competitions in South Korea -- are slated to sign an agreement on creating breakdance classes tailored to students. The KBF will organize education courses and teaching materials while fost

Dec. 28, 2022

Pianist Kim Su Yeon to present painting-like music

Pianist Kim Su Yeon, the first Asian winner of the Concours Musical International de Montréal, told reporters Tuesday she hopes to broaden her repertoire as Kumho Art Hall’s artist-in-residence for 2023 and meet Korean audiences. Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, the operator of the venue, selects a classical musician under the age of 30 in the early stages of their career as its artist-in-residence, providing the musician with a regular performance stage. From 2013 to 2022, 10 up

Dec. 28, 2022

Translation app gets restaurant menu upgrade

Naver's translation app Papago has added a service to help tourists understand Korean menus, in partnership with the Culture Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization. The service is uses the app's image translate function. Users can take a picture of a Korean menu to translate it as normal, but tapping "select all" at the bottom brings up a "Food info" tab, with translations that have been tailored for food, and provides additional information about some of t

Dec. 28, 2022

National Palace Museum sheds light on astronomical instruments of Joseon era

How did people of the Joseon era (1392–1910) observe and understand celestial bodies? National Palace Museum of Korea's new permanent exhibition on the scientific achievements of Joseon aims to answer that question. "Scientific Achievement of the Joseon Dynasty," which opens to the public Tuesday after an extensive renovation, has on display an extensive collection of important astronomical instruments that were used to observe the sky and mark the seasons. Observation o

Dec. 26, 2022

Starbucks aficionados flock to Seoul’s Gyeongdong Market

A Starbucks neon sign hanging on the wall of an old building emits a soft green glow in the midst of street vendors offering seasonal greens and traditional herbal medicines. Young couples and office workers walk past the food stalls surrounded mostly by elderly shoppers looking for a bargain as they head toward a hidden gem in the marketplace -- a new Starbucks store within Seoul’s Gyeongdong Market that just opened last week. Dubbed “Kyungdong 1960,” the new coffee shop is a

Dec. 25, 2022

Gen Z vs Gen Z: How their enemies at work are now themselves

For millennials and Generation Z – those who were born between the early 1980s to early 2010s, respectively – clashing with their bosses at work has been popular material for television comedy in South Korea over the past few years. But recently, the skits took a new turn, with many of them poking fun at how their real enemy at work is not their bosses, but themselves. Saturday Night Live Korea’s new segment “MZ Office” – with “MZ” referring to mil

Dec. 25, 2022

Santa Claus is coming to town? Find out where

St. Nick's world-famous sled, led by Rudolph, has dashed across most of the world and is currently covering the Americas on a daring 24-hour marathon to deliver gifts to children across the world. At least that's what the official NORAD Santa Tracking website, run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, says. The military agency responsible for monitor and defense of the skies above North America has continued the tradition of providing real-time tracking system for Santa Clau

Dec. 25, 2022

[Weekender] Last chance to get into the festive mood

It’s getting colder come evenings, but the crosswalks are bustling with people taking photos. Christmas decorations and lights illuminate the streets and alleys. People flock around the seasonal attractions, enjoying the holiday spirit with friends, lovers and family. Hotels and department stores are in a fierce competition to see who puts up the best, brightest and biggest decorations. Social media is bursting with suggestions on the perfect spot to take photos of popular decorations as w

Dec. 24, 2022

[Well-curated] Christmas fun with rabbits, illuminated lanterns and leather crafts

Celebrate the New Year at the World Trade Center Seoul Looking for a unique way to celebrate the New Year? Visit Korea’s biggest digital display at Coex K-pop Square in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. As 2023 -- the Year of the Black Rabbit -- approaches, the country's largest multiplex cinema chain CGV and Korea International Trade Association are showcasing a 3-D animation video, featuring giant rabbits. Samseong-dong in Seoul, where Coex K-pop Square is located, was declared Korea’s f

Dec. 23, 2022

[Newsmaker] Even in bustling Seoul, you can find ways to spend year-end in peace and quiet

The last week of 2022 is almost here. Most popular restaurants and hotels have been booked for weeks and department stores are packed with people doing last-minute Christmas shopping. People across the country will be getting together for a family dinner or sharing wine with friends in brightly lit bars. However, if all the year-end workplace and family obligations have you tired and worn out, you might consider heading to a calm, peaceful spot where you can reflect on the past year and make pla

Dec. 23, 2022