'The Girl in the Picture,' a special storytelling concert about 'comfort women,' returns after 6 years

A special storytelling music concert that sheds light on "comfort women" -- South Korean victims and survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery -- is returning with its seventh concert. “The Girl in the Picture” was started in 2012 by the Yoon Joo Hee Microcosmic Ensemble, combining cinematic elements, music, dance and graphic art to create a unique and visually striking show. It is a story about girls who came to be later called comfort women against their will and is a

Sept. 15, 2023

[Well-curated] Exorcist lab, outdoor reading and artsy street festival make for rich fall weekend

“Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” pop-up store in Seongsu A pop-up store for the upcoming comedy flick,“Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman,” in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, is set to entertain visitors ahead of the film’s opening on Sept. 27. Directed by Kim Seong-sik, “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” tells the story of Dr. Cheon (Gang Dong-won), a fake exorcist, and his encounter with a strong demonic possession. Heo Jun-ho, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Som and Kim Jong-su star in the

Sept. 15, 2023

Film festivals oppose budget cut, raise concerns over inclusiveness

Fifty local film festivals, including the big three of the Busan International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and Jeonju International Film Festival, have joined forces to protest a cut in the budget for programs that support the local film industry. In a statement Wednesday, a group tentatively called the Film Festival Network strongly criticized the government's decision to remove funding earmarked for local film production and distribution, along with a sign

Sept. 14, 2023

Korea and Japan can get closer through food, say cartoonists

Two well-known authors of food-themed comic books representing Korea and Japan shared their opinion during a meeting in Seoul on Wednesday that the two Asian neighbors can get closer through each other's delicious food. Huh Young-man, known for the Korean comic book series "Sikgaek," and Masayuki Kusumi, author of the Japanese series "The Solitary Gourmet," met at a traditional Korean hanok house in central Seoul to casually talk about the food cultures of the two coun

Sept. 13, 2023

Yu In-chon tapped to serve as culture minister for second time

Yu In-chon, whose nomination as the new culture, sports and tourism minister was announced Wednesday, is no stranger to the position, having served the same post during the Lee Myung-bak administration. This is the former actor's second official position in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. His appointment as special presidential adviser for culture and sports in July had sparked speculation that he might soon be named the next culture minister, replacing Park Bo-gyoon. Yu served as culture

Sept. 13, 2023

[Photo News] Princess's wedding gown

More than 100 bridal robes and artifacts related to royal weddings of the Joseon era, including a bridal robe worn by Princess Bogon (1818-1832) shown above, will be on display at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, Friday to Dec. 13 as part of an exhibition entitled "Blooming Hwarot: Bridal Robes of the Joseon Royal Court." Also on display will be a bridal robe from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the conservation of which was made possible by a 100 million won donatio

Sept. 13, 2023

Heritage agency to coordinate with UNESCO in conserving Joseon royal tombs

With UNESCO expressing concerns about the negative impacts that urban development plans may have on a UNESCO World Heritage property, the Cultural Heritage Administration said that it will implement all UNESCO recommendations. “The CHA will implement all the recommendations from UNESCO regarding the Joseon royal tombs,” said a CHA official. On Monday, UNESCO released its draft resolution for the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

Sept. 12, 2023

Retro with futuristic vibe: 'Y2K' culture strikes back

Pollalla Store, located on a quiet street in Seoul’s youthful and artsy neighborhood of Hongdae, is a hidden hunting ground for “Y2K” culture fans. The underground venue is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage items from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including first generation K-pop star merchandise. Hyun Tae-jun, the store’s 57-year-old owner, spoke of a distinct shift toward a younger demographic among his customers. A couple of years ago, his customer base used to consi

Sept. 12, 2023

Sustainability, recycling continue to take center stage at Seoul Fashion Week

Seoul Fashion Week, the biggest and single most important fashion event here that has continued since 2000, held 2024 spring-summer shows that ended Saturday with the participation of 30 local brands. SFW, held twice a year, shifted its schedule for the first time to March and September starting this year -- a month ahead of other major fashion weeks in Paris and Milan -- to grab global buyers’ attention and set trends with Seoul’s unique fashion caliber and potential. This year show

Sept. 10, 2023

[Eye Plus] Nongak is a 'lifelong friend'

“Gochang nongak first came into my life at a college traditional music band. Since then, I've gone to Gochang every summer and winter to learn the music,” said Kim Mi-jung, a kkwaenggwari player of Gochang nongak, a type of traditional farmers’ music developed in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province. The kkwaenggwari is a metal percussion instrument or gong with a radius the length of the span of one's outstretched hand, and a wooden mallet. With its high-pitched tone,

Sept. 9, 2023

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize goes to Pakistan program for nomadic children, two others

The Himalayan Literacy Network Mobile Schools Program, created by a nongovernmental organization in Pakistan to empower nomadic children, received this year's UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, the Culture Ministry announced Friday. Launched in 1998, the mobile program was designed to provide basic education to nomadic Bakarwal children by developing mobile schools that could travel with them on their biannual migrations through the high mountain regions. Finland-based GraphoGame, an online

Sept. 8, 2023

AI-based Korean language contest takes place through October

A Korean language contest using artificial intelligence technology to measure Korean proficiency is underway with the aim of encouraging Korean language learners of foreign nationalities in South Korea. Hancom Genie-K, a subsidiary of the software company Hancom, said Friday that it is holding the Hancom Genie-K Korean Speech Contest from Aug. 28 through Oct. 4. The Korean language contest consists of an online preliminary round and an on-site final round. Hancom’s indigenous artificial

Sept. 8, 2023

Media art to illuminate cultural heritage sites

A series of Korean cultural heritage media art events using digital technology will be showcased at seven cultural heritage sites across the nation, starting Saturday. Jointly hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the event kicks off at two sites in South Chungcheong Province — Gongsanseong in Gongju and the stone pagoda Mireuksaji in Iksan. The final event will be held at the Marisan Tumuli in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 8. On

Sept. 8, 2023

Korea, Japan, China culture ministers vow youth-centered cooperation

The culture ministers of South Korea, Japan and China met at the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Thursday and Friday, in person for the first time in four years, where they vowed to strengthen cultural cooperation among the three Northeast Asian countries. On Friday, the three culture ministers -- South Korea's Park Bo-gyoon, Keiko Nagaoka of Japan and Hu Heping for China -- signed the Jeonju Declaration, which includes the expansion of cultural ex

Sept. 8, 2023

[Well-curated] Hop on over to high-end stationery store, Hangang dog pool and DDP new media exhibit

Point of View The Hyundai Seoul, the biggest department store in Seoul, has everything there is for anyone to spend their precious weekend. Visitors can enjoy almost 13 football fields filled with with sports facilities, contemporary retail, luxury brands, restaurants, an in-door garden and more. And of course, the department store offers a cool summer getaway with abundant air conditioning. For those who prefer to hand-write things on paper, stationery shop Point of View is one of the must-vi

Sept. 8, 2023

[Herald Interview] From his fingertips, composer and conductor Choi Jae-hyuck brings music to life

Choi Jae-hyuck, winner of the first prize in composition at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2017, is set to unveil his first organ concerto next month. Choi has been working on the piece since 2020 when he first came up with the idea to create an organ piece, after feeling captivated by the instrument. "I spent one year redoing the first page several times. After that it got easier," Choi told reporters during an interview on Tuesday. Part of the challenge stems from the

Sept. 7, 2023

13th-century mother-of-pearl lacquered box returns to Korea

An approximately 800-year-old Goryeo-era "najeonchilgi," a lacquered box with an inlaid mother-of-pearl chrysanthemum and scroll design, was repatriated to Korea from Japan in July, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced at a press conference on Wednesday. Studies indicate that the box dates back to the 13th century and represents one of fewer than 20 extant pieces of Goryeo-era lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl found worldwide. Currently, the National Museum of Korea hol

Sept. 6, 2023

[Korean History] In 1998, Korea lifts ban on Japanese pop culture

When “The First Slam Dunk,” a Japanese animated film, opened in local theaters on Jan. 4 of this year, the response was unexpected -- it was a smash hit. Moviegoers in their 30s and 40s flocked to watch the big-screen sequel to the 1990s TV series “Slam Dunk,” which aired on local TV from 1998 to 1999. “It was one of our joys (as teens) to finish school, run home, eat dinner and rush to the television to watch ‘Slam Dunk,’” Oh Jang-ho, a 37-year-ol

Sept. 6, 2023

Bugaksan hike from Cheong Wa Dae invites visitors to once-prohibited trails

A group of participants including Second Vice Culture Minister Jang Mi-ran, mountaineer Um Hong-gil and TV personality Fabian Yoon joined forces Tuesday to introduce the previously restricted hiking trails of Cheong Wa Dae and Bugaksan. The event, for which they were joined by some 20 international and domestic college students, was part of efforts by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote trails around the former presidential office, once a tightly restricted area accessible exc

Sept. 6, 2023

Three writers win Korean diaspora literature awards

A new literature award that aims to discover creators worldwide who write in the Korean language and examine the diaspora literature from diverse perspectives, has selected its winners, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced on Friday. LTI Korea has awarded three writers -- Lee Soo-jeong, Chung Chul-young and Kim Jae-dong -- for the inaugural “‘Nomo New Literature Award,” selected from a total of 111 entries received between Nov. 14, 2022 and April 30 of this y

Sept. 1, 2023