Adm. Yi Sun-sin swords designated national treasures

Two long swords inscribed with the poems of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598), a distinguished naval commander during the Joseon era, have been designated as national treasures, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. The two swords, approximately 2 meters in length and weighing 5 kilograms each, are currently housed within Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. They are assessed to have served ceremonial rather than battlefield purposes. "The dual swords hol

Aug. 25, 2023

Cultural heritage agency urges man to return ancient book on Hangeul

The Cultural Heritage Administration sent an official letter on Wednesday to the current possessor of a historical book titled “Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon Sangjubon,” strongly demanding its return to the state, a CHA official confirmed to The Korea Herald on Friday. The historical book, although yet to be officially designated, is considered equivalent to a national treasure-level cultural heritage. Another Haerye edition of the book, found in 1940 inside an old house in Andong, North

Aug. 25, 2023

BICOF beckons fans of comics, webtoons with more audience-centered programs

The Bucheon International Comics Festival plans to solidify its position as Gyeonggi Province’s top cultural festival with more visitor-friendly programs, business gatherings, exhibitions and entertainment. The upcoming 2023 BICOF, which has been one of the province's top festivals for the past eight years, is to run from Sept. 14 to 17 at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon. Under the theme of “Manhwa, Connecting Minds,” the festival seeks to present ways for individuals t

Aug. 25, 2023

S. Korea, India to mark 50th anniv. of ties with various cultural events

Various cultural events will be held throughout this year to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India, including K-pop concerts, a seminar on Korean culture and exhibitions, the culture ministry said Friday. Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973, they have developed friendly relations in the cultural field through various milestones, such as signing a cultural agreement in 1974, opening the first Korean Cultural Center in Southeast Asi

Aug. 25, 2023

[Well-curated] Enjoy sports games, ink pen crafting and walking barefoot in nature

Play indoor sports games at Legend Heroes The indoor sports game center Legend Heroes welcomes visitors and shoppers with a diverse array of exciting games. Located on the third floor of the Lotte World Tower shopping center in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, Legend Heroes is filled with the cheers of sports enthusiasts. The game arcade offers various screen sports, which users can enjoy without venturing out into the blistering summer heat. Ranging from archery, bowling, basketball and curling to onl

Aug. 25, 2023

Seosamneung Royal Tombs to fully open to public in September

Hyoreung of the Seosamneung Royal Tombs in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, will soon welcome the public for the first time, as announced by the Cultural Heritage Administration's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, Wednesday. The opening marks an end to restricted access that has been in place. Following the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon era in 2009, the CHA has consistently worked to maintain and preserve the royal tombs. With the Seosamneung's full

Aug. 23, 2023

Millennials and Gen Z travelers willing to splurge on 'experience-driven' tours: survey

Unique experiences are the factor most likely to influence the travel decisions of millennials and Gen Zs, according to a recent survey from travel and leisure online platform Klook. The Klook Travel Pulse survey, carried out in July by the market research firm Milieu, encompassed 2,400 participants from 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, mainland China and India. The survey ind

Aug. 23, 2023

[Herald Interview] Ellegarden returns to Korea for first time in 15 years

When Takeshi Hosomi, the vocalist and guitarist of Japanese rock band Ellegarden, shouted, "This is one of the best days of my life," during the band's Pentaport Incheon performance earlier this month, it was evident he genuinely meant it. The band's reunion with the Korean audience on Aug. 4 at Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2023 was extraordinary. Tens of thousands of rock fans greeted the band with a fervor that lasted through its 80-minute performance. It's last vis

Aug. 23, 2023

[Reading Korea Through Books] K-dramas and movies through Japanese eyes

This year is known as the 20th anniversary of the start of the Korean Wave in Japan, which many consider to be when “Winter Sonata” first aired in Japan on NHK in April 2003. Since then, the popularity of Korean dramas and films hasn't been continuous, however. For younger generations in Japan, the Korean Wave, and in particular the ways Korean TV dramas and films are portrayed, have long been presumed something for older generations. After former President Lee Myung-bak visit

Aug. 22, 2023

Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul confident in successful, inclusive 2027 World Youth Day

The Archdiocese of Seoul vowed a successful and inclusive World Youth Day when Seoul hosts the event in 2027, the Roman Catholic Asian branch in South Korea said at a press conference Tuesday at the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. On Aug. 6, Pope Francis selected Seoul as the next host city for World Youth Day, a Catholic Church initiative to unite young individuals from across the globe every three to four years. The event was introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1985. "The 2027 World Youth D

Aug. 22, 2023

Two Seoul palaces to open nighttime tours, programs this fall

As the anticipation of the autumn season builds, two of Seoul's royal palaces are gearing up to welcome visitors for their annual nighttime tours. The Cultural Heritage Administration's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center has unveiled the schedule for evening palace expeditions, which will take place throughout September and October. This year, the CHA has transformed the reservation process for guided tours from a first-come, first-served online booking system to a lottery-based approach t

Aug. 22, 2023

Think pink: ‘Barbiecore’ sweeps local fashion scene

Who knew that so many different shades of pink could become so fashionable again? The pink trend, sparked by Valentino’s “Pink PP” concept in in its 2022 fall-winter Milan show, has become a mainstay in global fashion scene. Boosted by Greta Gerwig’s recent film “Barbie,” which has been riding on an enormous marketing budget, the pink-based “Barbiecore” trend is not going away anytime soon. Barbiecore is a 1980s retro fashion trend based on what Ba

Aug. 21, 2023

Korea tourism festival to be held in Frankfurt

Stories of Korean culture and tourism are set to captivate Germany at a major outdoor festival held in Frankfurt this weekend, in commemoration of the 140 years of diplomatic bond between the two nations, the Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday. Kicking off on Friday, the three-day festival will unfold at the Rossmarkt Square in Frankfurt. The festival is held in connection to the renowned Museum Embankment Festival, also known as Museumsufer Fest, an annual celebration of art and cultur

Aug. 21, 2023

Intangible Heritage Festival to foster public dialogue on heritage

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the National Intangible Heritage Center's establishment, the NIHC is hosting the 2023 Intangible Heritage Festival at its site in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Running from Sept. 1 to 10, the festival also is a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage — a UNESCO treaty adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in October 2003. At the opening ceremony on Sept. 1, some 240 individu

Aug. 20, 2023

Korean songs claim No. 2 spot among Billboard Hot 100 non-English top 10 hits

Korean has been the second most dominant language among the non-English songs that have reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, according to a recent report by Billboard. The US music magazine said in an online article published Wednesday (US local time) that only 35 songs recorded either entirely or mostly in a non-English language have been in the top 10 since the chart was introduced in 1958. Of those, 19 are in Spanish, the most of any language, followed by Korean with eight son

Aug. 19, 2023

Culture Ministry mulls withdrawal of financial support for artist Lim Ok-sang

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is taking steps after artist Lim Ok-sang was found guilty in the first trial on Thursday of indecent assault, the ministry announced on Friday. The Ministry said it is considering discontinuing or excluding financial support for Lim in accordance with the "Act on the Status and Rights of Artists." Under Article 35 of this law, the ministry may consider discontinuing or excluding financial support for individuals with a final guilty verdict in

Aug. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Come, see and listen': Choi Jae-rim invites audiences to his 'Phantom of the Opera'

“Listen” is the request that comes into his mind when he appears on the stage to sing his first song for “The Phantom of the Opera” as the Phantom. “The number is a song for Christine, so I’m asking her to listen,” he explained. But this request to others to get ready and "listen" also shows the 38-year-old actor's confidence, which is well-founded. Choi joined “The Phantom of the Opera” in Seoul, which began on July 14 after t

Aug. 18, 2023

[Photo News] Palace at night

Aug. 18, 2023

[Well-curated] Seoul Plaza Night Library, SAC outdoor cultural events, DIY stained glass

Literary escape to Spain, Brazil Seoul Plaza’s Night Library continues its weekend events with a thematic focus on Spain and Brazil. The outdoor library operates during the hours of 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering the feeling of "traveling" to different countries while relaxing with books. Imagine lying on a bean bag at Seoul Plaza, surrounded by the warm glow of LED bookshelves and moon balloon lights. There are booths dedicated to recommending books and cultural programs that repr

Aug. 18, 2023

SAC Summer Music Festival set to present variety while establishing prominence

Seoul Arts Center’s annual Summer Music Festival is back with more diversity as it returns to its original goal of becoming a leading international summer music festival, organizers said Thursday. For this year’s festival, SAC will present a diverse array of genres, ranging from baroque to contemporary composers to jazz. The lineup will feature musicians with both domestic and overseas backgrounds, encompassing both emerging artists and seasoned performers. This includes South Korean

Aug. 17, 2023