The CHA harshly criticized the Seo-gu Incheon Metropolitan City Office for not communicating with the agency and failing to fulfill its duties as a public entity. “This issue was slated to be discussed at an international level and we were preparing for it. It was to have been discussed at the World Heritage Committee meeting at the end of June, but the meeting has been delayed due to the war (i...

A 19th century folding screen painting from Korea, “The Joyous Banquet of Guo Ziyi,” owned by the Art Institute of Chicago, is revealed to the press Monday after extensive conservation work. Jung-jae Conservation Center began work on the Joseon period work last August, funded by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation. Regarded by experts as being on par with royal court paintings, the ...

The following prayer was offered to the spirits of the ancestors: “On this beautiful occasion, please experience a number of ceremonial dishes which have been prepared with a longing heart while adhering to proper guidance.” Reflecting the practice of ancestor worship, a number of visual clues were observed during the annual Jongmyo rite which are evident in Hanja writing. For example, a Hanja...

Recognizing the differences in natural abilities, he emphasized the importance of placing people in the right position, from beggars to bureaucrats, in his appeal as follows: “If a hawk catches a pheasant, a chicken announces dawn, a horse pulls a cart, and a cat catches a mouse, all four animals show useful tricks. If hawks were to announce the dawn, they would not be as good as chickens, and i...

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation are jointly hosting “Invitation to Gyeongbokgung’s Kitchen” at the Sojubang complex of Gyeongbokgung from June 8-20. Visitors can choose between the Saenggwabang and Sikdorak programs. The Saenggwabang program includes a live performance of gugak, Korean traditional music, playing in the background during the meal. ...

Future of 250,000-square-meter grounds of former presidential office under debate

A craving for sweet foods and hunger for exploring new flavors are diversifying Seoul’s dessert cafe scene. From British Cornish pasties to Turkey’s traditional milk cream “kaymak,” here are three dessert cafes that reporters of The Korea Herald visited to help you expand your taste palate. Meet Turkish version of clotted cream Victoria Bakery, situated in a small alley cornering Seochon Villa...

When children get together to play, it is inevitable that there is one child who is the least skilled or younger than the rest -- especially if a younger sibling has followed their brother or sister out to play. Typically, these children are picked last to play on a team, or they could be left out altogether if there are an odd number of players for a game that calls for equal numbers. Korean ch...

The number of visitors to Cheong Wa Dae totaled 377,888 in the 13 days it was open to the public, from May 10 to Sunday morning. More than 5 million people have applied for a tour so far, according to the CHA. “The new team consists of seven members from the CHA, and five members dispatched from the presidential office, for now.” a CHA official told The Korea Herald, Monday. The public opening,...

Colombia will participate in the 2022 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) next month as the guest of honor to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and the South American country, the event's organizers said Monday. This year's SIBF, the country's biggest annual book fair, will kick off on June 1 for a five-day run at the Convention and Exhibition Center in sou...

Lee Ru-bin, a 31-year-old Korean woman who lives with her Lithuanian boyfriend, Paulius, in Germany, can attest to the vast difference in perceptions. “I think couples should live together before getting married to understand each other more. Whether your partner has a sense of hygiene or unique lifestyle is something that you can’t see while going for dates outside. This is the case not only in...

Ennin documented that even after the Silla ship sustained damage to its hull, the ship continued sailing without sinking. The compartmentalized water impermeable hull design was the secret to Silla’s ships staying afloat even when they were damaged. Researchers believe a typical Silla merchant ship with a V-bottom was capable of carrying some 150 persons and 300 metric tons of cargo. The V-bott...

Park played a crucial role in establishing the foundations of Joseon, compiling history books and inventing Hangeul with King Sejong. For the reasons mentioned above, King Sejo (1417-1468) tried to let him off the hook if Park denied his treason plot. However, Park refused the king’s entreaties. “My heart smote me.” This was the reason for Park’s rejection of the King’s offer, cited in historica...

Linnea from Sweden who has been seeing a Korean guy was surprised that many Korean couples keep communicating even when they’re busy with their work or hanging out with other friends. “In my country, when couples are apart, they don’t constantly call or text. But many Korean couples seem to want to know about the whereabouts of their loved ones in near real time,” she said. On this, Sarah from ...

You can also get a taste of the drinks you read about, such as “Cutty Sark highball” featured in Japanese novelist Haruki Murakimi’s 1Q84 and the “Gin Rickey” from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Great Gatsby.” The menu also boasts an interesting categorization system, dividing drinks based on the percentage of alcohol. For instance, the Poem category lists drinks with high-percentage alcohol, while the ...