BUSAN -- A special exhibition highlighting the rich ecology surrounding the Mekong region and various uses of the biological resources, such as in skin care and cosmetic products, commemorating the 1st Mekong-ROK Summit in Busan that opened Wednesday for a monthlong run. “Life on the Mekong; Connecting People, Creating a New Future,” held by the National Institute of Biological Resources, under ...

BUSAN -- An exhibition in Busan on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit demonstrates how the governments of South Korea and the ASEAN member states are sharing their know-how in the area of public service. The “ASEAN-ROK Exhibition on Public Service Innovation” opened Monday at Bexco Exhibition Center 2 and continues through Wednesday. The event comprises a Korean pavilion, which ...

President Moon Jae-in on Monday vowed to push for the mutual prosperity of Korea and ASEAN member states through cultural exchange, stressing the importance of cultural content in an event held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan. Speaking at the ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit at Bexco, Moon praised the power of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc’s c...

BUSAN -- Perhaps it is fitting that a city known for a wide range of unique delicacies should host an inaugural event showcasing dishes from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states. The 2019 ASEAN-ROK Food Street event kicked off Nov. 15 and is slated to continue until Wednesday at the Busan Cultural Complex Center for Youth, or Norimaru, near Seomyeon Station -- an area ...

Busan -- Busan is no stranger to a large influx of guests, but South Korea’s second-largest city was even more robust than usual this weekend with multiple events taking place on the eve of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. Subway cars were plastered with ads for the ongoing ASEAN-themed events, including the “ASEAN Crafts: From Heritage to the Contemporary” exhibition running at ASEAN Cu...

Black Money (Korea) Opened Nov. 13 Crime, Drama Directed by Chung Ji-young An employee of the Financial Supervisory Service is killed in an accident. An employee of a bank takes her own life, putting the blame on alleged sexual harassment by public prosecutor Yang Min-hyeok (Cho Jin-woong). Seeking to clear his name, Yang finds that the two seemingly unrelated deaths are linked to a question...

Chrysanthemum Exhibition of the Garden of Morning Calm (1) Visitors to the Chrysanthemum Exhibition can enjoy the blazing fall foliage of nearby Chungnyeongsan and the golden waves created by the pine trees, as well as the myriad fully bloomed chrysanthemums covering just about every corner of the 330,000-square-meter outdoor garden. The festival runs through Sunday and is open to visitors of a...

Paris -- The ceramic vases and Hangeul-inspired tables on display and the Korean cuisine experience zone right smack in the heart of Paris are a testament to the power of Hallyu, as the government-run Korean Cultural Center reopened at a new venue on Wednesday as the Paris Korea Center. Nearly four decades after its opening, the Korean Cultural Center in France decided to build its nest in a ref...

PARIS -- As Korean culture gains influence around the world, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is seeking to launch a pangovernmental team that would serve as a Hallyu control tower. Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said the government is planning to support the Hallyu in a way that will enable it to have a positive influence in diverse fields, in addition to culture. “I believe Hallyu ...

PARIS -- Culture Minister Park Yang-woo and UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay agreed Tuesday to make a concerted effort to have the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea added to the UN body’s World Heritage list. Park met Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris and asked for the UN body’s cooperation, saying the joint inscription of the DMZ on th...

One thing that is certain about the musical “Aida” is that no matter what version you check out, there is plenty happening onstage. The clever use of props and stage design was effective in making the show as grand as possible, even overcoming limitations in depicting various aspects of Africa. The Sunday performance of the show -- which runs through Feb. 23 at the Blue Square Interpark Hall in ...

SEOUL/BUSAN -- From fresh seafood to street snacks, Busan is a city of many delectable delights. That’s why it was chosen as the top travel destination for foodies in a 2017 survey by the Korea Tourism Organization. Busan’s culinary heritage was shaped by the Korean War, during which the city -- serving as the country’s provincial capital -- saw a massive influx of war refugees. Some of its mos...

The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful (Korea) Opened Nov. 7 Crime, Action Directed by Lee Khan A boy who is all alone in the world stumbles across a man named Heo Il-do (Kim Sung-kyun), who trains him as a Go player to facilitate his high-stakes gambling scams. The boy, later known as “Gwi-soo” (Kwon Sang-woo), grows up to be a masterful Go player with a vengeful heart and he hunts down those who ...

Chrysanthemum Exhibition of the Garden of Morning Calm Visitors to the Chrysanthemum Exhibition can enjoy the blazing fall foliage of nearby Chungnyeongsan and the golden waves created by the pine trees, as well as the myriad fully bloomed chrysanthemums covering just about every corner of the 330,000-square-meter outdoor garden. The festival runs through Nov. 24 and is open to visitors of all ...

Busan’s vitality is best captured in markets BUSAN -- The port city of Busan has long been a hub for exports and imports. While it relinquished its status as a gateway city to Incheon long ago, it is still a place where one can find a variety of products from in and out of the country. This has given rise to a number of large markets that draw not just merchants and shoppers but tourists too. H...