[Our Museums] Explore cinematic treasures at Korean Film Museum

South Korea's film industry has garnered international acclaim for its unique storytelling, often achieved with only a fraction of a typical Hollywood film's budget. The Korean Film Museum in Sangam-dong, northern Seoul, offers a sweeping overview of Korea's cinematic history and a comprehensive exploration of Korean filmmaking. While the permanent exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Korean film history and a concise background of the early days of cinema, the special

CultureOct. 10, 2023

[Photo News] AI, conventional painting come together

Interdisciplinary artist Elly Cho's solo exhibition "Transcendent Echoes" will open Sunday at Kwanhoon Gallery in Seoul, featuring her new works created by combining the use of artificial intelligence drawing tools and conventional painting. The works focus on environmental change and its impact on the collective consciousness. Among the works on display will be "Visual Kinematics: A State of Mind (N.10)" which was shown at New York's Times Square in July 2012 as pa

Arts & DesignOct. 9, 2023

Cheongju Craft Biennale stresses connection with nature, Jikji legacy

CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province – Cheongju, the largest city in North Chungcheong Province, 137 kilometers south of Seoul, is home to the world’s oldest metal-printed book Jikji. Acknowledged by UNESCO, Jikji was created in 1377 during the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) at Heungdeok Temple in the city. Cheongju Craft Biennale was launched in 1999 to succeed the legacy of Jikji, or Jikji Simche Yojeol, that preceded Europe’s Gutenberg Bible in 1455, in dedication to the craftsma

Arts & DesignOct. 9, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Because I hate Korea’ tells about agony and happiness of young Koreans here and abroad

“Because I hate Korea,” director Jang Kun-jae’s coming-of-age film based on the novel of same title by Jang Kang-myung, realistically portrays the journey of Kye-na (Go Ah-sung) in search of empathy and consolation. In her late 20s, Kye-na isn’t sure about her life in Korea. Her longtime boyfriend Ji-myeong who is preparing to become a journalist, not so well-off parents who are dependent on Kye-na and her boss who asks Kye-na to do something unethical because it is a com

FilmOct. 9, 2023

Art Token launches Hangeul-based NFT art

Online non-fungible token art trading platform Art Token on Monday released NFT works based on Hangeul calligraphy, in commemoration of Hangeul Day that celebrates the invention of the Korean alphabet. “Shoot Shoot Shoot Goal Goal Goal” and other works were created by calligrapher Park Byung-chul and converted into 3D digital art. NFT art is entirely digital artwork that is tokenized to be stored on the blockchain. Park's NFT works were released on 2R2, an online global art trad

Arts & DesignOct. 9, 2023

Four days of jazz festivities take over Jara Island

GAPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- South Korea’s biggest jazz festival completed its four-day run on Monday with a total of 42 acts from around the world. The Jarasum International Jazz Festival, which started in 2004, takes place in October every year on Jara Island, a river island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province -- some 40 minutes from Seoul by the ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train. This year, more than 30,000 music lovers attended the paid areas of the festival, the event organizer said. The 2

PerformanceOct. 9, 2023

[Herald Interview] Singer-songwriter Lee Min-hwi on bringing big questions into music

Singer-songwriter Lee Min-hwi's serene acoustic music and soft melodies disguise a cynical edge. "Your tongue and ears were never yours" she says on her first album "Borrowed Tongue." Lee's lyrics -- delivered in a whispering tone, sometimes like reciting poetry -- are the part of songwriting she finds most time-consuming. "Once I sat down to work on my music, many questions pop up in my head, and usually they lead to one question," Lee told The Korea He

PerformanceOct. 9, 2023

Disney+’s ‘Moving’ sweeps BIFF’s Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards

The 28th Busan International Film Festival held its new awards festival, the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards, at Busan Cinema Center on Sunday, with Disney+ drama "Moving" the biggest winner on the night. The Asia Contents Awards, established in 2019, has been renamed to the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards this year, to reflect the global trend toward streaming. At this year’s edition, five new awards have been added, including the Best Creative award. D

FilmOct. 8, 2023

[Photo News] Floral Butterfly

Seoul-based gallery Kocoon d’Art introduced works by Korean artists, including Kim Hong-nyun, at Focus London 2023 at Saatchi Gallery from Wednesday to Saturday. Kim, a painter of butterflies for the past 25 years, paints flowers arranged in the shape of a a butterfly in acrylic.

Arts & DesignOct. 8, 2023

Youn Yuh-jung, Han Hyo-joo share behind-the-scene stories at BIFF

South Korean veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung and prolific actor Han Hyo-joo went over their latest acting career feats with the audience in Busan during the 28th Busan International Film Festival’s flagship special talk session Actors' House. Launched in 2021 as an intimate, in-depth talk show, Actors' House has become a place where actors go over their filmography, reveal behind-the-scene stories and their new plans and projects. Youn shared what it meant for her to receive the pres

FilmOct. 8, 2023

Film director Jung Byung-gil's first solo exhibition unveiled in Busan

Film director Jung Byung-gil has opened his first-ever solo exhibition in Busan, unveiling some 30 paintings from the early years of his career, which highlight his artistic inspiration beyond the world of cinema. The exhibition, “Freedom. Dream. Movie,” opened at the Start Plus gallery in Busan on Sunday, coinciding with the 2023 Busan International Film Festival. Some of Jung's works at the exhibition hint at the contents of the director’s upcoming film, including the n

Arts & DesignOct. 8, 2023

BIFF expands award categories beyond Asian content to global titles

The Busan International Film Festival has traditionally focused on Asian content, but this year's edition newly added awards for global streaming titles to expand its reach to a broader market. Launched in 2019, the Asia Contents Awards has celebrated outstanding TV shows, streaming content and online platform content from around Asia. This year, the annual awards were renamed the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards to recognize global content, reflecting the changing industry tren

FilmOct. 8, 2023

Performing Arts Market to link local artists to world

The annual Performing Arts Market in Seoul, this year together with Journey to Korean Music, will offer a platform where local performing artists can present their productions to potential overseas buyers. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Arts Council Korea and Korea Arts Management Support Center, the 19th edition of PAMS will take place Oct. 11-14 at various venues including the National Theater of Korea, JCC Art Center and Namsan Gugakdang. This year, PAMS joins for

CultureOct. 7, 2023

Tapas bar explores modern interpretations of kimchi

Kimchi, a traditional Korean dish consisting of fermented vegetables, often cabbage and radish, is ubiquitous in Korean cuisine. This timeless Korean staple is reinterpreted at On 6.5, a contemporary kimchi tapas bar that is making waves in Seoul's dining scene. Kimchi, traditionally thought of as a side dish, takes center stage at On 6.5, which has redefined the way we eat kimchi with their creative dishes. Located in the Anguk-dong neighborhood, the year-old bar exudes modern ambiance ble

FoodOct. 7, 2023

[Weekender] Waiting on the North: Unified Korean dictionary project's long journey

How long does it take to create a dictionary? The first comprehensive German dictionary, compiled by the Brothers Grimm in 1838, took more than 120 years to complete. In 1911, during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, the quest to create the first-ever Korean dictionary began. The dictionary was published in 1947, two years after Korea's liberation in 1945. Another quest to create an extensive and comprehensive Korean dictionary called "Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon” has bee

CultureOct. 7, 2023

[New on the Scene] Kim Seong-sik makes directorial debut after 10 years as assistant director

Director Kim Seong-sik’s “Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman,” which has been top of the box office since the extended Chuseok holiday that started Sept. 28, comes after he spent 10 years as an assistant director. In the first week of opening, the film attracted over 1.5 million moviegoers. Originally an animator who wished to become like renowned Japanese animation filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Kim decided to change course after watching director Bong Joon-ho’s “Memories

FilmOct. 7, 2023

Elevate fall travel experiences with local specialties

Travel and food often go hand-in-hand, with travel inevitably leading to the sampling of local specialties. The fall season is a great time to combine travel and dining in South Korea, as the abundance of fresh and seasonal produce creates especially tasty dishes. For the month of October, the Korea Tourism Organization recommends a selection of tourist destinations that will not only create great memories with their unique attractions, but also offer a chance to taste some popular Korean dishes

TravelOct. 7, 2023

SPAF kicks off with boundary-breaking performances

The Seoul Performing Arts Festival, celebrating its 23rd year, kicks off Friday and runs until Oct. 29 in various venues across Seoul, including the National Theater of Korea, the National Jeongdong Theater of Korea, the ARKO & Daehakro Arts Theater and Yohangza Theater. Nineteen Korean and international productions are set to deliver messages that transcend the boundaries of art and technology, as well as those between nations and regions. "We will introduce works that challenge conven

PerformanceOct. 6, 2023

Korean American actors, directors say 'Koreanness’ made them think more deeply about cinema

BUSAN -- Korean American actors and filmmakers including John Cho, Steven Yeun, Justin Chon and Lee Isaac Chung gathered Friday in the port city of Busan, South Korea, as part of the Busan International Film Festival’s newly established section, “Korea Diasporic Cinema,” which showcases critically acclaimed works by or featuring Korean Americans. The programmer of Asia’s largest film festival said that the festival organizers wanted to delve deeply into Korean Americans&r

FilmOct. 6, 2023

S. Korean breakdancers eye gold at Asian Games

South Korean breakdance competitors are eyeing the top stop for the Asian Games' first-ever breakdancing competitions, the preliminary round of which kicked off Friday. Two male and two female dancers Kim Heon-woo, Kim Hong-yul, Jeon Ji-ye and Kwon Seong-hui will represent Korea at the dance battle at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. They are stars in the breakdancing world, better known by their stage names -- Wing, Hong 10, Freshbella and Starry, respectively. Two golds are up for

PerformanceOct. 6, 2023