Luxury fashion and leather goods company MCM plans to launch its metaverse flagship store on a platform powered by Lotte Innovate as early as Nov. 7, joining global luxury brands tapping into the virtual world with a digital second life. MCM products can be purchased directly on the platform Caliverse once a market develops, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. “Initially, we will link users interested in buying to the official MCM website. We’ll see how that pan

Arts & Design Oct. 31, 2024

It was almost 2 p.m., churchgoers descended on Seoul Plaza and the crowds were growing by the minute. A buoyant mood took over as a pastor announced the start of the Sunday service in the plaza, part of planned worship gatherings spanning from Gwanghwamun Square to Seoul Station, as well as around Yeouido Park. The rallies across the capital were organized by conservative Protestant groups led by the Communion of Churches in Korea, one of Korea’s four biggest ecumenical Protestant groups.

Culture Oct. 29, 2024

An annual exhibition of traditional Korean crafts by select master artisans will take place from Tuesday to Nov. 10 at Deoksugung, one of the five palaces of the Joseon era (1392-1910) in Seoul. The exhibition entitled “Brilliance” will showcase 24 pieces by four artisans: Park Seon-hee, a “maedeupjang,” or decorative knots master; Ahn Yoo-jin, a “dancheongjang,” or decorative painting mater; Yoon Soon-il, a “somokjang,” or master carpenter; and Le

Arts & Design Oct. 28, 2024

Fall colors at Beartree Park Hiking trails and a scenic route that meanders through Beartree Park in Sejong City will be rewarding for those seeking fall foliage. Jazz performances will take place at the Autumn Festival, which will run through Nov. 10 at the park from 9 a.m. to sunset. Admission for adults is 13,000 won ($9.43). Pets and food are banned. For more information, visit beartreepark.com. Iksan in blossom Through Sunday, the Iksan Ten Million Blossom of Chrysanthemum Festiva

Travel Oct. 25, 2024

A photo exhibition of prominent South Korean artists opened Tuesday as part of the inaugural Gucci Cultural Month, a campaign launched by the Italian fashion house to promote the diversity and creativity of Korean culture. “Dual Narratives: Honoring the Visionaries,” running for eight days through Tuesday, explores fresh angles to look at film director Park Chan-wook, pianist Cho Seong-jin, conceptual artist Kim Soo-ja and contemporary dancer Ahn Eun-me. Master photographer Kim Yong-

Arts & Design Oct. 23, 2024

At first glance, wooden figurines on display in glass cases appear inviting -- some look like a souvenir at a gift shop -- until you take a closer look. “I wasn’t actually aware that the exhibition is about death,” said Erwin Nieto, 35, a tourist from the Philippines who happened to drop by the exhibition “Kokdu” at the National Folk Museum of Korea on Tuesday. “But you know, reading the documents, the copies, it actually tells you there’s comfort in dea

Arts & Design Oct. 22, 2024

An exhibition of digital artworks exploring Korea’s Joseon-era (1392-1910) gardens will run through Oct. 27 at Saatchi Gallery in London as part of a Korean government project to showcase Korean content using the latest technologies. The Byeolseo gardens were where retired Joseon officials, looking for a life with nature, ruminated on beauty and life while surrounded by scenic landscapes. Four representations modeled after the extant Byeolseo gardens in South Jeolla Province will be showca

Arts & Design Oct. 18, 2024

Hangang River Festival Outdoor enthusiasts should check out the Hangang River Festival, running through Sunday at Yeouido, Banpo and Ttukseom Hangang Parks. Kayaking and river cruises as well as fireworks are some of the highlights, in addition to music performances. For more information, go to festival.seoul.go.kr/hangang. Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale Mark your calendar for the 2024 Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale in Icheon, a city in Gyeonggi Province known for ceramics. Through Sunday, 26 ar

Travel Oct. 18, 2024

Korean craft is making inroads in Germany. The Berlin Craft-expansion Fair is the latest highlight for Cheyul, a Korean luxury handcraft brand invited to participate with a collection that is definitively Korean in origin but deeply universal in aesthetic appeal. The inaugural fair was held from Wednesday to Saturday. Cheyul’s 25-piece collection ranging from lacquered furniture to a black porcelain moon jar -- alongside 20 pieces from nine Korean craftspeople -- made up close to half of t

Arts & Design Oct. 15, 2024

세계적인 프랑스 명품 브랜드 루이비통이 이달 23일부터 내달 1일까지 제주도에서 국내 VIP 대상으로 일대일 맞춤형 ‘프라이빗 쇼핑’ 행사를 연다. 13일 명품 업계에 따르면, 루이비통은 100~500명의 VIP들을 서귀포시 5성급 호텔인 JW 메리어트 제주 리조트 & 스파로 초청한다. 항공·숙박비는 루이비통의 부담이고 VIP의 상품 구매는 필수다. 올해 선보인 ‘2025 봄·여름(SS) 컬렉션’을 비롯한 신상품 등이 대상이다. 앞서 이번 비공개 행사가 이틀간 VIP는 물론 연예인 등 유명인과 언론인과도 함께 진행될 것이라는 관측은 사실과 다른 것으로 파악됐다. 다만 행사에 참석하는 정확한 VIP 인원은 확인되지 않았다. 루이비통은 자사 VIP 선정기준을 구체적으로 공개한 적이 없다. 루이비통이 제주에서 대규모로 비공개 행사를 개최하는 건 이번이 처음이다. 가장 최근 행사로는 작년 4월 서울 잠수교 &ls

한국어판 Oct. 13, 2024

Louis Vuitton has invited Korean VIPs on an exclusive 10-day shopping trip to the five-star JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, starting Oct. 23, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The French luxury house will pay for flights and accommodations for between 100 and 500 VIP guests, who will be asked to purchase at least one showcased item, among them the brand’s latest spring-summer 2025 collection revealed earlier this year. The sources confirmed that the event wouldn&

Culture Oct. 13, 2024

Reduce, reuse, rehydrate At A Cup of Dungji in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, you can enjoy a delicious drink while reflecting on the environment. Though it may seem like any other cafe with its warm wooden interior and sunlight pouring through large windows, A Cup of Dungji is a special space run by the zero-waste brand Sojunghan Everything. Here, you can explore a vegan menu and learn about resource-recycling methods. All dishes are vegan, with no eggs, butter or milk used. Drinks that usually require

Culture Oct. 11, 2024

Fall blooms in Jangseong Check out fall flowers -- everything from cosmos to sunflowers, verbenas to zinnias -- all in their full glory in Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province. For the past nine years, the Jangseong Hwangryong River Fall Flower Festival has been one of the major local attractions. The festival, which saw over 60,000 visitors on its first day, runs for nine days through Sunday. For more details, visit jangseong.go.kr. Gimpo Laveniche Festival This year’s Gimpo Lav

Travel Oct. 11, 2024

Negotiations between a US museum and the South Korean government are dragging out over the terms on which the museum will lend a 14th-century Buddhist reliquary to Korea, as the two sides follow up on their February agreement to push for a temporary loan. According to Rep. Lee Ki-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has yet to say what it thinks of a June proposal by the Korea Heritage Service that it would immediately return the Buddhist reliquary

Culture Oct. 10, 2024

A two-day forum on promoting intangible cultural heritage will take place next week in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, hosted jointly by the Korea Heritage Service and UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific office handling intangible cultural heritage. The Oct. 17-18 meeting, held annually and now in its eighth edition, will explore how peoples have maintained their self-identities over migration and what intangible cultural heritage could do to help advance cultural diversity. Over 30 participants from 14

Arts & Design Oct. 10, 2024