Independence fighters' parenting saga comes alive in musical

During the Japanese occupation, a man and a woman find love and give birth to a child while in exile in China, anticipating the day when their homeland might regain its sovereignty. Like any other parents, they raise their child, evolving and learning from their experiences. This story is the real life story of Yang Woo-jo (1897-1964) and Choi Seon-hwa (1911-2003). Yang worked for the Korean Provisional Government, a government-in-exile based in China. Raising their first daughter, whom they n

PerformanceSept. 12, 2023

Retro with futuristic vibe: 'Y2K' culture strikes back

Pollalla Store, located on a quiet street in Seoul’s youthful and artsy neighborhood of Hongdae, is a hidden hunting ground for “Y2K” culture fans. The underground venue is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage items from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including first generation K-pop star merchandise. Hyun Tae-jun, the store’s 57-year-old owner, spoke of a distinct shift toward a younger demographic among his customers. A couple of years ago, his customer base used to consi

CultureSept. 12, 2023

Kim Jee-woon, Song Kang-ho’s ‘Cobweb’ to open in 187 countries

“Cobweb,” directed by Kim Jee-woon and starring actor Song Kang-ho, will open in 187 countries, according to the film’s distributor Barunson EA. Together, the two have made numerous box office hits like “The Foul King” (2000), “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” (2008) and “The Age of Shadows” (2016). An ensemble comedy portraying a delusional filmmaker and picky, unsupportive actors in the 1970s, "Cobweb" is director Kim’s first f

FilmSept. 12, 2023

Jeonju Film Fest presents cinema packages with guided tour of Hanok Village

The Jeonju International Film Festival is offering a cinema package program it's calling “Jeonju Tour With a Movie,” featuring a guided tour of the much loved Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The package is part of the “Jeonju Cinetour With Falling in Jeonju,” an event that rescreens a selection of films from the Jeonju IFF that took place in the spring. "Jeonju Tour With a Movie" will screen three films from the festival for 15,000 wo

FilmSept. 12, 2023

Chinese author Yu Hua celebrates 40th anniversary of literary debut in Seoul

Author Yu Hua, a prominent figure in Chinese literature, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his literary debut during a talk event held in Seoul on Friday where he reflected on his career and hinted on the upcoming works. "I wasn't aware that it was the 40th anniversary of my literary debut until Prunsoop told me," Yu told reporters during a press conference held in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Friday. Prunsoop, a local publishing company, has been introducing Yu's works to Kore

BooksSept. 11, 2023

Poet Jin Eun-young, Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo discuss 'collapse,' rising from the ruins at writer's festival

An insightful conversation unfolded in the middle of the Han River on Nodeulseom on Saturday afternoon between two distinguished female literary figures from Korea and the UK. South Korean poet Jin Eun-young and the Booker Prize-winning Bernardine Evaristo took part in a “One on One” conversation as part of the 2023 Seoul International Writers’ Festival, which kicked off Friday. The two discussed their literature and its connection to society under the theme of “In the Pl

BooksSept. 11, 2023

First episode of ‘The Sword of Aramun’ quashes fans’ concerns over new lead actors

Cable channel tvN’s fantasy period series “Arthdal Chronicles” (2019) has returned for a second season -- “The Sword of Aramun” -- with new lead actors, garnering plenty of interest from viewers with its first two episodes. Prior to the premiere of “The Sword of Aramun” on Sept. 9, drama fans -- especially those who enjoyed “Arthdal Chronicles” -- were concerned over whether the new leads, Lee Joon-gi and Shin Sae-kyeong, would be a natural f

TelevisionSept. 11, 2023

Violist Lee Hae-sue takes top prize at ARD competition

South Korean violist Lee Hae-sue took home the first prize and audience prize at the 72nd ARD International Music Competition Munich on Sept. 10 at Hercules Hall in Munich. The 23-year-old violist received 19,000 euros ($20,000) in prize money and an opportunity to perform with the Osnabruck Symphony Orchestra. The ARD International Music Competition covers harp, double bass, piano trio and viola. Some 50 musicians competed in the viola category, held Sept. 2- 10. For the final round, Lee pe

PerformanceSept. 11, 2023

Sustainability, recycling continue to take center stage at Seoul Fashion Week

Seoul Fashion Week, the biggest and single most important fashion event here that has continued since 2000, held 2024 spring-summer shows that ended Saturday with the participation of 30 local brands. SFW, held twice a year, shifted its schedule for the first time to March and September starting this year -- a month ahead of other major fashion weeks in Paris and Milan -- to grab global buyers’ attention and set trends with Seoul’s unique fashion caliber and potential. This year show

CultureSept. 10, 2023

New York's The Armory Show at crossroads following acquisition by Frieze

NEW YORK -- The 2023 edition of The Armory Show kicked off Thursday at the Javits Center in New York, and was joined by more than 225 galleries from 35 countries. Established nearly 30 years ago, the art fair is the oldest fair in the US and has been a continuous presence in the international art scene. "The Platform" section of this year's fair saw a number of large-scale installations draw the attention of visitors. Among the works in the section was Jean Shin's “Hudd

Arts & DesignSept. 10, 2023

Experience Swedish fine dining inside a Korean hanok

Nestled among the narrow streets of Seoul's traditional Samcheong-dong neighborhood, amidst the royal palace and galleries, a hidden culinary gem awaits in the setting of a Korean hanok. Mangata, a relatively recent addition to Seoul's dining scene, seamlessly blends Swedish fine dining with the rustic charm of traditional Korean architecture. The word "Mangata" itself has a poetic meaning in Swedish, signifying the road-like reflection cast by the moon on water. Since its

FoodSept. 9, 2023

[Life In Korea] Expectations vs. Reality of teaching English in Korea with Annie Jeong

“Things that you thought you knew, you're going to have to change on the spot every single day, every single hour, whether that's things about work or just in general.” Annie Jeong’s decision to move to Korea was born from a transitional phase in her life. Amid job uncertainties, she found herself at a crossroads. She seized the opportunity to explore her Korean roots and embark on a journey that was both educational and personal by immersing herself in teaching Engli

PeopleSept. 9, 2023

Queensland promotes tourism to bounce back above pre-pandemic levels

Tourism and Events Queensland, a statutory body of Australia's Queensland government, announced on Tuesday the ambitious goal of promoting state’s tourism with beautiful nature-themed programs and unique cultural experiences. “Travelers can experience nature-based tourism, adventure and discovery. Queensland will offer an exciting opportunity for the visitors to come across indigenous culture programs as well,” Katie Mills, international director of TEQ, said during a pres

TravelSept. 9, 2023

[Eye Plus] Nongak is a 'lifelong friend'

“Gochang nongak first came into my life at a college traditional music band. Since then, I've gone to Gochang every summer and winter to learn the music,” said Kim Mi-jung, a kkwaenggwari player of Gochang nongak, a type of traditional farmers’ music developed in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province. The kkwaenggwari is a metal percussion instrument or gong with a radius the length of the span of one's outstretched hand, and a wooden mallet. With its high-pitched tone,

CultureSept. 9, 2023

World Pansori Association recruits singers for 20-hour pansori relay project

The World Pansori Association is seeking pansori singers to be part of its very first World Pansori Festival commemorating the 20th anniversary of pansori's UNESCO recognition. On Nov. 7, the date when pansori was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the association will present the “20-hour Pansori Relay Project” over two days at Seoul's Namsan Gukakdang. The performances will be streamed worldwide on YouTube. The association is seeking 60 pansori singers, welc

PerformanceSept. 8, 2023

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize goes to Pakistan program for nomadic children, two others

The Himalayan Literacy Network Mobile Schools Program, created by a nongovernmental organization in Pakistan to empower nomadic children, received this year's UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, the Culture Ministry announced Friday. Launched in 1998, the mobile program was designed to provide basic education to nomadic Bakarwal children by developing mobile schools that could travel with them on their biannual migrations through the high mountain regions. Finland-based GraphoGame, an online

CultureSept. 8, 2023

Netflix’s ‘The Devil’s Plan’ to premiere in September

Global streaming platform Netflix confirmed the release of a new mind game survival show titled “The Devil’s Plan” in September. Starring 12 South Korean TV celebrities -- including Seungkwan of K-pop boy band Seventeen, renowned host Park Kyeong-rim, actor Ha Seok-jin, Canadian professional gamer Guillaume Patry and more -- “The Devil’s Plan” awards the final winner 500 million won ($375,000) prize money. Brought together for a week, the participants compete

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

‘Moving’ screenwriter Kang Full presents special posters

Webtoon creator Kang Full has expressed his gratitude to fans of “Moving” in special cartoon illustration posters, which have been released on all Disney+ social media accounts. “Moving” started as a webtoon project on Daum Webtoon, garnering more than 200 million accumulated reads in Korea. Global streamer Disney+ adapted the webtoon, releasing 20-part action fantasy series “Moving” on Aug. 9. According to the streamer, “Moving” made history by be

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

Musical 'Frida' continues as actor faces school bullying allegations

Amid allegations of school bullying made against her, Kim Hieora, best known for her role in Netflix series "The Glory," will continue to play her part in "Frida" as scheduled, according to the stage musical's production company EMK Musical on Friday. Kim, who has been accused of bullying in her middle school years, has denied all such allegations. Kim plays the titular role of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, as one of three cast in the role in "Frida," which start

TelevisionSept. 8, 2023

AI-based Korean language contest takes place through October

A Korean language contest using artificial intelligence technology to measure Korean proficiency is underway with the aim of encouraging Korean language learners of foreign nationalities in South Korea. Hancom Genie-K, a subsidiary of the software company Hancom, said Friday that it is holding the Hancom Genie-K Korean Speech Contest from Aug. 28 through Oct. 4. The Korean language contest consists of an online preliminary round and an on-site final round. Hancom’s indigenous artificial

CultureSept. 8, 2023