[Herald Interview] Chronicling KMA graduates' war in Vietnam: 'From Hill 92 to Nui Hon Ba'

The Vietnam War officially ended on April 30, 1975. From September 1964, when the South Korean government began to deploy its troops to Vietnam, to March 1973, when it completely withdrew them, the Korean Army fought alongside the US military and allied forces for over eight and a half years. Many young Koreans lost their lives. The same was true for officers who graduated from the Korea Military Academy. Their turbulent wartime experiences have been chronicled in English by Chung Youn-son, a re

BooksSept. 6, 2023

Kang Ha-neul, Jung So-min reunite as couple with amnesia in ‘30 Days’

Actors Kang Ha-neul and Jung So-min have reunited in upcoming romantic comedy “30 Days” as a couple with amnesia going through a comical divorce. "30 Days" revolves around Jung-yeol (Kang), an intelligent lawyer, and his wife Nara (Jung), who works in the film industry as a passionate producer. Despite their initial cute, idyllic newlywed life, the quirks that made them fall in love with each other eventually drive nerdy Jung-yeol and quick-tempered Nara apart. They agree t

FilmSept. 6, 2023

[Korean History] In 1998, Korea lifts ban on Japanese pop culture

When “The First Slam Dunk,” a Japanese animated film, opened in local theaters on Jan. 4 of this year, the response was unexpected -- it was a smash hit. Moviegoers in their 30s and 40s flocked to watch the big-screen sequel to the 1990s TV series “Slam Dunk,” which aired on local TV from 1998 to 1999. “It was one of our joys (as teens) to finish school, run home, eat dinner and rush to the television to watch ‘Slam Dunk,’” Oh Jang-ho, a 37-year-ol

CultureSept. 6, 2023

Bugaksan hike from Cheong Wa Dae invites visitors to once-prohibited trails

A group of participants including Second Vice Culture Minister Jang Mi-ran, mountaineer Um Hong-gil and TV personality Fabian Yoon joined forces Tuesday to introduce the previously restricted hiking trails of Cheong Wa Dae and Bugaksan. The event, for which they were joined by some 20 international and domestic college students, was part of efforts by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote trails around the former presidential office, once a tightly restricted area accessible exc

CultureSept. 6, 2023

Rare mother-of-pearl box presumed from Goryeo returns from Japan

A rare mother-of-pearl box showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the Goryeo era has been returned to South Korea from Japan. The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation unveiled to media Wednesday the mother-of-pearl box with a chrysanthemum vine pattern, believed to date back to the 13th century Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Its existence came to light last year when an art dealer contacted the foundation after acquiring it from a Japanese collecto

Arts & DesignSept. 6, 2023

What to see in town during Seoul Art Week

As the second edition of Frieze Seoul is around the corner, the city is full of events and exhibitions led by galleries, auction houses and museums, bringing the attention of the art world to the city. One can hop around the major art gallery areas in Seoul – Samcheong-dong, Hannam-dong and Cheongdam-dong – to see quality artworks during the week. Frieze Seoul 2023, one of the leading global art fairs, will take place from Wednesday to Saturday at Coex in southern Seoul in collaborat

Arts & DesignSept. 5, 2023

[Korean Artists of Note] Lim No-sik experiments with style to explore distance between visible and invisible

Korean artist Lim No-sik enjoys exploring art in various styles. Initially, the 34-year-old artist was deeply immersed in realist paintings, then expanded to an etching style in his more recent works. While some may be surprised at how frequently he changes his style, he refuses to remain in any box for too long. “Many artists stick to a certain style, but I am not that kind of artist. I feel like I have to constantly change in terms of pursuing art before people define what my art is like

Arts & DesignSept. 5, 2023

Actor Song Kang-ho to host this year’s Busan International Film Festival

This year’s Busan International Film Festival, Asia’s largest film festival, will be hosted by actor Song Kang-ho amid the absence created by the resignations of the festival executive director and chairperson in May. On Tuesday, the BIFF announced that Song will fill in as the host, adding that renowned actors and filmmakers such as Luc Besson, Shunji Iwai, Hirokazu Koreeda, Fan Bingbing and Youn Yuh-jung and Chow Yun-fat will attend the festival. Chow Yun-fat was announced as the r

FilmSept. 5, 2023

‘A Time Called You’ to recreate iconic series in its own way

“A Time Called You” director Kim Jin-won and actors Jeon Yeo-been, Ahn Hyo-seop and Kang Hoon are confident that the series' remake will be worth watching in its own right. Kim, who was a fan of the original Taiwanese series, “Someday or One Day,” said that balancing new changes in the remake with the original elements was his greatest challenge. “After hearing that a remake of ‘Someday or One Day’ would be made in Korea, I actually didn't wa

TelevisionSept. 5, 2023

[Herald Design Forum 2023] A.A.Murakami explore limits of human perception, natural world through installation art

A.A.Murakami, a Tokyo and London based Artist duo consisting of Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves, have quickly made a name for themselves in art circles through their unique sensory installations. Currently on display at Hyundai Motor Studio in Busan through Oct. 10, A.A.Murakami's works were inspired by the limits of human perception and the world that surrounds us, according to the artist duo. “With our recent installation in Busan, we used plasma to make an immersive experien

Arts & DesignSept. 5, 2023

[Korean Artists of Note] Lee Jae-seok muses on power dynamics, natural forces and more

The world functions in dynamics of power and hierarchy. Although such power is sensed from time to time, it is hard to recognize sometimes. That power could be religion, natural forces or something else, artist Lee Jae-seok muses. Most of Lee's works were inspired by his experience during his mandatory military service from 2010 to 2012 that lasted for a year and 10 months. “I was 22 years old when I entered the military service. My experience at the military, which is based on a st

Arts & DesignSept. 4, 2023

Leading international galleries, auction house unveil spaces, shows in Seoul ahead of Frieze Seoul 2023

Renowned international galleries and an auction house, Sotheby’s, have opened new spaces in Seoul ahead of the second edition of Frieze Seoul which kicks off Wednesday. Two newly arrived galleries -- Britain's White Cube and Japan’s Whitestone Gallery -- will unveil their spaces through group exhibitions in southern and northern Seoul, respectively. White Cube will open an inaugural exhibition, “The Embodied Spirit,” directed by the gallery’s global artistic di

Arts & DesignSept. 4, 2023

Art-inspired runways set to spice up 24SS Seoul Fashion Week

Seoul Fashion Week kicks off Tuesday for a five day-run with thirty Korean designers presenting their 2024 spring-summer collections on the runways of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and 94 local fashion brands participating in the fashion week trade show. Held twice a year, the upcoming edition of Seoul Fashion Week, now in its 22nd year, will include Seoul Collection (SC) shows from 22 top designers, Generation Next (GN) shows for eight up-and-coming designers, and a show by Metrocity, a corporate

Arts & DesignSept. 4, 2023

Poet, independence fighter Manhae’s legacy revived in poetry quarterly Yusim

A literary magazine originally founded by poet, Buddhist monk and independence activist Han Yong-un (1879-1944), also known by his pen name Manhae, has been relaunched as a poetry-focused quarterly. Yusim was reintroduced with a September issue on Friday, with Kwon Young-min, a literary critic and honorary professor at Seoul National University, serving as the publisher, and poet Shin Dal-ja as the managing editor. “Our magazine aims to uphold the spirit and teachings of Manhae Han Yong-un

BooksSept. 4, 2023

[Korean Artists of Note] Lee Jin-ju brings images from the deep abyss

People go through numerous experiences in life. Some will be forgotten naturally, but some, whether pleasant or not, remain in the abyss of the unconscious. Some memories are so strong they dominate one’s life. Lee Jin-ju recalled an unpleasant incident from her childhood and called it “trauma” – she did not know as a little kid that the memory would stick around for so long. “I did not think of it as a big deal at the time. But the unpleasant memory has lingered, p

Arts & DesignSept. 4, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kang Ki-young feels his acting career has entered new chapter

Many drama fans were closely watching Kang Ki-young -- especially what his next work would be -- after he made a name for himself and won countless drama fans’ hearts in the hit legal drama, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022). Some people thought Kang would have a hard time choosing his next project, but the 39-year-old actor said it wasn't difficult. “‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ was certainly a turning point in my 14-year acting career. I always had a

TelevisionSept. 4, 2023

Rediscover Gyeongseong's century-old hit songs

Popular hit songs of the 1920s and 1930s will be revisited for two days this week. The National Gugak Center is set to perform “Gyeongseong Hit Songs,” a collection of century-old tunes originally recorded on gramophone records, on Wednesday and Thursday at the center's Pungnyu Sarangbang. Gyeongseong is an old name for Seoul. The introduction of phonograph records the 1920s transformed how music could be experienced. Music, previously only heard on live stage performances, was

PerformanceSept. 3, 2023

S. African artistic director endeavors to spread joy of music

Pianist, chamber musician, accompanist to a choral conductor and artistic director -- Willem Vogel, 66, has played many roles in the field of music. In a career spanning 30 years, Vogel has hosted more than 6,000 concerts through Salon Music, his impresario business, and has engaged in productions, theater rentals and educational projects since 1993. Vogel is the founder and artistic director of the Brooklyn Theater, a venue in Pretoria, South Africa, established in 2010. He is also artistic dir

PeopleSept. 3, 2023

[New in Korean] 'Runaway Lovers' blends suspenseful thriller and bittersweet romance

"Runaway Lovers" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Lee Seung-eun Changbi Publishers A young couple is locked in an unending struggle for survival. Tae-oh writes scripts for plays and works at a gas station on the outskirts of a provincial city, while Ji-soo works part-time as a theater actor. She secretly lodges in the employee’s lounge where Tae-oh works. Despite their financial struggles, they depend on each other and dream of a future on the stage. On a fateful sn

BooksSept. 3, 2023

[New in Korean] Choi Eun-young of 'Shoko's Smile' returns with loving narrative on women

"Even a Very Faint Light" By Choi Eun-young Munhakdongne Publishing Award-winning author Choi Eun-young of “Shoko’s Smile” returns with a collection of short stories, titled "Even a Very Faint Light.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of Choi’s literary debut. One of the most prominent young female writers in Korea of the past decade, Choi has delved into the intricate and subtle emotions of characters as they navigate the complexities of connectio

BooksSept. 3, 2023