[Visual History of Korea] A line in the sand remains after 70 years

A chain-link fence starts from a sandy beach on Korea's eastern shore, splits into two barbed wire fences, and divides the Korean Peninsula with a no-man’s land called the Demilitarized Zone. The landmine-filled DMZ, one of the world’s most heavily militarized areas, has a set of northern and southern fences covering a swathe of land approximately 4 kilometers wide across the peninsula. The unfortunate strip of land stretches from the eastern shore to the waters of the West Sea.

Aug. 8, 2023

How can Korea recover from Jamboree debacle?

The World Scout Jamboree, a mega event that brings together tens of thousands of teenaged Scouts worldwide, presents a pivotal opportunity for the host country to boast its global brand value. The ability to organize such large-scale events leaves lasting impressions on participants and observers alike, offering a platform to showcase the country's hospitality, dynamism and cultural richness. With soaring expectations for the event in Saemangeum -- a reclaimed tidal flat area of Buan, North

Aug. 8, 2023

K-pop concert for Jamboree to take place at Jeonju World Cup Stadium

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday morning called for tour programs to be offered for participants of the World Scout Jamboree suffering under extreme heat at their campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, but no decision has been made on possible itineraries, according to the Culture Ministry on Sunday. Meanwhile, a K-pop show originally scheduled for Sunday evening at the World Scout Jamboree campsite’s outdoor stage has been postponed to Aug. 11, the day of the closing ceremony,

Aug. 6, 2023

[Weekender] Hurry up and wait

People started arriving one after another holding parasols to line up at the entrance of Kokkili Bagel, a local bakery in Yeongdeungpo-gu, western Seoul, a little after 7 a.m on July 29. Though the door was closed and the lights were off, more bagel lovers gathered and formed a long line that stretched to the street’s end as it neared 8:30 a.m., the bakery’s opening time. They were all there to do their Kokkili Bagel “open run” that morning. Origins of 'open run�

Aug. 5, 2023

[Photo News] International music fest unites musicians with and without disabilities

Aug. 4, 2023

[Well-curated] Immersive exhibition, music by Han River and fancy desserts

Artifacts come to life at national museum's digital gallery Artifacts typically remain static in museums, prompting visitors to imagine for themselves how they were used historically. The National Museum of Korea Immersive Digital Gallery hopes to offer interpretations of them with cutting-edge digital technologies. Spread across the ground floor to the second floor, the NMK's Immersive Digital Gallery offers a journey through time. On the ground floor, paintings by renowned Joseon-era

Aug. 4, 2023

K-Diaspora exhibition offers platform to discuss needs, visions for diasporic solidarity

“Everyone Knows: K-Diaspora Art Exhibition & Panel Talk,” organized by the K-Diaspora Worldwide Network, provided a platform for discussions on Korean culture and the Korean diaspora. Over 200 Korean Americans and local citizens interested in Korean culture gathered at LUME Studio in New York City from July 21-22. The nonprofit organization, K-Diaspora Worldwide Network, is led by five co-representatives: Ko Do-won, Morning Letter Cultural Foundation chair; Kim Jong-ki, Blue Tree

Aug. 3, 2023

Kakao founder Kim Beom-su appointed Korea National Opera board of directors chief

Kim Beom-su, the founder of South Korean internet juggernaut Kakao, will take charge of the sponsorship of performances for the Korea National Opera as the chief of its board of directors for the next three years, according to the Culture Ministry. Kim, who currently serves as the head of Kakao's Future Initiative Center, succeeds Seo Jeong-jin, the founder of biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion, in the non-executive role. This position has previously been held by other prominent corporate

Aug. 2, 2023

EBS doc festival to deliver spirit of the age

The 20th EBS International Documentary Festival will take place from Aug. 21 to 27, introducing 56 documentary films from 35 countries. The annual documentary festival will begin with an opening ceremony at the EBS headquarters in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which will also be aired on EBS 1TV, the EIDF organizing committee said in a press conference Tuesday. South Korean director Jeong Da-woon’s “Poetry on Land” will open the festival. The documentary revolves around the daily

Aug. 2, 2023

National intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, performances lined up

A series of special events providing opportunities to explore and learn about Korea’s national intangible cultural heritage will take place around the country this month, the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, announced Monday. A total of 15 performances and exhibitions will take place, showcasing original forms of national intangible cultural heritage. Among the highlights is the Korean traditional musical instrument exhibition held at the Nati

Aug. 2, 2023

[Photo News] US couple donates cache of artifacts from Korea

Gary Edward Mintier and Mary Ann Mintier, who worked in Korea with the Peace Corps from 1969 to 1975, have donated 1,516 items, including modern paintings, books and photographs of Korea, to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation. The couple worked as English teachers in Seoul and Busan during their stay in Korea. The photo above shows the Bosu-dong neighborhood of Busan in 1970. (Yonhap)

July 31, 2023

Exhibition looks at driving forces behind Hallyu

What is Hallyu and when did it begin? Although Korean dramas had been steadily gaining popularity in East Asia in the early 1990s, it was not until Dec. 17, 1998 when the term Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, was coined. On that day, Taiwanese newspaper Lianhe Wanbo ran an article titled “Korean Wave has come,” according to an exhibition at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The exhibition, titled “The Pop Culture We Loved and Rise of the Korean Wave,” opene

July 31, 2023

[Subway Stories] Jagalchi Station: Busan's vibrant market hub

Jagalchi Station, on Busan Metro Line No. 1, is where one can find some of the seaside city’s oldest, largest and most famous markets, including the famed Jagalchi Market. As such, the station is always bustling with tourists, all hoping to soak up the authentic Busan atmosphere and try a wide array of delectable seafood dishes and street snacks. The Gukje, Bupyeong and Jagalchi markets -- all located within a few blocks from each other -- are famous for their decades-old stores and busi

July 29, 2023

[Eye Plus] A language of percussion

For Kim Ju-ho, a student of Korean music at Seoul National University, language takes two forms -- one expressed through his vocal cords and the other through kkwaenggwari. “(Kkwaenggwari music) is another language for projecting myself,” Kim said, describing his relationship with the instrument. Kkwaenggwari is a traditional percussion instrument made of brass that is beaten with a wooden mallet. The instrument is known for its distinctive metallic clang that is used to set the rhyt

July 29, 2023

16th-century skirt with golden lion embroidery to be designated National Folklore Cultural Heritage

A Joseon-era skirt embroidered with a pair of golden lions from a 16th-century tomb is set to be designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage, along with nine other costume-related artifacts found in the tomb, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. The relics were excavated from a tomb in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, from 2008 to 2009 during a housing development construction project in the area. The development project included the area of Hwajeob-ri where over 100 tom

July 28, 2023

[Well-curated] Children’s garden, modern art show and water slides at Gwanghwamun

Yongsan Children’s Garden holds exhibition ‘Gentle Light’ Since its opening on May 5, Yongsan Children’s Garden has been holding the exhibition “Gentle Light,” an interactive media art show with lighting installations. Directed and designed by studio Silo Lab, the exhibition aims to display the warmth of the house as a space, reinterpreting the warmness inside home through lights. Some 1,500 tiny, dangling lanterns mimicking traditional Korean windows called &

July 28, 2023

Heritage agency to implement climate crisis management system

In the face of climate change that has led to more frequent and powerful typhoons, extreme rains and termite propagation, the Cultural Heritage Administration has established a comprehensive plan for safeguarding the nation's cultural and natural heritage. The plan, announced Wednesday, aims for a systematic response to the challenges posed by climate change. As of Friday, at least 65 heritage sites were damaged by torrential rains this summer, according to the CHA. Between 2002 and 2021, a

July 26, 2023

South Korean art market more volatile than global market: report

South Korea's art auction market almost halved in the first half of this year, demonstrating greater volatility compared to the global art market, a report from the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Research Center showed Monday. The total amount of winning bids at South Korean auction houses Seoul Auction, K-auction and Myart Auction amounted to 61.3 billion won ($47.9 million) in the first half of 2023, a 47 percent decline from the same period of the preceding year, even though th

July 25, 2023

Vice culture minister aims to foster tourism through sports events

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Second Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran expressed her determination to make Korea an appealing destination for foreigners and to create a safer and more enjoyable tourism environment for domestic travelers. Jang, who established herself as one of the world's top female weightlifters, winning four consecutive world titles at the World Weightlifting Championships, also mentioned her hopes to combine her expertise in sports with tourism. During a mee

July 25, 2023

Seoul Summer Beach 2023 water festival kicks off in Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul Summer Beach 2023, part of government-planned water festivals installed throughout Seoul, kicked off Friday in Gwanghwamun Square and run through Aug. 13. The festival features various attractions, including Korea-themed splash pads, a 20-meter-long waterslide, and an air bounce house surrounded by 600 years of history. All attractions are available free of charge. Splash pads will run for 50-minute sessions from 10 a.m. to 9:50 p.m., with 10-minute breaks between each session. The watersl

July 25, 2023