A series of guided tour programs at the royal tombs of the Joseon era (1392-1910) will be conducted May 13 to Nov. 11, the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center announced Monday. Titled “Wangneungcheonhaeng,” meaning “A thousand ways to travel the royal tombs,” the program will offer 22 tours led by experts in the field on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The program t...

The annual League of Legends World Championship is scheduled to be held in Seoul and Busan in October. According to Riot Games Korea, a new game system will be introduced at this year’s LoL Worlds with a total of 22 teams vying for the grand prize of the Summoner’s Cup. Starting Oct. 10, eight teams -- four pairs -- are set to compete in a double elimination tournament on the Play-In Stage. The...

Damrau, who is known for her role as the Queen of the Night, explained that she hasn't performed the role as frequently since 2008. Her performance of “The Magic Flute” in David McVicar's production at London's Royal Opera House in 2003 has rendered more than 50 million views on YouTube since it was uploaded in 2017. She believes it's a role that is suitable for a specific period of time, and th...

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has kicked off its annual “Spring Day” program, enabling some 66,000 elementary and middle school students in Seoul to attend a free performance. The program, whose pilot program was launched in 2021, aims to provide students with opportunities to enjoy cultural performances, at the same time creating work opportunities for performing groups during the daytime. ...

“I am working on ‘eopgyeongdae.' Buddhist myths say that every person faces this mirror after death, before they are brought to the King of Hell,” said Kwon Da-eun, a student at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage majoring in traditional arts and crafts. “When a deceased person confesses the wrongdoings committed during his or her life, the mirror shows how the person lived. This ...

An exhibition introducing traditional craftworks by artisans against a backdrop of pop-art designs is open at Gyeol, the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Center exhibition hall, in Gangnam, until Oct. 31. Titled “The Greatest Artisan’s Market,” the exhibition features some 72 craftworks by 21 National Intangible Cultural Heritage title holders and instructors. Among the highlights...

Amazing Bellygom returns Bellygom, an 18-meter pink teddy bear, has returned this spring, celebrating its first birthday with a variety of programs prepared for visitors. Started as a Lotte Home Shopping promotional mascot, the Bellygom was made 3 meters taller this year and is on display at the outdoor area in front of Jamsil Lotte World Tower until Sunday. As part of the event, a 2-meter-tal...

Some 30 years later, in 2011, the next generation of female nongak musicians formed another female nongak group, naming it the Yeonheuidan Palsandae. The group tried to continue the legacy of Yeoseong Nongakdan, while also harboring a new ambition to promote nongak to the world. After their performance at the Yeosu Expo in 2012, they were invited to perform in England. They have also performed ...

This article is the first in a series introducing well-known cultural artifacts from different periods in Korean history. -- Ed. Stepping into the National Museum of Korea's Silla Hall, one enters a place of serenity. Glistening under the hall's faint lights are delicate golden and gilt-bronze objects. A separate room displays a gold crown and belt from the Hwangnam Daechong Tomb in Gyeongju (...

Two historical archives of the nation's grassroots revolutions, which are seen as having set milestones for democratization of Korea -- archives of the April 19 Revolution in 1960 and archives of the Donghak Peasant Revolution in 1894 -- have been nominated as heritage documents to be inscribed on the UNESCO's Memory of the World. The archival records were recognized for their extensive and vivi...

South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, said that the government should provide financial support in order for the group to implement free admissions to Buddhist temples, backtracking on its earlier commitment to free admissions made at the New Year’s press conference in January. "If the authorities do not comply with our demands, it (the fee) may not be abolishe...

According to Garrington, observing Choi Jung-won's portrayal of Donna for over a decade has been captivating due to her growth as an artist and how she has incorporated her personal experiences into the role. Garrington stated, "Watching her evolve as an artist and witnessing the changes in her life and how she brings her experiences into her part has been fascinating." Morland, who discovered s...

Pianist Lim Yun-chan's US concerts scheduled for this month have been canceled due to the artist's health issue, according to management company Moc Production on Friday. "We regret to inform you that the US tour schedule for the Cliburn Winners Concert, which was supposed to begin in Scottsdale, (Arizona,) USA from next week, has been canceled due to the performer's circumstances," the producti...

Traditional Korean cuisine is served to visitors during a tour at Gyeongbokgung in central Seoul on Thursday. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to offer spring nighttime tours of the royal palace between Wednesdays and Sundays, from April 15 to May 13.

Freshly brewed beer in city Friday is beer day, whether it be having a pint at your regular chicken-and-beer joint with peers, or in the comfort of your home. Instead of grabbing your usual go-to, how about exploring fresh craft beer at the Hand and Malt Brew Lab? Located a few minutes from Sinyongsan Station, the two-story brick building has its own brewery in the basement, where experiments ...