South Korean author Park Sang-young's "Love in the Big City" has been longlisted for the Prix Medicis etranger, one of France's major literary awards for foreign-language novels translated into French, alongside the Goncourt, Prix Femina and Renaudot. The French edition of "Love in the Big City" ("S'aimer dans la grande ville" in French) is among 14 titles nominated for the first round of this year’s prize. The novel, which follows a Korean quee

Books Sept. 24, 2024

World-renowned French director and choreographer Philippe Decoufle, known as a pioneer of imaginative multidisciplinary performances, is returning to Korea with his masterpiece "Shazam!" Since its 1998 premiere commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "Shazam!" has been performed over 200 times at major theaters worldwide. One of the iconic and steady hits of Decoufle's DCA Company, "Shazam!" is scheduled to be performed at the LG Arts Ce

Performance Sept. 24, 2024

"The Novice Shaman Reading Past Lives" By Lee Sun-young Clayhouse A pair of novice shamans claim that past-life insights can unravel present-day problems. With their help, people find a second chance at life in this heartwarming drama infused with comedy and emotion. The fortune-telling shop Miss Korea has garnered a reputation for helping clients discover their past lives. The vibrant place is run by two shamans: There's the enigmatic Madame Go, whose age remains a mystery, and D

Books Sept. 22, 2024

"To Where the Light Leads" By Baek Hee-sung Book Romance Lumiere Clerget is a disheartened architect who, despite designing beautiful homes for others, struggles to find a place he can call his own. One day, he receives a call from his real estate agent who has miraculously found him an affordable listing in Paris. The house, with its peculiar features like an unusually low staircase handrail, intrigues Lumiere. He discovers that the house belongs to Peter Waltzer, a wealthy man living

Books Sept. 21, 2024

"Light and Melody" By Cho Hae-jin Munhakdongne Publishing “Light and Melody” intertwines the stories of Kwon-eun, a documentary photographer, and Seung-joon, a journalist, whose paths cross again seven years after they rekindle their bond from cherished childhood memories. Kwon-eun is left physically and emotionally scarred after an injury that cost her half of her left leg while reporting in war-torn Syria. Now unable to return, she rejects all commissions and barely scrap

Books Sept. 21, 2024

The KBS' “Music Bank” overseas concert, scheduled for next month at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, has been abruptly canceled by Spanish soccer club Real Madrid, according to the "Music Bank" production team. In a statement released Thursday, the production team asked for an official apology and explanation from Real Madrid CF, expressing its deep frustration over the sudden cancellation of the Madrid concert. “We deeply regret Real Madrid's unilat

K-pop Sept. 20, 2024

The long-running ballet production "Ahn Jung-geun: A Dance in the Heaven" will be performed at the CJ Towol Theater in the Seoul Arts Center this weekend. The ballet tells the story of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910), taking inspiration from Ahn’s final words before his execution in Lushun Prison, China, in March 1910. He was convicted for assassinating Ito Hirobumi, a former Japanese prime minister and the first governor-general of Korea during Japanese col

Performance Sept. 20, 2024

Park Jin-young, also known by his stage name J.Y. Park, is set to hold a solo concert, "Still JYP," to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a singer. The concert will take place at Olympic Hall in Seoul's Olympic Park from Dec. 27 to 29, according to JYP Entertainment on Friday. The singer-songwriter and entrepreneur plans to celebrate the milestone with fans who have supported him throughout his career, performing signature hits that span generations. Debuting in 1994, Park shot to

K-pop Sept. 20, 2024

German mystery crime writer Nele Neuhaus’ 2010 international bestseller “Snow White Must Die” is getting a fresh take as the Korean drama series “Snow White Must Die -- Black Out,” kicked off Aug. 16. The fourth installment of Neuhaus’ series set in the Taunus region near Frankfurt sold more than 3.5 million copies globally and had its German TV adaptation in 2013. Now just five episodes away from its finale, the MBC series is gaining momentum with its latest

Books Sept. 18, 2024

When a rocket scientist with obsessive-compulsive disorder meets a woman grieving the loss of her father, their unexpected encounter blossoms into sympathy, love and shared healing as they navigate their traumas. At the heart of their journey is dance, which becomes a powerful catalyst for their connection. The two-person romantic comedy play, “Rendezvous,” written and directed by South Korean director Yossef K. Junghan, kicked off in August at the LG Arts Center in Seoul. Kim first

Performance Sept. 17, 2024

Mira, a resident of Yeonnam-dong living with her daughter, Nahee, and her husband, Woochul, finds herself at a crossroads. Despite her past success, her reality feels bleak as she struggles to find work amid all her concerns about her daughter and financial worries. When her old washing machine breaks down, she turns to a nearby laundromat, only to discover an unexpected source of solace. Amid the hum of machines, Mira spots an olive-green diary left on a table. At first, she wasn’t partic

Books Sept. 13, 2024

True American-style hamburger in Seoul Craving an authentic American-style hamburger in Seoul? Brooklyn the Burger Joint is your go-to spot. First opened in 2010 in Seorae Maeul, Seoul's French village in Seocho-gu, this American diner-style restaurant now has nine additional locations across Seoul and two in Bundang-gu, Gyeonggi Province. Brooklyn the Burger Joint stays true to the classic, authentic taste of American-style hamburgers, focusing on high-quality ingredients. The restaurant u

Culture Sept. 13, 2024

The 2024 Seoul Street Arts Festival will take place in downtown Seoul, across Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon and Mugyo-ro areas during the three-day Chuseok holiday, from Monday to Wednesday. Over 300 artists from Korea and abroad from eight countries, including Spain, Italy and Japan will participate in this outdoor celebration, showcasing 24 programs -- including street theater, dance, circus acts, traditional performances, large-scale installations and interactive art pieces. The festival will o

Performance Sept. 11, 2024

“I am a failed writer who wrote a novel about failure. (But) I hope that through this book, those who have failed can live a bit more freely. I want to tell them that it’s okay to cry loudly if it’s hard,” said Kevin Chen, or Chen Shih-hung, the award-winning Taiwanese author, during an interview with reporters in Seoul on Monday. Currently based in Berlin, he is also a columnist, translator and actor. Chen, visiting Korea for the first time, participated in a talk progra

Books Sept. 10, 2024

"This is a very uncomfortable situation for me," Fredrik Backman admitted candidly to reporters on Saturday. "When I leave here, I'll probably spend the next few days thinking, ‘I shouldn’t have said that,’ or, ‘That was a stupid answer.’ ... But I know I'm learning from these situations. One day, a moment like this will become a character in a book." The celebrated Swedish author of "A Man Called Ove" is currently visiting Ko

Books Sept. 9, 2024