Seoul Facilities Corporation to host ‘Winter Land’ festival

Seoul Facilities Corporation kindles the Christmas spirit with the “Winter Land” festival at Seoul Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The festival, running from Saturday through Dec. 25, features a range of attractions, including a festive Christmas market, winter activities and themed photo zones. “We will expand various cultural and leisure programs that enhance the quality of life, striving to make the Seoul Children’s Grand Park a comfortable and attra

TravelDec. 20, 2024

Vincent van Gogh's exhibition in Seoul explores his decade-long career

Vincent van Gogh’s masterpieces have arrived in Seoul, offering a journey through the artist’s 10-year career. The exhibition “The Great Passion: Van Gogh” at Seoul Arts Center’s Hangaram Art Museum marks the Dutch Postimpressionist’s largest exhibition in the city by number of works. The exhibition showcases 76 oil paintings and drawings from the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, which holds the second-largest collection of Van Gogh’s works

Arts & DesignDec. 20, 2024

After Disney+ adaptation, 'Light Shop' webtoon sees explosive popularity

“Light Shop,” the webtoon behind Disney+’s original series of the same name, is enjoying a dramatic surge in popularity following the success of its adaptation. After episodes 5 and 6 of Disney+’s "Light Shop" were released on Dec. 11, Kakao Entertainment -- the platform distributing the webtoon -- reported a 187-fold increase in views of the original webtoon on Kakao Webtoon and Kakao Page. Revenue from the webtoon also grew 159 times during the same period,

TelevisionDec. 20, 2024

[Well-curated] State of the ark

Visual record of endangered species National Geographic's "Photo Ark" exhibition, now on display in Seoul, opens with a stark warning: Time is running out for many of Earth's wondrous creatures. The ongoing project, helmed by photographer Joel Sartore since 2006, is a global initiative that has captured more than 15,000 species in human care. The exhibition turns out to be a powerful equalizing force. A tiny mantis commands the same frame size as a towering elephant, each sho

CultureDec. 20, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Ring in the New Year at Inspire Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort located at Yeongjong Island in Incheon, will host Endless Midnight Countdown event on Dec. 31 to ring in the New Year. Set in the resort's immersive digital entertainment space Aurora, the event starts at 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 and continues into Jan. 1, 2025. At Aurora Bar, attendees can enjoy holiday cocktails and watch an immersive media art show. DJ sets and beatbox a cappella performances will build up to the countdown.

TravelDec. 20, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

"Firefighters" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 4 Drama Directed by Kwak Kyung-taek Rookie firefighter Chul-woong (Joo Won) and his veteran teammate Jin Seop (Kwon Do-won) find their relationship pushed to the brink after a rescue operation ends in tragedy. The duo must face their greatest challenge yet that will test not only their courage but also their fractured bond. Based on a true story. "Mufasa: The Lion King" (US) Opened Dec. 18 Drama/Adventure Directed by Barry Jenkins Yo

FilmDec. 20, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hampyeong Winter Festival A winter festival is running in Hampyeong County, South Jeolla Province, welcoming visitors to nighttime park views and food trucks. Through Christmas, Hampeyong Expo Park will be lit up from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Exhibition halls will introduce artifacts found in the area alongside photo zone installations. Admission is free. To find out the latest, go to hpftf.or.kr. Gwanghwamun Square market At Gwanghwamun Square through Jan. 5, craft shops and food stalls will

TravelDec. 20, 2024

Long-delayed 'Bogota: City of the Lost' not worth finding

Star actor Song Joong-ki's latest overseas venture was, ironically, his first. "Bogota: City of the Lost," which screened for reporters Thursday at Megabox Coex in Seoul, wrapped after an unusually prolonged production -- first halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia in 2020, with completion taking several additional years. Although audiences now know Song from his Italian escapades in "Vincenzo" and Belgian journey in "My Name is Loh Kiwan," "Bogo

FilmDec. 19, 2024

Politics and YouTube in Korea: Intertwined and dangerous

South Korea has descended into political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unexpected declaration of emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3. The move shocked many, particularly after it was revealed that Yoon had ordered troops to the National Election Commission on that chaotic night. Many suspect that Yoon’s actions were influenced by far-right extremist YouTube channels, which have long propagated election fraud conspiracy theories, including claims about irregular

CultureDec. 19, 2024

[Beyond the Screen] Seasoned producers discuss film industry's unprecedented challenges

As the global entertainment landscape undergoes a seismic shift, South Korea’s film industry stands at a critical juncture. For more than two decades, industry professionals have weathered countless changes -- from the growth of imported films to the debates on screen quotas and the rise of piracy. Yet, nothing compares to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of South Korean production companies say the challenges range from dwindling content and investment to the need for

FilmDec. 19, 2024

'Harbin' cast and director chart legacy of Korean independence hero

A historical drama about Korea's legendary independence fighters is hitting IMAX screens just in time for the holidays. But first, its creators had to wrestle with the weight of history. "Harbin," starring top actor Hyun Bin as independence activist Ahn Jung-eun, follows the 1909 assassination of Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese Governor-General of Korea and the first Prime Minister of Japan. The film reimagines a scenario in which, during his time in the armed resistance against

FilmDec. 18, 2024

[Photo News] Wall paintings restored

Replicas of two wall paintings high up on opposite sides of Gyotaejeon, the Queen’s residence, at Gyeongbokgung, will be shown to the public at the main Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul through Dec. 30, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the hall’s restoration next year. According to the Korea Heritage Service, Italian fashion house Gucci funded the entire 270 million won ($190,000) project, which involved recreating the paintings. The images of a monkey family and a pair of trop

Arts & DesignDec. 18, 2024

Set in zero-gravity, 'When the Stars Gossip' to broaden K-drama horizons

As the first Korean drama to be set primarily in space, "When the Stars Gossip" will play a significant role in "diversifying" K-dramas, according to the series' lead actor, Kong Hyo-jin, on Wednesday. South Korean cable channel tvN is scheduled to premiere the first episode of "When the Stars Gossip," a 16-episode sci-fi romantic comedy starring Hallyu superstars Kong and Lee Min-ho on Jan. 4, 2025. The series centers on Eve (played by Kong Hyo-jin), a command

TelevisionDec. 18, 2024

Kim Sung-hwan's first solo exhibition at SeMA navigates cultural, historical contexts of people in Hawaii

Artist Kim Sung-hwan is a research-oriented artist based in Hawaii who digs into history, migration and boundaries. His first solo exhibition at a public museum in Korea, the Seoul Museum of Art, offers an opportunity to consider a specific site through layers of time. The exhibition "Ua a‘o ‘ia ‘o ia e ia" at the Seoul Museum of Art unfolds across three rooms, starting with migration narratives that unpack modern and colonial histories. Figures of different sizes sta

Arts & DesignDec. 18, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Wow

An invitational exhibition by Bae WooMi is currently being held at Gallery BODA in Insa-dong. The artist, known for a "kidult" sensibility, evokes empathy through a character named Gloria. Meaning "smile on Earth," Gloria embodies the intersection of analog and digital aesthetics. The character is brought to life using pop-inspired colors, segmented shapes, and elements from traditional Korean playing cards (hwatu). The journey of rediscovering one's pure self alongside

CultureDec. 18, 2024

Tough year ahead for K-dramas: KOCCA report

Korean dramas are projected to face challenges in the overseas market in 2025, with export performance expected to be dim due to surging production costs, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency on Wednesday. The Culture Ministry-affiliated government agency released export outlooks for content sectors such as K-pop and webtoons, based on a survey it conducted. The survey gathered insights from 167 content industry experts and directors of KOCCA's overseas business centers. On 7-poin

CultureDec. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] For filmmaking duo, each serendipitous meeting sparks a story

In a dimly lit meeting room at the French Embassy in Seoul, filmmakers Cagla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti recall a defining moment at Busan's UN Memorial Cemetery. There, they bumped into a Turkish woman examining tombstones for traces of her grandfather, a soldier who fought in the Korean War. The chance meeting in 2018 would grow into "Ghost and Found," their latest multimedia project, which came out of the 2 1/2-month Villa Busan residency that ended just last week. The in

FilmDec. 18, 2024