Culture minister Yu In-chon denies involvement in closure of K-Arts

Culture Minister Yu In-chon on Wednesday addressed the controversy surrounding the closure of the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts) during the martial law rule declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3, refuting claims that he had ordered the move. “It appears that the government nighttime on-duty officer’s recommendation to ‘restrict access’ was communicated to the Culture Ministry’s on-duty staff, who then relayed it to the affiliated educational inst

Dec. 20, 2024

Actor Kim Tae-ri to showcase hanbok on Times Square billboard on Christmas Eve

Actor Kim Tae-ri will spotlight hanbok this Christmas Eve with her photoshoot video being displayed on the iconic Times Square billboard in New York. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, announced Thursday that the video will be featured on the Times Square screen on Dec. 24, local time, as part of an initiative to promote hanbok globally. For this year’s project, four domestic brands were selected through a competition to design ha

Dec. 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

Dec. 20, 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

Dec. 19, 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

Dec. 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

Dec. 18, 2024

'Text hip': From book covers to book tails, accessories make reading cool

Book stands and other reading accessories that hold your book in a comfortable viewing position have long been favorites for many readers. Now, trendy accessories, from the practical to the cozy and cute, are making waves among bibliophiles by making the hobby not only more enjoyable, but also aesthetically pleasing. Among the most popular "dokseotem," a portmanteau of the Korean word for reading and the English word "item," are book covers. Available in a variety of styles

Dec. 18, 2024

Looking for a Christmas present to wow a Korean friend? Avoid these

Nothing is better than celebrating the holiday season with something to unwrap and enjoy. While finding the perfect gift for that special someone may not be easy, there are some things that should be avoided when giving presents in South Korea. Sharp objects While a beautiful blade seems a sensible gift for for the home cook on your shopping list, giving knives and scissors -- basically, anything that is sharp or used for cutting -- is a no-no. Such gifts risk signaling the cutting off of the

Dec. 17, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Shower Thought in Purple

The solo exhibition "Lucid Dreams" by artist JinHan Lee (born 1982) is on display at Gallery Hyundai in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Dec. 22. This exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the artist's work over the past 15 years, reflecting both his time living in the UK and his return to Korea. Featuring paintings that navigate the realms of abstraction and figuration, the exhibition captures the artist's intimate experiences and universal emotions. Motifs such as feet, the

Dec. 16, 2024

Top musical acts vie for top honors at 9th Korea Musical Awards

Competition at the 9th Korea Musical Awards will be fierce, with musical big-names Kim Jun-su, Jo Jung-suk, Michael Lee, Yoo Jun-sang, Lim Gyu-hyung and Hong Kwang-ho eyeing the award for best male actor. The Korea Musical Theater Association unveiled the nominees for the awards, slated for January next year, during a press conference held at the Artist House in Seoul on Monday. A total of 81 musical productions were considered for the nominations. In the grand prize category are "Gloomy

Dec. 16, 2024

‘May 1980 saved December 2024’: DP floor leader invokes Han Kang to persuade lawmakers

As South Korean lawmakers prepared to vote for a second time on impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol, questions posed by this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, Han Kang, took center stage -- “Can the present save the past? Can the living save the dead?” During Saturday's plenary session at the National Assembly, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, referenced Han Kang’s Dec. 7 lecture as he presented the case for impeaching Preside

Dec. 15, 2024

KBS orchestra to round out year with Pietari Inkinen

Pietari Inkinen, the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s ninth music director, is set to bid farewell with the last regular concerts of the year set to take place on Dec. 21 at Lotte Concert Hall and Dec. 24 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The Finish conductor and violinist will conclude his three-year tenure, with a program featuring Beethoven's “Choral Fantasy” and “Symphony No. 9.” Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80” is a unique wor

Dec. 15, 2024

Nine in 10 Koreans use streaming platforms, with YouTube dominating

Nearly nine in 10 Koreans have used over-the-top video platforms in the past year, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, Thursday. The survey revealed that 4,495 of the 5,033 survey respondents, or 89.3 percent, reported using OTT platforms in the past year. Among these platforms, YouTube had the highest rate of usage, reportedly viewed by 84.9 percent of respondents. Among subscription platforms, Netflix led the way

Dec. 13, 2024

[Well-curated] Upside down and back in time

A Taste of Britain in Seoul Tucked away in an Euljiro alley, where old buildings, high-rise towers, and a variety of eateries coexist, there’s a cozy, inviting space that’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Follow a small, modest sign, climb a narrow staircase, and you’ll find yourself in a warm and homey cafe. Cafe Eulji Lewis is run by Lewis, the British owner, together with his Korean wife. The red-toned wallpaper, curtains, and a collection of vintage ornam

Dec. 13, 2024

From protest songs to K-pop, generations unite through ‘protest playlist’

Nationwide protests calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment have brought a notable change from previous demonstrations: a connection across generations through music. Recent protests have seen a wide range of music transcending generational boundaries. Shared through platforms like YouTube and X, the so-called "protest playlist" includes everything from K-pop hits beloved by younger Koreans, to traditional protest songs that were the anthems of the democratization moveme

Dec. 12, 2024

Global Biz Forum discusses perspectives on how to spread happiness, navigate challenges

Sean, best known as one half of hip-hop duo Jinusean, as well as Lee Hee-bum, minister of commerce, industry and energy from 2003 to 2006 and currently the chair of Booyoung Group, shared their perspectives on navigating global and local challenges at the Global Business Forum on Wednesday. The GBF, organized by The Korea Herald, serves as a platform for experts from various fields, including business leaders, diplomats and public figures. The forum convenes weekly to foster insightful discussio

Dec. 12, 2024

Nobel Prize winner Han Kang hopes 'Human Acts' will be access road to understanding Gwangju uprising

Han Kang, this year's laureate of the Nobel Prize in literature, hopes her novel "Human Acts" will be an access road to understanding the May 18, 1980, pro-democracy people's uprising in Gwangju to many people. "I was all the more cautious since this novel depicts a real incident," the South Korean author said during a meeting with Korean reporters at a publishing house in Stockholm on Wednesday (local time). "I hoped this book would be something like an access

Dec. 12, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Serenity 24-002-007

Gallery Joeun in Yongsan-gu is hosting a solo exhibition by Seong YeonHwa (born 1986) through Jan. 4, 2025. This marks the artist’s 9th solo exhibition, featuring 25 new works centered on the theme of “identity.” The pieces reinterpret traditional Korean hanji paper and calligraphy into a unique sculptural language, capturing the harmony of lines and surfaces that connect the past and present, as well as the energy of spontaneous brushstrokes. Seong’s artistic world

Dec. 11, 2024

[Herald Interview] Chung Myung-whun’s featured violinist Lee Soo-been strives for consistent greatness

Violinist Lee Soo-been, who is set to take the stage with One Korea Orchestra under the baton of Chung Myung-whun on Sunday, said she is looking forward to collaborating with the maestro for the first time in 11 years. The 24-year-old recalled her first performance with him in 2013 for a Children's Day outdoor concert, hosted by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and also featuring pianist Cho Seong-jin, then 19 years old. At the time, 13-year-old Lee performed the third movement of Tchaikovs

Dec. 11, 2024

Hue for the year ahead? It's Mocha Mousse

The Pantone Color Institute, which has declared a Color of the Year since 2000, has chosen "Mocha Mousse" for 2025 -- a shade that evokes a sense of comfort and warmth. The institute explained that the hue for the year ahead is "an evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires" that could create a comfortable environment for those wanting respite from life's daily demands. The Pantone Color Institute is a US-based consu

Dec. 11, 2024