World-renowned opera singers and artists are coming together to revive the grandeur of large-scale opera productions in Korea, a rarity outside dedicated opera theaters. Park Hyun-joon, artistic director of the “Again 2024 Turandot project,” aims to deliver a production that echoes the success of its predecessor two decades ago. “Bringing together world-renowned singers like this cast was almost impossible,” Park said Tuesday during a press conference held at Coex Hall D,

Performance Dec. 17, 2024

When a speaker holding the microphone said, "This is invalid! President Yoon Suk Yeol, stay strong. We will surely protect you, Mr. President!" the crowd of some 40,000 Yoon supporters gathered at Gwanghwamun erupted in cheers. They shouted that they would gather next week as well. This came moments after the impeachment motion against Yoon passed with a vote of 204 in favor, 85 against, 3 abstentions and 8 invalid votes. The country’s Constitutional Court will now deliberate on

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

SINGAPORE -- A wave of "healing" Korean literature has gained momentum this year, with a growing number of titles winning hearts and more to come just over the horizon. At the center of the wave stands Shanna Tan, the Singaporean translator who debuted with runaway bestseller "Welcome to Hyunam-dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-reum, followed by bestseller after bestseller, including "Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat” by Kim Ji-yun and the latest, “Marigold Min

Books Dec. 13, 2024

Korean American celebrity chef and restaurateur Edward Lee from the Netflix hit "Culinary Class Wars" will have his debut cookbook "Smoke & Pickles" translated and published in Korea next month, according to the book's Korean publisher, Wisdom House. In the cookbook, Lee shares his culinary journey through more than 130 recipes and essays that offer a unique patchwork of flavors that combine his Korean heritage with Southern cuisine from the US. This approach reflect

Food Dec. 13, 2024

The growing popularity of the drama series "When the Phone Rings" has led to a surge of interest in the original web novel that inspired it and the simultaneously produced webtoon. The eponymous web novel on Kakao Page saw its sales increase 14.6-fold and its views grow five-fold following the drama's premiere, according to Kakao Entertainment. The data compares the figures 14 days before the drama's premiere (Nov. 8-21) and the 14 days that followed (Nov. 22-Dec. 5). The web

Television Dec. 13, 2024

In a historic night for South Korea, Han Kang received the Nobel medal and diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the award ceremony held at the Concert Hall in Stockholm. "Just as inevitably, the work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life. I would like to share the meaning of this award, which is for literature, with you -- standing here together," said Han in English during her acceptance speech at the banquet following the a

Books Dec. 11, 2024

Trust in director Kim Min-jung, the Myeongdong Theater, the single-cast format and the compelling script were actor Ahn Eun-jin's key reasons for choosing "Silent Sky" for her long-awaited return to the stage. “I was nervous about getting back on stage after so long, unsure how I would even manage rehearsals,” Ahn said during a press conference Monday at the National Theater Company’s Myeongdong Theater. “But I had absolute trust in director Kim Min-jung. P

Performance Dec. 10, 2024

Kim Ae-ran’s coming-of-age novel "One of Them is a Lie" topped the list of the most recommended books of the year by writers, according to a survey released by Kyobo Book Center on Monday. The "Book of the Year from 50 Writers" initiated by the country's largest bookstore in 2016, features recommendations from 50 fiction writers who share their favorite books. Each writer can recommend up to five titles. The year-end list includes releases from November 2023 to October

Books Dec. 9, 2024

The American member of JYP Entertainment’s newly debuted global girl group VCHA, KG, has announced her departure from the group citing alleged abuse by a staff member. The 17-year-old singer shared the news Sunday on her Instagram, revealing that she had decided to terminate her contract and exit VCHA after experiencing “incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members.” VCHA, a joint Korean-US girl group, debuted in January this year as part of the global project A

K-pop Dec. 8, 2024

Just weeks after her groundbreaking Nobel Prize win, Han Kang's books have sold millions of copies nationwide. Last week, annual sales reports from major Korean bookstores revealed that half of the year's top-10 bestsellers were Han's works. Particularly noteworthy is that among her titles, "Human Acts" holds the No. 1 spot on both Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. With the global acclaim of "The

Books Dec. 8, 2024

To celebrate Han Kang's historic Nobel Literature Prize win, the Seoul Metropolitan Library will host a special event Tuesday, coinciding with the Nobel Prize award ceremony. A special pardon will also be offered to individuals with overdue books, with borrowing restrictions lifted at the Seoul Library and 232 other public libraries across the city, provided they return their overdue books by Tuesday. Under current library rules, overdue books result in a suspension of borrowing privileges,

Books Dec. 7, 2024

Picture book fest at Seoul Forest library Throughout Dec. 15, Seoul Forest will turn into a magical winter haven with its "Picture Book Library in the Woods" festival. Held at the Seoul Forest Community Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event offers enchanting exhibitions, live music and interactive activities, creating a cozy and festive experience for all ages. The event features performances involving storytelling with music, such as "I love you today as well," and a pict

Culture Dec. 6, 2024

Poet Na Tae-joo and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Kang Hyung-won highlighted the significance of culture and journalism during a session titled "Night of Poetry and Journalism" at the Global Business Forum on Wednesday. Addressing an audience of business leaders, Na emphasized the importance of caring for others and appreciating the value of everyday life, as expressed in his famous poem "Grass Flower." Na said he often takes walks with his wife, and after a long wal

Culture Dec. 5, 2024

Han Kang’s “Human Acts” has topped this year’s bestseller lists in Korea. The Nobel laureate dominated the top three spots, with “Human Acts” in first place, followed by “The Vegetarian” in second and “We Do Not Part” in third, according to the two 2024 year-end bestseller rankings released Monday by major booksellers -- Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. Han previousl

Books Dec. 4, 2024

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced the winners of the 2024 Korea Translation Award on Wednesday, recognizing 20 translators for their contributions to translating Korean literature, including three Grand Prize recipients. This year’s grand prizes were awarded to Lee Seung-min and Julio Cesar Abad Vidal for their Korean to Spanish translation of Kim Tak-hwan’s historical crime novel “Death by Fiction.” The judging committee praised their work for its &

Books Dec. 4, 2024