Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater, located in central Seoul, will host a specially curated performance on Friday, with shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. This event offers audiences a glimpse into the grandeur of Jinchan, or the royal banquets of the Joseon era (1392–1910). These feasts, held to commemorate special occasions for the king, queen and other members of the royal family, were lavish affairs featuring music, dance and exquisite cuisine. For the first time, the venue is presenting a

Performance Nov. 12, 2024

Winning the Nobel Prize in literature is not the final stop but a beginning, said Chon Soo-young, president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, during a press conference marking her first 100 days in office in Seoul, Monday. “We aim to establish a strong foundation for Korean literature to thrive as a vital part of world literature,” said Chon, who has been leading the government-affiliated institute charged with promoting Korean literature globally since August. The 70

Books Nov. 11, 2024

Picture books with contemporary messages and vibrant, imaginative illustrations were recognized on Monday at the second annual Korea Picture Book Award, co-hosted by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and the Culture Ministry. In the fiction category, the grand prize went to "How to Be a True Friend" by Park Hyun-min, a dark comedy set in the snowy Himalayas that follows a mythical yeti. The story explores the coexistence of humans and nature, delivering a satirical tak

Books Nov. 9, 2024

The 27th edition of the Singapore Writers Festival kicks off this weekend, inviting audiences to explore the theme “In Our Nature.” Running from Friday through Nov. 17, this year’s festival will be held across venues throughout Singapore, offering over 200 programs that delve into humanity’s relationship with the natural world. For Yong Shu Hoong, the newly appointed festival director, poet and educator with a background in computer science, this theme took shape during h

Books Nov. 7, 2024

Acclaimed French playwright and director Joel Pommerat, celebrated with nine Moliere Awards, has brought one of his original productions to Korea for the first time. His 2020 production “Tales and Legends,” set in a near future that features androids, is onstage at the LG Arts Center from Thursday to Sunday. While several of Pommerat’s works, such as “This Child” and “The Reunification of the Two Koreas,” have been translated and performed in Korea by lo

Performance Nov. 7, 2024

The Ireland Literature Festival in Korea provided a platform to explore the rich tapestry of the Irish and Korean literary landscapes. During a recent interview with The Korea Herald, Michelle Winthrop, Irish ambassador to Korea, and novelist and literary critic Ronan Hession emphasized the critical role of translation in bridging cultural divides and enriching global literature. Ambassador Winthrop, an avid reader herself, talked about how this year’s festival was inspired by the legacy o

Books Nov. 7, 2024

In its final few weeks, the Seoul Outdoor Library was transformed into a Travel Library, with weekly programs themed around different countries. The journey began with Denmark in May and continued through Colombia in August, with each week offering unique cultural experiences tied to that week's country. Programs included curated book selections, film screenings, live music, or author talks, all designed to capture the spirit of each destination. In October, the Travel Library resumed, begi

Books Nov. 6, 2024

This year's chapter of Seoul Metropolitan Library’s beloved outdoor reading program, the Seoul Outdoor Library, comes to an end this week. The program that has transformed some of the city’s most iconic spaces into bustling hubs of literary culture since its April launch is closing its seven-month run with a lively schedule of performances and film screenings from Thursday through Sunday. The outdoor library program enjoyed an unprecedented success, attracting an estimated three

Books Nov. 6, 2024

Novelist Kim Hee-sun won the fiction category of the Daesan Literary Awards on Tuesday for her latest novel "All About 247,” a thought-provoking work that explores a post-pandemic society shaped by the aftermath of COVID-19. Set in near-future Korea, after the pandemic, society has built systems to prevent large-scale outbreaks. A global Disease Control Center now coordinates efforts worldwide to fight infectious diseases. Fever-reducing drugs are banned to curb virus spread, heat sen

Books Nov. 5, 2024

Speaking out against book bans, Asa Bergman, head of office at the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, expressed strong opposition to banning books at school libraries, emphasizing that “access to literature for children and young adults will always be a precondition for democracy and openness.” “I’m against book bans of any kind, anywhere,” Bergman told The Korea Herald on Thursday in Seoul, following her lecture on the prestigious children’s literature award and

Books Nov. 4, 2024

A dancer in a floppy hat and loose, wide-leg pants steps onto the stage, wielding a white fan with remarkable finesse. With deft movements, he conjures an almost magical sequence -- opening and softly folding the fan with a flick of the wrist, each motion seamless and barely perceptible, while his feet shuffle with agility. Moments later, two more dancers join, positioning their right arms and legs between two tilted mirrors that cast uncanny reflections. Their arms, legs and fans move in harmon

Performance Nov. 1, 2024

At the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater on Sunday evening, the Paris Opera Ballet etoile (principal dancer) Park Sae-eun warmly embraced the Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer Kim Ki-min, who had flown in directly from a performance in China. The two shared a wide smile as they hugged patting each other’s shoulders. Selected for the lead roles of Nikiya and Solor in the Korean National Ballet production of "La Bayadere," Kim and Park are set to go on stage Friday and Sunday

Performance Nov. 1, 2024

The second annual World Pansori Festival will kick off at Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul this weekend, showcasing a blend of traditional culture and modern musical innovation. Co-hosted by the World Pansori Association and Namsangol Hanok Village, the festival running from Friday to Sunday celebrates pansori, Korea’s expressive vocal art form of narrative singing of epic stories and folklore. The Main Concert will have live pansori beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, followed by pansori buski

Performance Oct. 31, 2024

Hidden dumpling shop Mandu are Korean dumplings filled with ingredients such as seasoned minced meat, tofu and vegetables like napa cabbage and green onions. They're a classic food enjoyed by all ages, found in small eateries and street stalls across Korea. Gwi-Il Dumpling, a local gem in Geumho-dong, Seoul, offers six varieties of mandu -- meat, kimchi, shrimp, galbi (Korean marinated ribs), spicy galbi and a mix of meat and vegetables. The restaurant also serves jjinppang, steamed buns fi

Culture Oct. 25, 2024

Acclaimed French writer Sylvie Germain, known for her profound exploration of eras marked by violence and turmoil, including the Franco-Prussian War and the Algerian War, said it’s “disheartening” to see the current global situation, particularly the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. “It’s tragic that humanity hasn’t learned from history, and we continue to see the same situations recur. The violence and destruction caused by war are deeply concerning.

Books Oct. 24, 2024