[New in Korean] Collection explores society's ethical dilemmas

"International Between the Two" By Kim Ki-tae Munhakdongne Publishing Writer Kim Ki-tae, who debuted in 2022, has quickly garnered attention in the literary scene, earning many recognitions such as the Young Writer Award and the Yi Sang Literary Award. In a field dominated by female writers, Kim stands out as a rare male voice among those with less than a decade-long writing career. (All recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Young Writer Awards were female, except Kim in 2024.) His debut col

BooksJuly 15, 2024

[Graphic News] Foreign tourists spend average of 6 days, W2.84m in Seoul

Foreign tourists in Seoul spend an average of 2.84 million won during a six-day stay, according to a recent survey conducted by the city government and the Seoul Tourism Organization. These figures show an increase of 958,000 won and nearly one additional day compared to 2019. The survey attributes the rise in tourist spending and extended stays to a greater number of visitors from Europe and the Americas. In 2023, tourists from the Americas accounted for 12.4 percent of visitors, up from 7.7

TravelJuly 15, 2024

[Better Together] Orchestra made of the cello, by the cello and for the cello

As this Seoul orchestra gathered in the practice room for a rehearsal, something unusual about the instruments became apparent -- all but one of them was a cello. The Dodo Cello Orchestra, composed of amateur players ranging from their 20s to their 60s, was founded in 2013 by professional cellist Park Song-yi, who wanted to create a bigger "playground" for her students. “Playing the cello is not an easy choice to make. A cellist, for example, has certain limits when playing in an

CultureJuly 14, 2024

Korean media art to be featured in Paris during summer Olympics

Korean media art will be presented in Paris in July to coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics featuring video art founder Paik Nam-june and leading Korean contemporary media artists. The exhibition “Decoding Korea, La Coree Decodee” will be held from July 26 to Aug. 25 at the Grand Palais Immersif, an art center dedicated to digital art in Paris, hosted by the South Korean Culture Ministry and organized by the Korea Arts Management Service. A total of 18 media artworks by 11 artist

Arts & DesignJuly 14, 2024

‘The Last Stop in Yuma County’ and ‘Esper’s Light’ given top awards at 28th BIFAN

The 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Asia’s largest genre film festival that showcases an array of films, including thrillers and fantasy movies, officially concluded Friday, announcing “The Last Stop in Yuma County” and “Esper’s Light” as the best films at the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony followed the screening of the festival’s closing film “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” by Hong Kong martial arts master S

FilmJuly 14, 2024

Korea Travel Card collaborates with Reserve with Google for medical tourism

Overseas tourists, who acquire Korea Travel Card, will be able to easily spot and make reservations at Korean hospitals via Reserve with Google starting from July. Korea Travel Card is a transport and payment card for foreign visitors accepted at almost 5 million locations nationwide. According to Redtable, the provider of this inbound traveler-friendly card, international patients can review Korean hospital ratings, photos, videos and look up and other detailed profiles of the medical facilitie

CultureJuly 14, 2024

"Inside Out 2" becomes most-watched Pixar film in Korea

"Inside Out 2" is the most-viewed Pixar film to open in Korean theaters. According to the Korean Film Council, as of Sunday at 9:30 a.m., the total number of admissions sold for "Inside Out 2" logged 7.45 million. This surpasses the 7.24 million tickets sold for the US animation studio's "Elemental" (2023), which previously held the record as the most-watched Pixar movie in Korean theaters. "Inside Out 2" is currently the third most-watched film in

FilmJuly 14, 2024

'Exhuma' to open in Japanese theaters

South Korean occult flick "Exhuma," which set a record as this year's first film to hit 10 million admissions, will be released in Japanese theaters this October. According to Kadokawa, the Japanese distributor of "Exhuma," the film will hit local theaters across Japan on Oct. 18. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, known for his success with occult films such as "The Priests" (2015) and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019), and featuring veteran actors Choi Min-s

FilmJuly 14, 2024

[New in Korean] 'See You Again' invites readers to heartwarming conversation over hearty meal

"See You Again" By Kim Ji-yun Clayhouse Embark on a heartwarming journey with a hearty meal through “See You Again,” a new novel by bestselling author Kim Ji-yun, centered around a small "dosirak" eatery in Hyehwa-dong. (Dosirak is a meal packed in a box for school, work or a picnic.) The story revolves around the owner, Madam Jeong Geum-nam, affectionately known as “Hyehwa-dong Grandma,” who brings together a group of people with her wholesome dosirak

BooksJuly 14, 2024

Shelter for comfort women may become museum

Operators of the House of Sharing, the residential building for surviving victims of Japan's sexual slavery before and during World War II, are mulling turning it into a museum dedicated to the women euphemistically called "comfort women." According to local media outlets Friday, all previous occupants of the house have left due to their deteriorating health from old age. Three women, 97-year-old Lee Ok-seon -- not to be confused with confused with another victim of the same nam

PeopleJuly 13, 2024

Culture Ministry, KTO launches new food tourism promotion

With the aim to promote its rich culinary culture and South Korea as a food tourism destination, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have launched the “Taste Your Korea” campaign. Aside from always satisfying street foods in the vein of gimbap and tteokbokki, popular Korean dishes like bibimbap -- typically made with rice, an array of vegetables, beef and savory bibimbap sauce -- and Korean-style fried chicken are among the 33 delicacies hig

TravelJuly 13, 2024

[What to Stream] Short animated films will captivate you this weekend

Tune in this weekend to witness some of the most imaginative pieces of content available — short animated films. Utilizing the creative liberty afforded by fewer restrictions compared to feature-length films, these series of short animations will not only captivate you with its artistic innovation but also deeply impact you with profound, heartfelt and thought-provoking messages. “Love, Death & Robots” on Netflix Since its debut in 2019, "Love, Death & Robots,&qu

CultureJuly 13, 2024

[New in Korean] Bestselling author returns with hyperrealism to uncover office villains

"Office Pantry" By Lee Mi-ye Hanki Following the runaway bestselling healing fantasy, "DallerGut Dream Department Store," which sold over 1.5 million copies in Korea, author Lee Mi-ye returns with a new venture into hyperrealism with "Office Pantry." "Who do you dislike the most?" -- Is it the person who freezes coffee/cola in the communal ice tray, the one who takes all the instant coffee mix, the colleague who unplugs the microwave to charge his phone, t

BooksJuly 13, 2024

Soprano Sumi Jo's singing competition debuts in France

Renowned soprano Sumi Jo has successfully launched her first international vocal competition in France, drawing hundreds of aspiring singers from across the globe. The inaugural Sumi Jo Vocal Competition took place over seven days, beginning last Sunday at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley. "I pinched myself to see if this competition, which I'd been dreaming of and preparing for, was really happening," the soprano said Friday. "It'

PerformanceJuly 13, 2024

[Herald Review] In play 'Trigger,' weary rifle retells Korea's turbulent history

An old film prop warehouse in Paju unfolds an array of items of seemingly everything. A wooden case, in particular, stands out, atop a weathered piano and beside a Segovia guitar case. The wooden case houses a Type 99 Arisaka rifle from 1945 -- one of the last legacies left behind by the Japanese Army as the war came to a close. The rifle, affectionately named Bbangya, becomes the unlikely protagonist in “Trigger” by award-winning playwright Kim Eun-sung. The play premiered in 2023

PerformanceJuly 12, 2024

Summertime hot spot? Changdeokgung’s medical quarter to open with drinks

The former medical quarter of Changdoekgung will be open to the public from July 17 to August 18, offering traditional summertime drinks in what the Korea Heritage Service believes could boost tours to one of the four main Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces in Seoul. At the quarter called “yakbang,” or pharmacy in Korean, visitors will be given small cups of two drinks “jehotang,” made with Korean medicinal herbs, and the “omija” tea prepared with magnolia berries

CultureJuly 12, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet to debut with contemporary spin on 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will debut “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from Aug. 23-25. Choreographer and director Joo Jae-man will explore the Shakespeare comedy from the perspective of the fairy Puck. The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet will be the first in the world to reinterpret the piece as a contemporary ballet, according to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The US-based Joo -- who previously worked with American ballet companies like Complexions Contemporary Ballet and

PerformanceJuly 12, 2024

[Well-curated] Discover your perfect colors, Banksy and unique pies

Flattering colors How do you put together clothes, makeup and jewelry to look your absolute best is an everyday question for personal color consultants. They recommend colors that are flattering to you based on your complexion, draping fabric swatches across your shoulders to screen which shades -- there are numerous variations to a color -- light up or drain your face. At Color Signal in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, six such consultants -- some fluent in English or Chinese -- run personal color sessions

Arts & DesignJuly 12, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Water festival at Korean Folk Village A water festival at the Korean Folk Village is a way to try something old and new at the same time as visitors play with water guns, watch performances and craft shell bracelets. “A Flash of Water in Dry Sky” will run for two months through Aug. 25 at the village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The village is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, closing three hours later Friday-Sunday. Entrance fees are discounted for some. Check out mo

TravelJuly 12, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Legoland Korea Resort presents Chuncheon tour package Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, offers a new promotion “Chuncheon Discovery” to enjoy a hotel stay at the theme park and take a closer look at the beautiful city. The package, available until Sept. 11, includes a one-night stay, free breakfast for two adults, three children and three tickets for Samaksan Mountain Lake Cable Car, where tourists can enjoy the country’s longest cable car course crossing Ch

TravelJuly 12, 2024