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Lee Hee-moon's glam journey through folk songs -- in heels and hanbok
Clad in sparkling high heels, short tights and a shock of brightly colored wigs, Lee Hee-moon stepped onto the stage in full glam and earned such nicknames as “The Gugak Rebel” or “The Joseon Hedwig.” But to focus on his flamboyant costuming alone is to miss the larger picture. Onstage, Lee moves with the magnetism of a pop star and the ritualistic presence of a folk priest. Collaborating across genres, from jazz and hip-hop to techno, disco and trot, he bends and reshapes Korean folk music into
June 30, 2025 -
MMCA’s newly acquired archives strengthen architectural collection
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea announced on Monday its Art Research Center has acquired some 30,000 archival materials in the last year and a half, much of which concerns Korean contemporary architects Woo Kyu-sung and Joh Sung-yong as well as video art pioneer Paik Nam-june. Born in 1941, Korean-born American architect Woo Kyu-sung has explored the cultural dichotomy between Korea and the US in the architectural practice. He has designed landmark buildings in Korea an
June 30, 2025 -
Contest to seek creative takes on Korean landscape architecture
In an effort to promote a deeper understanding of traditional Korean landscape architecture's historical and aesthetic beauty, the Korea Heritage Service is organizing a contest to encourage creative interpretations of these traditional spaces. This is the only contest in South Korea dedicated to traditional landscape architecture, including Korean-style gardens and palace grounds. The agency intends to use the submitted ideas as a foundation for future preservation efforts and creative developm
June 30, 2025 -
'Opening doors of conversation, culture to culture'
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Barely two years after a visit to Korea by one of Abu Dhabi's key cultural figures, internationally acclaimed Korean pianist Lim Yunchan performed to a packed concert hall in Abu Dhabi, the Korean National University of Arts Orchestra performed with young Emirati musicians in Abu Dhabi, and an exhibition of contemporary Korean art co-curated by the Seoul Museum of Art and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation opened at the prestigious Manarat Al Saadiyat cultur
June 29, 2025 -
Ha Tae-im draws on life experiences to create art
Bands of vibrant colors criss-cross a canvas in layered brushstrokes, some evoking movements from rhythmic gymnastics. Korean artist Ha Tae-im, 52, has explored a diversity of colors in these simple shapes. “For yellow, I keep painting thin layers of it on the canvas over and over, letting each one dry for an hour or so. That way, the colors appear clear and transparent, with lines of hair-like strands,” the artist said during an interview with The Korea Herald on June 23 at Seoul Auction. Ha re
June 29, 2025 -
President to meet with cultural icons
Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with several of the country’s cultural icons Monday at the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu on Monday. The invitees include Park Chun-hue, who received multiple Tony Awards for the musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” soprano Sumi Jo, who was given a major French cultural honor, Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters, in May for her contributions to music and the arts. The President will also meet with young and emerging artists who have recently gain
June 29, 2025 -
Summer survival guide
Come summer, Korea turns into one giant pressure cooker: blazing heat, monsoon downpours and high humidity with people elbowing for shade right next to you -- literally. To escape the sauna-like weather this time of the year, Yoon Hye-kyung, a Seoul-based office worker in her 50s, heads for the streams and rivers of Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, with her husband and two daughters for their summer vacation. "Streams tend to be cooler than the surrounding area, which is a relief from the scorching
June 28, 2025 -
Special performance marking 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan relations lands in Osaka
A special performance marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan will take place in Osaka on Saturday. The National Intangible Heritage Center and the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka are jointly staging a performance titled "The Master's Time, Light and Wind," encouraging the two countries to recognize and value the spirit of craftsmanship. The show, which opened the NICH's annual special production series in April, is an original production that reinterprets t
June 27, 2025 -
Think your Korean handwriting is good? Give Kyobo's contest a shot
Kyobo Book Center is inviting Korea’s international community to put their Korean handwriting to the test. The 11th Handwriting Contest for Foreign Nationals is now open, offering participants a chance to showcase their Korean handwriting skills and celebrate the charm of the language — one beautifully written sentence at a time. The contest encourages participants to write out either a favorite line from a Korean book or lyrics from their favorite K-pop song. Submissions must be received by Aug
June 27, 2025 -
Korean web comics company, French government jointly produce war comic
In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a Korean web comics studio and the French government, a new series based on the Korean War was launched exclusively on KakaoPage to mark the conflict’s 75th anniversary, the French Embassy in Korea announced Wednesday. Produced by Seoul-based production house Kenaz and the French Ministry of Armed Forces, Crevecoeur follows Sang-beom, a Korean soldier assigned to the French Battalion, as he navigates the frontlines and bonds with French troops. The se
June 26, 2025 -
BTS fans around the world express love, support through art
A new chapter is unfolding for BTS now that all members have been discharged from the military, and BTS fans around the world have gathered their art in Seoul to express love and support for the musicians. The “Presence in Absence: The Art of BTS Chapter 2” exhibition has brought together works by 20 fan artists from 13 countries, including Belarus, Chile, Iran and Ukraine. Many of the works are digital paintings, while some were created with graphite or ink. Yvette Wohn, an associate professor
June 25, 2025 -
National Palace Museum of Korea to temporarily close doors next month for renovation
The National Palace Museum of Korea in central Seoul will temporarily close its doors next month for renovations in an effort to improve facilities and provide a better environment for visitors. From July 8 to 20, the exhibition halls on the second floor will be closed for renovation, while the first floor and basement floors will remain open to visitors. During this period, visitors will need to use the entrance next to the museum's cafe on the first floor to enter. The entire museum will be cl
June 25, 2025 -
Abu Dhabi hosts first joint exhibition of Korean art with SeMA
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Seeing familiar artwork presented in a novel manner, in a different context and a different environment, might be what is needed to awaken one to new possibilities and stimulate new thinking. “Layered Medium: We Are in Open Ciruits,” an exhibition of modern and contemporary Korean art running at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, UAE, through June 30, succeeds in doing just that. The exhibition, co-organized by Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) and Abu Dhabi Music and A
June 24, 2025 -
'Open Circuits' in Abu Dhabi explores curatorial collaboration
Collaborating on an exhibition sometimes poses challenges, as it requires constant communication and research until the curators succeed in drawing a visual narrative together. The metaphor “open circuits” in the exhibition “Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits” embodies not only the content of the exhibition itself but the process of co-curation. The exhibition, which is on view at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, is the first-ever exhibition in the Middle East to comprehensively show Korea
June 24, 2025 -
Two Korean cultural heritage pieces make their way home
Two South Korean cultural heritage pieces from US museums will be shown in Seoul for the first time since their restoration. The Korea Heritage Service and the National Palace Museum of Korea are jointly hosting the special exhibition titled "Hopes and Dreams Revealed Inside Restored Paintings" from Wednesday until July 20 at the NPMK. The two folding screens, or "byeongpung," were brought back to Korea in October 2023 under the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation's Conservation and Uti
June 24, 2025