NMK chief plans international tour of '5,000 Years of Korean Art' exhibition

At a time when Korean culture and tradition are sweeping across the globe, You Hong-jun, the newly-appointed director general of the National Museum of Korea, has set his sights on taking the "5,000 Years of Korean Art" exhibition abroad, aiming to highlight the cultural foundations that underpin modern Korean culture. "The exhibition held 45 years ago marked a major milestone in gaining recognition for Korean art in the Western world. I am planning an exhibition that highlights the essential qu

July 25, 2025

8 actors, 1 role: Experimental play 'Rosetta' to open in Seoul

Eight actors will take turns playing a single role in the experimental production "Rosetta," set to open in Seoul next month. The National Theater Company of Korea said "Rosetta," co-produced with the National Asian Culture Center in Gwangju, will run Aug. 23 to 31 at the Myeongdong Theater. The play follows the life of Rosetta Sherwood Hall, a US doctor and missionary who devoted herself to advancing modern medicine and education for women in Korea. The story follows Rosetta from the time she a

July 25, 2025

Liquid Sound strips traditional street performance to its core

In pungmul, a traditional Korean form of folk music and dance, the performer leading the troupe wears a hat called sangmo topped with a long paper streamer known as piji that can stretch nearly 180 centimeters. As the drumming builds and the rhythms swell, the streamer whirls in perfect arcs and waves, never tangling, serving as a kinetic emblem of pungmul’s identity. But what happens when you take away that visible identity, wondered Lee In-bo, director of the performance collective Liquid Soun

July 24, 2025

Let 'KPop Demon Hunters' guide your culinary tour of Seoul

In “KPop Demon Hunters,” food is more than just a background addition — it’s central to the characters’ energy and their culture. The film follows Huntrix, an all-female K-pop trio who moonlight as demon slayers. And slaying all those demons leaves them with an appetite. Their meals, featured throughout the film, are packed with iconic and sometimes lesser-known Korean dishes, revealing a deep culinary layer to the storytelling. For writer-director Maggie Kang, the choice to incorporate a variet

July 24, 2025

Art tour to Arles: where ancient legacies fuel contemporary creativity

ARLES, France — Located on the banks of the Rhone River in southern France, the city of Arles has witnessed over 2,000 years of history and was once a crucial spot for military movement and commerce in Roman times. Home to a population of 53,000, Arles is full of cultural gems. From traces of Vincent Van Gogh to remnants of structures built under Julius Caesar during its time as a Roman colony, visitors to Arles often feel as though they are discovering hidden treasures when exploring the city.

July 24, 2025

[Contribution] Names we must never forget

By Jeong Ji-hyun In June 1950, the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War turned the entire peninsula into a battlefield. Yet in that desperate momeant, Korea was not alone. Young soldiers, from 16 combatant nations and six countries who sent medical support, united under the United Nations flag, answered the call to defend a distant land in the name of freedom. Despite differences in language and culture, their noble sacrifice laid the foundation for the peace and freedom we cherish today. To honor

July 24, 2025

Back from Japan, dragon-headed roof tiles and eaves offer glimpse of Joseon royal shrine

From a distance, the beam appears no different from an ordinary piece of timber. But stepping closer, its surface reveals cracks and dents that reflect its age, along with faint inscriptions looking like the Japanese characters "ho" or "ma," indicating it was likely marked or labeled during its time in Japan. These are parts of the disassembled pieces of Gwanwoldang, thought to be a royal shrine from the Joseon era (1392-1910), which were taken to Japan during the country's colonial rule of Kore

July 24, 2025

Japanese version of 'Stove League' begins production

Studio S, the drama production arm of Seoul Broadcasting System, announced Thursday that it has officially kicked off production on the Japanese adaptation of its hit series “Stove League.” More than a straightforward remake, the upcoming series will be co-produced by Studio S and Japanese production house NTT Docomo Studio & Live, marking a continued push into cross-border collaboration. The original “Stove League,” which aired on SBS in 2019, follows Seung-soo (played by Namgung Min), who step

July 24, 2025

Festival celebrating MapleStory to be held in Taipei, LA

South Korean gaming company Nexon announced plans to bring its flagship massively multiplayer online role-playing game MapleStory to fans in Taipei and the US with the upcoming global festival, "Maple Con 2025." Marking the game’s 20th anniversary, the event aims to foster community engagement through interactive programs that allow players to share memories and emotional connections forged through the game. "Maple Con 2025 Taipei," scheduled for August 2-3 in Taipei, Taiwan, will offer a divers

July 24, 2025

Actor Park Bo-gum new face of Korea's tourism

Actor Park Bo-gum has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for 2025 Korea Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. A teaser video for the upcoming global promotional campaign was unveiled on the ministry’s official YouTube channel “Imagine Your Korea,” revealing Park as the new face of Korean tourism. The ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization have consistently tapped top-tier Hallyu stars to front their annual campaigns — BTS in 2022, Lee Jung-jae in 20

July 24, 2025

Demon boy band? These ballet dancers had already cast their spell

In the first half of this year, no ballet in Korea stirred up more buzz than “Gat,” a 70-minute contemporary ballet inspired by traditional Korean hats. Created by the newly established Yunbyul Ballet Company, “Gat” completed a six-city national tour, selling out every seat along the way — a rare feat for a fledgling company barely a year old. The second run, following its 2024 premiere, drew a wave of fans eager to see the ballerinos who rose to stardom through Mnet’s hit dance competition "Sta

July 23, 2025

Korean selected as guest language of 2026 Avignon Festival

The Avignon Festival, one of the world’s most vibrant performing arts festivals, announced Wednesday that it has selected Korean as its official guest language for the 2026 edition. This is the first time an Asian language has been chosen as the guest language. “The Avignon Festival welcomes an Asian language that is now enjoying worldwide popularity. South Korean culture fascinates the world: K-pop, cinema, series, literature. But beyond this soft power, we want to show the richness of Korean p

July 23, 2025

Cue the popcorn — Korea is giving out 6,000 won discounts on movie tickets

Moviegoers in South Korea can receive discounts of 6,000 won on regular admission prices starting Friday at 10 a.m. The joint initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council, aims to revive the struggling cinema industry and boost consumer spending. The ministry allocated 27.1 billion won ($19.6 million) of the second supplementary budget to the program, which passed a National Assembly vote on July 4. Moviegoers can claim up to two coupons each through the

July 23, 2025

Iconic Korean variety shows gear up for major comebacks

Legendary Korean reality and competition series are making a comeback — with fresh casts, revamped formats and ambitious global editions in the pipeline. Mnet confirmed Monday that "Show Me the Money" will return for its 12th season. The popular rap competition series, credited with catapulting Korean hip-hop back into the mainstream and launching the careers of breakout stars like Loco, BeWhy and Basick, is set to begin production next month. A recent teaser released on YouTube hints at the sho

July 23, 2025

Frieze to bring underrepresented LGBTQ+ art to the fore in Seoul

Seoul’s art scene is set to receive its annual injection of fresh energy this fall with a series of art events during Frieze Week. This year, topics exploring queer identity — largely consigned to the margins here — will be highlighted in some of the art fair's main events. Frieze Seoul, which runs Sept. 3 to 6 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, returns for its fourth edition with more than 120 galleries from nearly 30 countries and a full program of live art, performances, films, talks and

July 23, 2025