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EBS documentary events scheduled for late summer
South Korea’s public broadcaster EBS on Tuesday announced the return of its annual documentary-centered events that are open to the public. K-Docs Festival, which seeks to champion emerging Korean documentary filmmakers and introduce new local titles to a wider audience, is set to run from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22. Now in its fourth year, the event has adopted the title “festival” for the first time, signaling a broader push to engage industry professionals and everyday viewers alike. “This is our thi
July 29, 2025 -
Culture Minister nominee eyes 'W300tr K-culture market'
Chae Hwi-young, who would be the first private sector expert to lead the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism if appointed, said Tuesday that he hopes to grow the market for Korean culture to 300 trillion won ($215.7 billion). The 61-year-old tech platform expert highlighted the Korean content industry's growing economic impact, citing K-pop, K-dramas, games, webtoons and publishing. Together, these markets generated 154 trillion won in revenue and $13.3 billion in exports in 2023, growing at
July 29, 2025 -
'Squid Game,' Park Bo-gum and K-pop: Korea continues to attract tourists with K-content
Clad in the iconic green tracksuit from “Squid Game,” Ria dashes through South Korean landmarks, pursued by guards in pink jumpsuits. But this isn’t a teaser for a new season of the global Netflix sensation — it’s a tourism promotion video that has racked up more than 11 million views since its release on July 3. In another campaign leveraging the popularity of “All of Us Are Dead,” two high school students and Jason, a friend turning into a zombie, take viewers through major tourist attractions
July 29, 2025 -
Naver Webtoon to launch new short-form video service
Naver Webtoon is set to launch a new short-form video service called Cuts, designed to offer a new webtoon experience. On Monday, the company unveiled Cuts via a special episode of the hit series "My Daughter Is a Zombie." With the film adaptation of "My Daughter Is a Zombie" slated to premiere Wednesday, the episode doubled as a cross-promotional effort, featuring characters from the webtoon teasing the movie while introducing the new Cuts platform. According to the webtoon episode, Naver Webto
July 29, 2025 -
From translator to novelist, Anton Hur is now the one translated — by one of his authors
After years of introducing Korean literature to English readers, from Bora Chung’s “Cursed Bunny” to Park Sang-young’s “Love in the Big City,” Anton Hur has crossed the literary bridge in the opposite direction, debuting as a novelist with “Toward Eternity,” translated into Korean. Written in English and first published in the US last year, the book now arrives in Korea in translation by none other than Chung -- whose books Hur translated into English, including the International Booker-shortlis
July 29, 2025 -
SAC Int'l Music Festival brings global and emerging talent to Seoul for six days
From Aug. 5 to 10, the Seoul Arts Center will host the fifth edition of its International Music Festival -- its most expansive yet. The 2025 festival boasts 11 concerts featuring artists invited from around the world, alongside five chamber ensembles selected through a competitive call, and a lineup that spans symphonic powerhouses, intimate baroque ensembles and contemporary innovators. Launched in 2021 as a summer platform for local talent, the festival has since evolved into a full-fledged in
July 29, 2025 -
Gwangju Biennale Foundation's new president tasked with balancing local, global demands
Soon after his inauguration, Youn Bum-mo, the newly appointed president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, shared his concerns about how to expand the "May 18 spirit" to the global stage as a new generation emerges. Youn, a former director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, said Gwangju is a rare case globally as the city is associated with a “spirit." In turn, this has formed the identity of the biennale. The May 18 spirit derives from the May 18 Gwangju Democratic U
July 28, 2025 -
Tracing the steps of Olympic marathon gold medalist Son Kee-chung
An Olympic medal is the ultimate badge of glory. It's a symbol of victory, grit and countless hours of relentless training. And behind every medal lies a personal story of hope and inspiration. While it is a reward of a lifetime, no proud smile could be seen on gold medalist Son Kee-chung's face during the medal ceremony for the men's marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, and Son clinched his victory as a member of the Japanese delegation
July 28, 2025 -
Sip cooling tea at Changdeokgung
As a heat wave continues to bake South Korea, with daily highs expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius or above, the medical quarter of Changdeokgung will open to the public, offering visitors a cool, shaded place to take a break. The quarter known as "yakbang" served as a pharmacy and treatment center for the royal family. It will be open to visitors 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Wednesday to Sunday starting this Wednesday through Aug. 8. Visitors will also be given small cups of omija cha, a tea made
July 28, 2025 -
Faker to stay with T1 through 2029
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is set to stay with T1 through 2029, extending his tenure with the South Korean esports team that has defined his professional career. T1 announced the four-year contract extension Sunday following the team’s match against Nongshim RedForce at Inspire Arena in Incheon, part of the T1 Home Ground fan event organized alongside the ongoing League of Legends Champions Korea. League of Legends Champions Korea, also called LCK, is the professional Korean competition for LoL and
July 28, 2025 -
Six artists explore personal narratives beyond politics at Atelier Hermes in Seoul
In the group exhibition, “The Second Life,” Atelier Hermes in Seoul has gathered six artists who explore how individual lives are shaped beyond social and political discourse, drawing on personal stories. Curator Ahn So-yeon said Thursday that the participating artists — Bek Hyun-jin, Lee Yona, Han & Mona, Kim Bo-kyung and Park Min-ha — each took a "slice of life" approach to create new work for the exhibition. “These days, an overwhelming number of exhibitions are being produced around socio-po
July 27, 2025 -
Hotels offer midsummer heat-relief menus
As the sweltering summer continues, hotels in Seoul are serving up seasonal health-boosting dishes for under 100,000 won ($72). From refined single-serving plates to convenient takeout, these offerings can be both elegant and budget-friendly. Andaz Seoul Gangnam’s Jogakbo Kitchen presents three modern Korean dishes inspired by tradition, available for dinner only. The standout Yeongju-style dakbaeksuk (72,000 won for two) is a delicate chicken stew infused with seven herbs and slow-cooked for si
July 27, 2025 -
K-pop meets local lore: Hidden gems in 'KPop Demon Hunters'
"Listen 'cause I'm preachin' to the choir. Can I get the mic a little higher? Gimme your desire, I can be the star you can rely on." Yes, what is easier than stealing the souls of K-pop fans already under a spell? Many of you might have fallen head over heels for the Saja Boys — the Korean grim reapers who also top charts — like Abby, whose muscles pop shirt buttons, and Jinu with his charming smile. The group is a five-member fictional boy group created for the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon
July 26, 2025 -
Culture Ministry expands AI content support with additional W21b
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday that it will expand its AI content support initiative beyond its current focus on content creation to cover the full production cycle — including planning, distribution and marketing. The initiative, dubbed the “K-Content AI Innovation Leadership Project,” will be carried out in collaboration with the Korea Creative Content Agency, with 21 billion won ($15.2 million) in funding secured through a second supplementary budget for 2025.
July 25, 2025 -
Registration opens for English templestay program
Registration for an English templestay program for foreign nationals wishing to unplug from bustling city life and experience South Korea's Buddhist culture opened Friday. The first 1,500 applicants will be able to participate in the overnight program priced at 30,000 won ($21.77) that will run from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, according to the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism — an arm of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea. The special templestay program designed for f
July 25, 2025