Song Joong-ki takes on his most desire-driven role in in 'Bogota: City of the Lost'

Song Joong-ki, the Hallyu sensation known for his roles in Korean hits like "Vincenzo," "Reborn Rich" and "My Name is Loh Kiwan," is ready to portray one of his most passionate and desire-driven characters in the upcoming film, "Bogota: City of the Lost," premiering Dec. 31. The film follows the journey of Guk-hee (played by Song Joong-ki), who escapes with his family to Bogota, Colombia, after South Korea’s IMF bailout in 1997. Struggling to survive

FilmDec. 6, 2024

[Photo News] Haeundae Light Festival to illuminate Busan’s winter nights

The 11th edition of Haeundae Light Festival is coming to Busan’s iconic Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Market areas, from Dec. 14 to Feb. 2, 2025. Under the theme of “New Wave Snow Wave,” the festival’s opening ceremony will take place at Haeundae Beach at 6 p.m., featuring a concert by vocalist Kim Jae-hee, media projections and fireworks. The spectacular night view will be presented with the decorative lights, media art, a megasized Christmas tree and a light playground. A

TravelDec. 6, 2024

Culture Ministry seeks to ease tourism concerns

The Culture Ministry has sought to ease concerns about tourism safety in South Korea following a brief six-hour martial law declaration on Tuesday night. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared an official document Thursday with the Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Association, Korea Association of Travel Agents, and other local travel organizations, confirming that diplomatic notes had been sent to foreign embassies to ensure travelers of their safety. “Daily life in S

TravelDec. 6, 2024

[Well-curated] Book fest at Seoul Forest, espresso bar and Christmas markets

Picture book fest at Seoul Forest library Throughout Dec. 15, Seoul Forest will turn into a magical winter haven with its "Picture Book Library in the Woods" festival. Held at the Seoul Forest Community Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event offers enchanting exhibitions, live music and interactive activities, creating a cozy and festive experience for all ages. The event features performances involving storytelling with music, such as "I love you today as well," and a pict

CultureDec. 6, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Light festival at Ansan Star Village A light festival is running year-round in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. An 8,000 won entrance fee is all it takes to make a tranquil escape to Ansan Star Village, which includes a garden and animal installations. The park, open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., will light up at 5 p.m. Check out the latest at ansanstar.net. Jeju Folk Village Come and see what life looked like on Jeju Island in the 19th century at Jeju Folk Village. Interactive programs like grindi

TravelDec. 6, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort unveils new winter campaign Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, an integrated resort located in Yeongjong-do, Incheon, entertains its guests with winter-themed media art, starting from Monday. Under the theme of “Santa’s Village,” the new media art will be displayed at the resort’s digital entertainment street Aurora and on its mega-sized LED screens, depicting a unique fairytale atmosphere featuring Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer pu

TravelDec. 6, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Moana 2” (US) Opened Nov. 27 Fantasy/Adventure Directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David Derrick Jr. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) embarks on a journey to the far seas of Oceania into dangerous, long-lost adventures unlike anything she has never faced. “Wicked” (US) Opened Nov. 20 Musical/Fantasy Directed by Jon M. Chu Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned outcast with extraordinary magical abi

FilmDec. 6, 2024

Culture Minister Yu In-chon urges focus on cultural goals amid crisis, resumes activities

Yu In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism, talks during a meeting with the ministry staff on Thursday at Government Complex Sejong. (MCST) Yu In-chon, the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, who temporarily suspended outside engagements amid the aftermath of the martial law declaration, urged ministry staff on Thursday to remain focused and committed while preparing for upcoming events. “The current external conditions may make it difficult to implement policies. However, t

CultureDec. 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] Gong Yoo of 'The Trunk' says he wanted to explore darker sides of love

Gong Yoo, one of South Korea's top actors, famous for his iconic role as the immortal heartthrob in the megahit K-drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and his performances in other popular titles like "Coffee Prince," has returned with "The Trunk" -- a Netflix mystery melodrama released Nov. 29. The series centers on Jung-won (Gong Yoo), a successful music producer haunted by a traumatic past involving an abusive father and a broken marriage, and In-ji (S

TelevisionDec. 5, 2024

Ex-martial law commander Park An-su draws attention for past appearance on reality TV show ‘Real Man’

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who was named martial law commander following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Tuesday, has become a topic of discussion due to his 2013 appearance on the popular reality TV show “Real Man.” The appointment of Gen. Park as martial law commander quickly sparked online chatter, with internet users on social media recalling his appearance on the local reality show 11 years ago. Back then, he was a colonel commanding the 5

TelevisionDec. 5, 2024

Poet Na Tae-joo and Pulitzer-winning photojournalist speak at Global Business Forum

Poet Na Tae-joo and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Kang Hyung-won highlighted the significance of culture and journalism during a session titled "Night of Poetry and Journalism" at the Global Business Forum on Wednesday. Addressing an audience of business leaders, Na emphasized the importance of caring for others and appreciating the value of everyday life, as expressed in his famous poem "Grass Flower." Na said he often takes walks with his wife, and after a long wal

CultureDec. 5, 2024

G-Dragon's 'Home Sweet Home' banned from KBS

K-pop icon G-Dragon's latest song, "Home Sweet Home," has been ruled unsuitable for broadcast by the state-run Korean Broadcasting System. The song violated Article 46 of the broadcasting review regulations, which prohibits content with advertising effects, including lyrics that reference specific product brands, KBS said Wednesday. While KBS did not detail the exact lyrics, the song’s mention of "Airbnb," a global online marketplace for homestays and experiences,

TelevisionDec. 5, 2024

Han Kang dominates annual bestseller lists with multiple titles

Han Kang’s “Human Acts” has topped this year’s bestseller lists in Korea. The Nobel laureate dominated the top three spots, with “Human Acts” in first place, followed by “The Vegetarian” in second and “We Do Not Part” in third, according to the two 2024 year-end bestseller rankings released Monday by major booksellers -- Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. Han previousl

BooksDec. 4, 2024

Celebrities raise criticism amid martial law chaos

As South Koreans reeled from the political drama prompted Tuesday night by President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, various celebrities raised their voices, expressing concern over the turmoil. Actor Park Ho-san took to social media Wednesday morning after Yoon lifted the martial law, writing, “Last night felt like stepping into a time machine back to the 1980s, a time when dissent against those in power would lead to accusations of being a communist sympathizer. I couldn

CultureDec. 4, 2024

Broadcasters fall short in covering martial law crisis

South Korea was thrust into a dramatic political crisis Tuesday night amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected declaration of martial law. The rapidly unfolding situation, which developed over approximately six hours, exposed shortcomings in media coverage as major broadcasters struggled to respond in real time. While Yonhap News TV and Seoul Broadcasting System were among the few outlets to provide immediate live coverage of the martial law declaration, others lagged behind. The state-run

TelevisionDec. 4, 2024

2024 Korea Translation Award recognizes 20 translators

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced the winners of the 2024 Korea Translation Award on Wednesday, recognizing 20 translators for their contributions to translating Korean literature, including three Grand Prize recipients. This year’s grand prizes were awarded to Lee Seung-min and Julio Cesar Abad Vidal for their Korean to Spanish translation of Kim Tak-hwan’s historical crime novel “Death by Fiction.” The judging committee praised their work for its &

BooksDec. 4, 2024

Literary community blasts Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree as attack on democracy

South Korea’s publishing and literary sectors have sharply condemned President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law on Tuesday, vowing to resist and protect the country’s democratic values. The Korea Publishers Society, representing more than 490 publishing houses, issued a statement Wednesday morning decrying the president’s late-night declaration, stating that it revived the painful trauma of Korea’s past struggles for democracy. “This action ha

BooksDec. 4, 2024

Actor Ra Mi-ran awarded Film Artist of the Year by Women in Film Korea

Women in Film Korea announced Wednesday that actor Ra Mi-ran of the comedy flick “Citizen of a Kind” and series “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born,” has been named this year’s recipient of the Film Artist of the Year award. Ra, known for her versatile and transformative performances, has been recognized for her outstanding contribution to Korean cinema, the association said. In her latest film “Citizen of a Kind,” she plays Deok-hee, an ordinary citizen fig

FilmDec. 4, 2024

Popular liberal YouTuber Kim Ou-joon claims to be in hiding

Kim Ou-joon, a liberal journalist and the popular former host of Traffic Broadcasting System’s "News Factory," said via phone during his YouTube news show on Wednesday morning that military troops had visited his home, prompting him to escape. Known for being openly left of center and publicly critical of the conservative government, Kim stated that he is now "in hiding at an unknown location" after being targeted by authorities. Kim hosted TBS’ radio podcast &quo

TelevisionDec. 4, 2024

South Korean journalists condemn Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law

"This is no mere criticism -- we're waging war against President Yoon Suk Yeol." These words rang out outside the Korea Press Center in central Seoul Wednesday morning, where media representatives had gathered to decry Yoon's overnight attempt to place press operations under military control as part of his extraordinary emergency martial law decree. The press conference reaffirmed the South Korean media's unequivocal opposition to the martial law decree that, though sh

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2024