[Well-curated] Treats for esports fans, galleries and gingko trees at Samcheong-dong

Explore 2024 League of Legends champion's merch shop For those who are still excited about South Korea’s League of Legends team T1’s victory at the 2024 LoL World Championship Finals last week, a visit to T1 HQ Shop may swell their pride even further and give them the chance to dwell a bit longer on the miraculous story that the team has written. Located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on the first floor of T1's headquarters -- where the T1 esports players are -- T1 HQ Shop is

Nov. 8, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo offers child-friendly package DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo, located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, is collaborating with the makers of the hit animated series “Catch! Teenieping.” The “Teenieping Adventure” package offers a one-night stay with breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Demeter, for three guests, along with an animated character-themed camera set and access to a photo booth, hotel swimming pool and fitness center. Children w

Nov. 8, 2024

Samuel Youn to offer unique performance beyond recital

The day will soon come when Korean audiences can enjoy opera arias and lieder without resorting to subtitles, bass-baritone Samuel Youn said Wednesday during an interview. This will not be due to any technological advancement, but because Youn and many other artists aspire to create pieces that can be sung in Korean, allowing Korean audiences to feel them deeply without the need for translation or subtitles. Although Youn says there aren't enough Korean art songs, also known by the german

Nov. 7, 2024

Over 1,600 flock to city of Seoul's matchmaking program

Well over 1,000 applicants have applied for the city of Seoul's matchmaking program, which will bring together 100 unmarried men and women to find their match near the Han River on Nov. 23. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 1,673 people had applied for the program as of Wednesday. Applications for the program opened Oct. 21. Those wishing to participate can throw their hats into the ring until Friday. The gender ratio of the applicants so far is about 55 percent men and 45 per

Nov. 7, 2024

Museums discuss empowering elders

The state-run National Folk Museum Korea convened an international symposium to discuss ways to help older adults engage with society as concerns over an aging population rise. The Role of Museums in An Aging Society one-day conference in Seoul on Tuesday was attended by officials from National Museums Liverpool, the National Museum of Finland and the National Museum of Singapore, as well as local academics and researchers. “Korea is anticipated to transition into an ultra-aged society by

Nov. 6, 2024

Sports ministry demands strong measures from KFA amid coach hiring irregularities

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism demanded Tuesday that the Korean Football Association take strong action following the discovery of irregularities in the process of appointing Hong Myung-bo as coach of the national soccer team. The ministry’s demand included a suspension or harsher disciplinary action against high-level officials, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, who has been at the helm of the football governing body since 2013. Amid concerns that the KFA might not act dec

Nov. 5, 2024

‘Jang-making’ likely to get UNESCO recognition

The traditional Korean ways of making fermented pastes and sauces, or “jang,” are all but certain to make UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, the Korea Heritage Service said Tuesday, citing a decision the same day by the UN culture and heritage body to recommend the practice for inscription. The final decision by the 12-member Evaluation Body of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be reviewed by the 24-country

Nov. 5, 2024

[Hearld Interview] BBC Proms' David Pickard brings British institution to Korea as final project

After a decade at the helm of one of the world’s most celebrated classical music festivals, David Pickard, the artistic director of the BBC Proms, is marking his final year with a milestone: the BBC Proms’ debut in Korea, a country he first visited in 1986 with the Royal Opera Company. Introducing the Proms to Korea is part of the festival’s mission to reach audiences far beyond its London roots, according to the director. "The Proms still lives by the motto of its founder

Nov. 5, 2024

In 2nd year under van Zweden, SPO's 2025 season to focus on collaboration

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, led by music director Jaap van Zweden, will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year under the theme “Collaboration.” Building on the 2024 season’s focus on "Exploration" and strengthening its core repertoire during the conductor's inaugural year, the SPO’s 2025 season will broaden its scope across genres through first-time collaborations with renowned global artists and institutions. Among the 2025 season’s highlight

Nov. 4, 2024

Buddhist temple plays matchmaker for 7 couples

Seven couples were matched in the latest edition of a popular Templestay matchmaking program conducted by South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, that wrapped up on Sunday. The two-day Templestay program "Naneun Jeollo" (I Go to the Temple), for young men and women across the country, was held from Saturday to Sunday at Baekyangsa Temple in South Jeolla Province. Organized by the Jogye Order's social outreach arm, the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, twelve men and

Nov. 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] Composer Frank Wildhorn readies to introduce his first small theater work

Composer Frank Wildhorn, who has compiled a long list of hits in South Korea, becoming one of the most beloved composers here in the process, will make another connection with the country, with his first-ever small stage work. The 65-year-old composer is participating in “Van Gogh in Love,” produced by renowned stage designer Oh Pil-young. The show will premiere in Korea before being introduced in Spain, Germany and more. Wildhorn, who was in Korea preparing for the staging of &ldquo

Nov. 3, 2024

Explore Gwanghallu Garden for free

Namwon, a city located in the southern part of North Jeolla Province, beckons local and overseas tourists of all ages to its iconic Gwanghallu Garden with no charge for admission until Nov. 20. Gwanghallu Garden, located at the center of the city, is home to stunning architecture and a natural landscape with a lake surrounded by trees now in their autumn hues. Though a ticket costs 4,000 won ($2.90) for visitors from outside Namwon, the local government decided to open the garden for free to mak

Nov. 3, 2024

[Photo news] Rally against first couple

Nov. 2, 2024

[Photo news] LGBT festival in Incheon

Nov. 2, 2024

[Photo News] In celebration of martyrs

Nov. 2, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Park Hyatt Seoul offers package for luxury hotel experience Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, unveiled a new room package, promoting the hotel’s newly renovated Diplomatic Suite for guests who wish to enjoy a luxurious hotel experience. The “Diplomatic Family Suite” package includes a one-night stay in the Diplomatic Suite, with the connected Deluxe Twin room for four guests, a 300,000 won dining credit, breakfast, and free access to the sauna, fitness studi

Nov. 1, 2024

Lim Yunchan named artist in residence for 2025 TIMF

South Korean piano sensation Lim Yunchan, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, has been named artist in residence for next year’s Tongyeong International Music Festival, one of South Korea's most celebrated music festivals which is held annually in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. The 20-year-old pianist, recently honored with the Gramophone Classical Music Awards prize in the piano category and named its young artist of the year, will join anot

Oct. 31, 2024

[Herald Interivew] Composer and conductor Yoon Han-kyeol on why 'Grium' is 'Grium'

The year 2024 has been a whirlwind of a year for Yoon Han-kyeol, winner of the 2023 Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award. The rising conductor led the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic in all-Brahms symphony concerts in May and many other performances in Europe. Earlier this month, he debuted with the Munich Philharmonic, an unexpected opportunity that he enjoyed immensely. Then, there was his debut with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna in August at the Salzburg Festival. Returning to the

Oct. 30, 2024

Stop-motion animation auteur wins top prize at Bucheon animation fest

This year's top prize at the 26th Bucheon International Animation Festival, one of Korea's largest animation film events, was clinched by Adam Elliot, the Oscar-winning Australian director behind "Memoir of a Snail." According to the festival's committee on Tuesday, the BIAF Grand Prize for the feature film category was awarded to Elliot for his 94-minute stop-motion animation film, which follows the story Grace. She is raised by her father Percy, who lives with parapleg

Oct. 30, 2024

Once known for heavier themes, DMZ and Pohang to get new energy through music festivals

Located on opposite ends of the country, the Demilitarized Zone and the southeastern city of Pohang are emblematic of two contrasting features of the Korean Peninsula: the tension of a frozen conflict and the prosperity of South Korea as an industrial powerhouse. The DMZ stands as a stark reminder of the Korean War, while Pohang is a bustling coastal city of about 500,000 people, whose identity is deeply intertwined with heavy industry, particularly steelmaker Posco, which was founded there in 1

Oct. 29, 2024