Escape winter chill in the comfort of private listening room, cinema

As the cold settles in with daytime temperatures dropping down below 5 degrees Celsius across the country, many may be crossing last-minute fall foliage appreciation off their to-do lists to be replaced with cozier indoor options. From unique cafes to large shopping complexes and the latest pop-up stores, Seoul has an abundance of indoor entertainment for spending time with friends and family. Those in search of a calmer atmosphere or hoping to avoid crowds might enjoy the comfort and privacy of

TravelNov. 30, 2024

[What to Stream] Embrace the cold with these winter series

Winter has cast its frosty spell over South Korea, transforming its streets into a picturesque wonderland draped in snow. As December officially begins next week and the chill deepens, why not wrap yourself in a blanket and indulge in these masterfully crafted series set against enchanting winter backdrops? Let their stunning mise-en-scenes unveil the many captivating faces of winter, perfect for a cozy weekend escape. "Sorry, I Love You" on Prime Video "Sorry, I Love You"

CultureNov. 30, 2024

[Photo News] 2024 Jeju gamgyul day celebration

The 2024 Jeju gamgyul day celebration, aimed at promoting Jeju's iconic winter fruit, the tangerine, kicked off Saturday at Understand Avenue in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The event, designed to highlight the excellence of Jeju gamgyul or tangerines and encourage consumption, will run for two days, ending on December 1. Visitors can enjoy various programs showcasing the flavors and appeal of this beloved fruit. "As tangerines have long been cherished as a staple winter fruit in Korea, we hop

CultureNov. 30, 2024

'12.12: The Day' wins big at 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards

The box-office hit "12.12: The Day" won big at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards on Friday, sweeping multiple top honors at one of Korea’s most prestigious film ceremonies. Held at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, the Blue Dragon Film Awards celebrate standout Korean films released in theaters or on streaming platforms. This year, the awards considered 165 films released between October 2023 and October 2024, with 20 films, 10 directors, and 30 actors nominated across 18 categories.

FilmNov. 29, 2024

October foreign visitors jump 30 percent on-year

Korea welcomed 30.1 percent more foreign visitors this October compared to the same month last year, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels of 2019. The state-run Korea Tourism Organization reported Friday that 1,690,263 tourists visited Korea in October 2024, reaching 97 percent of the October 2019 figures. Most markets saw strong growth compared to last year. Chinese visitors led the charge with a 57.2 percent increase, while Taiwan and the Philippines each recorded 35.6 percent growth. Japanese

TravelNov. 29, 2024

'Absence of text is invitation to endless imagination,' picture book artist Lee Suzy says

BUSAN -- Picture books are not just for children, said celebrated picture book artist Lee Suzy, the first South Korean national to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration category in 2022. On the first day of the inaugural Busan International Children's Book Fair, Lee took the stage as one of the headliners, her popularity evident in the size of the audience -- the 100-seat venue was packed and latecomers gathered outside the venue to listen to her deliver her keynote speech.

BooksNov. 29, 2024

‘Vienna 1900’ at National Museum of Korea shows Austrian pioneers of modernism

An exhibition of 191 items from paintings to crafts and furniture at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul aims to explore Vienna’s art scene of the early 1900s, which embraced a new art and design movement called modernism. The three-month exhibition entitled “Vienna 1900: The Dreaming Artists,” opening Saturday, will focus on works from pioneers such as painters Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele as well as architect Josef Hoffmann. The 191 objects on view, all from Vienna’s

Arts & DesignNov. 29, 2024

The 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards kick off with new MCs

The 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards kick off Friday with new MCs, honoring hit films released in theaters or on streaming platforms between October 2023 and October 2024. The award ceremony takes place at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Across 18 categories, 20 films, 10 directors and 30 actors have been nominated to compete for the prestigious accolades. One of the most anticipated competitions this year is between “Exhuma,” directed by Jang Jae-hyun, and “12.12: The Day,” dire

FilmNov. 29, 2024

Korea's performing arts scene soars past 1.4 trillion won in post-pandemic surge

Pandemic-era social distancing rules that once left theaters empty and concert halls silent are now a fading memory, with South Korea's performing arts sector reporting record-breaking revenue of 1.4 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in 2023, up 46 percent from the previous year. The figure represents a 67 percent increase over 2019, before COVID-19 began to spread. The numbers in the latest report released Thursday by the state-run Korea Arts Management Services paint a picture of an industry t

PerformanceNov. 29, 2024

Sajikdan destroyed by Japanese to be restored

The Korea Heritage Service will restore parts of Sajikdan, a Joseon-era (1392-1910) altar in Jongno-gu, Seoul that was destroyed by Japan during the colonial period, according to the state-run agency. Restoration will take place around Anhyangcheong, a building north of the altar where Joseon kings and their subjects prepared for ancestral rites. Musical instruments and other ceremony supplies were kept there as well. The restoration will be complete by 2026, the agency said, adding it will enli

CultureNov. 29, 2024

Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award winner Mohamed Mbougar Sarr expresses surprise, appreciation

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Winning the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award came as “a complete surprise” for Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, who writes in French. The Goncourt Prize-winning author was on holiday in Senegal with his parents when he received the news. He said he hadn’t anticipated returning to Korea so soon after his first visit last year for the inaugural Choix Goncourt de la Coree, a literary event organized by the Academie Goncourt and the French Embass

BooksNov. 29, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wicked” (US) Opened Nov. 20 Musical/Fantasy Directed by Jon M. Chu Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned outcast with extraordinary magical abilities, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a popular and ambitious young woman, form a complex and transformative friendship as they navigate the challenges of their world. “Hidden Face” (South Korea) Opened Nov. 20 Thriller Directed by Kim Dae-woo Orchestra conductor Seong-jin (Song Seung-heon) notices that his fiancee Su-yeon (Cho

FilmNov. 29, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul collaborates with Hublot The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, is offering a new artistic gastronomy experience in collaboration with Swiss premium watchmaker Hublot until Jan. 14, 2025. Inspired by Hublot’s philosophy “Art of Fusion,” flower artist Nicolai Bergmann presents his floral creations in the hotel lobby, featuring preserved white carnations and hydrangeas. The hotel’s Charles H. bar will offer two Hublot-ins

TravelNov. 29, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

10,000 mums at Hallim Park Hallim Park on Jeju Island, known for showcasing different flower varieties each month, is highlighting over 10,000 chrysanthemums of 50 types for November. Available at the park, open everyday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., are flower beds and smaller gardens with ponds and hiking trails. A shuttle covers major stops on the ground. Admission is 15,000 won for adults. Visit hallimpark.com. All-in-one park in Paju First Garden Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, offer

TravelNov. 29, 2024

Hanna Cha invites readers into magical world of discovery, inspiration

Reading Julie Leung’s manuscript for “The Truth About Dragons” for the first time, Hanna Cha found herself moved to tears. A few lines from the story -- “Inside your heart is where the two forests meet. Both journeys are yours to take. Both worlds are yours to discover” -- struck the Cha, 30, on a deeply personal level. This year, Cha became the first Korean American picture book writer-illustrator to receive the prestigious Caldecott Honor. “I actually cried

BooksNov. 28, 2024

Han Kang 'no longer involved in operations' of her bookstore

Han Kang, this year’s recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature, stepped back from involvement in the operations of independent bookstore Onul Books, which she established in 2018. “The author (Han Kang) is no longer involved in the operations of ‘Onul Books,’ and we hope this clarification helps avoid any confusion,” an announcement dated Nov. 2 by the book store read. Onul Books is an independent bookstore that Han Kang opened in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul,

CultureNov. 28, 2024

Hikers thrilled by early winter mountainscape

With the major November snowstorm, students, workers and drivers might have started the day with a frown while walking on the icy roads, waiting for delayed public transportation and unexpectedly hit by snow falling from trees and buildings. However, passionate hikers may feel somewhat differently. “I never expected to bring out my winter mountain gear this early,” Hong Young-sik, a Guro-gu resident in his 70s, who visited Gwanaksan told The Korea Herald on Thursday. Though Hong knew

TravelNov. 28, 2024

Palaces shut down over record snow

Historic sites in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, including royal palaces, royal tombs and the Jongmyo royal shrine, will be closed Thursday over safety concerns prompted by record snow. According to the Korea Heritage Service, the four of the five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces -- Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeongung and Deoksugung -- and Jongmyo, all in Seoul, will be closed. The royal tombs in the capital and Gyeonggi Province will also be closed. The state-run agency cited concerns over

CultureNov. 28, 2024

[Herald Gallery] Thirty-Three Blooms

The "Thirty-Three Blooms" solo exhibition by artist Hwang Do-you (born 1987) is on display at Art Side Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Dec. 28. This exhibition delves into abstract floral forms through simple brushstrokes and vivid colors, featuring approximately 10 works that reflect the artist's distinctive sense of flatness. Hwang conveys floral forms through areas of color and rhythm, emphasizing the purity and autonomy of painting. Notably, the exhibition showcases works c

CultureNov. 27, 2024

[Herald Review] Aladdin: The Korean Genie is out of the bottle in magical adaptation

The Genie is out of the bottle in Korea, a decade after the hit musical "Aladdin" hit Broadway. The Korean edition of "Aladdin," which debuted on Friday, delivers a winning combination of Disney’s beloved story and tunes, standout performances by Korea’s top actors, and humor that resonates with local audiences. The role of the Genie is shared by three actors: Jung Sung-hwa, Kang Hong-seok and Jeong Won-yeong. Aladdin is played by Kim Jun-su, Park Kang-hyun -- kno

CultureNov. 27, 2024