For those looking for a moment of peace, the National Museum of Korea has prepared a therapeutic experience through a new permanent exhibition titled “A Room of Quiet Contemplation,” presenting two Pensive Bodhisattvas, which are designated as National Treasures No. 78 and No. 83. “I created this exhibition with the intention of making Pensive Bodhisattvas the iconic item of Korea,” National Museum of Korea Director General Min Byoung-chan said during a press confere

Seven of the themed routes of the DMZ Peace Trail, a trail created near the Demilitarized Zone that is accessible to the public, will reopen starting Nov. 20, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. The routes include those in Ganghwa, Gimpo, Goyang, Paju, Hwacheon, Yanggu, and Goseong area. The DMZ Peace Trail had initially been created as 10 separate routes. Since April 2019, three of the routes-- Paju, Cheorwon, Goseong -- have opened on a trial basis, attracting so

National Museum of Korea, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea to hand over Lee family donations to new entity

A new establishment will be built in Songhyeon-dong, central Seoul, to house the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection. According to an announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday, the two institutions will sign a memorandum of understanding on the project Wednesday. The entrepreneur died in October 2020, and in April this year his family donated some 24,000 artworks and artifacts to the National Museum of

Restoration work on museum building to begin next year

The Ho-Am Art Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, has returned with the new exhibition “Metallurgy: Great Wisdom” and its formal garden, Hee Won, in its full autumnal glory. The museum run by the Samsung Foundation of Culture was founded in 1982 to house traditional Korean art collected by Lee Byung-chull, founder of Samsung Group. Named for Lee’s pseudonym, Hoam, the museum boasts a garden by Korea’s first-generation landscape architect Jung Young-sun inspired by tr

For humans, the Bronze Age meant metal weapons, farming tools, and means to sustain large enough populations with an organized labor force which enabled construction of lasting monuments such as dolmens. East Asia, especially in ancient Korea, must have been a happening place in the Bronze Age as there are more dolmens in Korea than anywhere else in the world. Bronze mirrors are found in abundance in Korea and neighboring areas formerly occupied by ancient Koreans. Bronze mirrors with fine li

A pot of bubbling hot doenjang jjigae, or Korean soybean paste stew, is perhaps the most desired stew in Korea. In terms of Korean comfort food, this is the No. 1 stew, and no Korean will disagree with that. Without a doubt, most Koreans grew up eating this Korean stew at least once or twice a week. Surely, the smell of doenjang jjigae coming out of kitchen brings a nostalgia to many Koreans. I have a fond memory of my mother often fixing her signature doenjang jjigae. My father adored her jj

It was around three years ago in Japan that Moon Dong-sun stumbled upon natural wine. He was blown away by the unique taste and colors. Upon returning to Korea, he drew up a plan to open a natural wine bar, introducing the new experience of wine to Seoulites. Early this year, Moon opened a natural wine bar in the trendy Hannam-dong in Seoul. Moon said that natural wine has rapidly become popular, and specialized bars have been emerging across the city. “The natural wine market is gr

Singer and entertainer Kim Jong-kook, who has gained more than 2 million subscribers just months after launching his YouTube channel “GYM JONG KOOK,” has responded to a suspicion of steroid use. Greg Doucette, a renowned Canadian bodybuilder and fitness YouTuber, recently raised suspicion that the Korean singer and well-known body builder could be using steroids. In a video posted on Oct. 31, titled “Kim Jung Kook || Natty or Not,” the trainer accused Kim of abusing st

Uijeongbu Budaejjigae Festival The Uijeongbu Budaejjigae Festival on Budaejjigae Street in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, runs through Nov. 30. The annual festival, which had been on hiatus since 2019, offers visitors a chance to try the iconic dish budaejjigae, also known as army stew or Korean spicy sausage stew. Two-for-one deals are available at the 21 participating restaurants on Budaejjigae Street to those who make reservations online. Each visitor gets a stamp, and repeat visitors can

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul announces 2021 Autumn Wine Fair JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents the 2021 Autumn Wine Fair showcasing wines from selected wineries in 11 countries across four continents at the Margaux Grill’s seventh-floor garden. Running for three days from Nov. 10 to 12, the wine fair will feature a wide selection, ranging from daily wines to fine small-batch cult labels and grand crus from Bordeaux and Burgundy, with savings of up to 50 percent from regular prices. Additio

Shin Dong-min, a painter sponsored by The Korea Herald, has inspired many with his artworks, and now he is using his extraordinary talents to help people in Myanmar and Malawi. On Oct. 26, Shin and his mother invited The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young, BT&I Group President Kay Song, and two officials from the Korean office of a Burmese government in exile -- Yan Naing Htun, the government’s special representative, and Soe Moe Thu, secretary-general of the National Unity Government of

Autumn is in full swing in Samcheong-dong, a leafy area of art galleries and small shops near the Blue House. If you want to enjoy the blazing red and gold of the fall foliage with your meal and take in some art at the same time, a visit to Kukje Gallery might just be what’s called for. The well-established gallery has two restaurants -- the Cafe on the ground floor and the Restaurant on the second floor of the K1 building. The Cafe presents graphic designer Na Kim’s wall painting

With Korea relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in line with its “living with COVID-19” scheme, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are to resume a discount coupon program for travel accommodations to encourage the local tourism industry hit by the virus crisis. The Culture Ministry launched the coupon program twice last year, but had to suspend it to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus infections. Before the suspension, 520,000 coupon