Foreign tourists in Seoul prefer different sightseeing spots depending on nationality, a research paper showed.　Visitors from Asia prefer Myeong-dong, one of the capital’s main shopping districts, while European and American tourists are most impressed by royal palaces, according to the paper jointly published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Kyung Hee University.　Chinese and Americans gave high marks to Seoul for safety, while Japanese said they were satisfied with the food and Europea

Suspended in an exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Gwacheon branch is artist Tang Da Wu’s work consisting of seven white pieces of cloth tainted with rainwater and soil, made over 10 days of seeping in a gully.An installation view of Tang Da Wu's "Gully Curtains" (MMCA)The installation by the Singaporean artist, titled “Gully Curtains,” tells a narrative specific to Singapore’s Ang Mo Kio, an area redeveloped in the 1970s.“Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia 1

A total of some 50 works by sculptor Um Tai-jung are being exhibited at both branches of Arario Gallery in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, and Cheonan, North Chungcheong Province. Um is one of the nation’s first-generation modern sculptors, who worked exclusively with metals. Born in 1938, Um graduated from the Department of Sculpture in the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. Um also studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London -- possibly one of the first Korean artists who

Lunar New Year holiday is just around the corner. While the word “holiday” may cheer some up, there are also those who don’t welcome the season. The two big traditional holidays in Korea, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (fall harvest holiday), mean days of kitchen labor for many Koreans, particularly married women, to prepare food for their families and their ancestors.But with the popularity of ready-to-eat meals increasing steadily, food companies are looking to Seollal dinner tables as t

Youn Bum-mo, curator and professor at Dongguk University, has been appointed the new director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. According to the announcement, Youn will start his three-year term on Feb. 1, filling the post that has been vacant since Dec. 13, when Bartomeu Mari was let go after his term as director. Curator Youn Bum-mo (Courtesy of the curator)The central government started its recruitme

Designer Song Zio plans to go international this year, promoting his flagship brand Songzio Homme in and out of Korea.　Songzio Homme -- a contemporary menswear collection brand -- is currently looking into distribution channels, aiming to supply its products to the Chinese market by the second half of this year. The specific details have not been set yet. Photo from Songzio Homme’s 2019 spring-summer collection (Songzio) Designer Song Zio (left) with model-actor Bae Jung-nam at backstage of Seou

New Year event at Coex Aquarium (1)Coex Aquarium is holding a Lunar New Year Holiday event from Feb. 1-6.Foreign visitors can get a 20 percent discount on admission fees, after presenting an image of the promotional material for the event that can be downloaded or printed out at the homepage.Other events include a “Royal Walk” event reenacting a walk of a king and queen at the Garden of Korea special themed zone. Those who finds “Mr. Fortune” randomly distributed in the aquarium will get gifts l

Strawberry-filled afternoon at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunNovotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residence presents the Strawberry Afternoon Tea promotion.The set menu will be available until the end of March from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Gourmet Bar on the 20th floor of the hotel. It includes desserts such as eclairs, financiers, mille-feuille and creme brulee. Diners can choose two drinks from the options of coffee, tea and strawberry coconut smoothie. Those who make reservations in advance

Mother-and-daughter’s traditional Korean beef jerky business accommodates new needs with old taste

Kukje Gallery on Tuesday began a solo exhibition of painter Min Joung-ki, a local artist who regained attention after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un posed for pictures in front of his painting “Mount Bukhan” during their summit in April last year.  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands in front of Min Joun-ki’s landscape painting “Mount Bukhan” in the Peach House at Panmunjom during the inter-Korean summit in Ap

From baby care to homemaking, apps cater to needs of today’s generation

With the Moon Jae-in administration stressing the importance of balancing one’s work and leisure, a government survey announced Tuesday found that most Koreans prefer spending their free time alone, watching TV. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a survey on 10,498 men and women aged over 15 and found that 59.5 percent said that they spend most of their free time alone. It was followed by 29.7 percent who replied “with family” and 8.7 percent who said “with a friend.” (Yonhap)

Proposal to turn historical building into K-pop concert hall ignites controversy

The annual shopping festival Korean Grand Sale will hold a “special welcoming week” from Friday to Feb. 8 to provide events and benefits for foreign visitors, the Visit Korea Committee said Monday. During the period, welcome centers will be installed at Incheon and Gimpo airports to inform visitors of the benefits, as well as to provide interpretations and information on tourism, along with special lotteries and other events with handouts.At the main welcome center, located at Cheonggye Plaza in

The Asia Development Foundation delivered a $90,000 donation to World Taekwondo on Friday, with the money to be used in providing taekwondo education to the underprivileged in Asian countries.According to the WT, half of the donated amount will be used for WT Taekwondo Cares projects in Nepal, such as free taekwondo education and training for the disadvantaged, including female victims of domestic violence, students of schools build by the Um Hong Gil Human Foundation, and underage offenders at