(Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)With the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week having just opened, well-dressed visitors off the runway are another element to look forward to.Groups of fashionistas could be seen flaunting their outfits on their way to and from Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the main venue, on the first day of shows.As a number of fashion bloggers, influencers on Instagram and photographers from newspapers and magazines gather at DDP during the week, vi

The 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week opened Monday with a showcase of modern interpretations of hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing. Celebrated hanbok designer Kim Hye-soon traveled back in time for her inspiration to create a colorful jewel-toned collection of hanbok made contemporary, which graced the runway at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.  Models walk down the runway of hanbok opening show for the finale. (Seoul Design Foundation)“This season, I wanted to promote the beaut

Lee Sung-nack, a board member at the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation, has released a new book that attempts to explain how portraits created in the Joseon era depicted their models in a realistic way. Lee, 80, worked as a dermatologist and professor before he got a Ph.D. in art history at Myongji University in 2014. Cover of "Joseon Dynasty Portraits: Expression of Scholar Spirits" (Yonhap)In his book “Joseon Dynasty Portraits: Expression of Scholar Spirits,” published on March 16 by Nulwa, L

　K-pop music will form the core of a South Korean art troupe’s repertoire when it performs in Pyongyang in April, with a prominent K-pop producer and songwriter to take the helm.　The Ministry of Unification on Sunday named Lee Yun-sang -- a singer-songwriter and producer professionally known as Yun Sang -- as the musical director for the South’s art troupe to Pyongyang. His North Korean counterpart is Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the all-female Moranbong Band. 　Yun Sang will lead the South Korea

“The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down,” written by South Korean Buddhist monk Haemin, has been nominated for the 2018 British Book Awards.The final shortlist for the awards was announced Friday (local time) by The Bookseller, the organizer of the awards and a British journal specializing in the publishing industry. Haemin’s essay was nominated for lifestyle book of the year. The British edition of “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down” (Suo Books)Books from seven categories h

International visitors transformed into a palette of vibrant hues at the Holi Hai Festival of Colors, taking place on Wahyeon Beach in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. The eighth annual festival, dubbed the “happiest event” in Korea, celebrates the coming of spring, the joy of friendship and values such as equality, while encouraging harmony between ethnicities and nationalities. The festival is held to mark the Indian end-of-winter festival of Holi, which people celebrate by spattering

Mariinsky principal dancer Kim Ki-min and his brother Ki-wan to perform Albrecht in KNB and UBC productions of “Giselle,” respectively

R&B singer Dean described Instagram as a “problem (of modern society)” in his latest hit song named after the social media platform, but it seems that the mobile application continues to captivate young Koreans. A survey released by Nas Media on Thursday showed that more than half of the respondents use Instagram, marking a 14.9 percent increase from 2017. The survey was conducted between Dec. 19 and Jan. 3 on 2,000 internet and mobile users in the country. According to the survey, Instagram is

Three-seater shop attracts regulars with French treats

Celebrating Easter at Millennium Seoul Hilton For guests who seek to celebrate Easter in a classic yet luxurious way, Millennium Seoul Hilton has prepared various activities and events. Cilantro Deli offers specialty Easter bread and chocolates during Easter week. Precooked Easter lunch hampers will also be on sale at 350,000 won. For lunch on Easter Sunday, diners can head to Cafe 395 for an Easter-themed buffet, at the price of 94,000 per person. On Easter Day, visitors can take part in an Eas

Herb Island Lighting & Illumination Festival Herb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, will be hosting the annual Lighting & Illumination Festival until Oct. 31.With its 300-meter wish tunnel, a lavender field lit up in various colors and more, Herb Island aims to get visitors in the holiday spirit. Inspired by European Christmas markets, the festival offers various events, including Christmas-themed soap, tree and candle-making, a Christmas cookie market and roasted turkey.Admission to the Her

Lookism hinders efforts to tackle obesity, focusing on appearances rather than health

While most of Seoul sleeps, Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul comes alive with freshly caught seafood and merchants preparing for early morning auctions. Dazzling lights brighten the bustling market at 1 a.m., while moving trucks as well as handcarts and boxes being unloaded create an energized atmosphere. The timings of the auctions differ by the types of seafood. Auctions selling shellfish and squid usually start at 1 a.m., while live-fish auctions begin at 3 a.m.  Before these

Chicken is beloved around the globe, but in Korea, extra effort is made to avoid wasting any part of it. Along with the neck and gizzards, Korean cuisine makes good use of the feet. Chicken feet, or “dakbal” in Korean, are widely eaten with alcohol. Their appearance alone can be a considerable challenge, with little effort made to disguise what they are. A typical serving consists of a pile of feet chopped off at the ankle. Dakbal are usually broiled in spicy red sauce, although they are sometim

A university research team has identified a protein produced by immune system that plays a key role in asthma attacks, opening up new possibilities for treatment research.The team led by professor Chung Doo-hyun at Department of Biomedical Sciences at Seoul National University found that XCL1 protein, produced by immune cells called natural killer T cells, engages with dendritic cells that contribute to the induction of allergic asthma. (123RF)If the lungs are exposed to external substances such