The first Korean musical shown on Broadway and London’s West End, the first Korean musical to perform more than 1,000 shows and the first Korean musical to reach an audience of more than 130 million worldwide -- “The Last Empress” -- is now on its 20th anniversary open-run in Seoul.After premiering in 1995 at the Seoul Arts Center, the historical production became an unforeseen local and international success never-before experienced in Korea, setting milestones in the country’s relatively short

Korail launches city toursKorail, the state-run railway operator, has launched nationwide city tour programs.In partnership with regional administrative governments and the Korea Tourism Organization, the Rail City Tour program will enable tourists to take Korail’s trains to local provincial areas and then use regional tour buses for sightseeing and shopping.It will begin offering the tour in cities such as Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province and Jecheon

Beach-themed partyat W Hotel Seoul - WalkerhillW Hotel Seoul – Walkerhill is presenting the “Summer Escape Party,” a resort-themed summer party with music by local DJs, at the hotel’s stylish WooBar on Aug. 8. For the party, the bar will be filled with beach decorations including sunbeds, beach towels, parasols, surf boards, floating tubes and more. The dress code for the party is “beach attire.”A number of renowned local DJs will perform, including DJ Gio Vanhoutte, who is W Hotel Seoul’s music

John Cook Deli Meats Gyeongnidan branch offers authentic meat platters from all over the world

While summer offers great opportunities for outdoor activities and sports, the warm weather can be a serious health threat especially to those with chronic medical conditions.　According to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, the fatality rate of diabetes and heart disease patients increases when the average temperature during the summer months rises. 　“The heat can be especially dangerous for those with diabetes, chronic kidney conditions and high blood pressure,” said Dr. Shin Gil-ja from

Exterior view of the Kensington Jeju Hotel in Seogwipo, Jejudo Island. (Kensington Jeju Hotel)Nestled right in the mix of Jejudo Island’s most luxurious resorts -- Lotte, Shilla and the Hyatt -- is the newly established Kensington Jeju Hotel on the picturesque coast of Seogwipo. The nautical themed resort meets all the standards and quality services of its neighboring brands, however, with the property being relatively smaller, Kensington guests can bask in all its 4-star bliss in a more intimat

There’s nothing quite like sitting down to a cup of tea with a cat on your lap. These days, with the advent of cat cafes, you don’t even need your own cat to experience it. While they have been around in South Korea for some time, the rest of the world is beginning to catch on, and the trend that was once the cultural domain of Japan and Korea is spreading globally. 　Although the first cat cafe was founded in Taiwan in 1998, the concept blossomed in Japan and Korea, particularly in the last deca

Kathleen StephensHankuk University of Foreign Studies is to appoint Kathleen Stephens, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, as a chair professor for its diplomacy course, officials said Monday.Stephens will be teaching at the HUFS division of language and diplomacy, which combines language study and a training course for diplomatic skills. It was created in 2014 to foster diplomats and members of international organizations.“The practical knowledge, experience and know-how Stephens possesses

Former boy-band singer continues steady transition into weighty actor

Danish and Nordic artist duo transform museum into airport

New outlet serving shakes and burgers 24-7 near Seoul’s Garosugil

There’s nothing quite like a sandy beach and open ocean in the summer to wash away the fatigue of everyday stress. With long, stretching coastlines, Korea offers a variety of beaches for midsummer vacations, each with its own unique personality. The Korea Herald suggests some of the nation’s best beaches for relaxation, for crowded fun and for fun experiences.　Quiet seaside paradises　For those seeking a quieter, more relaxing summer getaway, the following are some of the country’s hidden seaside

Find the best of Korea’s beach and mountainside bliss

While summer has always offered an excuse to show off some skin, this season, covering up has become more fashionable than shedding clothes. In lieu of scanty beachwear, the long-sleeved, narrow-necked rash guard has hit it big with beachgoers and celebrities both in and out of the country. Photo shoots of Hallyu it-girls like Gain and Hani of girl group EXID posing in rash guards stormed the Internet, gaining a massive number of “likes” and topping the entertainment news section. The rash guard