Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, known as the “gapjin” year in the 60-year sexagenary cycle, the upcoming Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival presents a stunning, dragon-themed snow sculpture. As a popular motif in Korean art and myth, dragons symbolize power and are considered to be sacred gods that prevent misfortune and disaster. Snow sculptures aside, the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival features exciting works of art from snow carving contests for university students, an igloo

Butter in Gangnam At a glance, the shop looks like a toy store, making passersby wonder how it manages to pay rent in this prime retail area, less than a five-minute walk from bustling Gangnam Station. But it doesn’t take long to figure out that the shop, Butter, stays afloat selling household goods. Almost every item on the shelves or hanging on the walls features characters including those from children’s movies such as animated comedy “Minions.” From stationery and hom

Haeundae Lighting Festival Streets, markets and shops close to the popular Haeundae Beach in Busan will be lit up every day from 05:30 p.m. through midnight during the Haeundae Lighting Festival, which runs to the end of January. Visitors can get snaps at the photo zone and have them developed right away for a fee of 1,000 won or 2,000 won, depending on the size. Those who make a purchase at nearby markets and shops will receive raffle tickets. For more information, visit haeundae.go.kr/tour

Kolon Hotel offers Lanco-themed rooms Kolon Hotel, located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has unveiled its new Lanco-themed rooms. Collaborating with Spain-based baby toys company Lanco, the rooms feature yellow pillow covers, cushions, a door mat, towels and cups, all inspired by Lanco’s yellow rubber duck. A total of six Lanco-themed rooms are available, each accommodating a maximum of four guests. The rooms come with a beam projector and screen. The hotel also has a miniature z

53-year-old Korean Culture and Information Service to fold

Ongoing disputes cast shadow on international book fair participation

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., offers the chance to catch a glimpse of the country’s space industry and explore local tourism. According to Korail Travel on Wednesday, the "Space Science Train" (unofficial translation), a spaceship-themed train launched in 2023, is a two-day travel package featuring a visit to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as trips to popular tourist destinations and traditional markets in the south of the

French luxury brand Dior’s iconic Lady Dior handbag has reinvented itself since its first debut on Princess Diana’s arm in 1995. It had been given as a gift by the first lady of France. The bag has since become one of the most beloved handbags around the world. Since 2016, the fashion house has collaborated with artists, recreating its iconic bag into works of art. Marking its eighth edition, the Dior Lady Art project collaborated with 12 artists from around the world, including Kore

South Korean animation director Joung Yu-mi's short animated film, "Circle," has been invited to compete in the short film category at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, according to industry sources Tuesday. With a running time of some seven minutes, "Circle" metaphorically explores the barriers created by societal perceptions. The short animated film narrates the story of a girl drawing a circle. People gather one by one in the circle, and after the space bec

The year 2023 was characterized by visits from world-class orchestras and the realization of numerous previously postponed concerts. While there will be fewer such performances this year, South Korea's classical music scene is anticipated to maintain its vibrancy with competition among top domestic orchestras and star performers. Two of the four leading South Korean orchestras now have new artistic directors -- Jaap van Zweden for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and Kim Sun-wook for the

Plunging temperatures draw mixed reactions. They may be great news for winter sports fans, but others wish to escape the cold, waiting for signs of spring. Following are some of the country’s popular weekend getaways that outdoor, adrenaline addicts and those sensitive to cold can enjoy, respectively. Vivaldi Park Resort Though the unexpected warm weather this year has disappointed some skiers, preventing them from enjoying the slopes to the fullest in December, Vivaldi Park Resort -- am

The Vietnam Embassy in Seoul hosted a Hometown Spring event with the Vietnamese community in Korea on Sunday. Vietnam’s traditional spring festival symbolizes hope, health, luck and prosperity for the upcoming lunar year. Attended by more than 500 members of the Vietnamese community, the event not only honored age-old traditions but also highlighted the spirit of togetherness among Vietnamese who have left their hometown. The Vietnam Embassy's charge d'affaires ad interim Nguyen

Nighttime tours will be available from as early as April this year at Changgyeonggung, one of the five royal palaces in Seoul connected with the Joseon era (1392-1910), the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday. The program, already available in the three other agency-run palaces including the main palace Gyeongbokgung, is most likely to take place April 27 through May 5. Gyeonghuigung is under supervision by the Seoul city government. During that period, the CHA also holds its annual K-R

Numerous painstaking depictions of each blade of grass, flower and plant fill 59 canvases that are pieced together to create a complete work that is more than 12 meters long and fills the wall from floor to ceiling. It’s a rare experience to feel awe while standing in front of an artwork, but Lee Kwang-ho’s large-scale painting of a New Zealand wetland at Kukje Gallery is overwhelming. Lee could not recall how many brushes he has at his studio when asked during an interview with The

For the late Choi Young-do, a prolific antiquities collector, earthenware represented “radiating warmth and charm.” Choi is one of 114 donors recognized Thursday as the National Museum of Korea unveiled its renovated donor galleries, showcasing 1,671 pieces ranging from pottery and craft to paintings and relief, following a two-year overhaul. “Pottery in particular was of interest to my father and he made it his mission to ‘protect what’s rightfully Korea’s,&r