Long journey to screen made possible by financier who sold his house

The Seoul Tourism Organization is hosting special lectures titled "K-Culture Trends in the World" at Seoul Tourism Plaza in Seoul on Sept. 28. The global standing of K-pop, trends in contemporary Korean art, and Korean webtoons and web novels will be discussed in three separate lectures by experts in the respective fields -- Kim Jae-heun, a culture reporter at The Korea Herald; Jason Haam, founder of Jason Haam Gallery and Cheon Beom-sick, well-known webtoon creator. The lectures are f

Initially Korean-centered service meets explosive response from overseas fans

Four esteemed concertmasters will gather to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sejong Soloists at the Seoul Arts Center on Saturday. Frank Huang, concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, David Chen, concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Andrew Wan, concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Cho, concertmaster of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, all share a significant connection: they are alumni of the Sejong Soloists, an ensemble founded 30 years ago

Despite the rapid rise of South Korea's cultural and artistic presence on the global stage -- driven by the growth of K-pop, films, and dramas -- a recent survey reveals that the dominant image foreigners associate with Korea is still the threat from North Korea. The survey, released on Wednesday by the Corea Image Communication Institute, found that 83.9 percent of foreign respondents identified North Korea's security threat as their foremost association with Korea. This starkly contrasts with

Chill out at anime exhibition, horror village and multithemed cafe

About 11 years ago, at the age of 16, aspiring South Korean flutist Kim Yu-been moved to France to pursue his passion for the instrument. Since then, Kim's journey as a flutist has taken him from France to Germany and now to the US, winning major competitions along the way and serving as the principal flutist at two prestigious orchestras. Kim studied at prestigious French music institutions, including the Conservatoire National Superieur Musique et Danse de Lyon and the Conservatoire Natio

For emerging Korean pianist Park Jae-hong, his latest album featuring two Russian composers and the upcoming recitals showcasing it will be special, as he will bid a temporary goodbye to the music of these composers he loves this fall. On Monday, Park released his Decca debut album, featuring Alexander Scriabin’s 24 Preludes Op. 11 and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor Op. 28 - the two composers’ lesser-known works. Park, winner of the 2021 Busoni Piano Compet

Documents, books and a plaque shedding light on Korean independence activists who fought against Japan’s 1910-45 colonial occupation were disclosed Wednesday, a day before National Liberation Day. Thirteen documents written between 1851 and 1909 show how independence fighters organized a militia and how Japanese police cracked down on them. It’s the first time the 13 original documents have been made public, the Korea Heritage Service said, noting they were repatriated from Japan las

Exploring Seoul’s iconic cultural heritage sites like Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo is one of the must-do activities while visiting South Korea. A light stroll along the stone walls of the palaces and taking in centuries-old "hanok," or traditional Korean houses, makes many fans feel like they've wandered into a Korean period drama. But, tourists can take a step back from these crowd-packed spots and enjoy a different view of Seoul's historical landmarks from ne

YANGYANG, Gangwon Province -- Camera crews quickly swarmed a woman, zooming in on her pick for a dinner date from 10 men in photos at a temple run by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the country’s largest sect that since last year has been pushing hard with an unlikely project -- matchmaking. “I haven’t really had time to chat with this guy and we have only one dinner,” said the woman, identified as Woman 10, referring to her choice as she hurriedly left the room cro

Celebrating its 79th Liberation Day this Thursday, tourist destinations around the country offer special programs to highlight what Korean independence fighters went through under Japanese occupation, commemorate their sacrifices and remember the history. Seodaemun Prison History Hall, in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul, offers a hands-on activity and concert for young visitors keen on taking in some of the nation’s arduous modern history. Children aged 7 to 10 can participate in a &ldquo

The Old Korean Legation building in Washington, DC is expected to be registered in the US as a historic place worthy of preservation as early as mid-September. According to a US Federal Register notice Wednesday, the National Park Service plans to gather public input on whether to recognize officially the 19th-century building on the National Register of Historic Places -- the US government list of buildings, sites and structures known for their historic or artistic value. The process will run t

Fluffy happiness In the bustling streets of the Hongdae area, there is a must-visit spot for dog lovers. At the special cafe named Winter’s Village, visitors can meet 11 Samoyeds and one Malamute spread across two floors, all enjoying their free time. While animal welfare is a common concern with pet-related businesses, this cafe is run by the owner who personally raises all the dogs. They limit the number of customers to prevent overcrowding and provide regular breaks for the dogs. To dis

In the later part of the Korean musical "Hero," there is a scene where the imprisoned independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) awaits his sentencing day. In a somber atmosphere, a Japanese prison officer appears with mixed feelings. They have a conversation about Ahn’s dream for the realization of peace in East Asia, a topic he had been writing about in prison and which remained unfinished. Then the officer hands out a funeral shroud sent by Ahn's mother. The role