Nodeulseom, an artificial island built a century ago, is a unique place from which to view Seoul’s nightscape over the Han River, especially in early summer. While you’re staring at reflections of the Han River at night near a dock, an art installation shaped like a giant moon may catch your attention. The 12-meter-tall installation, “Dalbitnodeul,” meaning “Nodeul Under the Moonlight,” is made up of two circular metal structures. It is a popular spot for nig

Pandemic takes at-home gardening culture in South Korea to next level as grocery prices see steep rise

South Korean films "Emergency Declaration," directed by Han Jae-rim, and "In Front of Your Face" by Hong Sang-soo were invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival.    In the official selection for the 74th Cannes Film Festival announced on Thursday, "Emergency Declaration" was listed in the Out of Competition category along with five other films, including "The Velvet Underground" by Todd Haynes, "Stillwater" by Tom McCarthy and "

The Korean Culture and Information Service and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs jointly published “Kimchi in the Eyes of the World” on Wednesday. The 148-page book contains stories on foreigners who love to eat kimchi as well as kimchi-making at foreign embassies and Korean Cultural Centers around the world. Eighteen honorary reporters of Korean.net, an online platform run by KOCIS, hailing from 14 countries also share their stories of making kimchi pancakes, kim

With travel restrictions being gradually lifted in different countries and vaccination roll-out gaining momentum in Korea, the tourism sector hit hard by the more than yearlong pandemic is gearing up to attract foreign travelers. The Korea Tourism Organization hosted a two-day online travel promotion event on May. 28, specifically targeting Japanese under-40s -- Millennials and Generation Z – who are interested in Korean culture. A series of live streaming events were aired on Nikoniko Li

Without having to fly 12,000 kilometers away from Seoul, a private park in Goyang, just 30 minutes’ drive from the capital city, offers unique taste of Latin America. A two-hour leisurely stroll inside the 11,500-square-meter wide cultural park will be enough to take a tour through a museum, an art exhibition hall, a sculpture park, a replica of a chapel, and a Mayan-style mural, housing a total of over 3,000 items.  The museum exhibits artifacts from the Maya, Aztec, Inca and To

In late March, the National Library of Korea announced the opening of an immersive experience library named Shilgam Seojae. It looks just like any normal library, but features new digital technologies that offer visitors a whole new reading experience. A Culture Ministry initiative, the immersive experience library transforms texts by combining it with interactive content using multidimensional technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality. Two months into operation, Shilgam Seojae, whic

2021 Huddling Youth Choir Festival calls for new members

As summer approaches, more people are turning to outdoor activities to fully enjoy the warm weather. A beach in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, is full of tourists enjoying a recent day off.  Public parks are also packed with those looking for some outside time. Some spend their day with family and friends, while others take a relaxing yoga class. Water activities are also gaining popularity as the weather warms up. From canoes to sky bridges, people are taking time to enjoy some clear blue wat

Cities across South Korea hosted multicultural events as part of the Justice Ministry’s Together Day festival Thursday. The Justice Ministry hosted an event to commemorate Together Day with the objective of creating a society where Korean people and foreign residents of Korea can live together respecting each other’s cultures and traditions. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye delivered congratulatory remarks during the ceremony. Together Day was officially designated as a day of na

Powerplant in Hongdae is a bookstore by day, and a melting pot for lively political discussions by night

On the morning of May 27, 1980, Norman Knute Thorpe, a correspondent for the Asian Wall Street Journal, walked into the South Jeolla Provincial Office in South Korea. The dead bodies of young men lay on the floor, blood splattered here and there. Before the Korean military could clean up, Thorpe photographed the tragic scene. The bodies belonged to victims of military killings, following the Gwangju Democratic Uprising on May 18. Thorpe’s work is now accessible to the public through a

YANGSAN -- A statue of Buddha donated by India has been enshrined at Tongdo Temple, a South Korean Buddhist temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the temple said Monday. The enshrinement ceremony was held on Sunday at the temple in Yangsan, about 420 kilometers southeast of Seoul, attended by monks from the temple and Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan. It said the bronze statue, which weighs 225 kilograms, was placed at the Cheongpungdang hall for its internationa

The annual Lotus Lantern Festival, called “Yeondeunghoe” in Korean, is held on a rainy Saturday in celebration of Buddha’s birthday at the Jogye Temple in Seoul. This year’s parade of lanterns was scaled down over concerns of a spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, after last year’s cancellation. Buddhist communities at home and abroad participate in “Yeongdeunghoe,” the Lotus Lantern Festival, via Zoom at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul, sharing words o

Safari Bus passengers look at tigers at the event “Adieu Safari Bus, Welcome Safari World Wild Tram” at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.  The Safari Bus ferries its final Safari tour as Everland is set to replace it with a tram with frameless windows and a lower floor height to allow passengers to get a better view of the wildlife.  Staff wave at the Wild Tram as it sets off for the first time.  Everland staff take a commemorative photograph in front of the