Paris -- The ceramic vases and Hangeul-inspired tables on display and the Korean cuisine experience zone right smack in the heart of Paris are a testament to the power of Hallyu, as the government-run Korean Cultural Center reopened at a new venue on Wednesday as the Paris Korea Center.Nearly four decades after its opening, the Korean Cultural Center in France decided to build its nest in a refurbished marble-white seven-story building near Paris’ Champs-Elysees and the Elysee Palace in th

Designated Treasure No. 1761, Hyangwonjeong -- a two-story hexagonal pavilion on a small artificial island in the middle of a pond on the northern grounds of Gyeongbokgung -- was built by King Gojong around the time of the construction of the royal couple’s private quarters, between 1867 and 1873. The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea on Wednesday unveiled the unique floor heating system found at the pavilion. Korea’s traditional heating system ondol generates warmth using di

Talks underway on relaxing overseas travel restrictions for male stars who have not completed military service

PARIS -- Culture Minister Park Yang-woo and UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay agreed Tuesday to make a concerted effort to have the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea added to the UN body’s World Heritage list.Park met Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris and asked for the UN body’s cooperation, saying the joint inscription of the DMZ on the list by both Koreas would be “in keeping with the spirit of UNESCO, which is for pe

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who is the only human to score a win against the artificial intelligence Go player AlphaGo, retired Tuesday. The 36-year-old officially retired from Go competition by submitting his letter of retirement to the Korea Baduk Association, which overseas Go professionals in South Korea.    He hinted at his impending retirement following his defeat to Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel in March. This puts an end to Lee's lege

In a meeting with the head of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Tuesday, South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo plans to ask the United Nations body to inscribe the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone as a World Heritage, according to the ministry. Park is scheduled to meet with Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture, set to begin Tuesday morning in Paris. In the bilateral meeting, Park will request UNESCO's coope

The National Museum of Korea will hold an exhibition next year featuring national treasures designated in recent years, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday. The upcoming exhibition between April and June 2020 will unveil some 100 newly designated national treasures and treasures. The items include those owned by temples, private galleries and individuals.One highlight is “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” a representative written record of the history of th

On the bustling main street of Insa-dong -- which once symbolized Korean traditional culture, but is now crowded with souvenir shops -- visitors nonchalantly pass by a store that holds centuries-old treasures.Tongmunkwan, the oldest bookstore in South Korea, keeps its door closed most of the time.  Stepping inside, one is instantly overwhelmed by its massive collection of antique books, stacked from floor to ceiling, and the thick smell of old volumes. The oldest here is from the late Gorye

A film festival showcasing works from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states will take place in Busan on Friday and Saturday, on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. The venue for ASEAN Cinema Week 2019 -- ASEAN Cinema NOW! is the Busan Cinema Center, a landmark of the southern port city that is best known for hosting the annual Busan International Film Festival. Ten films will be screened at the ASEAN event, one from each member state. The films are &ldquo

The Korea Senior Star Association, a civic group for senior citizens, hosted a fashion show Saturday to promote the beauty of the Korean traditional costume, hanbok, and break down the barriers that divide generations.Around 1,000 people attended the event, titled “Our Beautiful Costume Hanbok That Moves Forward Into the Future,” held at Namsangol Hanok Village, a collection of five Korean traditional houses at the foot of Namsan’s north side. “We hope this event hel

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Kim Bong-ryol, president of Korean National University of Arts, gave a lecture on the history of wooden architecture in Korea, at the Hungarian ambassador’s residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute, a private institution that promotes Korean culture around the world, the event was attended by 26 participants, including Hungarian Ambassador Mozes Csoma, Kuwaiti Ambassador Bader Mohammad Al-Awadi and New Zealand Ambassador Philip Tuner.

A 19th century Korean Buddhist painting has returned home after being lost more than half a century ago. On Tuesday, the Jogye Order, South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, displayed the painting at the Memorial Hall of Korean Buddhist History and Culture. The large-sized 1891 painting by Joseon-era Buddhist monk-painter the Ven. Minkyu, titled “Guardian Deities of Beomeosa Temple,” depicts multiple guardian deities. The piece, originally owned by Beomeosa, a Buddhist temple

ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit to be held on sidelines of commemorative summit