Classes, subscription services take blooms beyond special occasions

The Korean government on Tuesday said it has shut down 12 illegal websites related to cartoons and other media content, and announced plans to continue its watch over such activities for the next two to three years.The pangovernmental task force announced the results of a crackdown that commenced in May, and which monitored foreign-based illegal websites that allowed users to share content without regard of the copyrights. Officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Com

A concert next month will offer local classical music enthusiasts a rare opportunity to listen to ensembles performed by several internationally acclaimed musicians in one place on a single day.A total of 10 teams of 15 artists will perform as ensembles on Aug. 15 at the Lotte Concert Hall. The 15 featured soloists include pianists Kim Sun-wook, Sunwoo Ye-kwon, Lim Dong-hyek, cellists Mun Tae-guk and Isang Enders, violinists Kim Suyoen, Kim Bom-sori and Soprano Hwang Su-mi. Seven artists from No

The sixth Water Gun Festival in Sinchon, Seoul, brought some much needed relief to the scorching summer heat on Saturday.On the first day of the two-day fiesta, the main street that rolls down from Sinchon subway station to the front gate of Yonsei University was crammed with people of all nationalities and ages, armed with water guns and raincoats.Several were dressed up as DC and Marvel’s super heroes, including the intergalactic villain Thanos of the latest Avengers movie. The festival runs u

Riding on social media fervor, Euljiro becomes hip area for young people

Kim Soo-min, 23, was crowned winner of Miss Korea 2018 in the final round of the annual beauty pageant in Seoul on Wednesday.Representing Gyeonggi Province, Kim studied international business at Dickinson College. With her eyes set on becoming an international journalist, Kim said her hobbies include dancing, singing and impersonating voices.This year’s 62nd Miss Korea pageant was held Wednesday night at the Olympic Hall in Sonpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, with 32 contestants competing in the final

A growing number of foreign cartoonists are debuting in South Korea’s webtoon industry, as the local market is expanding at a rapid pace. Japanese cartoonist Akiko Higashimura is one of the foreign cartoonist to join Naver Webtoon, one of the biggest online comic portals in Korea, with “Fake Affair” (literal translation). A screenshot of Akiko Higashimura‘s online comic series “Fake Affair“ (Naver Webtoon)Known for her romance comic series “Princess Jellyfish,” Higashimura’s new work entitled “F

A government committee on Monday rolled out a series of recommendations for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for sexual offenses, including banning the perpetrators from receiving any subsidy. The ministerial committee on measures against sex offenses announced the four major tasks to eradicate sexual violence in the culture sector: implementing a system to prevent and deal with the aftermath of a sex crime, including related legislations and help centers for the victims; banning atta

South Korea added seven Buddhist mountain temples to the UNESCO World Heritage list on Saturday, earning international recognition for another set of historical sites.  The unanimous decision was announced on Saturday during the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Manama, Bahrain, which runs from June 24 to July 4. South Korea submitted an application in February last year for the seven mountain temples.The temples, all located on mountains, include Seonamsa on Mount Jogye and D

People try traditional Korean games at the newly opened Traditional Culture Experience Center of the Imperial Palace Seoul. The center also allows Korean and foreign visitors to take pictures with a Korean traditional house in the background, wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing. The Club Lounge on the 20th floor features the interior of a traditional Korean house, too. (Imperial Palace Seoul)

Hongdae is a neighborhood in northeastern Seoul known for its youthful ambience, boutique cafes, live performances, nightclubs and restaurants. But if Hongdae were to be described in one word, it would have to be “busking.”Day and night, the streets of Hongdae, the area surrounding Korea’s Hongik University, bustle with young musicians and artists staging outdoor performances. If you see a crowd huddled somewhere, you know there’s a musician, indie band, or dancers showing off their talent.A bus

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea on Tuesday laid out the museum’s mid-term plan, including its future exhibition schedule and management plan. The mid-term plan was announced alongside the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s recent decision not to incorporate the museum, ending a decade of debate on the issue.While there have been talks of incorporation to free the museum from regulations and restraints of being a part of a governmental branch, there were also co

“Believer” surpassed 5 million in cumulative admissions on Tuesday, the first for a Korean film this year, data showed.　The crime thriller starring Cho Jin-woong and Ryu Jun-yeol passed the threshold at 2 p.m., according to the computerized box office tally from the Korean Film Council.　The film has sold 5,000,061 tickets since it opened on May 22, slightly more than that for two of the most popular domestic crime thrillers, 4.68 million for “New World” (2013) and 4.72 million for “Nameless Gang

Hwang Sok-yong, one of South Korea‘s most famous writers, has received the 2018 Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for his novel “At Dusk.”　Hwang was announced as the winner of the prize by the national Guimet Museum of Asian Art in Paris at 6:30 p.m. Monday (Paris time).　Founded last year to better introduce Asian literature in France, the prize selects the winner among contemporary Asian literary works published in French in the past year. Novelist Hwang Sok-yong (Yonhap)　The first winner

On the east coast of Korea, Hotel Tops 10 is vying to become the No. 1 holiday spot this summer. Since its opening in last December, the hotel has made its presence in the high-end hospitality scene, preferred for its location and service. With more facilities opening in July, the hotel hopes to further fully satisfy its guests. Geumjin Hot Springs, using local thermal water will open, along with Aqua Park, VR Zone, Kids Zone, Golf Zone and a karaoke.  (Hotel Tops 10)On Saturday, a DJ party will