Author of diary book offers tips on keeping one for 2018

Fluttering their shaggy hair against the wind, Sapsaree dogs run towards Dr. Ha Ji-hong as he steps into the pen. The once-endangered canine breed of Korean origin has made a dramatic comeback, thanks largely to decadeslong preservation efforts by Dr. Ha, also known as ”Father of Sapsaree.“The long-haired dogs were killed en masse for their fur to make winter coats for Japanese soldiers, as documented in state archives during the period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea. In the turmoil of war a

A world-famous ice fishing festival will open in Hwacheon this weekend to animate the economy of this remote mountainous town near the border with North Korea, organizers said Monday.The annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will kick off Saturday on a frozen river in the town, about 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul, for a run ending Jan. 28. The event will feature a wide variety of winter activities.More than one million people are expected to flock to the town to drop a fishing line through

The long, shaggy hair of Sapsarees flutter against the wind as they run across a hillside pen in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province.The Korea Sapsaree Foundation compound houses more than 300 Sapsarees, a once-endangered Korean native breed of dogs brought back through decades of preservation efforts.These bear-like Sapsarees, whose name means “one that dispels evil spirits,” have traditionally been kept as guard dogs as well as beloved pets.Characterized by abundant hair that falls over their

Korea’s beauty YouTubers are the ambassadors to the complex world of ever-expanding K-beauty products. If you are looking to vamp up your beauty bag, check the vloggers below for reviews and tips on how to get the K-beauty look. PONY (Screencaptured from YouTube)1. PONYWith over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, Pony has gained “beauty guru” status with a huge following around the world, particularly in her native Asia. Formerly in charge of CL’s makeup, PONY is known for her glam looks powered

The year-end is a time for family, and visiting the local theater for a musical can please all generations.With 2018 just days away, here are some of the musicals you might want to check out to celebrate the New Year.Sister ActThe only English-language production on our list, this piece brings the 1990s comedy-classic movie to the stage. Packed with humor, disco and the soulful music of 1970s Philadelphia, the musical stars Dene Hill as the protagonist Delores Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who

As the year’s end draws nearer, the festive season is in full swing. An ice skating rink is the splendid backdrop to Winter Wonderland. Families, friends and lovers of all ages don their skates and glide around the ice rink. Children are seen practicing their skating skills with dreams of becoming the next speed skater champion Lee Sang-hwa or figure skating queen Kim Yu-na. If you are looking to enjoy winter sports in the city, Lotte World Ice Rink is located inside the nation’s most popular th

Young women head to local hotels with friends for small parties in the festive season

Time-limited transit passes for the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics have been launched, the government announced Thursday.The passes, which the officials said are aimed at aiding those visiting Gangwon Province for the Winter Games, have been launched jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization and Visit Korea Committee.Three types of passes are available: two for foreign visitors and one for Koreans. PyeongChang Korail Pass can be used from Feb.

Yun I-sang commemorator, Ryu Hyun-jin translator, French writer among commended

More than 8,000 musicians performed at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul Saturday to set the Guinness World Record for the biggest ever orchestra.The giant orchestra, consisting of amateur musicians from churches across the country, played a medley of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the South Korean national anthem and two hymns for seven minutes in total. With 8,076 musicians involved, an orchestra performance in Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul Saturday, trumped the previous biggest such performance i

More than a million visitors are expected to brave probable subzero weather Jan. 6 to take part in the opening of an ice-fishing festival in the South Korean town of Hwacheon near the border with North Korea, organizers said Thursday.Once touted by CNN as one of the "Seven Wonders of Winter,” the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is scheduled to run through Jan. 28 on Hwacheon Stream in the mountainous town of the same name 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)As many as one million people

Billy Elliot danced back onto the Seoul stage this December with a bold opening performance on Dec. 7 that looks set to inspire Seoul audiences again. The Tony-winning West End hit about an aspiring ballerino from a British mining town had its first non-English speaking production in Korea in 2010, after sweeping North America and Australia.Billy Elliot’s return to Seoul, with an updated translation and a brand-new cast, has been hotly anticipated by local theatergoers for months. Its previous r

Actor Park Bo-gum was named the winner of the achievement award for promoting South Korea abroad during this year’s tourism awards ceremony, the organizers said Tuesday. The 24-year-old actor was announced this year’s winner of the prize at the 2017 Korea Tourism Awards co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization, they said. Park Bo-gum (Yonhap)“Park contributed greatly to promoting the country abroad by successfully wrapping up fan meetings in ei

State-run institute publishes report on Joseon-era items held in German museums