Government should make targeted, strategic investments to turn interest into long-term commitments

Hahm Chai-bong’s ‘Becoming Korean’ examines how Koreans came to be

“Even the sight of old drunkards you see on the streets, chattering, smoking, spitting and cursing, looks adorable. Drinking here brings back good memories.”

Outdoor food stalls offer quick and easy way for Koreans to enjoy a drink and a meal

A Korean professional “StarCraft” gamer got the upper foot, as it were, over his Chinese rival at a recent competition. Lim Hong-gyu, better known by his moniker “Larva,” battled Luo Xian on Monday in the final match of the Zotac Cup Masters playing “StarCraft Remastered” in Los Angeles, California. In the first game of the series, Lim purposely took one of his own characters out of the competition by making it dance, putting himself at a significant disadvantage. In the next game, he rested his

Two and a half decades ago, a musical movie starring Whoopi Goldberg as a lounge singer who stumbles upon a murder scene and ends up in a place she does not belong -- a Catholic convent – hit the silver screen. The cast’s performance and music elevated the typical fish-out-of-water story, as it became a box office hit and generation-defining comedy.The musical adaptation of the film landed in Korea last week, bringing with it the humor, music and charm that made the original story so popular amo

The ongoing investigation into two previous governments‘ blacklist of cultural figures continues to unearth more dirt, with a recent revelation that Lee Myung-bak administration used one of its supporters as a scapegoat to hide its wrong-doings.A 2011 document of the National Intelligence Service, revealed recently by Kyunghyang Shinmun, a local daily, showed that MBC’s sacking of singer Kim Heung-gook that year was part of the conservative administration’s plan to extract left-leaning entertain

An annual fair to showcase Korea's best craftsmanship will cast light on the smartness and convenience of traditional handiworks and the wisdom of artisans, the organizers said Monday.The craft trend fair titled "Smart X Craft," hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and run by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, entered its 12th year to promote the country's distinct handiworks and elegant artistry that have been passed down for generations.The value of handiwork hasn't faded ev

Korean stars like BTS take flight on the back of social media while others get mired in controversy

The US production of the musical “Sister Act” has landed in Seoul, the final destination of its Asia tour that commenced in May.The Korean segment of the tour premiered Saturday in front of a sell-out crowd at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and will run through Jan. 21, 2018.Based on the 1992 hit comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, the plot revolves around the singer Delores who witnesses a murder and takes refuge in a convent.While the plot may sound dark, the show is actually a light-hear

In one week, pianist performs four times in different roles

BUSAN (Yonhap) -- The annual Busan International Art Fair (BIAF) will open in the South Korean port city early next month and will feature 3,000 artworks by more than 200 local and foreign artists, the event's organizer said Tuesday. Launched in 2007, the BIAF is an open market where artists and collectors can make direct deals on the spot. "The 16th BIAF will kick off for a five-day run at the BEXCO center on Dec. 7," the K-Art International Exchange Association said.The fair will house 37 boot

Works by renowned early 20th-century Korean writer Yeom Sang-seop will be displayed at the National Library of Korea in Seoul from Tuesday through Feb. 25, 2018.The latest exhibition at the library -- located in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul -- will display novels and short stories written by Yeom, who is considered a master of realism in the country.Yeom was born in 1897 and died in 1963. His life coincides with the most tumultuous years of Korea, including the fall of the Joseon Kingdom, Japan’s c

A 1964 painting by late artist Kim Whan-ki sold for HK$28 million (4 billion won) in an auction in Hong Kong over the weekend, Seoul Auction said Monday.The oil painting titled "Morning Star," 145.5 by 145.2 centimeters in size, started at around 2.8 billion won, but bids escalated to finally fetch 4 billion won at the auction held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong on Sunday.The abstract art master holds the record for the most expensive Korean art ever sold at an auction. In April, "Tranqui

Coal briquettes have been one of the symbols of Korea’s rapid economic growth from 1960s to 1980s, providing heat and energy for the households hard at work to build an affluent economy.With development of energy sources and housing, however, briquettes are in less demand than ever. Around 19 briquette factories were in operation in Seoul alone in the 1990s, but now there are only two. “There are still about 200,000 households using briquettes to get through the winter, but the industry is hangi