With a wave of films, television series and art shows championing "gender fluidity" -- and catwalks awash with "gender neutral" models and clothes -- the old dividing line between the sexes is being increasingly called into question.But as the blurring of boundaries has gone from the margins to being a progressive cause, the political temperature of the debate has risen sharply.Gender fluidity has become a hot-button issue in the culture wars between liberals and conservatives, often reduced to

The Japanese publisher of Nagasaki-born Kazuo Ishiguro said Friday it would republish eight of the British author's books in translation, reporting "a huge number of orders" after he won the Nobel Literature Prize.Ishiguro left Japan when he was five and moved to Britain, only returning to visit his native land as an adult three decades later.Japan had been pinning its hopes on its best-known novelist Haruki Murakami to win the Nobel Prize but eagerly claimed a link to the  British winner with J

Listening to K-pop through digital media is no longer enough for many K-pop fans, as they are now demanding contact, either direct or indirect, with the stars in real life. Catering to those needs, major Korean agencies have been establishing multimedia complexes where fans can indulge in K-pop in ways other than music.  G-Dragon appears on a promotion video of Jeju Shinhwa Wolrd (Jeju Shinhwa World)At the forefront of this new K-pop business is YG Entertainment, which is preparing to launch a t

With a long Chuseok holiday starting this Saturday, it’s almost certain that roads and highways will be jam-packed with honking cars. Rather than stress out sitting in crawling traffic, there is another option for a getaway: Hop on the subway, roam around Seoul and visit places you’ve never been. For your convenience, The Korea Herald has sorted Seoul attractions that are reachable by subway.K-pop hot spots  K-Live (Korea Tourism Organization)For fans of K-pop, there are spots around Seoul where

The long holiday is an opportune time to take leave of the mundane city life for an exciting getaway. The problem is that everyone else thinks so too, and getting transportation or accommodation for a trip can be near impossible. Majority of the Korean population is expected to move during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which will be 10 days long including the weekends, and nobody likes being stuck in traffic for 10 hours.For those residing in Seoul, finding things to do within a stone’s throw fr

Koreans this year will enjoy the longest Chuseok holiday ever, stretching from Sept. 30 until Oct. 9 for many people. And many young Koreans are opting to spend at least a portion of the mini-vacation alone, surveys show. Six out of 10 twenty-somethings said they will be spending the holiday alone, according a survey of 1,190 people conducted by part-time job listing portal site Alba Chunkuk Tuesday. The reasons behind the solo-holiday were part-time jobs at 27.2 percent and the stress of relati

“Arirang” is the most well-known and beloved folk song in Korea, and a festival next month will feature the oldest recorded version of the song dating back to the 19th century.Among the highlights of the fifth annual Seoul Arirang Festival, which will be held at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul from Oct. 13-15, will be an exhibition of 60 pieces of recording devices and cylinder recordings of various versions of “Arirang.” The phonograph, a device that uses cylinders to record and reproduce sounds, is

When in the United States, do as the Americans do: James Minor, a music manager of the South by Southwest festival, believes that Korean agencies should adjust to how the local people do business in order to succeed in the US terrain. Having served as a general manager of the Austin-based international music festival for six years, Minor said there are major differences between the business styles of Korea and the US, with the key for those Korean agencies’ success in the US being “overcoming th

　According to the IFPI Global Music Report 2016, the United States’ music industry generated $4.9 trillion in 2015, ranking top in the world. 　Japan’s music industry generated $2.63 trillion in 2015, ranking second behind the US. Meanwhile, South Korea’s music industry generated $266 billion in the same year. 　The following are the 10 largest music industries in the world, according to data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Archaeological remains of a bathroom equipped with a flushing toilet used during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC to 935) have been discovered, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday.The state-run body has been conducting a dig since 2007 at the remains of Donggung and Wolji Pond in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, which was home to key government buildings of the ancient kingdom.Among the relics revealed Tuesday were toilets and a plumbing system. The toilets were tilted so that excretio

Novelist Hwang Sok-yong and comedian Kim Mi-hwa on Monday formally requested official investigation into the blacklisting of cultural figures under former President Lee Myung-bak, as the scandal snowballed to engulf two previous conservative administrations.Prior to submitting the request, Hwang and Kim held a press conference at the headquarters of the joint civilian-government investigative committee looking into the blacklist scandal in Seoul, criticizing the Lee and Park Geun-hye administrat

For the 10-day-long holiday starting this Saturday, major cultural heritage sites have announced festivities ranging from free admission to special event offerings. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that major royal palaces and tombs across the country will stay open during the 10-day holiday, free of admission fees. Junghwajeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace (Cultural Heritage Administration)The promotion will take place at the royal palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changd

There have been many big incidents in South Korea this year.But let bygones be bygones. It is right time to enjoy the scenic beauty because autumn is the most beautiful season of the year.And there are places where you can find its special charms, even in the middle of the city.One such recommendation is the Sky Park in Sangam-dong, Seoul.Visitors can appreciate tall metasequoia trees while hiking to the park, located 98 meters above sea level.It is the highest neighborhood park Seoul, where vis

Kim Eoun-ho, president of Hangilsa, looks back on more than four decades in publishing

Serving in the military is a duty that falls upon every able-bodied Korean male, but 73.9 percent of entertainers here have delayed enlistment, according to a local lawmaker.Of the 794 male entertainers due for enlistment, 587 have yet to enlist, according to a statement released by Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party Thursday.The percentage of those putting off enlistment among entertainers was far higher than those in other fields of work. The figure was 43.3 percent