The JW Marriott Dongdaemun overlooks Heunginjimun, one of Seoul’s historic and cultural landmarks.Hotel luxury (downtown) - JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square SeoulThe JW Marriott Dongdaemun is going green by implementing practices that reduce energy consumption, save unnecessary costs and improve air quality. The hotel’s pursuit of green strategies has earned it the LEED certification, an international recognition of the environmental-friendliness of a building. Opened in February, the hotel seeks

View of the rooftop swimming pool at the Somerset Palace Seoul hotel in Gwanghwamun, central SeoulServiced residence (International Luxury Premier)- Somerset Palace SeoulLooking for more than just a standard hotel, but also an establishment that offers the comforts of home? Then the premier apartment suites of Somerset Palace Seoul may be just the answer. The hotel is managed by The Ascott Limited, a Singapore-based company that has grown to become the world’s largest internationally serviced re

This year’s lineup for Daegu International Musical Festival reflects Koreans’ diverse tastes

Catholic churches are entitled to speak out on political and social injustices, a high-ranking bishop from the Vatican said Monday. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Bishop Mario Toso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, stressed that churchmen are obliged to work for the redemption of all mankind, with this redemption including relief from social and political injustices. “The more you love Christ, the harder you work for justice and peace in this world,” he added.

Just a short subway ride from Seoul, fortress is a favorite hiking spot

Namhansanseong is a mountain fortress on the southern outskirts of Seoul. (Yonhap News)Namhansanseong, a mountain fortress on the southern outskirts of Seoul, has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, joining the ranks of such natural and cultural wonders as Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently meeting in Qatar, voted Sunday to inscribe the Korean fortress on the much-coveted list for its “outstanding universal value

Photographer Joon Choi returns with precious cache after year among women divers on Udo Island

Lotte Hall, a classical music hall currently under construction in Jamsil-dong, southern Seoul, will open on Sept. 3, 2015, with a concert by maestro Chung Myung-whun and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the chief executive of the hall said Wednesday.The opening will be followed by a four-month music festival, during which the hall will make some necessary adjustments in acoustics and other installations.“From March onward, the hall will be made available to rent for concerts,” Kim Eui-joon sai

‘Dracula,’ ‘Priscilla,’ ‘Tale of Two Cities’ among season’s lineup

DOHA (AFP) ― Inca trails spanning six countries and a French cave with some of the earliest known paintings are among the sites expected to get World Heritage status at a UNESCO meeting that started Sunday in Doha.Altogether at least 30 natural and cultural sites, including the Arbil Citadel in Iraq’s Kurdistan, are vying to get the United Nations cultural body’s prestigious distinction and add their names to an already 981-strong list.The June 15-25 World Heritage Committee gathering will also

Hilary Finchum-Sung, SNU professor, offers an outsider’s view on future of Korean music

Pop musicUltra Music Festival Korea: The annual Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s largest outdoor electronica music fests, will be in full swing in Seoul once again. Last summer’s event drew more than 80,000 EDM fans. Like last year, this year’s lineup will include a handful of world famous DJ acts including Steve Aoki, Above & Beyond, Steve Angello and Paul van Dyk. The festival will host its final event as part of its two-day show on June 14 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Stadium Compl

Taeyang, a member of K-pop band Big Bang, landed on the Billboard 200 chart on Friday with his new album “Rise.” (YG Entertainment)“Rise” placed No. 112 on the chart, surpassing all the Korean male singers who have made it to the chart before him. Earlier, “Overdose” by the subunit of idol group EXO, EXO-K, was No. 129, the previous highest ranking for a Korean singer.Taeyang also placed first on both the Billboard World Albums Chart, which ranks albums in terms of sales in non-English speaking