The second installment of the Blue House Concert series will take place Nov. 5 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance at Chunchugwan. Chunchugwan served as the media center for the former presidential house Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul. The free concert will begin at 3 p.m. with American violinist Gil Shaham taking the stage with Korean pianist Shin Chang-yong to perform Mozart's Rondo in C major and Faure’s Violin Sonata No.1. Shin will also perfo

In a move to counter escalating copyright infringement issues, the South Korean government announced on Tuesday a reward initiative for whistleblowers of pirate websites, offering up to 3 billion won ($2.2 million) in compensation. The initiative, jointly led by the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, seeks to bolster efforts against illegal streaming and sharing that undermines the country's thriving digital content industry. Indiv

While exploring Seoul, travelers often encounter the well-known Bukchon Hanok Village, situated in the heart of the metropolis. Tucked away in the northwestern part of Seoul is another enclave of hanok, Eunpyeong Hanok Village, a hidden gem less frequented by tourists. Nestled at the foot of Bukhansan, the village has close to 100 hanok, each showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean architecture. Established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2013, Eunpyeong Hanok Village quickly evolved

SEJONG-- Yu In-chon's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue the legacy of strengthening copyrights he started in his first tenure as culture minister during the Lee Myung-bak administration. Yu, 72, made the remarks at his first address to hundreds of ministry employees during his inauguration ceremony that took place at Government Complex Sejong on Monday. “With the continually evolving landscape, there is a need to amend the copyright law related to adapting to n

A grand platform, called "woldae," in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, opened to the public Sunday with a series of events, marking the restoration of the space that had been covered over to form a major traffic artery for about a century. The event, marking the restoration of woldae and the new signboard on Gwanghwamun, took place at Gwanghwamun Square Sunday evening, attended by Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, Cultural Heritage Administration Head Choi Eun

A display of hanbok from the late 19th century to early 20th century will be shown at the National Folk Museum of Korea, located at the main palace Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul, during the annual Hanbok Culture Week that kicks off Monday. The period from 1876 to 1910 marked the introduction of Western culture to Korea. The museum will also offer a variety of interactive events, from hanbok wearing, hanbok quizzes and a traditional tea ceremony, or dado, to traditional shoe crafting. At Cheo

“Nongak is close as a friend to me. I experienced happiness, anger, sorrow and joy, developing love with it,” said Jeong Hyun-ji, who plays the sogo -- a small, traditional Korean hand-held drum -- in the Gochang Nongak Cheongchun Gutpae. Gochang Nongak Cheongchun Gutpae is an official youth troupe that performs Gochang Nongak, the traditional music created and developed by farmers in the coastal county of Gochang, North Jeolla Province. “I always swim into the meaning of nonga

Bass baritone celebrates 25th anniversary of international debut with solo concert

Take a journey through time to the streets of Jeong-dong this weekend, where Jeongdong Culture Night will be held Friday and Saturday at Deoksugung Palace and the Jeong-dong area in Jung-gu, central Seoul. During its heyday, the Jeong-dong area was the epicenter of burgeoning new trends. Cultural sites will remain open late into the evening during the two-day festival, featuring performances, guided historical tours, a stamp tour along the stonewall walkway, street performances, busking, nightti

The National Museum of Korea has designated six museums in five countries for the Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program, the NMK announced Thursday. The program aims to promote Korean art and culture by supporting Korean galleries in museums abroad. The museums that will receive support next year include the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art; Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University, San Bernardino; the National Museum of Denmark; Rijksmuseum

Controversy over the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, emerged once again with a lawmaker pointing out a change in regulations for its use during a parliamentary audit. Lee Byung-hoon, a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the government, alleging that it has failed to fulfill its promise to return Cheong Wa Dae to the people, as the presidential office continues to use the facilities without restrictions. Lee further pointed out that the Ministry of Cultu

The 2023 Seoul Fantastic Beer Festival, which launched Friday, runs until Oct. 15 at Seoul Noryangjin Soccer and Baseball Stadium. The festival, the largest and longest-running beer festival here, showcases all kinds of beer, and offers a variety of food and music performances. Admission is free for all visitors. However, those who want to sit at designated tables to watch the performances will be required to purchase tickets in advance. People can line up from 1 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, t

20th Daegu International Opera Festival runs through Nov. 10

K-pop, K-food, K-beauty and K-content took the lead as the most commonly cited keywords by foreigners visiting Korea, a comprehensive data analysis conducted by the Culture Ministry and Korea Tourism Organization showed Tuesday. The report was based on data from June 2020 to May 2023 gathered from a group of foreigners hailing from 20 countries that frequently visited Korea. The information was sourced from online platforms, social media and travel expense data including credit card usage and te

Seoul beckons local and global esports fans with esports-friendly attractions during the annual League of Legends World Championship, which began its 41-day run on Tuesday. While 22 teams have begun the journey to the Summoner’s Cup, LoL enthusiasts can enjoy esports experiences not limited to just watching the matches. League of Legends, or LoL, is one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arena games. Held at Korean tourism publicity center HiKR Ground in Jung-gu, central Seoul,