As part of efforts to introduce a well-known Korean folk song to global audiences, a competition on “Miryang Arirang” is being organized by Miryang City and the Miryang Cultural Foundation. “Miryang Arirang” is one of the three major versions of “Arirang,” along with “Jeongseon Arirang” and “Jindo Arirang.” Although the date of its creation is unknown, records show that “Miryang Arirang” was sung at marches by independenc

Some of the most powerful forces in nature are volcanoes and the hot molten lava which flows from the Earth’s mantle, often hundreds of kilometers deep underground. The Earth’s inner core is almost as hot as the surface of the sun at an estimated temperature of nearly 5,500 degrees Celsius. The hot molten lava, known as magma, bursts out of the Earth’s surface from time to time. The openings where such eruptions occur are called volcanos. As the molten lava snails around the

“Most government officials today seem to have the intention of stepping down, rather than to fulfill the responsibility of their posts. I am concerned that certain selected group of people monopolize political authority in this political situation.” Kim Jang-Saeng (1548-1631), who studied the principle of “Yehak (Study of Rites)” which were regarded as a crucial part of Korean Neo-Confucianism during the Joseon era, expressed anxiety about separatist politics of the tim

If you are a fan of traditional liquors, pack your bags this weekend for a trip to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Traditional liquors of Korea, China and Japan are being showcased at the 2022 East Asia Traditional Liquor Festival, held at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center, until Sunday. The four-day festival will have tastings and workshops, as well as outdoor performances. At the promotion center, visitors will be able to try some of the most popular liquors from

Yoo In-taek, head of the Seoul Arts Center, sees the potential of “gagok” -- a genre of Korean vocal music with poetry -- as many feel nostalgic for the nearly forgotten genre of music in South Korea. “We have a 100-year history of gagok, which may be remembered by the older generations. Some 15 million people from the older generations have nostalgia about gagok they used to learn in class and hear in their childhood. We are planning for performances of gagok targeting tho

BUSAN -- The home of Busan International Film Festival, Korea’s first international film festival, is hoping to cement its position as the country’s top cultural city with the opening of Busan Content Market 2022. Returning as an offline event for the first time in three years, BCM 2022 showcases Korean content to the global market. The event will also explore the rising popularity of the metaverse, artificial reality, high-tech media-based convergence and many other things includi

A month on from the opening of Cheong Wa Dae to the public, guidelines for visits and use of the Blue House compound was issued Tuesday by a special team under the Cultural Heritage Administration, spelling out activities that are banned on the former presidential grounds. Foods that generate large amount of wastes, such as melons, and soups, including cups of instant noodles, cannot be brought inside. Visitors who damage or harm facilities, cultural properties, animals, plants or other things

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Answer: c Like in other countries, there are family names in Korea that can be traced back to royal lineages or aristocrats, known as “yangban,” during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). For example, a person with the last name Kim originating from Gimhae is part of the Gimhae Kim clan. This person can theoretically be descended from the bloodline of the ancient Geumgwan Gaya

A series of guided tour programs to royal tombs of the Joseon era (1392-1910) will be conducted starting next Monday to Nov. 7, the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center announced Tuesday. The program titled, “Wangneungcheonhaeng,” which means “a thousand ways to travel the royal tombs,” will offer 23 tours led by a number of experts in the field. There are five themes under the program which include two to three royal tombs, palaces or

Humor has been the essential grease that nourishes life’s joy for ordinary Koreans. Among many humorous Korean music and performing arts, Andong Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori, or the Hahoe mask dance, gives performers the courage to say and do a multitude of outrageous things at the expense of the social elite. Nine surviving masks from the Goryeo Kingdom, some 900 years ago, combine to make National Treasure No. 121. They represent the monk, nobleman, scholar, butcher, bride, Bune the ente

“If my appeal to the king is improper, hit my neck with an axe.” Jo Heon (1544-1592), who came to Seoul from Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, appealed to the king in front of the palace for three days to behead the Japanese envoy who demanded that Joseon make way for the Tokugawa shogunate -- the military government of Japan -- going to war against Ming Dynasty China. While most government officials were uncertain about what to do, Jo, with an ax, voiced his opinion fearlessly

One of the new government’s core commitments underscored was to “return Cheong Wa Dae to its citizens” promptly, but a month into its term, roles are yet to be defined of the former presidential office’s current and future usage. In the meantime, another outdoor event is expected to be held at Cheong Wa Dae, following the KBS’ “Open Concert” on May 22, this time, an hourlong solo performance stage with Neflix. Singer Rain will hold a performance for N

This weekend is your last chance to take pictures with the cute, charming characters of “Yumi’s Cells” at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul. Celebrating the arrival of the second season of tvN’s hit romantic comedy, the Meeting Plaza in Olympic Park is decorated with beloved characters from “Yumi’s Cells.” Ranging from the love cell and emotional cell to the rational cell, the unique characters catch visitors’ attention not only with their

From K-pop to K-dramas, Korean cultural products are gaining popularity worldwide -- but little is yet known about Korean craft arts outside of the country. Kim Eun-bi, 35, founder and CEO of Middle Studio, believes that the field of traditional crafts has the potential to gain as much spotlight as other already popular cultural products. Kim founded Middle Studio in 2017, and launched the Chi brand of everyday items and fashionwear inspired by traditional Korean crafts and culture. Working wi

When the grand opening of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games unfolded, it wowed viewers with various spectacular scenes, including 1,217 drones in the air and hundreds of South Korean snowboarders in light-emitting jumpsuits who slid down the slopes with the drones flashing above them. There was also a controversial feature: Inmyeonjo, a mythological bird with a human face that often appears in ancient tomb murals of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Some viewers were disappointed when watching