Savoring traditional Korean soju requires five steps, similar to wine tasting. You have to look at the color, smell the aroma, sip and hold it in the mouth for several seconds before letting it slide down the throat and enjoying the slowly spreading scent inside the nose and throat. “A good soju is soft and makes you smile,” said artisan Kim Taek-sang at his brewing studio at Samcheong-ro in Jongno, central Seoul. Kim, who was named Seoul Intangible Cultural Asset No. 8 in 1990, has carried on t

Director of the World Jewelry Museum Lee Kang-won remembers vividly an Ethiopian woman she saw 37 years ago in the corner of a local market in Addis Ababa. The woman, dressed in a white cotton dress, was wearing a meticulously detailed, “ultramodern looking” silver necklace. Her necklace captivated Lee, who had just arrived in the country. “Her necklace was breathtaking,” said Lee, in an interview last month at the museum in Hwa-dong near Samcheong-dong.The handcrafted silver necklace was the wo

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, urban oasis in the heart of city Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is an award-winning urban resort located in the heart of South Korea’s capital. Overlooking the lush greenery of the Mount Namsan, it is the ultimate place to fully enjoy the serenity and privacy offered by the resort. The 21-story hotel is designed to offer relaxation and comfort with only four guest rooms on each floor. Each guest room is equipped with the hotel’s signature Relaxation Pool and other lux

The winning team of Herald Design Tech 2015 and CEO of Herald Corp. Lee Young-man (second from left) pose at the award ceremony on Tuesday in Seoul. Lee Sang-sub/The Korea HeraldA team of three university seniors won the top award at Herald Design Tech 2015, the design-meets-technology contest co-organized by Herald Corp. and Seoul Design Foundation. The team won the competition with their innovative adhesive portable recorder “Spicki,” which can be carried around easily to record any sound. The

Technology and art, which seem to be from two different worlds, have been increasingly interconnected as the two fields merge to create unexpected innovations and push each other’s boundaries. Two figures standing on the opposite side of the technology-art spectrum ― founder of Pixar Alvy Ray Smith and media artist Lee Lee-nam ― spoke about successful convergences of the two fields in the seventh session “The Collaboration of Pixel and Art” at the Herald Design Forum 2015 on Tuesday in Seoul. Al

As Seoul has a reputation for trendy men whose devotion to fashion and skin care tops in the world, menswear collections by Seoul-based designers are some of the must-see shows at the ongoing Seoul Fashion Week.  Beyond Closet (left), Helch es Helch (SFW)Here are the highlights of menswear shows from Friday to Sunday. Munsoo KwonOne of the hottest emerging menswear designers in the Korean fashion scene, Munsoo Kwon presented light, sporty looks for the 2016 spring-summer season Saturday.Inspired

When the Korean government announced the biggest-ever hike in cigarette prices last year, smoker and artist Kim So-cheol and his friends decided to take action: They decided to make cigarettes on their own. They planted seeds of the two most popular tobacco plants ― Virginia and Burley ― on the rooftop of Kim’s small house in Mapo-gu, western Seoul. In four months, the plants grew as tall as Kim. “It started as a response to the government’s decision to raise tobacco prices,” Kim told The Korea

Innovative design products of emerging young designers in Korea will go on display at Hi Design Festival from July 3-5 in Seoul. The festival, co-organized by Herald Corp., publisher of The Korea Herald, and shopping mall Hi Brand, offers young designers a chance to market their creations directly to customers, while inviting visitors to participate in open do-it-yourself making sessions. Various eye-catching products will be up for sale on the first floor of the Hi Brand mall and on the outdoor

Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri (Cultural Heritage Administration)A vast historic site that belongs to the ancient kingdom of Baekje is expected to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, becoming Korea’s 12th item on the coveted list. A motion to inscribe it is scheduled for a final vote at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee on July 4 in Germany, following a recommendation from the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration

Models present creations of Korean designer Juun.J during the 2016 spring-summer collection during Paris Fashion Week on Friday. Inspired by naval uniforms, the collection, held at Palais de Tokyo, presented 36 pieces that spun a new interpretation on classic tailoring by incorporating wool and denim into oversized silhouettes. The Juun.J show was attended by some 600 fashion experts, including major buyers from SAKS New York, Paris’ Galerie Lafayette and London’s Harrods. Juun.J has been partic

Five Koreans became eligible to vote in the Oscars, as the academy added new members, the Korean Film Council said Saturday. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited Korean filmmakers Im Kwon-taek and Bong Joon-ho and actors Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik and animator Kim Sang-jin of Walt Disney as part of a group of 322 new members in an attempt to increase the diversity of its members. “It’s gratifying to acknowledge the extraordinary range of talent in our industry,” said Cheryl Bo

“Dansaekhwa”/By various authors (The Grenfell Press) Amid the emerging interest in Korean monochrome paintings in the global art world, an in-depth examination on Korean abstract art has been published in English this week. The book titled “Dansaekhwa,” written by multiple art experts, traces the roots of the Korean monochrome painting movement called “dansaekhwa” and its historical context and developments in ideas and expressions. It also offers individual examinations of seven leading dansaek

A digitized collage of tattooed body parts assembled by artist Kim Joon is strikingly shocking to many viewers. Different body parts ― a torso, an ear, a leg and thigh and a finger ― are tattooed and juxtaposed in aesthetic harmony, prompting both awe and curiosity. In a country where tattoos are not yet widely accepted as a way to express oneself, Kim has been making artwork featuring various tattooed body images since the beginning of his artistic career 20 years ago. He creates images of bodi

French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac opened his first art exhibition in Asia with a dynamic, spontaneous painting performance Thursday in Seoul. On white clothes a model was wearing at Seoul’s Blue Square, the designer started drawing bold black lines. In a couple more strokes, the plain clothes were turned into a pop art piece boasting a newly created animated character.  French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac holds a painting performance that celebrates the opening of his f

Many Polish artists created works intended to raise the morale of fellow citizens after their country lost independence in 1795 to Russia, Prussia and Austria. During this tragic time of history, master painter Jan Matejko reminded Poles of the historical glories of Poland to elevate their spirits. Chopin borrowed melodies from Polish traditional dance and created great piano pieces, mazurkas and polonaises. Such art pieces reflecting the strength and spirit of Poles throughout its turbulent his