[Photo News] Korea gears up to celebrate Buddha's birthday

With Buddha's birthday falling on Monday this year, South Korea geared up for the celebrations on Sunday. Lotus lanterns are hung around Jogyesa, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, which is situated in central Seoul. On Sunday, children participated in a "Buddha bathing" ritual, traditionally held on the eve of Buddha's birthday. One can pay his or her respect to Buddha and celebrate his birth by bathing a statue of baby Buddha. Calligraphy artist Kim Dong-wook performed a ce

May 4, 2025

Be bold, be you, be colorful with nail art

Nail art is no longer just about adding a little color to one's life. As tastes and cultural perceptions of expressing one's self shift, nails have become a bold canvas for individuality. In recent years, celebrity nail art has also been on the rise. Rapper Cardi B's signature stiletto jeweled nails show off her glitz and glamour and help build her bold image. Challenging outmoded gender norms, singer Lee Hong-ki of boy band FT Island is also famous for showcasing his unique sense of style throu

May 3, 2025

Stroll across Han River in car-free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival

The annual Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival returns this month, inviting Seoulites to unplug from their routines and enjoy car-free strolls across the Han River. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival will run every Sunday from May 4 to July 22 near Jamsu Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park, both in Seoul. Each Sunday, approximately 1.1 kilometers of Jamsu Bridge -- the submersible bridge spanning the Han River -- will be closed to traffic from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., transforming the s

May 2, 2025

For first time, SeMoCA holds Buddhist-themed embroidery exhibition

In celebration of Buddha’s Birthday, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) is presenting South Korea’s first and largest Buddhist-themed embroidery exhibition, showcasing traditional works and treasured artifacts rarely available for public viewing. Buddha’s Birthday, celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, falls on May 5 this year. Titled “Weaving Devotion – Sacred Stitches Leading to Nirvana,” the exhibition offers a rare look at traditional embroidered “Kasaya,” Buddhist mona

May 2, 2025

Museum Week kicks off with nationwide programs

The annual Museum Week kicked off Friday, with museums and galleries across the country launching a wide range of programs aimed at reimagining the evolving role of museums in modern society. This year’s theme, “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” was announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which has organized the event since 2012. A variety of exhibitions and hands-on experiences are scheduled to run through the end of May. Among the featured programs is “M

May 2, 2025

Korea to showcase works at London Craft Week

For the first time, Korean artisans are taking part in London Craft Week, running at The Lavery in London’s South Kensington from May 2-18. Under the title “Objects of Beautification,” 82 works by artisans are on display with the support of the Korea Heritage Service. The everyday items include letter openers, vases, brooches, leather pouches and quilted silk scarves, among others. These works have been developed through collaboration between traditional artisans and contemporary designers, acco

May 2, 2025

Seoul to host inaugural 'MyK Festa' in June, showcasing full spectrum of hallyu

Fans of Korean cultural content and global entertainment industry leaders will converge in Seoul this June for the first-ever MyK Festa, a large-scale festival celebrating the Korean Wave, or hallyu, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. Co-hosted by the ministry and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the four-day event will run from June 19 to 22 at Olympic Park and surrounding venues in southeastern Seoul. Designed as a comprehensive celebratio

May 1, 2025

In first, Korean museum looks at Oceanian cultures

The National Museum of Korea has opened an exhibition on Oceanian cultures, the first attempt by a Korean institution to focus on regions in the South Pacific spanning the East and Western hemispheres. “Mana Moana: Arts of the Great Ocean, Oceania” looks through some 180 items from the 18th century like canoes, the high-priority survival object essential to the Maori people, New Zealand’s Indigenous population. Gloves adorned with shark teeth, hooks in the shape of human faces and headgear made

May 1, 2025

Inside the Kinjaz journey: From viral dance crew to Korea’s choreography scene

Seoul is no stranger to dance trends, but when two of America's most influential choreographers land in the city at the same time, it feels like something bigger is happening. Mike Song and Anthony Lee, co-founders of the iconic Asian American dance crew Kinjaz, are back in Korea -- not just to visit, but to shape the country’s rapidly evolving dance culture from the inside out. Sitting down over beers for an episode of Werkhours, a podcast series by StudioH at The Korea Herald, Song and Lee sha

May 1, 2025

Embassy of Egypt expands interaction with Korean public through art

Khaled Abdel Rahman, Egypt’s ambassador to South Korea, sees a distinguished similarity between the two countries — a huge river that runs through the country, the Nile in Egypt and Han River in Korea. “We say the river Nile is the gift to Egypt, and here you also have the Han river. That was why there was civilization in Korea and Egypt,” the ambassador said during the interview on Wednesday at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort. “Water means you can have agriculture, and when you have agriculture, you

April 30, 2025

Ancient Egyptian history bro alive in immersive digital show

The immersive exhibition “Egyptian Pharaohs, From Cheops to Ramesses II” travels back in time to the era of the Pharaohs to shed light on ancient Egyptian civilization, which spanned more than 3,000 years. The 36-minute digital immersive installation at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort's Theatre des Lumieres, which kicks off Thursday, encompasses 10 themes related to ancient Egyptian history, art and myths. The narrative is first led by Scottish watercolorist David Roberts (1796-1864) who set out on a

April 30, 2025

Joseon royal archive home reopens to public

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — A museum dedicated to historical records from the Joseon era (1392-1910) has reopened following a 10-month renovation, with a focus on outreach to community. The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty houses the original “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” and “Joseon Wangjo Uigwe.” “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” documents 472 years of Joseon’s history chronologically from 1392 to 1863, highlighting the accomplishments of Joseon kings, from the first king, Taejo, to the 2

April 30, 2025

'Weak Hero: Class 2' tops Netflix's non-English series chart

"Weak Hero: Class 2," a drama focusing on school violence, topped Netflix's weekly non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. Starring Park Ji-hoon, Ryeoun and Choi Min-yeoung and based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the Korean action drama garnered 6.1 million views for the week ending Sunday. Joining it in the top 10 were five other Korean TV series: "Heavenly Ever After" at No. 5, "Resident Playbook" at No. 6, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" at No. 7 and "The Hau

April 30, 2025

Jeonju Intl. Film Fest kicks off 26th edition with 224 films

The Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea's premier platform for indie and art house cinema, kicks off Wednesday featuring 224 films from 57 countries. The 26th edition of the annual festival will begin its 10-day run with an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, located about 190 kilometers south of Seoul. Following the ceremony, the Romanian film "Kontinental '25," directed and written by Radu Jude, will open the festival, JIFF said. The comedy-drama film d

April 30, 2025

14th century book stripped of treasure status after theft revealed

The Korea Heritage Service on Tuesday said it is revoking all administrative decisions related to the national treasure designation of the book Daemyeongryul (The Great Ming Code), due to the illegal acquisition of the ancient text by the museum director who applied for its designation. The decision to cancel the book’s status as a national treasure comes years after a 2022 court ruling confirmed that the text had been stolen and sentenced the museum director to three years in prison. A KHS subc

April 29, 2025