The joys of photography in Korea: when you’ve got a camera in your hands, anything can happen I never knew I would fall in love with photography when I came to Korea almost seven years ago. What started out as a simple hobby has turned into one of my greatest passions. Being a…
‘Nongak’ added to UNESCO list Exuberant sounds, dizzily swinging heads and colorful parades are a common scene associated with nongak, a form of traditional farmers’ music that has now to be inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the recent ninth meeting of the Committee…
The shifting of Korea’s mobile social media Closed social networks such as Naver’s Band are gaining popularity. The current population of South Korea is close to 50 million, and smartphone owners make up 74 percent of that. Among Koreans in their 20s, smartphone ownership stands at 98 percent. What are the most used…
“Get a taste of this.” Jeong Gwang-u, owner of Lotto Fisheries in the Tongyeong Jungang Market, shows off a red seabream for sashimi on November 24. “Get a taste of this.” This is something that every visitor hears when they visit the Tongyeong Jungang Market. Everyone from taxi drivers, to average citizens and…
Best of ASEAN festivals to be held on summit sidelines A wide variety of cultural offerings related to ASEAN countries will take place at many venues across the country in celebration of the 2014 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit scheduled for December 11 and 12. The ASEAN-Korea Center, an inter-governmental organization established with…
Mado 1 launched 800 years after sinking An ancient cargo ship sank after it was launched from Mado Island off the west coast of Korea some 800 years ago during Goryeo times (918-1392). The cargo ship was full of goods to trade, including pieces of blue celadon and food to be sent to…
Korean literature in English: Windflower A poet keeps her eyes on a windflower as it bends its back near a grave. “Intimate with those in despair, grown old,” says the poet, while portraying the purple breath of the flower with the words, “Windflower into your purple the sun reclines.” The cover of ‘Windflower,’…
Ingres to Kandinsky: a look at 100 years of Western art history The Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, will host the exhibition “Ingres to Kandinsky” starting November 25, organized by the Phillips Collection. “The Small Bather” was painted in 1826 by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.…
Korean film via stamps: the unfaltering love of ‘Chunghyanngjeon’ ‘Chunhyangjeon’ (1935) is directed by Lee Myeonwoo and produced by Gyeonseong Productions. (image courtesy of the Korea Post) The film “Chunhyangjeon” was released in 1935. It was the first Korean film to have sound added to the motion picture, made by Gyeongseong Productions.…
Cross-country exploration, part 1: Tongyeong, a city of military, music and the arts Tongyeong, a southern coastal city of Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province), is known for having been the childhood home to many historic figures, artists, musicians and literary people. Their roots are concentrated alongside Gangguan Port, the city’s main harbor. Turtle ships,…
