Photo exhibit captures 40 years of Hallasan A photo exhibition is currently underway in Insadong in downtown Seoul that showcases the past 40 years of Hallasan Mountain, Jeju’s iconic ancient volcano. It consists of around 40 works by Shin Yong-man, a photographer who has dedicated his life to capturing the island’s beauty. The…
A must-go in December: the Huirisan recreational forest As we enter December and approach the end of the year, everyone needs a moment to catch their breath and to reflect on the year past. One of the best spots to visit this December is the Huirisan Mountain Nature Reserve & Recreational Forest located…
Korean, French art centers join forces on design The Institute of Asian Cultural Development, part of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Le Consortium, a Dijon-based modern arts center in France, have decided to cooperate on the design of the Asian Culture Complex, a multipurpose arts center slated to open…
Ritual for gods of earth, harvest to be revived King Taejo (r. 1392-1398), the first of the Joseon kings, upon founding the new dynasty ordered built two sacred buildings on either side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main hall where kings carried out political affairs. There was the Jongmyo Shrine to the east and…
Young artists from around the world gather in Seoul The passion of young, promising artists from around the world will be on display at a festival in Seoul. At the World Cultures 2014 celebration, scheduled to take place from December 10 to 14, people can appreciate art programs recommended by six cultural centers…
Ryukyu Kingdom special exhibition opens In November 1500, the ancient kingdom of Yuguguk (유구국, 琉球國), a chain of islands located far to the south and east of the Korean Peninsula, dispatched an envoy to the Joseon court. The envoy delivered a message to the Korean monarch. It reads: “King Sangjin of the Jungsanwang…
Pompeii comes to life after 2,000 years The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79, covered Pompeii and the residents who could not escape with an almost 4-meter thick pile of ash. In the first century, the Roman Empire city was a port city near Naples with 20,000 people. However, after…
‘Dokdo is the proper name’ Representative Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said on December 6 that “Dokdo” is the proper name to refer to Korea’s easternmost islands. Royce is known to have said that, “We have to understand history and what abuses occurred, because it is…
First British memorial to Korean War veterans unveiled in London Some 60 years after the Korean War (1950-1953) ended, a memorial has now been unveiled in London to remember the sacrifices of the British soldiers. The unveiling ceremony was held outside the Ministry of Defence in the Victoria Embankment Gardens near the Thames…
Gugak jazz mesmerizes Berlin audiences Joyful or sometimes plaintive, the singular tones of jazz fill the concert hall. The audience shouts, “Bravo,” as exotic sounds are made by the sad melody of the daegeum, a large bamboo flute, of the haegeum, a fiddle-like stringed instrument, and of the drums and saxophone. This…
