Sep 22, 2018   Culture

[Herald Review] Musical Matilda packs fun, wit, impressive visuals

“Matilda,” the Korean production of “Matilda the Musical,” provides ample doses of what you would expect of the Tony-winning musical, from witty banter, funny and likeable characters to satirical comedy just black enough to still pass for a children’s story.The musical, based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, focuses on brilliant but mistreated girl Matilda, who endures obstacles in her life from her ignorant and obnoxious parents to her principal Miss Trunchbull. (Yonhap)It basically

Sep 21, 2018   Travel

[Herald Interview] Trekking on sacred Paektusan highlands

During a trekking tour of North Korea’s Paektusan highlands in August, Roger Shepherd and his team of international travelers hobnobbed with North Korean guides -- hiking, pitching tents, making campfires, cooking and eating together. Two Australian women and two Norwegian men traveled with Shepherd, a Kiwi professional hiker and travel writer, on their maiden trip to the Korean Peninsula’s tallest mountain, 2,750 meters above sea level, considered the sacred cradle of the Korean people since ti

Sep 21, 2018   Travel

[Weekender] Planning your Chuseok escape

Don’t get stuck at home during fall break

Sep 21, 2018   Travel

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Yangyang Songi Festival (Pine Mushroom Festival)The Yangyang Songi Festival offers programs that allow visitors to enjoy Yangyang songi mushrooms that naturally grow on the Taebaeksan Ridge.Activities include a mushroom-picking program for foreigners, a songi treasure hunt, concerts and traditional rice-cake making.The festival runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, and is open to visitors of all ages, free of charge.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, visit yangyang.go.kr.Jeju

Sep 21, 2018   Fashion

Korean heritage graces modern runways

Rookie designers embrace hanbok elements in unexpected ways

Sep 21, 2018   Expat Living

[Weekender] The Chuseok experience: It all depends on the family

Foreign spouses share their experiences on spending Chuseok with their in-laws

Sep 21, 2018   Culture

[Weekender] Central Asians celebrate Chuseok at ‘home away from home’

During the Chuseok holiday, many Koreans gather to honor ancestors, reconnect with family members and eat festive meals together. But for non-Koreans, the holiday is different: Many family members live abroad, and more plainly, it lacks cultural significance. This year, the Korean traditional holiday begins Sunday and runs through Sept. 25. Many Korean restaurants and businesses will be closed, with some resting one or two days in addition to the designated days. Even the most bustling streets a

Sep 21, 2018   Food

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Art of afternoon tea at Grand Hyatt Seoul The Gallery at Grand Hyatt Seoul, in collaboration with local artist Choi Jeong-hwa, is presenting a promotion titled “ARTernoon -- Your Heart is My Art.”In line with the ongoing exhibition “Choi Jeong-hwa: Blooming Matrix” held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s branch in Samcheong-dong, the pastry chefs have created a collection of culinary art pieces, inspired by the artist’s works, such as tea-bag shaped cookies and mini opera ca

Sep 21, 2018   Travel

Marriott targets local market with low premium strategy

Global hotel chain Marriott International will open three more hotels in Korea, in response to growing demand from middle-class tourists.The hotel chain’s portfolio is divided into three tiers: luxury, premium and select-service. Hotels in the select-service tier aim to provide guests with a high-quality experience at a reasonable price.  A penthouse room at Four Points by Sheraton Gangnam (Mariott International)Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft Hote

Sep 20, 2018   Arts&Design

Experience ‘Night at the Museum’ during Korea Art Week

What happens inside closed museums and art galleries at night has always evoked curiosity, with the Hollywood film series “Night at the Museum” highlighting such interest. Visitors will get to experience many national and public art spaces at night as part of Korea Art Week, a nationwide annual art event held to promote “Art in Life.”The art week runs from Oct. 2 to 14, with night events at museums slated to take place between Oct 5 and 6.  Korea Art Week (Korea Art Week) Kim Do-il, president of

Sep 19, 2018   People

Experts put heads together to tackle climate change at Peace BAR Festival 2018

A panel of experts including leading sea ice scientist Peter Wadhams gathered in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss the growing threat of climate change on the opening day of Peace BAR Festival 2018 at Kyung Hee University.The 37th Peace BAR Festival began in the run-up to the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on Friday, with peace and climate change set to take center stage during the event. Kicking off the three-day academic event, professor Wadhams, who is visiting Korea for the first time,

Sep 19, 2018   Arts&Design

Seoul Design Cloud to promote city as design hub of Asia

Seoul is promoting itself as Asia’s leading design hub with a series of design-related events.Hosted by the Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul Design Cloud, a mega design event comprising Seoul Design Week, Seoul Upcycling Week and Seoul Fashion Week -- different from the biannual fashion event -- kicked off Monday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.“With Dongdaemun Design Plaza as the center, Seoul’s design will take a leap. And Seoul Design Cloud will show the way,” Choi Kyung-ran, the head of the Seoul D

Sep 19, 2018   Food

Michelin to announce latest stars of Seoul next month

The third edition of Michelin Guide Seoul will be released on Oct 18. Michelin Guide Seoul 2019 will be revealed at an award ceremony at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, in southern Seoul. This year’s ceremony will be held under the theme of “Journey to Passion,” paying homage to passionate chefs and food connoisseurs. Since its launch in 2017, the Seoul guide has had two three-starred restaurants and four two-starred restaurants. A total of 18 restaurants have earned one-starred status. The

Sep 18, 2018   Culture

[Trending] Rescued puppy Injeolmi gets 800,000-plus followers, meets celeb

A cute puppy named Injeolmi has stolen the hearts of pet lovers throughout Korea, thanks to photos posted on social media that garnered explosive popularity. The 2-month-old female pup, whose breed has not yet been determined, has a black nose, short legs and two black eyes with double eyelids. Injeolmi and actor Kwak Dong-yeon (Kwak`s Instagram)The puppy was rescued from a ditch near an apple farm in August, and the farmer’s daughter began taking care of the young animal. As a new pet parent, s