Today   Book Review

Fair to introduce Korean books to Vietnam

The Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) is hosting a book fair Tuesday and Wednesday in Hanoi, Vietnam.The outreach event aims to promote Korean books, publishers and publishing content in the Southeast Asian country. Prior to the event, participating agencies were required to send information to local buyers and set the date for business-matching talks, in an effort to improve the quality of talks and increase the possibility of deals being signed. Around 24 Vietnamese p

Today   People

Song-Song couple divorces without division of property: Song Hye-kyo’s agency

Actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo have finalized their divorce, as the court approved the divorce settlement Monday.The settlement comes one month after Song Joong-ki filed for divorce from Song Hye-kyo at the Seoul Family Court. According to Song Hye-kyo’s agency UAA, there will be no division of property or settlement money.The two tied the knot in October 2017 after meeting as the co-stars of hit TV drama series “Descendants of the Sun” in 2016.By Im Eun-byel (silverstar

Jul 22, 2019   People

Song Hye-kyo, Song Joong-ki’s divorce final: court

Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki’s divorce was finalized at a Seoul court Monday.The two settled their divorce at a closed-door hearing held at 10 a.m. Monday at Seoul Family Court. The hearing lasted for about 20 minutes, a court official said. Their divorce was granted 26 days after the petition was filed June 26. Both cited irreconcilable differences as the reason. Korean law allows a marriage to be dissolved without a trial on the condition of mutual consent.The divorce settlement did no

Jul 22, 2019   Culture

2019 IYF World Culture Camp wraps up

The 2019 IYF World Culture Camp, the largest cultural camp for undergrads worldwide, ended its two-week run Thursday at Namdong Gymnasium in Incheon.  The camp is International Youth Fellowship’s annual event that offers a wide variety of programs, with the aim of offering education and introduction to Korean culture to students from around the world.The 22nd edition of the cultural event kicked off in Busan on July 7, with some 4,000 participants from about 60 countries. Programs for

Jul 20, 2019   People

Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn shares epiphany through photo exhibition in Korea

Joe Hahn of US rock band Linkin Park is holding a photo exhibition titled “Carry On” in Korea, in which he will be showcasing memorable moments.“Carry On” is a collection of photos that Hahn took during the band’s most recent world tour “One More Light” in 2017. Around 70 photos capture the moments that band members connect with fans on stage.  Prior to the official exhibition, the Korean-American musician held a pop-up event on Thursday at culture

Jul 19, 2019   Travel

[Weekender] Palaces, fortress and historic sites at night

Seoul’s royal palaces are beautiful by day but they are even more stunning by night.  On top of the beauty of centuries-old architecture majestically illuminated in darkness, the serene atmosphere in contrast to the modern skyscrapers beyond the palace walls offers a surreal experience. Nighttime visits are only allowed on selected dates and for a limited number of people at some of Seoul’s five palaces from the Joseon era (1392-1910).Gyeongbokgung, the most popular of the five,

Jul 19, 2019   Culture

[Weekender] Better at night

Guide on what to do on summer nights

Jul 19, 2019   Food

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Summer treats at Grand Hyatt Seoul 　Grand Hyatt Seoul presents summer desserts to beat the heat.Mango coconut bingsu and green tea bingsu are being offered at 38,000 won. They can be ordered at lounge cafe Gallery and all-day buffet restaurant Terrace. The hotel’s bakery Deli presents homemade soft-serve vanilla and chocolate ice cream, with 15 different toppings available at 500 won each. Ice cream served in a cone costs 4,500 won and 9,500 won in a cup. For more information, call Grand H

Jul 19, 2019   Travel

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

1. Everland Summer Water Fun Held annually since 2005, Everland’s summer festival is back with a variety of programs, such as water shows, light shows and other fun activities. It is open to visitors of all ages. For more information in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, visit www.everland.com. 2. Hangang Summer Festival The Hangang Summer Festival, also called the Hangang Mongttang Festival, is a large-scale riverside cultural event. It consists of about 80 pr

Jul 19, 2019   Travel

Tracing the footsteps of democratization in Gwangju

GWANGJU, South Jeolla Province -- Geumnam-ro in Gwangju’s Dong-gu district is a street just like any other, bustling with cars and people going on with their lives and whatnot. Walk past Geumnam-ro Park, past the YMCA building, and you will find the Asia Culture Center. Right beside it stands an old battered building once used as the office of the provincial government. You have just traced the footsteps of the citizens who rallied against the paratroopers, armed with tanks and machine gun

Jul 19, 2019   Food

Michelin star-winning chefs go to luxury hotels

With 26 restaurants boasting highly coveted Michelin stars, Seoul’s fine dining scene is definitely on the rise. Streets in posh neighborhoods of Seoul are dotted with eateries serving cuisines from around the world. By comparison, the restaurant scene in hotels seems to have lost its luster. Up until the 2000s, hotel restaurants were where one headed here for the upscale, fine-dining experience. But today, star chefs at independent restaurants are the trendsetters leading the fine-dining

Jul 19, 2019   Food

Half the guilt, double the pleasure

Halo Top, a ‘better for you’ ice cream brand from US, lands in Korea

Jul 19, 2019   Culture

Communal dipping, ‘a wartime eating habit with health consequences’

Chopsticks and spoons digging into the same dish are not an uncommon sight at Korean dining tables.　Bowls of rice are served individually, but “banchan,” or side dishes, and “jjigae,” or stew, are often served communally, meant to be shared.　Sharing stew from the same pot is not considered good table manners here, but many forego the ladle and small bowls that come with the stew, dipping their spoons directly into the pot.　But this seemingly customary practice is not actu

Jul 19, 2019   Arts&Design

Former MMCA curator acquitted of defaming late artist Chun Kyung-ja

The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of a former curator at the MMCA who was accused of defamation of the deceased but later acquitted, the court said Thursday. The former curator, identified only as Chung, is one of six MMCA officials who were sued in 2016 by the daughter of the late artist Chun Kyung-ja. Chun’s daughter Sumita Kim accused Chung of defaming Chun, as well as copyright infringement, in connection with the painting “Beautiful Woman.”Chung was ch