Rapper-turned-actor quashes ideas of returning to Big Bang, but hints at solo music Choi Seung-hyun, formerly known as rapper T.O.P from K-pop juggernaut Big Bang, marked his return to the screen after an 11-year hiatus in season two of "Squid Game." Previously embroiled in a scandal following a conviction for marijuana use that led to a 10-month suspended jail sentence in 2017, Choi's journey back to the limelight may be a tale of self-reflection. In the newest season of "Squid Game," Choi port

The two-person exhibition featuring Sangin Kim (born 1980) and Sangyoon Yoon (born 1978) is being held at Gallery Joeun in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, until Feb. 15. The two artists explore a multidimensional worldview by infusing a dreamy and romantic atmosphere into their pieces. Additionally, using an unplanned, primal visual language and an original painterly style, they present a fantastical world that one might have dreamed of. In this exhibition, "Impromptu Fantasies," visitors can experience the

With the Lunar New Year approaching, shopping platforms are rolling out enticing promotions, helping customers find the perfect gifts and lock in big discounts on popular items Many shopping platforms are introducing special Seollal promotions ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, curating the best gifts for loved ones. Musinsa, one of the largest online fashion platforms in the country, has announced a major discount event running through Jan. 30. The Musinsa 2025 Seollal Big Sale will

Sixty percent of surveyed Koreans prefer attending movies or cultural events in person, and they spend an average of 187,000 won ($127) per month on leisure activities, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, surveyed Korean nationals’ attendance at cultural and arts events. It found that 63 percent of respondents engage in these activities in nonvirtual formats. The rate of in-person attendance at cultural events has steadily increased

Fan favorites '42nd Street,' 'Kinky Boots' return South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is set to revive a string of beloved musical classics this year. Returning after five years, the musical "Werther," based on Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther" and revolving around the story of Werther's sublime love for Charlotte, will feature a a star-studded cast that includes Um Ki-joon, Jeon Mi-do, Yang Yo-seob, Kim Min-seok, Lee Ji-hye and Ryu In-ah. Having premiered in 2000, the musical has been

Hong Kwang-ho, Kim Soo-ha shine as best actor and actress, 'Hadestown' takes home six awards The musical "Il Tenore," or "The Tenor" in English, won the Grand Prize at the 9th Korea Musical Awards ceremony held at the Universal Arts Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Monday. Premiered in Seoul in 2023, the musical tells the story of a medical student aspiring to become Korea’s first opera tenor during the 1930s Japanese colonial period. Inspired by the real-life story of Lee In-sun (1907–1960), the n

Short-form dramas, films show possibilities of untapped market in Korea Short-form video is already popular globally, including in China and the United States. It has tremendous potential in Korea when paired with the production expertise of K-drama creators to make short-form series, industry officials said Tuesday. PulsePick, a streaming platform specializing in servicing short-form series which soft-launched last December, announced a series of upcoming originals during a media event in Gangn

'Blockcore' trend drives fashion companies to partner with sports teams Sports teams are the latest collaborators with the fashion industry, as clothing companies seek access to the teams' loyal fan bases. By sponsoring the teams, the fashion industry hopes to turn loyal fans who collect official uniforms and merchandise into potential consumers. On Monday, Adidas announced an official sponsorship agreement with the KBO's Doosan Bears, unveiling the baseball team’s new uniform. Adidas also recen

Shin Hyun-joon pays tearful tribute to late co-star Kim Soo-mi At Monday's press event for "Thunderstruck Cop" at CGV Yongsan in Seoul, emotional tributes to the late actor Kim Soo-mi overshadowed the typical prerelease discussions. "Mom always hoped this would open during Lunar New Year," said Shin Hyun-joon, who consistently referred to Kim as "mom" throughout the conference ― a testament to their bond forged through multiple on-screen mother-son pairings. Kim, who passed away in October at 75

Jung Jae-wal aims to make the Seoul-based orchestra as competitive as the city, fully backing SPO Artistic Director Jaap van Zweden To become a leading ensemble capable of competing with the Berlin Philharmonic: This is the ambitious goal announced by Jung Jae-wal, the new CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, during a press conference Monday. "Seoul ranks sixth on the Global Power City Index. It is inevitable for an orchestra in such a city to be equally competitive," said Jung, 60, in layin

'Placing respect, compassion and humanity above any ideology,' says German film director What does it truly mean to understand another human being? This is the question that lies at the heart of the Korean stage adaptation of “The Lives of Others,” currently running at the LG Arts Center. Based on Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s acclaimed 2006 German film -- which won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film -- the production marks actor Sohn Sang-gyu’s directorial debut. Set in

'Fearless Draft' employed to offer fans dynamic viewing experience The world of League of Legends esports in Korea is set to evolve with the launch of the LCK Cup. The event will be held at the LCK Arena in LoL Park, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, beginning Wednesday. One of the most defining characteristics of the 2025 LCK Cup will be the "Fearless Draft" rule, which prevents players from selecting characters already used by the opposing team in the next match. This rule was previously im

Goethe-Institut Korea is ringing in the New Year with a special discount of 25 percent on all of its online German language courses from January through February. As a leading institution for German language education and cultural exchange, Goethe-Institut Korea offers a variety of courses for all proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Students can take a personalized level test to determine the most suitable course, with classes designed to balance listening, speaking, reading

Booker-shortlisted author's second English-language book delves deeper into science fiction themes Internationally acclaimed South Korean author Bora Chung’s science fiction collection "Your Utopia" has been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the award organizers announced Friday. Translated by Anton Hur and published by Algonquin Books, "Your Utopia" is among six candidates for the 2025 award, which honors distinguished science fiction works published in paperback original form in the US d

The two-person exhibition “Pluto,” featuring Juree Kim (born 1980) and Gyungsu An (born 1975), is currently on display at Museumhead in Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Jan. 25. An, who works with paintings, and Kim, who creates sculptures, have consistently explored themes of "death" and "the dissolution of life" as they manifest in various forms within the urban environment. The exhibition reflects on the contradictions of a city that overlooks the pervasive presence of death, constructing scenes withi