On Friday evening at Greek Joy, a Greek restaurant in Seoul’s Hongdae, six women and a man got together. They had never met each other before. But it didn’t take long for them to gossip, giggle and converse pleasantly. Red, white and rose wines were served with vegetable soup. Meat skewers were paired well with a strong red. They had gathered through online community Zipbob (homemade meal), wh...

Craftsmen and their works are increasingly at the vanguard of the promotion of Korean culture, with an exhibition in Saudi Arabia being the latest example. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the month-long “Hidden Match ― An Exhibition of Korean Craft” kicked off on Thursday at the Saudi National Museum with 34 artists featuring 106 sets of items. This is the first time a ...

Priceless national and royal seals from the Daehan Empire (1897-1910) have been seized in California by U.S. authorities. When they are returned, which could be as early as next June, the artifacts will be the most valuable items of cultural heritage to be repatriated to Korea to date, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Wednesday. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement...

The 42-year-old Space Group headquarters building in central Seoul, widely hailed as Korea’s best modern structure, is likely to be registered as a cultural heritage, authorities said Wednesday. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the 224.56-square-meter building designed by legendary architect Kim Swoo-geun (1931-1986) between 1971 and 1977 will be reviewed for registration as a...

The arts can be more than “condiments” such as welfare policies or marketing opportunities for businesses. They can become an engine for innovation and development in an organization, a group of academics and businessmen claimed Tuesday. They urged more Korean organizations to adopt “artistic intervention,” which involves artists at all levels, from human resources management to strategic planni...

It is no wonder that a tale of fiery yet innocent romance between a young, naive soldier and a sultry gypsy touches the hearts of many Koreans. “Carmen,” the tragic love story of exotic dancer Carmen and Don Jose by Prosper Merimee, was named the most-loved opera in a National Opera survey in 2012. From November through December, the story and music will be reinterpreted on three very different ...

The National Theater Company of Korea has released a compilation of three Korean plays translated into English, titled “Three Plays.” The 150-page book features the well-loved plays Bae Sam-sik’s “March Snow,” Ko Yeon-ok’s “The Master Has Arrived,” and Park Geun-hung’s “Red Bus.” The book also contains commentaries written about the writers’ lives and works by honorary professor at Pennsylvania ...

A gilt-bronze cap from the 9th Tomb at Sinchon-ri (National Treasure No. 295) and gilt-bronze accessories and shoes as well as silverware from Bogam-ri, which are both located in Naju, will be highlighted in the first exhibition hall. Also on exhibit will be a gilt-bronze headpiece from Andong Tomb in Goheung, a nearby county; earthen vessels discovered at Haenam; and other items that show activ...