For the next three months, an exhibition at the National Museum of Korea will look at how the first 200 years of Joseon (1392-1910) formed what is quintessentially the Korean identity today through exceptional artworks. The exhibition “Art of Early Joseon: Masterpieces from the 15th and 16th Century” illustrates the initiative and vibrancy the Joseon people projected as they fostered what would become Korea, according to Kim Jae-hong, the NMK director general, during a preview tour Monday. “Jose

Starting Monday, the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens will be taking place at Seoul’s Coex for five days. Themed “Education for Change: The Role of Botanic Gardens in Addressing Global Challenges,” over 1,600 participants comprising practitioners, curators, academics, researchers and teachers from some 51 countries have gathered for the event, which takes place every two to four years. “With the accelerating dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, it is mo

In short-term lodging, experience could matter just as much or more than the spaces themselves, which is why a collaboration with a K-pop group such as Seventeen is rewarding, according to Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. At a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, the vacation rental platform CEO recalled working with K-pop group Seventeen last year, a project Chesky said had proved to be hugely popular with not only Seventeen fans, but Airbnb travelers as a whole, because of the unique

A 17th-century house in Korea home to Confucian scholars and independence fighters will be named National Folklore Cultural Heritage. According to the Korea Heritage Service, Samsan House of the Jeonju Ryu clan in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, is significant in that it has kept a shrine for prominent Confucian scholars like Ryu Jeong-won, nicknamed Samsan. He taught Crown Prince Sado, the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon (1724-1776). The house also was a birthplace of at least 10 freedo

Through June 22, hydrangeas of 200 different varieties in full bloom will be the highlight at the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The Secret Garden, one of the many gardens and trails at Morning Calm, touts a hydrangea field at its peak, with elaborate installations making for photo opportunities. The garden is open year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission for adults is 11,000 won with discounts for children. Catch a glimpse of what 19th-century life looked like on Je

Summer starts at the beach. This rings truer than ever now for Koreans, caught off guard by an exceptionally hot morning last month that recorded 23 degrees Celsius, the highest morning temperature for that month in 118 years. The unusual climate condition has sent officials at beach towns from Incheon to Busan scrambling to open up their hot spots as early as late this month. First in line is Haeundae Beach, known for its white sand, shallow waters and calm waves. The beach along the east coast

A coalition of leaders representing seven major religions in South Korea called on President Lee Jae-myung to work on healing the deeply divided nation as he took office Wednesday following a snap election. In a statement, the Korean Council of Religious Leaders — including the heads of Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant organizations — said Lee faced the daunting but pressing task of bringing the country together, replacing Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office in April after declaring mart

Bullomun at Changdeokgung, one of the most visited gates at the Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul, will be shut down while undergoing repairs. According to the Korea Heritage Service, the stone gate, built to wish the king a long and healthy life, has sustained damage from climate conditions, necessitating conservation work. “The last time we brought in our conservation experts was 20 years ago, and it’s time we did that again,” a Korea Heritage Service official said of the repair plans. “I

The Samcheok Rose Festival is nearing its end as visitors hurry to make their last-minute stops at the 10-day festival ending Sunday at Samcheok Rose Park in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. The annual event, launched in 2016, features some 220 rose varieties, showcasing 10 million roses at their peak. The world’s largest rose festival drew over 350,000 visitors last year.

A space promoting Korean culture, from K-pop to beauty, opened Thursday at Incheon Airport’s Terminal 1 transportation center. The state-run Korea Tourism Organization launched HiKR Station, featuring different areas for creating K-pop-focused YouTube shorts using extended reality technology, taking photos against the backdrop of Korean landscapes and trying Korean makeup. “The zone isn’t just about promoting everything that’s Korean. It’s where we strategize delivering the best impression of Ko

The annual art fairs Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul will both start at Seoul’s Coex on Sept. 3, running four and five days, respectively. According to the Galleries Association of Korea on Friday, Frieze Seoul will host some 120 galleries from over 30 countries, including New York’s Gagosian Gallery, Switzerland’s Hauser & Wirth, Hong Kong’s 10 Chancery Lane Gallery and Korea’s Gallery Hyundai. A Frieze Masters section will focus on art from antiquity to the 20th century, and Focus Asia will introd

Try crossing the pedestrian bridge spanning 410 meters across the canyon of the Hantan River in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The Hantangang Garden Festa runs through June 15, inviting everyone to its trails, gardens and food trucks. Half of the 6,000 won admission will be returned as a voucher that can be used at nearby restaurants. The annual Jamsu Bridge Festival invites everyone to a riverside stroll on the bridge spanning across the Han River and connecting to the nearby Banpo Hangang Park. T

The neighborhood surrounding Anguk Station on Seoul Subway Line No. 3, where traditional Korean landmarks sit right alongside modern buildings, is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. And if you feel like picking up a small souvenir to remember the day, there’s a spot worth stopping by. Zero Space Bukchon, which opened on Oct. 9 last year, is the chain of brick-and-mortar stores of design studio Zero Per Zero. In addition to the Bukchon location, the brand also operates stores in Mapo-gu, S

Meditation has long been a source of spiritual and mental comfort. It’s just a question of doing it well. “How to do just that is a question I’ve been asked numerous times,” said the Ven. Bogak, the templestay director at Jogyesa, the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea. Buddhism is the mother of all meditation, Bogak said. That thinking, long shared within the Jogye Order, has prompted it to roll out a new templestay program focusing on “seon m

The annual Heritage Week will kick off Friday, hosting programs engaging the public to raise awareness of Korean heritage. At over 400 locations from Seoul to Jeju Island, municipalities will showcase their cultural items or practices of exclusive historic significance, according to the Korea Heritage Service, the agency that has been organizing the free event since last year. “It’s an immersive experience open to people as young as grade schoolers,” a KHS official said. At the “Building Your Ow