Period: Joseon era Dimensions: 180 × 104 cm (Hanging scroll painting), 117.8 x 68.2 cm (Image) Materials: Silk Artist: Presumably Chae Yong-sin (1848-1941) In this portrait, Emperor Gojong is seated on a throne while wearing a winged cap, called ikseongwan, and a royal robe known as gollyongpo. He is the 26th ruler of the Joseon era (1392-1910), crowned after the establishment of the Korean Empire in 1897, which explains the use of the yellow robe. The painting bears no inscription identifying i

For designer Chang Eung-bok, Korean traditional patterns are not meant to remain on museum walls. Over four decades, Chang has taken Korean patterns and translated them into textiles, furniture, household objects, and interior spaces. "Equinox," which opened Tuesday at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, traces her journey connecting traditional crafts with contemporary design and everyday life. "As a designer, I took the virtues and the techniques from Korean craft and, through concepts and modern r

ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province — From ancient crafts to radical contemporary practice, ceramics take center stage across Gyeonggi Province this fall. The 2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale brings artists and ideas together across the cities of Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju through Nov. 1. Organized by Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Ceramic Foundation, the biennale is Korea's only international ceramics art festival. Now in its 13th edition, it explores clay and earth not simply as raw materials, but as act

The Incheon Innovation Cluster has expanded its global branch network to 11 hubs through agreements with institutions in Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania, and Kazakhstan. The new agreements seek to meet local industrial project needs through research and development. The IIC, directed by Professor Lee Hee-kwan of Incheon National University, signed memorandums of understanding with four institutions: Capital University in Egypt, the Climate Finance Center in Kyrgyzstan, the Tanzania Commission for Sc

Calls to boycott JM Solution have spread online since Sunday, following renewed attention to its alleged ties to former BigBang member Seungri. An online post pointing out Seungri's alleged ties to the K-beauty brand sparked criticism, with some users questioning the appropriateness of a figure convicted of sexual crimes being associated with a business targeting women. Daiso, South Korea's budget-friendly retail chain, serves as one of JM Solution's major offline retail channels. Its skincare p

An exhibition featuring works from the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's collection will open at the British Museum in London on Oct. 1, tracing 2,000 years of Korean history to contemporary art. "Korea: 2,000 years of creativity" is jointly organized by the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The exhibition features collections Lee's family donated to Korea's national museums after he died in 2020. The exhibition brings together 79 works com

For 23-year-old university student Jeon Eun-seul, dressing up as a museum artifact for the National Museum of Korea's annual costume contest was her "last chance" for a memorable final chapter of her senior year. Then, she won. "Let's become a carp," Jeon thought to herself as she put on the blue makeup, she said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Saturday. "I thought, 'I can show everything about myself with courage, in front of anyone.'" After advancing through the preliminary rounds, Je

The National Museum of Korea held the finals of its nationwide artifact costume contest Saturday, bringing together 25 finalist teams dressed as cultural artifacts from different periods and regions of Korean history. Participants in the “2026 Dress Like a Museum Exhibit” gathered at the museum in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with some traveling from as far as Gyeongsang and Chungcheong provinces. Some contestants painted themselves in gold and carried handmade artifact costumes measuring more than two me

Korea’s beloved, chewy rice cakes are stepping into a new era as makers reimagine the traditional treats with unexpected flavors, playful forms and contemporary recipes designed to win over a younger generation. Among the latest creations is pizza seolgi, a savory take on the traditional steamed rice cake known as seolgi tteok, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, olives and pepperoni. Young people have flocked to Jeil Tteok at Seoul's Myeonmok Market, after word spread that the viral sn

With Korea’s Thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok, just around the corner, the season for gift-giving is in full swing — and this year, traditional Chuseok staples are getting a contemporary makeover. Fruit and meat remain perennial favorites for the harvest holiday, while nuts, cooking oils, seafood and everyday foods such as Spam continue to fill gift boxes. But for those looking beyond such familiar choices, this year’s offerings bring something different. A new crop of specialty gift sets is reimag

Katseye's members have unfollowed Ed Sheeran on Instagram, following rapper Macklemore's removal from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's "Loop" tour after he voiced support for Palestinians during his opening performance. Fans noticed Tuesday that Katesye's Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae no longer followed Sheeran on Instagram. Fans also noted that Lara and Megan liked a post Macklemore shared after he was removed from the "Loop" tour, while Lara added Macklemore to her following list

With an extended Chuseok holiday approaching, cultural attractions across Seoul are preparing special programs for families and friends looking to spend time together. This year's Chuseok holiday runs Sept. 24-26, with the break extending through Sunday, Sept. 27. Many cultural sites will close on Chuseok Day, Friday, Sept. 25, but remain open on the other days, offering a range of special programs. Most of the programs are free of charge. Here are some cultural spots where visitors can experien

Period: Early Iron Age Materials: Metal — copper alloy Dimensions: L. 13.5 cm Designation: Treasure 1823 Early communities of the Korean Peninsula first began using metal objects during the Bronze Age, 10th to 4th century BCE. These early metal objects were made of bronze, an alloy consisting of copper and smaller proportions of tin, zinc, and lead. Producing bronze objects was a complex process that required molds, so only the most elite members of a society could own them. Thus, such objects s

Amorepacific Museum is presenting Sol LeWitt, a pioneer of conceptual art, bringing together a range of his works, including structures, paintings, prints and archival materials, as well as wall paintings that continue to be recreated according to instructions left by the artist. "Sol LeWitt: Open Structure" covers the American artist's practice over nearly five decades, from his early open cube structures to the later works featuring more varied colors and forms. Organized in collaboration with

Unauthorized copies of BTS’ “Swim” single are being sold on Chinese online shopping platform Temu, a Korean professor said Wednesday, calling the practice an obvious violation of intellectual property rights. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, said in an Instagram post Tuesday that he confirmed the sale after receiving reports from BTS’ fanbase, ARMY. He shared a screenshot of a sales post advertising the single on Temu. “BTS’ ‘Swim’ single is only sold through official