Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and biologist, widely recognized for his contributions to evolutionary biology, published “The Origin of Species” in 1859. More than 160 years later, Darwin’s theory of evolution is still meaningful to us, said Professor Choe Jae-chun, a renowned expert in the field who received his doctorate in evolutionary biology from Harvard University. “Freud, Marx and Darwin are often cited as scholars who changed the 20th century. Among them, D

An exhibition featuring photographs of the Demilitarized Zone, led by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Hyungwon Kang and six student photographers, will kick off at the Omae Gallery in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Friday. In the exhibition titled “Forgotten DMZ,” Kang and six students from Joongbu University studying photography teamed up to capture the remnants of the war as well as the nature that ironically survived on the stage of an armistice. The seven went to Camp Greaves, a former US

The first part of Changdeokgung's biannual “Moonlight Tour” program will kick off on April 13. Foreign language guided tours will also resume after a three-year hiatus. The “Moonlight Tour” at Changdeokgung is a nighttime program where visitors can enjoy an evening stroll around the royal palace holding “cheongsachorong,” or a traditional lantern to light the way. Changdeokgung was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The guided tour is organi

Famed ballerina Kang Sue-jin has been reappointed artistic director of the Korean National Ballet for the fourth consecutive term. “I’ve got a lot on my shoulders,” said Kang at a press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center, Seocho-gu, on Wednesday. “I have put in my best efforts so far, but I will continue to work with the dancers, members and staff to make the Korean National Ballet develop and soar in the international scene.” Kang joined the Stuttgart Ballet

Veteran singer Hyun-mi has died at the age of 85, according to local police Tuesday. The president of Hyun-mi’s fan club found the singer collapsed on the floor in her home in Ichon-dong in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Tuesday morning. She was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. Yongsan police are currently investigating further details, but have not found any evidence of criminal or suspicious circumstances. Hyun-mi, whose original name is Kim Myeong-seon, was born in

The third edition of the “Next Step” series of the National Dance Company of Korea, which aims to support emerging choreographers, is scheduled to unveil its final works in late April. Three choreographers selected in October last year -- two from the NDCK and one from outside of the organization -- have since been developing their own dance choreographies through comprehensive workshops with mentors from various fields including stage design, costume design, choreography and perform

“Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better” By Ahn Woo-kyoung, translated by Kim Bo-ram Next Wave Media Step one: Watch a dance clip of BTS’ 2019 megahit “Boy with Luv” -- just six seconds of the easiest choreography moves over and over again. You can watch a slowed down version if you want. Step two: Now it’s your turn to do it. Do you think you have the dance down to do it yourself? In one of her classes at Yale, psychology professor Ahn Woo-kyoung c

“Shatter” By Gu Byeong-mo Wisdom House In Gu Byeong-mo’s bestseller “The Old Woman with the Knife,” a 65-year-old female assassin named Hornclaw struggles to accept that she is past her prime -- she remains a ruthless and efficient killer. But everyone must have a beginning. In this short story, “Shatter,” a prequel to the thriller-action, readers get a glimpse of Hornclaw’s past and how she was trained in her teens by an unnamed man to become the

“The Bookstore of Illusion” (working title) By So Seo-rim Happy Books To You In So Seo-rim’s debut novel “The Bookstore of Illusion,” a mystical world is introduced where a mysterious bookstore can only be found by those who are lost. Here, there is no need to buy a book, plus the owner offers stories to listen to. After a rejection from a publisher while pursuing her dream of becoming an author, Yeon-seo climbs up a mountain to clear her head. Lost in her thoughts,

South Korea will receive the spot light as the Country of Focus at the 2023 Brisbane Writers Festival, scheduled to take place May 10-14, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. Founded in 1962, the literary festival is held every May in Brisbane, Australia. The Country of Focus program, initiated in 2022 with Aotearoa/New Zealand and Pasifika, celebrates a particular country or region within the Indo-Pacific region. Bora Chung, the author of “Cursed Bunny,” who w

New performances created with support from the Arts Council Korea will be released through Naver’s TV Live through July. A total of 20 works to be streamed include plays, musicals, dance, music, opera and traditional performances from the 28 works that were selected for the Arko Selection and staged at Arko Arts Theater and Daehakro Arts Theater in Jongno-gu. “The Designer of the Labyrinth,” a play available on April 25, centers on three different characters whose lives intertw

As Korean entertainment and culture continue to captivate audiences worldwide, Korean literature is also gaining momentum in the English publishing market. Major international publishing house Bloomsbury recently bought the rights to Hwang Bo-reum's bestseller "Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop," while HarperCollins bought the rights to Kim Ho-yeon's "Uncanny Convenience Store," which sold over a million copies in Korea. In April, English editions of bestselling K

A travel memoir, "The Korean Book of Happiness," by a New York-based literary agent who has represented big-name Korean writers such as Han Kang and Shin Kyung-sook overseas, hit the shelves on March 2, published by Short Books, an imprint of the Octopus Publishing Group. Barbara Zitwer shares her insights and experiences with Korea -- which boasts a flourishing culture while also upholding the ages-old principles of “han” (resilience) “heung” (joy) and “j

In 2020, the traditional Korean music-inspired band Leenalchi took the nation by storm with its music for a series of tourism promotion music videos, “Feel the Rhythm of Korea,” created in collaboration with Ambiguous Dance Company and Korea Tourism Organization. The band has since also gained a global fanbase, completing an international tour last year. What most fans may not know, however, is that the band is named after Lee Nal-chi, a pansori master and "jultagi (tightrope wa

The National Contemporary Dance Company of Korea is scheduled to premiere “Caveae,” an experimental dance that has been two years in the making, in April. The word, “caveae,” is Latin for dark empty spaces and cavities such as holes or hollow caves. The dance explores the space of theater, where artistic ideas and experiences overlap. Instead of being seated in the seats, the audience of some 200 people will be moved to the stage where 39 dancers will perform. As the audi

A kind of underground “refrigerator” which is believed to have been built in the Baekje Kingdom (18 BC to AD 660) has been unearthed at a site in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Friday that it confirmed two low-temperature storage facilities made of stones at a construction site at Seodong Historical Park, at Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si. The two excavated units of similar sizes were located side by side. The facilities were both equipped with v

Some 120 books about Korea from the 1700s to the 1960s written by Westerners are on display for the first time at the Gallery Korea, Korean Cultural Center New York. Titled “The Wonder Unbound,” the exhibition is part of “Asia Week New York” celebrating Asian art in New York City, organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Asia Society. The books were selected from a collection of 1,350 books by Lee Seung-chul, an art professor at Dongduk Women’s University

For those who still love to handwrite their schedules on paper, or decorate their planners with colored pens and stickers, the small stationery shop All Write may be worth a visit. Located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul -- a 10-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station Exits No. 1 and No. 2, All Write is a store that doesn’t stand out in the calm, quiet neighborhood of Cheongunhyoja-dong. There is no sign or fancy entrance. Rather, the shop welcomes visitors with small potted plants. Unlike the

A reenactment of the Joseon Kingdom's royal guard appointment ceremony will take place at Heungnyemun Gate, the second inner gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Titled “The King Chooses His Palace Royal Guard,” the guard appointment ceremony event will be performed by some 200 people -- including 160 actors, 20 dancers and 20 musicians -- who will reimagine the ceremony based on historical records. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), a royal guard unit called t

The Literature Translation Institute, Korea’s Translation Academy is accepting applications for the 2023 academic year, which begins this August. The academy offers a two-year program in the translation of Korean literary and cultural texts such as films and webtoons, into seven languages -- English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. About 70 students will be accepted -- about 10 students per language. The classes for the 15-week semester will be held in person at the