For many expats in Korea, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is like a home away home. More than 86,000 foreign nationals from 107 countries are registered to be living in the city about an hour’s drive west of Seoul. The city claims the highest foreign population density in Korea. Wongok-dong, especially, is heavily populated by foreign residents, with around 21,000 expats from 57 countries. In May 2009, the area was designated a Multicultural Village Special Zone. Expats from China, Indonesia, Nepal, I

Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. - Ed. Tteokbokki (Lee So-jung / The Korea Herald)In the heart of Seoul there is a “town” for tteokbokki, the beloved finger-sized rice cakes stir-fried in a thick, fiery red sauce. Dubbed “Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town,” indicating its location near Si

For the next two weeks, the capital city will be filled with classical music as the Seoul Spring Festival returns. The 14th edition of the annual event began Tuesday and continues through May 4. Led by violinist Kang Dong-suk, the festival takes place this year in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province under the theme of “Music & Gastronomy.” Linking culinary culture with music, each performance features a theme related to gastronomy. For instance, performances are titled “Starter,” “Continental Cuisine,”

Soprano Sumi Jo, a star in Korea’s classical music scene, recently released the album “Mother,” dedicated to her mom. The 57-year-old is one of the most beloved sopranos in Korea. She has won a Grammy award and released more than 40 albums across a wide spectrum of music since her debut in 1986 in Korea. “I dreamed of making an album for all the mothers in the world,” Jo said at a press conference held Tuesday at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas.  Soprano Sumi Jo poses for photos during a pre

Film director Bong Joon-ho’s new work “Parasite,” slated to compete at Cannes this year, features two ordinary families in different situations. Bong’s new film has been included in the 2019 Cannes Film Festival’s feature selection, marking the director’s second time competing for the Palme d’Or, following “Okja” in 2017. “Parasite” (CJ ENM)Film director Bong Joon-ho speaks during a press conference for “Parasite,” held at The Westin Chosun Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap) Film director Bong Joon-ho sp

As part of the promotion for its Templestay programs – one- and two-day events featuring hands-on programs related to Buddhism and the related culture – the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation is launching special packages that include transportation options. As Korean temples are often located at remote mountains, it is often not easy for individuals, including foreign tourists, to visit the establishments on foot or by public transportation. Taking note of the situation, the foundation, in cha

Back to ’80s at Seoul Dragon City Seoul Dragon City will launch Newtro Night party at its lounge bar King’s Vacation on April 26. Newtro is a compound word of “new” and “retro,” referring to retro-inspired trends of now. For the party, the lounge bar will be decorated under a retro-mood. The music playlist will be filled with tracks from the ’80s and ’90s. The dress code is, of course, retro and the staff members will be dressed in a similar manner. The party will go on from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. A D

During the 2019 Royal Culture Festival, visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the lifestyles of Joseon royals at Seoul’s five historic palaces. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Wednesday it will be hosting the annual festival under the theme of “Today, We Meet the Palace” from April 27 to May 7 at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung. This is the first time that Gyeonghuigung has been included in the event. Various programs and activities

WONJU, Gangwon Province -- Located in the high mountain valleys of Gangwon Province, Museum San offers more than just art. It also invites visitors to experience its verdant natural surroundings. A recent change to the museum may motivate more visitors to embark on the two-hour drive from central Seoul -- a new meditation hall designed by the famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando has finally opened.Ando, who also designed the 72,172-square-meter museum, was commissioned to design the new hall to m

Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. - Ed.Jjukkumi Street in Yongdu-dong, central Seoul (Lee So-jung/The Korea Herald)Yongdu-dong is not a well-known area of Seoul -- not even for local residents of the capital. It is not a tourist destination and it is certainly no hip neighborhood. Non

In March, Southeast Asian media flocked to Jeju Island on multiple occasions. One was a visit by Malaysian singer Wany Hasrita to film her new music video. During a five-day stay in mid-March, videographers captured the beauty of the island, including the canola flowers of Sanbangsan, Seopjikoji and Woljeongri Beach. In the video the singer wore hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, rented from a local shop called Miya’s Closet. Net.TV Indonesia crew members pose for photos in hanbok. (The Planet

The preliminary lineup for the 2019 Jisan Rock Festival, slated to take place from July 26 to 28, was announced Friday, including some of the most prominent bands here. Guckkastens, Monni, Galaxy Express and Huckleberry Finn are some of the names announced by the organizers. The second lineup, including major foreign musicians, will be revealed May 3. The festival will be held at Jisan Forest Resort in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, an hour’s drive southwest of Seoul.This year marks the first editio

Spring has finally arrived in Korea, with cherry blossoms forming pink clouds above streets. The Yeouido area in western Seoul is a popular destination for enjoying cherry blossoms, especially Yunjung-ro, a 1.7-kilometer road lined with cherry trees. The annual Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival attracts a large number of visitors each year. (Yonhap) (Yonhap) (Yonhap)Another must-visit spot is Seoul Forest in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. Though it is not as densely populated with cherry trees as Ye

Italian tapas night at Park Hyatt Seoul Park Hyatt Seoul’s Italian restaurant Cornerstone presents a “Italian Tapas Bar” promotion.The promotion centers around chicchetti, an Italian practice of serving small snacks or side dishes similar to Spanish tapas. Two plates of chicchetti can be ordered at 34,000 won, three at 48,000 won and four at 58,000 won. If a diner orders four plates of chicchetti, two glasses of Italian rose sparkling wine will be provided. Other varieties of Italian wine can be

Following the success of music-related shows “Hidden Singer” and “Phantom Singer,” cable channel JTBC is launching a new audition show, “Super Band.” With its creators lamenting a lack of music by rock bands in Korea, the new Friday night show aims to form a band with the final contenders. The production team is looking into a nationwide or world tour for the band. “Music cannot be created solely with the voice. With the past shows, we asked ourselves why we could not see the entire process of m

“At Dusk” by novelist Hwang Sok-yong, a prominent Korean writer, failed to make the final cut of six for this year’s Man Booker International Prize.Though the novel was included in the longlist of 13 books announced last month, it was excluded from the shortlist, the award’s website showed Wednesday. Originally published in Korean in 2015, “At Dusk” centers on a successful Korean architect looking back on his life and a young theater actor who works part-time jobs to make a living. The English-l

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- For a foodie, enjoying fresh seafood is a must when lounging near the coast. A visit to the southern port city of Tongyeong, a four-hour drive from Seoul, is a chance to devour a wide range of seafood. Tongyeong is like no other port city here. It has many small islands nearby, and the surrounding waters are warm and shallow. Despite its abundance of fresh seafood, Tongyeong is perhaps best known for chungmu gimbap -- finger-sized rolls of cooked rice serv

Though the beginning was small, things ended up much bigger than expected for fashion designer Paul Smith. It sometimes is still hard for the designer to believe what he has achieved. The celebrated designer’s first store in Nottingham, which opened in 1976, was 9 square meters. It was only open Fridays and Saturdays, as he had to work another job the rest of the week to make his living. Seven years after opening the shop, Smith went to Paris with a small collection of clothes. But he didn’t hav

Designer Paul Smith’s world of fashion will visit Korea via an upcoming exhibition. Co-hosted by the Seoul Design Foundation and Design Museum of London, fashion exhibition “Hello, My Name is Paul Smith” is slated to take place this summer at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. “The exhibition is very open and honest,” the 72-year-old designer said, during a press conference on Monday.  Designer Paul Smith speaks during a press conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul on Monday. (Seo

Sweet treats at Park Hyatt BusanPark Hyatt Busan‘s modern French restaurant Living Room presents Ballerina in Paris dessert buffet.The buffet is filled with a variety of pink-colored desserts, themed under the concept of a ballerina in Paris. Unlimited amounts of sweets, including cupcakes, pear tart, baked cheesecake, macarons, seasonal fruit tarts and chocolate grissini, are offered. Living Room’s dessert buffet is available at lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or at dinner hours from 6 to 10