DMZ Peace Train Music Festival 2020 will be held June 12-14, across Seoul and near the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas. Launched in 2018, the popular music festival takes place at five venues in Seoul and near the Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, promoting peace between South Korea and North Korea.  As in previous editions, the festival will feature Goseokjeong, a pavilion in Cheorwon, as the main venue, and will welcome a diverse selection of musicians

Celebrities in Korea are making donations to help people fight against the spread of COVID-19 across the nation. On Friday, actress Yum Jung-ah donated 100 million won ($82,200) to Green Umbrella Child Fund Korea to help purchase masks and hand sanitizers for children in need. Singer-turned-actress Yoona, members of K-pop band Red Velvet, and singers Kang Daniel and Zico also made donations to the cause. 　　 On Thursday, singer-songwriter IU donated 100 million won each to nonprofit organi

Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeouido, Seoul, the biggest church in Korea, will stop its Sunday services starting this weekend out of concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.  A megachurch with around 560,000 followers, Yoido Full Gospel Church said Friday that it had made the decision to halt its Sunday services out of concern for the safety of its followers and the wider public. On Thursday, the church said it would not halt its Sunday worship services, but would downscale the seven-ses

South Korea’s largest cinema chain CJ CGV said Thursday it will temporarily shut down its screens in the Daegu area from Friday. 　 Due to the rapid increase of the COVID-19 infections in Daegu, the nine CGV outlets in the area will temporarily be closed due to concerns about the safety of customers and staff, CGV said on its webpage. The cinema franchise said reserved tickets will be canceled automatically and it will further notify about the reopening dates. By Im Eun-byel (silvers

Time for whiskey at Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residences presents “Mr.Tipsy” whiskey promotion at its lobby lounge Gourmet Bar. The promotion features five samplers from two leading whiskey labels, Johnnie Walker and Diageo Classic Malts. The five samplers present different varieties of whiskeys in small portions, allowing guests to discover their own taste in whiskey. The sampler price starts at 34,900 won. For more informati

Seokchonhosu Lake Cherry Blossom Festival The annual Seokchonhosu Lake Cherry Blossom Festival will take place April 3-12 this year. Seokchon Lake in southeastern Seoul is recognized for beautiful cherry blossom trees surrounding the lake. In addition to the sights, a variety of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities will also take place during the festival period. The lake is easy to approach by public transportation, situated at about 200-meter distance from Jamsil Station. F

HAENAM, South Jeolla Province -- Most Koreans have heard of Haenam county’s Ttangkkeut (end of land) Village, the southernmost end of the Korean Peninsula. Many visit the village on Dec. 31 to watch the last sunset or first sunrise of the year. But there is more to Haenam than that yearly ritual. It offers beautiful mountain landscapes and delicacies of Jeolla Province, making the more than four-hour drive from Seoul worthwhile. Plain yet sacred Buddhism beauty  Mihwangsa is hi

Opera is often considered far-off from reality -- featuring aristocrats, princesses and talking animals. But the Korean opera scene is striving to produce original shows that resonate with a wider audience. Usually written in German or Italian, operas can be difficult to understand, even with translated lyrics, as they often feature stories that premiered in the 1700s and 1800s. However, more opera productions are tackling contemporary topics these days. Original productions written in Korean

With the COVID-19 alert level raised to the highest “red” level, the performing arts scene has been struggling, as theaters have sat empty of audiences and performances. According to the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System, managed by the Korea Arts Management Service affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, performing arts theaters’ ticket sales from Feb. 1 to Tuesday recorded 18.4 billion won ($15.15), nearly down to half of the same peri

With new artistic director Nam Jeong-ho at the helm, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company has announced its 2020 season program, featuring dances inspired by diverse subjects, from primitive rituals to artificial intelligence. At “Opening,” the first production to open 2020, the national dance troupe will feature two dances -- “Beyond Black” and “The Rite of Spring” -- from April 17-19 at the Seoul Arts Center.   “Beyond Black,” cre

The “2020 Craft & Design Exhibition” is showcasing the craftworks of 21 artists and teams at the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong, central Seoul, until the end of the year. The Korea Craft & Design Foundation chose 12 rookie artists, six veteran artists and three collectives.  The rookie artists, defined as craftsmen under the age of 40, are recognized for their innovative and experimental works. Pottery, hanji (traditional Korean paper), jewelry and fabric craftworks crea

Cultural events and venues were dealt a blow over the weekend by the surge in coronavirus cases here, with performances being canceled. On Saturday, the 2020 Music in PyeongChang (MPyC) event, also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, canceled its remaining concerts from Sunday, as five coronavirus infections were reported across Gangwon Province. Despite worries about the coronavirus, the festival, which began Feb. 9, had initially continued with its plans, saying it would ensure th

Spring flounder returns to Millennium Hilton Seoul Genji, within Millennium Hilton Seoul, presents a spring promotion for March and April featuring flounder. Flounder, a variety of flatfish considered a great delicacy, is enjoyed in spring. The five-course set menu starts off with egg custard as an appetizer, followed by a spring vegetable salad with flower cake, and flounder sashimi. Mugwort hotpot cooked with flounder and abalone follows, accompanied by steamed rice and Japanese pickles.

Gurye Sansuyu Festival The Gurye Sansuyu Festival, an annual spring flower festival, runs March 14-22 in the Jirisan hot springs area. Major attractions include an exhibition of local products made with “sansuyu” (cornus fruit) as well as fireworks and traditional music and dance. Admission is free, and the festival is open to visitors of all ages. For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, visit www.gurye.go.kr. Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival The Jindo

  While more people around the world are starting to appreciate Korean food -- or “hansik” in Korean -- a basic understanding of true Korean food is necessary for all Koreans, says the Ven. Sunjae, head of the Korean Food Promotion Institute. Since April 2018, the Buddhist nun, known as a master of temple food, has been leading the state-funded institution. “Some questioned why a Buddhist nun was appointed to the position. It is true that I joined the Buddhist order 40 y

Baritone Kim Ju-taek, also known as Julian Kim, is a singer recognized beyond the Italian opera scene, even by non-classical music audiences in Korea. Kim is to perform in opera concert “Barber of Seville” in March, as part of art management agency Arts&Artists’ opera concert series.　 He is exceptionally attached to the opera piece as he made his official debut as Figaro in “Barber of Seville” at Teatro G.B. Pergolesi in Jesi, Italy in 2009, Kim, 33, said. &

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off a new beginning over the weekend with Mahler’s symphony “Resurrection,” under the baton of new music director Osmo Vanska. Vanska, 67, was appointed as SPO music director last May. On Friday and Saturday, the Finnish conductor held his inaugural concerts at the Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul, presenting Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Resurrection.”   From the very start, the maestro was bold. Instead

Kang Eun-il’s upcoming concerts seek to remind all daughters that they are precious. The artistic director of Seoul Donwhamun Traditional Theater is a renowned player of haegeum, a traditional Korean two-string instrument. She is also recognized for her crossover music featuring haegeum. On Saturday and Sunday, Kang will present five new original works in concerts titled “Ancient Futures: Stories of My Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother” at Arko Arts Theater in Seou

The former Seoul Station building -- now Culture Station Seoul 284 -- has been transformed into a hotel complex for an exhibition. With the building symbolic of Korea’s shift to modernity, the exhibition “Hotel Express 284,” organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, highlights the venue as a place where voyages start.  Foreigners flooded into Seoul after the opening of ports in thelate 19th century. Their need for accommodation marked the beginning of hot

Strawberry desserts at Mayfield Hotel With spring just around the corner, Mayfield Hotel’s Royal Mile presents the Strawberry Afternoon Tea set until April 30. The set features eight berry-themed desserts, such as tiramisu, tarte, macarons, sandwiches and scones. Guests will also be offered two different varieties of Tavalon tea. Priced at 53,000 won, the set will be available daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or reservations, call Royal Mile at (02) 2660-9050. Swe