Suseong Light Art Festival, Daegu The fourth edition of the Suseong Light Art Festival started Dec. 9 and runs through Jan. 2, 2023 at Suseongmot Lake in Daegu. Ranging from a school project created by Light Art School students from 5 to 19 years old to works from professional artists, the festival is set to display various creations to entertain visitors. A total of 300 light-bearing drones will present a light art show and hands-on activities for the tourists of all ages will be prepared as we

Top movie star Choi Min-sik did not hide his excitement at his return after 25 years to the small screen in Disney+ noir series “Big Bet.” His last television drama was MBC’s “Love and Farewell” (1997-1998). “I decided to star in ‘Big Bet’ because I really missed TV dramas,” Choi said in a press conference at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on Wednesday. The veteran actor explained he wanted the opportunity to work on a project featurin

Female characters, who were once limited to men’s sidekicks, lovers or mothers in TV series, are making a splash with powerful women leading this year’s Korean drama trend. As more Korean actresses tried to break the country’s stereotype of women -- as needing men’s protection and help -- diversity in female characters is no longer new in Korean dramas. While many attempts were made to put women in central roles, no noticeable results had been seen since MBC’s perio

Actor Kim Hye-jun shared the combination of excitement and regret she felt after starring in Disney+’s fantasy-thriller series “Connect.” “I am certain that I have put my utmost effort into every project that I take part in. But I always recognize what could be improved after monitoring the finished work. It was the same for ‘Connect’ as well,” Kim said in an interview with reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, Monday. Kim emphasized ther

Cable channel JTBC’s hit drama “Reborn Rich” is on track to becoming one of the most-watched TV shows in South Korea, according to ratings firm Nielsen Korea, Monday. The latest episode, which aired Sunday, recorded a 21.1 percent viewership, becoming the first TV series this year to reach over a 20 percent viewership rating among terrestrial broadcast and cable channels. The highest viewership ratings for cable channel ENA’s megahit legal drama “Extraordinary Attor

Coex Winter Festival, Seoul Ahead of the new year, the Coex Winter Festival will present artworks featuring rabbits to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. The seven-day festival, starting on Dec. 19, presents various programs, including brick arts, digital arts, paintings, balloon arts and more. This year’s festival will be held at Coex’s K-pop Square, Coex Square and indoor lobbies in Gangnam, southern Seoul. The event is free. More in

Netflix confirmed Friday the production of a new documentary film, with the working title, “Yellow Door: Looking for Director Bong’s Unreleased Short Film.” The upcoming film will take the audience on a journey to uncover Bong Joon-ho's first film as told through the stories of others around him during his younger directing days. Prior to the 18-minute short film “White Man” (1994), a film widely known as the director’s first film, the Oscar-winning dir

E-World Illumination, Daegu E-World Illumination kicked off Nov. 19 and runs through Feb. 28, 2023 at E-World in Daegu. The festival features the areas around E-World and 83 Tower with ten million lights. A 15-meter-tall Christmas tree and a garden of 100,000 light-emitting diode roses are set to provide memorable photo zones for visitors as well. Admission costs 11,100 won per person on weekdays and 17,900 won per person on weekends. The event starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Updates can be

Korea Herald correspondent SINGAPORE -- From the shooting locations to the cast and presentation of stories, director Kang Yun-sung shared nothing but satisfaction with upcoming Disney+ noir series “Big Bet.” “Our story takes place in the Philippines, so we spent almost three months shooting the scenes there. We were grateful to film the series in a cheerful atmosphere, surrounded by wonderful crews,” Kang said in a press conference held at Sands Expo & Convention Cen

Korea Herald Correspondent SINGAPORE -- Director Lee Kwang-young is certain that Korean and international viewers will immerse themselves in the touching love story presented by South Korea’s go-to romance masters -- Kim Young-kwang and Lee Sung-kyoung. “‘Call It Love’ does not have a character who has a crush at first sight. It does not have a specific event making them fall in love with each other either. Our series tells you a small story, but one that is powerful enou

Korea Herald correspondent SINGAPORE -- More Korean originals, sequels to hit shows and more are to come on the Disney+ horizon, Jessica Kam-Engle, vice president of Walt Disney Co. Asia Pacific’s content and development, said Wednesday at a Disney content showcase in Singapore. “Showcasing the best storytelling and regional contents are critical for our long-term success. Starting with ‘Connect’ and ‘Big Bet’ launching in December, more scripted dramas with t

SINGAPORE -- While celebrating the magical moments created by its iconic characters and stories, Walt Disney Co. is trying not to dwell too much on past successes, as it seeks to prepare content for the next 100 years and future generations. “We have drawn iconic characters and stories that fabricate the global culture, from our theatrical releases to award-winning shows. Disney has launched over 45 Asia-Pacific content titles in Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar this year, " said Luke Ka

Starting with a curiosity about how adults will behave in a childhood game, Tving's upcoming game show "Finders Keepers" presents 24 participants competing in a treasure hunt for a 500 million won ($373,000) prize and observing their changing behaviors. “Issues that are closely related to money became more important than ever. Many people start to judge others, questioning whether they deserve to earn or to have so much money. Variety shows tend to reflect the era we liv

The 79th Golden Globe winner Oh Young-soo stepped down from his role in the local stage production “Love Letters,” scheduled to be performed Jan. 14 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, after he was indicted on charges of indecent assault on Friday. A woman filed a complaint with the police against the 78-year-old actor in December 2021 and the case was sent to prosecutors in February. The case was returned to the police for additional investigation and the police dismissed the case in

YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Autumn is peak season for stargazing in Korea, as the arrival of chilly weather also brings clear skies. Some 60 kilometers east of Seoul, the small county of Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is home to one of South Korea’s most popular observatories, Jungmisan Astronomical Observatory. After a 40- to 50-minute drive along the Han River, visitors climb the winding roads of Jungmisan and arrive at the observatory in the thick of a mountain forest. The occasion

Enjoy playing racing games like Mario Kart or KartRider? At Ganghwa Luge located at Ganghwa Seaside Resort in Incheon, you can enjoy the thrill of a high-speed ride in real life. Some 50 kilometers west of Seoul, Ganghwa Luge located on the foothills of a mountain offers a spectacular view of the horizon on the West Sea. After buying tickets, make sure to pick up a safety helmet before taking the five-minute gondola ride to the starting point. Brief safety instructions are offered for first-time

Ansung Smelt Festival The Ansung Smelt Festival is scheduled to run from Dec. 24 to Feb. 5, 2023 in the areas near Dume Lake in Ansung, Gyeonggi Province. Hoping to provide a memorable winter experience, the festival features various programs, including smelt fishing, ice sledding and various photo zones featuring snow flowers. Smelt fishing is only available during the weekends and on public holidays. The festival opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. daily. Admission costs 10,000 won per person

Korean cultural icons, including Cannes-winning director Park Chan-wook, late Korean movie star Kang Soo-youn, Cannes-winning actor Song Kang-ho, rapper Zico, idol groups aespa and Tomorrow X Together among others, were named as the winners of the 13th edition of the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards on Thursday. The annual awards, conferred by the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, recognized individuals who created new trends in the entertainment

The fresh makeup, neatly blow dried hair and sharp suits that have been the signature look of model-turned-actor Kim Young-kwang since his drama debut in 2008 were hard to find in his latest crime thriller “Somebody.” “I only had two or three options for how I could dress as Seong Yun-o. And even this experience was exciting for me. I enjoyed every single moment that I spent shooting ‘Somebody,’” Kim said during an interview with reporters at a cafe in Samcheo

The news of the release of South Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s movie “Hotel by the River” on a Chinese streaming service, the first for a Korean film in six years, was met with mixed reactions among those in the local entertainment industry on Tuesday. Since China imposed a blanket ban on Korean entertainment products as part of the economic retaliation campaign following South Korea’s decision to host a US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery on its soil in 2016