The number of foreign tourists to Korea reached a record 5 million in the first half of the year, thanks to a surge in visitors from Japan and China, a state tourism agency said on Wednesday. The Korea Tourism Organization expected the number of foreign visitors to reach 5.33 million by the end of June, which is a 23.3 percent increase from the previous year.Of them, the number of Japanese tourists jumped 30.2 percent and Chinese tourists increased 29.9 percent, accounting for 56 percent of the

Novel approaches create chemistry between products and their usersThe following is the first in a series of articles on various aspects of design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19 - 21. ― Ed. Industrial design professor Shim Jae-jin has been carrying a pen by the German fountain pen company LAMY in his suit pocket for 12 years. Over the years, he developed affection toward it to the point where he doesn’t go anywhere without it. “I always check whether I have the pe

The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea has won one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions with its recent Korean monochrome painting exhibition, becoming the country’s first national art museum to receive the award. NMOCA’s “Dansaekhwa: Korean Monochrome Painting” was chosen for the Red Dot design award in the category of communication design among a total of 6,823 design works from 43 countries that were considered, according to NMOCA officials. “The award mea

Gwangju Biennale announced a full roster of artists, directors and the theme for this year’s edition that will help establish itself as a highlight event for contemporary art in Asia. Asian artists account for almost half of the total 92 participating artists, whose countries of origin range from Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and China to Korea. “We selected 44 Asian artists and six female Asian directors in order to solidify the image of the event as the representative cultu

New York-based Korean artist’s work to be on permanent display at new Polish international airportAn artwork by a Korean artist will be put up for permanent display at the new airport in the Polish city of Poznan this fall, making it the second art piece to be installed at a foreign airport by a Korean artist. New York-based Korean artist Sang Nam Lee will showcase the 73-meter-wide and 3-meter-long art installation, called “Landscapic Algorithm,” in September when the third Mediations Biennale-

Modernized white porcelain works appeal to international viewers at the 18th Biennale of SydneyTwo female Korean artists are showcasing collaborative works at the 18th Biennale of Sydney, revealing the beauty of Korean white porcelain reinterpreted in a modern way for international audiences. Ceramic artist Park Young-sook and sculptor Yee Soo-kyung have collaborated in “The Moon Project,” in which Park shows her signature white porcelain pieces “Moon Jars” and Yee presents a ball-shaped sculptu

NEW YORK ― It is a new and still-growing trail.It’s not long: Just 1 mile, or 19 blocks.Welcome to the High Line Trail in the heart of New York City. It is known by some as the “Miracle Above Manhattan” and “The Trail in the Sky.”The rail line-turned-trail sits 30 feet above the crowded streets on Manhattan’s Lower West Side. It’s gotten a lot of ink because it is a distinctive urban trail. There’s even a hardcover book about its short history.It is an expensive trail: $153 million and rising. B

In a nation of more than 300 million people, a small county in the Pacific Ocean that’s home to just over 155,000 people has nearly a quarter of the country’s best beaches.Maui is called “The Valley Island,” but in most travelers’ minds, its beaches are synonymous with the Hawaiian island. In the annual “Best Beach” contest held since 1991, Maui has won four times ― five, if you want to stretch the definition of Maui. Maui County includes the islands of Molokai and Lanai. A beach on Lanai was th

 Famous faces are the focus of the latest exhibition at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong.The exhibition, titled “Visage,” features 50 portraits of well-known figures in history, including French fashion designer Coco Chanel, soprano Maria Callas as well as individuals by American and European artists.Seven artists active in North America and Europe reveal their distinctive characteristics through portraits.  Canadian artist Andre Monet recreates portraits of famous people in both avant-gard

Annual forum expected to attract local audiences looking for inspirationA design forum organized by Herald Media is once again set to start an active discussion on the role of design and its impact this fall, hosting world’s leading designers, architects and artists. Launched last year, the Herald Design Forum has positioned itself as a major design forum in Korea inviting acclaimed figures in the field and attracting local audiences looking for inspiration. The forum, titled “Reimagine! Herald

Following is the ninth in a series of articles in which leading architects discuss their representative work. ― Ed.The master plan for the University of Seoul Gangchon Training Center includes a research institute and Gangchon Seowon to be completed by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the University of Seoul. Development of the training center’s main building and accommodation building ― the first stage of the master plan ― has been completed, earning the site the symbolic status of the university

The annual international tourism conference kicks off Wednesday in Ulsan, gathering international and domestic tourism experts and highlighting recent tourism trends. More than 100 foreign participants including chief editors of major tourism journals ― Rick Perdue of Journal of Travel Research and former editor-in-chief of Annals of Tourism Research Jafar Jafari among them ― are attending the 72nd conference organized by the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea.Local participants include TOSOK pre

The Westin Chosun has appointed its first Korean-American general manager. Brian Pak, 46, has began serving as the hotel’s general manager on Monday, becoming the hotel’s first general manager of Korean descent since 1970, the Westin Chosun said. Pak joined the hotel industry in 1999 at the Westin Resort in Guam. In 2003, he served as a director of operations at W Seoul Walkerhill Hotel and most recently served as general manager of Aqua Resort Club Saipan and Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort. Pak gr

New generation finds own ways to channel social messagesAn exhibition is putting young Chinese artists under the spotlight this month, offering insight into today’s Chinese art and society. The exhibition held at Hakgojae Gallery in Seoul hosts eight contemporary artworks by emerging Chinese young artists ― Lu Zhengyuan, Ma Quisha, Ye Linghan, Zang Kunkun, Tu Hongtao, Pan Jian, Hao Liang and Huang Jingyuan ― all in their late 20s to 30s. “The exhibition shows the current state of Chinese contemp

Over 100 works by up-and-coming and veteran artists on auctionArtday, a subsidiary of the Herald Media group, opened its fifth auction last week. It featured 110 paintings, photographs and prints by acclaimed Korean artists, ranging from up-and-comers such as Park Hyung-jin, Kim Jun and Lee Ho-ryon, to established figures Kim Jong-hak, Kim Chang-ryul and Jang Uk-jin. With its fifth auction, Artday has demonstrated that online auctions can present high-priced artworks by established artists. Prev

ISTANBUL, Turkey ― The first rule of shopping in the centuries-old markets of Istanbul is this: The asking price is merely a suggestion. In fact, it’s barely a suggestion. A price is equivalent to a declaration that a merchant is open for business. But you will not pay that number, and he ― it is always a he ― does not expect you to.The second rule is to walk away, because the mere act of turning is the most effective method of chipping away at that price. Merchants expect you to walk away, and

Hyatt Regency Incheon has become a major gateway hotel to Seoul and Korea as it is located close to Incheon International Airport. The hotel offers a unique blend of warm hospitality, convenient facilities and a variety of culinary experiences, featuring meeting rooms, soundproofed guestrooms, health and fitness facilities and restaurants. For business travelers, the hotel has a spacious pillar-less Grand Ballroom, a Regency Ballroom and multi-purpose rooms, which cater to different meetings and

Oakwood Premier Coex Center invites those who would like to share their travel memories with others to its photography competition with a chance to win a trip to an Oakwood hotel in Asia and a digital camera. The hotel is holding a “Most Memorable Travel” photography contest in which the grand prize winner will have chance to fly to a city of his or her choice and stay at an Oakwood serviced apartment and get a Nikon 1J1 digital camera. Submission deadline is Sept. 15 and after that, images will

American jazz pianist Brad Mehldau will hold a concert in Seoul next month as part of his world tour for a trio album released earlier this year. The acclaimed jazz pianist will perform at Yonsei University on July 25 with two other artists, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, both of whom worked with Mehldau on the album “Ode.” Mehldau has been hailed as one of the greatest jazz pianists with his unique combination of jazz, classical and spontaneous improvisation. Mehldau is also

Following is the eighth in a series of articles in which leading architects discuss their representative work. ― Ed.When designing this building, I tried to make the most ordinary as well as the most extraordinary space: Jino Haus is located in an extremely ordinary place.The residential building combined with commercial facilities in Pangyo New Town is adjacent to a pedestrian street to the east and detached houses to the west.I took on this project with the idea of creating a differentiated sp