The Institute of Traditional Korean Food is offering free Korean cooking classes for foreigners. The “Moving Hansik Class” can be held anywhere in Seoul where more than 30 foreigners are willing to learn how to make “hansik,” or Korean traditional food. The class is open to foreigners currently living or visiting South Korea. “We hope to provide an easy opportunity for foreigners to experience and

Music director-TV celeb to show her acting talent for first time in 20 years with musical ‘Next to Normal’It was difficult to recall charismatic conductor Kolleen Park seeing her on a musical stage ― looking somewhat frail and vulnerable, her voice even trembled slightly as she led the song “You don’t know” in front of the press on Monday at Doosan Art Center in Yeonji-dong, central Seoul. Park, a

From Dongdaemun Market to New York, Choi pushes his limits with General IdeaThis is the second of a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean designers. ― Ed.Choi Bum-suk’s office in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, made one want to go on a treasure hunt. Fabric samples, buttons and photos were strewn around everywhere with shelves jammed with books, files, little objects and even old shoes found in t

Yoon Young-dal, CEO of Crown-Haitai Confectionary, received the 20th Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award on Monday at the Shilla Hotel’s Dynasty Hall in central Seoul. The foundation recognized Yoon’s contributions to developing and promoting the Korean traditional music “gugak” worldwide and his efforts to discover and foster young gugak musicians. “Since sometime ago, we have tended to

Mark Edward Harris takes on Iron Triangle, once the most ferocious battlefield along the DMZ, in time for 61st anniversary of the Korean WarCHEORWON, Gangwon Province ― Rain was drizzling down as photographer Mark Edward Harris headed for Cheorwon, Gangwon Province on June 24. He had just arrived at Incheon International Airport a few hours earlier. “They’ll be just more moody,” Harris told The Ko

Bulgogi is a dish barbecued of thinly sliced beef that is pre-marinated with a variety of seasonings on a hot barbecue pan. Bulgogi has been popular since the 1950s when the beef was served in thin slices to make it more tender and cut down the waiting time for diners.Bulgogi (Institute of Korean Traditional Food)Ingredients ● 300 g beef (sirloin)● seasoning sauce : 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar,

Works based on hits by folk singer Yang Hee-eun, ’90s K-pop group DJ DOC and today’s hottest bands make fans nostalgicOld songs have the power to bring back memories and fans of the time period back together. Targeting this fact, so-called “jukebox musicals” dedicate their entire shows to a single artist or a band’s hit songs. “Mama Mia,” based on Swedish pop band ABBA’s hits, and “We Will Rock Yo

Oakwood Premier COEX Center Seoul in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, is the first deluxe furnished serviced residence in the city which combines luxurious hotel services with the spaciousness of a private home. The property offers 280 furnished apartments including studio, one, two, three and four bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 47 square meters to 228 square meters and regal penthouses of

For audience expecting a circus, ‘Rain’ leaves something to be desiredIf hair-raising acrobatics, lions jumping through hoops on fire and ultra-flexible girls folding themselves like paperclips is your idea of a good show, “Rain” is not what you are looking for. Canadian troupe Cirque Eloize’s “Rain” is such a new type of show that calling it a circus would be to ignore most of its essence. Though

Press members from countries that joined South Korean forces during the Korean War (1950-1953) visited here last week to cover the nation’s economic and cultural growth so far. In commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Korean War, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Korean Culture and Information Service invited nine journalists from six countries including U.K., U.S., Australia, I

Exhibitions“The American Art: Masterpieces of Everyday Life from the Whitney Museum of American Art”: To present an overall view of U.S. contemporary art of the early 20th century, the National Museum of Contemporary Art is exhibiting 87 artworks from the Whitney Museum of American Art’s major collections. It will feature diverse media, from paintings, photos to installations by 47 U.S. artists in

Omija-hwachae is a Korean berry punch made with omija berries and honey or sugar, and garnished with pear. Omija-hwachae is a cold drink that is typically enjoyed in the summer. It has a beautiful color and is high in organic acids which are good for relieving fatigue and quenching thirst.  Omija-hwachae (Institute of Korean Traditional Food)Ingredients ● 1/5 cups of omija, 2 cups water ● 3 tbsp s

Installation view of Lee U-fan’s “Dialogue” at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Kukje Gallery/Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation)The first retrospective exhibition in the U.S. on South Korean artist Lee U-fan opened on Friday at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Titled “Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity,” the exhibition looks back on the artist’s career of almost half a century by presenting 9

Chief Designer of Johnny Hates Jazz hopes to expand market to Asia and U.S.This is the first of a series of articles on up-and-coming South Korean designers. ― Ed.It has been a while since the fashion savvy girls in South Korea first started to recognize Johnny Hates Jazz. The brand’s hip but classy collections are attracting not only so-called fashionistas like actress Gong Hyo-jin but also many

The former Korean Fine Art Gallery building in Gahoe-dong, central Seoul, has been put up for auction. Seoul Auction announced on Tuesday that it would mediate the sale of the building designed by architect Kim Jung-up in 1967. The sale will be held through the “Real Estate Private Sale” special section of Seoul Auction’s 120th auction which will be held next week. It is the first time that an art

‘Festival O! Gwangju’ and ‘Daegu International Musical Festival’ present local and international performancesGwangju Metropolitan City and Daegu Metropolitan City are each holding a festival showcasing performances ranging from percussion acts and dance to plays and musicals this summer. “Festival O! Gwangju,” hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City and Gwangju Cultural Foundation, kicks off on June 2

Changdeokgung Moonlight Trail invites visitors to a mystical journey crossing past and presentUnder the soft moonlight, every wooden building, tree and pond in the palace seemed to unfold at least twice as many stories hidden in every nook and corner than they would in the daytime. The Moonlight Trail of Changdeokgung in Waryong-dong, central Seoul, began at 8 p.m. on Tuesday when the long summer

Pyeonsu is a steamed square dumpling stuffed with vegetables and beef. Pyeonsu is served chilled or floating in a cool soy sauce soup. It is a summer delicacy. The dish gets its name from the Chinese characters for the word, “Pyeonsu” which means “a small fragment on the water.”Pyeonsu (Institute of Korean Traditional Food)Ingredients● Broth: 200 g beef (brisket, shank), 10 cups water, ½ tbsp clea

Construction starts at ex-military spy agency near Cheong Wa DaeNational Museum of Contemporary Art held the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for its Seoul branch which will be built at Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul.About 600 cultural figures including Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug, MOCA Director Bae Soon-hoon, and Cultural Heritage Administration Administrator Choi Kwang-shik attended the

The National Theater of Korea will stage “Kim Hong-do,” an original musical including Korean traditional music, songs and dance, as the new “Nation Brand” performance next month. The musical will be staged from July 8-16 at NTOK’s Haeoreum Theater in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul. It is a fantasy story about two young men’s journey into the paintings by the legendary Joseon-period painter Kim Hong