Actor Song Joong-ki welcomes second child in Rome

South Korean actor Song Joong-ki has announced the birth of his second child, a daughter, in Rome. "A beautiful princess was born very healthy," Song wrote on his official fan cafe Wednesday, sharing a black-and-white photo of his newborn daughter's hand. "I will take good care of my family here before returning to the filming set." The 39-year-old actor married former British actress Katy Louise Saunders in January 2023 and welcomed a son in Rome in June of the same yea

TelevisionNov. 21, 2024

Disney+'s megahit 'Moving' creator returns with 'Light Shop'

SINGAPORE -- After the global success of "Moving," Disney+ has bet big on its next project with Kang Full, one of South Korea’s most acclaimed cartoonists and the creator of the "Moving" webtoon series. Upcoming horror mystery series "Light Shop," set to premiere on Disney+ Dec. 4, follows a group of mysterious figures who find their way to an enigmatic lighting shop. The star-studded cast includes Ju Ji-hoon, famous for his leading roles in hits like "Al

TelevisionNov. 20, 2024

Reality show 'I Live Alone' disciplined for 'glorifying' alcohol consumption

Popular reality TV show “I Live Alone” has received a disciplinary measure from South Korea’s broadcasting watchdog for repeatedly depicting cast members drinking alcohol, it was revealed Wednesday. The decision to issue a "caution" to the show’s broadcaster MBC was made at a general meeting of the Korea Communications Standards Commission on Monday in Seoul, where 15 cases, including of “I Live Alone,” were reviewed for potential violations of broad

TelevisionNov. 20, 2024

Young composers add traditional music flavor to 20-year-old game

The National Orchestra of Korea, dedicated to contemporary interpretations of traditional Korean music, is bringing back a program gaining popularity among gamers -- the soundtracks of hit games reimagined using traditional Korean instruments. Two previous collaborations with game developers were presented in the “Soso Music Concert” series, aimed at children and young people, featuring mobile games such as "Cookie Run: Kingdom" in 2021 and 2022, and "Crazyracing Kar

CultureNov. 20, 2024

Student artists show traditional Korean attire in Berlin

Over 80 items of traditional Korean attire including hanbok will be exhibited at the Free University of Berlin from Friday to Jan. 17. The exhibition is a project by the state-run Korea National University of Heritage. The “Korean Traditional Attire, Hanbok: Art of Dignified Manner” exhibition will feature not only everyday attire like hanbok, but uniforms worn by royals and a large collection of fabrics used for each season, such as silk and ramie. The items on display have all been

Arts & DesignNov. 20, 2024

[Herald Interview] Cho Yeo-jeong reflects on her role in erotic thriller 'Hidden Face'

Actor Cho Yeo-jeong returns to the silver screen in director Kim Dae-woo’s latest mystery thriller, “Hidden Face,” marking her first film since the global phenomenon “Parasite” (2019). In “Hidden Face,” Cho plays Soo-yeon, a cellist who becomes trapped in a hidden, dungeon-like room, only to witness her fiance, Seong-jin (played by Song Seung-heon), having an affair with her younger colleague, Mi-joo (Park Ji-hyun). Locked inside, Soo-yeon’s fury

FilmNov. 20, 2024

[More than APT] Why apartment complexes flourish in Korea

When Rose chants "apateu, apateu" in the hit song "APT.," most Koreans of a certain age will think "apartment buildings," not the drinking game that inspired the K-pop singer. The ubiquity of cookie-cutter apartments that look pretty much the same all over urban South Korea may be a curiosity to most outsiders but, for the majority of Koreans, they represent an ideal living environment and crucial investment. Some 62.9 percent of Korea's housing consists of apa

Arts & DesignNov. 19, 2024

Pianist Cho Seong-jin to tour Asia with BRSO and maestro Simon Rattle

The world-renowned Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is returning to South Korea after six years, this time with Simon Rattle as chief conductor, for concerts featuring celebrated pianist Cho Seong-jin as soloist. Cho, who joined Rattle on his last three world tours with different orchestras, will be the sole featured artist for the German orchestra's two-week-long Asia tour, with performances in Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The Asia tour will begin Wednesday at the Lotte Concert Hall in Jams

CultureNov. 19, 2024

[History Through Films] ‘Default’: a tense political thriller on South Korea’s IMF crisis

The year 1997 remains one of South Korea’s most devastating periods since the Korean War. It was the year the country faced a devastating sovereign default, forcing the government to implement drastic measures such as market deregulation, budget cuts and the dismantling of labor protection laws — all in exchange for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Director Choi Kook-hee’s “Default” (2018) is a gripping and informative political thriller that brings

FilmNov. 19, 2024

Award winners Lee Suzy, Baek Hee-na join inaugural Busan Children's Book Fair

The inaugural Busan International Children’s Book Fair will be held at Bexco in Busan from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, with “everyone in the children’s book field participating,” organizers said at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. The event is the country’s first book fair dedicated to children’s literature. The fair will host 193 publishing companies from 16 countries, featuring over 150 programs, including book exhibitions, talks, seminars and hands-on worksho

BooksNov. 19, 2024

Children’s Museum reopens at National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea has rolled out a new way for children to appreciate the country’s cultural heritage: a redesigned Children’s Museum that will engage children with interactive features. The exhibition “Heritage Quest: Discovering the Magic of the Past” marks the reopening of the Children’s Museum after an 18-month renovation. Children can view artifacts through vivid color displays and zones that invite them to touch the heritage artifacts rather than re

Arts & DesignNov. 19, 2024

Palace museum opens Joseon cuisine exhibition

A special exhibition featuring around 200 royal dishes from the Joseon era (1392-1910) will run from Wednesday through Feb. 2 at the National Palace Museum of Korea. “Joseon’s Royal Cuisine: A Table for Food, Reverence and Sharing” explores everything from dinnerware to dining tables, cooking equipment and paintings, as well as documents related to royal cuisine. The first section of the two-part presentation focuses on how royal chefs prepared meals for kings -- from screening

Arts & DesignNov. 19, 2024

Korean content industry reaches record-high exports at $13.2 billion

The Korean content industry exports reached an all-time high of $13.2 billion (18.38 trillion won) in 2022 as Hallyu continued to expand around the world. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that revenue from the Korean content industry grew from 128 trillion won in 2020 to 151 trillion won in 2022. Exports also reached an all-time high, rising from $11.9 billion (16.57 trillion won) to $13.2 billion (18.38 trillion won) during the same period. Building on this succ

CultureNov. 19, 2024

[Herald Interview] Veteran creators take on new roles in 'Swing Days: Codename A'

Korean screenwriter Kim Hee-jai and American music director, producer and composer Jason Howland, both seasoned veterans in their respective fields, stepped into unfamiliar territory with "Swing Days: Codename A," a new musical set to premiere later this month. Kim, 55, a playwright with a string of successful films and dramas to her name including “Silmido” (2003), the first film in South Korea to surpass 10 million admissions, has ventured into musical production for th

CultureNov. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] Woo Do-hwan on portraying complex character in rom-com 'Mr. Plankton'

For Woo Do-hwan, portraying the main character in Netflix's new romantic comedy series "Mr. Plankton" was far from purely romantic or comedic. The life of Woo's character Hae-jo, who was born through in vitro fertilization, spirals into turmoil from the age of 8 when it is discovered he was an unintended product of a sperm mix-up, and that the man he believes to be his father is not actually his biological father. The discovery tears the family apart as the mother dies and

TelevisionNov. 18, 2024

With 'Suneung' discounts, theme parks eye influx of high school seniors

South Korea's iconic theme parks are offering large discounts for this year’s Suneung-takers, looking to lure high school seniors and graduates looking to shake of some exam stress. This year's suneung, South Korea’s college scholastic aptitude test, took place on Nov. 14. The theme parks have begun their annual promotions aimed at test-takers looking to destress and celebrate their hard work. Everland -- South Korea’s largest theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province -

TravelNov. 18, 2024

Emu Cinema sheds light on filmmaker Lee Myung-se’s works

Emu Cinema, an independent arts theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is holding a special exhibition highlighting filmmaker Lee Myung-se and his works. Four of his films -- “Their Last Love Affair” (1996), “Nowhere to Hide” (1999), “M” (2007), and his latest, “The Killers” (2024) -- will be screened throughout the month. On Tuesday, Lee will hold a special talk with audience members on his movie “Nowhere to Hide,” celebrating the movie’s

FilmNov. 18, 2024

Pianist Lim Yunchan wins another award with Decca album

South Korean pianist Lim Yunchan has been honored with the Jeune Talent award at the Diapason d’Or de l’Annee, according to his management company MOC Production on Monday. The prestigious prize is presented annually by the French magazine Diapason to recognize outstanding classical music recordings, This achievement follows Lim's wins at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards last month, where he received the "Young Artist of the Year" title and the top prize in the pi

CultureNov. 18, 2024

BTS star Jin celebrates solo album release with fan showcase in Seoul

Jin, a member of global K-pop sensation BTS, marked the release of his first solo album, "Happy," with a two-day fan showcase in Seoul. The 33-year-old artist, who completed his mandatory military service earlier this year, expressed his excitement about reconnecting with BTS fans, known as ARMY. "Since returning to civilian life, I've been looking forward to meeting ARMY in person. Thank you for filling the seats and joining online as well. I feel excited and nervous,"

PerformanceNov. 17, 2024

TikTok's inaugural awards in Korea honor 16 creators and artists

TikTok's annual award ceremony celebrated the creativity and influence of top creators and artists here who shaped trends and inspired the TikTok community throughout the year. The first-ever TikTok Awards held in Korea took place Friday at the Peace Hall of Kyunghee University in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Previously held in the UK, Malaysia, and Indonesia, this marks the event's inaugural year in Korea. About 250 TikTok creators and artists attended the event, hosted by Eric Nam and Jin H

PerformanceNov. 17, 2024