OLD TRAM TRACK -- A tram track used during the Japanese colonial period (1910-45) was discovered between September and October last year at the excavation site of Woldae, an elevated stage for royal ceremonies in front of Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung's main gate. The tram was in service from 1917 to 1966, and ran on a Y-shaped train track on what is today's Sejong-ro, and connected Anguk-dong and ...

A majority of Koreans and foreigners believe that Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is likely to continue riding the tide of globalization for a long time to come, according to a recent Corea Image Communication Institute survey aimed at probing people's views on popular topics. The CICI’s multiple-choice survey, titled “AI, ChatGPT and Hallyu,” involved 471 participants -- 257 Koreans and 214 foreign...

Conceptual artist in the spotlight as '70s Korean experimental art attracts attention at home and abroad

North Jeolla Province said Sunday it has appointed Lee Kwang-yeon, chairman of Pasifik Korea, a halal certification agency, as a goodwill ambassador for the 25th World Scout Jamboree 2023 SaeManGeum. The SaeManGeum World Scout Jamboree, the world's largest youth camp for youth engagement, will be held this year in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, from Aug. 1 to 12, where 43,000 youths from 170...

“I thought that (the elimination system) was very cruel. … The population is declining significantly, but society and culture are going mad with survival competitions and the winner-takes-all mindset,” Gu said. In other stories, Gu explores a wide range of themes and ideas. In “City of Flower Funeral,” a seed is planted in a person’s body at birth, and upon their death, the seed blossoms into e...

In addition to cilantro, Wonhyeongdeul uses unlikely ingredient combinations for cakes, such as asparagus, sea trumpet, stem of garlic and more. Stem of garlic is mixed with cream cheese for a sweet and crispy Kouign-amann, -- a sweet Breton cake -- decorated with toppings like anchovy, sea trumpet and romaine lettuce. Wonhyeongdeul’s bold attempts to create a fresh combination of ingredients a...

A mere two-minute walk from the garden, the amusement forest welcomes energetic children for whom looking at flowers is just not enough. Ranging from a mini zip line to a winding slide, young boys and girls quickly become friends while awaiting their turn and running around the park. If you are too old for the amusement forest, you might try the winding trail to the Deunggosan observatory for a...

As global streaming service Netflix began a crackdown on account sharing in other countries, many Korean Netflix users said they would leave the service if the ban were enforced in Korea according to a survey. In February, a new plan charging additional fees for sub-accounts rolled out in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. The plan, which makes users set a "primary location" to match their...

The oldest extant all-Hangeul letter has been designated as a treasure, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. The two-page letter with almost no margins, written by Na Sin-geol (1461-1524), a Joseon period military officer, was discovered in 2011 at the burial site of Na's wife Shin Chang-meng in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The letter is thought to have been written in the 15th cent...

The number of active Hallyu fans around the world reached 178 million in 2022, according to an annual report published by the Korea Foundation in cooperation with overseas missions, Friday. The figure is about an 18-fold increase from 9.26 million in 2012, when the Korea Foundation’s survey was launched. In comparison, the population of Hallyu fans at 178 million would place it as the eighth-lar...

The Jeju Fire Festival, this year's iteration of which kicked off Thursday, has decided to cancel the program's highlights involving actual fire due to safety concerns, according to the organizers on late Thursday. Several events scheduled for Friday and Saturday, including the festival's highlight, the Oreum Fire Lighting, were canceled as a series of wildfires have recently broken out in other...

Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled to take place at various sites in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, including Gyeongju Expo Grand Park, the park of royal tombs, also known as Daereungwon, and more. The festival starts March 25 and will run through April 16. Visitors can enjoy a festival that combines cherry blossoms with art and culture. M...

Paradise for print designers, the Paper Lab At the Paper Lab, where more than 5,000 kinds of paper can be used to print everything from wedding invitations to paper package samples and even paper seals for a juice bottle, anyone can enjoy printing their work on special paper and create mockups for packages. Operated by the local paper importer Samwon Paper, the Paper Lab offers support and prof...

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul introduces new Italian lunch set Four Seasons Hotel Seoul's Italian restaurant Boccalino has launched a Lunch Delight set. The set menu features an Italian antipasti semibuffet, with seasonal ingredients and a main dish to choose from a variety of options, including fresh pasta or beef steak. A selection of artisanal cheeses is also available. On Mondays, Boccalino dine...