Articles by Choi Si-young
Choi Si-young
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com-
National library to open ‘Korea space’ in Taiwan
The state-run National Library of Korea will open a space dedicated to learning about Korea at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan in December. So far 35 such spaces have opened globally. “Window on Korea,” a space that opened this week at the National University of Mongolia, contains some 1,500 books about Korea. The university was the first to launch a department on the Korean language in 1991, and currently offers degrees in Korean interpretation and translation as well as Ko
Culture June 14, 2024
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[Well-curated] Reflect on time through jewelry, postcards and seasonal cuisine
Rethinking gemstones Precious stones are valued for their beauty, which comes from the intricate patterns and translucency they possess. These gem-quality crystals require an almost infinite amount of time to develop. “Cartier, Crystallization of Time,” an exhibition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, is a search for the origin of such timeless beauty, visualized with jewel collections from the French jewelry house and private individuals. The roughly 300 pieces on view are themati
weekender June 14, 2024
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Festivities on Jamsu Bridge Mark your calendar for festivities taking place on the Jamsu Bridge near Banpo Hangang Park every Sunday until June 23. Scheduled between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. are classical music concerts, food trucks and flea markets. Tents will be set up on the bridge overlooking the Han River, with spots open to those who make online reservations. A rainbow fountain show is also scheduled at night. For the latest schedule of festivities, visit festa-ddooddoo.com. Gwanghwamun f
Travel June 14, 2024
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Folk museum eyes turning Korean traditions relatable
Making Korean traditions more relatable and accessible to children is what the National Folk Museum of Korea plans to do this year, the new director of the state-run museum said Wednesday. Jang Sang-hoon, the NFMK director, said in the second half of the year, special exhibitions will take place on “kkokdu,” the traditional Korean wooden figurines used on biers, and on coffee, a drink that marks 140 years of use in Korea this year. “We intend to have those exhibitions explore s
Culture June 12, 2024
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Latest discovery shows stone columns at Baekje temple
The signature Buddhist temple from the Baekje Kingdom (18 BC to 660 AD) used split stones for column bases, the Buyeo National Cultural Heritage Research Institute said Tuesday, citing its latest find. This contradicts previous findings on Baekje Kingdom temple construction, which had thought that only soil bases were used for columns. The state-run think tank said its monthslong excavations at Geumdang, the central hall at the Mireuksa temple complex in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, revealed th
Culture June 11, 2024
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Once bunker, museum storage opens to public
It had been a bunker for 21 years beginning in 1962, then served as museum storage. It took another 22 years for the National Palace Museum of Korea to claim the 19-room storage space in the heart of Seoul in 2005. The underground facility beneath Gyeongbokgung, the main palace from the Joseon era (1392-1910), has in place highly sophisticated conservation technologies as well as strict protocols for entry, an NPMK official said during a media tour Wednesday, as reporters put on masks and covere
Arts & Design June 10, 2024
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Korea Heritage Agency to adopt AI chatbot
The Korea Heritage Agency will start integrating artificial intelligence to streamline its internal work process through a chatbot service, it said Sunday. The change comes after the agency, which helps the Korea Heritage Service with heritage management, became the recipient of government funding of up to 200 million won ($145,000) this year. The agency said the fund will be used to streamline the way information is accessed. “Chatbots will boost our productivity and they can be utilized
Culture June 9, 2024
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[Herald Interview] ‘Sincere commitment’ will pay off big: Songzio CEO
Never has Korean culture been in such limelight as today. From K-pop to K-drama and Korean food, aspects of Korean culture are winning over global audiences eager for something different. Fashion can ride the momentum, so long as designers focus not only on creativity and quality but also on “sincerely committing to fashion,” according to Jay Song, CEO and creative director of Songzio -- a South Korean fashion house known for its avant-garde menswear. “Sincerely committing to t
Arts & Design June 9, 2024
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Garden show along Han River The Seoul International Garden Show 2024 is running through Oct. 8 at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Gwangjin-gu. The park, illustrating the theme “Seoul, Green Vibe,” is divided into different gardens arranged by participants ranging from citizens to companies to artists. The park is open from noon to 7:00 p.m. until August, and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September to October. Find more details at festival.seoul.go.kr. Blooms on Jara Island A f
Travel June 7, 2024
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Mayor pitches ‘renaissance’ for tech-savvy Yongin City
Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il painted the future of a technologically advanced and culturally vibrant city during The Korea Herald Global Business Forum 2024 held at Marina Park in Seoul on Wednesday. The meeting, attended by business leaders and academics as well as senior government officials, included Polish Ambassador to South Korea Piotr Ostaszewski. Offering congratulatory remarks, the envoy lauded the annual gathering on the global political and business landscape. Ambitious but prudent, Lee,
People June 6, 2024
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Blockbuster show at Hoam highlights Buddhist art from Asia
A special exhibition on Buddhist art in East Asia at the Hoam Museum of Art has attracted over 60,000 visitors since March, averaging over 1,000 a day in what could be one of the country’s biggest art shows this year. “Unsullied, Like a Lotus in Mud,” explores contributions women made to the religion and, as the title suggests, their struggles along the way with 92 pieces including Buddhist statues, paintings and scriptures. The gilt-bronze standing Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,
Arts & Design June 5, 2024
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[Bridging Cultures] Ask questions, Goethe-Institut director says
The arts are all about asking questions, even if the answers to everything are not presented all at once, according to the director of the Goethe-Institut Korea. In a recent interview with The Korea Herald, Clemens Treter, director of the Goethe-Institut Korea, said his mission is to help open up space for such exploration -- a job he has been busy performing since he took the post in September 2022. “We will also then get back to society and maybe influence and get other people to think,&
People June 4, 2024
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Inspection to add prehistoric carvings of Bangucheon to UNESCO list completed
UNESCO wrapped up a three-month review of the petroglyphs at Bangucheon, a stream in Ulsan, initiating the final step in deciding whether to list the prehistoric rock carvings as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Korea Heritage Service on Monday, an official with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, last week completed a five-day on-site inspection of the carvings, capping the monthslong review initiated by ICOMOS i
Culture June 3, 2024
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Meet global ambassadors for Korean heritage
K-pop was only a trigger; ancient Korean history was the real pull, said Mutiara Chaerani, a 28-year-old Indonesian national who will mark four years living in Korea this August, a month after she wraps up her role as a global national heritage ambassador for Korean heritage. “I’m just fascinated by the ancient Korean kingdoms like Goguryeo and mythologies associated with them,” Chaerani said of why she decided to promote Korean heritage as one of the 23 brand ambassadors, all
People June 1, 2024
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English version of Korean original musical ‘Marie Curie’ hits London’s West End
The Korean original musical “Marie Curie” will hit London’s West End on Saturday, the first time a Korean production is being staged in English in one of the two biggest theater districts internationally, along with New York’s Broadway. The musical will run at the 265-seat Charing Cross Theatre through July 28, with the Culture Ministry readying to promote the show through talks between the media and the cast on June 7 and joint concerts by the Korean and UK actors on Jun
Performance May 31, 2024
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