“The geomungo has been called ‘baekakjijang,’ which means the ultimate instrument,” Park Chae-won said, introducing her instrument. Park is a Korean music major specializing in the geomungo at Seoul National University. The geomungo is an ancient Korean instrument with a hollow wooden body and six silk strings. It is played with a pencil-sized bamboo stick called a suldae. Since being invented by Wang San-ak, a prime minister during Korea’s Goguryeo kingdom (37 B.C.

Culture Oct. 2, 2023

People staring at screens to book tickets to home, jammed highways and families enjoying festive foods are typical scenes associated with Chuseok, one of South Korea's biggest traditional holidays. Along with Seollal, Chuseok is one of two holidays that span three consecutive days. The origins of Chuseok are unclear, but similar holidays are celebrated across East Asia on the same date -- Aug. 15 on the lunar calendar -- though some have come to mark Aug. 15 on the solar calendar as well.

Culture Sept. 29, 2023

South Korea's Ministry of Education will offer all Ukrainian college students in South Korea scholarships and living subsidies from October, the National Institute for International Education announced Tuesday. The ministry revised its basic plan to support the Global Korea Scholarship, a scholarship program for government-invited students, to offer a total of 780 million won ($578,000) to cover the tuition and living costs of Ukrainian students enrolled at South Korean colleges for the fal

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2023

The Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023 kicked off on Friday around Gangwon Province's Seoraksan National Park, including the areas of Sokcho, Yangyang, Goseong and Inje. Under the theme of “Seeking the Future of the World and Mankind in the Forest,” the exposition showcases the strong connections between the forest and humanity. The GFE 2023 is the first forestry exposition in Korea. It includes diverse exhibitions, performances and academic conferences related to forestry. The

Social Affairs Sept. 24, 2023

“Gochang nongak first came into my life at a college traditional music band. Since then, I've gone to Gochang every summer and winter to learn the music,” said Kim Mi-jung, a kkwaenggwari player of Gochang nongak, a type of traditional farmers’ music developed in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province. The kkwaenggwari is a metal percussion instrument or gong with a radius the length of the span of one's outstretched hand, and a wooden mallet. With its high-pitched tone,

Culture Sept. 9, 2023

“When I started learning 'gochang nongak,' it was completely different from anything I had learned before," said Jeong Ha-rin, an amateur gochang nongak performer from Busan. “Now, gochang nongak brings me so much joy. It became an escape from life's heaviness and seriousness,” Jeong added. Gochang nongak is a type of traditional music developed by farmers in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. “My father was a member of the Korean traditional art's c

Culture Aug. 26, 2023

A documentary commemorating the 70-year legacy of South Korea and The Korea Herald will be released online on Aug. 15, the day the newspaper printed its first issue in 1953. Titled “I Was There,” the eight-minute video revisits the most memorable and historical moments in Korea’s postwar history through reporters of The Korea Herald. "A lot has transpired at The Korea Herald over the past 70 years," a voice narrates at the beginning of the film. It is followed by inte

70th anniversary Aug. 14, 2023

Oh Hai-sun, 25, first joined a nongak crew as a middle school student. There he fostered his interest in the traditional Korean music genre. “I have never lost a day to practice performances with my friends every lunchtime. I enjoyed the moment. We participated in a series of competitions and won some prizes, which also increased my interest in nongak,” Oh said. Oh plays jing for Gochang Nongak, traditional music created and developed by farmers in the coastal county of Gochang, Nort

weekender Aug. 12, 2023

An underpass has been flooded by water overflowing from the Miho River in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, rescue workers said Saturday. The number of people trapped in the tunnel is unclear. As of 9 p.m. police said 11 people have been reported missing, and confirmed 15 vehicles including a public bus to be trapped in the underpass. Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup was submerged around 8:40 a.m. Saturday after the banks of the river collapsed and water flooded into the four-lane tunnel.

Social Affairs July 15, 2023

Performers wearing hats that look like huge flower bouquets walk in single file while beating rapidly on instruments slung over their shoulders. Thunder-like sounds from the leather drum skins reverberate across the auditorium, filling the space with booming rhythms. Among the instruments, the sounds of the "janggu," a traditional percussion instrument consisting of a two-headed drum covered with leather and carried with a sash, moved Lee Chang-geun to become a performer of "Gocha

weekender July 15, 2023

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo announced on Wednesday that he will file criminal complaints against Daegu Queer Festival operators and Daegu Police over the injury of city officials and occupation of public roads at the annual LGBT pride parade held on June 17, which the mayor claims was illegal. Hong on Wednesday said he would bring queer rights advocates and Daegu Police to justice for blocking traffic by occupying roads without the city's permission and causing injury to three city officials

Social Affairs July 12, 2023

Amusement park staff in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, are being investigated for sexually extorting minors, including an elementary school student. Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday said they handed the case of seven people to the prosecution, where they are suspected of forcing 10 girls into prostitution for eight months beginning in August last year. They worked as disc jockeys for the Disco Pang Pang attraction, a circular ride that spins up and down to shake riders in their seat

Social Affairs July 11, 2023

A former bodybuilder who assaulted a woman in a parking dispute in Incheon is to be investigated without detention. The warrant division of Incheon District Court on Monday turned down the detention warrant of a former bodybuilder in his 30s who is being investigated for physically assulating a woman at a parking lot in Incheon on May 20. The woman demanded an apology from the suspect for parking his car in a way that blocked hers for 26 minutes at a shopping complex parking lot. After an argume

Social Affairs July 11, 2023

The South Korean Air Force on Wednesday shared photos of the Korean relief team heading for its overseas mission in the Canadian province of Quebec, which has been struck with massive wildfires since early June. The photos, all taken Sunday, show the Korea Disaster Relief Team members onboard a KC-330 aircraft headed to the country's capital city Ottawa. The photos also showed relief goods being unloaded at the Ottawa International Airport and members being welcomed by local figures. While

Foreign Affairs July 5, 2023

A matchmaking party hosted by Seongnam City ended with 30 percent of participants being matched on Sunday, earning praise from the participants' parents. The first group matching event, called “Solomon’s Choice,” was held at Militopia Hotel in the city of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province, with the participation of 50 men and women aged between 26 and 38 years old, Seongnam City Hall announced on Monday. The city required participants to submit marriage certificates to ensure

Social Affairs July 3, 2023