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Coach opens first-ever coffee shop in Korea at Lotte Premium Outlet Dong-Busan
American fashion brand Coach has opened its first coffee shop in South Korea, choosing the Lotte Premium Outlet in Dong-Busan for the launch. The new cafe brings together elements of the brand’s identity, blending retail, food and brand storytelling. The coffee shop offers a range of drinks including coffee, matcha latte, chocolate latte and lemonade. Coach says the menu has been tailored to reflect local tastes. In addition to beverages, the shop sells branded merchandise featuring Coach’s masc
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Changgyeonggung opens permanent exhibition showcasing 600 years of history
The Korea Heritage Service and Korea Heritage Agency jointly announced the opening of a new permanent exhibition, “Changgyeonggung through Time: 600 Years within the Eastern Palaces,” set to open Tuesday at Jipbokeon within Changgyeonggung in Seoul. The exhibition offers visitors a comprehensive view of the royal palace’s 600-year history, from its foundation during the Joseon era (1392-1910) to the present day. In conjunction with the exhibition, the rarely accessible Yeongchuneon will be open
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Architect Thomas Heatherwick asks how Seoul can become more human-centric
How can a city like Seoul, which developed dramatically over just a few decades, become more human-centered? This question lies at the core of the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism that kicks off Friday. English architect Thomas Heatherwick stood before the press at Songhyeon Green Plaza in Seoul, pointing to the “Humanise Wall.” The installation presents diverse voices that challenge the ways buildings are typically built and what they look like. “It is a manifesto for the change
Sept. 25, 2025 -
Targeting 30 million visitors, Korea to nurture provincial tourism hubs
Amid rising interest in visiting Korea from overseas, the government on Thursday vowed to take wide-ranging measures to cater to tourists, from creating new tourism hubs to revisiting decades-old tourism laws. Seeking to attract 30 million inbound travelers by 2030, the 10th National Tourism Strategy Meeting, presided over by the Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, convened Thursday, unveiling major strategies for tourism. The government said it would allocate a sizable budget to develop at least one m
Sept. 25, 2025 -
K-Music Festival to return to London with 12th edition next month
The annual K-Music Festival is returning with concerts showcasing the diversity of contemporary Korean music next month. Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre UK in partnership with Serious, producers of the EFG London Jazz Festival, the event runs Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 at major London venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and Kings Place, featuring leading Korean and British artists. Now in its 12th year, the K-Music Festival has showcased Korean musicians in the UK who explore the intersection
Sept. 25, 2025 -
‘Trend Korea 2026’ maps next year’s consumer lifestyle shaped by AI
About 10 years ago in March 2016, millions watched as South Korean Go player Lee Se-dol leaned over a wooden board to face off against Google’s AlphaGo. Lee lost four matches — but in one, the fourth — he stunned the world with his legendary 78th move, a play that artificial intelligence could not predict, defeating the AI at its own game. A decade later, that moment hangs over "Trend Korea 2026," the latest edition of the bestselling annual forecast of consumer lifestyle trends in Korea. For Ki
Sept. 24, 2025 -
Royal palaces, tombs offer free admission during Chuseok holiday
In celebration of Chuseok, South Korea’s autumn harvest festival, the Korea Heritage Service will open major historical sites free of charge from Oct. 3 to Oct. 9. The week of free admission applies to four royal palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung — as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon Royal Tombs. Jongmyo Shrine, which normally requires reservations, will be open for free and without booking during the Chuseok period. The Royal Tombs will close on Oct. 1
Sept. 24, 2025 -
'Indie-30 Festival & Exhibition' to celebrate 30 years of Korean indie music
In celebration of 30 years of South Korean indie music, a special event will be held in Hongdae, bringing together fans and artists to commemorate the milestone. The "Indie-30 Festival & Exhibition" will be held at ㅎㄷ Cafe (Hongdae Cafe) in Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, from Thursday to Friday, serving as a bridge between different generations of indie musicians and fans to reminisce about the last 30 years of Korea's indie music scene. Popular local rock bands Crying Nut, O.O.O. and Fishingirls wi
Sept. 24, 2025 -
2025 League of Legends Championship Korea finals set for showdown
The 2025 League of Legends Championship Korea, which introduced its first unified season and stretched over the course of six months, is finally coming to a close this Sunday, with LoL powerhouse Hanwha Life Esports awaiting its final challenger. The LCK Finals will take place Sunday at Inspire Arena in Jung-gu, Incheon. On Saturday, KT Rolster and Gen.G will clash in the semifinal for a spot in the championship match, while on Sunday, the winner of that semifinal will face Hanwha Life Esports.
Sept. 24, 2025 -
Hanwha Hotels & Resorts steps into premium resort market with Anto
Hanwha Hotels & Resorts has officially launched its new luxury brand as it sets its sights on Korea’s premium resort sector, beginning by rebranding the renowned Paraspara Seoul resort as Anto. Operated by Jeongsang Bukhan Resort Co., now a Hanwha Hotels & Resorts subsidiary, Anto is nestled at the foot of Bukhansan National Park and just 40 minutes from central Seoul. The acclaimed resort was the accommodation of choice for Coldplay during their visit to Korea this year. “We acquired the resort
Sept. 23, 2025 -
'I feel a responsibility to publish Korean art history in translation'
You Hong-jun, who took office as director of the National Museum of Korea in July, has always felt that there are insufficient foreign language publications on Korean art, but believes the time to bring them to international audiences is ripe. “Compared to China and Japan, Korea has fallen behind because art history as a discipline started late and we have lacked researchers,” You said Tuesday at a press conference on his newly published books on Korean art. “As Korean culture spreads abroad, I
Sept. 23, 2025 -
AI-powered subtitle glasses to help non-Korean speakers enjoy theater shows
The 2025 Welcome Daehakro Festival, a premier performance tourism event in South Korea, will take place from Friday to Nov. 2 across Daehangno, the National Museum of Korea and Myeongdong. This year marks the festival’s 9th edition, celebrating the country's vibrant performance culture. The festival will feature "Welcome Theatre," showcasing 47 performances including popular nonspeaking works like "Painters" and "Jump," as well as musicals, plays and traditional arts. International visitors can
Sept. 22, 2025 -
Experience starlit journey through Gyeongbokgung this fall
The Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency will host the fall edition of the Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour, Oct. 15 to Nov. 2. The evening tours will take place Wednesday through Sunday in the northern area of Gyeongbokgung, a Joseon-era (1392-1910) royal palace located in Seoul’s Jongno District. The exclusive nighttime program offers a guided exploration of the palace’s lesser-known northern quarters, typically closed to the public. Participants will enjoy a modern interpretation
Sept. 22, 2025 -
Sungkok Art Museum marks 30 years with exhibition on memory, space
Sungkok Art Museum -- nestled in a tranquil street near Gyeonghuigung, a Joseon-era royal palace in Seoul -- is one of Seoul's oldest private museums. Established in 1995 by Ssangyong Group in honor of the group's founder, Kim Sung-gon, during Korea’s museum boom of the 1990s, Sungkok Art Museum has supported artists across generations with an emphasis on contemporary art for the past 30 years. The business group was dissolved in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The museum, whic
Sept. 22, 2025 -
5th edition of OIBFF comes to an end with 'Mungyeong: More than Roads'
The fifth edition of the One World, One Flower International Buddhist Film Festival came to an end Saturday evening at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, with hundreds of people attending the screening of the closing film "Mungyeong: More than Roads" at the outdoor plaza of Daeungjeon Hall. The event ran from Aug. 23 until Saturday, screening films that focus on Buddhism as well as those that raise fundamental questions about life, humanity and universal truths. Held under the theme "Silence in Ligh
Sept. 22, 2025