Silla's ancient gold crowns reunited for 1st time in exhibition marking APEC summit

Six exquisite gold crowns from the ancient Silla Kingdom, normally scattered across different museums, have been brought together for the first time in a landmark exhibition celebrating South Korea's hosting of the APEC summit. The Gyeongju National Museum announced Monday it will host the special exhibition, "Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige," to commemorate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the museum's 80th anniversary. The summit is set to take place Friday and Saturday i

Oct. 27, 2025

In New York, a night at the museum -- five years in the making

Oct. 26, 2025

Meet the publisher who revolutionized the way books were made and read

Have you ever wondered when books as we know them today first took shape? An exhibition at the National Museum of World Writing Systems in Songdo, Incheon, sheds light on this question by introducing Aldus Manutius (1449-1515), the Renaissance publisher who revolutionized the way books were made and read. Some 50 years after Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press in the 15th century, Manutius made books more approachable to the public by reducing their size and improving the

Oct. 24, 2025

One of Korea's largest subculture events, Anime x Game Festival, returns

One of Korea’s largest subculture events, the Anime x Game Festival 2025, is set to return for its sixth edition, running from Dec. 5 to 7 at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Launched in 2018, AGF Korea has grown into a destination for anime and gaming fans, bringing together a spectrum of pop culture spanning animation, video games, comics, webtoons, light novels and virtual YouTubers. This year’s edition is jointly organized by leading industry companies, including Aniplus, Daewon Media, So

Oct. 24, 2025

National Museum of Korea to open permanent space dedicated to Islamic culture

The National Museum of Korea will open a new permanent exhibition dedicated to Islamic history and culture next month, offering visitors a glimpse into one of the world’s most influential civilizations. In collaboration with the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar, the Islamic gallery will open Nov. 22 on the third floor of the museum’s World Art Gallery, which currently houses sections dedicated to India and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan, and ancient Greece and Rome. This marks the firs

Oct. 24, 2025

From G-Dragon to Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-ho: Icons shine at Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards

G-Dragon, honored with an Order of Cultural Merit for his contributions to the global expansion of Korean entertainment, reflected on how his childhood dream of becoming a singer blossomed into his lifelong career at a national awards ceremony held Thursday. The Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is the country’s highest government recognition for achievements spanning the Korean entertainment landscape -- including film, music, voice

Oct. 23, 2025

Webtoon artists share secrets, insight at World Webtoon Festival

Webtoon artists are often stereotyped as reclusive creators perpetually racing against deadlines, and that image was partly confirmed at the World Webtoon Awards on Wednesday. Many of the main award winners were absent for familiar reasons: Some were still battling deadlines, while others have not revealed their identities. Even the grand prize winner nearly missed the ceremony. “I just worked for 48 hours straight to meet my deadline. I initially thought I wouldn’t be able to attend, but I’m gl

Oct. 23, 2025

World Webtoon Awards celebrate masters of imagination and storytelling

The World Webtoon Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, culminated in the 2025 World Webtoon Awards, which recognized 11 outstanding works. In the competition's second year, out of some 1,400 entries from around the world — including both submissions and reader-recommended titles — ten received main awards and one title was chosen by readers, according to the culture ministry. The grand prize went to “Mirae’s Antique Shop” by Gu A-

Oct. 23, 2025

Art Basel Paris opens amid Louvre heist, bringing global art scene back under Grand Palais dome

PARIS, France -- Art Basel Paris kicked off its fourth edition on Wednesday, returning to Grand Palais for the second time following renovation. The historic venue, renowned for its monumental glass dome and symbol of modern French culture, was packed with collectors, curators and art lovers, drawing attention to the world’s fourth-largest art market. The fair opened amid an uneasy mood in Paris following a daring heist at the Louvre Museum — just 2 kilometers from Grand Palais — on Sunday, wher

Oct. 23, 2025

Crying Nut marks 30 years with immersive exhibition and live shows

Korean rock band Crying Nut, often hailed as a pioneer of the country’s indie music movement, is celebrating its 30th debut anniversary with a large-scale exhibition and concert series at KT&G Sangsangmadang in Hongdae, Seoul. The special project, titled “Speed Up Losers,” runs from Oct. 25 to Jan. 31, 2026, blending visual art, music and live performance in a multi-sensory retrospective of the band’s three-decade journey. The anniversary carries layered significance — marking not only Crying Nu

Oct. 22, 2025

National Museum of Korea suffers budget woes despite record visits

The National Museum of Korea's budget for acquiring artifacts has been frozen for the past decade despite the institution ranking among the world's most-visited museums, government data showed. According to data obtained by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Min Hyung-bae and made public Tuesday, the museum's acquisition budget has remained virtually unchanged since 2015, when it was set at 3.98 billion won ($2.8 million). Even after minimal adjustments, the acquisition budget continued to hover

Oct. 22, 2025

Oasis heats up chilly night with timeless anthems

Even before Oasis struck its first chord Tuesday night, Daehwa Station on Subway Line No. 3 was packed with fans snaking through the platforms, all eager to reach Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, for the legendary British rock band's long-awaited concert. At 8 p.m. sharp, the venue screens flickered to life. "Welcome, this is not a drill," the opening video declared. Then came the words every fan had waited to hear: "The great wait is over. This is happening. This is it." As f

Oct. 22, 2025

Korean artists' recipes for broken hearts in Bukhara’s first biennial

BUKHARA, Uzbekistan — The ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, is hosting its inaugural international art event, the Bukhara Biennial, under the theme “Recipe for Broken Hearts.” The mandate for all 200 participants from 39 countries — to create new commissions exclusively on Uzbek soil in collaboration with local artisans — has fostered a powerful dialogue between global contemporary art and Central Asia’s storied craft traditions. Among the more than 70 works born of these collaborat

Oct. 21, 2025

Why veteran pansori singer Lee Ja-ram takes on one-woman battle in 'Prima Facie'

Before stepping into the light, Lee Ja-ram repeats a single line to herself in the dark: “I am Tessa Jane Ensler. I am Tessa Jane Ensler.” For Lee — a veteran pansori singer with more than three decades of experience, who also wears many hats as a musical performer, writer, director and actor — this moment is an unfamiliar challenge: a one-woman play. The 46-year-old performer is hardly new to standing alone onstage. In pansori, a singer commands the space singlehandedly, accompanied only by a g

Oct. 21, 2025

Cheomseongdae observatory lights up with star-themed media facade for APEC summit

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Cheomseongdae Observatory, one of Asia’s oldest surviving astronomical observatories and a symbol of Silla-era astronomy, has been transformed into a nighttime spectacle ahead of the 2025 APEC summit. On Monday, the Korea Heritage Service and the city of Gyeongju launched a special projection mapping show titled “Time of the Stars” at the observatory’s exterior. The media facade will be presented nightly through Nov. 1, coinciding with the APEC summit. The o

Oct. 20, 2025