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Namwon: City of love, art and timeless stories
NAMWON, North Jeolla Province — Known as the backdrop of Korea’s beloved folktale “The Story of Chunhyang,” Namwon is a city where romance, tradition and creativity meet. Nestled in the foot of Jirisan, this “City of Love” celebrates not only the legendary devotion of Chunhyang and Lee Mong-ryong but also its deep cultural roots that stretch across centuries. Timeless tale of Chunhyang The story that made Namwon famous tells of Lee Mong-ryong, the son of a nobleman, and Chunhyang, the daughter o
Oct. 25, 2025 -
National Theater Company revisits Greek epic in ‘Anthropolis,’ asking why we still need tragedy
Why do we need tragedy? The National Theater Company of Korea asks this question with the opening of its ambitious pentalogy, "Anthropolis," at the Myeongdong Arts Theater in central Seoul. The five-part cycle explores the enduring tragedies of the royal house of Thebes in ancient Greek mythology. Premiered in 2023 by German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig and director Karin Beier, the production has now arrived in Korea, with a different director for each part. The first installment, "Prolog/
Oct. 24, 2025 -
‘Physical: Asia’ brings sports icons together for Olympic-like showdown
Netflix Korea’s smash-hit reality franchise "Physical" is back -- this time on a continental scale with "Physical: Asia," featuring sports icons from across the region battling it out to be crowned the “top physical.” Building on the global buzz of its first two seasons in 2023 and 2024, "Physical: Asia" marks the franchise’s first-ever nation-versus-nation competition. The new season brings together 48 contestants from eight countries -- Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, the Philipp
Oct. 24, 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 -
New Mexican teen romance adapts K-drama style in bold genre crossover
A new Mexican TV series is turning heads for doing something rare. Not only is it inspired by Korean dramas, it looks and feels like one. Set to premiere Oct. 27 on Mexico’s Canal 5 (part of the TelevisaUnivision network), "Contrato de Corazones, Tu y Yo" (Heart Contract, You and Me) is a 20-episode romantic drama that borrows directly from the visual and narrative playbook of K-dramas. It blends slow-motion edits, dreamlike cinematography and emotionally layered teen romance in a clear homage t
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 -
'Literature must give voice to the nonhuman'
Throughout the long age of high modernity, Amitav Ghosh observes, literature and the arts became intensely human-centered. Now, he believes, the time has come to step away from that and begin recognizing the world beyond ourselves. “This is, to me, a very fundamental challenge today. How do we actually try to recognize the agency of nonhuman entities of many different kinds?” said Ghosh. “And I think it’s increasingly recognized across the world that, in confronting our various environmental cri
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 -
House in Seoul, big company job — 'The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' asks what success means
JTBC’s new series “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim” arrives with a Korean title as attention-grabbing as it is telling: “The Story of General Manager Kim Who Goes to a Big Company with a House in Seoul” — a phrase that encapsulates the aspirations of everyday Koreans. The dramedy delivers a mix of comedy, melancholy and realism. It follows Kim Nak-soo, a man who is confident he’s checked off every box on the societal scorecard. He has a house in Seoul’s fiercely competitive housing market, a secure gi
Oct. 22, 2025 -
Yangson Project confronts 'Ghosts' – the inherited spirits that haunt us
When we fight with someone, it’s never just with that person, according to director Park Ji-hye of the Yangson Project. Behind the person stand their parents, their upbringing, their entire lineage — not just their bodies, but the choices and values passed down through the generations, all chained together in one being. It’s one world colliding with another. Those storied worlds collide in the Yangson Project’s latest production, “Ghosts,” a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s 1881 play that confronts
Oct. 22, 2025