South Korea: Virus changes year-end holiday plans, but connection still possible
SEOUL: Baek Soo-bin, 28, was all set to finally reunite with her friends for a year-end party after a series of canceled dinners and get-togethers amid toughened coronavirus social distancing rules. But instead of visiting a fancy bar or restaurant, Baek was at her home in Paju, north of Seoul, wearing pajamas with a […]
Body of South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk likely to be cremated in Latvia
SEOUL: The body of South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk, who died from COVID-19 complications in Latvia, is likely to be cremated in the Baltic country, a diplomatic source familiar with the matter has said. Kim’s family has asked the South Korean Embassy in Latvia to take care of the funeral process, the source said, citing […]
Seoul cancels year-end bell-ringing ceremony for first time in 67 years
SEOUL: The Seoul metropolitan government said that a traditional bell-ringing ceremony at midnight on New Year’s Eve would be canceled amid a recent surge in novel coronavirus infections. “Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, we have to cancel the year-end bell-ringing ceremony,” said an official from the municipal government of the capital city. It […]
Technology, culture, fun as numerous events lined up for fifth anniversary of Asia Culture Center opening
SEOUL: In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Asia Culture Center (ACC) on November 25, a variety of programs, including exhibitions, performances, a film festival, and a panel discussion, have been prepared. “To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the ACC’s opening, we will present events based on ACC’s unique […]
Four Oscar winner Parasite to open Korea movie festival in Bahrain
MANAMA: Parasite, the black comedy thriller movie that won four Oscars last year, will open the annual Korean movie festival later this month. The eighth edition of “Korea Movie Weeks” will have its grand opening on November 25 amid full adherence to the precautionary measurements of social distancing. Under the social responsibility and commitment […]
Korean band wades into controversy with Chinese netizens over panda touch
SEOUL: More than 750 million social media users have followed or been involved in a zoo controversy sparked when K-pop girl band Blackpink touched a mother panda and cuddled a baby panda with their make-up on. The controversy was sparked after a teaser for the final episode of “24/365 with BLACKPINK” was uploaded. In […]
Airlines woo passengers with flights to … nowhere!
SEOUL: Lee Joo-mi, 25, didn’t have high expectations when she arrived at Incheon International Airport on Oct. 23. All she had signed up for was a flight from Incheon … to Incheon. The coronavirus pandemic forced the graduate student to return home early from her university in Leicester, Britain. What she didn’t know was that […]
Comedian Park Ji-sun found dead at home: Police
SEOUL: Popular female comedian Park Ji-sun was found dead alongside her mother at her home in Seoul, police said. Police discovered them lying dead at around 1:44 p.m. after getting a report from her father that he could not contact both of them. Park was reportedly under treatment for an unspecified illness and had been […]
Busan film festival kicks off amid COVID-19 pandemic
SEOUL: This year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) kicked off Wednesday in a reduced format amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The festival will run through Oct. 30 at the Busan Cinema Center in the southern port city of Busan, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, featuring 192 films from 68 countries. The 25th edition was […]
Dolce Classic, GCS International organize peace concert to mark 39th UN International Day of Peace
By Seok-Jae Kang GCS International Secretary-General Vice President of the Asian Journalists Association SEOUL: A peace concert, organized by Dolce Classic, led by Chung-Ang University Prof. Emeritus Ryee June-il, and supported by GCS International, was successfully held in Seoul. The peace concert was held on Tuesday to commemorate the 39th UN International Day of Peace, […]