• Overseas treasures boost cultural pride

    CHA expanding support for historical objects in other countries About 150,000 Korean cultural relics are scattered throughout more than 20 countries, including Japan, the United States and Germany, according to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation. Supporting preservation of them and research is a way of promoting understanding of Korean…

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  • One name, three stars

    ‘Soo-hyun’ increases hallyu craze In Korea, “Soo-hyun” is a common name like John or William in the U.S. and U.K. Three figures sharing the very ordinary name are now playing a crucial role in lifting Korean entertainers’ international profile to an extraordinary level. They are actor Kim Soo-hyun, actress Kim…

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  • East Asia

    Foreigners embrace meaning of Dokdo

    DOKDO —The field trip to Korea’s easternmost islets, Dokdo, can be challenging, to say the least. A trip starting in Seoul means traveling down to the port city of Donghae, Gangwon Province, taking a ferry to Ulleung Island in North Gyeongsang Province and then another two and half hours on…

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  • Drama sets becoming ‘ghost towns’

    The sensational drama series “My Love From the Star” is elevating “hallyu” or the Korean wave to new levels. It has created a positive overflow, particularly in the tourism sector as the locations where the drama was shot have become tourist hot spots. But how long will they continue to…

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  • Jeju Island: a true traveler’s gem

    This is an article written by a foreign student participating in the “Must-See Routes” program organized by the Visit Korea Committee. It is the final of three articles published in The Korea Times’ tourism section. — ED. The flight from Seoul to Jeju Island took no longer than an hour.…

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  • East Asia

    Korean games popular in China, Japan

    Critics argue tough regulations curb growth potential K-pop’s rise is fast and furious, representing the country’s booming cultural industry. Yet this doesn’t mean K-pop is the most profitable export item among cultural products. Guess what the No.1 is? Computer games. According to the state-run Korea Finance Corporation, Korea’s games exports…

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  • Buddhist monk leads return of royal seals

    After learning that U.S. authorities had confiscated nine stolen Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) seals late last year, Buddhist monk Hye Moon started a campaign to get U.S. President Barack Obama to bring them to Korea. Many expressed skepticism, but he silenced doubters once and for all as Obama is expected to…

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  • East Asia

    Teen girls flock to EXO showcase

    If the decibel level from a cheering crowd measures the popularity of a pop band, EXO tops them all. During the one-and-half hour showcase for the K-pop boy-band’s second mini-album, “EXO Comeback Show,” Tuesday night, the non-stop screams from swooning female teenage fans were literally deafening. Yet it was not…

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  • Court rules men’s sex toys not obscene material

    Men’s sex toys are not obscene material, a court said Wednesday, countering a previous top court ruling. The Cheongju District Court acquitted an adult products shop owner, 52, accused of displaying vagina-shaped masturbation devices in an appeals case. She was indicted for displaying 13 men’s sex toys in her shop.…

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  • East Asia

    Park to play in Asian Cup

    Park Eun-seon, a footballer who has recently weathered a controversy over her gender, will represent Korea in next month’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) women’s Asian Cup. Park, 28, a forward for Seoul City Amazones in the WK-League, was among the 23 players Korea manager Yoon Deok-yeo picked for the tournament…

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