• HarryBigButton ready to unleash K-rock

    Hongdae band eyes Western rock market Lee Sung-soo roars through the lyrics with his deep voice and stomps on the stage, his shaggy hair flies rhythmically to the powerful guitar sound. As the performance heats up, his hair clings to his sweaty face and the audience of some 300 as…

    Read More »

  • K-literature reaches more readers

    Following international exposure at the London Book Fair on April 8-10, worldwide interest in Korean literature is gaining momentum. A slew of translated versions of Korean novels and poems have been published in various countries from the United States to Singapore in an effort to attract a broader readership. Supported…

    Read More »

  • Sorrow shared at buddhists’ lantern parade

    Koreans and foreigners, believers and nonbelievers alike joined hands in consoling the loss of lives in the ferry Sewol disaster in an annual Buddhist lotus lantern festival in Seoul, Saturday. Thousands watched the parade stretching from Dongguk University to Jogye Temple wearing yellow ribbons in symbolic commiseration. This year’s parade…

    Read More »

  • Jang Seo-hee and ‘hallyu’ in China

    Actress Jang Seo-hee, 42, who is also known as Jang Ruicy in China, will return to the small screen in a new drama, tentatively titled “Cuckoo’s Nest.” It is the first new drama in four years for the actress who pulled off a stunning performance and high viewership or 44…

    Read More »

  • 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…

    Read More »

  • 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…

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »

  • 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…

    Read More »

  • 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.…

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »