Gangnam’s Cultural Renaissance: From K-Pop to Fine Art

Jul 09, 2024

People participating in the “Gangnam Art Gallery Tour” (Photos courtesy of JunghyunHan, hongcomm.) Seoul’s Gangnam-gu District, which literally means “south of the (Han) river,” became world-famous over a decade ago through Psy’s hit song “Gangnam Style.” In recent years, though, it has transformed into a burgeoning art hub. While Gangnam-gu has long been home to traditional Korean galleries and renowned international art sp

Haenggung-dong blends Suwon’s past and present

Jul 09, 2024

Hwaseong Fortress Tourist Trolley: Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion – Haengnidan-gil – Haenggung-dong Mural Village – Hwaseong Haenggung Palace – Suwon Tongdak (Fried Chicken) Street – Flying Suwon Suwon’s nightscape offers visitors an exotic blend of old and new. (Photo courtesy of Kim Byeong-gu, hongcomm.) Suwon’s Haenggung-dong is home to Hwaseong Fortress, a beautiful UNESCO-inscribed cultural heritage site built during the J

Korean opera “Tcheo Yong” awes European audiences

Jul 09, 2024

The modern Korean opera “Tcheo Yong” has mesmerized Europe, the birthplace of opera. The Korea National Opera, the Korean National Symphony Orchestra and the National Chorus of Korea showcased the opera at the prestigious Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, on June 13, concluding a successful tour that included Paris and Berlin. The European tour was designed to elevate international recognition of Korean classical music ahead of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris

Revisiting Korean War Heroes Through AI

Jul 09, 2024

The ROKS Baekdusan (PC-701) reimagined as a space battleship (Courtesy of the MPVA) This year marks the 74th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. The Korean War began with North Korea’s surprise invasion of the South on June 25, 1950, and continued until the armistice on July 27, 1953. The war, which lasted about three years and one month, resulted in approximately 2.45 million military and civilian casualties. To help South Korea in its crisis, 22 countries, includ

Korea’s dessert culture is going retro

Jul 09, 2024

Various Korean confections (Photo courtesy of Kohojae) Young Koreans are falling head over heels for traditional Korean desserts. These delicious treats are not only a feast for the eyes – thanks to their colorful, attractive presentation – but also full of nutritious goodness. Packed with beans, rice flour, nuts and seeds, the desserts are a delightful combination of healthy, tasty ingredients. In the past, it was customary in Korea to serve tea, sweet