Journalist
Yoon Ju-hye
jujusun@ajunews.com
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Korea flags alleged wasteful spending at music performers group, including contracts tied to executive’s relatives The Korea Music Performers Association, known as KOSCAP, is facing scrutiny after allegations that it spent its budget loosely, including signing private contracts centered on companies run by relatives of an executive. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 20th that a 2025 inspection of KOSCAP and the Korea Society of Copyrights for Literary Works and Art found numerous shortcomings in compensation distribution and organizational operations. The ministry said it selected three organizations through a public call to serve as copyright compensation recipients: the literary and arts copyright society, KOSCAP and the Korea Music Content Association. After reviewing their operations, it found multiple issues requiring correction, imposed corrective conditions and ordered the groups to undergo another review through a new call for applications in two years. At KOSCAP, the ministry said it found many cases of improper spending and weak governance. Executive A, it said, recommended a company led by a sixth-degree relative for 2025 holiday gift purchases, and KOSCAP then signed a 22.77 million won private contract with that firm. The amount exceeded KOSCAP’s internal limit for private contracts by 770,000 won. KOSCAP also signed an 11.3 million won contract with a travel agency where the same relative of Executive A worked while planning a 2025 staff workshop, the ministry said. The ministry said KOSCAP spent 329 million won on vacation pay in 2025, averaging about 10 million won per person. KOSCAP’s vacation-pay rate has steadily increased, rising from 120% of base salary in 2013 to 210% in 2024. It also created four new allowances in 2025 without reporting them to the general assembly or board, including children’s tuition (2 million to 3 million won a year), meal allowance (100,000 won a month), communications allowance (50,000 won a month) and a youth housing stability allowance (100,000 won a month). About 96.25 million won was paid to executives and staff under those categories over the past year. The ministry also said that while rules limit individual corporate cards to executives, KOSCAP appointed non-standing adviser B in October and signed a contract providing a monthly adviser fee of 5.7 million won, a corporate card with a 1 million won monthly cap for business expenses, and coverage under the four major social insurance programs. B charged 1,041,400 won in October alone, exceeding the limit, and the ministry cited cases of split transactions at the same location late at night. Other findings included an unauthorized expansion of a prefabricated panel space on a KOSCAP-owned building and a renovation contract signed for about 25 million won more than the publicly announced amount, the ministry said. At the literary and arts copyright society, the ministry said it found cases of overcollection involving works whose protection period had expired (five cases, including authors Sim Hun and Kim Yeongrang, totaling 630,000 won) and cases in which authors were misclassified and did not receive compensation for 10 years despite being members (two cases, totaling 240,000 won). The ministry said it issued corrective orders to KOSCAP and the literary and arts copyright society, including demands for disciplinary action against responsible officials, corrections to improper spending and steps to prevent recurrence. As conditions for designation as compensation recipient organizations, it also required measures to curb wasteful management, establish conflict-of-interest prevention plans, lower management fee rates and reduce undistributed compensation funds. 2026-02-20 08:57:23 -
K-Pop Boosts Hanbok’s Global Profile, but Experts Say Daily Wear Is the Next Test As K-pop artists including BTS raise the hanbok’s profile on the global stage, calls are growing to find ways to root the traditional Korean outfit in everyday life. Industry officials said Feb. 20 that with BTS’ full-group return nearing, attention is on whether K-pop’s global reach can translate into new momentum for the hanbok industry. BTS has frequently used hanbok-inspired looks onstage, helping recast the garment as a modern, trend-forward style. The group drew worldwide attention on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” performing with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Geunjeongjeon Hall as a backdrop while wearing stage outfits that reinterpreted hanbok elements. For “IDOL,” BTS wore costumes based on hanbok, updated with modern takes on traditional patterns and colors. Member Suga also sparked buzz by wearing a gonryongpo in the music video for his solo track “Daechwita.” BTS has also introduced hanbok as “Korean culture” in interviews with major overseas media outlets. Hanbok is also taking on a role as a symbol of K-culture in diplomacy. Ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to South Korea, first lady Rosangela da Silva posted photos on social media wearing a hanbok gifted by the local Korean community. “At this moment, ahead of an official visit to South Korea, I had the honor of receiving a hanbok as a gift,” she wrote, describing it as “a traditional Korean outfit mainly worn for festivals, weddings, holidays and cultural events.” Kim Hye-kyung, recently named an “honorary hanbok ambassador,” has worn hanbok while accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on overseas trips, officials said. At a recent hanbok New Year gathering, she said, “Hanbok is a precious cultural heritage that represents Korea and a core asset of K-culture,” adding, “I will devote myself even more to promoting the beauty of hanbok.” Experts say the next step is making hanbok part of daily life, moving beyond the idea that it is only formal wear. Many argue it should be used across a wider range of content, including K-pop, games and virtual reality. Kim So-hyun, a professor in the Department of Hanbok Culture Contents at Baewha Women’s University, said content is needed so people can experience hanbok in virtual spaces as well. She pointed to examples of companies such as Louis Vuitton offering brand experiences to younger users in virtual platforms like Zepeto and generating revenue through item sales. “Hanbok is changing into cultural content people enjoy as play by combining it with films, dramas, webtoons and games,” she said. “The space for hanbok in everyday life is expanding into virtual worlds such as the metaverse.” Kwon Hye-jin, CEO of hanbok studio Hyeon and an adjunct professor at Ewha Womans University, said idol stars bowing to fans around the world are helping spread awareness of hanbok. She called for strategies to increase hanbok exposure through K-content, including collaborations with Korean Wave stars. She also proposed hanbok festivals that friends, couples and families can enjoy together, similar to Brazil’s Carnival or Japan’s matsuri. 2026-02-20 08:03:00 -
Business and Investing Books Lead Yes24 Bestsellers as KOSPI Rally Continues As the KOSPI surged past the 5,600 mark, business and economics titles continued to dominate bestseller lists. According to Yes24’s overall bestseller rankings for the third week of February, professor Lee Gwang-su’s “Stock Investing for Progressives” ranked No. 1. The comic “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity 18 (Double Special Edition),” which began preorders last week, placed No. 2. Cho Hyun-sun’s new novel “My Perfect Funeral,” published in January, was No. 3. The 2025 Akutagawa Prize winner “Goethe Said Everything” ranked No. 4, and “Sakamoto Days 25 (Double Special Edition)” was No. 5. Interest in investing stayed strong through the Lunar New Year holiday. Five business and economics books made the overall top 10, extending a trend seen since the start of the year. Sales of “Stock Investing for Progressives” rose 46.4% from the previous week during Feb. 12-18, the holiday period. “KOSPI 10,000: Next Level,” which reached No. 7 after preorders began, drew a majority of purchases from readers in their 50s, at 51.1%. The No. 8 title, “Create 3 Million Won in Monthly Dividends Within Three Years With 10 Million Won,” had a 40.1% purchase share among readers in their 40s. “Park Gomhui’s Pension Wealth Class” (No. 9) and “The Equation of Money” (No. 10) also made the top 10. Comics also saw a surge among younger readers. “The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity 18 (Double Special Edition)” climbed to No. 2 in seven days after preorders opened on Feb. 12, with purchases led by men in their teens (31.1%) and 20s (25.3%). “Sakamoto Days 25 (Double Special Edition)” entered the overall top five in six days after preorders began Feb. 13; women in their 20s accounted for 28.7% of purchases. Long-form fiction maintained steady popularity. Along with “My Perfect Funeral” (No. 3) and “Goethe Said Everything” (No. 4), “Grapefruit Apricot Club” (No. 15), “Contradiction” (No. 17) and “I Said Goodbye” (No. 20) all ranked in the overall top 20. Sales of “My Perfect Funeral” rose 24.4% from the previous week during the holiday period. Women accounted for 73.3% of buyers, including women in their 30s (17.1%) and 40s (28.6%). * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 15:12:00 -
South Korea Surveys Public on Raising Palace and Royal Tomb Admission Fees The government is moving to review raising admission fees for royal palaces and tombs, which have been frozen for 20 years. Before deciding whether to raise prices and by how much, it is seeking public input to reduce potential controversy. The Korea Heritage Service said Thursday it is conducting a public survey titled “Public Perception Survey on Realizing Palace and Royal Tomb Admission Fees.” The survey is being run through the Sotong24 website and closes Friday. The survey has six questions, including what respondents consider an appropriate fee level, whether they would still visit if prices rise, and views on the current system that applies the same admission fee to Koreans and foreigners. It also asks whether to keep a differentiated pricing system or adopt a single-fee structure. The questionnaire lays out specific price ranges. For Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, which currently charge 3,000 won, it asks respondents to choose among: 3,000 won (no change); more than 3,000 won to less than 5,000 won; 5,000 won to less than 8,000 won; 8,000 won to less than 10,000 won; or 10,000 won or more. For Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs, which currently charge 1,000 won, the ranges are: 1,000 won (no change); more than 1,000 won to less than 3,000 won; 3,000 won to less than 5,000 won; 5,000 won to less than 8,000 won; or 8,000 won or more. The survey follows a view that current fees do not reflect inflation and rising maintenance costs. Admission is 3,000 won for Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung; 1,000 won each for Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Jongmyo and the Joseon royal tombs; and 500 won for Sejong relic sites. By comparison, Buckingham Palace charges 65.7 pounds (about 120,000 won) and the Palace of Versailles charges 25 to 35 euros (about 43,000 to 60,000 won). Calls to raise fees have circulated inside and outside the government. President Lee Jae-myung, in a December briefing on the Korea Heritage Service’s 2026 work plan, noted that taxpayer money is used to manage the sites and said, “It is not substantively fair for a small number of visitors to enjoy the benefits.” While repeatedly stressing the need to adjust fees, he added, “If you just (raise them), people feel upset and disappointed, so it needs to be adjusted after good explanations and a process of persuasion.” Based on the survey results, the government is expected to gauge social consensus on the need for changes and an appropriate level, then draft specific improvements. A recent study suggests some support for fees near 10,000 won. According to public hearing materials for a policy study titled “Policy Research on Measures to Realize Service Admission Fees for Palaces and Tombs,” published by the Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the CST-affiliated Cultural Administration Research Institute, a survey of 2,341 visitors found respondents said they could pay an average of 9,730 won for palaces and Jongmyo Shrine and 8,458 won for the Joseon royal tombs. Separately, as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has raised admission for some special exhibitions by 60%, the National Museum of Korea — facing a surge in visitors — is also reviewing charging for its permanent exhibition. The museum is developing online reservation and ticketing, on-site ticketing, contactless electronic ticket checks, and mobile tickets using QR codes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 14:21:27 -
Cho Seong-ha, Shim Eun-kyung cast as leads in National Theater Company’s 'Banya Ajae' Actors Cho Seong-ha and Shim Eun-kyung will star in the National Theater Company of Korea’s play “Banya Ajae,” which opens in May, the company said on the 19th. “Banya Ajae” is a Korean adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play “Uncle Vanya.” Cho will play Park I-bo (Vanya), a man who devoted his life to supporting his late sister’s husband, only to realize his brother-in-law is an incompetent intellectual, leaving him overwhelmed by the sense that his life has been denied. Shim will play Seo Eun-hee (Sonya), Park’s niece, who is kind and diligent but lives with the pain of a failed unrequited love and insecurity about her appearance. Lim Kang-hee will play Oh Young-ran (Yelena), and Kim Seung-dae will play the doctor Ahn Hae-il (Astrov). The cast also includes Son Sook (Yang Mal-rye), Nam Myeong-ryeol (Seo Byeong-hu), Ki Ju-bong (Lee Ki-jin) and Jeong Gyeong-sun (Ma Jeom-jeom). The production runs May 22-31 at the Haeoreum Theater at the National Theater of Korea. Tickets are available through the National Theater Company of Korea, the National Theater of Korea and the NOL Ticket websites. 2026-02-19 12:24:00 -
Charlotte Theater Marks 20th Anniversary, Unveils 2026 Musical Lineup Including 'Dream of the Peach Blossom Land' and 'Frozen' South Korea’s first theater dedicated exclusively to musicals, Charlotte Theater, on the 19th announced its 2026 season lineup. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the venue said it will continue to present a wide-ranging slate of productions from Korea and abroad. The long-running musical ‘Kinky Boots’ will continue through March 29 for its grand finale. Beginning in April, the original Korean musical ‘Dream of the Peach Blossom Land’ will take the stage, which the theater described as a showcase of Korean storytelling and aesthetics. Starting in August, the musical ‘Frozen (FROZEN)’ will open its first run in South Korea. The production is a stage adaptation of the hit film ‘Frozen.’ To mark the 20th anniversary, Charlotte Theater also plans promotions including an in-theater guestbook and photo zone. Using stories and photos submitted online, it will produce and release a “Charlotte Theater poster made by the audience.” The theater also plans to roll out a series of 20th-anniversary limited-edition merchandise items.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 10:03:00 -
Lee Ufan Works Lead Seoul Auction and K Auction Sales in Late February The year’s first art auction delivered stronger-than-expected results, raising expectations of a market rebound, and major houses are now preparing a new round of February sales. According to the art auction industry on the 19th, Seoul Auction and K Auction will hold their February auctions on the 26th and 27th, respectively. Together, the two houses will offer 226 works by artists whose value has been tested in domestic and international markets, with a combined estimate of about 17.6 billion won. Seoul Auction will feature Lee Ufan’s “Dialogue,” a work defined by minimal brushwork set against broad areas of open space. It is estimated at 950 million won to 1.8 billion won. Works by key figures in modern Korean art, including Lee Jung-seob, Chang Ucchin and Choi Young-rim, will also be offered. K Auction will also lead with large-scale “Dialogue” paintings by Lee, including No. 300 and No. 100, and will add a wider range of works, from ceramics to small terracotta pieces. The No. 300 painting, made in 2007, is described as a rare, extra-large format within Lee’s output. It is estimated at 1.35 billion won to 2.4 billion won. Lee’s ceramic works and terracotta pieces offered alongside the paintings highlight another side of his practice. His painted ceramic work titled “Untitled” extends the relationship between dots and empty space from his flat canvases into three-dimensional form. At Seoul Auction, Kim Tschang-yeul’s “Sunflower” and “Return” are also expected to draw attention. “Sunflower,” made in 1955, shows the artist’s early style before his well-known water-drop series and is estimated at 250 million won to 500 million won. “Return,” a large folding-screen-format work made in 1996, is estimated at 120 million won to 250 million won. K Auction will also offer works by Dansaekhwa masters including Park Seo-bo and Yun Hyong-keun, alongside international names such as Yayoi Kusama, Bernard Buffet, Gerhard Richter and Yoshitomo Nara. Kusama’s 1991 “Pumpkin” will be included. Chun Kyung-ja’s “Woman,” selected for the auction catalog cover, is also positioned as a key work in the sale. A K Auction official said the January auction ended with strong interest, confirming steady demand and high collector participation. The official added that the positive start to the year is fueling expectations for more active movement in the art market in 2026. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 00:03:00 -
ACC to Stream Children’s Theater and Contemporary Dance on YouTube During Lunar New Year Holiday During the Lunar New Year holiday, viewers can watch children’s theater and contemporary dance at home on the ACC YouTube channel. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s National Asian Culture Center said Sunday it will run an online program, “Lunar New Year with ACC,” on the ACC YouTube channel from Feb. 14 to 18. The streamed performances are the children’s play “Eoduksini” and the dance work “1℃,” which raises questions about the climate crisis. “Eoduksini,” created for the “2023 ACC Children and Youth Original Production,” reinterprets Korean folktales in a modern way. The production has continued to tour after winning an acting award at the 2024 Seoul Children’s Theater Awards, earning praise for balancing artistic quality and popular appeal. It follows a traditional Korean goblin, Eoduksini — a creature said to exist only when it receives human attention — and a human child who has retreated into the darkness. As they comfort each other’s wounds, they search for the value of existence in a journey that is dark yet warm. ACC said the play offers children imagination and gives adults a chance to reflect on overlooked beings. A “2025 ACC International Cooperation Performance,” “1℃” is a contemporary dance work by choreographer Heo Seong-im and was selected for the 2025 Seoul International Performing Arts Festival. The piece asks, “Can art spur action in the face of the climate crisis?” and draws audiences into the reality of climate change. It portrays the serious threat that a temperature shift of just 1 degree Celsius can pose to Earth’s ecosystems through dynamic movement, lighting and music, and delivers the message that “every small gesture matters in shaping the future.” The work premiered last October at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and later completed invited performances at three theaters in the U.K., including London’s Southbank Centre. ACC said the program was planned to expand public access to culture during the holiday and to improve access to ACC original productions. No reservation or fee is required, and anyone can watch through the official ACC YouTube channel. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 16:03:00 -
National Gugak Center to Stage Lunar New Year Show 'Seol Majung Gase' on Feb. 17 The National Gugak Center said Sunday it will present a Lunar New Year family program, “Seol Ma(馬)jung Gase,” at 3 p.m. on Feb. 17 at its Yeakdang Theater. The show was planned for 2026, the Byeongo Year (丙午年), described as the “Year of the Red Horse.” It will pair traditional and newly created Korean music and dance to welcome New Year’s blessings and deliver a message of hope about moving forward. The program opens with the center’s Court Music Orchestra performing “Sujecheon.” It continues with the Folk Music Orchestra’s “Binari” and a medley of folk songs, offering wishes for peace and good fortune. The center’s Dance Company and Folk Music Orchestra then join for a fan dance, followed by “Pangut” and a janggu drum dance. A one-act changgeuk excerpt from “Simcheongga,” titled “The Road to Hwangseong,” will feature National Changgeuk Company members Seo Jeong-geum and Choi Yong-seok, among others. In the second half, the center’s Creative Music Orchestra will perform “Sound of Hoofbeats,” filling the stage with driving rhythms. The orchestra will also team with Ssinggeut Arariga for a traditional Korean children’s song set aimed at young audience members. On the day of the performance, the center will run a Lunar New Year hands-on program, “Umyun Land Returns,” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on its lawn. Activities include traditional folk games, clay dumpling-making and crafting lucky pouches. A center official said the Lunar New Year program “brings together tradition and new works, music and dance,” and will serve as “a place to welcome New Year’s blessings and start the year with hope.” The performance will be held at the Yeakdang Theater, with folk and craft activities for attendees on the lawn beginning two hours before curtain. Tickets are available through the National Gugak Center website or by phone. All seats cost 20,000 won* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 13:06:00 -
National Museums in South Korea Offer Lunar New Year Events, Free Exhibits National museums across South Korea are marking the Lunar New Year holiday with cultural programs designed for families nationwide. The National Museum of Korea said Sunday the events were planned to celebrate Seollal, the country’s traditional New Year, and to offer visitors more hands-on opportunities to experience traditional culture. At the National Museum of Korea, the spring plum blossom exhibit "Ipchun Maehyang" is being held during the holiday period. The exhibit began Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 18, featuring plum blossoms in full bloom. From mid-March, the museum will continue the seasonal theme with a spring flower festival, "Geoulmot Plum Blossom Fragrance," timed to the blooming of plum trees around the Mirror Pond on the museum grounds. The museum is also running a Seollal-themed, visitor-participation SNS event tied to the plum exhibit: visitors who post a verification photo after viewing and register it with the event post will be entered in a drawing for small souvenirs. During the Lunar New Year holiday, visitors can also see the "Our Yi Sun-sin" exhibition free of charge. The museum will be closed on Seollal itself. The National Museum of Korea is also displaying the full 22-panel set of "Daedongyeojido" by cartographer Kim Jeong-ho (1804?~1866?) starting Feb. 12 on the first floor of the permanent exhibition hall along "The Road of History." The display offers a rare chance to view the complete "Daedongyeojido," produced by Kim in 1861 (Cheoljong 12), at a glance. The National Folk Museum of Korea will hold its 2026 Seollal festival, "Bok-it-Seol," on the 16th. In the main building lobby, visitors can use a yut-stick fortune-telling kiosk for a New Year’s fortune experience titled "Byeongo Year Seen Through Yut." The museum will also run a "Well-Wishes Archive" where families and neighbors can leave New Year messages. Other offerings include a special Seollal performance, the family pansori-style theater piece "Finding the Sound of Princess Bari"; a "Sodam Play Yard" featuring traditional games such as jegi, ttakji and spinning tops; and videos exploring the meaning of Seollal. At the museum’s Paju branch, the Seollal seasonal program "Seolma-jung — A Soft-and-Lively Seasonal Playground" will be offered. In a storage-linked activity based on the tradition of exchanging well-wishes on Seollal, "New Year’s Greetings Completed With Horse-Related Words," visitors will find horse-related artifacts and use their meanings to complete a New Year greeting. Those who finish the activity sheet will receive a Seollal souvenir inspired by tteokguk. Regional national museums are also hosting Seollal events reflecting local themes. The Gwangju National Museum will offer a multi-stamp bookmark-making activity at its ceramics culture center and a workshop to make a horse-insignia plaster air freshener. At the Buyeo National Museum, visitors can try folk games including yutnori, tuho and jegichagi. The Daegu National Museum will host hands-on sessions where visitors can make items such as a card-holder-style horse insignia and a gat key ring. Other national museums around the country have prepared additional programs, including traditional games such as jegichagi, rolling hoops and spinning tops, Seollal lucky pouches, and gonggi. Visitors can join on site without reservations, and participation is free. Yoo Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said the museum "carefully prepared" a range of events so people can spend the holiday enjoying traditional culture with their families. He added that the museum will continue developing programs so it can serve not only as a place to view artifacts but also as a cultural hub connecting generations and local communities. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 11:27:00