Journalist

Yoon Ju-hye
  • LG Arts Center Stages ‘Uncle Vanya’ as Rival National Theater Company Mounts Its Own
    LG Arts Center Stages ‘Uncle Vanya’ as Rival National Theater Company Mounts Its Own LG Arts Center and the National Theater Company of Korea will both stage Anton Chekhov’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ in the first half of this year, setting up another close-timed matchup after last year’s dueling productions of ‘Hedda Gabler.’ Director Son Sang-gyu, who is leading LG Arts Center’s version, said at a production news conference on April 7 in Seoul that he welcomed the overlap. “I think it’s a good thing that we interpret the same work differently,” he said. Son said he watched last year’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ faceoff with interest and, after seeing both productions, came away thinking it could be worthwhile to mount the same classic at the same time. He said that after news spread of another head-to-head, he initially brushed off concerns from people asking if he was worried, but has since felt a sense of camaraderie. “They’re working hard, and we’re working hard,” he said. “I find myself cheering them on.” Son said his production will reimagine the play without locking it to a specific era or place, unlike the original set on a 19th-century Russian country estate. He said the staging aims to help audiences connect with a story written about 130 years ago by infusing Chekhov’s text with contemporary emotions and language. Actor Lee Seo-jin will play Vanya, and actor Go A-sung will play his niece, Sonya, in her first stage play since debuting as an actor. Son highlighted a clear difference from the National Theater Company’s approach. “They changed the setting to Korea,” he said. “We didn’t. Even if it’s not radical, we’re looking for ways to express it freshly, without strain, and as freely and effectively as possible.” LG Arts Center Director Lee Hyun-jung said she was surprised to hear the National Theater Company would stage the same work. She said audiences could find it more engaging to watch the two productions back-to-back and compare how each interprets the classic. Son said he saw echoes of his father in Vanya, a man who complains but shoulders responsibility until he finally erupts in anger. He also said Lee Seo-jin’s on-screen persona — grumbling yet reliably completing tasks — made him a strong fit for the role. “My father worked late and retired,” Son said. “Because he had to support the family, he used to say, ‘I’ve never even been able to take a trip.’ Who can judge that kind of life?” He added that ‘Uncle Vanya’ portrays regret over not doing what one wanted and the humiliation that follows, but said it would be wrong to declare the character lived incorrectly. Son said he hopes the production offers comfort by encouraging people to be more forgiving about their own lives, much as one accepts a tree as it is. He said he recently cried while watching the cast rehearse, but described the play as a comedy. “It’s a comedy, but I want to include sadness and emotion, too,” he said. “I want audiences to laugh.” He recalled once seeing a young couple arguing on the street and finding it funny from the outside, even if it was not funny for them. The production runs May 7-31 at LG Arts Center Seoul’s LG Signature Hall. 2026-04-07 17:42:23
  • Seoul Design Award 2026 Accepting Entries Through June 30; New designboom Prize Added
    Seoul Design Award 2026 Accepting Entries Through June 30; New designboom Prize Added The Seoul Design Foundation said Monday it is accepting entries for the Seoul Design Award 2026 through June 30. Now in its seventh year, the Seoul Design Award is a public global award focused on sustainable design aimed at addressing social problems. The foundation said the competition has expanded from 75 entries at its first event in 2019 to 941 projects from 74 countries in 2025, a 1,100% increase over six years. The foundation said it has broadened the award this year by adding new categories, including a designboom special prize. The global design media outlet will judge and select three winners, who will receive global promotion opportunities, including a featured article on designboom’s platform. A new ESG Design Impact Prize will also spotlight companies and institutions practicing sustainable design. The foundation said the category is intended to identify strong projects and show how design can serve as a practical tool for advancing ESG values. The foundation also expanded opportunities for young designers. The existing Concept Prize has been renamed the Young Designer Prize, and participation has been widened for undergraduate and graduate students in South Korea and abroad, the foundation said. Entries will be accepted in four categories based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Health & Peace, Equal Opportunities, Energy & Environment, and Cities & Communities. Applications will be accepted only in English via the Seoul Design Award website from March 30 through 3 p.m. on June 30. An awards ceremony and an international conference are scheduled for October at DDP, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. 2026-04-07 14:51:20
  • Royal Culture Festival to Run 9 Days at Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine
    Royal Culture Festival to Run 9 Days at Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine The 2026 Royal Culture Festival will be held for nine days from April 25 to May 3 at Seoul’s five major palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung and Gyeonghuigung — as well as Jongmyo Shrine. The National Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the agency-affiliated Korea Heritage Service Foundation said Tuesday that the theme for the spring 2026 festival is “Palace, Awakening Art.” An opening ceremony will be held April 24 at Heungnyemun Square at Gyeongbokgung. Director Yang Jeong-ung, who served as artistic director for cultural events tied to the “2025 APEC summit,” will stage a performance titled “Palace, Awakening Art — Hyper Palace,” combining K-content sensibilities with palace aesthetics. The program will begin with the National Dance Company’s “Mongyudowonmu,” followed by rapper Woo Won-jae and the foundation’s arts troupe performing “Ganggangsullae,” a hanbok fashion show blending Korean traditional music with EDM, and joint stages featuring Choi Ho-jong and Heo Yun-jeong, an accredited performer of the national intangible heritage geomungo sanjo. Performances will also include singer Choi Ye-rim with the Noah Children’s Choir and a reinterpretation of Bongsan mask dance by dancer AIKI with HOOK. The finale will feature a media-facade mapping show and the National Gugak Center’s “Hyangamurak,” showcasing court dance traditions. At Gyeongbokgung, programs include “Gyeongbokgung, Time Travel (4.25.~4.29.),” “Recreating Daily Life at Court (4.25.~4.29.),” “Newcomers to the Royal Court (4.25.~4.29.)” and the “Children’s Royal Culture Festival (5.1.~5.3.).” For socially vulnerable groups, including single-parent families, “A Gyeonghoeru Outing With Jangakwon Musicians (4.25.~5.3.)” offers hands-on experiences with traditional wind instruments and family photos with the palace as a backdrop. A “K-Heritage Market (4.25.~5.3.)” will run throughout the nine days, selling souvenirs. At Changdeokgung, the festival will present “Awakening the Palace in the Morning (4.28.~5.3.)” and “Crown Prince Hyomyeong and the Dance of the Moon (4.28.~4.30.).” The latter program lets visitors follow the process of preparing a banquet in 1828 to mark Queen Sunwon’s 40th birthday, touring key buildings and the rear garden. At Injeongjeon Hall, a traditional arts performance titled “Palace Concert — Taepyeongjiak by 100 Performers (太平之樂)(5.1.~5.3.)” will feature 100 performers presenting Korean traditional pieces including Sujecheon, Taepyeongga and Arirang. At Deoksugung, “Imperial Hobby Club (4.25.~5.3.)” at Jeonggwanheon will offer experiences such as tasting yangtang-guk (coffee) enjoyed by King Gojong and trying sports and other pastimes, along with special music performances. For foreign visitors, “The Emperor’s Table (5.1.~5.3.)” at Jungmyeongjeon will offer a chance to taste banquet dishes from the Korean Empire’s imperial court and hear about the history of royal cuisine. At Changgyeonggung, “Yeongchunheon, Spring Library (4.27.~5.1.)” and “The Queen’s Taste (4.30.~5.3.)” will be offered. At Gyeonghuigung, the foundation’s arts troupe will lead a street parade, “Royal Culture Festival Gilnori (5.1.),” from Heunghwamun Gate to Sungjeongmun Gate, featuring traditional performances including lion dance, Jindo drum dance and pangut. At Jongmyo Shrine, “Jongmyo Jeryeak Night Performances (4.28.~4.30.)” will present the royal ancestral ritual music in the evening. Programs requiring advance reservations will open sequentially starting at noon April 8, with tickets available through Ticketlink. Programs for foreign visitors can be booked through Creatrip. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 11:42:25
  • Korea to Offer Up to 290 Million Won for AI, XR-Linked Music Content Projects
    Korea to Offer Up to 290 Million Won for AI, XR-Linked Music Content Projects The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, known as KOCCA, said Monday they will back production of content that combines popular music intellectual property with new technologies such as artificial intelligence and extended reality.  KOCCA announced the “2026 Support for Development of Music Content Converging New Technologies” program and will accept applications through April 14. The program totals 2.949 billion won and will select 12 projects. Support will be offered in two areas: AI-based music performance production and music video production using new technologies. For AI-based performances, the program targets content that applies AI across the full production process, providing up to 290 million won per project for about three projects. For music video production, the program supports video content using technologies such as XR, virtual reality and augmented reality. It will provide up to 220 million won per project for about nine projects. Domestic popular music agencies and production companies planning performances, music videos or other video content using new technologies may apply. KOCCA said it expects the program to expand production of technology-based music content and strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea’s music industry. Details are available on KOCCA’s website, and applicants must apply through the online system by April 14. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-07 08:39:15
  • Newspaper Survival in the AI Era: Rebuild Tech DNA and Trust, Speakers Say
    Newspaper Survival in the AI Era: Rebuild Tech DNA and Trust, Speakers Say "To improve the quality of journalism, news organizations must reclaim their identity as technology companies." Kim Wi-geun, chief research officer at Publish, made the remarks at a seminar at the Korea Press Center titled ‘70 Years of Newspapers: A Record of History, a Vision for the Future,’ saying journalism is a product of combining news and technology. The event was organized by three media groups — the Korea Newspaper Association, the Korea Newspaper Broadcasting Editors Association and the Journalists Association of Korea — to reassess newspapers’ social role and chart a path for newspaper journalism amid rapid changes in the media environment, including the spread of generative artificial intelligence. In a presentation titled ‘A Blueprint for Newspaper Journalism,’ Kim said technology used by news portals that dominate distribution can sharply swing a news outlet’s audience and revenue, adding that AI will now drive those shifts. Kim repeatedly stressed that media companies are “clearly technology companies” and urged them to restore that identity. Before the internet became widespread, he said, print newspapers were leading technology firms in areas such as typesetting and printing formats, while broadcasters led in video and transmission technology. He said news organizations lost their “technology DNA” as web technology spread, and argued that regaining it is essential to raising journalistic quality. As a future strategy, Kim proposed establishing an identity as a “data company.” In the AI era, he said, the role of news content as digital data will grow beyond its value as a copyrighted work. He also called for efforts to boost trust, pursue technological innovation including cooperation on developing sovereign AI, strengthen gatekeeping, establish media ethics and prevent reporters from leaving newsrooms. If reporters’ planning and questioning skills do not surpass those of the public, he said, news organizations will lose competitiveness. He predicted demand will rise for high-quality journalism that verifies facts and pursues truth. A separate speaker urged the newspaper industry to adapt more flexibly to social change. Lee Min-gyu, a professor in Chung-Ang University’s Department of Media Communication, cited the case of 18 newspapers publishing extra editions for BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback performance, saying newspapers need to move beyond rigid, politics-and-economy-centered hard news and pay more attention to culture and lifestyle content audiences want. Lee also pointed to editorial cartoons, which he said compress a newspaper’s interpretive function into a single image, and argued newspapers have a role in an environment where information overload and AI hallucinations increase the risk of distortion. He said newspapers should help lead public opinion and keep society on the right path. AI should be used as a tool, he said, but editing must remain a human task. He also urged news outlets to reduce dependence on platforms and strengthen relationships with readers. Lee said a newspaper’s competitiveness lies not in the number of stories but in the density of trust, adding that earning trust from readers and society is more important than ever. He said the industry should jointly push for public-interest safeguards in algorithms, legal guarantees of algorithmic transparency and clear labeling standards for AI-generated news. Examples of how news organizations are responding to the AI era were also presented. Kyunghyang Shinmun said its YouTube channel, ‘Kyunghyang TV,’ launched in January 2024, has grown quickly as political analysis and in-depth interviews gained popularity. The outlet plans to invest in a dedicated video studio to strengthen content quality and production capacity. Maeil Business Newspaper said it has built several AI services, including a news agent, a stock agent and AI news explainers. The news agent targets MZ-generation users who find current affairs articles difficult, providing summaries of related past articles, developments, similar cases and outlooks. Yoo Young-hoon, deputy head of Maeil’s AX AI Data Department, said AI services cost more than expected and called for continued investment along with ways to generate revenue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 17:04:16
  • South Korea, France Sign Deal to Cooperate on Preserving Jongmyo Shrine and Saint-Denis Basilica
    South Korea, France Sign Deal to Cooperate on Preserving Jongmyo Shrine and Saint-Denis Basilica South Korea and France have agreed to cooperate on the preservation and management of Jongmyo Shrine and the Basilica of Saint-Denis.  The Korea Heritage Service said it held a high-level heritage meeting with France’s Ministry of Culture on April 2 at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and that its Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the ministry-affiliated Centre des Monuments Nationaux signed a memorandum of understanding.  In December 2022, the Korea Heritage Service — then known as the Cultural Heritage Administration — and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux signed a letter of intent to promote exchanges in cultural heritage. The new MOU, pursued as part of outcomes from a South Korea-France summit, builds on that document and calls for cooperation on systematic preservation and management of the two sites, reflecting shared historical and cultural characteristics.    The Basilica of Saint-Denis, a Gothic church in Saint-Denis north of Paris, was built around the fifth century as a monastic church. From the seventh century, it served as a royal burial site, housing the remains of 43 kings, 32 queens, and 60 princes and princesses across multiple dynasties.  At the high-level meeting held alongside the signing, Korea Heritage Service Administrator Heo Min and French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard agreed to expand exchanges in the heritage field, including site visits linking representative cultural assets, expert exchanges and mutual promotional efforts. They also discussed events planned for June to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties.  The Korea Heritage Service said it will continue working with France and other countries to broaden cooperation in the heritage sector and expand opportunities to promote Korea’s national heritage and its capacity to preserve and use it worldwide. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-06 09:45:17
  • Conductor Han-Na Chang Named CEO of Seoul Arts Center
    Conductor Han-Na Chang Named CEO of Seoul Arts Center The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it has appointed conductor Han-Na Chang as CEO of the Seoul Arts Center. The ministry said Chang is the first female CEO with a musician’s background since the arts complex opened in 1988, calling the appointment meaningful for expanding diversity in the arts. Chang is expected to coordinate her travel to take office and, as early as April 24, receive her letter of appointment from the minister and begin a three-year term. Chang is an internationally recognized cellist and conductor. She made her world-stage debut in 1994 after winning the grand prize at the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition at age 11. She later performed with leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra, the ministry said. Since 2007, Chang has conducted a range of orchestras mainly in Europe and North America, building an international network and broad repertoire. In South Korea, she served as artistic director of “Han-Na Chang’s Absolute Classic Festival” at Seongnam Arts Center (’09-’14) and “Han-Na Chang’s Daejeon Grand Festival” at Daejeon Arts Center (’24-’25). In November 2025, she was appointed a visiting distinguished professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s Graduate School of Culture Technology. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Chang brings “rich on-the-ground experience and leadership accumulated over 32 years” and a deep understanding of the performing arts through her global ties with music organizations and artists. He said he expects her to present a new artistic vision for the Seoul Arts Center, which he described as South Korea’s leading platform for foundational arts, at a time when “K-culture” is expanding globally. The ministry also said it appointed Yoo Mi-jeong, a professor in Dankook University’s piano department, as CEO of the National Symphony Orchestra Foundation, and Park Hye-jin, a professor in Dankook University’s vocal music department, as head and artistic director of the National Opera Company Foundation. Both posts carry three-year terms. Yoo is a pianist who graduated from the Peabody Institute’s piano department and graduate school and completed Yale School of Music’s artist diploma program. The ministry said she has remained active through concerto performances and solo recitals, and has taught at Yonsei University and the Korea National University of Arts, served as an adjunct professor at Gachon University, and has been a professor at Dankook University since 2003. Park studied vocal music at Yonsei University and earned a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been a professor at Dankook University’s College of Music and Arts since 2009. The ministry said she has performed widely in South Korea and abroad, taking leading roles in operas including “La Boheme,” “Carmen” and “Turandot,” and won the female lead award at the 5th Korea Opera Awards. 2026-04-06 09:36:41
  • National Dance Company Premieres Gwi-hyang, a Dance Drama on a Mothers Love
    National Dance Company Premieres 'Gwi-hyang,' a Dance Drama on a Mother's Love Mother, I’m back/After passing dark, damp cliffs/I ran through the long night/As wind returns to the wind’s home to rest/I ran with only one heart. (From Kim Seong-ok’s poem “Gwi-hyang”) The National Dance Company of Korea will present “Gwi-hyang” as its first new production of the year. The dance drama blends the lyricism of Korean dance with a theatrical narrative, drawing on Kim Seong-ok’s poem “Gwi-hyang” to stage the inner memories and emotions between a mother and her son. Artistic Director and company head Kim Jong-deok said at a news conference on April 3 at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul that “Gwi-hyang” is a work he created to connect and communicate with audiences, built from a story he felt most deeply. He said he drew inspiration from his mother and his hometown. Kim has often addressed social phenomena and broad themes, but said he came to feel limits in working that way. For this piece, he chose what remained most vivid in his heart: parents, family and home. Centered on family and longing that many can relate to, the production adds modern stage design to the restrained aesthetics of Korean dance. Company member Jang Hyun-su, who plays the mother, portrays a devoted love for her child with small, detailed gestures. She hums the song “Spring Days Pass,” and speaks into empty air as if her son were beside her, expressing a mother living with dementia. During the news conference, Jang Hyun-su became emotional while speaking about her mother. “I like the song lyric, ‘A pale pink skirt fluttered in the spring breeze.’ When I sing that song thinking of my mother, it makes my heart ache,” she said. “I think, my mother must have suffered so much. A mother is also a woman.” Company member Jang Yoon-na, who plays the mother in her younger years, said she also immersed herself in the role. “I play the mother as she moves from her brilliant 20s and 30s through her 40s and 50s,” she said. “I’m also a mother in my mid-40s with two children, and I’m trying to express the sorrow by imagining what it would feel like to lose the son who was my whole world.” The work has three chapters: the mother’s present at the end of her life; the story of mother and son; and a process of looking back on the mother’s life. The stage traces passing years, love and separation, memory and reconciliation, wounds and longing, and a journey toward recovery and comfort. For Kim, a mother’s love is like a gardenia. “Gardenias are simple, but their fragrance is strong,” he said. “When I think of my mother, I think of a gardenia — not flashy, but with a gentle scent that carries far. It’s a kind of medium for expressing the memories and love in my heart.” “Gwi-hyang” runs April 23-26 at the Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 17:24:15
  • Flautist Han Ji-hee to Release Debut Reinecke Album With Lang Lang, Royal Philharmonic
    Flautist Han Ji-hee to Release Debut Reinecke Album With Lang Lang, Royal Philharmonic Universal Music said Thursday that flutist Han Ji-hee will release her debut album, “Carl Reinecke: Works for Flute,” on April 24. The album features three works by Carl Reinecke. Han recorded the “Flute Concerto in D major” and the “Ballade in D minor for Flute and Orchestra” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko. She also recorded the flute-and-piano sonata “Undine” with pianist Lang Lang. The album will be released on the Deutsche Grammophon label, and the first movement of “Undine” will be released in advance via streaming on April 3. Han said, “When I was 13, I fell in love with Reinecke’s music,” adding, “The flute concerto and ‘Undine’ were the most important repertoire of my student years. My master’s thesis was also on Reinecke’s flute concerto.” She said that while planning the repertoire for her first recording, she thought of those two works along with Reinecke’s final piece, the “Ballade,” leading to an album devoted entirely to his music. Lang Lang, who recorded with Han in Paris, said, “Han Ji-hee poured her whole heart into this challenging repertoire,” adding, “I’m very happy to be part of this wonderful project.” Han said the experience strengthened her resolve “more than ever” to introduce classical music, art and culture to people, especially young people today. “I believe helping them come to love this great art will be the most important work for me,” she said. Han is an artist with SM Entertainment’s classical and jazz label, SM Classics. She studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and earned a doctoral degree from Seoul National University’s graduate school. She continues to perform actively as a member of the chamber ensemble PACE and as a soloist, and is scheduled to hold a concert marking the new release on April 29. 2026-04-03 14:36:18
  • National Museum of Korea to Display Andong Bongjeongsa Yeongsanhoi Hanging Scroll Painting
    National Museum of Korea to Display Andong Bongjeongsa Yeongsanhoi Hanging Scroll Painting A national treasure held by Bongjeongsa Temple in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province — the “Andong Bongjeongsa Yeongsanhoi Hanging Scroll Painting” — will go on display in Seoul.  The National Museum of Korea said Thursday it will present the work in a special exhibition, “A Buddha Leading to Enlightenment: The Andong Bongjeongsa Gwaebul,” from April 7 to June 21 to mark Buddha’s Birthday.  The museum’s annual gwaebul exhibition series began in 2006 to highlight the historical, cultural and artistic value of large Buddhist hanging scrolls kept at temples. This year marks its 20th edition. Gwaebul are oversized Buddhist paintings hung outdoors for major ceremonies, making them difficult to see up close under normal circumstances. The Bongjeongsa scroll was made in 1710 (the 36th year of King Sukjong’s reign). It measures 821.6 centimeters (323.5 inches) tall and 620.1 centimeters (244.1 inches) wide and was created by joining 16 silk panels side by side. The painting depicts the Yeongsanhoi scene — the Buddha Sakyamuni delivering his most profound teaching at Vulture Peak in India — with the Buddha centered and flanked symmetrically by eight bodhisattvas and 10 disciples. The faces of the Buddha, bodhisattvas and disciples use a traditional shading technique known as barim to add a pink flush. For the Buddha’s face, artists first applied red shading, then evenly painted a yellow-toned base to create volume, producing a lifelike effect. The museum said the work also features a distinctive element found only on this scroll: a gold-leaf swastika (卍) motif attached to the Buddha’s chest, using metallic sheen to add a three-dimensional effect to the otherwise flat surface. An inscription at the bottom records details of the project, including participants and patronage. It lists 166 people who took part, spanning different social ranks and including men and women, lay believers and monks — evidence, the museum said, of Buddhism’s broad social base at the time. “When the scroll was hung in the courtyard in front of Bongjeongsa’s main hall more than 300 years ago, those who faced the Yeongsanhoi scene hoped to reach enlightenment as they looked upon the Buddha before their eyes,” a museum official said. The official added that the museum hopes visitors will “share and connect with the Buddha’s teachings” while viewing the work in Seoul. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 10:48:20