Journalist

Yoon Ju-hye
  • MMCA Cheongju to Offer Free Exhibition Admission to Troops in North Chungcheong Province
    MMCA Cheongju to Offer Free Exhibition Admission to Troops in North Chungcheong Province The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Cheongju Art Storage Center said Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the ROK Army’s 37th Infantry Division on March 24 to run arts and culture programs and support museum visits for service members. The agreement is intended to broaden access to cultural experiences for troops carrying out mandatory service, as well as their families and civilian employees. The museum said the program will cover not only the division headquarters in Jeungpyeong but also subordinate units across North Chungcheong Province, including Danyang, Yeongdong and Cheongju, to help narrow regional gaps in cultural access and strengthen the role of a public museum. Under the MOU, the two sides will jointly operate arts education programs for service members and their families, provide free admission to exhibitions at MMCA Cheongju, and pursue exchanges and cooperative projects related to arts and culture. MMCA Cheongju said it plans to further detail support aimed at improving service members’ emotional well-being and quality of life. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 08:27:22
  • Han Kang’s ‘I Do Not Bid Farewell’ Draws New Attention After U.S. Critics Award
    Han Kang’s ‘I Do Not Bid Farewell’ Draws New Attention After U.S. Critics Award Han Kang’s novel I Do Not Bid Farewell is drawing renewed attention after news it won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Kyobo Book Centre said Thursday that the title ranked No. 12 on its overall bestseller list for the fourth week of March. An analysis of buyers from March 27 to April 1, after the award news broke, showed the largest shares came from readers in their 40s (27.3%) and 50s (24.7%). Purchases by men in their 50s (10.7%) and 60s (10.4%) stood out. A Kyobo official said the award appears to have sparked interest among middle-aged male readers. Online bookseller Yes24 also reported a sharp rise. After the award announcement on March 27, the book climbed to No. 7 overall. Sales over the following five days (March 27-31) rose 284.6% from the previous five-day period, with buyers in their 50s making up the largest share at 35.6%. Overall No. 1 went to Project Hail Mary, which topped both Kyobo and Yes24 as its film release boosted demand. Sales have risen for two straight weeks since the movie opened on March 18. At Yes24, the same author’s space-themed novels Artemis and The Martian also gained, up 45.8% and 31.1% from the previous week, respectively. Yoo Si-min’s autobiography, I Live Because There Is Love, ranked No. 2 overall. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-02 15:00:13
  • Nam June Paik Retrospectives Spotlight Major Works in Seoul for 20th Anniversary of His Death
    Nam June Paik Retrospectives Spotlight Major Works in Seoul for 20th Anniversary of His Death Major works by Nam June Paik will be shown across Seoul this year to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. Gagosian said Wednesday it will present “Nam June Paik: Rewind / Repeat” from April 1 to May 16 at the APMA Cabinet on the first floor of Amorepacific’s headquarters in Seoul’s Yongsan district. Organized in collaboration with the Nam June Paik Estate, the exhibition will feature 11 works spanning Paik’s early experimental pieces through signature works from his later years. A highlight is “TV Bra for Living Sculpture,” which embeds two small black-and-white televisions, housed in a Plexiglas box, into transparent vinyl underwear. Paik made the piece for musician and performance artist Charlotte Moorman. She wore it while playing the cello at the opening performance of the 1969 exhibition “TV as a Creative Medium” at the Howard Wise Gallery in New York. Sounds produced during the performance altered the images on the TV screens, reflecting Paik’s idea of “humanizing” electronic devices. Also included is Paik’s iconic “Gold TV Buddha” (2005), showing a gilded, painted bronze Buddha meditating before a closed-circuit video camera and monitor. The work points to the intersection of ancient spirituality and modern media, and of Eastern and Western ways of thinking. Other works on view include “Orchestra” (1991) and “Media Sandwich” (1961–1964). At the Amorepacific Museum of Art, a special collection exhibition, “APMA, CHAPTER FIVE – FROM THE APMA COLLECTION,” runs from April 1 to Aug. 2 and includes works by Paik. The show features pieces by more than 40 artists from Korea and abroad, including Lee Bul, Yang Hye-gyu and Lee Ufan. It will also spotlight Paik’s large-scale installation “Kon-Tiki” and “Peak Flower Garden,” a major work being shown at the museum for the first time in more than 20 years. The Hoban Cultural Foundation is also holding a 20th-anniversary memorial exhibition, “Nam June Paik: STILL LIVE – Living Time,” at the Hoban Atrium in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. On view are key works including “TV Rodin,” “TV Candle” and “Sonatine for Goldfish,” as well as “Neon TV” and “Burma Chest.” The exhibition runs through May 31. More Paik-related programming is scheduled for May. White Cube Seoul will present a two-person show, “Duet: Takis and Nam June Paik,” from May 2 to June 5, pairing sculptures by Greek artist Takis with Paik’s multimedia works. The exhibition was planned in response to an experimental, multilayered musical collaboration the two artists presented together in 1979.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-02 14:36:22
  • Korea to Recruit 300 Trainees for 2026 Creative Content Mentoring Program
    Korea to Recruit 300 Trainees for 2026 Creative Content Mentoring Program The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency said Thursday they will recruit 300 trainees through April 15 for the 2026 Creative Content Talent Companion Program. Now in its 15th year, the program is a flagship effort to develop talent across the content industry. Past graduates include Hong Bichira, creator of the webtoon “Severe Trauma Center: Golden Hour,” director Jang Jae-hyun of the film “Exhuma,” and writer Moon Ji-won of the drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.” KOCCA said it selected 15 platform partner organizations in March, centered on four areas: video and animation, webtoons and story, games, and music and performance. It said this year’s support system covers a wider range of content, including dramas, variety shows, documentaries, films, animation, webtoons, comics, games (analog and digital), K-pop and musicals. Each platform partner will select trainees tailored to its field and provide close mentoring from planning through production. KOCCA said the mentor pool includes 150 experts such as producer Kim Se-hoon (“Master of the World”), variety writer Shin Yeo-jin (“Heart Signal”), producer Han Kyung-soo (the documentary “My Love, Don’t Cross That River”), Redice Studio CEO Jang Jeong-sook (producer of the webtoon “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint”), and producer Kim Do-hoon, a hit songwriter for BTS and Hwasa. KOCCA also said it will run follow-up support for projects by graduates from the past five years. Five organizations in video, webtoons and story, and games are expected to select and support about 30 projects. Details and application instructions are available on KOCCA’s website. Applicants can apply online through each platform partner’s recruitment page through April 15. 2026-04-02 08:45:17
  • New Books: An American Zen Monk’s Korea Journey and Lee Seok-yeon on Constitutional Principles
    New Books: An American Zen Monk’s Korea Journey and Lee Seok-yeon on Constitutional Principles An American Zen Monk’s Journey in Korea=Written by Hyeonan, Mo Gwa Namu. For readers who turn to spicy food or stimulating content to cope with stress, this new book offers a different approach. The author, who once enjoyed salsa dancing and driving sports cars, says he changed course after immersing himself in what he calls “American Zen meditation,” becoming a “Korean American monk.” For him, the sports car has been replaced by the lotus position. Following his teacher’s wishes, he moved to South Korea and opened his first meditation center in a building marked by a large sign advertising “unlimited meat refills.” The space later became a youth magnet — a kind of “meditation hot spot.” Guided by teachings from his mentor, Ven. Yeonghwa — “Don’t try to teach before you ask,” “There are no stupid questions,” and “In a temple, you must see the person” — the author shares meals and conversations with young people and draws them into meditation in an unforced way. The book lays out brief, clear steps for beginners: practicing attention on the lower abdomen (around the navel), sitting every day, adding two minutes a day, and meditating without expectations. He writes that simply gathering attention around the navel can lead to calm. The author says Zen meditation builds not only the ability to stop thinking when needed, but also the capacity to observe thoughts in daily life without being swept away. As the mind clears, he argues, judgment becomes sharper. “Meditation is not knowledge but a process learned through the body,” he writes, adding, “Buddhism is not philosophy; it is a performing art.” He also presents examples of ordinary office workers to suggest readers can find the courage to face themselves through practice. “When you start meditating, thoughts keep coming up. That is natural. You should set a time, sit every day, and gradually increase the time. Having many thoughts during meditation never means you are not suited for meditation. Rather, that process is a very important stage of practice. If you repeatedly experience not being pulled by thoughts and returning again, thoughts gradually decrease. All practice bears fruit only with time and consistency. Keeping your mind on the lower abdomen is not as easy as it sounds. That is why chanting during seated meditation can help. If your religion is Buddhism, repeating names such as ‘Amitabha, Amitabha’ or ‘Bhaisajyaguru, Bhaisajyaguru,’ or using mantra practices such as the Surangama Mantra or the Great Compassion Mantra, can also be helpful.” (pp. 87-88) Conviction=Written by Lee Seok-yeon, Saebit Publishing. In a book that revisits major turning points in South Korea’s modern political history, Lee Seok-yeon — now chair of the National Integration Committee — urges a steady approach even amid fierce ideological conflict. He describes himself as a “constitutional liberal” and argues that attitude should matter more than rhetoric, principles more than faction, and the Constitution more than power. Citing major cases such as rulings striking down the military bonus-points system and the Special Act on the New Administrative Capital, Lee says his standard has been simple: “The only yardstick for judgment is the Constitution.” That stance, he writes, drew criticism from both sides — branded a hard-line conservative by progressives and a disguised conservative by conservatives. The book includes his diagnosis of the 2024 Dec. 3 martial law crisis and the impeachment standoff that followed, structural problems in the presidential system, and the need for constitutional revision. Lee points to an “imperial presidency,” factional logic and distortions of the rule of law as reasons Korean politics repeatedly fails. He argues that civic awareness and the force of the Constitution sustain the state, and asks why “constitutional thinking” is needed again. He also calls for a society that can hold differing views and circumstances, like the sea holding both calm and rough waves — insisting that both heated debate and quiet daily life are part of democracy. “Waves never stop rolling into the sea, but the sea does not reject them; it embraces them all. Some waves are gentle, and some are rough. At times a typhoon throws up enormous swells, but the sea ultimately takes them in and expands itself. I believe our society’s conflict and division are the same. Different thoughts, emotions and values keep surging like waves, but only when we can hold them rather than push them away does integration begin. Living as a public official, lawyer and civic activist, I have seen countless waves, and at times I was swept up in them. But as I stand in a new position this time, I feel an urgent need to hold different voices, as the sea holds waves.” (p. 252)" * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-01 16:24:24
  • Everland Unveils Upgraded Night Finale With Fireworks, Drones and K-pop
    Everland Unveils Upgraded Night Finale With Fireworks, Drones and K-pop Starting in April, Everland in Yongin, south of Seoul, will stage a large-scale nightly finale built around its fireworks expertise accumulated over more than 30 years. The park said the show, titled ‘Guardians of Light,’ is not a simple fireworks display but an outdoor multimedia production combining art and technology, with characters flying overhead, laser effects and fireworks. Yang Jung-woong, a leading South Korean director who led cultural performances for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, is directing. Artists including K-Herz, the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra and singer 10CM are participating in the production at Four Seasons Garden. Everland said the show combines fireworks, what it calls a world-first flight of large-object drones, K-pop and a story aimed at both children and adults. A rescue mission and a laser battle Everland said the revamped night finale begins at 9:20 p.m., when a “Darknight” spell sets the stage for the story. The park’s ‘Lenny and Friends’ characters have been reintroduced as the “Guardians of Light,” embarking on an about 20-minute adventure to protect Evergarden. The show’s setting draws on science fiction and a steampunk look. The characters set out to save a friend, “Jack,” who has been corrupted by magic, and fight a laser battle on a planet of darkness and chaos. As the guardians overcome the crisis, hope returns and the story ends with fireworks. Yang, described in the release as an “alchemist who breaks boundaries,” is combining thousands of fireworks with large-object drones, 3D visuals, dynamic sound, laser mapping and special effects. Everland said the scale is designed to heighten tension and immersion. Other participating directors include Lee Eom-ji (art), K-Herz (music) and Yoon Jae-ho (laser art). The soundtrack blends genres, including a theme recorded live in the Czech Republic by the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, along with K-pop, EDM and musical theater music. Everland said vocals by 10CM’s Kwon Jung-yeol add to the experience for audiences across ages and nationalities. At a March 26 news conference at Everland, Yang said the concept is “sparkly steampunk.” “We dressed the characters in steampunk-style costumes and gave them interesting props like laser guns,” he said. “Steampunk is usually mechanical and rough. But for this show, we tried a new genre that fits Everland.” Yang, who drew global attention with a drone show using about 1,200 drones at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony, is now presenting what Everland called South Korea’s first large-object drone flight. Everland said five large drones will carry an object of its summer-season character “Bambam Man” in a group-flight performance. “Drones are always my favorite,” Yang said, adding that he placed a 150-centimeter “Bambam Man” object on a large drone. “Light comes out of Bambam Man’s eyes and collar,” he said, adding that five character drones will perform a short but intense group flight to K-Herz’s electronic music alongside Yoon’s laser art. Everland said a massive screen measuring 62 meters wide and 10 meters high will run 3D visuals, while garden lighting created in collaboration with British installation artist Bruce Munro will add atmosphere. The park said audiences will watch fireworks as music from the 82-member Czech Metropolitan Orchestra plays. Everland said the production is also aimed at strengthening its in-house intellectual property. Yang said it is an attempt to build a foundation that could later expand into animation and to create a story world that helps “Lenny and Friends” become more widely known. Jung Se-won, head of Everland’s Entertainment Group, said Everland is the only place in South Korea that has continued nightly fireworks since 1996, nearly 30 years. He said the new show carries on that heritage while putting the lion-themed character brand Lenny and Friends at the center. An indoor circus aimed at families At Everland’s large indoor venue, the Grand Stage, the park is also launching ‘Wings of Memory,’ which it described as South Korea’s only world-class circus production. The show was created through about 18 months of collaboration with Canadian circus company Cirque Eloize, which includes many producers who previously worked with Cirque du Soleil. Based in Quebec and active for more than 30 years, Cirque Eloize has staged more than 7,000 performances in about 700 cities across 50 countries, Everland said. The 40-minute show is performed twice daily in a dedicated indoor theater with about 1,000 seats. Everland said it blends stunts, acrobatics, dance, video, music and special effects. The story follows a girl, Eel, traveling through a mysterious forest with a swan, meeting spirits and a boy and building friendships. Everland said it added new stage devices, including a flying swan puppet and a moving boat, to deepen immersion. Cirque Eloize said it combines dance, visual elements and circus in every production. “They are disciplines you can see in other circuses, but we are different in that we put the story at the center and build the acts around it,” the company said. Jung said that in South Korea, audiences typically experience “art circus” only when Cirque du Soleil tours the country. He said Everland planned ‘Wings of Memory’ so people can see high-level circus in Yongin regardless of whether Cirque du Soleil visits. 2026-04-01 00:06:00
  • South Korea Passes Law to Promote Hanbok Culture and Industry
    South Korea Passes Law to Promote Hanbok Culture and Industry A new legal framework has been put in place to systematically promote hanbok, a signature cultural asset tied to Korean history and identity. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 31st that the National Assembly passed a bill to enact the Hanbok Culture Industry Promotion Act. The measure marks the culmination of efforts that began with its first proposal in the 19th National Assembly in 2013, after repeated introductions and expirations. The ministry said it establishes a foundation for promoting hanbok culture and developing the related industry. Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, has evolved over centuries alongside daily life. But as Western-style living spread, it gradually fell out of everyday use. In recent years, however, younger people have helped popularize modernized “everyday hanbok,” and the hanbok rental business has grown, reshaping the market. Calls have increased for policies that preserve hanbok’s value while integrating contemporary design so it can take root as part of daily culture. Under the new law, the government must draw up a five-year master plan for promoting the hanbok culture industry and prepare annual implementation plans. It also requires regular surveys of industry conditions to strengthen policy continuity and reflect on-the-ground needs. The act also sets out a basis for support including training specialized workers, identifying and awarding best practices, backing hanbok education, assisting startups and production, and promoting research and development. It designates Oct. 21 each year as Hanbok Day and calls for that week to be observed as Hanbok Culture Week to help build public interest. The ministry said it will use the law as a springboard to push policies aimed at making hanbok more common in daily life, expanding the industry and promoting it overseas. To encourage everyday wear, it plans to expand public-participation events tied to major occasions such as holidays and Hanbok Culture Week, and to strengthen cooperation with cultural institutions including national and public museums and local hanbok creative centers to offer a wider range of programs linked to hanbok. To support industrial growth, it will expand its “Hanbok Wave” project to help companies find new sales channels, promoting hanbok developed in collaboration with Korean Wave stars through major digital billboards and social media. It also plans to run a “Business Day” at the Hanbok Shop event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in August and broaden cooperation with the industry, including improving access to hanbok workwear through online platforms. For global outreach, the ministry said it will pursue international promotion tied to major fashion weeks, aiming to enter overseas fashion markets. It also plans hanbok experiences and fashion shows at major international events such as the Olympics and Korea Season to showcase hanbok on the global stage. The law will take effect one year after it is promulgated. The ministry said it will broadly gather opinions from relevant sectors as it drafts the enforcement decree. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:33:43
  • Debate Flares Over Adding Hangul Signboard to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Gate
    Debate Flares Over Adding Hangul Signboard to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Gate "This issue should be viewed from the perspective of making new history and properly showing national identity." (Lee Geon-beom, head of the Hangul Culture Solidarity) "Whatever the justification, if it goes this way, Gwanghwamun and Gwanghwamun Square will be reduced to a ruler's 'playground.'" (Choi Jong-deok, former head of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage) On March 31, a forum at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Seoul highlighted sharp divisions over whether to add a Hangul signboard at Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Supporters argued for a “creative inheritance of the spirit of the times,” while opponents stressed restoring the gate to its original form. Lee Geon-beom, a presenter at the forum, said South Korea's modern identity should be expressed at Gwanghwamun, calling it a national symbolic space and the birthplace of Hangul. Hanging a Hangul signboard, he said, would reflect not only past identity but also that of the present and future. Lee argued that Hangul is central to national identity under the Constitution and that a Hangul signboard would help restore that identity. He cited a 2004 Constitutional Court ruling that described as basic constitutional matters of national identity “making our language the national language and our script Hangul,” along with defining territory and clarifying where sovereignty resides. Lee said South Korea should show the world the history of Hangul as a national script and an independent culture. He added that the ideals of a democratic republic are rooted in King Sejong's “spirit of serving the people,” and said a Hangul signboard should hang at the center of the country. Opponents emphasized the importance of restoring the original form. Choi Jong-deok, another presenter, said the past revives memory and shows who people are, arguing that the goal should not be to create something that never existed but to reveal, among the traces of history, what is desirable for the present and future. Choi said removing the legacy of 36 years of Japanese imperial rule that trampled Joseon palaces and restoring the palace symbol that lasted more than 500 years is a legitimate right for Koreans living today. Choi pointed to cases including a change to the Gwanghwamun signboard under the Park Chung-hee government and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's plan to install 22 sculptures symbolizing countries that fought in the Korean War. He criticized the area around Gwanghwamun as increasingly becoming a “propaganda site” for those in power, and argued that the past should be left to testify to the society and culture of its time. Hong Seok-ju, a professor of architecture at Seoil University, said it would be appropriate to consider a Hangul signboard after the restoration of Gyeongbokgung is fully completed. He said changes should be made quickly if a plan closer to the original is found, but moving further away from the original requires caution. Kim Hyeong-woo, head of the Korean Peninsula Culture and Tourism Research Institute, argued that Gwanghwamun, a major tourist landmark, should have a Hangul signboard. He said the gate does not currently convey a strong narrative as the birthplace of Hangul, and that a Hangul signboard would symbolically declare that Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, is where Hangul was created. Another participant suggested considering new high-tech media rather than a signboard. Lee Kang-min, a professor of architecture at the Korea National University of Arts, said Hangul is among the most scientific writing systems and best suited to a digital environment. He said it would be desirable if Hangul could be implemented in Gwanghwamun Square in a way that contrasts with ink-based culture and presents forward-looking messages about South Korea's future. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:27:29
  • Korea to Provide 69 Billion Won in New Loan Guarantees for K-Content Firms
    Korea to Provide 69 Billion Won in New Loan Guarantees for K-Content Firms Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund said they signed separate financial support agreements on the 30th with NH Bank and Hana Bank to ease funding strains and support growth for K-content companies. The agreements will provide a total of 69 billion won in new guarantees. Under the deals, NH Bank will make a special contribution of 2 billion won. Hana Bank will contribute 700 million won and separately provide 300 million won to support guarantee fees. Based on the banks’ contributions, the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund plans to supply agreement-backed guarantees totaling 69 billion won, or 20 times the contributed amount, to content companies. That includes 40 billion won through NH Bank and 29 billion won through Hana Bank. Eligible firms include those recommended by KOCCA for content planning, production and commercialization, as well as companies using intellectual property. Selected companies will receive preferential terms aimed at lowering financing costs. For companies using the program, the fund will apply a 100% guarantee ratio for the first three years and cut guarantee fees by 0.5 percentage points. NH Bank and Hana Bank also plan to offer additional preferential interest rates, based on internal standards, tied to transaction performance for borrowers using the guarantees. KOCCA said it will further strengthen its content finance support system starting with this cooperation. It said that in early April, NH Bank will also join a specialized guarantee interest-subsidy program, completing a content finance support network covering all six major domestic banks. KOCCA has operated a Content Value Assessment Center since 2016 to help content companies raise funds, including through content valuation and pitching platforms in and outside South Korea. More information is available on KOCCA’s website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 08:57:17
  • National Institute of Korean Language releases six datasets to boost AI Korean understanding
    National Institute of Korean Language releases six datasets to boost AI Korean understanding The National Institute of Korean Language said on the 31st it has released six language resources on “Everyone’s Corpus” that can be used for artificial intelligence development and language research. The newly released materials include four datasets: an “argumentative writing summary corpus” that summarizes newspaper editorials; a “collaborative dialogue summary corpus” that summarizes conversations; and separate evaluation corpora for each set of summaries. The institute also released two additional resources: a “context inference corpus,” which contains inference statements written based on context or common sense, and a “knowledge graph” that structures dialogue context. The institute said the resources can help AI better understand context embedded in Korean, produce summaries and make inferences grounded in common sense and Korean culture. Including the six released this time, the institute has made public 140 Korean-language resources for AI training to date. Anyone seeking to use the corpora for AI development and research or Korean-language studies can download them from the Everyone’s Corpus website. An institute official said it plans to release a total of 36 Korean language-and-culture knowledge resources this year to support development of AI specialized for Korean. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 08:42:16