Journalist

Yoon Juhye
  • South Korea Names 4 Hubs for 2026 Cultural Diversity City Program
    South Korea Names 4 Hubs for 2026 Cultural Diversity City Program South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service said Monday they have selected four areas — South Jeolla Province, Busan, North Chungcheong Province and Ansan — as the final "2026 Cultural Diversity Hub Cities." The program aims to build urban communities where diverse cultural expression can coexist by linking each area's cultural heritage, contemporary arts and residents' everyday lives. It focuses on identifying local cultural contexts and creating an ecosystem to protect and promote them. The four hubs will begin full-scale activities from March through December, including research, creative workshops and citizen-participation programs. The Jeonnam Cultural Foundation, Busan Cultural Foundation, Chungbuk Cultural Foundation and Ansan Cultural Foundation will carry out the projects. The Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, the agency in charge of advancing cultural-diversity policy, will sign agreements with each foundation and support operations. Im Jin Taek, president of the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, said the initiative is a process of finding and connecting specific cultural assets embedded in daily life. He said it will help residents rediscover local culture, feel pride in their communities and build a practical foundation for diverse cultures to coexist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:54:00
  • Three Late Joseon-Era Woodblocks Returned to South Korea From U.S.
    Three Late Joseon-Era Woodblocks Returned to South Korea From U.S. The Korea Heritage Service and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said they received three woodblocks used to print collected works from the late Joseon period and the Japanese colonial era, donated by an American and a Korean American owner.  The donation ceremony was held on Feb. 8 (local time) at the Korean Empire legation in Washington.  The items are woodblocks for Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip, Songja Daejeon and Beonamjip. The foundation said Americans who worked in South Korea in the early 1970s bought them as souvenirs and took them to the United States.  The Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock, carved in 1917, was used to print the collected works of Kim Do Hwa (1825-1912), who served as a militia leader in the Andong area during the Eulmi Righteous Army uprising in 1895. The foundation said there were originally more than 1,000 related woodblocks. In 2015, 19 Confucian woodblocks were collectively inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register as “Korean Confucian Woodblocks.” In 2019, with support from Riot Games, the foundation bought one matching woodblock at a German auction and donated it to the Korea Studies Advancement Center; it has now received another of the same type.  The foundation said the woodblock had been purchased from an antique dealer in South Korea by Alan Gordon (1933-2011), an American who worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Korea mission in the early 1970s, and taken to the United States. After his death, his wife, Tamra Gordon, kept it and in 2025 inquired about donating it to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art; it was then transferred to the foundation’s U.S. office and returned through the donation.  The Songja Daejeon woodblock, carved in 1926, was used for a compilation of writings, a chronology and other materials related to Song Si Yeol (1607-1689), a Confucian scholar of the late Joseon period. The work was first published in 1787. The foundation said all the original woodblocks were destroyed by the Japanese military in 1907, and descendants and Confucian scholars recarved them in 1926. The 11,023 recarved woodblocks were designated a Daejeon city tangible cultural heritage in 1989. The foundation said Alan Gordon bought this woodblock from an antique dealer in South Korea and gave it to his younger sister; it was returned along with the Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock.  The Beonamjip woodblock, carved in 1824, was used to print the collected works of Chae Je Gong (1720-1799), a civil official who played a central role in state affairs during the reigns of King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo. Of 1,159 woodblocks, only 358 survive, the foundation said. Like the Cheokam Seonsaeng Munjip woodblock, it was included in the 2015 UNESCO Memory of the World inscription.  The foundation said an American who worked in South Korea in the early 1970s bought the woodblock from an antique dealer, took it to the United States and gave it to the family of Kim Eun Hye, a Korean American. After the foundation’s U.S. office confirmed the background and proposed a donation, Kim agreed, and the woodblock was donated and returned with the others.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:21:00
  • South Korea to Offer Youth Culture Pass Worth Up to 200,000 Won for Shows, Exhibits and Movies
    South Korea to Offer Youth Culture Pass Worth Up to 200,000 Won for Shows, Exhibits and Movies South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Arts Council Korea said Monday they will issue a “Youth Culture and Arts Pass” to people born in 2006 and 2007 who turn 19 or 20 this year. The pass can be used immediately to book performances, exhibitions and movies through partner ticketing platforms and theaters, including NOL Ticket, YES24, Ticketlink, Melon Ticket, Megabox, Lotte Cinema and CGV. Applications open Feb. 25. Launched in 2024 to help young people become active cultural consumers, the program will cover those born from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2007. Eligible applicants are South Korean youths living in the country who did not use Youth Culture and Arts Pass points in 2025. After applying, youths living in the Seoul metropolitan area — including Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon — will receive 150,000 won in points, while those outside the capital region will receive 200,000 won. Passes will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis within quotas set for each of the nation’s 17 provinces and major cities, and issuance may close early depending on local demand. Unlike previous years, when users had to choose one ticketing outlet in advance, points can now be used across all seven partners to book musicals, classical performances, concerts, exhibitions and movies. Movie use is capped at two visits in the capital region and four outside it, regardless of price. Applications will be accepted through June 30 on the official website after users sign up for an account. Applicants can check issuance status and support amounts in the “My Page” section. The pass is valid through Dec. 31. However, passes issued by June 30 will be disabled starting Aug. 1 if they are not used at least once by July 31. Unused funds will be reclaimed, and the ministry said it plans additional issuance in the second half of the year to expand access. ‘Youth Culture and Arts Pass’ users to get ticket discounts at national arts groups and more; Website to offer information on major performances, exhibitions and films National arts organizations, including the National Symphony Orchestra, and local governments such as Incheon will offer ticket discounts to pass users. Eligible events include the National Symphony Orchestra’s “Sibelius, Symphony No. 2” (March 7), the National Theater Company of Korea’s “Sammaegyeong” (March 12-April 5), the Korea National Ballet’s “Swan Lake” (April 7-12), the Seoul Arts Center’s “2026 Seoul Arts Center Opera ” (July 22-26), Incheon’s play (March 7), Daegu’s “2026 Planned Opera ” (March 27-28), and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province’s play (March 27-28). Discount rates vary by performance, and details on participating organizations and events will be available on the official website starting Feb. 25. The website and social media channels will also provide information on performances, exhibitions and events that can be booked with the pass. * Instagram (@youthpass19), KakaoTalk Channel (search “청년 문화예술패스”) Jeong Hyang Mi, director general for arts and culture policy at the ministry, said the program expanded both eligibility and where the pass can be used so young people can enjoy arts and culture as part of daily life in their communities. She said the ministry also worked to increase attractions such as high-quality touring performances and exhibitions. “The ministry will continue to pursue policies that help young people build cultural sensitivity and creativity so they can grow as audiences and leaders of K-art,” she said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:06:00
  • South Korea to Open Modern-Era Texts and Folk Painting Data for AI Training
    South Korea to Open Modern-Era Texts and Folk Painting Data for AI Training The South Korean government is accelerating efforts to build high-quality training data for the artificial intelligence industry, starting with texts that can be used without copyright concerns.  The National Library of Korea said on Saturday it will open a new section on its website, called “Shared Bookshelf,” around March to provide text data that private companies can freely use for AI development.  A library official said the institution rebuilt its digitized holdings into formats suitable for AI training, such as text files, focusing on materials with resolved copyright issues. The official added the data could be opened as early as March.  The release will be limited to publications issued in South Korea, mostly from the modern era. The collection will center on works whose copyright protection has expired or materials published by the library itself. Under South Korea’s Copyright Act, protection lasts 70 years after an author’s death, and many works from the early 1900s are expected to be included. The official said the main categories will include modern-era magazines and literature, classical literature and textbooks. The data will also be provided to the Ministry of Science and ICT’s “Independent AI Foundation Model Project.” The term refers to general-purpose AI models trained and operated directly using domestic technology and resources. Major national libraries overseas are also moving to build and open AI training data. Sweden’s National Library, which opened in 1661, has used text accumulated over about 500 years — including medieval manuscripts — to build more than 20 open-source transformer models through an affiliated research institute. Up to 200,000 developers a month are known to use them for research and technology development. The government is also speeding up work on image datasets. The Korea Heritage Service Foundation, an affiliate of the Korea Heritage Service, said it has prepared high-quality training data designed to capture the distinct characteristics of traditional Korean folk paintings through its “Korean Traditional Minhwa Production Data Project.” Existing generative AI models have had limits, including distorting or inaccurately depicting minhwa styles and motifs. The dataset includes 3,779 minhwa images by genre — such as flower-and-bird paintings, landscapes, tiger-and-magpie paintings and bookshelf paintings — along with 5,340 detailed description images and 77,388 Korean-English multimodal caption entries. The foundation defined multimodal caption data as training data that combines images with artwork information so AI can understand, generate and describe them in language. It said it thoroughly verified artists’ time periods and iconography systems, based on collections including those of the Gahoe Museum of Minhwa. The foundation said the dataset is expected to be used in areas including industrial design and product development such as goods, digital content and media art, and global promotion. The minhwa data will be fully opened on AI Hub in the first half of this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 00:03:33
  • Audiobook Market Expands as Korean Retailers Add Full Casts and AI Narration
    Audiobook Market Expands as Korean Retailers Add Full Casts and AI Narration The audiobook market — “reading” with your ears — is growing quickly. Major online bookstores are racing to secure an early lead, producing titles with dozens of voice actors for drama-like immersion while also using artificial intelligence to shorten production time. According to the online bookstore industry on Feb. 8, the number of audiobook users has continued to rise each year as listeners can play them regardless of time or place. At Yes24, the number of members who bought audiobooks in 2025 rose 25% from the previous year, continuing annual growth. By age, people in their 40s accounted for 35% of audiobook purchases last year, standing out as the biggest group. Teen buyers also increased, with the purchase share rising from 0.2% in 2023 to 0.3% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2025. A key advantage of audiobooks is multitasking. People can listen while driving, working out or walking a pet. Jang Seon Young, 40, who lives in Incheon, said, “With print books or e-books, it’s hard to do other things while reading.” She added, “With audiobooks, I can play them like the radio on my commute or while doing housework, so it doesn’t feel like a burden.” Production methods are also diversifying, including the use of AI. Yes24 plans to launch AI audiobooks this month. Lee Seok Young, a manager on Yes24’s eBook team, said the company last year introduced an AI text-to-speech feature that lets users listen to more than 1 million e-books with AI voices. He said Yes24 is preparing to launch AI audiobooks using AI narration within February. He said the AI “adjusts breathing and speed like a real person and reads naturally by reflecting meaning and flow,” adding that shorter production times could broaden the range of available audiobooks. More than 20 voice actors took part in Millie’s Library’s exclusive audio web novel “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.” Users have responded with comments such as, “I got chills as soon as I heard the voice,” and “The background music and sound effects are really good.” A Millie’s Library official said novels with fast-moving plots are produced with multiple voice actors and that the company is focusing on improving quality so listeners can immerse themselves more deeply. Interest in novels also rose after Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in literature, which the Millie’s Library official said has helped boost engagement with audiobooks. “Audiobooks also move in step with trends in print books and e-books,” the official said, adding that the company is increasing planning for related content as interest grows in literary works such as novels and essays. Still, some in the industry expect AI adoption to be difficult. A publishing industry official said producing AI-based audiobooks requires consultation with original authors, which can take significant time, and that debate continues over the possibility that content could be used for AI training. Even so, the expansion of the audiobook market appears hard to reverse. Spotify said its audiobook users last year increased about 40% from the previous year. Spotify is also pushing to add a print-book sales service in its app, challenging major bookstores such as Amazon. In Japan, which experienced population aging earlier than South Korea, demand for audiobooks has increased mainly among people 50 and older due to issues such as declining eyesight, supporting expectations for further market growth. 2026-02-09 00:03:00
  • New Books Spotlight SK Hynix’s HBM Rise, AI Design Collaboration and the Art of Listening
    New Books Spotlight SK Hynix’s HBM Rise, AI Design Collaboration and the Art of Listening Super Momentum= Lee In-sook and others, Platform 9 and 3/4. A new book recounts SK hynix’s success story as the company that first developed high-bandwidth memory, or HBM. It traces the roughly 20-year push that took a long-time No. 2 chipmaker to a global leader by promoting products aimed at easing data bottlenecks in artificial intelligence systems. Drawing on testimony from key executives — including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung and former vice chairman Park Sung-wook — as well as current and former engineers, it describes why the company kept investing in technology despite market downturns and worsening profitability. The final chapter includes an audio interview with Chey, titled “Chey Tae-won Note,” on SK Group’s future. The book also recounts episodes from his management journey, including when he first met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in 2021 and became convinced of an AI vision, an anecdote about receiving advice on the semiconductor industry from TSMC founder Morris Chang, the “oath” between Hynix and AMD, and a promise between Chey and his father. "I’ve always had a habit of looking at the entire ecosystem. That way, I can see how the problem I need to solve is connected to other problems. That kind of thinking definitely helps. Studying physics as an undergraduate gave me a framework for that approach. People often make the mistake of getting too absorbed in a single problem. Because there are many possible solutions and approaches, you need a view of the overall structure to decide at what level to solve it." (Page 237, from “Chey Tae-won Note: We Were Standing at a Crossroads”) FutureLab= Kang Su-jin and others, Ahn Graphics. Ten designers who contributed to the book argue that designers should accept AI as a team member and expand the possibilities of future design through collaboration. Based on experience across companies and public institutions — including Samsung, SK, LG, Naver and Kakao — the authors describe practical ways of working with AI. They liken designers who collaborate with AI to conductors: Rather than consuming AI-generated outputs at random, designers, like orchestra leaders, decide which results to choose. “AI creates an idealized ‘me,’ and the gap between that and the real ‘me’ keeps widening. I get confused about whether everything happening to me is truly because of me, or whether I’m being controlled by AI. And if we delegate more and more to AI for convenience, we risk ultimately becoming beings shaped and managed by external technology.” (Page 108) The Art of Listening= Haru Yamada, translated by Jung Ji-hyun, RH Korea. The sociolinguist author reflects on the importance of listening after experiencing hearing impairment following a sudden accident. To get what you want, the author advises, stop talking and start by listening in a way that moves the other person. The book analyzes listening in a scientific way, offering standards for distinguishing truth from lies in what someone says and tips for “listening” to a person’s face to grasp what is going on. “In a survey of 1,112 American women conducted by The Associated Press and a pet company, one-third of respondents said their spouse is worse at listening than their pet. (Omitted) Two-thirds of respondents received help from a human listener, and the remaining one-third received help from a pet listener. If we assume half the world’s population is male, we could also conclude that about 17% of couples think a pet is a better listener than a spouse.” (Page 13)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-07 06:06:00
  • Yunchan Lim’s Carnegie Hall Live ‘Goldberg Variations’ Album Goes Gold on Release
    Yunchan Lim’s Carnegie Hall Live ‘Goldberg Variations’ Album Goes Gold on Release Pianist Yunchan Lim’s new album, “Bach: Goldberg Variations,” a live recording from his April performance last year at Carnegie Hall in New York, was released on the 6th. The release immediately earned “gold” status, signaling a strong start. Lim said he feels the “Goldberg Variations” is “a life journey written in music,” calling it both “deeply human” and full of play and humor, while also drawing out emotions “from deep within.” He added, “Releasing the ‘Goldberg Variations’ as an album — and as a live Carnegie Hall recording — may be the greatest honor for me as a pianist.” Major international outlets have also praised the album. The Times said Lim’s “young and confident” approach delivers Bach in a different way and “further expands the sense of wonder” a great “Goldberg” performance should convey. Lim has sold out major venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, placing him at the center of the global classical music scene. “Simply searching for music every day is the truest thing,” he said, adding that it is important to trust and follow what is in his heart.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 09:06:00
  • K-Culture Boom Fuels Korean-Language Learning, With BTS Return Adding Momentum
    K-Culture Boom Fuels Korean-Language Learning, With BTS Return Adding Momentum The global spread of K-culture is translating into rising interest in learning Korean, industry officials said. With the Netflix animated series “K-Pop Demon Hunters” drawing attention to the language and BTS’ return in March also anticipated, demand for Korean study is expected to grow further. Officials said the expanding reach of Korean content worldwide is naturally leading more people to seek out Korean-language learning. This year is a milestone for Hangul, marking the 580th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangul Day and the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunmaengjeongeum, the Korean Braille system. The government is pursuing projects to revisit Hangul’s history and value. With BTS’ comeback gaining momentum, expectations are rising that Korean-language study could increase sharply among K-pop fans. Interest has also climbed in the United States, boosted by the popularity of “K-Pop Demon Hunters” last year. The New York Times reported that on the language-learning app Duolingo, the number of U.S. learners studying Korean rose 22% from a year earlier. Foreign media attributed the increase in part to the show’s original soundtrack, “Golden,” which includes Korean lyrics that drew fans’ attention to the language. BTS are also cited as a leading example of the Korean-learning boom. In a 2022 blog post, Duolingo said Korean learners had been steadily increasing, reporting that from June 2021 to June 2022, the number of users learning Korean in English rose 29%. It said popular culture — especially BTS — was a major motivation for studying Korean. In 2021, BTS spoke as representatives of future generations at a special event of the U.N. General Assembly, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The seven members took turns delivering their message in Korean. Leader RM also addressed the changed status of K-pop and the Korean language in a speech at the “2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit” held in Gyeongju last year. “When BTS first went overseas 10 years ago, we never imagined that songs in Korean would work on the global stage,” he said. “But our fandom, ARMY, stayed with us beyond language, and thanks to that, we can stand here today.” Some Hangul-related groups have also cautiously voiced hopes that a BTS performance at Gwanghwamun could help highlight the value of Hangul. With debate continuing over adding another Hangul signboard at Gwanghwamun, they said showcasing Hangul’s beauty through a media facade could help broaden public support for the idea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 08:46:57
  • Yes24: Lee Hae-chan Memoir Surges to No. 1 Bestseller in Early February
    Yes24: Lee Hae-chan Memoir Surges to No. 1 Bestseller in Early February The late former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s ranked No. 1 overall on the bestseller list. According to Yes24’s overall bestseller rankings for the first week of February released on Wednesday, the memoir jumped to the top spot as reader interest surged from the previous week. Sales over the past week were 457 times the book’s total sales for all of 2025. Readers in their 50s accounted for 43.8% of purchases, followed by those in their 40s at 20.4%. Professor Lee Gwang-su’s , which held the No. 1 spot for four straight weeks in January, slipped one place to No. 2. The 2025 Akutagawa Prize winner stayed at No. 3. by economic creator and investment instructor Baek Eok-nam rose to No. 4, followed by Morgan Housel’s new book at No. 5. Investment and personal finance titles remained strong. Three business and economics books placed in the top five: (No. 2), (No. 4) and (No. 5). (No. 6), popular since its release last June, and (No. 15) also ranked in the top 20. Sales in the “stocks/ETF” category rose 71.4% from the same period a year earlier. Fiction also held steady, with five novels in the top 20. , ranked No. 22, saw sales jump 289 times from the previous week and drew strong interest from women in their 30s and 40s, who made up 56.7% of buyers. Fortune-teller Park Seong-jun, known through broadcast and YouTube appearances, ranked No. 9 overall and No. 1 in the humanities category with . The book’s sales rose 203% from the previous week. Books in the saju and myeongni category increased 31.7% week over week. 2026-02-05 14:51:00
  • 7th-Century Baekje Bamboo Flute Found in Palace Latrine Pit, Officials Say
    7th-Century Baekje Bamboo Flute Found in Palace Latrine Pit, Officials Say A 7th-century transverse wind instrument believed to be a Baekje “hoengjeok” (side-blown flute) has been unearthed at the Gwanbuk-ri site in Buyeo, South Korea, officials said. Researchers called it the first confirmed physical wind instrument from the Three Kingdoms period, a find they said could provide a key clue for reconstructing Baekje-era music. The Korea Heritage Service’s National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and its Buyeo research center on Wednesday 공개했다 the artifacts recovered during the site’s 16th excavation campaign. The institute has excavated the Gwanbuk-ri area since 1982 to identify the remains of the royal palace from the Sabi period. The area is regarded as a Sabi palace site based on discoveries including large hall buildings, waterways, roads and extensive building platforms. The two-year, 16th excavation produced 329 wooden tablets and one hoengjeok, the institute said. The flute was found in a rectangular pit near a 7th-century building site identified as a Baekje “jodang,” or state council hall, officials said. The pit measured about 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide, 1 meter (3.3 feet) long and 2 meters (6.6 feet) deep. Made of bamboo, the instrument had four holes in a line and was found flattened, with parts missing. Analysis of organic material from inside the pit detected human parasite eggs, leading researchers to conclude the pit was likely part of a toilet facility attached to the council hall. Researchers said the bamboo shows deliberately made holes, and X-ray analysis indicated one end was sealed while the other had a hole for blowing. Based on those features, they said it appears to be a side-blown flute rather than a vertical wind instrument like those depicted on the Baekje gilt-bronze incense burner known as the Geumdong Daehyangno. Because the instrument was recovered from a core area of the Sabi Baekje palace, the institute said it is expected to be important for research on Baekje court music and instruments, and for evidence-based reconstruction of Baekje sound and performance. Comparative study with examples from China and Japan found the hoengjeok is similar to today’s sogeum, a small transverse flute, the institute said. It called the discovery the first identification of a Baekje hoengjeok and the first and only case of a physical wind instrument found from the Three Kingdoms period (7th century). The wooden tablets were described as the largest number confirmed at a single site in South Korea and as some of the earliest materials from Baekje’s Sabi period. Many were concentrated in waterways from the early stage of the capital’s move to Sabi, officials said. Some tablets include sexagenary year notations that help date their production. The institute said “Gyeongsin year” corresponds to 540 and “Gyhae year” to 543, shortly after Baekje moved its capital from Gongju (Ungjin) to Buyeo (Sabi) in 538. Other finds include wooden tablets used as state administrative documents: personnel records, financial ledgers, and tablets listing official ranks and posts, along with many “sakseol” fragments. Researchers said the material indicates the area was linked to Baekje’s central administrative offices known as the 22 busa. Among the sakseol fragments were not only personnel documents but also ledger tablets tied to state finances that record monthly grain. The institute also said many tablets show the reorganization of the capital’s central administrative districts — the five “bu” — and a local administrative system of bang, gun and seong. Tablets bearing terms such as “Ipdong,” “Insimcho,” “Hyeongokgae,” and the character “畑,” believed to have been created in Japan, were cited as evidence of Baekje’s advanced culture and active exchanges across East Asia. The institute said the newly released results are significant because they document how Baekje ran the state through written administration about 1,500 years ago and provide physical evidence that could aid reconstruction of the period’s musical culture and sound. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 10:06:00