Journalist

Yoon Juhye
  • Korean Confucian Institute Urges Simpler Lunar New Year Rites, Less Focus on Fried Foods
    Korean Confucian Institute Urges Simpler Lunar New Year Rites, Less Focus on Fried Foods The true meaning of the holiday is family harmony and happiness. The Korea Confucian Culture Promotion Institute’s Korean Etiquette Center on Thursday proposed “modern, tailored” guidelines for Seollal ancestral rites. Charye, which literally means a rite of offering tea, originally involved placing only three or four items such as tteokguk (rice cake soup), songpyeon (rice cakes) and fruit. But after Seollal and Chuseok became official holidays, the rites evolved into larger family gatherings and the table grew more elaborate. The center said excessive preparation and costs are widely cited as a main cause of holiday conflict. It said state rites such as the Jongmyo memorial service and ceremonies at long-established head families should strictly preserve their original forms, but ordinary households need alternative options that prioritize family harmony and happiness. It added that rules such as “hongdongbaekseo” — placing red fruit on the east and white fruit on the west — and “joyulisi,” a prescribed lineup of jujubes, chestnuts, pears and persimmons, lack clear documentary support. No traditional etiquette text strictly sets the types or placement of fruit, it said. The center advised that four to six items, centered on tteokguk, are enough. It said oily jeon (pan-fried dishes) were not recommended for charye in traditional etiquette studies. It also said offering foods an ancestor enjoyed in life or modern fruits can be a contemporary way to show respect, and suggested that placing an ancestor’s photo instead of a paper memorial tablet written in Chinese characters can be a worthwhile option that strengthens family bonds. Institute President Jeong Jae Geun said, “Tradition is not a fossilized relic; only when it flows with the times like running water does it remain with us.” He added, “This Seollal, I hope it will be a warm time of harmony, holding the hands of the family beside you as much as the sincerity you show in honoring your ancestors.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 08:39:00
  • BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback show raises renewed concerns over ticket scalping
    BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback show raises renewed concerns over ticket scalping Concerns are growing that ticket scalping could resurface ahead of BTS’ comeback performance at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.  According to the concert industry on Thursday, general ticket reservations for “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang (ARIRANG),” set for March 21 around Gwanghwamun Square, will open at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 23 through NOL Ticket.  Reservations will be open to anyone, with no separate restrictions. The venue is expected to have about 15,000 to 17,000 spots combining standing and reserved areas. Sections will be divided between standing and reserved seating. Of the standing area, 2,000 spots will be allocated to ARMY membership holders who preordered the new “Arirang” album and entered a drawing. The show will be free. Still, critics warn that the same problems seen at past free events could return. When BTS held a free concert in 2022 to support Busan’s bid to host the World Expo, scalping was widespread. VIP tickets that were hard to verify reportedly climbed as high as 4 million won, and tickets for the free show were sold for cash through social media and open chat rooms. Other workarounds also spread, including moving ticket IDs using illegal macro programs. Some expect the government to step up efforts to block scalping, as Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young has repeatedly called it “a chronic disease.” At a reporters’ briefing Wednesday, Choi said, “We’re watching it closely, since we’ve experienced the scalping problem before.” He added, “It’s hard to disclose countermeasures because if we do, (scalpers) could find ways around them.” He said the government would “do our best so nothing unpleasant happens.”  Choi also said the head of HYBE participates in the Popular Culture Exchange Committee’s pop music subcommittee. “For urgent matters, they contact me directly,” he said, adding that working-level discussions are focused on safety and traffic issues.  Amendments to the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, aimed at a scalping market estimated at more than 100 billion won, passed the National Assembly on Jan. 29. The revisions ban all fraudulent purchases and resales, including unfair sales using macro programs.  Choi said the law would likely take effect “around fall,” and that the government would first launch a campaign urging people not to engage in scalping. “My dream is to see articles this fall — when the postseason and concerts overlap — saying scalping has disappeared,” he said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 08:03:00
  • Culture minister vows bigger budget to back K-culture, weighs Korea Arena concept
    Culture minister vows bigger budget to back K-culture, weighs 'Korea Arena' concept "I will firmly support K-culture so it can keep pushing forward," Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said Feb. 12 at a meeting with reporters in Seoul, repeatedly stressing the need to significantly expand the culture budget. Choi said K-culture is gaining strength and spreading widely into everyday life around the world, adding, "I will not miss this opportunity." He said there is growing agreement that because culture and the arts are recognized as a driver of South Korea's economic growth, the government should increase spending. "I will move to expand the scale of cultural funding," he said. Choi pointed to a pop culture exchange committee that includes major figures in the global entertainment industry, saying the goal is to quickly identify and carry out projects that can speed and broaden K-culture's overseas expansion. He said the committee is discussing mid- and long-term ideas, including a plan for a global festival in 2027 that would bring artists from all agencies together in South Korea. He also said the ministry is reviewing concepts such as a "Korea Arena" and "Korea Stadium," inspired by Korea House, arguing that securing dedicated venues in cities around the world could allow South Korea to install a wide range of K-culture-related elements inside them. Asked about BTS holding a comeback performance at Gwanghwamun, Choi said, "I'm truly grateful," and pledged support so visitors from abroad have an enjoyable, memorable experience. He called it meaningful that a globally watched return would begin at Gwanghwamun and said the ministry is preparing for the event in consultation with BTS, describing it as a chance to showcase South Korea's core culture, including traditional culture, overseas. On tourism, Choi said he expects a stronger control tower as the National Tourism Strategy Meeting is elevated to report directly to the president. He said the move reflects the will of President Lee Jae Myung and said a comparison with Japan showed that Japan increased inbound tourism as then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally pushed through difficult issues. Choi said the president has expressed a strong intention to take direct charge and break through obstacles, adding he expects it could become a turning point for a new leap forward. Choi also said he will work to quickly fill leadership vacancies at agencies under the ministry, including the Korea Creative Content Agency. On the Hangul signboard at Gwanghwamun, he said the government will decide whether to proceed after gathering public opinion through a public discussion process. Responding to criticism that expanding "Culture Day" would increase burdens on the industry, Choi said it is a misunderstanding to assume existing discount benefits would remain unchanged, adding that nothing has been set uniformly. He said the relocation of the Seoul Performing Arts Company to Gwangju will proceed, while additional plans to move other national arts groups outside Seoul are under review.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 15:18:00
  • KTV to Recruit 10 Young Online Creators for Social Media Content
    KTV to Recruit 10 Young Online Creators for Social Media Content KTV National Broadcasting, known as KTV, said Wednesday it is accepting applications for its “KTV Online Young Creator” program.  KTV said the open recruitment aims to strengthen policy communication with direct youth participation and to attract more young subscribers to its social media channels, which it said have largely drawn older audiences.  Applicants must be ages 19 to 39. Selected creators will produce online content for KTV’s official social media channels, including YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, from March through November, about nine months.    KTV said each selected creator will receive production support worth a total of 10 million won, with up to 1.2 million won per piece based on one video a month. Creators will also have opportunities to collaborate with KTV and gain hands-on experience from planning through production, and will receive a letter of appointment and a certificate of participation.    Applications will be accepted from Feb. 13 through Feb. 27. Applicants should download the required forms, including a personal statement and activity plan, from the KTV website and submit them by email. KTV will select about 10 creators after a document review and a practical interview.    KTV said anyone interested in online content careers such as announcer, producer, reporter or videographer may apply, as can young people interested in promoting government policy and public communication. More information and application details are available on the KTV website and its official social media channels.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 14:15:58
  • National Museum of Korea to light exterior pink in Blackpink collaboration starting Feb. 27
    National Museum of Korea to light exterior pink in Blackpink collaboration starting Feb. 27 The National Museum of Korea said Wednesday it will light the museum’s exterior walls in pink as part of a global project in collaboration with K-pop group Blackpink. The collaboration, titled “National Museum of Korea X Blackpink,” will begin at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 to coincide with the release of Blackpink’s new album and will run through March 8, for a total of 10 days. The outdoor lighting event will illuminate the museum’s Open Plaza and other exterior areas in pink, the group’s signature color. It will be open for anyone visiting the museum to view. Inside the museum, a listening zone will be set up in the “Path of History” area starting at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27, allowing visitors to hear music from the new album released at that time. The museum will also offer an audio docent program in which Blackpink introduce eight museum artifacts. The members took part in recording the audio, and visitors can access Korean and English versions by scanning QR codes at the exhibits. Jisoo and Jennie recorded in Korean, Rosé in English, and Lisa in Thai. The Thai audio guide will be released in March. Limited-quantity postcards featuring the artifacts and member photos will also be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum said it expects Blackpink’s global recognition, backed by a fandom of about 100 million, to help introduce South Korea’s cultural heritage to international visitors. Director Yu Hong Jun said the collaboration is an effort to present the cultural heritage the museum has protected “in today’s language” so more people will visit and experience culture. He said the museum will continue to pursue collaborations to expand the possibilities of a “K-museum” as an open museum that communicates through culture across generations and borders. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 09:21:00
  • MMCA Names Christine Sun Kim for MMCA X LG OLED Series 2026
    MMCA Names Christine Sun Kim for MMCA X LG OLED Series 2026 The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, said Wednesday it has selected Christine Sun Kim as the participating artist for “MMCA X LG OLED Series 2026.” Kim works across sound and language, drawing, performance and video to examine how communication is structured and how social relationships are formed. Her work treats sound as a social system closely tied to power, institutions and norms, and uses drawing and graphic notation — a system that translates sound into visual language — to explore the unseen rules of communication and how language functions. For “MMCA X LG OLED Series 2026,” she will present a new large-scale video installation based on animation. The exhibition runs from July 31 to Nov. 29 at MMCA Seoul. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 09:12:00
  • South Korea survey urges fixes to overly polite public language and common errors
    South Korea survey urges fixes to overly polite public language and common errors The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of Korean Language on Wednesday released results of a public survey on “public language that needs improvement.” The survey was conducted from Dec. 24-30, 2025, of 3,000 people nationwide ages 14 to 79. It was based on 30 difficult words and incorrect expressions frequently encountered in media that influence everyday language use, including broadcasting, news outlets and social media. The item most respondents said should be changed was excessive honorific wording, such as “That product is sold out” phrased with an honorific ending and “Your coffee has come out,” another over-polite service expression. A total of 93.3% said such wording should be replaced. Many also said confusion between the Korean forms equivalent to “do” and “does” should be corrected (90.2%). Other items cited as needing improvement included misuse of the expression meaning “keep in mind” (74.8%) and confusion between two similar verbs meaning “to guess correctly” (71.2%). More than 70% also said hateful or discriminatory expressions should be improved, including the derogatory suffix “-chung” (87.1%) and the phrase “suffer from a disability” (78.7%). More information on the selected expressions and recommended usage is available on the National Institute of Korean Language website and the “Let’s Use Easy Korean” website. The ministry and the institute said they will launch a public awareness campaign based on the “30 public-language items that need improvement,” including producing and distributing short-form videos such as Shorts and Reels to promote proper Korean usage, especially among younger people. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 08:57:00
  • Experts urge steps to make hanbok part of everyday life, not just formal wear
    Experts urge steps to make hanbok part of everyday life, not just formal wear A forum on ways to make hanbok part of everyday life was held Tuesday at the National Assembly. Experts said the first step is changing the view that hanbok should be limited to formal occasions. Kim So Hyun, a professor in the Department of Hanbok Culture Contents at Baewha Women’s University, said young people have driven the shift. “In the past, older generations wore hanbok for weddings and other formal events, but younger people rent hanbok and take photos, turning it into something for play,” she said. Kim said more content is needed so people can experience hanbok in virtual spaces. She pointed to brands such as Louis Vuitton using platforms like Zepeto to offer brand experiences to younger users and generate revenue through item sales. “Hanbok is being combined with films, dramas, webtoons and games and changing into cultural content enjoyed as play,” she said, adding that “the space for hanbok in daily 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 lifestyles have changed so much that some people do not wear hanbok even for New Year’s bows. She said the hanbok industry has “degenerated into the wedding industry.” To bring hanbok into daily life, she said, it is not enough to focus on awareness. “Hanbok has to enter everyday life,” she said, noting that 70% of customers at hanbok shops are in their 20s and 30s. Kwon said designers must figure out how to make hanbok for daily wear without losing its core value. She also said idol stars who bow for New Year’s greetings are helping introduce hanbok to fans worldwide, and she stressed strategies to increase exposure tied to K-content and collaborations with Korean Wave stars. She also proposed a hanbok festival that friends, couples and families can enjoy together, like Brazil’s Carnival or Japan’s matsuri. Presenter Ji Su Hyun, a professor in the Department of Korean Costume Science at Wonkwang Digital University, called for building hanbok data. “We need to build a database of original hanbok forms,” he said. “If hanbok data opened to the public spreads worldwide, its value will be enormous. Standardization is needed.” He also advised that hanbok should evolve to offer consumers more benefits, similar to Louis Vuitton headquarters providing repair services. Ahn Mi Jung, director of the Traditional Culture Division at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that if the Hanbok Culture Industry Promotion Act is enacted soon, the government will create a basic plan as a long-term roadmap to foster the industry. “We will build the foundation for the hanbok industry to develop,” she said. On the Hanbok Wave project, she said the ministry will better promote participating designers’ stories and plans to produce separate content. The forum was hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Dal Hee and Democratic Party lawmaker Baek Hye Ryeon and organized by the Korea Hanbok Promotion Institute and a lawmakers’ group that supports hanbok. 2026-02-11 18:24:00
  • South Korea to Reopen Search for Korea Creative Content Agency Chief After All 5 Candidates Rejected
    South Korea to Reopen Search for Korea Creative Content Agency Chief After All 5 Candidates Rejected South Korea’s process to select a new head of the Korea Creative Content Agency will restart from the beginning.   The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that all five candidates who reached the interview stage were rejected. The ministry plans to launch a new recruitment process soon.  The ministry and the agency began accepting applications on Jan. 13 and later interviewed five finalists, but all were deemed unqualified, according to officials. Those interviewed reportedly included actor Lee Won Jong, who has publicly supported President Lee Jae Myung.    A ministry official said it is too early to say when the new recruitment will begin, noting that an executive recommendation committee must be newly formed each time the process opens. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 16:49:09
  • Life of Pi Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation in Seoul
    'Life of Pi' Adds Feb. 16 Show After Last-Minute Cancellation in Seoul The stage production "Life of Pi," starring actor Park Jung Min, will add a performance on Feb. 16 after a show was canceled just five minutes before curtain, organizer Clip Service said Tuesday. The performance had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at the GS Arts Center in Seoul but was abruptly called off shortly before it was to begin. Clip Service said it found a lighting equipment error during a final inspection of the Feb. 10 performance and that "unexplained malfunctions" continued despite repair efforts. It said the technical problem involved lighting equipment that affected performers' movement, and it decided to cancel the show with safety as the top priority. The added 7:30 p.m. performance on Feb. 16 will be offered only to ticket holders for the canceled Feb. 10 show, with the same seats and the same cast. Seat changes will not be allowed. Those who do not want to attend the added performance will receive a refund of 110% of the ticket payment amount. Cancellations can be made without fees through the ticket seller's customer service center until 5 p.m. on Feb. 16.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-11 15:48:00