Seollal Holiday: Seoul’s Royal Palaces Free Admission Ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun Show The ceremonial “royal route” that BTS is expected to walk during its upcoming Gwanghwamun performance will be open to the public for free during the Lunar New Year holiday, offering visitors a chance to see the area ahead of what officials expect could be massive crowds on the concert day. The Korea Heritage Service said it will offer free admission to palaces and royal tombs during the holiday period. From Feb. 14 to 18, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung will be open free of charge, along with Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs, with no closure days during the five-day period. Jongmyo, which normally operates on timed entry, will allow self-guided visits during the holiday. Changdeokgung’s rear garden is excluded. All four palaces, Jongmyo and the royal tombs will be closed Feb. 19, the day after the free-admission period ends. BTS is scheduled to hold a concert Feb. 21 in and around Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung to mark the release of its fifth full-length album, “Arirang.” Organizers have applied to use areas inside Gyeongbokgung, including Geunjeongmun and Heungnyemun gates and the stone platform in front of Gwanghwamun. Observers expect the group to pass along the “eodo,” the path reserved for the king, from Geunjeongmun to Gwanghwamun before the main performance begins at Gwanghwamun Square. The agency also said it will hold a traditional New Year’s folk-painting giveaway at Heungnyemun Square in Gyeongbokgung from Feb. 16 to 18. This year’s “sehwa” was produced in collaboration with Jeong Gwi-ja, a holder of Seoul’s intangible cultural heritage designation for minhwa, or folk painting, under the theme “Twelve Zodiac Guardians: Red Horse Gate Guard.” Sehwa are meant to ward off illness and disasters and to wish for good fortune in the year ahead, a custom that traces back to the Joseon era, when the king presented paintings to officials and the practice later spread among the public. The giveaway will be held twice a day, at 10:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m., after the palace guard changing-of-the-guard reenactment ends at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Organizers will distribute 1,000 copies per session, for a total of 6,000, on a first-come, first-served basis. Digital versions can be downloaded via QR codes posted on-site and on the National Heritage Promotion Agency website. More details are available on the Korea Heritage Service’s Palace and Royal Tombs Headquarters website, the National Heritage Promotion Agency website and the agency’s Instagram account. The Korea Heritage Service said it will raise its national heritage disaster alert during the holiday period by one level, from “attention” to “caution.” An agency official said, “We will do our best so that national heritage can be preserved and managed safely and systematically even during the holiday.” The article said BTS will be the first singer to hold a solo concert at Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun Square. With BTS described as a global artist, some expect crowds could reach hundreds of thousands on the day. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will strengthen crowd monitoring and safety management, using real-time city data and CCTV through its disaster and safety control center. The city also plans traffic measures, including possible subway pass-through at nearby stations without stopping and bus detours due to road controls. It also plans to secure additional restrooms, suspend rentals of public bikes and shared personal mobility devices in the area to improve pedestrian safety, and crack down on illegal street vending and illegal parking.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 08:15:00

Hwang Dae-heon wins silver in men’s 1,500 at Milan-Cortina Olympics Hwang Dae-heon of Gangwon Provincial Office won silver in the men’s 1,500 meters in short track at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, bringing his Olympic total to four medals (one gold, three silvers). Hwang finished second in 2:12.304 in the final at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on Saturday in Milan, Italy, in Korean time, in a nine-man race. After winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Hwang added silver in Milan. He has now medaled at three straight Olympics: silver in the men’s 500 meters at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, gold in the men’s 1,500 and silver in the men’s 5,000 relay at Beijing, and silver in the 1,500 in Milan. It was South Korea’s fifth medal of these Games. Kim Sang-gyeom won silver in men’s parallel giant slalom snowboarding on Feb. 8, Yoo Seung-eun took bronze in women’s big air snowboarding on Feb. 10, Choi Ga-on won gold in women’s halfpipe snowboarding on Feb. 13, and Lim Jong-eon earned bronze in the men’s 1,000 meters in short track. In the final, Hwang stayed near the back early as the nine skaters battled for position, then joined the fight at the front from the 11th lap. With five laps left, three skaters fell, and Hwang moved up to second. He tried to challenge on the last lap but crossed the line second. “There were a lot of hardships and trials to get here. Personally, it was very difficult,” Hwang said in a broadcaster interview. “I’m so happy to be back here. I’m very grateful to those who trusted me and supported me strongly. I also want to tell my family thank you.” “I’m thankful and it’s meaningful to take home this valuable silver,” he said. “This medal carries a lot of my story. I want to tell myself here that I’m truly grateful.” Jens Vantwout of the Netherlands won gold in 2:12.219 to become a double champion at these Games. Latvia’s Roberts Krūzbergs took bronze in 2:12.376. Shin Dong-min of Hwaseong City Hall, competing in his first Olympics, finished fourth. Lim Jong-eon, considered a top contender and the men’s team ace, failed to reach the semifinals after falling during his quarterfinal race in heat 5. Lin Xiaojun, who competed for South Korea before switching nationality to China in 2020, also missed the semifinals in his main event, the 1,500, after placing fourth in the mixed 2,000 relay and being eliminated in the 1,000 quarterfinals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 07:54:00

South Korea Women’s Curling Team Falls to Denmark, Drops to 2-2 in Round Robin South Korea’s women’s curling team, Gyeonggi Province, ranked No. 3 in the world, saw its round-robin momentum halted at the 2026 Milan·Cortina Winter Olympics. The team — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and fifth Seol Ye-ji — lost 6-3 to Denmark in its fourth round-robin game at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 15 (Korean time). After opening with a loss to the United States, South Korea beat host Italy in its second game and then cruised past Great Britain, the 2022 Beijing champion. The setback to Denmark left South Korea at 2-2. In women’s curling, 10 teams play nine round-robin games, with the top four advancing to the semifinals. South Korea got off to a difficult start, giving up a steal of one in the second end while holding the hammer. Kim Min-ji scored one in the fifth end to make it 2-2 at the break, but South Korea surrendered one in the sixth to fall behind. Another steal in the seventh stretched the deficit to 4-2. South Korea pulled one back in the eighth with the hammer, but dropped one point in each of the ninth and 10th ends. South Korea plays Japan at 10:15 p.m. in its fifth round-robin game.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 07:18:00

South Korea’s Hwang Dae-heon wins silver in men’s 1,500 at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korean short track skater Hwang Dae-heon of Gangwon Provincial Office won the silver medal in the men’s 1,500 meters at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Hwang finished second among nine skaters in the final at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, clocking 2:12.304, the report said. Hwang, who won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, added a silver at this Games. Gold went to Jens Vantwout of the Netherlands. Shin Dong-min of Hwaseong City Hall, competing in his first Olympics, placed fourth and missed the podium. 2026-02-15 07:00:14

National Folk Museum to Host Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 16 The National Folk Museum of Korea said it will hold its 2026 Lunar New Year festival, titled “Bok-It-Seol,” on Feb. 16 to mark Seollal, Korea’s traditional holiday. The museum said the event is designed as an on-site, hands-on program open to visitors of all ages, including international guests. It aims to reinterpret Seollal in a modern way and encourage participants to share “good fortune” from the individual to family and neighbors. In the main building lobby, visitors can check their New Year fortune through a yut-stick divination kiosk in a program called “Byeongo Year Seen Through Yut.” A “Deokdam Archive” will also invite participants to leave written New Year’s wishes for family and neighbors. The museum will also offer craft activities such as making envelopes for New Year’s gift money and sewing lucky pouches, allowing visitors to create items meant to wish for a family’s well-being. Other programs include a “Bok-It Mission” giveaway event for visitors who take 인증 photos at Seollal-related exhibits and a special exhibition for the Year of the Horse; a Seollal performance titled “Finding the Sound of Princess Bari,” a family pansori-style theater piece; a “Sodam Play Yard” featuring traditional games such as jegi, ttakji and spinning tops; and video screenings exploring the meaning of Seollal. The museum said the festival centers on the message that “good fortune is not something you receive alone, but something you share and carry on,” proposing that blessings expand from individuals and families to the wider community. In Paju, the museum will run a Seollal seasonal program titled “Seolma-majung — Soft and Playful Year of the Horse Seasonal Playground.” In an activity linked to the museum’s storage collection, “New Year’s Wishes Completed With Horse Artifacts,” visitors will find horse-related objects, gather their meanings and complete a sentence of New Year’s greetings. Those who finish the worksheet will receive a Seollal souvenir inspired by tteokguk, the traditional rice-cake soup. Additional craft sessions include making a horse-shaped key ring; creating New Year’s cards using tteoksal stamps with auspicious patterns; making a rattan lucky pouch inspired by traditional bokjori and lucky-pouch customs; creating New Year pictures such as the Ten Symbols of Longevity and peony designs with beads; and making a kite and flying it with written wishes. More details and participation information are available on the National Folk Museum of Korea website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 07:00:00

Book Sellers Pitch Reading Picks for Lunar New Year Holiday The publishing industry is rolling out promotions and curated recommendations for the Lunar New Year holiday. Kyobo Book Centre said Sunday it has launched a Lunar New Year seasonal promotion featuring a curated selection of so-called “brick books” for immersive holiday reading, along with an e-book event. The campaign, titled “Perfect Rest With Books,” spans multiple reading themes. A key feature is “Challenge: Finish a Brick Book,” a promotion focused on long, dense works of 400 pages or more. Running through March 12, it encourages readers to complete lengthy novels and major works during the period that includes the holiday. Titles highlighted include “Sapiens (Brick Edition)” in the 400-plus-page category, “Cosmos” in the 700-plus-page category, and “Lee Yun-gi’s Greek and Roman Mythology” in the 1,000-plus-page category. Kyobo said the list is meant to help readers tackle books they might not normally attempt. Kyobo is also running an e-book promotion through Feb. 24 to reflect demand for digital reading. Marking the 2026 Year of the Horse, the “2026 Horse! Horse! Horse! Year” event introduces e-books through nine themed “good-wishes” shelves recommended by its merchandisers, including “Words of Greeting” and “Words of Good Fortune.” KT Millie’s Library recommended a range of content across genres, from Millie Originals to film-based novels, webtoons, web novels and docent books. Its picks include Millie Originals such as “Jokes From an Old World” by Lee Da-hye, the SF novel “Pieces of Light” by Yeon Yeoreum, and the reincarnation fantasy “Not Dead, Just Paused” by Lee Jae-moon. It also recommended film-based titles including “Pavane for a Dead Princess.” Other suggestions include “Bullshit Jobs,” recommended by professor Kim Sang-uk, who appeared on “Alssulbyeoljap,” and “The Origin of Species,” a signature work by thriller writer Jeong Yu-jeong. The service also pointed to its exclusive audio web novel “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.” For readers looking to fill short breaks during holiday routines, Millie’s Library also highlighted snackable content. A popular serialized feature on its publishing platform Millie Road, “Seasonal Movies,” has film critics Lee Hwa-jeong and Kim Do-hoon recommend films to watch each season. 2026-02-15 06:57:00

South Korea Reaches Women’s 3,000-Meter Relay Final in Milan Olympics, Eyes First Gold in 8 Years South Korea’s women’s short track team advanced to the final of the 3,000-meter relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The quartet of Choi Min-jeong and Kim Gil-li (both Seongnam City Hall), Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall) and Lee So-yeon (Sports Toto) won semifinal heat 2 on Feb. 15 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, finishing in 4:04.72. South Korea ran second behind Canada early before Choi moved inside with 10 laps remaining to take the lead. With six laps left, Lee was passed by China and the team dropped to second. Shim held second, then Choi attacked the inside again with three laps to go to regain first. Anchor Kim pulled away from the chasing pack to cross the line first. South Korea has won Olympic gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay six times — Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 — and took silver at the 2022 Beijing Games. The medal race is scheduled for the 19th. South Korea will face Canada, the Netherlands and Italy. With the fastest semifinal time, South Korea was assigned Lane 1.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 06:45:00

South Korea’s Hong Su-jeong Places 22nd in Women’s Skeleton at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korea’s Hong Su-jeong (Gyeonggi Federation) placed 22nd in her first Olympic women’s skeleton individual event. Hong posted a four-run total of 3 minutes, 54.73 seconds on Saturday (Korea time) at the Cortina Sliding Center in Italy in the women’s skeleton at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The only South Korean women’s skeleton athlete in the field, Hong finished 22nd out of 25 competitors. She clocked 58.88 seconds in the first run and 58.45 in the second. She looked to cut time in runs three and four but did not make a major move, posting 58.73 and 58.67, respectively. Austria’s Janine Flock won gold in 3:49.02. Germany’s Susanne Kreher took silver in 3:49.32, and Germany’s Jacqueline Pfeifer won bronze in 3:49.46.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 06:30:00

Short track: Hwang Dae-heon, Shin Dong-min reach men’s 1,500 final at Milan Olympics Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office) and Shin Dong-min (Hwaseong City Hall) advanced to the men’s 1,500-meter final in short track at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Hwang finished third in semifinal heat 1 on Feb. 15 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, clocking 2:15.83 in a seven-man race. In the men’s 1,500 semifinals, the top two from each of seven heats advance, along with the fastest third-place finisher. Hwang crossed the line third, but Shogo Miyata of Japan, who was second, was disqualified for a foul during the race. That moved Hwang up to second and into the final. Hwang, the 2022 Beijing Olympic champion in the event, will try to win a second straight Olympic title in the men’s 1,500. Shin took second in semifinal heat 3 in 2:17.21. He was running fourth on the final lap when two skaters ahead of him fell, allowing him to move up and secure a spot in the final. The men’s 1,500 is South Korea’s most successful Olympic event in men’s short track. South Korean skaters have won gold four times: 2006 Turin (Viktor Ahn, then known as Ahn Hyun-soo), 2010 Vancouver (Lee Jung-su), 2018 Pyeongchang (Lin Xiaojun, then known as Lim Hyo-jun) and 2022 Beijing (Hwang). The men’s 1,500 final, featuring nine skaters, is scheduled to begin at 6:35 a.m.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 06:21:00

Choi Min-jung, Kim Gil-li and Noh Do-hee reach women’s 1,000 prelim quarterfinals at Milan 2026 South Korea’s three entrants in the women’s 1,000 meters all advanced from the preliminaries in short track speed skating at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics. Choi Min-jung (Seongnam City Hall) won Heat 5 on Saturday (Korea time) at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, finishing in 1 minute, 26.925 seconds. In the preliminaries, the top two finishers in each heat advance, along with four skaters selected by time from among the eight third-place finishers across the eight heats. Choi posted the fastest time among the 32 skaters who raced Saturday. Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall) won Heat 8 in 1:29.656 to secure her spot in the quarterfinals. Kim fell after colliding with Miheller Pelzebur of the Netherlands immediately after the race but got up without a serious injury. Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) placed second in Heat 2 in 1:10.097 to move on. The women’s 1,000-meter medal races are scheduled for the 16th.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 05:45:00