Journalist

Yoon Juhye
  • Novel Explores Kim Gu’s Personal Struggles in ‘Baekbeom, Lying Down on the Mountains and Rivers’
    Novel Explores Kim Gu’s Personal Struggles in ‘Baekbeom, Lying Down on the Mountains and Rivers’ “‘They say the Japanese enemy is surrendering!’ To me, those words were not good news but as if the sky were collapsing and the ground giving way. Years of effort to prepare to enter the war came to nothing. We worked closely with the U.S. War Department, but Japan surrendered before we could carry anything out. I regretted all we had put into it, and I worried about what lay ahead.” -Baekbeom Kim Gu UNESCO has selected Kim Gu as its “Peace Figure of the Year,” and novelist Lim Sun-man, 72, has published a new work, <Baekbeom, Lying Down on the Mountains and Rivers>, publisher Hangilsa said Wednesday. The novel portrays Kim’s life and his personal anguish. Lim completed the book after more than a decade of reporting and about five years of writing. He said the project began when, as a reporter in 1995, he visited the shabby building that housed the Provisional Government in Chongqing, China, and felt both sadness and a sense of debt. At the briefing, held Feb. 23 at the memorial hall in Seoul’s Yongsan district, Lim recalled the visit to the provisional government site, saying it was “so shabby” that it “really hurt.” He said something stayed with him, adding, “I felt an echo that I had to write something about this.” The book is organized into 24 chapters, covering the Chihapo incident in which Kim killed a Japanese man in revenge for the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, his involvement with the Donghak movement and life in exile, the independence struggle of Lee Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil, post-liberation turmoil and division, opposition to trusteeship, inter-Korean talks, and Kim’s assassination at Kyunggyojang. Hangilsa CEO Kim Eon-ho said UNESCO’s selection of Kim as “Person of the Year” has made him, beyond Korea, a great independence activist recognized worldwide. He said he hopes as many teenagers as possible will read the novel. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-06 00:07:26
  • Secret 1920 Letter by Independence Leader Kim Ga-jin Goes on Display After 106 Years
    Secret 1920 Letter by Independence Leader Kim Ga-jin Goes on Display After 106 Years On March 12, 1920, Joseon Minjok Daedongdan president Kim Ga-jin sent a secret letter to Park Yong-man (1881-1928), the group’s military affairs chief — a role comparable to a defense minister today. In the letter, Kim argued for an “independence war,” saying Korea should not only reclaim its territory but also open a path to strike Japan’s mainland.   “There is nothing better than to build ties with China, ally with the United States, make an agreement with the radicals, and then choose the nearest and most suitable place in Russian territory as our military’s central base, controlling Yanji and the two Gando regions. (omitted) We will be able to water our horses in Tokyo Bay.” The letter is being shown publicly for the first time in 106 years at a special exhibition, “Joseon Minjok Daedongdan — Determined to Risk a Bloody Fight,” running through May 31 at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary History. The show is organized by the Dongnong Cultural Foundation and the Joseon Minjok Daedongdan Memorial Association. Organizers say it is the first exhibition to focus on Joseon Minjok Daedongdan, 107 years after the group’s founding. The exhibit covers the March 1 independence movement and the group’s formation, its activities and the Daedongdan Declaration. “We will be able to water our horses in Tokyo Bay”  Joseon Minjok Daedongdan was a secret anti-Japanese independence organization formed in the wake of the March 1 movement in 1919. Because it operated as a clandestine group, few records remain. Research on Korea’s independence movement has also largely centered on the March 1 movement and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, leaving Daedongdan relatively understudied. Organizers say the newly revealed letter is therefore a valuable historical source. Kim’s family had kept the letter privately. Kim Seon-hyeon, chair of the Dongnong Cultural Foundation and Kim’s great-granddaughter, said her great-grandfather fled to the Provisional Government in Shanghai and traveled widely across China. She said that despite wars including the Korean War, her grandmother safeguarded the belongings, leaving about 600 items including the letter and calligraphy. The letter came to light during preparations for a 2024 calligraphy exhibition on Kim at the Seoul Arts Center, titled “Baegun Seogyeong.” Kim Seon-hyeon said the team transcribed the cursive text into a more readable script, confirming the existence of the secret letter and deciding to disclose it now. Kim wrote to Park at a time of internal rifts within the Provisional Government in Shanghai. Independence activists clashed over strategy — war, diplomacy and training — and over whether to maintain the Provisional Government. Ahn Chang-ho and Yeo Un-hyeong backed keeping it while pursuing partial reforms. Shin Chae-ho and Park argued for dissolving it and establishing a new independence government, emphasizing armed struggle. Syngman Rhee and others also argued for maintaining the Provisional Government. Kim believed independence could be achieved through armed struggle, and he was appointed an adviser to the Bukro Military Administration Office under Gen. Kim Jwa-jin. Organizers say the letter is an important document showing Kim’s resolve to pursue an independence war. In the letter, Kim invoked the sound of a drum to press the need to advance. “With the drum sounded once, we can strike the cunning Japanese enemy’s solid armor and sharp weapons; with the drum sounded twice, we can recover our land; with the drum sounded three times, we will be able to water our horses in Tokyo Bay.” Dreaming of a world without discrimination  True to its name, Daedong — meaning “great unity” — the group envisioned a society without discrimination. It argued that Koreans should unite across status and class to achieve independence, world peace and a “Daedong society.” Its membership spanned social groups, including Prince Uichin Yi Kang (1877-1955), described as the only royal family member to join the independence movement, as well as Kim Ga-jin and others including Jeon Hyeop, Choi Ik-hwan, Baek Cho-wol and Lee Sin-ae. It also included teachers, students, workers, merchants and others. After the March 1 movement, the group elevated Kim as president and set up core bodies including administrative, foreign affairs, finance and military functions, forming an organization comparable to a government. It actively cooperated with the Provisional Government and divided responsibilities. It communicated with the Provisional Government through the Yeontongje network, ran a secret printing operation and led anti-Japanese information activities. The nationwide network was used to share news of the Provisional Government inside Korea and raise military funds, functioning like a communications web. The group also supported the exile of royal family members and former Korean Empire officials, raised funds and held current-affairs lectures for Koreans in Shanghai. It issued the Daedongdan Declaration — described as a second March 1 declaration — explored plans to attack Japan’s mainland and shared the Provisional Government’s work in military, diplomacy, finance, communications and propaganda. It also pushed for Prince Uichin Yi Kang’s flight to Shanghai, aiming to counter Japan’s claim that Emperor Gojong had legally transferred the country to Japan, a move organizers said strengthened the legitimacy and symbolism of the independence struggle.  The exhibition also features the original Daedongdan Declaration written by Kim, also preserved by his descendants. The group announced the declaration in Jongno on Nov. 28, 1919, during what the article describes as a second independence demonstration, led by figures including Jeong Gyu-sik, Lee Sin-ae and Park Jeong-seon. Kim, then in exile in Shanghai, drafted the text in his own hand and sent it to Gyeongseong through the Yeontongje network. As with the March 1 declaration, the Daedongdan Declaration centered on 33 people, but it is noted as the only case in which participants from across social strata joined nationwide. The article says it rejected discrimination by gender and status. The declaration denounced Japanese abuses and stated, “We now declare that we are determined to risk a bloody fight with the greatest sincerity and the greatest effort until the last person and the last moment,” underscoring its commitment to independence. The exhibition also includes a first-trial ruling from the Gyeongseong District Court written in June 1920 on the “Daedongdan incident,” and an original handwritten “current-affairs lecture” document by Kim. “Joseon Minjok Daedongdan is an important anti-Japanese independence organization, but little is known about it,” Kim Seon-hyeon said. “I hope this exhibition will help many people reflect on the spirit of Daedongdan.”  An expert forum titled “Daedong Thought and Society” will be held April 24 in the museum’s seminar room. Participants include Han Hong-gu, a chair professor at Sungkonghoe University, Kim Dong-hwan, a research fellow at the Institute of Korean Studies, and Lim Gyeong-seok, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University. Admission is free.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-06 00:03:52
  • Culture Minister Choi: BTS Concert Will Test Anti-Scalping Efforts, Platforms Must Act
    Culture Minister Choi: BTS Concert Will Test Anti-Scalping Efforts, Platforms Must Act 최휘영 문화체육관광부 장관은 5일 "최근 국민적 관심이 집중된 BTS의 공연은 암표 대응의 중요한 시험대가 될 것"이라며 민관이 함께 암표 근절에 적극적으로 나서야 한다고 밝혔다. Choi said at the launch ceremony in Seoul for a joint public-private anti-scalping task force that the group must become a practical platform that carries out enforcement, built on constant cooperation between government and the private sector. The task force, which officially began work that day, brings together the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and ticketing-platform companies to routinely check for illegal ticket resales and strengthen response systems. Choi has described scalping as a long-standing chronic problem in the cultural industry and has pledged a tough response. Under revisions to the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, authorities can impose penalties of up to 50 times the amount of illegal ticket sales and allow confiscation and recovery of profits from unlawful resales, sharply raising sanctions. Some have said that because the bills were drafted quickly, detailed enforcement rules still need to be prepared. Choi said, however, that "legal revisions alone are not enough," calling scalping a complex issue involving technology, distribution channels and consumer awareness. He said results will come only when each institution’s role is linked, including blocking fraud at the booking stage, constant monitoring by platform operators, rapid information-sharing with investigative agencies and public-awareness campaigns. Choi also urged ticketing platforms for performances, exhibitions and sports to take a more active role. "The role of platforms that can become a channel for scalping is important," he said, adding that monitoring of the BTS Gwanghwamun concert found multiple suspected scalping cases on some platforms. He said tighter platform-level controls are needed and that thorough public-private action is required to reduce demand for scalped tickets and help the revised laws take hold quickly. He also stressed the need to clearly warn the public about the risks of buying scalped tickets. Choi said that even if people purchase scalped tickets for BTS concerts and other events, bookings can be canceled if the transaction is detected, and on-site identity checks can make transfers effectively impossible, potentially leading to fraud losses. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-05 16:03:20
  • Pianist Paik Kun-woo to Release New Schubert Album Marking 70 Years Since Debut
    Pianist Paik Kun-woo to Release New Schubert Album Marking 70 Years Since Debut Universal Music said Thursday that pianist Paik Kun-woo will release a new album, "Schubert," on the 26th. It is Paik’s first Schubert recording in 13 years, following his 2013 release "Schubert: Impromptus, Klavierstücke, Moments musicaux." The album is positioned as a personal milestone for Paik, who marks the 70th anniversary of his debut and his 80th birthday this year. Ahead of the release, "Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D.664, first movement" will be issued as an advance track Thursday. The two-CD set features Schubert’s Piano Sonatas Nos. 13 and 14, along with late-period Sonatas Nos. 18 and 20, linking Schubert’s musical world with Paik’s own career arc. "This choice spans the beginning and end of my performing life," Paik said. "No. 13 (D.664) is one of the earliest piano sonatas I learned and a work I have always loved, and No. 20 (D.959) is a piece I left aside for a long time because I couldn’t find an answer." He said he recorded the works to revisit them "from where I have arrived now" and to move closer to the truth. Paik recalled that while he performed and recorded Schubert’s final sonata (D.960) when he was younger, he was unable to bring D.959 to the stage for many years. "The second movement felt like a fantasy beyond order, and the theme of the fourth movement went on endlessly through repetition," he said. "For years I tried to find an answer, but perhaps because I wanted it so badly, I couldn’t see it." He added that only recently did he realize that rather than trying to do something, he needed to try "not to do." "Letting the music sing on its own, and the confidence to endure that silence — this attitude, reached through serious and sincere inquiry, is the biggest difference between my Schubert 13 years ago and my Schubert now," he said. Paik was born in Seoul in 1946 and made his debut at age 10, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Navy Symphony Orchestra, now the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. At 15, he moved to the United States to continue his studies at the Juilliard School, and later performed across the United States and Europe. Paik now lives in Paris and is preparing a recital tour tied to the album release. Beginning in April, he will visit 12 cities nationwide. The final stop, in Seoul, is set for May 10 — his birthday — at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The program includes Schubert’s Sonatas Nos. 13 and 20 and Brahms’ Four Ballades, and he is also preparing to publish an autobiography.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-05 09:15:22
  • Seoul may send charter or military planes to bring home Koreans from Middle East
    Seoul may send charter or military planes to bring home Koreans from Middle East SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) -Seoul is mulling to send chartered planes and military transport aircraft to bring home South Korean nationals stranded across the Middle East as commercial flights remain disrupted by the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, government officials said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina said the government is reviewing multiple options, including dispatching aircraft and additional rapid-response teams, to assist citizens attempting to leave the region. “The government is considering deploying chartered planes and military transport aircraft, as well as dispatching additional joint rapid-response teams,” Kim said during a joint briefing after an interagency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to assess the evolving Middle East situation. Authorities are continuing to track the status of South Korean nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates and other countries while coordinating with relevant ministries to secure safe and swift returns. About 17,000 South Koreans are estimated to be stranded across roughly 10 Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict, according to the foreign ministry. The figure excludes short-term travelers. Officials warned that the crisis could prolong or escalate and assured to prioritize the safety of nationals. Earlier this week, around 140 South Koreans and their foreign family members were evacuated from Iran, Israel and Bahrain and relocated to neighboring countries. On Tuesday, 24 South Koreans in Iran were moved to Turkmenistan, while 66 in Israel were evacuated to Egypt. “The foreign ministry will mobilize all available resources and assets to ensure that no South Korean nationals are harmed amid the situation in the Middle East,” Kim said. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok instructed ministries to draw up detailed contingency plans to address the widening fallout from the conflict, including ensuring the safety of Korean citizens and closely monitoring financial and currency markets. He also urged officials to respond proactively to difficulties faced by Korean companies operating in the region. The foreign ministry later held a separate meeting with embassy officials from 14 countries across the Middle East and surrounding areas, including Iran, Israel, Turkmenistan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, to discuss ways to facilitate departures, particularly for short-term travelers, as airline operations remain unstable. Meanwhile, travel agencies have begun arranging alternative routes for stranded tourists. About 40 customers of Hana Tour departed Dubai on Wednesday morning and arrived in Taipei the same day, where they will stay overnight before returning to Incheon on a Korean Air flight Thursday. Of roughly 540 customers from Hana Tour and Mode Tour currently in the Middle East, about 240 are in Dubai. Travel firms are coordinating with airlines to secure additional connecting flights from Thursday, while monitoring whether scheduled direct flights from Dubai to Incheon resume without disruption. Industry officials said Cairo’s airport remains fully operational, allowing travelers evacuated there to return home through rerouted commercial flights. 2026-03-05 07:27:50
  • Culture minister vows crackdown on BTS concert scalping; says Netflix stream was agency’s call
    Culture minister vows crackdown on BTS concert scalping; says Netflix stream was agency’s call Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said March 4 that the government would step up efforts to prevent ticket scalping and price gouging tied to BTS’ planned “Gwanghwamun comeback” concert. Speaking at a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Choi responded to questions from Rep. Lee Gi-heon of the Democratic Party. Lee said hotel rooms near Gwanghwamun that had cost 250,000 won were being raised to 800,000 won, and that some operators were canceling existing reservations and reselling rooms at sharply higher prices. “Scalping is also an emergency,” he said. The BTS Gwanghwamun comeback concert is free, but scalpers have been selling access through practices such as transferring IDs and wristbands. Choi said authorities were “actively monitoring and cracking down,” but acknowledged limits. “We will work aggressively during the remaining period so there are no unfortunate incidents,” he said. Lawmakers also criticized Netflix’s exclusive live broadcast of the concert. Rep. Lim Oh-kyeong of the Democratic Party said it was contradictory to stress fostering domestic streaming platforms while a major national event’s rights went to a foreign company. Choi said the decision was made by the group’s agency after weighing various factors, and that it was difficult for the government to intervene. He added that domestic platforms appeared to face limitations in carrying the broadcast, and said he was concerned the ministry’s views were not more fully reflected. Separately, lawmakers urged stronger action against so-called “one-click publishing,” in which generative AI is used to produce thousands of e-books in a short time. Under the current legal deposit system, there are no standards to identify AI publications, no labeling requirement and no separate management framework. The ministry established a “Culture AI Policy Division” last March to oversee AI-related work. Rep. Kim Jae-won of the Rebuilding Korea Future Party said the government should define the institutional status of AI-generated works and create a comprehensive plan covering eligibility for public support programs and measures to address market distortion and overproduction. Choi said books “churned out by AI” should be excluded from legal deposit, and said the ministry was strengthening monitoring and pursuing institutional changes to create a legal basis. He said a comprehensive plan was needed so AI could be used to support growth in culture and the arts, and that the new dedicated unit would lead the work. In another exchange, lawmakers called on government officials to join efforts after President Lee Jae-myung put up for sale a home he had lived in for 29 years as part of a push to normalize the real estate market. Rep. Min Hyung-bae of the Democratic Party said Choi and his spouse owned an apartment in Anyang and a multi-family home in Pyeongchang, and that Choi’s mother and children held commercial and single-family properties. Min also said nine of the heads of 16 agencies under the ministry owned two or more properties, and urged a ministry-level review. Choi said all of the properties he owns are primary residences, adding that the ministry was reviewing the issue and that he agreed with the intent.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 11:51:18
  • Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young says talks underway to protect Olympic viewing rights
    Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young says talks underway to protect Olympic viewing rights Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said Tuesday that his ministry is discussing institutional measures with the Korea Communications and Media Commission amid controversy over the public being deprived of access to watch the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Choi made the remarks during a briefing to the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, responding to questions from Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Kye-won. Cho warned that disputes over Olympic broadcast rights could restrict the public’s ability to watch. He said the Milan Olympics opening ceremony drew just a 1.8% rating, calling it a bleak result and attributing it to the absence of terrestrial broadcasting. Cho added that JTBC has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics from 2026 to 2032 and the World Cup through 2030. With a single channel holding the rights, he said, the public lost chances to cheer, citing cases in which athlete Choi Ga-on’s effort was reduced to a single line of on-screen text. Some countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, regulate major international sports events such as the Olympics to prevent pay-TV broadcasters from monopolizing rights and to protect public access. Choi said JTBC’s coverage falls under the commission’s rules on universal access, but acknowledged there were limits to nationwide viewing. “This has made us keenly aware of the seriousness,” he said, adding that discussions are underway with the Korea Communications and Media Commission on institutional safeguards. Lawmakers also raised concerns that Hallyu-related tourism is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. Of the top 10 concerts by ticket sales in 2024, nine were held in the capital region, with the exception of Psy’s “Summer Swag” show in Busan. The imbalance has fueled calls to develop mid- to large-scale multipurpose arenas outside the capital region. Choi said the ministry is preparing to launch feasibility studies for such arenas outside the Seoul area to speed up the expansion of regional performance infrastructure. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-04 10:54:17
  • Lee Kun-hee Collection Tour Heads to Chicago With 2,000 Years of Korean Art
    Lee Kun-hee Collection Tour Heads to Chicago With 2,000 Years of Korean Art The Lee Kun-hee Collection’s overseas tour is continuing, with Chicago set as the next stop after the first exhibition in Washington. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the National Museum of Korea said on the 4th that the tour’s second exhibition, “Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art,” will be held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Opening on the 7th, the show brings together 257 objects from 140 cultural properties spanning traditional and modern Korean art. Highlights include seven national treasures and 15 “treasures” from the National Museum of Korea, as well as 13 major works of modern and contemporary art from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, including pieces by Kim Whanki, Park Su-geun and Chang Ucchin. The international tour of works donated by the late Lee Kun-hee began in November last year with the special exhibition “Korea’s Treasures: Collecting, Cherishing, Sharing” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. The museum said the show drew about 80,000 visitors, its largest attendance for a special exhibition in the past five years. The tour now moves to Chicago, where it will run from March 7 to July 5 at the Art Institute of Chicago, described by the organizers as one of the most influential museums in the United States. The institute is housed in a building constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, which the article notes was a significant venue where Joseon presented an exhibition to introduce its history and culture to the international community after the 1882 Korea-U.S. treaty. The Art Institute expanded in 2009 with the Modern Wing designed by architect Renzo Piano. Organizers said this exhibition will be the first Asian art special exhibition held in the Modern Wing’s first-floor special exhibition galleries. The exhibition includes many nationally designated cultural properties. Among 22 representative works from the National Museum of Korea are Jeong Seon’s “Inwang Jesaekdo,” Kim Hong-do’s “Chuseongbudo,” a white porcelain bowl inscribed with “Cheon·ji·hyeon·hwang,” a gilt-bronze Buddha from the Three Kingdoms period, the Goryeo-era “Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara” painting, and the early Joseon text “Seokbosangjeol.” From the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Lee Kun-hee Collection, the show presents 13 modern and contemporary masterpieces reflecting Korea’s turbulent 20th-century history. In addition to Kim Whanki’s “Sanhullim 19-II-73#307” (1973) and Baek Nam-sun’s “Paradise” (1936), shown in the first tour stop, 11 newly selected works will be added. Among them are Lee Jung-seop’s “Bull” (1950s) and “Family and First Snow” (1950s), Park Su-geun’s “Woman Pounding Grain” (1957), and Chang Ucchin’s “Ferryboat” (1951). Also included are Kim Eun-ho’s “Ganseong” (1927), Park Rae-hyun’s “Flute” (1956), Lee Jong-woo’s “Portrait of a Friend” (1926), Lee Ungno’s “Crowd” (1988), and Kim Ki-chang’s “War Horses” (1955). The works, once privately held, became public assets after Lee’s family donated them to the nation in 2021. Organizers said the title “Korean National Treasures” is intended not only to refer to officially designated national treasures but also to convey the idea of “the nation’s treasures” shared by the public. After the Chicago run ends July 5, the exhibition will move to the British Museum in London, where it is scheduled to be held from Oct. 1 to 2027-01-31. 2026-03-04 09:25:14
  • New Books: ‘Rome in the Baroque’ and Two More Titles
    New Books: ‘Rome in the Baroque’ and Two More Titles Rome in the Baroque: A City That Opens Your Eyes to Beauty=By Jeong Jin-guk, Datjip. Art critic and photographer Jeong Jin-guk writes that after suffering repeated losses during the COVID-19 pandemic — family, friends and acquaintances — he traveled to Rome. The book pairs photographs he took across the city with humanities-based reflections that came to him on site, aiming to share the essence of Baroque art with friends who could not make the trip. Jeong argues that 17th-century Baroque art shaped the Rome seen today, describing churches in the historic center as “giant museums” where architecture and art are inseparable. He writes that Baroque works foregrounding the Virgin Mary as a compassionate mother became a refuge that encompassed the worlds of masters including Bernini, Caravaggio and Borromini, and that churches touched by their hands evolved beyond religious facilities into living spaces for art. He also frames Baroque as a “visual art” strategy by the Catholic Church to win back popular support in response to the Reformation. In that context, he rereads Rome’s churches, galleries and museums, inviting readers to consider art and faith, life and the cycles of nature amid masterpieces and saints’ legends. “Churches redeveloped in this period decided their facades to fit road conditions. The sacred axis of stubbornly aligning direction had no meaning, and they prioritized roads that made it easier for worshippers to come and go. Elders took the view, ‘What could be more sacred and important than following a path that is good for believers to repent and pray!’ It was a rational yet flexible judgment typical of Romans. They did not believe in ancient geomancy, but they also did not openly dismiss superstition, mindful of public sentiment. For these reasons, the rear and front of churches often changed to match new roads, side-aisle doors were turned into main entrances, or facades were redesigned.” (p. 273) The Invisible Hands Behind the Korean Wave=By Kwon Ho-jin and others, Sawu. The book collects voices of the “invisible hands” that have supported the Korean Wave behind idol stars and hit content. Its 12 co-authors are figures who have worked over the past 30 years in fields including content exports and production, policy design, tourism and academic research. They focus on how the Korean Wave was planned and delivered, then translated and adjusted to local languages and cultures, and they describe how it seeped into fans’ daily lives around the world. The authors also examine the structure of Hallyu as it expanded into industry, tourism and business, viewing it as a layered social, historical and political landscape — what they call a “scene.” “Changing ‘single-director’ arts institutions — where the government appointed the head and the head ran the organization alone — into ‘committees’ was also meant to block government interference and give cultural and arts experts independence and autonomy. Today we take bodies like the Korean Film Council or the Arts Council Korea for granted, but it was not that long ago they were the Korean Motion Picture Promotion Corp. and the Korea Culture and Arts Foundation. When I was a working-level official in the Culture Ministry’s arts bureau, I handled the work of converting the foundation into the Arts Council. I went to the National Assembly several times with an amendment to the Culture and Arts Promotion Act. Back then, I said countless times, ‘Support, but do not interfere.’” (p. 57) Create 3 Million Won in Monthly Dividends in 3 Years With 10 Million Won=By Insaeng-eop, Gyeongiro-um. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the author writes, he narrowly kept his job amid layoffs and began worrying, “If I get fired tomorrow, how will I make a living?” Confronted with the limits of side jobs and juggling multiple gigs, he started looking for ways to make “money work for itself,” focusing on U.S. dividend ETFs and covered-call ETFs. The book says it can create tangible cash flow in a short period without a large investment, and lays out portfolio construction and management based on the author’s chosen mix of dividend ETFs, BDCs and covered-call ETFs. It also explains ETF structures and types, basic mechanics, tax issues and risk factors to help readers design their own portfolios. “One advantage of ETFs is that you can see very transparently where your money is and how it is invested. Most ETFs disclose their holdings and weights on a daily basis. For example, if you hold an S&P 500 ETF, you can immediately check what percentage is in Apple, what percentage is in Microsoft, and how much is allocated to sectors like health care or financials.” (p. 38) * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 15:48:23
  • Museums Near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun to Close for BTS ‘Comeback Live’ Crowd
    Museums Near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun to Close for BTS ‘Comeback Live’ Crowd Major museums around Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square will temporarily close on March 21, when “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG” is set to be held at 8 p.m. at the square, as officials brace for heavy crowds. Industry officials said on the 27th that the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History decided to close that day, and the National Folk Museum of Korea has joined the shutdown. The museums said the closures are necessary to protect visitors as large crowds are expected. Up to 260,000 people are projected to gather in the Gwanghwamun area on the day of the BTS event. Other nearby museums are also considering temporary closures, officials said. The Korea Heritage Service is discussing with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and police whether to temporarily close the National Palace Museum of Korea and suspend operations at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Deoksugung Palace. “We plan to make a final decision on closures and palace shutdowns sometime next week,” a Korea Heritage Service official said, adding that the agency will hold a final meeting with related institutions to confirm details, including the scope. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is also adjusting its schedule. The musical “Anna Karenina,” the play “Wasp,” and the dance performance “Double Bill Bliss and Jackie,” which had been scheduled for that day, will not be staged. The center said it is in talks about rescheduling “Park Shin-yang’s Exhibition Show: The Fourth Wall.” Opening some Sejong Center spaces to BTS fans is also under discussion. “We are reviewing multiple options, and nothing has been finalized,” a Sejong Center official said. Police are also preparing safety measures. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has asked Seoul Metro to consider having trains pass through three subway stations — Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung and City Hall — without stopping as a precaution against overcrowding. Traffic controls will also be imposed on Sejong-daero, which will be used as the performance venue, and on nearby roads including Saemunan-ro, Jongno, Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro. The police agency said it will provide advance notice through electronic road signs once control hours are set.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 08:16:31