How Koreans once celebrated snow

Seoul saw its first snowfall of the season on Thursday, as temperatures dipped below zero degrees Celsius. People filed out of their homes, schools and offices to catch a glimpse of the season's first wintry weather. In contemporary Korea, snow carries a tender, almost cinematic meaning. Couples often promise to meet when they see the first snow, and many singles make bold moves, believing that confessing one’s love under the first flakes will guarantee success. The white snow that blankets the

Dec. 4, 2025

National Museum of Korea on track to surpass 6 million annual visitors

The number of visitors to the National Museum of Korea is expected to surpass 6 million this year for the first time since it opened in 1945. The museum said Wednesday that as of Nov. 30, it had recorded 5,814,265 visitors so far this year. At the current pace, total attendance is likely to exceed 6 million as early as next week. It would be the first time the museum has reached that milestone since its founding on Dec. 3, 1945, making it the highest annual attendance in its 80-year history. Cum

Dec. 4, 2025

'Price of Confession' promises 12 episodes of unrelenting suspense

Crafting "The Price of Confession" felt less like making a series and more like shooting 12 standalone thrillers, each one packed with its own tension and emotional weight, its director, Lee Jung-hyo, said Wednesday. "It was like producing 12 independent thrillers. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to sustain the tension throughout all 12 episodes," he said at a press conference for Netflix's upcoming mystery thriller. "I focused on keeping viewers wondering, like who the actual killer is,

Dec. 3, 2025

National Palace Museum marks 20 years of conservation science with special exhibition

The National Palace Museum of Korea, located in Seoul at the main palace Gyeongbokgung, is celebrating two decades of conservation science with a major special exhibition, “Re:Born, Connecting Time Through Conservation Science,” running from Wednesday to Feb. 1, 2026. The exhibition highlights the often unseen world of conservation labs, tracing 20 years of scientific preservation work conducted since the museum’s 2005 opening. The show positions conservation not as simple restoration, but as a

Dec. 3, 2025

'KPop Demon Hunters' dominates YouTube Korea's hot songs in 2025

Three of the 10 most popular songs on YouTube Korea in 2025 are from Netflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," with "Golden" ranking first, according to a list released Wednesday by YouTube. Other tracks from the film, “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol,” ranked third and 10th, respectively. YouTube's annual list also highlighted emerging new creators, with Choo Sung-hoon, a former mixed martial artist, ranked the most popular creator in Korea. Choo has amassed about 2 million subscribers with hi

Dec. 3, 2025

How a Shinsegae heiress became K-pop’s most-watched rookie

When Allday Project debuted in June, it immediately captured the attention of K-pop fans not only because it was the first coed group introduced in nine years, but also because of the distinct and unconventional profiles of its members. One member who especially drew attention was Annie, the group’s rapper, whose transition from chaebol heiress to rookie idol quickly became one of the most discussed narratives in this year’s K-pop rookie scene. Born into the Shinsegae family, which controls one

Dec. 3, 2025

Exploring birth and motherhood from folk traditions to contemporary art in Seoul

Giving birth to a child brings changes to a family in many ways, reshaping not only daily life but also the emotional landscape, from joy to sorrow. Birth takes center stage at the National Folk Museum of Korea and the European gallery White Cube in Seoul, embodying these ideas in different thought-provoking ways. At the National Folk Museum of Korea, a baby’s first cry echoes through the entrance to the “Happy Birthday” exhibition, accompanied by a reimagined scene of a Joseon-era (1392-1910) c

Dec. 2, 2025

Fashion items to lift your dull winter wardrobe

When temperatures drop, it’s easy to fall into a uniform of black, grey and brown. Winter wardrobes often lean neutral for comfort, but that doesn’t mean your style has to follow suit. With a few well-chosen accessories, even the most predictable look can shift in mood, texture and color. For those who want warmth without sacrificing silhouette, tights are emerging as one of the season’s most effective styling tools. At a recent airport appearance, Meovv members Gawon and Ella showed how a simpl

Dec. 1, 2025

Louvre director shines new spotlight on hanji, Korean traditional paper

Xavier Salmon, who oversees the print collection at the Louvre Museum in Paris, considers himself, in a way, an ambassador for hanji, Korean handmade mulberry paper. What fascinates him is its duality in practical use and poetic texture for creating art. During his visit to Korea last year, Salmon traveled through Seoul and major Buddhist monasteries, including Haeinsa and Bulguksa. Having selected 12 photographs, he matched them with 12 Parisian heritage sites, forming a visual dialogue — all p

Dec. 1, 2025

Louis Vuitton opens six-story Seoul venue blending retail, culture and dining

Louis Vuitton opened a new multipurpose space in Seoul on Saturday, bringing retail, cultural programming and dining under one roof. The project, titled “Louis Vuitton Visionary Journeys Seoul," occupies six floors inside "LV The Place Seoul, Shinsegae The Reserve" located at the Shinsegae Department Store in Jung-gu, and reflects the house’s ongoing effort to expand beyond traditional luxury retail. Visitors entering the building find interiors marked by reinterpretations of "saekdong," the tra

Nov. 30, 2025

Whiter skin for sale: South Korea’s glutathione dilemma

By Morgan Norris I walked into Olive Young, often dubbed the “Sephora of Korea,” and asked which products they’d recommend for skin whitening. After visiting multiple branches across Seoul from Gangnam to Myeongdong, one product kept surfacing as a recommendation: glutathione. Initially known for its antioxidant and detoxifying properties, glutathione gained traction in Korea during the 2010s, hyped by influencer endorsements and aggressive marketing. Intravenous, oral and topical forms became w

Nov. 29, 2025

Wattpad bets big on Hollywood with 'Chasing Red' adaptation

A US-based online fiction platform under South Korean portal giant Naver is pushing deeper into Hollywood with plans to adapt one of its most popular stories, "Chasing Red," into a feature film starring Madelaine Petsch and Gavin Casalegno. The project, announced Tuesday, is the latest effort by Wattpad and its parent company Webtoon to transform its web novel into mainstream entertainment. Production is scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia in early 2026, with Mackenzie Munro directing from a scre

Nov. 28, 2025

Drive-in movies, hansik cooking, and light-space exhibition

There's something about watching a movie through a windshield — engine off, seat reclined, snacks within arm's reach — that no multiplex can replicate. Jayu-ro Drive-in Theater, perched beside Paju's scenic riverside route in Gyeonggi Province, delivers that intimate, retro comfort with a modern polish. The theater moved to its current location in 2022, spreading three screens across a spacious lot that welcomes cars and pets alike. A snack bar stocks old-school favorites: baked squid, dried fil

Nov. 28, 2025

Packages and promotions

Lotte Hotel Seoul brings back annual winter strawberry event Lotte Hotel Seoul's annual winter strawberry event is back, offering a dessert buffet and afternoon tea set through April 30. The Peninsula Lounge & Bar presents more than 30 strawberry-based sweets, such as cakes and chocolate fondue, alongside 10 hot dishes, including lamb chops and carved beef. The special December buffet is 150,000 won per person, with seatings on Thursday and Friday evenings and three sessions on weekends and holi

Nov. 28, 2025

Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s legacy assembled for first time at National Museum of Korea

When King Seonjo in the Joseon era (1392-1910) determined that the kingdom's naval forces could not defeat Japanese forces in 1597 during the Imjin War, Korean naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) left the famous words: “Your Majesty, we still have 12 ships left.” Yi led Korean forces in the Great Battle of Myeongnyang against the Japanese navy, which had deployed 133 vessels to waters off Jindo, while Yi commanded only those 12 ships and one more. The battle was a watershed moment tha

Nov. 27, 2025