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Long-lost Gustav Klimt 'Christmas gift' to travel to Seoul for first time
Austrian symbolist master Gustav Klimt’s long-lost painting “Portrait of a Lady” will be shown in Seoul — for the first time outside Italy — since it was found in 2019 after having gone missing for 23 years. The missing painting was discovered in December 2019 in a black garbage bag that was tucked behind a metal panel on the exterior wall of the museum’s garden. When it was found, the incident quickly drew global attention, with some celebrating it as a "Christmas present." The identity of the
Nov. 17, 2025 -
The unexpected rise of the ajumma vest
In fashion, essentially anything can become a trend. Once thought of as a purely practical layer worn by older women on kimjang day — the annual family marathon of making huge batches of kimchi — the kimjang vest has made an unlikely leap into the style spotlight. Big-name celebrities like Jennie of Blackpink and Karina of aespa have been spotted in the vibrant vests. Kimjang vests are traditionally quilted and often decked out in bright colors and floral patterns. The recent trend has grown so
Nov. 17, 2025 -
Seoul Auction aims to revive market with first-ever 'Evening Sale'
Seoul Auction will hold its largest auction block in 17 years as a breakthrough for the sluggish art market. The two-day auction from Nov. 24 to 25 will feature artworks valued at 29 billion won ($20 million) in total. The first auction event, “Evening Sale: Eternal Emotion,” on Nov. 24 will put 26 masterpieces by modern and contemporary artists up for sale, with combined starting prices totaling 27 billion won. It is the first time Seoul Auction has held a dedicated auction for masterpieces. “A
Nov. 16, 2025 -
Faith in the age of Gen Z: South Korea's religions turn to avatars, acoustics and pop culture
A young Buddhist nun, Catholic priest and Protestant pastor recently appeared on tvN's popular variety show "You Quiz on the Block." Between laughter, filming social media challenges and dancing to the viral "KPop Demon Hunters" song “Soda Pop,” they spoke about how hard it is to avoid K-pop. Their cheerful appearance contrasted sharply with an earlier episode, in which senior clerics discussed doctrine and inter-religious dialogue in hushed tones. More young South Koreans are identifying as ath
Nov. 15, 2025 -
Lee Kun-hee collection makes Smithsonian debut after US govt. shutdown delay
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington opens its doors Saturday to unveil a landmark exhibition of Korean masterworks collected by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. The show is starting one week behind schedule after a US federal government shutdown temporarily closed the museum. "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared" marks the first time the collections of the late Samsung chairman have traveled outside Korea. It features about 200 objects spanning fro
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Wellness at hanok village, mountain meals and design treasures
Get ready for winter this weekend with wellness programs at Namsangol Hanok Village, have a feast after a hike on Cheonggyesan or try redecorating your home. As the temperature drops, Seoul’s Namsangol Hanok Village is inviting visitors to experience a season of warmth and restoration through its new winter program, "Warm Winter Healing in Hanok," running Nov. 15 to Dec. 6. Reinterpreting the wisdom of traditional Korean medicine under the theme of warming the body and boosting energy, the progr
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Heritage agency challenges Seoul redevelopment push with Jongmyo zone designation
The Korea Heritage Service on Thursday formally designated the 194,000-square-meter area surrounding Jongmyo Shrine as an official world heritage zone, a move expected to further intensify the political and administrative standoff over Seoul city’s plan to redevelop the nearby Sewoon District 4. The designation -- which covers 91 land parcels centered around the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine -- was approved during a meeting of the KHS’ Cultural Heritage Committee at the National Palace Museum of
Nov. 13, 2025 -
Gyeongju National Museum extends six gold crowns exhibition to next year
Gyeongju National Museum will extend its exhibition of six gold crowns from the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935) to next year, following the overwhelming public interest and record-breaking attendance, the national museum announced Thursday. The exhibition “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige,” organized to coincide with APEC 2025 and originally set to run until Dec.14, will now run through Feb. 22. The museum has seen long queues forming every morning for the first-ever exhibition showing all six
Nov. 13, 2025 -
From impressionism to early modernism: Robert Lehman Collection arrives in Korea
In 1969, American banker Robert Lehman bequeathed 2,600 works to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with the belief that "important works of art, privately owned, should be beyond one's own private enjoyment and the public at large should be afforded some means of seeing them." The Robert Lehman Collection, acquired over the course of 60 years by Robert Lehman and his parents Philip and Carrie Lehman, is one of the more significant examples of 20th-century American collecting. The donati
Nov. 13, 2025 -
This, too, is Korean pop
Korean traditional music, or gugak, has many faces. Even within its vocal traditions, it can be broadly divided into three regional lineages: Gyeonggi minyo from the central provinces, Seodo minyo from the North, and the narrative art of pansori mainly from the South. Each carries its own rhythm and emotional tone. Today, a new generation of artists is reimagining how these traditions can speak to contemporary audiences. Rejecting the easy labels of “fusion” or “crossover,” they define their own
Nov. 13, 2025 -
ASEAN-Korea Media Forum explores regional collaboration
Journalists from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Korea convened to explore collaborative strategies and deepen mutual understanding across various sectors at the ASEAN-Korea Media Forum. Held on Jeju Island on Wednesday, the forum was a key highlight of the ASEAN-Korea Week 2025 events. Following opening remarks by ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin and Korea Press Foundation Executive Director Nam Jeong-ho, journalists were invited to share perspectives on th
Nov. 13, 2025 -
Webtoon Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce 10 webcomic adaptations
Webtoon Entertainment announced Wednesday it will enter an agreement with Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce 10 webcomic series for global distribution, the latest move from the South Korea-founded platform to broaden its global animation output. The companies will draw projects from Webtoon's Korean and English-language platforms. Development support comes from Webtoon Productions and the company's Japanese IP business teams. Four titles have been confirmed. Two Korean originals — "The Stella
Nov. 13, 2025 -
Kim Dae-jung’s Nobel medal and 1987 protester’s bloodstained clothes recognized as heritage
South Korea will formally preserve two of its most powerful symbols of democracy — the late President Kim Dae-jung’s Nobel Peace Prize and the bloodstained clothes of student protester Lee Han-yeol — as part of the nation’s first-ever “preliminary cultural heritage.” The Korea Heritage Service announced Wednesday that the two items, representing Korea’s struggles and triumphs in modern history, are among 10 selected for the new designation, which was created to protect significant cultural items
Nov. 12, 2025 -
In cycle of demolition, what remains of Korea's modern architecture?
Redevelopment and reconstruction have long defined the rhythm of urban life in South Korea, spurred by rapid industrial growth and the demands of capitalism. Little space has been left to reflect on how the legacy of Korea’s modern architecture is preserved or remembered. Kimm Jong-soung and Kim Chung-up are considered pioneering modern Korean architects, along with Kim Soo-guen, but few would be able to answer with examples of what these architects built. A culture of archiving modern architect
Nov. 12, 2025 -
‘Reply 1988’ child actor who played Jin-joo shares update from gifted education center
Kim Seol, who captured viewers’ hearts as the adorable baby Jin-joo in tvN’s hit drama “Reply 1988,” recently showed off a certificate of completion from a local gifted education center. Kim — now 14 years old — posted an Instagram update on Monday of herself smiling brightly in her school uniform while holding a certificate next to her presumed teacher at a completion ceremony. The picture quickly spread across online communities and social media. Kim made her acting debut at age 3 in the 2014
Nov. 12, 2025