‘Minimalistic in very extreme way’: Sharon Eyal brings ‘Jakie’ to Seoul

For professional dancers, learning to pare themselves down can be challenging. As technique deepens, so does the instinct to add. And choreographer Sharon Eyal asks for the opposite. “I'm asking the dancers to reduce and to be most minimalistic in a very extreme way. This is very challenging because the more professional you are, you add stuff. But I think this effort brings what I said before -- not choreography but ‘experience.’” Eyal is working with Korean dancers for the first time, collabor

March 11, 2026

Beyond skills, attitude defines success in the AI era, says veteran civil servant

Global interest in Korea has surged in recent years, ranging from its culture to its industries. But beyond what the world sees in K-culture lies something less visible, according to veteran South Korean civil servant Lee In-jae, president of the Korea Social Capital Research Center. He says it's about a way of working, a way of making decisions, a way of enduring. Drawing on 35 years in public service, Lee is set to release "The K-Attitude Advantage: Beyond the Algorithm," a guide to leadership

March 10, 2026

Bringing 16th-century voice to 21st century

The Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley has published an expanded edition of the English translation of "Chingbirok," the 1604 chronicle of the Japanese invasions of Korea written by Ryu Songnyong. Published in English as "The Book of Corrections" in 2002, the newly revised edition appears under the title "Reprimands and Admonitions: Reflections on the Japanese Invasions of Korea, 1592-1598." The Korea Herald spoke with translator Choi Byong-hyon about the s

March 7, 2026

Korean folktale picture book wins top honor at Bologna Ragazzi Award

Author and illustrator Lee Uk-bae has won the grand prize in a special category at the 2026 Bologna Ragazzi Award, one of the prestigious prizes in children’s publishing. According to Sakyejul Publishing, Lee’s children’s book “The Story of a Brother and a Sister,” published in 2020 here, received the top prize in the Fairy Tales and Fables special category. The Bologna Ragazzi Award, presented during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, honors outstanding publications in children’s literature. The

March 6, 2026

Beyond ‘The King’s Warden,’ changgeuk revisits other victims of Sejo’s coup

As surprise blockbuster film “The King's Warden” draws closer to the milestone of 10 million tickets sold at the local box office, renewed attention is turning to the final four months of the young dethroned King Danjong. Yet Danjong was not the only victim of King Sejo’s coup d’etat. Born the second son of King Sejong, Prince Suyang (later King Sejo) seized the throne in 1453 after overthrowing his young nephew Danjong and purging officials who stood in his way. His ruthless rise to power later

March 6, 2026

Reading declines again in Korea, but 20-somethings show rebound

The number of South Koreans who read at least one book over the course of a year has continued to decline, but those in their 20s were the only age group to show a rebound, reflecting the growing popularity of the “text hip” trend, in which reading is seen as in vogue. According to a report released Friday by the Culture Ministry, the annual reading rate among adults overall stood at 38.5 percent, down from two years earlier despite heightened interest in literature following the Nobel Prize in

March 6, 2026

2026 K-Royal Culture Festival opens in April as spring returns to palaces

The 2026 Spring K-Royal Culture Festival, the country’s largest national heritage celebration, is back for the spring season. Now in its 12th year, the 10-day festival opens on April 24 and runs through May 3. Hosted by the Korea Heritage Service and organized by the Korea Heritage Agency, the biannual festival draws visitors to Seoul’s five major palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung — as well as Jongmyo Shrine, which houses the ancestral tablets

March 5, 2026

Korea House, royal court fine-dining restaurant, reopens after renovation

Korea House will reopen on March 11 following a seven-month renovation. Founded in 1957 as a guesthouse for visiting envoys and dignitaries, Korea House has since evolved into a cultural dining space for traditional Korean cuisine centered on royal court dishes. The effort has been led by Cho Hee-sook, a former Michelin one-star chef who serves as culinary adviser, and Kim Do-seop, head of its Korean cuisine research team and a certified practitioner of Joseon royal court cuisine, a nationally d

March 5, 2026

When machines learn empathy, humans grow mechanical

As artificial intelligence grows more fluent in empathy -- fielding questions at 3 a.m., dispensing comfort on demand -- some artists are beginning to wonder whether humans, by contrast, are becoming mechanical. That unease animates “X,” the latest work by SAL (Subverted Anatomical Landscape), the boundary-pushing contemporary dance company led by artistic director and choreographer Bae Jin-ho. Premiering March 19-22, as part of this year’s ARKO Selection, the piece explores a world in which met

March 4, 2026

BTS concert prompts closure of Gyeongbokgung, museums and theaters

Less than three weeks before BTS takes the stage at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, the city is preparing for large crowds, with authorities announcing safety measures and temporary closures of nearby historic sites and cultural venues. The Korea Heritage Service said Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of Joseon (1392-1910) in Gwanghwamun, will be closed, with its parking lot shuttered and public access restricted. Officials said an emergency task force for palaces would be activated to conduc

March 3, 2026