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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 -
'Show Me the Money' retakes place at center of Korean hip-hop
Tom Cruise's iconic line from "Jerry Maguire" — "Show Me The Money" — occupies a special place in Korean culture. The phrase has become virtually synonymous with hip-hop, as the name of the country's flagship hip-hop survival program. The ultimate reward is literal, with the season's winner traditionally "shown" a 100 million won ($68,000) cash prize. In a music market dominated by K-pop, hip-hop increasingly occupies its own niche. So the show's return for its 12th season, its first in four yea
March 5, 2026 -
Polar scientist calls for Korea to boost Arctic activities
This is one of a series of interviews in which Kim Hoo-ran, editor-at-large at The Korea Herald, speaks with leaders, trailblazers, unsung heroes, and both well- and lesser-known figures who share the stories of their lives and their visions for a better world — Ed. If you felt the weather this winter was erratic — unseasonably warm days followed by deep freeze — you would not be wrong. While the average temperature in January was minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, the coldest average January temperatur
March 4, 2026 -
Ha Ye-rin says 'Bridgerton' racial bias controversy may be learning curve for global media
Netflix's flagship intellectual property "Bridgerton" has returned with a milestone season, its first to feature an East Asian lead. Fronting Season 4 is Ha Ye-rin, a 28-year-old Korean-Australian actor whose blockbuster resume includes training at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art and roles in tentpole projects such as Paramount+'s "Halo" and HBO's "Dune: Prophecy." The glossy alternative-history series unveiled Part 2 of its latest season on Feb. 26, this time leaning into fai
March 4, 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 -
For Tino Sehgal, art lives in encounters between people
As you approach the entrance to the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, a group of people standing to the side suddenly steps forward, chanting, “This is so contemporary.” Startled and baffled, you may wonder, questioning, “Is this part of the show or something else?” Once inside the museum, the performers, whom artist Tino Sehgal refers to as “interpreters,” blend naturally into the crowd, then slowly approach a visitor to share something intimate. If you stretch a hand toward them, they may touch or
March 4, 2026 -
'No Other Choice' just crossed $10m in the US. But it's not nearly Korea's top-grossing film there
Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice" has crossed the $10 million mark in the North American box office, pushing his career record in the region even further ahead, the film's South Korean distributor CJ ENM said Tuesday. The black comedy about a laid-off paper mill worker who goes after his rival job applicants passed $10 million in takeings on Feb. 28, according to CJ ENM. The film opened with a limited release on Christmas Day, before expanding to 695 theaters on Jan. 16. Neon, which acquired No
March 4, 2026 -
BTS unveils 14-song track list for comeback album 'Arirang'
Global K-pop icon BTS on Wednesday unveiled the 14-song track list of its upcoming album, "Arirang" on their social media platforms. The album features a diverse collection of tracks -- "SWIM," "Body to Body," "Hooligan," "Aliens," "FYA," "2.0," "No. 29," "Merry Go Round," "NORMAL," "Like Animals," "they don't know 'bout us," "One More Night," "Please" and "Into the Sun." The title track, "SWIM," is described as an upbeat alternative pop song about navigating life's challenges, with lyrics co-wr
March 4, 2026 -
Korean dance crew The Stories reflects on second Vibe win
When The Stories were announced as the winner of the 2026 Vibe Dance Competition on Sunday in Costa Mesa, California, it marked the crew’s second title on the prestigious stage. But for choreographer Kalvin Kim, the moment was less about the trophy and more about something harder to measure. “I don’t even know how to put this joy into words,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Tuesday. “To experience two victories on a stage I’ve dreamed of since I was young, representing Korea, s
March 3, 2026 -
Young architects-to-be challenge architecture in data-driven age
As contemporary life is restructured by data-driven systems and algorithmic logic, the place of human perception and imagination within architecture grows increasingly uncertain. The exhibition “This Is Not Architecture: Somewhere, Nowhere” posed a question: "What should architecture dream of?" Architen, a nationwide network of architecture students, examined how human senses and imagination are being pushed aside in the technology-driven society. The exhibition unfolded at Boan1942, an art spac
March 3, 2026 -
Cherry blossoms, tulips and canola fields: Where Koreans are traveling this spring
Spring in South Korea is brief but spectacular — and this year, travelers are planning ahead. New accommodation search data from digital travel platform Agoda shows sharp spikes in interest around major spring flower festivals nationwide. Seoul recorded the highest increase in search growth, followed by Gurye, Gwangyang, Taean, Jeju Island and Yeosu — destinations where blossoms are paired with food markets, art programs and outdoor activities. Accommodation searches in Seoul rose 225 percent ab
March 3, 2026 -
Lotte Cinema to screen NCT Dream's world tour finale live
Lotte Cinema will exclusively screen two performances from NCT Dream's ongoing world tour, the multiplex chain said Tuesday. Available at 18 Lotte Cinema locations nationwide, the screenings will cover the March 21 and 28 gigs of "The Dream Show 4: Future the Dream Finale," the closing leg of the group's fourth concert tour. Both take place at the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Olympic Park, as part of a six-show run spread across two weekends, March 20-22 and March 27-29. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at
March 3, 2026 -
'KPop Demon Hunters' won a PGA Award. Is an Oscar next?
Netflix's animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" won the Producers Guild of America Award for best animated feature on Saturday night in Los Angeles, the latest in a virtually unbroken string of wins that has all but cemented its status as an overwhelming favorite for the Oscars. Producer Michelle Wong took home the prize at the ceremony held at the Fairmont Century Plaza, beating out "The Bad Guys 2," "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," "Elio" and "Zootopia 2." The PGA ceremony also handed its to
March 3, 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 -
'The King's Warden' tops 9m views
The historical film "The King's Warden" has surpassed 9 million cumulative admissions at the domestic box office and is on course for the 10-million milestone, official data showed Tuesday. The film hit the mark Monday, drawing a total of 9,213,408 viewers since its release Feb. 4, according to the box-office tally from the Korean Film Council. Nearly 820,000 moviegoers watched the film Sunday alone, the second day of a three-day extended holiday weekend marking the March 1 Independence Movement
March 3, 2026