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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 -
No borders, just music: Takashi Lorenz Waschkau’s journey from Berlin to Seoul
Violinist Takashi Lorenz Waschkau was shaped by more than one inheritance. Born in Berlin in 2001 to a German father and a Japanese mother, and later drawn to Seoul, the violinist embodies a generation of musicians whose identities are formed across continents. Waschkau began violin at 4 and piano at 6. His mother, a pianist and vocal coach who studied at the New England Conservatory, raised him in a household where music was both a language and a discipline. “She was a mom, but also a trainer,”
March 6, 2026 -
Mapo Foundation launches morning concert series to make classical a habit
Mapo Arts Center will launch its new matinee program, the “MAC Morning Concert” series, offering 10 performances from March to December as part of an initiative to make classical music more accessible in everyday life. Beginning March 25, the concerts will take place at 11 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Tickets are priced at 20,000 won. The series features commentary by concert guide and pianist Kim Yong-bae, who previously served as president of the Seoul Arts Center and led its fl
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 -
‘Battle of Fates’ overtakes ‘Moving’ as most-watched Disney+ show in Korea
"Battle of Fates," a Disney+ original reality series featuring 49 of South Korea’s most promient fortunetellers, has become the platform’s most-watched show in Korea, dethroning hit drama series "Moving." The reality show gathers a diverse group of practitioners — including shamans, known locally as "mudang," tarot readers, physiognomists and saju and Myeongri scholars — who compete to demonstrate their ability to interpret fate. Throughout the tournament-style competition, the participants face
March 6, 2026 -
Movies in theaters this week
"Hoppers" (US) Opened March 4 Animation/Comedy Directed by Daniel Chong An animal lover (Piper Curda) transfers her consciousness into a robotic beaver to save a wildlife glade from demolition, only to stumble into a fully functioning animal civilization. "The Bride!" (US) Opened March 4 Romance/Fantasy Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal Set in 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale) enlists a scientist (Annette Bening) to bring a murdered woman (Jessie Buckley) back to life as his com
March 6, 2026 -
Salt bread, coffee and a spring view of Inwangsan
Seoul weekends arrive with a quiet promise: more time, a slower pace and countless corners of the city waiting to be rediscovered. This week’s picks highlight two spots that capture the simple pleasures of Seoul life. In Yeonnam-dong, a bakery known for its cult favorite salt bread draws a steady stream of fans eager for its crisp crust and buttery center. In Buam-dong, a cafe with sweeping views of Inwangsan offers a peaceful perch to sip coffee while watching the mountain slowly awaken for spr
March 6, 2026 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The Gurye Sansuyu Festival takes place from March 14 to 22 in Gurye-gun, South Jeolla Province, celebrating the bloom of sansuyu, or cornelian cherry blossoms, which blanket the area in vivid yellow. Gurye is home to the nation’s largest sansuyu colonies, drawing visitors for scenic flower walks and countryside views. Included are an opening concert, traditional ritual praying for a good harvest, sansuyu fruit-peeling contest, rice cake pounding and children’s craft workshops. Visitors can strol
March 6, 2026 -
Packages and promotions
Signiel Busan marks White Day with music and dining Signiel Busan will mark White Day with a series of romantic offerings overlooking Haeundae Beach. On March 14, the hotel’s first-floor lounge will host “A White Day Serenade,” a short house concert featuring flute and harp performances by the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra's principal flutist and harpist. The 30-minute performances will take place at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and are open to guests visiting the lounge. From March 1 to 15, the hotel will
March 6, 2026 -
Surprise box-office hit 'King's Warden' leaves director with pledges he can't keep
With "The King's Warden" on the verge of surpassing 10 million tickets sold, social media is abuzz with the bizarre pledges its director, Jang Hang-jun, made before the film's release, apparently not expecting such a major hit. When Jang appeared on the "Bae Sung-jae's Ten" radio program on SBS Power FM on Feb. 1, shortly before the the film opened in theaters, he said he would "undergo plastic surgery, change his name and host a yacht party" if it crossed 10 million viewers. As of Thursday, the
March 5, 2026 -
BTS concerts to serve as model case in Korea’s crackdown on ticket scalping
South Korea is moving to strengthen its fight against ticket scalping, with upcoming concerts by K-pop supergroup BTS expected to serve as a model case for the government’s new enforcement framework. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday that it has launched a public-private consultative body aimed at eradicating illegal ticket resale in the performing arts and sports sectors, ahead of new legal provisions set to take effect in August. “Only when each institution’s role — fro
March 5, 2026 -
What 'King's Warden' gets right — and invents — about Korea's most tragic king
Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has steamrolled through the Korean box office since its Feb. 4 release and has now surpassed the 10 million admission threshold — one only a handful of Korean films clear. It is a remarkable run for a period drama built around a tragedy every Korean already knows: Danjong, the boy king who ascended the throne at 12, was ousted by his uncle at 15 and died in mountain exile by 17. It is the kind of tragedy that never quite lets go. The film centers on t
March 5, 2026 -
French Embassy launches cultural season marking 140 years of diplomatic ties
Marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, the French Embassy in Seoul unveiled a wide range of cultural exchanges between the two countries, starting with the upcoming anniversary concert led by French conductor Adrien Perruchon. "Beyond politics, we will continue working together across all areas — including security, the economy, culture and education — to further strengthen France's relationship with Korea and ensure that the ties between our two co
March 5, 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 nine-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 tablet
March 5, 2026