Seoul Metropolitan Ballet opens with ‘Bliss‘ and ‘Jakie,’ pairing joy and desire

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, the country’s first public contemporary ballet company, will open its 2026 season next month with a double bill that pairs two contrasting sensibilities: rapture and raw instinct. From March 14 to 22 at the M Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the company -- now in its third year and second full season — will present “Bliss & Jakie,” bringing together Johan Inger’s “Bliss” and “Jakie” by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar. “Bliss,” which had its Asian premiere wi

Feb. 27, 2026

Korean TV actor Lim Ju-hwan worked as 'Coupang man': agency

South Korean actor Lim Ju-hwan worked at a Coupang logistics center, his agency confirmed Friday, after online posts claiming he had been spotted there drew widespread attention. Basecamp Company said the actor “has experience working at a logistics center,” confirming accounts that circulated rapidly this week across online communities and social media. The posts, which recently resurfaced, said Lim was seen in August at a Coupang facility in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The original author of th

Feb. 27, 2026

Renewed calligraphy space opens at National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea has reopened its calligraphy space, with the renovated galleries showcasing masterpieces of Korean calligraphy. The space will run both permanent and thematic exhibitions. The gallery, which opened on Thursday on the second floor, presents the thematic exhibition “Jeong Seon: Ah! Our Mountains and Rivers!” coinciding with the reopening of the space, showing 70 works including 10 designated treasures, created by Korean landscape painter Jeong Seon (1676-1759). The exh

Feb. 27, 2026

Movies in theaters this week

"5 Centimeters per Second" (Japan) Opened Feb. 25 Romance/Drama Directed by Takahiro Miki The childhood bond between Takaki (Hokuto Matsumura) and Akari (Mitsuki Takahata) unravels across years of distance and longing, in this live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's 2007 animated film. "Ne Zha 2" (China) Opened Feb. 25 Animation/Fantasy Directed by Jiaozi Demon child Ne Zha and his friend Ao Bing must share one body as they take on three perilous trials to achieve immortality, in this sequel

Feb. 27, 2026

From hanok horizons to robot encounter: unique ways of greeting spring

With spring stepping into the city, this weekend calls for plans that feel both fresh and a little unexpected. For those craving calm, a serene cafe at the entrance of Eunpyeong Hanok Village offers coffee with panoramic views of hanok rooftops and Bukhansan in the distance. If you’re in the mood for something more futuristic, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is hosting the Seoul AI Festival 2026, where 17 humanoid robots will be on display from Saturday to Sunday. This weekend, you can get a glimpse of

Feb. 27, 2026

When flamenco meets the office grind

"Mad." "Dance." "Office." Those three words seem to have no business sitting next to each other. Put together, they make for the kind of title that makes you scratch your head and wonder what exactly you're in for. That mismatch is the whole point, director Cho Hyun-jin said at Tuesday's press conference at CGV Yongsan in Seoul. "The dissonance between mad dancing and the office is where the fun comes from," she said. "Dancing at work feels unnatural and uncomfortable. But the irony is what make

Feb. 27, 2026

Packages and promotions

Grand Hyatt Seoul expands dining membership with new entry tier The “New Classic” tier of Gourmet by Grand Hyatt Seoul replaces the former entry level and is priced at 730,000 won per year. Members receive up to 15 percent off dining for as many as six guests across the hotel’s restaurants and bars, including The Terrace Kitchen, Steak House and Tenkai. The membership also includes restaurant vouchers, a two-person pass to The Terrace Kitchen and a wine corkage waiver. Benefits are valid for one

Feb. 27, 2026

Festivals, sights across Korea

The Jecheon Red Odeng Festival will return from Saturday to March 2 at Jecheon Station Plaza in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, offering visitors a fiery taste of one of the city’s best-known street foods. Admission is free, though food and drinks are sold separately. The three-day event spotlights “red odeng,” a spicy fish cake dish simmered in a bold chili broth. About 25 retro-style food stalls will line the plaza, serving classic red odeng, fusion variations, chicken skewers, tteokbokki

Feb. 27, 2026

South Korea's 2024 martial law crisis being adapted for big screen

A film tentatively titled "Martial Law 12.3," which would be the first narrative feature based on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, has locked in its cast and will begin shooting in the first half of the year, production company IP Box Media 1 said Wednesday. Written and directed by Park Kyung-soo, the film carries the subtitle "PM 10:24," a nod to the time Yoon appeared in a televised address to declare martial law. It pieces together the be

Feb. 26, 2026

Kim Junsu's boldest role yet

Singer-turned-musical actor Kim Junsu has built a reputation for leaving a lasting impression with nearly every character he takes on. From the enigmatic genius detective L in "Death Note" to the brooding Count Dracula in "Dracula" and the flamboyant Genie in "Aladdin," his performances have consistently blended vocal power with a highly physical, larger-than-life stage presence. That's why taking on the chaotic title role in "Beetlejuice," a high-energy dark comedy packed with rapid-fire dialog

Feb. 26, 2026

Park Chan-wook named 2026 Cannes jury president

South Korean director Park Chan-wook has been named president of the jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, organizers said on Thursday. Park, 62, best known for his revenge thriller "Oldboy," succeeds French actress Juliette Binoche to become the first Korean to hold the position in the festival's 79-year history. This year's festival runs May 12-23. The festival praised Park's genre-blending filmmaking as "narrative, stylistic and moral," according to a statement released in Paris. "We are del

Feb. 26, 2026

Date K-drama star of your choice with Blackpink's Jisoo

This may be K-drama rom-com at its most indulgent. With a lineup of Korean drama heartthrobs paired opposite a global K-pop superstar, Netflix Korea's "Boyfriend on Demand" is positioning itself as a high-concept crowd-pleaser for romance fans worldwide. The 10-episode series stars Blackpink's Jisoo as Mi-rae, a webtoon producer drained by the monotony of office life. Her escape comes in the form of a subscription-based virtual dating simulation that promises the boyfriend of her dreams, no stri

Feb. 26, 2026

'Pavane' stars talk chemistry behind an unlikely romance

A pavane is a slow court dance, stately and deliberate. Lee Jong-pil's Netflix film borrows the name and the tempo from the dance. Its rise on the charts, though, has been anything but slow. Since its Feb. 20 release, "Pavane" has climbed to No. 1 among movies in South Korea and No. 7 on Netflix's global chart for non-English films. Adapted from Park Min-gyu's 2009 novel "Pavane for a Dead Princess," the film follows two young department store workers: Gyeong-rok (Moon Sang-min), an aspiring dan

Feb. 26, 2026

A city built for healing: Daejeon’s bid to welcome the Invictus Games

DAEJEON — “I didn’t want these venues to become places where an event simply comes and goes,” said Moon Hyun-kyu, director of rehabilitation sports at the Korea Disabled Veterans Association, as he looked across the spectator stands of Yongun International Swimming Pool on Wednesday. Gesturing toward the rows of tiered seating, Moon said organizers hope to fill as many as 3,000 seats with local residents during the Games. Standing beside him, Invictus Games Foundation Chief Executive Rob Owen wa

Feb. 25, 2026

Why Korea sets 'no more rip-off' campaign

South Korea on Wednesday signaled a shift away from a visitor-volume strategy, unveiling measures to encourage repeat visits by tackling price gouging and unfair practices affecting international travelers. The initiative reflects growing concern that negative first impressions — ranging from inflated hotel rates to taxi overcharges — could undermine the country’s rising global appeal through K-pop, film and streaming content. Policymakers say improving visitor experience has become as important

Feb. 25, 2026