Arts & Culture

Hadong and Gurye

  Countryside charms and nature's beauty await along the banks of the Seomjingang River   Gazing southeast, the sun rises slowly but surely over the horizon. The Seomjingang River’s pristine waters reflect the morning light…

Old Is New Again

Young entrepreneurs use old buildings to give Seoul new life   “Dull, inert cities, it is true, do contain the seeds of their own destruction and little else. But lively, diverse, intense cities contain the seeds of their own regeneration,…

High-strung Tension, Squirm-inducing Dread

Jeong You-jeon’s “The Good Son” might prove true all the hype about Korean crime fiction The latest English translation of a Korean best seller arrives on a wave of hype, stellar reviews and high expectations. Jeong You-jeong’s psychological-crime-horror-thriller…

BLACKPINK is Back

YG’s “It” girl group returns strong and sure after lengthy absence Chances are that you’ve heard a certain song playing in every shop and subway station recently, and no, it isn’t BTS. BLACKPINK has finally had their long-awaited comeback,…

Korea’s Ever-diversifying World of Reality TV

New shows push the boundaries of the reality genre With everything from travel shows set in the jungle to a cooking program that solely focuses on the art of making side dishes, TV shows are constantly thinking outside the box to stand out…

A Fantastic Way to Cool Off This Summer

22nd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival features new animation, genre hits and more There is certainly no shortage of film festivals in Korea, a reflection of the appetite locals have for their cinema. One event that stands out is…

The White Book

Nominated for the Booker Prize, Han Kang’s latest novel asks if literature can heal real-life tragedy Korean novelist Han Kang became an international literary sensation after the English translation of her novel “The Vegetarian” was published…

Inter-Korean Relations on the Big Screen

South Korean depictions of North Korea evolve as times and conditions change Of late, the relationship between South and North Korea has dominated the news wires both home and abroad, though not because of the escalation of tensions that many…

Are Idol-Making Reality Shows An Exploitive Bust?

“Mix Nine” cancellation reveals contracts mean nothing Last month, YG Entertainment released an official statement apologizing for the cancellation of the debut of the final group from JTBC’s “Mix Nine.” The reality show, much like…

Streaming Disruption

Netflix makes waves in the Korean entertainment industry It’s hard to deny that Netflix has revolutionized the way we consume media, and the deep-pocketed streaming service provider is giving conventional broadcasters here in Korea a run…
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For Jonghyun

Fans create and curate a memorial for late Shinee frontman