Singers perform the national anthem of the 1897-1910 Korean Empire at the Appenzeller Noble Memorial Museum, June 30. Courtesy of the museum The Jeongdong area of Seoul experienced an influx of new Western culture and values during the late Joseon era, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the establishment of diplomatic missions, Western-structured schools and churches in the vicinity of Deoksugung Palace, the residence for King Gojong.   As a result, the

The six members of sEODo Band are the pioneers of what they define as “Joseon pop.”   Created by the sextet, the new musical genre aims to distinguish itself from “fusion gugak,” which became an all-encompassing term to describe efforts that give Korean traditional melodies and rhythms a modern twist.   Although rooted in the traditional vocal technique called pansori, the band effortlessly erases the boundary between Korean “traditional music” and m

The facade of the Korean Cultural Center in Paris. Courtesy of Korean Cultural Center Q.  Is there a way people living outside of Korea can explore Korean culture personally besides the internet?   A.  A really neat place where you can explore Korean culture without traveling all the way to Korea is a Korean Cultural Center.   In fact, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) runs 32 cultural centers in 27 countries. Located in Paris, New Yor

gettyimagesbank Q.  Why hasn’t there been any panic buying in Korea since the outbreak of COVID-19?   A.  Long story short, Koreans have had no good reason to buy goods in bulk or stockpile daily necessities in advance, even during the pandemic. There is a sufficient amount of goods at retail stores or through online shopping websites, and consumers can buy whatever they want at any time. This partly explains why Koreans have stayed relatively calm and didn’t sto

Each episode of Korea.net’s new music talk show series “Korean Rhapsody” serves as a gateway to Korean culture and history, sprinkled with performances of traditional Korean music.   Although played on traditional instruments, the melodies often reflect familiar songs of the present day featured in films, K-dramas and K-pop songs, inviting listeners to bob their heads without even knowing the name of the instrument being played.   The show’s latest episod