Sam M. Richards, a professor of sociology at Penn State University. Courtesy of Sam Richards ● In the past, Hollywood movies and American culture influenced Korea and other countries. Today, however, the flow of cultural influence has reversed. ● “Korea has the ability to spread its culture to every corner of the world,” says Penn State University Sociology Professor Sam Richards. Hollywood movies, together with American pop music and lifestyle brands, have be

Minari. Courtesy of The Korea Times Q .   After Youn Yuh-jung won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in “Minari,” interest in the film and its title have grown. What exactly is minari?   A.   Lee Isaac Chung’s award-winning film is named after a hearty herb that is common in Korea and serves to symbolize the spirit and will of Korean immigrants. The planted  m inari seeds also connect the immigrant family to their homeland.  

Korean classical music concerts held at Changdeokgung Palace. Courtesy of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation SEOUL, South Korea -- At Changdeokgung, one of Seoul’s five Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) palaces, visitors tired of the pandemic have a rare chance to travel back in time as melodic harmonies from Korean classical musical performances fill the air. The concert  series  combines the traditional and the modern . C o-hosted by the Cultural Heritage Admin

An official poster for the LTI Korea's exhibition "Translation, Platform." Courtesy of LTI Korea SEOUL, South Korea -- This month, to celebrate its quarter-century of work, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) will host an exhibition called “Translation, Platform” that focuses on over a century of Korean literary translations. The story begins with the translation of the iconic folk tale “Chunhyangjeon” into French in 1892. The exhibition runs through May 27 at S

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s economy has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic faster than expected, with GDP growing 1.6 percent during the period between January and March of this year compared to the previous quarter.   The GDP growth surpassed the level at the end of 2019 before the economy was hit by the pandemic. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case in January 2020.   Among the world’s top 10 economies, only three countries have achieved that feat.