Moonlit memories: Exploring Korea’s royal heritage in the fall

Oct 02, 2024

With autumn finally arriving in Korea, the country’s royal palaces offer a unique opportunity to step back in time and enjoy an immersive historical experience. From September through November, two highly anticipated nighttime palace events will allow visitors to explore these architectural treasures in a new light. Gyeongbokgung Palace's Chwihanggyo Bridge and Hyangwonjeong Pavilion (Photo courtesy of Korea Heritage Agency) The “Gyeongbokgung Starligh

A Day in Pohang: Where past and present meet by the sea

Oct 02, 2024

The charming Space Walk (Photos courtesy of Kim Byeong-gu, hongcomm.) Pohang is widely known as a steel city. Since the establishment of Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) in 1968, it has grown to become the largest city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, driven by the country’s thriving steel industry. But a closer look reveals that Pohang is about much more than just steel. From the famous Homigot Sunrise Square to various filming locations for popular Korean dramas and

Seongsu-dong transformed: Inside the first World Webtoon Festival

Oct 02, 2024

The inaugural World Webtoon Festival was held in the Seongsu-dong area this year. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) The inaugural World Webtoon Festival, held in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong from September 26 to 29, 2024, marked a significant moment for webtoon enthusiasts worldwide. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Seoul Business Agency, the event celeb

Reclaiming roots: Korean red pine gets its name back

Oct 02, 2024

The Korea National Arboretum has taken the lead in changing the English name of pine trees in Korea, which had been using the Japanese-style name. (Photo courtesy of Imagetoday) The Korea Forest Service’s Korea National Arboretum (KNA) has achieved the key milestone of gaining botanical recognition for native Korean plant species and restoring their cultural identity. On September 5, the KNA announced the registration of English names for 3,940 native Korean plant speci

From stage to Hallyu: How gukgeuk shaped Korea’s cultural renaissance

Oct 02, 2024

Performance of the women's gukgeuk “King, Wearing a Mask - Jangja Beonduk” in 2020 (Photo courtesy of the Women's Gukgeuk Production Studio) Korea’s traditional performing arts saw gukgeuk emerge as a significant cultural phenomenon after liberation from Japan’s colonial rule in 1945. Gukgeuk is a musical drama where cast members sing their character’s lines. It developed from pansori – lyrical operas sung by solo performers that originated in

Capturing Korea: KTO’s innovative approach to global tourism promotion

Oct 02, 2024

K-Photo frames for Life4cuts released by the Korea Tourism Organization (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization) The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) recently launched two innovative global initiatives to promote Korean tourism and culture: the Life4Cuts “K-Photo Frame” and the “Ocean Odyssey” exhibition. In collaboration with popular self-service photo studio brand Life4Cuts (“Insaengnekeot” in Korean), the KTO has introd

Greening the skies: Korea’s leap into sustainable aviation

Oct 02, 2024

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has an 80% carbon emission reduction effect compared to conventional aviation fuel made from fossil fuels. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) As the aviation industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as a promising solution. Made from renewable materials such as used cooking oil, animal fats and crops such as sugar cane, as well as electricity-based e-fuels, SAF can reduce carb