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Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea Times AI content 2 team Reporter

Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.

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Korean Heritage

Seoul exhibition marks 150th birthday of independence icon Kim Koo

In the turbulent wake of World War II, as Korea struggled to forge a unified national identity out of the ashes of Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation, a modest residence in downtown Seoul known as Gyeonggyojang became the nerve center of a fledgling democracy. There, Kim Koo — the revered leader of Korea’s provisional government — crafted a vision for his nation that reached far beyond mere political sovereignty. Starting Tuesday, this historic site will serve as the backdrop for a special commemorative exhibition titled "Kim Koo: A Global Value," honoring the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1876. Co-hosted by the National Heritage Administration and the Seoul Museum of History, the exhibition runs through Aug. 30 — a month chosen to coincide with Kim’s birthday on Aug. 29, an occasion officially recognized on UNESCO's calendar of anniversaries this year. Rather than presenting a standard chronological timeline, the curation zeroes in on the dramatic human events that unfolded inside Gyeonggyojang itself. After returning from exile in China in November 1945, Kim transforme

Jul 31, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul exhibition marks 150th birthday of independence icon Kim Koo
Music

Massive Attack, Pixies, 60 other acts head to Korea for Pentaport Rock Festival

From the hypnotic trip-hop of Massive Attack and the distorted guitars of the Pixies to the legendary noise of The Jesus & Mary Chain, 66 international and domestic acts are converging on Korea’s western coast this weekend for the 21st Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival. Opening Friday at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, the three-day event returns under the banner "RE:BOOT." The slogan signals an ambitious expansion for one of East Asia’s most enduring outdoor music gatherings, blending legacy alt-rock icons, global crossover acts like Khruangbin and top-tier Korean talent including Hyukoh, Silica Gel and Lee Seung-yoon. This year’s edition marks a concerted push to elevate Pentaport’s profile on the international festival circuit. Beyond bringing in performers from Britain, the United States, Japan, Taiwan and China, organizers launched preliminary events beyond Korea's borders. A pre-festival showcase held at Shibuya’s WWW X in Tokyo — featuring indie acts like Parannoul and Say Sue Me — sold out, establishing a cross-border pipeline between the Korean and Japanese indie mu

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Massive Attack, Pixies, 60 other acts head to Korea for Pentaport Rock Festival
South Korea

Enlisting celebrities, influencers, Seoul aims to rebrand itself as haven for families

Facing the world’s lowest birthrate, the city of Seoul is deploying an unconventional set of ambassadors to show that raising children in the capital is not only possible, but enjoyable. Municipal officials announced, Thursday, the selection of eight families — an eclectic mix including veteran film actor Shin Hyun-joon, a national paper airplane champion and an "infant stroller running" enthusiast — to serve as the faces of the city’s promotional campaign for family-friendly policies. Selected from nearly 500 applicant households — a fierce 60:1 competition ratio — the group forms the fourth cohort of "Seoul I Ambassadors" ("I" meaning child in Korean). Over the next six months, these families will create social media content, test municipal child care programs and participate in public campaigns aimed at normalizing and encouraging parenthood in an increasingly expensive urban landscape. The initiative reflects an expanding strategy by City Hall to tackle demographic problems through lifestyle marketing alongside direct cash subsidies. Crucially, officials expanded this ye

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Enlisting celebrities, influencers, Seoul aims to rebrand itself as haven for families
Companies

Aramco Korea, Ulsan sign deal to build indigenous plant garden

Aramco Korea, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian energy company, signed a partnership agreement Tuesday with Ulsan Metropolitan City and the Ulsan Metropolitan Council on Social Welfare (UMCSW) to build a new public garden inside Taehwagang National Garden, one of only two national gardens in Korea. The agreement, signed at Ulsan City Hall, will create the roughly 7,000-square-meter Aramco-Jung Youngsun Ulsan Garden, named after its designer, landscape architect Jung Young-sun, the first Korean recipient of the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award. The garden is expected to be completed by late October and will include a forest, wetland, meadow, learning area and conservation zone, planted with more than 73 native Korean species. Under the deal, Aramco Korea will provide funding, while the city will supply the site and handle operations after completion. Jung and her firm, Seoahn Total Landscape, will lead design and construction, and the UMCSW will manage the funds and coordinate among the three parties. Taehwagang National Garden draws about 9.5 million visitors annually. Attendees at the signin

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Aramco Korea, Ulsan sign deal to build indigenous plant garden
Companies

VIDIVICI expands offline presence in China through Watsons, other retailers

VIDIVICI, an in-house cosmetics brand of Shinsegae International, is accelerating its push into Chinese brick-and-mortar retail, building on its reputation there as a leading facial cleanser brand while expanding into cushion foundations and other base makeup products. The company said Thursday it has placed products in 2,330 of the roughly 4,000 stores run by Watsons, China's largest health-and-beauty retail chain, more than half of the chain's outlets nationwide. Starting in the second half of this year, VIDIVICI will also enter KKV, a Chinese lifestyle beauty and general goods retailer, launching in 50 stores with two cushion foundations, a cream blush and a tinted lip balm. The brand is also expanding into premium beauty retailers HARMAY, Pang Donglai, Hema and Rainbow, as well as into Hong Kong through drugstore chain Lung Fung. VIDIVICI already sells on major Chinese e-commerce platforms including Tmall, Douyin and Kuaishou. The brand's growth in China has been driven by its Face Clear Perfect Cleansing Foam, developed in 2016 for the Chinese market, which has sold more than 36 mill

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
VIDIVICI expands offline presence in China through Watsons, other retailers
Law & Crime

Spot the fake: Korea launches pop-up crusade against counterfeit K-beauty brands

Seongsu-dong, a trendy neighborhood in eastern Seoul famed for its converted warehouses and hipster cafes, turned into an unlikely battleground against global intellectual property theft on Thursday. Outside a flagship store for beauty giant Olive Young, government officials, consumer advocates and scholars gathered to launch a public campaign called K-Brand Guardian Angels. As the global obsession with Korean pop culture — from K-pop and television dramas to skincare and cuisine — continues to skyrocket, so does an insidious shadow market. Fake cushion compacts, knockoff serums and copycat store signs mimicking famous Korean brands have proliferated in overseas markets and online marketplaces. To tackle the surge of counterfeit goods, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) hosted an interactive pop-up event in the bustling shopping district. The initiative aims to transform everyday consumers into front-line defenders of national trademarks. Passersby were invited to test their skills at side-by-side exhibitions comparing genuine cosmetics with sophisticated fakes. Visitors

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Spot the fake: Korea launches pop-up crusade against counterfeit K-beauty brands
South Korea

Seoul's transit pass to be replaced by nationwide K-pass system Sept. 1

Seoul will roll out "Everyone's Card," a localized version of the national K-pass transit rebate program, on Sept. 1, timed to the discontinuation of the city's unlimited Climate Card pass at the end of August. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, in partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transport Commission, said Thursday that Seoul is expanding its region-specific K-Pass perks. Following similar moves by Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan, Sejong, Gwangju, South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan, Seoul becomes the eighth local government to enhance the card's benefits — most notably by extending the youth discount eligibility from ages 19–34 to ages 19–39. K-pass, unlike the flat-fee Climate Card, refunds a percentage of monthly transit spending — 20 percent for general users and 30 percent for youth — or a set amount once spending passes 62,000 won ($42) for general users or 55,000 won for youth, whichever benefits the rider more. Discounts for veterans and bike-share users are planned later. Riders already registered for the card will h

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul's transit pass to be replaced by nationwide K-pass system Sept. 1
People & Events

Battleships, bubbles and beats: Seoul's coolest summer splash is back

Where else in the world can you dodge water cannon blasts, slide down a 20-foot inflatable chute and tour a decommissioned 1,900-ton naval frigate all in the same afternoon? This Saturday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is hosting the second annual Seoul Battleship Water Picnic, turning Mangwon Hangang Park into a massive, wet-and-wild summer playground. Running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the single-day extravaganza offers an unbeatable deal for locals and travelers alike: a full day of aquatic madness and naval history for just 1,000 won ($0.75). Designed for all ages, the festival splits its splash zones into age-appropriate pools and slides, keeping toddlers, grade schoolers and brave adults in their own fun zones. Safety guards will be stationed throughout the grounds, ensuring parents can kick back while kids tackle the towering 4-meter and 6-meter water slides, fountain tunnels, water cannons and spinning water-roller tubes. The highlight of the afternoon hits at 2:30 p.m. with the high-stakes Seoul Battleship vs. Chamsuri Water Gun Showdown. Armed with personal water pistols, opp

Jul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Battleships, bubbles and beats: Seoul's coolest summer splash is back
Travel & Food

Yangcheon District turns Yongwangsan Skywalk into Seoul's newest nighttime hotspot

Night owls and sightseers in western Seoul have a dazzling new reason to visit the riverbanks this late summer. The Yangcheon District Office said Wednesday it is launching a regular public program at the newly opened Yongwangsan Skywalk, allowing visitors to watch stunning fireworks launched from Han River cruise ships. Yongwangsan Skywalk, an elevated circular observation deck that opened in April on Yongwangsan Mountain, has quickly become a favorite destination for both local residents and international tourists. Perched high above the treetops, the deck offers sweeping panoramic views of the Han River and the Seoul city skyline. To maximize the observatory's vantage point, Yangcheon District proactively coordinated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Future Han River Headquarters in June. The district requested an extension of the Han River cruise fireworks zone beyond its traditional locations at Yeouido and Nanji, stretching the display area to Anyang Stream near World Cup Bridge. The initiative proved to be a hit during trial runs on July 2 and July 8, when crowds gathere

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Yangcheon District turns Yongwangsan Skywalk into Seoul's newest nighttime hotspot
Travel & Food

Explore Seoul's cinema hub: Jung District launches movie, alleyway stamp tour

Families on summer break, couples seeking unique date spots and local office workers searching for lunch options in downtown Seoul have a new incentive to explore the vibrant alleyways of Chungmu-ro and Eulji-ro. The Jung District Office said Wednesday that it is hosting the Eulji-Myeongbo Stamp Tour through Aug. 28 across the Eulji-ro and Chungmu-ro alley-style shopping district and the newly designated Seoul Film Center. Organized by the Eulji-Myeongbo Merchants Association, the promotion spans 34 local businesses located along the trendy "hip-muro" corridors — a playful portmanteau of hip and Chungmu-ro — featuring long-established eateries, hidden wine bars and eclectic cafes. The merchant group partnered with the Seoul Film Center to encourage both cultural visits and local neighborhood spending. Participating in the tour involves three straightforward steps. First, visitors show a Seoul Film Center movie ticket or upload a visit review to their personal social media accounts to receive a tour map and their first stamp at the film center's ticket booth. Next, participants visit

Jul 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Explore Seoul's cinema hub: Jung District launches movie, alleyway stamp tour
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