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Lee Kyung-min

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Korea helps 16 Asia-Pacific nations preserve written heritage

Korea is bringing together archivists and cultural experts from 16 Asia-Pacific nations in Jakarta, Indonesia for an international workshop focused on preserving historical records and preparing them for global recognition under UNESCO’s documentary heritage program. The 2026 UNESCO Memory of the World International Capacity-Training Workshop, running from Tuesday to Friday, is hosted by the Korea’s Heritage Service and Korean National Commission for UNESCO at the National Archives of Indonesia. Launched in 2009, the annual program provides practical training for countries seeking to identify significant documentary heritage and prepare nominations for UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, with particular attention to nations underrepresented on the international list. Over 17 years, 18 documentary heritage items from participating countries have been added to the register, while 11 others have entered regional registers, organizers said. This year’s workshop is the largest yet, drawing participants from Timor-Leste, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Sri Lanka, Uzbek

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea helps 16 Asia-Pacific nations preserve written heritage
Korean Heritage

Korea shares traditional paper conservation techniques with Vietnamese museum experts

Korea is bringing its traditional paper conservation expertise to Vietnam for the first time, training museum specialists in techniques designed to preserve fragile historical documents and books. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage’s Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center is conducting the training program from Oct. 14 to 22 at the National Museum of History in Hanoi, targeting 14 conservation professionals from the Vietnamese institution. The program, organized in connection with the Korea Heritage Service’s official development assistance initiatives, focuses on conserving paper-based cultural heritage through practical, hands-on instruction. Since 2013, the center has conducted 15 training sessions at 11 institutions across seven Asian countries, including Mongolia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Indonesia, training a total of 279 participants. Vietnam is the latest country to participate in the initiative, which aims to strengthen conservation expertise in countries with limited infrastructure for protecting and managing cultural her

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea shares traditional paper conservation techniques with Vietnamese museum experts
People & Events

Seoul launches online group bookings for Hangang Bus ferry service

Seoul will introduce online group reservations for its Hangang Bus ferry service starting Monday, allowing companies, schools and other organizations to book rides in advance instead of relying on tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at docks. The pilot service, operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will initially cover Magok and Jamsil docks on weekdays, with the first reserved trips available Tuesday. Bookings will open at 10 a.m. Monday through Naver Map and Naver Place, where users can select a dock, travel date, route, departure time and passenger count before entering their details and paying the fare. Each departure will accept reservations for groups of 10 to 30 people, with bookings and refunds available until 11:59 p.m. the day before travel. Fares are 3,000 won ($2.20) for adults, 1,800 won for teenagers and 1,100 won for children. Passengers with reservations must arrive at their selected dock at least 30 minutes before departure to verify their booking, complete boarding registration and follow instructions from safety personnel. The new system aims

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul launches online group bookings for Hangang Bus ferry service
People & Events

900 drones, K-pop stars to light up Songpa's autumn festival

Songpa District in southeastern Seoul — home to the city’s iconic Olympic Park — will host its 26th annual cultural festival starting Wednesday, blending ancient heritage with modern K-pop and contemporary Korean culture. The event takes place at the park’s 88 Lawn Plaza. The festival, which is happening at Olympic Park's 88 Lawn Plaza, will open Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. with a welcome drone show featuring 900 drones, alongside media art and contemporary dance performances. The opening program will include “O Fortuna” performed by the Songpa District Symphony Orchestra, along with performances by tenors Yoon Jung-soo, Jin Sung-won and Lee Dong-myung. K-pop and hip-hop performers Davichi and Loco will take the stage later that evening, followed by another large-scale drone display. The next day will focus on community participation, opening with the musical gala “Standing by the River,” which reinterprets the Baekjae period (18 B.C.-660 A.D.) legend of Domi Ferry. Residents from across the district will then perform in the Hanmaeum Eoull Madang program, showcasing talents cultiva

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
900 drones, K-pop stars to light up Songpa's autumn festival
People & Events

Seoul Music Festival brings Paul Kim, Kim Chang-wan Band to Nodeul Island for free concert

As autumn settles over the capital, Seoul’s riverside will come alive with music on Oct. 24, when the annual Seoul Music Festival takes over Nodeul Island. Featuring a diverse lineup of rock, folk and ballads, the one-day event offers free concerts and immersive musical experiences against the backdrop of the Han River. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 2026 festival will feature its main concert from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the theme “Good music stories told by Seoul,” bringing together artists from different generations and musical traditions. The lineup includes Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Oksang Dalbit, Kim Chang-wan Band, Chudahye Chagis and Nerd Connection, with GLL scheduled to perform before the main program. Launched in 2019, the festival has become a signature music event offering residents and visitors free access to live performances and cultural activities. Beyond the concert, visitors can explore record exhibitions and listening stations organized in collaboration with the Korean Music Awards, as well as busking performances, music talk shows, photo booths

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul Music Festival brings Paul Kim, Kim Chang-wan Band to Nodeul Island for free concert
Companies

Diageo Korea whisky expert Sung Jung-yong earns prestigious Scotch honor

Sung Jung-yong, a veteran bartender educator known in Korea’s drinks industry as a mentor to generations of bartenders, has been inducted into Keepers of the Quaich, one of Scotch whisky’s most prestigious international honorary organizations. Diageo Korea said Wednesday that Sung received the distinction in recognition of his contributions to the Scotch whisky industry and efforts to broaden understanding of whisky culture. Founded in 1988, Keepers of the Quaich is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Scotch whisky’s heritage and standing, with members active in more than 100 countries. Membership is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated sustained expertise and made significant contributions to the industry, with candidates nominated and selected through a rigorous review process. Sung began his career as a bartender at The Shilla Seoul and started training other bartenders in 2008, building a reputation as an influential educator in Korea’s hospitality industry. Since 2014, he has served as Diageo Korea’s brand ambassador and head of the Diag

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Diageo Korea whisky expert Sung Jung-yong earns prestigious Scotch honor
Companies

Netflix sends 81% of Korea revenue to US parent, report shows

Netflix generated more than 1 trillion won ($730 million) in revenue in Korea last year, but sent 81 percent of that sum to its U.S. parent company, leaving its Korean operation with an operating profit of just 20.3 billion won, according to an analysis of its financial statements. Rep. Han Jun-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, analyzed the audit report of Netflix Services Korea and found that the company’s domestic revenue rose to 1.0542 trillion won in 2025, up from 631.7 billion won in 2021. The figures highlight a widening contrast between Netflix’s growth and the financial struggles of domestic streaming platforms, with Tving reporting an operating loss of 69.8 billion won last year and Wavve losing 12.2 billion won. Netflix also dominated paid streaming subscriptions, with a usage rate of 46.7 percent, compared with 13 percent for Tving, according to the Korea Media and Communications Commission’s 2025 survey on broadcast media use. Of Netflix Korea’s 1.05 trillion won in reven

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Netflix sends 81% of Korea revenue to US parent, report shows
People & Events

Seoul printing festival brings tradition, technology and hands-on creativity to Cheonggye Plaza

Seoul is bringing printing out of the workshop and into the public square Thursday, inviting visitors to explore centuries-old techniques, experiment with modern printing technology and discover how an industry often taken for granted continues to evolve. The 17th Seoul Printing Awards and Printing Culture Festival will open at 10:30 a.m. at Cheonggye Plaza under the theme “Printing connects the world,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. This year’s Seoul Printing Awards attracted a record 277 entries, with the grand prize going to FORTUNE ART SERIES by Taeyoung Plus. The winning work reinterprets traditional Korean folk paintings using shredded banknotes, combining printed textures and colors with acrylic, laser cutting and an emphasis on resource recycling. Four entries received gold prizes, including a four-piece Hypnotic Paradise diary set by Eco de Soul, a handmade calendar and notebook collection using rice-straw paper by Seongbo Paper, a work titled “Horse,” inspired by Korean folk symbolism, by Art Printing Co., and packaging for Daewon Pharmaceutical’s

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul printing festival brings tradition, technology and hands-on creativity to Cheonggye Plaza
South Korea

Korea eyes new dome stadiums for sports, K-pop concerts

Korea has launched an ambitious national search for candidate sites to construct next-generation multipurpose indoor stadiums, aiming to address a chronic shortage of premier venues capable of hosting international sporting events and global K-pop concerts year-round. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that it will accept bids from regional local governments and public institutions through Dec. 8. The government plans to select two candidate sites by the end of December — one for a large-scale dome capable of seating at least 40,000 spectators and accommodating over 50,000 people for concerts, and another for a medium-scale venue designed for 20,000 to 40,000 seats. The multibillion-won initiative, targeted for completion in 2034, reflects the government’s broader policy agenda to expand public access to sports and culture while establishing iconic, world-class landmarks to draw international tourists and stimulate regional economies. The drive comes as Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries grapple with an acute lack of covered, mega-capacity arenas

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea eyes new dome stadiums for sports, K-pop concerts
K-pop

MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Sky Dome for 2-night spectacle

The Melon Music Awards (MMA) is turning up the volume for its 18th edition, bringing 26 K-pop acts to Seoul for a two-night celebration of chart-topping hits, reunions and rising stars in November. MMA2026 will take place Nov. 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome, with KakaoBank serving as title sponsor, Melon announced Wednesday, completing a lineup that spans established groups and emerging performers. The final 11 additions include I.O.I, aespa, IVE, Dragon Pony, KiiiKiii, CORTIS, IDID, hrtz.wav, AEN, TUIDE and HANA, joining 15 acts announced earlier. The first night, Nov. 14, will feature 14 acts, including I.O.I, returning to the stage after a reunion that comes about nine years after the group's previous activities, alongside aespa and Japanese girl group HANA. Other performers scheduled for the opening night include NCT DREAM, ATEEZ, YENA, RIIZE, TWS, RESCENE, Hearts2Hearts, Dragon Pony, IDID, AEN and TUIDE. The second night, Nov. 15, will feature 12 acts, including IVE, KiiiKiii, CORTIS and hrtz.wav, alongside NCT 127, PLAVE, 82MAJOR, NCT WISH, ILLIT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, LNGSHOT and AND2BLE

Oct 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Sky Dome for 2-night spectacle
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