The Korea Times

Why we still look to zodiac to begin new year

As December fades into January, I find myself returning to a familiar assignment — one I first picked up as a Culture Desk reporter and now continue as an editor. It’s time to write once again about the New Year’s zodiac animal and what it supposedly means for all of us. To be honest, this task has become more a habit, driven by inertia. The outline is always there: A ready-made topic, a cultural framework that many readers share and an annual excuse to talk about traditions that survive because they stay useful, not because they stay factual. Still, every year, a quiet question lingers in the back of my mind: Do we really believe this? That all people born 12 years apart share a distinct set of personality traits based on the animal assigned to their birth year? In 2026, that animal is the horse. In Korean tradition, the horse stands for more than just speed or strength. It is considered a sacred and auspicious creature — a messenger between heaven and earth, a sign of royal presence and a symbol of power, passion and forward movement. It has long carried more than just riders;

Dec 31, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

Music

PHOTO KNSO Academy nurtures aspiring musicians

Han Yun-sang, center, senior executive advisor of The Korea Times’ sister paper Hankook Ilbo, presents a 3 million won scholarship to cellist Hwang Hae-won, right, and flutist Lim Jeong-woo during the Korea National Symphony Orchestra's (KNSO) 2025 KNSO Academy completion ceremony in Seoul, Dec. 29. Hwang and Lim were recognized as exemplary participants in the string and wind instrument categories, respectively. This year’s KNSO Academy, now in its fifth edition, expanded enrollment from 18 to 60 young musicians under age 34, offering 10 months of training and over 30 performance opportunities, including orchestra, chamber music, ballet and opera productions. Courtesy of KNSO

Dec 30, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

[PHOTO] KNSO Academy nurtures aspiring musicians

K-pop

NewJeans full-group return derailed as Ador ends Danielle’s contract

NewJeans’ full-member comeback is thrown into doubt after Ador announced the termination of its exclusive contract with member Danielle. In its official statement released Monday, Ador outlined the status of ongoing discussions with Minji, Hanni and Danielle, who had previously expressed a willingness to return to the company after the Seoul Central District Court ruled on Oct. 30 that all five members must honor their exclusive contracts with Ador through 2029. "Following the court's ruling, we’ve held numerous conversations with Minji, Hanni, Danielle and their families,” the label said in the statement. “Hanni, along with her family, visited Korea and engaged in discussions with us. Through sincere dialogue, she made the decision to remain with Ador, respecting the court’s decision.” The company added Minji is also continuing discussions with the agency, but it did not indicate whether she reached a final decision. However, a different conclusion was reached regarding Danielle. “We determined it would be difficult to continue with Danielle as a NewJeans member and Ador ar

Dec 29, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

NewJeans full-group return derailed as Ador ends Danielle’s contract

People & Events

Premature report of Yoon Suk-hwa’s death causes confusion

Yoon Suk-hwa, a towering figure in Korea’s modern theater scene, died Tuesday morning at the age of 69, following a battle with a brain tumor. She died at 9:54 a.m. at Severance Hospital in Seoul. Her death was confirmed followed a brief period of misinformation. In the early hours of Tuesday, the Korean Actors Association prematurely issued a statement claiming Yoon had died the previous night. The announcement was quickly picked up by multiple media outlets before the association retracted it hours later, clarifying that she was still alive but in critical condition. “Yoon Suk-hwa is currently in a very serious condition due to a brain tumor, but she is still alive under the care of her family,” the corrected statement read. “We deeply apologize for the confusion caused to her family and the fans who care for her, and we take full responsibility for failing to confirm the facts beforehand.” Her death was announced shortly after. Yoon had been battling a malignant brain tumor and underwent surgery in October 2022, after which she withdrew from public life to receive treatment.

Dec 19, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

Premature report of Yoon Suk-hwa’s death causes confusion

Theater pioneer Yoon Suk-hwa dies at 69

Films

Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ advances to Oscars shortlist

Park Chan-wook’s latest film, “No Other Choice,” moved a step closer to the Academy Awards after earning a place on the shortlist for best international feature film at the 98th Oscars, reinforcing Korean cinema’s continued presence on the global awards stage. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists in 12 categories Tuesday (local time). In the international feature film category, “No Other Choice” was included among 15 titles selected from submissions by 86 countries and regions. The Korean entry faces a strong international lineup that includes Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident” from France, Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” from Norway, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “Secret Agent” from Brazil, Lee Sang-il’s “Kokuho” from Japan and Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat” from Spain. “No Other Choice” follows a middle-aged man who is abruptly laid off after spending 25 years at the same company. As he struggles to regain stability, he resorts to extreme measures to eliminate rivals competing for the job he believes is his last

Dec 17, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ advances to Oscars shortlist

Arts & Theater

Must-see shows in Seoul during winter holidays

When the winter holidays arrive, theaters come alive with classic favorites and new productions ready to whisk audiences away to realms of fantasy, heart and spectacle. Whether you crave timeless holiday magic, high-energy musicals or a truly unconventional night out, this season offers plenty of reasons to trade a cold night out for a seat in the theater. Holiday classics The beloved ballet “The Nutcracker” is staged in various productions, highlighting its enduring charm as a holiday ballet. The Korean National Ballet presents Yuri Grigorovich’s celebrated version at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater through Dec. 25, featuring top principal dancers such as Park Seul-ki and Cho Yeon-jae. In a unique tradition, the role of the Nutcracker is performed by a child dancer chosen annually from the company’s ballet academy, rather than a wooden puppet, adding a special charm to the production. The Universal Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker” is based on Vasili Vainonen’s Mariinsky Ballet version, which closely follows the original 1892 St. Petersburg premiere. From the eth

Dec 14, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

Must-see shows in Seoul during winter holidays

Korean Heritage

PHOTOS CookieRun characters meet Korean heritage

What happens when CookieRun’s beloved characters are let loose in the heart of Korea’s royal past? “CookieRun: In Search of Korea’s Lost Heritage” transforms Dondeokjeon Hall at Deoksu Palace into a playground where animated cookies wander through the dramatic story of the Korean Empire. Blending playful game icons with real historical artifacts, this special exhibition, co-organized by the Korea Heritage Service and game studio Devsisters, invites visitors to explore history through a mix of curiosity, imagination and nostalgia. The show opens Dec. 9, aligning with National Heritage Day, and continues through March 1, 2026.

Dec 9, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

[PHOTOS] CookieRun characters meet Korean heritage

Films

'No Other Choice,' 'KPop Demon Hunters' earn Golden Globe nominations

Park Chan-wook’s latest film “No Other Choice” and Netflix animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” landed major nominations at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, underscoring the widening footprint of Korean storytelling and creators in the global film industry. Among the Korean and Korea-inspired contenders, announced Monday (local time), Park’s satirical black comedy thriller earned nods for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and Best Non-English Language Motion Picture. The film revolves around Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), a family man who is suddenly laid off and embarks on a desperate fight to find a new job. Park returns to the Golden Globes just three years after “Decision to Leave” was nominated for Best Non-English Language Film in 2023. With “No Other Choice” picking up three nominations, anticipation is growing for Park to finally take home trophies this year. The film’s international momentum began with its invitation to the main competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first Korean film in 13 years to do so and drawing global at

Dec 9, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

'No Other Choice,' 'KPop Demon Hunters' earn Golden Globe nominations

People & Events

Korea Image Awards name The Black Label, 'gat,' Buldak as 2026 winners

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) announced the winners of its 2026 Korea Image Awards, recognizing a K-pop music label, a traditional cultural symbol and a global food brand for broadening Korea’s appeal overseas. The Korea Image Stepping Stone Award will go to The Black Label, represented by CEO Jung Kyung-in and executive producer Teddy, for taking part in producing the soundtrack for the hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The institute said the label’s “innovative sound and global sensibility” helped deliver the emotional appeal of K-content to international audiences and contributed to the soundtrack’s milestone achievements, including ranking No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard and U.K. Official charts for multiple weeks. The Korea Image Firestone Award, presented to a person or symbol that sparked global interest in Korea, is awarded to the “gat,” a traditional Korean horsehair hat widely associated with the upright spirit and refined dignity of the Joseon era. According to CICI, gat has been reinterpreted across K-pop, film, drama and fashion, with re

Dec 8, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea Image Awards name The Black Label, 'gat,' Buldak as 2026 winners

Arts & Theater

Korean Art Odyssey Connecting the dots: Towards more integrated approaches for Korean art abroad

CHICAGO/JEJU — As global interest in Korean culture reaches new heights, museums across the world are approaching Korean institutions with unprecedented frequency, seeking joint exhibitions, research partnerships and even permanent Korean galleries. But this rush of attention has also exposed structural limits of the existing system for cultural exchanges and support for Korea-related programs. Overseas, staffing shortages, conservation gaps and short-term project cycles continue to restrict what institutions can achieve, even as demand accelerates. These challenges have formed the backdrop to Korea's reorganized support system for Korean-themed collections and galleries abroad — a structure that aims not only to streamline responsibilities, but also to answer a larger question of how to turn short-term momentum into lasting infrastructure. Korean cultural heritage began appearing in overseas exhibitions as early as the 1960s, when most exchanges were limited to museum-to-museum loans. Over the decades, the Korea Foundation, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, helped expand these

Nov 29, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo and Pyo Kyung-min

Kwon Mee-yoo

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