The Korea Times

Traveler’s guide to staying cool in Seoul’s heat wave

Are you traveling in Seoul, or arriving soon? If so, brace yourself — the city is in the middle of a serious heat wave. On Tuesday, the temperature soared to 37.7 degrees Celsius, the hottest July day recorded in the capital since the weather agency began keeping track. And it’s not cooling down anytime soon. But don’t worry — here are a few easy and affordable ways to stay cool while exploring the capital. 1. Dress light When it comes to surviving Seoul’s sweltering summer, what you wear makes a big difference. Stick to breathable fabrics. Many fashion brands offer summer-specific cooling clothing. Among them, Uniqlo’s AIRism line is a solid choice and you’ll find plenty of stores around the city. These clothes are designed to keep your body dry all day. 2. Bring a portable fan You’ll see locals carrying them everywhere — and for good reason. These mini fans are lifesavers. You can pick one up at any convenience store or Daiso. For example, CU sells them for around 9,900 won ($7). Most are USB rechargeable, so you can use them easily. However, be cautious when temperature

Jul 10, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Traveler’s guide to staying cool in Seoul’s heat wave

Music

Pianists Choue Hee-youn, Eric Zuber to perform duo recital in Seoul

Pianists Choue Hee-youn and Eric Zuber will hold a duo recital this week, featuring works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Liszt, Claude Debussy and Sergei Rachmaninoff. The program includes the Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448 by Mozart; "Réminiscences de Don Juan for two pianos," S. 656 by Liszt; "Petite Suite for piano four hands," L. 65 by Debussy; and Suite No. 2 for two pianos, Op. 17 by Rachmaninoff. Choue won the Harrison Winter Competition and placed second in the Yale Gordon Piano Competition. Also, she was selected to participate in the Conservatory Project organized by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in New York; the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and the Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in New York. She has also collaborated with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. Choue currently teaches at Yonsei University, Sungshin Women’s University and Chung-Ang University and serves as a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Dankook University's department of music. Zuber,

Jul 7, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Pianists Choue Hee-youn, Eric Zuber to perform duo recital in Seoul

Books

Experts say Korean literature still struggles globally despite Nobel win

To many Koreans, writer Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win last year was more than a personal triumph for the author. It was a long-overdue international recognition of the brilliance of Korean literature. But on Thursday, professor Kwon Young-min of Seoul National University, who spent five decades promoting Korean literature abroad, offered a sobering reality check: Despite the prestige of the Nobel Prize, Korean literature remains on the global periphery. “It cannot be said that, with Han Kang’s win of the Nobel Prize, Korean literature has instantly risen to the highest level in the world,” Kwon said during his keynote speech at the 2025 Korea Global Literature Forum organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) in Seoul. “Korean literature remains on the margins of global literary discourse, with international readers still lacking a deep understanding of its essence.” Titled “Strategies for Fostering the Global Expansion of Korean Literature,” the forum was attended by almost 100 scholars of Korean literature and Korean studies, as well as literary

Jul 3, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Experts say Korean literature still struggles globally despite Nobel win

Others

The Royal Ballet returns to Korea after 20 years with gala of classical, contemporary works

The Royal Ballet, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world, is in Seoul this week for gala performances featuring both classical and contemporary works. Marking the company’s first visit to Seoul in 20 years, the Royal Ballet director Kevin O’Hare — who came to Seoul two decades ago as a dancer — said he was thrilled to be back. “We are delighted to be here and to share the very best of ballet with you,” he said during a press event at the LG Arts Center in western Seoul, Wednesday. “The program is full of excerpts from some of our greatest works, all part of our repertoire — it’s really a snapshot of what we do.” Due to tight performance schedules in London, the Royal Ballet doesn’t often travel outside the U.K. This year, the company is touring only in Korea and Italy. The gala performance, which will take place Friday through Sunday at the LG Arts Center, features a blend of timeless classics and contemporary pieces. Audiences can expect highlights from famous works, such as "Swan Lake," "Don Quixote," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Giselle," alongside

Jul 2, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

The Royal Ballet returns to Korea after 20 years with gala of classical, contemporary works

Music

Hic et Nunc! Festival invites Bernard Werber to fuse literature, music

The classical music festival Hic et Nunc! — Latin for “here and now” — will return for its eighth edition from Aug. 22 to Sept. 5, featuring acclaimed French writer Bernard Werber as a guest narrator. One of the most beloved foreign authors in Korea, Werber will read excerpts from his latest book, "Le Temps des Chimeres" (2023), at the opening of a concert on Aug. 27. The book is set to be published in Korean during his visit. His reading will be followed by the world premiere of "Chimeric Suite," composed by Kim Te-xu, taking inspiration from Werber’s book. The piece was commissioned by the festival’s organizer. “I think this is a very creative project,” Werber said during a Zoom meeting with Korean journalists Tuesday. “As a writer, I’ve always felt a bit disappointed that I don’t get to see the reactions of my readers. But through this project, I’ll be able to witness how people respond to my words. I have high expectations for this event.” Organized by the Sejong Soloists, Hic et Nunc! is known for its focus on contemporary trends in classical music, new comp

Jul 2, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Music

New Korean song cycle satirizes toll of marriage, parenting today

In 1840, German composer Robert Schumann created a cycle of 16 short songs depicting the emotional journey of a poet who experiences love, joy, heartbreak and bitterness. This month, two Korean musicians are presenting a modern-day counterpart: a new song cycle satirizing the struggles of staying together for couples and raising children in Korea’s harsh social and economic climate. A song cycle is a series of thematically connected songs meant to be performed in sequence. Titled “Uphill All the Way,” this cycle features 16 songs performed by a baritone, a soprano and a pianist. Some of the lyrics express the everyday struggles faced by modern couples in a satirical way. "Having kids feels like lifelong chains, With prices soaring, who really gains? Med-school prep at just age 7 — Our poor little one, born into second-class pain." The project is part of Ryu Jea-joon’s ongoing effort to make classical music, often seen as inaccessible or esoteric, more relatable and engaging for modern audiences. “Brilliant vocalists who studied abroad at prestigious institutions return to Korea a

Jul 1, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

New Korean song cycle satirizes toll of marriage, parenting today

Travel & Food

Michelin Guide adds 6 Seoul restaurants ahead of 2026 release

This week, the Michelin Guide has unveiled six restaurants in Seoul that will be newly included in next year’s guide. The Michelin Guide typically announces its full list of starred restaurants for Seoul and Busan every February. “After the official release of the Michelin Guide, a large number of visitors typically flock in, so we recommend people visit earlier before other gourmets start moving,” the guide said in a statement regarding the early release. The newly named restaurants include Doori, Bium, GiwaKang and Gosari Express, which all serve Korean cuisine, as well as Onyva, a French restaurant, and Sobakeeri Suzu, which specializes in Japanese dishes. Doori is known for its zero-waste philosophy, with dishes designed around sustainability — for example, tarts and soups made using tomato skins. Bium serves refined interpretations of Korean temple cuisine, using native vegetables and ingredients. At GiwaKang, traditional Korean cuisine is reimagined using French culinary techniques. Gosari Express is a rare restaurant dedicated to bracken, a wild fern that’s commonly eaten

Jun 28, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Michelin Guide adds 6 Seoul restaurants ahead of 2026 release

Travel & Food

Guide to naengmyeon, Korea's summer noodles

On a sweltering summer day in Seoul, nothing cuts through the heat quite like a bowl of "naengmyeon" — slippery, chilled noodles served in icy broth, topped with slices of meat, pickled radish and pear. For many Koreans, braving the midday sun to queue up for this refreshing comfort food has become a summer ritual. But behind the chill lies a dish shaped by migration, memory and reinvention — a bowlful of Korea’s past and present. History Although Korean cold noodles are believed to have originated as early as the middle of the 918–1392 Goryeo Dynasty, written records from that era are scarce. Early references describe "putting noodles in cold grain water," a likely precursor to naengmyeon. The earliest known mention of naengmyeon by name appears much later, in "Gyegokjip" (1643), a collection of essays and poems by scholar Jang Yu of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. In a poem titled "Jajang Naengmyeon," he recounts eating cold noodles served in jajang, a purple broth made from omija (Schisandra berries). A more vivid account appears in "Dasan Simunjip," a collection of writings by

Jun 28, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Guide to naengmyeon, Korea's summer noodles

Music

Pianist Kim Sae-hyun rises as new classical music star after Long-Thibaud-Crespin win

Pianist Kim Sae-hyun, 18, is emerging as one of Korea’s most promising classical musicians, after winning an award at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris. In March, the pianist won the first grand prize at the prestigious French competition, becoming the third Korean pianist to win the first grand prize, following Lim Dong-hyek in 2001 and Lee Hyuk in 2022. “Winning the Long-Thibaud Competition has been meaningful because it opened so many doors for me to perform,” Kim said during a press conference with Korean media in Seoul, Thursday. Shortly after his win, Kim signed with Warner Classics, a renowned classical music label, beginning his professional career. His debut recording is scheduled for release by the end of 2026. Kim has also been invited to give a solo performance near the Eiffel Tower on July 14 in celebration of France’s Bastille Day, as well as another solo recital at the Festival International de Piano de La Roque d’Antheron. A former child prodigy, Kim is currently studying at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under the guidance of pianist

Jun 26, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Pianist Kim Sae-hyun rises as new classical music star after Long-Thibaud-Crespin win

Sports

Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic committee highlights lessons from PyeongChang

As the next Winter Olympics is set to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, in 2026, the head of the organizing committee said preparations are well underway and that the committee has learned from the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. “[We’re here] because you hosted a great edition of the Games, and we’ve learned a lot from your edition to put some of that insight into our own planning,” Andrea Varnier, CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, said during a roadshow held at High Street Italia in Seoul on Wednesday. “Korea is one of the few places we chose to visit. Of course, it’s Korea’s passion for sports and its unique history of having hosted both the Summer and Winter Games that made it special. Not many countries have done that.” The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was the most recent edition, but it was held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2026 Games in Italy will run from Feb. 6 to 22, 2026, with the Paralympic Games to follow from March 6 to 15. The organizing committee is currently traveling the world with the Milano Cortina

Jun 25, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Kim Se-jeong

Read more

Traveler’s guide to staying cool in Seoul’s heat wave

Pianists Choue Hee-youn, Eric Zuber to perform duo recital in Seoul

Experts say Korean literature still struggles globally despite Nobel win

The Royal Ballet returns to Korea after 20 years with gala of classical, contemporary works

Hic et Nunc! Festival invites Bernard Werber to fuse literature, music

New Korean song cycle satirizes toll of marriage, parenting today

Michelin Guide adds 6 Seoul restaurants ahead of 2026 release

Guide to naengmyeon, Korea's summer noodles

Pianist Kim Sae-hyun rises as new classical music star after Long-Thibaud-Crespin win

Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic committee highlights lessons from PyeongChang

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