The Korea Times

Ballet revives independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's sacrifice

Before Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun was executed in 1910 at Lushun Prison in Dalian, China, he said that when he heard news of Korea’s liberation from heaven, he would dance and cheer. More than a century later, a Seoul ballet company is trying to give him that dance. M Ballet Company is reviving “Ahn Jung-geun, a Dance in the Heaven” in commemoration of Korea’s Independence Movement Day, which falls on March 1. The production honors Ahn by depicting his life and sacrifices through dance, tracing the emotional toll the struggle for independence took on his family. “It can be tough subject matter for dance, but we’ve restaged this with nonstop action, eliminating any dull moments. It will be an ideal piece for families to enjoy together,” M Ballet Company director Yang Young-eun told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul on Tuesday. After opening in the southwestern city of Gwangju earlier this month, the troupe will bring the ballet to Seoul on March 7 and 8, followed by a performance in Daegu on March 12. Ahn is best known for assassinating Ito Hirobum

Feb 25, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Ballet revives independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's sacrifice

Korean Heritage

PHOTO Robot takes charge of royal palace patrol

A patrolling robot named Sullabot roams around Changdeok Palace in Seoul, Friday. According to the Korea Heritage Service, the pilot project is aimed at addressing blind spots in palace management. Sullabots will be used until March 9, after which authorities will decide whether to keep them permanently. The word "sulla" refers to soldiers patrolling the palace walls during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Yonhap

Feb 20, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

[PHOTO] Robot takes charge of royal palace patrol

Music

'The Rose: Come Back to Me' traces Korean indie band's rise, struggles

“The Rose: Come Back to Me” opens with a familiar image in K-pop storytelling — young musicians chasing a dream — but quickly turns into something less typical: a story about a Korean indie rock band determined to retain creative control, even when it costs them years in court. Released in theaters on Feb. 14, the documentary follows The Rose, a four-member band that has built a global following largely outside the traditional K-pop idol system. Rather than focusing on trainee camps, survival shows or major agencies, the film tracks how the group formed organically, wrote its own songs and tried to protect its creative voice in an industry built around tightly managed idols. That perspective sets it apart from recent Korean pop-centered documentaries. Streaming platforms have spotlighted major idol acts in polished behind-the-scenes features such as “BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky” and “BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star,” as well as audition docuseries like “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE.” While “The Rose: Come Back to Me” exists in the same genre of global K-pop document

Feb 19, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

'The Rose: Come Back to Me'

traces Korean indie band's rise, struggles

Trends

Korea emerges as global hub for food tech innovation

Technology is reshaping nearly every stage of how we eat — from distribution and selection to purchase and consumption. Lunch arrives with a tap on a delivery app. Groceries appear at the door hours after an online order. Some consumers now pay using nothing more than their face, while others ask artificial intelligence (AI) assistants what to eat or which coffee beans suit their taste. For Lee Ki-won, a food tech professor at Seoul National University (SNU), this is not a passing phase but a preview of where the global food industry is headed. With an academic background in food science and biotechnology, he founded the FoodTech Department at SNU six years ago and runs the FoodTech Emergence Center on campus, where students are trained to build food tech businesses. Food tech refers to technologies applied to food consumption and distribution, which Lee distinguishes from traditional food technology. “Food technology has more to do with production, using engineering and science, often traditional science,” Lee told The Korea Times in an interview in Seoul, Feb. 9. “Food tech is a

Feb 14, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Korea emerges as global hub for food tech innovation

Lifestyle

Culture minister says BTS’ Gwanghwamun concert will showcase Korea to world

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said BTS’ upcoming concert in Seoul will be a major opportunity to promote Korea and its culture to the world, pledging full government support to ensure the event is both successful and safe. “We see this as a prime opportunity to showcase Korea’s traditional culture as well as the very essence of the country to the world. That’s why the ministry has been closely consulting with the BTS team to make the concert successful and safe,” Chae said during a press conference, Thursday. The mega K-pop group's free concert is slated for March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul. According to local police, the event could draw as many as 260,000 people to the venue. “The fact that an artist like BTS is kicking off a new chapter at Gwanghwamun Square, Korea’s most iconic spot, is very meaningful and I feel truly grateful to BTS,” Chae said. He added that the government will ensure that BTS fans visiting from abroad have a memorable experience during their stay. "As many tourists are expected from overseas, we will make sure their visit is fun

Feb 12, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Culture minister says BTS’ Gwanghwamun concert will showcase Korea to world

Arts & Theater

Arts Council Korea calls for applications for Seoul art residency

The Arts Council Korea (ARKO) is currently accepting applications for its visual artists residency program in Seoul for this year. Launched last year to support artistic creation and promote exchange between Korean and international artists, the ARKO Art Studio will host 10 artists — six international artists and four local. Applicants with at least five years of creative experience are eligible to apply, including international artists currently residing in Korea. Selected artists will be provided with private studio space in Seoul’s Pyeongchang-dong and will be invited to participate in Korean cultural tours, a matching program with local curators or columnists, a mentorship program and networking events. ARKO will also arrange studio visits by curators from Korean and international galleries. At the end of the residency, participants will take part in a two-month group exhibition at the ARKO Art Center in downtown Seoul. The program will run in two rounds — the first runs from March through July, while the second takes place from August to December. Applicants may choose the res

Feb 6, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Arts Council Korea calls for applications for Seoul art residency

Travel & Food

Where to find special chocolates for Valentine's Day in Seoul

Valentine’s Day, which falls on Feb. 14, may come wrapped in roses, but chocolate is its most enduring language of affection for this occasion. From hand-painted bonbons and glossy jewel-like pralines to bean-to-bar creations that spotlight the journey of cacao itself, Seoul’s artisan chocolatiers are turning sweets into storytelling. Whether you’re after playful sets inspired by literature or gift boxes designed as much for the camera as the palate, The Korea Times rounded up the most enticing Valentine’s chocolate offerings in Seoul — perfect for gifting, sharing or indulging yourself. Piaf Artisan Chocolatier A favorite among chocolate lovers, Piaf Artisan Chocolatier is often described as a must-visit destination in Seoul for premium handmade chocolates, especially for those seeking elegant Valentine’s Day gifts. The shop is takeout only and does not serve beverages, placing full emphasis on its craft. Founder and chocolatier Ko Eun-soo, a computer engineering graduate of Seoul National University, discovered handmade chocolate during a 2007 trip to Japan and recalled the

Feb 6, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Where to find special chocolates for Valentine's Day in Seoul

Shows & Dramas

Why Korea, Japan are joining forces to make must-watch dramas

Netflix’s romance series “Can This Love Be Translated?” has drawn attention for many reasons, including the casting of Japanese actor Sota Fukushi as Hiro, a Japanese superstar whose initial contempt for Cha Moo-hee (Go Youn-jung) gradually turns into love as the story unfolds. Fukushi’s role is smoothly woven into the narrative as a Japanese celebrity working alongside a top Korean star, with several scenes filmed in Japan. For viewers who follow both Korean and Japanese dramas, the casting of Japanese actors in Korean productions — and vice versa — is becoming increasingly common. More notably, this reflects a broader rise in cross-border content creation between the two countries. The scope of collaboration varies by project. “Can This Love Be Translated?” represents one of the simplest forms, involving mainly casting. Similarly, Season 3 of SBS’ action drama “Taxi Driver,” released November 2025, features Japanese actor Sho Kasamatsu as one of the villains. “Gimbap and Onigiri,” a Japanese drama released on Jan. 12, stars Korean idol-turned-actor Kang Hye-w

Feb 4, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

Why Korea, Japan are joining forces to make must-watch dramas

K-pop

K-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in Korea

Stories of foreign Christian missionaries who spread the word of God and laid the foundations of education and medicine on the Korean Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are often told in books, museum exhibitions and documentaries. “The Mission:K,” a musical that premiered Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, marked a lively addition to these storytelling methods. The production featured four male K-pop idols portraying four historical figures. MJ from ASTRO played Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) of the United States, who established the first Western medical clinic in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Jaeyoon from SF9 took on the role of Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916), an American missionary known for founding the Joseon Christian College, which later became Yonsei University. Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A portrayed Canadian doctor Oliver R. Avison (1860-1956), who led quarantine efforts during the outbreak of cholera and is credited with opening Severance Hospital and Severance Medical College. Ricky from Teen Top played Louis H. Severance (1838-1913

Feb 2, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

K-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in Korea

Shows & Dramas

5 charming filming locations from Netflix’s 'Can This Love Be Translated?'

While Netflix series "Can This Love Be Translated?" has captured fans with its cross-cultural romance and compelling characters, it is also fueling travel envy with stunning international filming locations, transporting viewers from Japan’s serene temples to the dramatic canyons of Canada and sun-drenched ruins of Italy. The show’s wanderlust factor hasn’t gone unnoticed: According to Netflix, the 12-episode series starring Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung and Japanese actor Sota Fukushi attracted 9 million viewers last week, becoming the most popular non-English show of the week. The Korea Times compiled a list of real-life destinations featured in the show worth visiting on your next holiday. Kamakura, Japan Kamakura, a small city in Japan, is where the two main characters, Cha Mu-hee (Go) and Joo Ho-jin (Kim), spend part of the day together in the first episode. A memorable scene in which the two are separated by a train adds to the location’s charm, highlighting its picturesque streets. Located in Kanagawa prefecture, just about an hour outside Tokyo, Kamakura is a historic seaside c

Jan 30, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

5 charming filming locations from Netflix’s 'Can This Love Be Translated?'

Surprising Korean spots that look just like Italy, Canada in ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’

Kim Se-jeong

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