Korea Times Digital Content Reporter
Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
HONG KONG ― A wave of nostalgia has flooded social media feeds as people share what appear to be high school yearbook photos from the '90s. However, these aren't actual throwbacks but AI-generated creations, courtesy of a Korean app named Epik.
HONG KONG ― As the second edition of Frieze Seoul art fair unfolded this September, a debate was reignited over Seoul's potential to rival Hong Kong as Asia's premier art hub, as well as Frieze Seoul replacing Art Basel Hong Kong, the largest art fair in Asia.
For 12-year-old Choi Jun-hee, tanghulu, a Chinese candied fruit snack, is her latest guilty pleasure. “They’re sweet and colorful. The crackling sound with each bite makes it more enjoyable,” she said.
HONG KONG ― Korean-British pianist Hyung-ki Joo ― also known as one half of the zany comedy musical duo Igudesman & Joo with Russian-German violinist Aleksey Igudesman ― credits his immigrant parents for his openness to all kinds of music.
Experimental Cantonese opera “Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation)” will make its Korean debut at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, Sept. 20. Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District AuthorityRevival of Cantonese opera blends tradition with modernity to reach new audiencesBy Kwak Yeon-sooHONG KONG ― Cantonese opera is arguably one of the most popular art forms in Hong Kong. It is a comprehensive multi-disciplinary art form using vocals, instrumental music and dancing to tell a story.It is generally believed that Cantonese opera evolved out of “Nanxi,” or Southern drama which was performed in public theaters in Hangzhou back in the 12th century. This centuries-old art form was once the primary source of entertainment for Hong Kong residents, but the rise of the film industry and the advent of television in the late 1960s led to a decline in its popularity.By the 1970s, the opera business started to decline and only a few theaters could afford to continue operating. The remaining theaters carried on the legacy and tried to revive public interest in Cantone
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Culture and Arts Policy Yu Byung-chae speaks during the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting held in Varanasi, India, Saturday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismBy Kwak Yeon-sooDeputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Culture and Arts Policy Yu Byung-chae shared Korea's key cultural policies and called for closer cultural cooperation at the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Varanasi, India, Saturday. The Culture Ministers' Meeting is one of the ministerial meetings organized as part of the G20 Leaders' Summit, which will take place in New Delhi, India, on Sept. 9 and 10.Attending the meeting on behalf of Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon, Yu emphasized the importance of fostering exchanges in cultural sectors to ensure freedom and solidarity ― values that hold significance for the entirety of humanity.He explained how the government is expanding financial support to nurture the cultural content industry as one of the country's export engines, strengthening copyright protection for creators and supporting artists wi
Lee Je-hoon, left, and Park Eun-bin / Courtesy of Company On, Namoo ActorsBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Lee Je-hoon and Park Eun-bin will co-host the opening ceremony of this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), organizers said Sunday. The duo starred in SBS series “Secret Door” (2014) as husband and wife.The 28th BIFF is set to kick off its 10-day run at the Busan Cinema Center on Oct. 4. Lee rose to stardom after appearing in the 2011 films “Bleak Night” and “The Front Line.” Since then, Lee has become one of the most versatile actors on both the small and big screens, appearing in “Architecture 101” (2012), tvN's “Signal” (2016), “Collectors” (2020) and Netflix's “Move to Heaven” (2021). Most recently, he starred in SBS drama “Taxi Driver 2.”Park, who debuted at the age of four as a child model, has appeared in a number of hit dramas, including JTBC drama “Youth” (2017), SBS dramas “Stove League” (2019) and “Do You like Brahms?” (2020). She shot
Actress Jung Yu-mi / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Jung Yu-mi has opened up about why she decided to star in Jason Yu's debut feature film “Sleep,” revealing that director Bong Joon-ho's words played a huge part in her decision. Yu was a former assistant director to Bong on “Okja” (2017).“One day I got a call from director Bong, and the first thing that popped into my head was, 'Finally he's offering me a role.' But instead, he told me, 'There is this guy (referring to Yu), and it would be nice if you could read his script,'” she said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. When reading the script, Jung tried very hard not to be influenced by Bong's words. “The script was solid. It was written in a very structured and concise way that made me want to meet the director. I cannot compare two directors because I have never worked with Bong as an actress. But Yu definitely has his unique style of direction,” she explained. “Sleep” tells the story of newlyweds Hyun-su (Lee Su
Actress Shin Hae-sun in a scene from the film "Target" / Courtesy of Plus M EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooAs unusual as it may seem, the incident that leads an office worker to fall prey to a serial killer because she accused him of selling broken items through an online second-hand items market platform in “Target” is more realistic than one may think.Inspired by real-life events, the film follows an office worker in her 30s, Soo-hyun, who buys a broken washing machine from an online second-hand items market platform. She files a report with the police only to realize that the seller is a psychopathic serial killer. When the killer targets Soo-hyun as his next victim using her personal information, she grows exhausted and eventually faces a life-or-death situation.Director Park Hee-gon explained that “Target” is loosely inspired by a real-life story that was featured in SBS investigative journalism show “Unanswered Questions.”“It was shocking to hear how a perpetrator harassed a victim through texting, phone calls or other forms of electronic
Injeongjeon at Changdeok Palace / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Kwak Yeon-sooVarious cultural events are expected to take place at Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces and the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, in Seoul beginning September along with the cool autumn breeze. Gyeongbok Palace will offer its fall night tour program from Sept. 1 to Oct. 29 every Wednesday to Sunday, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Monday. The spring nighttime tour, in the first half of this year, attracted a total of 112,820 visitors.Venues open for the night tour are Gwanghwamun, Heungnyemun, Geunjeongjeon, Gyeonghoeru, Sajeongjeon, Gangnyeongjeon, Gyotaejeon and Amisan areas. Up to 2,700 visitors will be admitted per evening. Reservations are required and can be made through Ticket.11st.co.kr website. Online reservations will open on Aug. 25 for September admissions and Sept. 26 for October admissions, with each person limited to four tickets. Admission fee is 3,000 won but free to people of national merit and their spouses, holders of distinguished service certificat