Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Seoul anoints masters of quilting technique, silver inlaying to preserve traditional crafts

In a bid to safeguard Korea’s vanishing artisan heritage, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has designated two women to lifelong honors in the traditional crafts of geometric silk quilting and intricate metal inlaying, the city said Friday. Kim Yun-sun, a veteran artisan who has spent more than 40 years resurrecting a nearly forgotten textile art, was named as the city's first official master of "saeksilnubi" (colored thread quilting). Concurrently, Shin Seon-i, an internationally recognized metalworker, was appointed as a certified "transmission educator" for "ipsajang" (iron-inlaying), an elite status that tasks her with training the next generation in a craft whose survival remains economically precarious. Kim’s designation as a master — a title reserved for those who can flawlessly replicate historic techniques — recognizes a four-decade dedication that began in 1980, when she stumbled upon her grandfather’s antique tobacco pouch. Captivated by its raised, corded geometric patterns, she began analyzing museum relics and buying up marketplace antiques to reverse-engineer t

Jun 27, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Seoul anoints masters of quilting technique, silver inlaying to preserve traditional crafts

Korea designates 15th-century ceramic flask, 4 rare Buddhist artworks as nat'l treasures

A rare 15th-century ceramic flask that was smuggled out of Korea during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial occupation has been officially designated a national treasure, underscoring a renewed push by cultural authorities to elevate and protect the country’s vulnerable heritage. The flask, a Buncheong stoneware flat bottle with incised fish and line designs, is one of five historical artifacts newly designated as national treasures, the Korea Heritage Service said Friday. The designation places the pieces under strict state-backed preservation frameworks, reflecting the government's ongoing campaign to safeguard works that survived centuries of regional conflict and colonial exploitation. Crafted in the southwestern Jeolla region during the early Joseon Dynasty, the ceramic bottle is celebrated for its surprisingly modern aesthetic. After shaping the vessel on a wheel, artisans flattened its sides to create a distinct canvas, applying a white slip before scratching fluid, abstract geometric lines and waves across its surface. The flask’s journey mirrors Korea’s turbulent 20th-century h

Jun 26, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea designates 15th-century ceramic flask, 4 rare Buddhist artworks as nat'l treasures

Symposium to spotlight Korea's 2nd oldest surviving genealogy

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), families preserved their genealogical records in books called "jokbo." These records offer a window into individual family histories and the broader social structure of the kingdom. In recent years, efforts to register jokbo as a UNESCO Memory of the World heritage item have gained momentum in Korea. Interest in these genealogical records will be on full display at a symposium on the genealogical book of the Cheongsong Shim clan, scheduled for Saturday at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. The symposium is hosted by the Cheongsong Shim Clan Association and supported by the Korean Genealogy Academic Committee. "Cheongsong Shim Clan Eulsa-Sabo," the earliest genealogy book of the Cheongsong Shim clan, is the second oldest surviving ancient genealogy in Korea, following the Andong Kwon clan's "Seonghwa-bo." The book, published in 1545 by Shim Tong-won (1499–1572), has drawn attention from genealogy scholars and traditional clan associations. Jokbo is globally recognized for its unparalleled historical and anthropological value. The Eulsa-Sabo i

Jun 25, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Symposium to spotlight Korea's 2nd oldest surviving genealogy

Busan museum opens exhibition on Korean War heritage sites ahead of UNESCO committee session

The Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum opened a 105-day thematic exhibition today marking the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which is being held in Busan. The exhibition, titled "Sites of the Busan Wartime Capital," runs through Sept. 27 in the museum's second-floor special exhibition hall. The show spotlights 11 heritage sites associated with Busan's role as Korea's provisional wartime capital during the Korean War (1950-53). When North Korean forces captured Seoul days after the war began, the South Korean government relocated to Busan, the country's southernmost major city, which served as the de facto capital for a combined 1,023 days. The sites were added to Korea's UNESCO World Heritage Priority List in November 2025, a step toward formal nomination for inscription. The exhibition is divided into three sections. The first covers sites that sustained government functions during the war, including the temporary presidential residence, the provisional central government complex and a meteorological observatory that supported national operations. The second

Jun 25, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Busan museum opens exhibition on Korean War heritage sites ahead of UNESCO committee session

Rare shamanic paintings gain national heritage status

Korea has officially designated a rare set of 19th-century shamanic paintings as National Folklore Cultural Heritage, honoring a vibrant religious tradition that historically thrived on the fringes of the peninsula's rigid social hierarchies. The collection, known as the Seoul Geumseongdang Mushindo, consists of eight hanging silk scrolls originally housed inside the Geumseongdang shrine in Seoul. The paintings depict an array of deities governing human destiny, including the blind Taoist, the goddess of smallpox and the patron spirit of musicians. While Korea is celebrated as a high-tech powerhouse, its ancient animistic and shamanic roots remain deeply woven into the country's cultural fabric. For centuries, "mushindo", a genre of shamanic paintings, served as portals for the spirits during "the intense, ecstatic rituals performed by shamans to cure illnesses, pacify malevolent ghosts and bring good fortune. According to the National Heritage Administration, which announced the designation Tuesday, these specific paintings hold immense historical weight because of their indisputable l

Jun 23, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Rare shamanic paintings gain national heritage status

Korea, UNESCO partner ahead of World Heritage Committee session in Busan

Korea's heritage authority and UNESCO signed a memorandum of understanding Friday in Paris ahead of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, set to open in Busan next month, in what will be the first time Korea has hosted the annual gathering. The memorandum of understanding was signed at UNESCO headquarters by Min Huh, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), and Nayef H. Al-Fayez, UNESCO's assistant director-general for culture, along with Kim Ji-hee, Korea's ambassador to UNESCO, and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The agreement covers operational arrangements for the session, including security, health and personal data protection protocols, particularly given the scale of the event, which is expected to draw roughly 3,000 delegates from the 196 states party to the World Heritage Convention. The 48th session is scheduled for July 19 to 29 at BEXCO, the convention center in the southeastern port city of Busan. The committee — the main governing body under the 1972 World Heritage Convention — meets annually to inscrib

Jun 22, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea, UNESCO partner ahead of World Heritage Committee session in Busan

Stray Kids’ Felix to become face of hanbok’s modern redesign

Traditional attire has long wrestled with a stiff, museum-piece reputation, but Korea's cultural policy officials are betting that a dose of high-octane K-pop stardom can turn centuries-old garments into the next global streetwear trend. This week, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Felix, the deep-voiced, ethereal member of the chart-topping boy band Stray Kids, has been officially crowned as the face of the "2026 Hanbok Wave." The annual initiative pairs contemporary design houses with top-tier Korean wave luminaries to aggressively rebrand the hanbok — Korea’s traditional dress — for a modern, international audience. Now in its seventh year, the campaign boasts an enviable roster of past muses, including figure skating legend Kim Yuna and screen stars Suzy, Kim Tae-ri and Park Bo-gum. But selecting Felix marks a sharp, tactical pivot toward the hyper-globalized Gen Z fandom. Stray Kids commands a massive, intensely loyal international following, making their front man the perfect vessel to break through Western fashion barriers. The government is launching a

Jun 17, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Stray Kids’ Felix to become face of hanbok’s modern redesign

Korea brings traditional arts to Busan stage for global heritage audience

As the southern port city of Busan prepares to host the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting next month, Korean cultural officials are moving aggressively to position the summit as a premier international stage for the country’s performing arts. Rather than presenting traditional heritage as static museum artifacts, a pair of major performance initiatives aims to prove that Korea's ancient performance rituals remain a dynamic, living commodity. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Monday a dual-track cultural blitz designed to captivate arriving foreign diplomats and international dignitaries. The centerpiece of the campaign, titled “Intangible Heritage Festival in Busan,” will run from July 20 to 29 at the BEXCO convention center. The festival breaks new ground for the industry by introducing the inaugural "Intangible Heritage Performance Art Market," a trade-fair model featuring 26 showcases aimed at establishing commercial distribution networks for traditional Korean performing arts both domestically and abroad. The festival’s artistic centerpiece is "Sanhwab

Jun 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Korea brings traditional arts to Busan stage for global heritage audience

Han River to host Seoul’s annual traditional music festival for 1st time

Traditional Korean music will trade palace courtyards and concert halls for the banks of the Han River this year as Seoul moves its annual “gugak,” Korean traditional music, festival to one of the city’s busiest public spaces in a bid to reach a broader audience. The eighth Seoul Gugak Festival will be held Friday at Moonlight Square in Banpo Hangang Park, marking the first time the event has taken place along the river. Organizers said the festival, themed “Gugak Awakens Seoul,” will showcase a wide spectrum of Korean traditional music, from performances by master musicians to genre-blending acts that combine gugak with rock, dance and contemporary performance art. The event will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and feature a main concert stage, community performances and a range of hands-on cultural programs. The evening’s headline performances include a collaboration between Lastreet Crew and a geomungo sextet, a multimedia production by Twohands that blends traditional shamanic music with media art and appearances by master performers Cho Young-sook and Lee Tae-baek. The lineup

Jun 12, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Han River to host Seoul’s annual traditional music festival for 1st time

Peek inside king's office at Deoksu Palace this June

Seoul's royal palaces offer visitors a journey through Korea's dynastic past, from ceremonial throne halls to tranquil gardens tucked behind stone walls. Deoksu Palace is one of Seoul's five major royal palaces, alongside Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong and Gyeonghui Palaces. Together, they offer visitors a window into more than five centuries of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) history. Gyeongbok Palace, the largest and most visited, is known for its imposing gates and ceremonial halls. Changdeok Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famed for its harmonious landscape and extensive garden. Changgyeong Palace is known for its spacious grounds and tranquil atmosphere, while Gyeonghui Palace offers visitors a quiet experience away from crowds. Deoksu Palace stands out for its striking mix of traditional Korean and Western-style architecture, reflecting Korea's transition into the modern era. With palace visits ranking among the most popular activities for travelers, a new exhibition at Deoksu Palace provides an opportunity to experience royal life from an unusually intimate perspective. Fo

Jun 10, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Korean Heritage