Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Lotte World’s MapleStory event draws 100,000 visitors

More than 100,000 visitors have participated in the "Create Your Own Character" experience at Lotte World Adventure in southern Seoul, as part of its spring collaboration with Nexon’s popular online game MapleStory, the theme park operator said Monday. The interactive attraction, located at the Meeting Plaza on the first floor of the adventure park, allows visitors to create digital avatars by scanning a QR code. Users can either generate a character that resembles them by uploading a photo or customize one manually. The event has gained significant traction among longtime fans of the game, as it allows them to import their actual in-game characters. Once completed, the character is displayed on a 10-meter-high media tree. Starting this spring, the theme park has collaborated with Nexon to draw in dedicated MapleStory fans as well as visitors who wanted new experiences at the park. Lotte World Adventure is currently decorated with various MapleStory monsters, serving as popular photo spots for guests. The organizers said the experience is designed to make visitors feel as if they are "

May 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Lotte World’s MapleStory event draws 100,000 visitors

BLACKPINK’s viral Met Gala bathroom selfie sends fans into meltdown

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK turned one of fashion’s most exclusive events into a viral fan moment after all four members appeared together in the now-iconic “Met Gala bathroom selfie.” Model Bhavitha Mandava sparked the frenzy on May 5 by uploading a mirror selfie from a bathroom at the 2026 Met Gala with the caption, “Felt cute, might delete later.” The photo showed Mandava posing alongside actor Rachel Sennott and BLACKPINK members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. The four stars drew attention with contrasting designer looks while showing a more playful and candid side through goofy poses and expressions in front of the mirror. The image quickly spread across social media, with fans calling it a rare and emotional reunion shot of all four members together at the prestigious fashion event. The buzz was amplified by the long-running “Met Gala bathroom selfie” tradition. Although phone use is officially banned during the gala, celebrities have continued the unofficial custom of secretly taking bathroom selfies for years, making the snapshots one of the event’s most talked-abo

May 9, 2026By Xportsnews

BLACKPINK’s viral Met Gala bathroom selfie sends fans into meltdown

The Korea Times, PERPIKA collaborate to support Indonesian students

Hasrinando Saputra Laronga, center, president of the Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia di Korea (PERPIKA), poses with Ahn Seong-jin, left, a project manager at The Korea Times, and Vianny Quininta, head of cooperation and international affairs of PERPIKA, during a ceremony for collaboration between The Korea Times and PERPIKA at The Korea Times office. Korea Times photo by Jang Hwi-seong

May 8, 2026By Jang Hwi-seong

The Korea Times, PERPIKA collaborate to support Indonesian students

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and piano partner Kim Sun-wook reunite for duo recital after 5 years

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang said there is hardly anyone she trusts musically more than pianist Kim Sun-wook as the two prepare for a nationwide duo recital tour in Korea — their first such collaboration in the country in five years. “Among all the musicians I know, Sun-wook is definitely in the top five when it comes to passion for music,” Kang said at a press conference Wednesday at Credia Classic Club Studio in Jongno, Seoul. Beginning May 23 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, the duo will perform in 11 cities across Korea. The program features violin sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, Ottorino Respighi, Mieczysław Weinberg and Richard Strauss. Kang described recitals as more intimate than concerto performances with orchestras. “A recital is a time to become closer to the audience and to share a more personal musical world,” she said. “Sun-wook and I have collaborated often as soloist and conductor, but this was a program I especially wanted to present in Korea.” The duo’s recent performances have already drawn praise abroad, including at Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal last

May 8, 2026By Hankookilbo

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and piano partner Kim Sun-wook reunite for duo recital after 5 years

Seoul to revive public taekwondo performances, adding street shows at DDP

Seeking to capitalize on a surge of international interest in Korean culture, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched its 2026 Taekwondo Performance program, anchored in the traditional backdrop of Namsangol Hanok Village and expanding this year to the neon-lit curves of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The city’s move to scale up the program follows a banner year for the martial arts showcase. City officials said Friday that attendance in 2025 climbed more than 25 percent over the previous year, with audience satisfaction surveys yielding a nearly perfect score of 97.9 out of 100. The primary stage remains Cheonwugak, a pavilion within the historic Hanok village in the Jung District. Two daily performances will be held there every weekend beginning Saturday and continuing through Oct. 18, although the city will pause the event during the sweltering peak of July and August. Ten specialized squads — including the world-renowned Kukkiwon and university demonstration teams — will cycle through a repertoire that ranges from rigid traditional forms to modern "fusion" choreography

May 8, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Seoul to revive public taekwondo performances, adding street shows at DDP

Soprano Sumi Jo named Korea's cultural cooperation ambassador

The foreign ministry said Friday it has appointed world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo as cultural cooperation ambassador to help support the global expansion of K-culture. The position is an external-title ambassador post in which individuals with expertise and public recognition are granted the title and utilized in the government's diplomatic activities for a one-year term. "Ambassador Jo is expected to contribute to the realization of the 'K-Initiative' and the global expansion of K-culture by enhancing understanding of Korea's public and cultural diplomacy policies and by conducting outreach to stakeholders in both the public and private sectors," the ministry said in a release. The Grammy-winning artist is widely regarded as one of the leading voices in global classical music, who also marks the 40th anniversary of her international debut this year. Jo has previously served as a public relations ambassador for the Korea-Japan World Cup, a cultural public diplomacy envoy for the ministry and a promotional ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The ministry also named Lee Seon

May 8, 2026By Yonhap

Soprano Sumi Jo named Korea's cultural cooperation ambassador

SK chairman's partner offers rare glimpse of daughter

Kim Hee-young, director of the T&C Foundation and partner of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, shared a rare glimpse of their 15-year-old daughter on social media, highlighting a teenager's preference for comfort over formal wear. In a Thursday post, Kim shared photos and a video of the two. She captioned the post, writing in Korean, "Back to the city. Rather than the glamorous responsibility of wearing high heels and keeping one’s back straight, for a 15-year-old, bare feet and Crocs are still more comfortable." The images show Kim with her hair styled simply and subtle makeup, wearing a black-and-white dress. In an accompanying video, her daughter — wearing a sparkling gown and long wavy hair — takes off her high heels to walk barefoot along the street. The social media update marks a rare public appearance for the teenager. Kim and Chey’s relationship has remained a subject of intense public scrutiny since the birth of their daughter in 2010. This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

May 7, 2026By Xportsnews

SK chairman's partner offers rare glimpse of daughter

Disney to take its Magic Kingdom roadshow to Singapore

For decades, faithful patrons have made the pilgrimage to Anaheim, California, to catch a glimpse of the future of Disney contents. Now, The Walt Disney Company is taking its marquee fan spectacle across the Pacific. Disney said Wednesday that it will bring “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event” to Singapore in 2027. The move marks the first time the company’s signature convention will be held in Asia, signaling an aggressive play for a region where appetite for blockbuster franchises and local streaming content continues to surge. The multiday event is designed to serve as a cornerstone of Disney’s strategy in the Asia-Pacific market. It will feature the requisite previews of upcoming attractions, live entertainment and appearances by the studio’s group of actors and creators. Crucially, the Singapore edition will also spotlight Disney+ original productions from the region, an area of significant investment as the company navigates a crowded global streaming landscape. “Bringing D23 to Singapore reflects the incredible passion of Disney fans across Asia Pacific,” Asad Ayaz,

May 7, 2026By Lee Kyung-min

Disney to take its Magic Kingdom roadshow to Singapore

Daegu lines up tours, cultural programs for World Masters Athletics Championships visitors

With the World Masters Athletics Championships (WMAC) 2026 slated for Daegu this August, the city is getting ready to welcome athletes with more than just a venue for demonstrating their physical prowess, preparing a slate of exciting activities around town. Beyond the track, the city has put together a broad range of tours, cultural experiences and discounts for the some 11,000 athletes and family members from 90 countries expected at the event running from Aug. 22 to Sept. 3. Headlining the program are three daytime tours running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., each winding through a different part of the city and mixing traditional landmarks with trending spots. The art tour visits some of Daegu's most iconic cultural landmarks, including Kansong Art Museum Daegu, home to an extensive collection of Korea's cultural heritage, and 83 Tower, a skyscraper offering sweeping views of downtown Daegu. The modern history tour explores the city's historic downtown, including Seomun Market, its largest traditional marketplace. The nature tour heads to Mount Palgong, where the Palgongsan Cable Car carrie

May 7, 2026By Park Ung

Daegu lines up tours, cultural programs for World Masters Athletics Championships visitors

Daegu to host world athletics championships for amateurs this summer

InterviewUK’s top K-beauty retailer notes differences in Korean, global top sellers

Sheet masks are old news in Korea. While they remain a staple on many K-beauty vanities, newer products and faster-moving trends have long begun to push them to the back of the shelves. In the United Kingdom, however, they remain the trendiest, top-selling K-beauty product. "It's actually our bestselling product category," Gracie Tullio, co-founder and creative director of PURESEOUL, one of Britain's largest K-beauty specialist retailers, told The Korea Times in a video call, April 7. "Which is funny, because sheet masks are kind of not a thing anymore in Korea." That disconnect sits at the heart of K-beauty's international expansion. Despite its growing global footprint, K-beauty does not travel as a finished product. It arrives delayed, reshaped and, in many cases, reinterpreted to suit local preferences. PURESEOUL began in 2019 as an online platform with a straightforward premise — British consumers wanted Korean cosmetics but had no reliable way to get them. Today, the company carries more than 2,000 products from over 70 Korean brands, including AMUSE, milktouch and LADOR, and oper

May 6, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

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