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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Choi Jung-wha, pioneer of cultural diplomacy, dies at 71

Choi Jung-wha, an honorary professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and chairperson of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), passed away on Sunday, according to her family. She was 71. Choi was a pioneering figure in cultural diplomacy and interpretation who dedicated her life to enhancing Korea’s national image and strengthening the country’s ties with France. Born in Seoul in 1955, Choi graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a degree in French and later obtained her master's and doctoral degrees from the Graduate School for Translation and Interpretation at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. She became the first Korean to work as a simultaneous interpreter for international conferences. Throughout her career, she interpreted for more than 20 bilateral summits and over 2,000 international conferences. She served as the primary interpreter for French presidents, including Francois Mitterrand during his official visit to Korea and Jacques Chirac during his summits with former President Roh Moo-hyun. In 2003, Choi founded the CICI, a nonprofit o

Jun 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Choi Jung-wha, pioneer of cultural diplomacy, dies at 71

FEBC-Korea holds retreat to celebrate 70th anniversary

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea held a special retreat last week for its national steering committee members in Wonju, Gangwon Province, to mark its 70th anniversary, the Christian radio broadcaster said Thursday. The two-day event, which took place June 5 and 6 at Oak Valley Resort, drew around 1,500 steering committee members from 13 regional branches across the country. The attendance was the highest in the organization’s history. The FEBC-Korea steering committee was established in September 1980 to provide financial and prayer support for the broadcaster during a period of financial difficulty. Over the decades, it has grown into a major nationwide network supporting the station's radio-based missionary work. During the opening service, Rev. Kim Mi-yeol of Wonju Jungbu Church delivered a sermon emphasizing that the mission of spreading the gospel remains unchanged despite shifting eras. The retreat also featured a special lecture by Kim Jin-pyo, a former National Assembly speaker. In his address, Kim highlighted that the dedication and prayers of religious communities h

Jun 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
FEBC-Korea holds retreat to celebrate 70th anniversary

Ivy lands rare Broadway lead in 'Chicago' after years of preparation

"Broadway felt like something that had already passed me by, something that would never happen. No, no, no." That was how Korean singer and actor Ivy reacted after learning she had been cast as Roxie Hart in Broadway's long-running production of “Chicago,” fulfilling a dream she once believed was out of reach. The production company behind “Chicago” announced on June 9 (local time) that Ivy would join the Broadway cast as Roxie Hart, one of the musical's lead roles. She is scheduled to perform at New York's Ambassador Theatre from Aug. 17 through Sept. 6. The casting is drawing attention because it is rare for a Korean to take on a leading role in an English-language Broadway production alongside American performers. It is even more notable because Ivy will be playing the same character she has portrayed for more than a decade in Korea. According to Ivy, she first heard about the possibility of appearing on Broadway four years ago. At the time, however, concerns about performing in English prevented her from seriously pursuing the opportunity. She started studying English and even

Jun 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Ivy lands rare Broadway lead in 'Chicago' after years of preparation

Night markets become economic lifeline in Songpa District

The traditional open-air markets of Songpa District in southeastern Seoul have long served as the hyperlocal culinary backbones of their neighborhoods, anchored by vendors hawking everything from fresh produce to hand-pinched dumplings. But as shifting consumer habits and the relentless rise of e-commerce squeeze these historic commercial hubs, local authorities are turning to a vibrant, nocturnal strategy to lure back a younger generation of shoppers. Songpa District, a sprawling area in the southeastern part of the capital, announced that it will host a series of food and cultural night festivals across five traditional markets and commercial streets throughout June. The initiative marks a significant expansion of a pilot program that, at its peak last year, drew up to 3,000 visitors a day to the district's labyrinthine alleys. Organized by individual local merchants' associations, this year’s circuit includes two additional venues, reflecting an aggressive push by neighborhood vendors to boost foot traffic and stimulate local spending amid stubborn macroeconomic headwinds. The summe

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Night markets become economic lifeline in Songpa District

Gov't enlists citizen filmmakers to rebrand national 'Culture Day' for weekly audience

For years, Korea’s “Culture Day” was a monthly luxury — a single Wednesday evening where discounted movie tickets and extended museum hours offered a brief respite from the daily grind. As the government attempts a sweeping expansion to make the arts accessible every single week, it is turning to citizen filmmakers to convince a notoriously overworked public to change their routines. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted an awards ceremony Wednesday afternoon at a cultural space in southern Seoul to honor the winners of the 2026 Culture Wednesday Promotional Video Contest. The competition was designed to raise public awareness of the newly rebranded “Culture Wednesday” — an expansion of the long-running “Culture Day” program, which previously offered discounts on movies, museums and performing arts only on the final Wednesday of each month. The grand prize, which carries a ministerial award and a 5 million won ($3,630) purse, was awarded to a short film titled “Mom’s Wednesday: Wednesday is Culture Wednesday,” directed by filmmaker Bae Min-seok. The

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gov't enlists citizen filmmakers to rebrand national 'Culture Day' for weekly audience

Riverside fan zone to bring World Cup spirit to Seoul

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch a World Cup-themed fan zone at Ttukseom Hangang Park on Friday, providing a dedicated space for residents to rally behind the Korean national football team. Running through June 28, the event coincides with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Dubbed the "Hangang Play Place World Cup Pop-up," the fan zone will take over the park’s multipurpose indoor cultural venue. The facility is one of several riverside spaces along the capital's central waterway managed by the city’s Future Hangang Headquarters. Programming will anchor on Korea’s three group stage matches. Fans can view live broadcasts on a large indoor LED screen during the scheduled games: Friday’s opener against the Czech Republic at 11 a.m., a June 19 matchup with Mexico at 10 a.m. and a June 25 clash against South Africa at 10 a.m. While attendance is open to the general public, reserved seating for up to 100 people per match is available via advance registration. Those who secure a spot via the event poster's QR code will receive campi

Jun 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Riverside fan zone to bring World Cup spirit to Seoul

Korean American author explores identity, memory through cross-cultural lens

For nearly five decades, Nicole Ochongae Conrad has lived between cultures, and that experience — of belonging fully to neither Korea nor America while being shaped by both — became the foundation of a career in photography, education and cultural exchange. Now, those experiences are captured in “An Artistic Journey,” a recently published collection of photography, personal essays and cultural narratives exploring identity, memory and diaspora. “Being Korean American is not only about preserving our roots but also about sharing them with others,” Conrad said in a written interview with The Korea Times. “For me, being Korean American means serving as a bridge between cultures — honoring my heritage while fostering understanding, connection and mutual respect in an increasingly interconnected world.” Conrad, who earned both her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees from Arizona State University, has built a career spanning education, photography and cultural exchange. She later served as a professor of fine art and humanities at Central Texas College and T

Jun 10, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Korean American author explores identity, memory through cross-cultural lens

Gangnam District to host riverside picnic concert with car-free street festival

Gangnam District will host the "2026 Gangnam Picnic Concert x Garosu-gil Design Week" on Saturday, combining a free outdoor concert along the Han River with a daytime street festival on the district's iconic tree-lined boulevard. The concert will run from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the multipurpose sports field in Sinsa-Jamwon Hangang Park, a public riverside greenway along the south bank of the Han River. Seven acts are scheduled to perform, including rock band N.Flying, punk rock pioneers Crying Nut, K-pop vocal group SeeYa, singer-actress Bada, ballad singer Seo Young-eun, pop singer Kim Won-jun and trot singer Park Ji-hyeon. Trot is a Korean popular music genre with repetitive rhythms and emotional vocal delivery. The 6,400-capacity venue features a picnic zone where attendees may spread blankets while watching the show, which concludes with a fireworks display. Admission is free, with entry wristbands distributed from 11 a.m. at on-site booths. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., a 430-meter stretch of Garosu-gil — a boutique-lined avenue in Sinsa-dong — will be closed to traffic for the "2026

Jun 9, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gangnam District to host riverside picnic concert with car-free street festival

Professor bridges Korea, Zimbabwe with lecture on culture

Korean scholar and English educator Min Byoung-chul has become a one-day lecturer on Korean culture for teenagers in Zimbabwe, Friday. At the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Zimbabwe, Min, an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University and the author of “Land of Squid Game,” delivered a 70-minute interactive online lecture on Korean culture to Zimbabwean youth, explaining Korean customs and everyday expressions. Participants gathered in a lecture hall set up at the residence of Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe Park Jae-kyung, where each segment of the talk reportedly prompted lively discussion. The session followed a simple loop — watching short YouTube videos from Min’s channel, followed by his commentary and a Q&A — but quickly turned into a two-way exchange as students compared Korean customs with their own. Min spotlighted everyday cultural codes — from the greeting “Have you eaten?” and birthday seaweed soup to missing fourth floors, chopstick taboos and the “ppalli-ppalli” (hurry-hurry) mindset behind Korea’s rapid postwar rise. What drew

Jun 9, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Professor bridges Korea, Zimbabwe with lecture on culture

Philippines makes strategic bid for Korean food market

The Philippines has launched its first official country pavilion at Seoul Food 2026, anchoring a 24-company corporate delegation at one of Asia’s largest food and beverage trade fairs to exploit a newly enacted free trade agreement with Korea. The four-day exhibition, which opened Tuesday at the KINTEX convention center northwest of Seoul, marks Manila’s most aggressive institutional push into the Korean market since the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement took effect in December 2024. The bilateral trade pact eliminates tariffs on 94.8 percent of Philippine exports to Korea, offering an immediate competitive advantage to Southeast Asian agricultural and food exporters looking to undercut regional rivals. Manila’s trade apparatus has structured the exhibition into two distinct commercial corridors under the "FOODPhilippines" banner. The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, is managing 16 companies focused on processed goods, including integrated food conglomerates like Oleo

Jun 8, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Philippines makes strategic bid for Korean food market
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