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Changdeok Palace opens Sept. 10 for moonlit evening tours of Secret Garden

As summer turns to autumn, Changdeok Palace's secluded courtyards and historic gardens, also known as Secret Garden, are preparing to open their gates under the light of the moon. The Korea Heritage Service's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, alongside the Korea Heritage Agency, said Tuesday that the popular Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour will return for its autumn run from Sept. 10 through Oct. 17. Operating Thursdays through Sundays, the program invites visitors to experience one of UNESCO's most celebrated World Heritage sites after dusk. Launched in 2010, the intimate evening tour has become one of the capital's hardest-to-get cultural tickets. Participants are handed a traditional silk lantern before embarking on a guided trek through the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty-era palace grounds. The route leads past key heritage structures — including Geumcheongyo, Seoul's oldest stone bridge, and the illuminated throne hall of Injeongjeon — before venturing deep into the iconic Secret Garden (Huwon). Along the trail, visitors are treated to curated artistic interludes. At Sangryangjeong Pavili

Aug 18, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Changdeok Palace opens Sept. 10 for moonlit evening tours of Secret Garden

Korea opens palace grounds for budget-friendly weddings

Beneath the canopy of ginkgo trees at the edge of Gyeongbok Palace, couples in Korea will soon have another chance to tie the knot at one of the capital's most coveted historic addresses — without breaking the bank. The National Palace Museum of Korea said Tuesday that it is accepting applications for a program that would open its scenic outdoor rest area for private wedding ceremonies throughout 2027. Operated by the museum under the Korea Heritage Service, the initiative is designed to share the cultural and aesthetic value of national heritage sites while relieving the heavy financial burden of modern weddings for young adults. The museum will host 80 ceremonies in 2027, split between 41 slots during the spring peak in April and May, and 39 during the autumn months of October and November. Ceremonies will take place once on Friday afternoons and twice daily on weekends and public holidays, with reception spaces provided inside the museum’s annex. To streamline the process, the museum is collaborating with two professional wedding planning agencies. Prospective brides and grooms c

Aug 18, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea opens palace grounds for budget-friendly weddings

Dongdaemun Design Plaza turns into Seoul's ultimate lifestyle playground

Dongdaemun Design Plaza is set to become a showcase of Seoul's increasingly global lifestyle, moving visitors from K-beauty and fashion in the afternoon to running and hip-hop after dark. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will host Beautiful Life in Seoul from Aug. 22 to 25 at DDP. The festival brings together 14 interactive programs across 12 indoor and outdoor spaces, combining the fifth annual Seoul Beauty Week with fashion, design, wellness and entertainment. By offering a hands-on taste of how locals live, city officials aim to connect event-driven foot traffic directly with businesses in the surrounding Dongdaemun district. The daytime agenda centers on Korea’s booming cosmetics and self-care industries. Seoul Beauty Week will feature roughly 152 brands spanning skin care, medical aesthetic technology and wellness. Alongside public product showcases, an international trade show will match 115 overseas buyers from 48 countries with local companies for export consultations. Visitors can also participate in personalized styling sessions, attend beauty talks wit

Aug 18, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Dongdaemun Design Plaza turns into Seoul's ultimate lifestyle playground

Turning alleyways into attractions: Korea launches urban stamp tour

A government stamp tour is turning renovated markets, neighborhood cafes and other urban sites into stops on a nationwide summer-to-fall itinerary beginning Tuesday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said its Urban Regeneration Stamp Tour will run through Nov. 15 across 13 cities and 52 designated sites. The program is designed to encourage people to experience the results of urban regeneration firsthand, while bringing more visitors and spending to local businesses. Last year, the tour drew 1,526 participants across 40 sites in 10 regions, while this year's program expands the program to 52 sites. Participants can download the Stamp Tour app and automatically collect location-based stamps when they arrive at designated sites, with rewards available as they reach successive milestones. Visitors who collect four stamps will enter a monthly drawing for a 30,000 won ($22) Kakao Makers gift certificate, with 500 winners selected each month for a total of 1,500 winners. Higher milestones offer additional rewards, including gift certificates worth 50,000 won, 70,000 won and 100,

Aug 18, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Turning alleyways into attractions: Korea launches urban stamp tour

Seoul museum to host summer programs for kids

The Seoul Museum of History will launch special summer programs at its Children's Museum starting Aug. 15. All programs are free for child visitors. "Summer in Hanyang" introduces how residents of Seoul — formerly known as Hanyang — cooled off without fans or air conditioning while also covering seasonal foods and pastimes of the era. Children can decorate their own paper fan using stickers after reading the exhibit panels. No reservation is required, and kits to make the fans will be distributed free to the first 1,000 children to visit, starting Aug. 15. Inquiries about the kits can be made at the museum lobby and information desk. A second program, "Santa's Summer Vacation," imagines Santa Claus taking his holiday in Korea and granting children's wishes. Visitors can write their wishes on postcards or notes and attach them to an "August Christmas wish tree" in the lobby from Aug. 15. Some wishes will later be granted by the museum in a follow-up event, with details to be announced on the museum's Instagram account. A third program lets children make hats modeled on the Children's

Aug 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul museum to host summer programs for kids

Why new US ambassador visited Youngnak Church

New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel has drawn attention by visiting Youngnak Church shortly after arriving in Seoul to assume her post. Behind her visit lies a deep family connection, intertwined with the historical roots of the venue as a sanctuary for North Korean refugees rebuilding their lives in the South. According to church officials and local reports, Steel visited the Protestant church in Jung District, central Seoul, right after arriving at Incheon International Airport on July 30. She returned to attend a Sunday service on Aug. 2, where church leaders introduced her to those attending the service. When asked by a local reporter whether she plans to attend services regularly, Steel gave a silent nod. A church official confirmed on Wednesday that Steel visited the venue accompanied by her aunt, who remains an active member of the church. "We understand that she visited with her aunt, who still attends our church," a church official told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity, citing privacy concerns. "While we cannot confirm whether she'll continue to attend, any

Aug 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Why new US ambassador visited Youngnak Church

Seoul City Hall exhibition explores fleeting memory of urban landscapes

Seoul is hosting a compelling new art exhibition that examines the lingering memories and subtle traces left behind by residents in a rapidly evolving metropolitan landscape. “Traces of Seoul,” a solo exhibition by artist Chang Eun-woo, runs from Aug. 13 through Nov. 2 at the Sky Plaza Gallery, located on the eighth floor of Seoul City Hall. Overlooking the bustling expanse of Seoul Plaza, the gallery space has presented an annual artist selection program since 2014, offering local residents and international visitors free access to contemporary visual arts embedded within the heart of local government. Selected as one of just three winning proposals out of 130 competitive submissions for the 2026 Sky Plaza Gallery schedule, Chang’s showcase shines a gentle light on Seoul’s narrow alleyways, neighborhood streets and everyday urban scenes. These spaces, often overlooked due to their quiet familiarity, represent a side of the city that is gradually disappearing under modern redevelopment. To capture this transience, Chang uses a distinctive artistic technique of cutting and layeri

Aug 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul City Hall exhibition explores fleeting memory of urban landscapes

World Print & Communication Congress returns to Korea after 10 years

The 2026 World Print & Communication Congress, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will run from Tuesday through Friday at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and in nearby Paju. Hosted in Korea for the first time since 2016, this year's congress unites representatives from 33 nations and nearly 500 global industry leaders under the banner "A Global Printing Festival Connecting the World Through Hallyu." Vice Culture Minister Kim Young-soo will deliver welcoming remarks, Tuesday, for the general assembly’s official opening ceremony at KINTEX. Founded in 1989 in Brussels, the World Print & Communication Forum serves as a premier international platform driving innovation across the global publishing and print sectors. Korea joined as a full member in 2003. National influence within the forum has expanded steadily, culminating in 2024 with the election of Kim Byung-soon, president of the Korean Printers Association, as forum president. Korea subsequently secured hosting rights for this year's congress during the 2025 assembly in Zurich. The fo

Aug 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
World Print & Communication Congress returns to Korea after 10 years

Gyeongju to host 18th President's Cup amateur esports championship

The national finals of the 18th President's Cup Amateur Esports Championship will take place this Saturday and Sunday at the Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday. Organized by the culture ministry alongside the Korea e-Sports Association, North Gyeongsang Province, the City of Gyeongju and the Gyeongju Cultural Foundation, the annual tournament has run continuously since 2009. The initiative aims to build a sustainable foundation for amateur talent while promoting balanced regional growth across Korea's esports ecosystem. Admission is free for all in-person spectators. For those watching remotely, the entire event will be livestreamed online via Naver's Chzzk, SOOP (formerly AfreecaTV) and YouTube. This year's competition brings together roughly 300 players and officials representing all 16 of Korea's provincial-level administrative regions. Competitors will face off across five distinct titles: League of Legends, the Korean-developed battle royale hit Eternal Return, football simulation game EA Spor

Aug 13, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gyeongju to host 18th President's Cup amateur esports championship

Seoul Fashion Week expands from DDP to Lotte World Tower for 2027 S/S season

Seoul Fashion Week has operated largely within and around the stark, futuristic curves of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza for the last 12 years, serving as an industry-facing platform for buyers, press and domestic designers. But as global demand for Korean style and pop culture continues to surge, the capital’s flagship fashion event is stepping out into the open city air. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that the upcoming Spring/Summer 2027 Seoul Fashion Week, running Sept. 1 to 6, will expand its footprint beyond its traditional home at DDP to include the grounds of Lotte World Tower, the nation’s tallest skyscraper in southeastern Seoul. The strategic shift is designed to bridge commercial industry demands with direct-to-consumer experiences, turning a traditionally trade-focused gathering into a citywide public festival. Under the dual-venue arrangement, DDP will remain the anchor for high-end designer showcases and business-to-business commerce, hosting 17 runway shows, eight brand presentations and a trade show featuring 97 labels. Designers long central to the ev

Aug 12, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul Fashion Week expands from DDP to Lotte World Tower for 2027 S/S season
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