Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Thousands to race through Seoul as half marathon returns Sunday

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday it will hold the 2026 Seoul Half Marathon on Sunday, with runners setting off from Gwanghwamun Square at 7:30 a.m. Now in its 10th year, the race is co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, The Chosun Ilbo and the Seoul Sports Council. A total of 22,000 runners will participate across a half-marathon course and a 10-kilometer course, making it the largest half-marathon event in Korea. The half-marathon course runs through central Seoul and along the Han River, passing Mapo Bridge and Yanghwa Bridge before finishing at Peace Plaza in Sangam. The 10-kilometer course finishes at Yeouido Park. Major roads along the race route will be closed in stages from 7:20 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with each section reopening immediately after runners pass. Officials said start and end times for traffic controls have been moved up 30 minutes from last year to reduce inconvenience to residents. The area around Gwanghwamun Square will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. and will reopen by 9 a.m. Controlled sections include Gwanghwamun Square, Sejong-daero, Mapo-da

Apr 23, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Thousands to race through Seoul as half marathon returns Sunday

Rev. Billy Kim to lead children's choir on US tour to thank veterans

The Rev. Billy Kim, chairperson of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea, will embark on a tour across the United States from April 24 to May 5, accompanied by the FEBC-Korea Children’s Choir in Busan to deliver a message of gratitude and the gospel. The Christian radio network said Wednesday that the tour is designed to express deep gratitude to American veterans who served during the 1950-53 Korean War. Under the slogan “God Bless America, Thank You Veterans!” they will share a message of hope with both the Korean American community and local residents. The Christian radio network said the children’s choir will act as civilian diplomats and present high-quality performances blending choral music with traditional Korean dance. "I am delighted to express our gratitude through the pure voices of children to the United States and the veterans who helped South Korea during its most difficult times," Kim said in a statement. Kim, former president of the Baptist World Alliance and a globally recognized spiritual leader, will accompany the choir throughout the itinerary to deli

Apr 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Rev. Billy Kim to lead children's choir on US tour to thank veterans

FEBC-Korea holds nationwide seminars to revive gospel mission

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea concluded a series of FEBC Nationwide Pastors’ Conference events to commemorate its 70th anniversary, calling on the Korean church to restore its core mission of spreading the gospel, the Christian radio network said Wednesday. On Monday, FEBC-Korea, led by Rev. Billy Kim, hosted the pastoral seminar and evangelism rally at FEBC Art Hall in Seoul, drawing around 700 church leaders from across the country to discuss the spiritual challenges of the modern era. Tyson Coughlin, lead pastor of Vizion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, served as the keynote speaker. Coughlin, who has been described as a next-generation leader, shared his personal testimony of overcoming ministerial failure to achieve spiritual revival, FEBC-Korea said. "Every promise comes with a problem," Coughlin told the audience during his sermon. "There is a divine purpose in every trial, which ultimately leads us to trust in God alone. God reverses our situations to reveal his glory, and the ultimate promise is the lord himself." The American pastor recounted his experience

Apr 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

FEBC-Korea holds nationwide seminars to revive gospel mission

Han Kang meets readers in Barcelona in first public event since Nobel Prize win

Han Kang, the first Asian woman and Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature, appeared at the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona Tuesday in her first official public event since winning the prestigeous award in 2024. The event was hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Spain to mark the Spanish-language publication of her 2010 novel, "Ink and Blood." All 600 in-person tickets sold out within a minute after going on sale. An additional 200 online streaming tickets were exhausted within 10 minutes, reflecting strong anticipation among local readers. Han appeared in conversation with Mar Garcia Puig, a Spanish author who has won several of Spain's leading literary prizes, discussing themes of empathy, collective trauma, mourning, silence and friendship. The two writers explored the role literature can play in resisting forgetting and tending to collective wounds. "Ink and Blood," published in Spanish in March 2026, is Han's eighth book to appear in that language. The novel follows Jeong-hui, who fights to prove that her friend In-ju's death was not a suicide. It has been descri

Apr 22, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Han Kang meets readers in Barcelona in first public event since Nobel Prize win

Italian Beauty Days 2026 brings cosmetics companies seeking Korean partners to Seoul

Italian beauty companies are stepping up their push into Asia’s most dynamic cosmetics market at Italian Beauty Days 2026, a two-day event in Seoul that brings together 16 Italian brands with Korean buyers for business-to-business (B2B) meetings, product showcases and technology demonstrations. Organized by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Cosmetica Italia association, the event — now in its third year — aims to expand Italian companies’ presence in Korea while fostering cross-border partnerships. The event highlights a wide range of products, including skincare, haircare, fragrances and professional beauty solutions, alongside emerging technologies such as AI-powered skin analysis tools. For many participating brands, Korea represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Known for its highly competitive and trend-driven beauty industry, the country is often seen as a testing ground for global expansion. “We are a relatively young brand, founded in 2017, and Asia is already our biggest market,” said Anna Rita Sollazzo, founder of Italian haircare brand Right

Apr 20, 2026By Anna J. Park

Italian Beauty Days 2026 brings cosmetics companies seeking Korean partners to Seoul

Gov't launches monthlong coastal tourism campaign for May

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it is partnering with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Tourism Organization to run a coastal tourism campaign throughout May under the slogan "May is the Month to Go to the Ocean." The campaign is an extension of the government’s broader spring domestic travel push, Travel Spring 2026, designed to boost regional economies throughout April and May. This year’s coastal campaign builds on its 2025 debut and focuses on encouraging longer stays in coastal regions by expanding overnight travel programs and accommodation benefits. The centerpiece program, Chef's Ocean Table, offers one-night, two-day trips pairing participants with professional chefs for guided visits to local fish markets, seasonal seafood dinners and local breakfast spots. Star chef Jung Ho-young will lead an East Sea event May 9-10, while chef Kim Sung-woon will host a West Sea edition May 30-31. Korea Tourism Organization regional offices will also run 32 coastal programs tailored to each area's character, including a pet-friendly program in Taean,

Apr 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Gov't launches monthlong coastal tourism campaign for May

Jamsu Bridge to go car-free on Sundays for 8-week spring festival

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will close Jamsu Bridge to vehicles every Sunday for eight weeks starting Sunday, turning the Han River crossing into a pedestrian festival space through June 14. The “2026 Car-Free Jamsugyo Festival” will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each Sunday along a 1.1-kilometer stretch of Jamsu Bridge and the adjacent Banpo Hangang Park, with programming focused on walking and leisure activities along the Han River. The event, now in its fifth year, has drawn a cumulative 5.3 million visitors through 2025. A second run is planned for eight weeks between September and October. Each of the eight Sundays features a distinct headline program. The series opens with “Easy Morning,” a walking and running event along a roughly 2-kilometer course organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council, with pre-registration capped at 2,000 participants. Subsequent weeks will feature a percussion parade on May 3; a live band concert on May 10; a sports day with team events on May 17; an acoustic guitar flash mob on May 24 led by singer-songwriter Beomjin and about 300 play

Apr 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Jamsu Bridge to go car-free on Sundays for 8-week spring festival

‘Vincenzo’ meets ‘Pachinko’: Song Joong-ki spotted with author Min Jin Lee in New York

A meeting between two global figures in Korean culture is drawing attention online, as Song Joong-ki was spotted dining with Min Jin Lee in New York. The photos were recently shared by Lee on social media, where she wrote, “Friday night. Dinner with ‘Vincenzo,’” referring to Song’s hit 2021 drama “Vincenzo,” in which he played the lead role. In the images, the actor is seen sitting with the author at a restaurant, dressed casually and smiling naturally. Another photo shows him wearing a T-shirt printed with the word “GIMBAP,” while additional shots capture him posing for the camera and spending time with acquaintances. The sighting has drawn particular interest, given Lee’s global recognition as the author of “Pachinko,” which was adapted into an internationally acclaimed Apple TV+ series. The unexpected crossover between a top K-drama star and a Korean American literary figure has fueled curiosity among fans. Lee is currently based in New York, and Song is understood to have visited the city, where the two appeared to enjoy a relaxed evening together. Online react

Apr 18, 2026By Xportsnews

‘Vincenzo’ meets ‘Pachinko’: Song Joong-ki spotted with author Min Jin Lee in New York

Seoul city gov't, NC tap AI to feature landmarks in video games

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will co-host a game development contest with Korean gaming company NC's artificial intelligence (AI) subsidiary, NC AI, offering cash prizes and development support to teams that create games featuring Seoul landmarks, the city said Friday. The “Seoul Play-Up AI Game Challenge” is open to individuals and teams across the country, with no limits on hardware or software. Participants are required to incorporate Seoul landmarks — including Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Han River parks and the Hanyangdoseong City Wall — into game settings, storylines or characters, and must use AI tools in the development process. The contest will run in two stages. In the first round, participating teams will be tasked to submit prototypes, from which eight finalists will be chosen through written and presentation evaluations. The finalists will then advance to a development phase using NC AI's game-specialized AI suite VARCO, which includes VARCO 3D for asset creation and VARCO Sound for audio effects. Each finalist will receive 2 million won in

Apr 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Seoul city gov't, NC tap AI to feature landmarks in video games

Gov't marks World Book Day with push for global copyright standards

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a two-week copyright awareness campaign, Friday, coinciding with World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, to promote a culture of respect for intellectual property rights. The campaign runs through April 30 and is being carried out in partnership with the Korea Copyright Commission and the Korea Copyright Protection Agency. It features book talk concerts, an online public contest, bookstore collaborations and nationwide social media promotions. Two book talk concerts will be held simultaneously on April 23. Author Kim Gyeo-ul, who has 290,000 subscribers on her Youtube channel “Winter Bookstore,” will speak at Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun on building a better future for books through stronger copyright protection. Separately, applied linguist Kim Soung-u will hold a talk at the National Copyright Museum on artificial intelligence, copyright and literacy. Beginning April 23, 100 regional bookstores — including 30 Kyobo Book Centre branches and 70 affiliated with the Korea Booksellers Association — will distribute 100,000 book