Lifestyle - The Korea Times

FEBC-Korea holds choir concert

Choirs perform during the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea’s 34th Sacred Choir Concert at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. Held in celebration of FEBC-Korea’s 69th anniversary, the concert featured eight choirs from major Korean churches and the FEBC-Korea Children’s Choir. FEBC-Korea Chairperson Rev. Billy Kim said the event was organized to offer healing and hope through music by fostering unity and providing comfort and encouragement to audiences. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea

Oct 23, 2025

InterviewFouda Ahmed's gold medal spotlights growing diversity in Korean sports

Fouda Moaz Ahmed, Korea’s first naturalized wrestler, won gold at the National Sports Festival — the country’s premier amateur athletics event often dubbed “Korea’s Olympics” — earlier this week, drawing attention to the growing diversity of the nation’s sports scene. The 21-year-old Korea National Sport University student won the men’s college Greco-Roman 60-kilogram title with an 8-5 comeback victory in the final at the multisport event, held in the southern port city of Busan from Oct. 17-23. Born in Seoul in 2004 to an Egyptian father and a Russian mother, he obtained Korean citizenship in May, following years of efforts to make the country his official home. “It took me more than 10 years to finally become a Korean citizen,” Fouda told The Korea Times. “I’ve been applying since I was in elementary school, but I was too young and didn’t meet the financial requirements, so my applications were rejected for years.” Fouda took up wrestling in his first year of middle school after a coach suggested he try the sport. As an Egyptian-Russian dual national, purs

Oct 23, 2025By Park Ung

Fouda Ahmed's gold medal spotlights growing diversity in Korean sports

Why mobile game icon Kwon Joon-mo turned to meditation

Kwon Joon-mo, former CEO of Nexon and chairperson of mobile game developer Four Thirty Three, hosted a meditation class on Tuesday, joined by some 20 Korean and international dignitaries. Organized as part of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI)'s monthly CQ Forum, the psychology professor-turned-entrepreneur said he has practiced meditation for over a decade, describing himself as a long-time believer in its healing power. Kwon invited singing bowl meditation instructor Lee Ju-hyun to lead the session using singing bowls of various shapes, sizes and materials, as well as a Koshi chime, making the vibrations of each sound resonate with the listeners’ bodies. Two years ago, Kwon founded a multi-purpose cultural space, Prajna, in central Seoul. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word for “great wisdom.” “Great wisdom is when the mind becomes clear. When the mind is clear, it feels calm and at peace. This is a place where people can experience that clarity and tranquility of mind,” he said. Kwon hopes to invite young people to experience the space, to help in "creating

Oct 22, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Why mobile game icon Kwon Joon-mo turned to meditation

In heart of Seoul, Jung District blends history with global flair

In Seoul, all roads lead to Jung District. Located smack dab in the city’s historical, cultural and commercial heart, this central hub — known in Korean as Jung-gu — is unavoidable, containing many of the capital’s most iconic and frequently visited landmarks. “Over 80 percent of foreign tourists to Korea visit Seoul, and more than 70 percent of them stop by the district’s landmarks, such as Myeong-dong, Namdaemun and Mount Nam,” Jung District head Kim Kil-sung said in an interview with The Korea Times. Not content to rest on its laurels, Jung District is now working to help more foreign visitors experience the best it has to offer. In Myeong-dong, one of Seoul’s best-known tourist areas, the district plans to install media poles — smart street pillars equipped with emergency bells and digital screens that provide real-time updates on weather, air quality and local events. “Myeong-dong’s mix of wide streets, narrow alleys and varied buildings makes it perfect for walking,” Kim said. “This setting lets visitors feel fully immersed in large-scale visual content.”

Oct 22, 2025By Park Ung

In heart of Seoul, Jung District blends history with global flair

Gyeongju celebrates APEC with light show on ancient observatory

The ancient Cheomseongdae astronomical observatory will be illuminated with a media art display to commemorate Gyeongju's hosting of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said Monday. The state-of-the-art projection will light up the facade of the historic structure, located in the southeastern city. The observatory is believed to have been built in the mid-seventh century under the reign of Queen Seondeok of the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935). The display, running through Nov. 1, is designed to showcase the rich culture and advanced astronomical knowledge of the Silla Kingdom, the KHS said. It will feature dynamic scenes, including observations of the stars from atop Cheomgseongdae and a celestial cascade of the Milky Way, meteor showers and comets. The projection will also incorporate a celestial chart from the later Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and images of the Four Guardian Deities. In addition to the Cheomseongdae show, the KHS said other key historical sites will be beautified with special nighttime lighting. Among them is t

Oct 20, 2025By Yonhap

Gyeongju celebrates APEC with light show on ancient observatory

Sunfull Foundation event promotes harmony with foreign community in Korea

Min Byoung-chul, chairman of the Sunfull Foundation, hosted an event with the the National Assembly’s Sunfull Committee Friday to raise awareness about respect and cooperation toward foreign nationals living in Korea. The event at the National Assembly brought together foreign ambassadors, corporate representatives employing migrant workers and multicultural families, highlighting the contributions of more than 2.5 million foreign nationals living in Korea and the challenges they face, including discrimination and hate speech. Building on those discussions, both organizations — named after a phonetic rendering of the Korean word for “kind comments” — are continuing the K-Respect campaign to promote respect and inclusion. First launched in 2023, the campaign supports multicultural families, foreign residents here and 7.5 million overseas Koreans around the world. “Korea can become a true global leader only when a culture of respect for foreigners living here takes root,” Min said, emphasizing the importance of the campaign. Lawmakers and ambassadors who attended the event als

Oct 17, 2025By Park Ung

Sunfull Foundation event promotes harmony with foreign community in Korea

Volleyball icon returns to court to lead underdog squad against top rivals

Korea’s retired volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung is thrilling audiences once again with her triumphant return to screens through MBC’s sports reality show "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-Koung." The show, which premiered Sept. 28, follows Kim as she assembles "The Unsinkable Wonderdogs," a newly formed women’s volleyball team made up of underdog talent – those released from professional teams, battling anxiety or returning from retirement in pursuit of a second chance. The team faces a daunting task: They must play seven matches against top-tier opponents, including Korea and Japan’s high school champion teams and professional volleyball clubs. To survive and avoid disbandment, they need to secure at least four wins out of these seven games with the ultimate goal of becoming the eighth officially recognized team in Korea’s sole professional volleyball league. While much of the appeal of Korea’s traditional sports entertainment comes from revisiting beloved, retired stars, the show stands out for its unique, inclusive approach. The program pairs those on the margins of the sports wi

Oct 16, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Volleyball icon returns to court to lead underdog squad against top rivals

50 years later, Seoul honors 'textile king' who gifted land for Korean embassy in Japan

“Your homeland should never be a source of shame.” That was the guiding belief of Seo Gap-ho (1914-76), a Korean entrepreneur who rose from poverty during Korea’s colonial period under Japanese rule to become known as the “Textile King of Osaka.” In 1962, he donated land and a building in the Azabu 1-chome district of central Tokyo — now the site of the Korean Embassy in Japan — to the Korean government. He later helped fund the relocation of the Korean Consulate in Osaka and personally supported the Kongo Gakuen Korean school in the city. This ensured that young Koreans in Japan could continue to learn about their heritage and language. Nearly five decades after his passing, his legacy continues to be recognized as the Overseas Koreans Agency named him Overseas Korean of the Month for October 2025. His contribution also lives on at the Korean Embassy in Tokyo, where he is honored through Dongmyeong Hall and Seo Gap-ho Day, held each year on Nov. 1 at the site of the Korean embassy. Born in Ulju, South Gyeongsang Province, Seo left for Osaka alone when he was just 9 years ol

Oct 15, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

50 years later, Seoul honors 'textile king' who gifted land for Korean embassy in Japan

TWICE to become first K-pop girl group to perform at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

K-pop powerhouse TWICE will make history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, one of the world’s most recognized fashion spectacles. The group is set to take the stage on Wednesday (local time) in New York City for the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025,” joining a lineup of global female artists including Missy Elliott, Madison Beer and Karol G. Originally launched in the 1990s, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has become a cultural symbol that merges runway glamour with live music performances. It is known for featuring world-famous supermodels known as the “Angels,” who helped shape a distinct genre of performance fashion that dominated the pop culture landscape for decades. For TWICE, the invitation represents both recognition of their global reach and a symbolic moment for K-pop’s growing influence on Western pop culture. Fans are already expressing excitement online, anticipating how the group’s polished choreography and vibrant stage presence will translate to the high-fashion runway. The group’s appearance comes

Oct 13, 2025By Xportsnews

TWICE to become first K-pop girl group to perform at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

5 nations' UNESCO cultural heritage to take stage in Suwon

A rare convergence of global cultural masterpieces is set to take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, which will host the 2025 UNESCO-Gyeonggi Province World Cultural Heritage Festival Showcase on Oct. 18. The event will bring traditional cultural performances from five countries — Vietnam, India, Mongolia, the Philippines and Korea — to the Jeongjo Theme Performance Hall in Suwon to offer a free showcase of UNESCO-listed intangible cultural assets, the organizer said Sunday. The organizer said the performance will feature the essence of human cultural and artistic heritage, found in Vietnam’s Ca tru singing performance, India’s Chhau dance form, Mongolia’s morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) music, the Philippines’ Hudhud chants by the Ifugao people and Korea’s lion mask dance. In addition to the main performances, the event will feature an Indian cultural heritage photo exhibition and a world mask experience corner, providing interactive and educational opportunities for attendees. The inaugural event was initiated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tou

Oct 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

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