Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Korea takes traditional spirits global with new pavilion in Hong Kong

The National Tax Service opened its first-ever overseas promotional pavilion for Korean alcoholic beverages at Vinexpo Asia 2026, a three-day trade fair running through Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 75-square-meter K-SUUL Pavilion houses 16 exhibition and tasting booths, bringing together 12 Korean liquor companies for direct consultations with international buyers. Participants range from traditional craft breweries and regional distillers to major spirits producers, reflecting the sudden breadth of the domestic industry. Operated jointly by the tax agency and the Korea Alcohol and Liquor Industry Association, the pavilion is an integrated promotional platform intended to boost export competitiveness and expand global market access. The 12 participating companies include winners of the inaugural K-SUUL Awards held last December, a competition that drew 366 products from 175 small and midsized Korean producers. Following rigorous document screening and blind tastings, the finalists were selected by public vote and are being showcased in a dedicated sect

May 27, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Korea takes traditional spirits global with new pavilion in Hong Kong

Hailey Bieber’s surprise Korea trip has fans buzzing

Hailey Bieber is drawing attention after unexpectedly revealing a trip to Korea, with fans quickly speculating about the reason behind her visit. On Monday, the model and influencer shared a series of photos on social media with the caption “KR♥,” documenting moments from her stay in Seoul. The posts showed Bieber enjoying everyday Korean experiences across the city, including posing playfully inside what appeared to be a convenience store while holding snacks. She also shared a photo confirming she tried mango bingsu, the popular Korean shaved ice dessert that has become a must-try treat among tourists and celebrities visiting Seoul. In another photo, Bieber appeared to be fitting clothes while taking mirror selfies, further fueling online interest in her visit. Although Bieber has not publicly explained the purpose of the trip, many fans speculated online that the visit could be related to business meetings connected to her skincare brand ventures. The surprise Korea visit quickly spread across social media and online communities, with fans especially reacting to the contrast betwe

May 26, 2026By Xportsnews

Hailey Bieber’s surprise Korea trip has fans buzzing

Cultural showcase in Bangkok reimagines hanbok for modern era

Korea is expanding its cultural diplomacy beyond the screens of Netflix and the stages of K-pop, launching an integrated initiative to embed traditional lifestyle and fashion goods in international markets. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday hailed the successful debut of KDAY, a comprehensive lifestyle festival in Bangkok that drew more than 6,000 visitors over the weekend. Held at the Siam Paragon NEX Hall, the two-day event signals a tactical shift by state planners looking to tie commercial exports directly to traditional aesthetics. The centerpiece of the showcase was a contemporary reimagining of the hanbok, the traditional Korean attire. Six design brands presented a runway exhibition featuring modernized garments adapted for daily wear. To deepen regional engagement, organizers enlisted Nichkhun, a Thai-born member of the K-pop group 2PM, to lead cultural talk shows and fan sessions exploring the history and modern relevance of the clothing style. The selection of Thailand as the inaugural site reflects market data. According to the 2025 Global Hallyu Trend

May 26, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Cultural showcase in Bangkok reimagines hanbok for modern era

Parks across Seoul to host diverse public gardening, landscape programs

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is rolling out an array of public gardening programs across its major green spaces, aiming to weave nature and hands-on horticulture into the daily lives of urban residents. The initiative, curated by the Seoul Western Park and Recreation Center, will take place across World Cup Park, Seonyudo Park and Boramae Park, offering everything from urban sketching to expert-led ecological tours. At World Cup Park in western Seoul, organizers are opening registration for the summer session of its popular "Garden Drawing" series. Running for six weeks on Saturday mornings from June to July, the workshop guides participants through the basics of pen sketching and watercolor painting directly within the park’s manicured fields, including Pyeonghwa, Noeul and Haneul parks. In a nod to sustainability, the program is partnering with the Amorepacific Foundation to provide custom paint palettes manufactured from recycled cosmetics. Sketches completed by participants will be featured in a public exhibition in November. Further inland, Seonyudo Park — a famed ecologic

May 26, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Parks across Seoul to host diverse public gardening, landscape programs

Basketball legends’ daughters face off at Miss Korea pageant

The daughters of two Korean basketball legends are set to continue their fathers’ long-running rivalry — this time on the Miss Korea stage. Jeon Su-wan, 22, the eldest daughter of Jeon Hee-chul, head coach of the Seoul SK Knights, and Woo Seo-yoon, 23, daughter of former professional basketball player Woo Ji-won, have both entered the 70th Miss Korea Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon regional competition. The two contestants previously appeared on Seasons 1 and 2 of the tvN STORY reality show “When Our Kids Fall in Love,” where they gained attention for their looks and distinct personalities. Although they appeared in different seasons, the pair already drew public interest as daughters of famous basketball stars. Their fathers, Jeon and Woo, were longtime friends and rivals who attended Samseon Middle School and Kyungbock High School together before later playing for Korea University and Yonsei University, respectively. The two became major stars during the golden era of Korean college basketball, attracting large fan followings. After the launch of the Korean professional basketball leagu

May 25, 2026By Hankookilbo

Basketball legends’ daughters face off at Miss Korea pageant

Fans can’t believe Lee Young-ae is 55 in recent New York photos

Actress Lee Young-ae is drawing attention online after sharing a glimpse of her New York visit, with fans once again marveling at visuals many said were “hard to believe” for someone in their mid-50s. On Friday, Lee uploaded several photos on social media with the caption, “Slow walk in New York.” The images show the actress strolling through the streets of New York in casual everyday fashion while enjoying a quiet break during her stay in the United States. Wearing a black sleeveless top paired with a long skirt, Lee completed a minimalist look accented with a black shoulder bag and sunglasses. In another photo, she wears a scarf loosely around her neck, adding to the elegant image that has long defined her public persona. Fans particularly focused on her natural hairstyle and understated makeup, saying the effortless styling further highlighted the luxury-brand aura often associated with the actress. Comments praising her “slender fit” and youthful appearance quickly spread across online communities and social media. Lee previously shared updates from New York while attendin

May 23, 2026By Xportsnews

Fans can’t believe Lee Young-ae is 55 in recent New York photos

Forum blends diplomacy with hidden talents, crowdsourced ideas on K-culture

A diplomat sang a love song in Korean. A veteran actor performed Elvis. A Spanish-born broadcaster in hanbok belted out a Korean ballad. Together, they made the case for what the evening's organizers called the twin engines of Korean culture's global rise: the power to create and the power to communicate. The 17th Culture Communication Forum (CCF), organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), was held Thursday evening at the Italian ambassador's residence in Seoul, drawing more than 50 diplomats, business leaders and cultural figures. Ambassadors from Italy, Belgium, Singapore, Peru and Luxembourg attended, along with Jin Roy Ryu, chairman of Poongsan Group and the Federation of Korean Industries, and Kim Jung-soo, chairman of Samyang Foods. Italian Ambassador Emilia Gatto set the tone early, delivering her welcome remarks in Korean. "This is really the house of all Koreans, all Italians and all friends of Korea and Italy," she told guests. She later closed the evening's "Hidden Talent Challenge" with a performance of Jimmy Fontana's 1965 classic "Il Mondo," sung with Kor

May 22, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

Forum blends diplomacy with hidden talents, crowdsourced ideas on K-culture

Early blooms set stage for Seoul Grand Park’s rose festival

An early surge of warm weather has pushed some 45,000 rose plants into full bloom ahead of schedule at Seoul Grand Park, setting the stage for its annual Rose Garden Festival beginning May 30. The nine-day event, which runs through June 7, will transform the park’s Theme Garden into a literary landscape themed after Lewis Carroll’s "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland." Featuring more than 90 distinct varieties of roses, the festival grounds will include immersive photo zones styled after the classic tale, alongside an outdoor exhibition of prize-winning photography from last year’s competition. Beyond the visual spectacle, park organizers are leaning into experiential retail and programming to draw weekend crowds. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the park will host "Alice’s Atelier." The interactive workshop allows families to craft items inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party, including custom teacups, tea coasters and flower crowns, alongside a specialized woodworking class. For the more competitively inclined, the park is launching the 13th Rose Garden Photo

May 22, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Early blooms set stage for Seoul Grand Park’s rose festival

PHOTO Green growth conference

Dignitaries including Kim Sang-hyup, seventh from left, director-general of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Ban Ki-moon, eighth from left, president and chair of GGGI, pose for commemorative photo at the first GGGI-GCF joint conference, titled "Partnering for Ambitious Global Climate Action," at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. The GGGI and the GCF (Global Climate Fund) are international organizations which deal with policy planning and procuring funds for green growth in the globe, both headquartered in Korea. The two organizations stated that the conference will further strengthen cooperation towards that goal. Courtesy of GGGI

May 21, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Busan marks 150 years of maritime history with global cultural festival

For a century and a half, the southeastern port city of Busan has served as a major maritime gateway for Korea, a bustling coastal crossroads where commerce and culture naturally intertwine. On Saturday, that rich history of exchange will take center stage as the city transforms its scenic North Port Waterfront Park into a sweeping open-air cultural commons. In celebration of Together Day, which falls annually on May 20, the municipal government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, will host the 21st Busan Global Gathering. This year's iteration holds more historical significance as it is deliberately timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the opening of Busan Port. The event has evolved from a local gathering into a flagship international festival, drawing participation from over 100 organizations and embassies representing 37 nations. Organizers are moving away from passive cultural exhibitions toward highly interactive, experiential spaces designed to bridge the gap between long-term residents and the city’s expanding foreign community. The waterfront will feat

May 21, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

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