Lifestyle

5-day, spectacle-filled Seoul Festa hopes to boost tourism

Seoul Festa's opening ceremony at Jamsil Sports Complex will feature a K-pop concert. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government Five-day, city-wide event kicks off Aug. 10 in Jamsil By Ko Dong-hwan Less than a week remains until Seoul launches its first large-scale global festival since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is planning various spectacles for the eyes and ears that it hopes will send participating tourists all over the city.Seoul Festa 2022 will open in Jamsil in Seoul's Songpa District on Aug. 10. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival is being jointly prepared by the government and thousands of local private firms, and will run until Aug. 14. With its main events happening at Jamsil Sports Complex, various smaller events will also occur in other areas such as Gwanghwamun, Yeouido and riverside parks along the Han River.

DAILY FORTUNE - AUGUST 05, 2022

DAILY FORTUNE - AUGUST 04, 2022

Popularity of film, TV adaptations lead to surging book sales

A scene from director Park Chan-wook's romance-mystery film “Decision to Leave” / Courtesy of CJ ENMScript books of film “Decision to Leave” and series “Our Blues” top salesBy Lee Gyu-leeFilms and TV series that became hits are also taking the publishing industry by storm, leading to a surge in sales of related publications including script books and original novels.The screenplay of the romance mystery film “Decision to Leave” has topped the bestsellers' list for two consecutive weeks on YES24, one of the country's leading online bookstores, even before its scheduled release on Aug. 5. Director Park Chan-wook's latest film, which won him Best Director at this year's Cannes Film Festival, hit local theaters on June 29. The film kept steady ticket sales four weeks into its release, despite a blockbuster-packed box office with several new releases. It has racked up about 1.71 million ticket sales, grossing 17.66 billion won ($13.5 million).The director's screenplay book, expected to give readers a more in-depth look into the film, kicked

Templestay, glimpse of millennium-old history of Korean Buddhists' road to self-cultivation

Led by Ven. Inwol of Jikji Temple in North Gyeongsang Province, 23 university students look at paintings adorning the exteriors of Myeongbujeon during a two-day Templestay program, July 21. Courtesy of Cultural Corps of Korean BuddhismIconic Buddhist cultural program celebrates 20th anniversaryBy Park Han-solGIMCHEON, North Gyeongsang Province ― In the breezy morning of July 22, just hours after chanting mantras for a 4:30 a.m. “yebul” (daily Buddhist ceremonial service), 23 university students gathered in a circle for a teatime session, or “chadam,” with Ven. Inwol at Jikji Temple in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.In between sips of refreshing “maesil” (green plum) tea and a handful of nutty snacks, the curious 20-somethings threw question after question that they had been saving throughout their two-day templestay program at the smiling monk.How often do monks shave their heads? What is the purpose of “baru gongyang,” where vegetarian dishes are consumed in utter silence and not a single grain of rice is wasted? What is the true

Pastor helps dying patients fulfill last wishes

A 63-year-old terminal cancer patient surnamed Kim enjoys autumn leaves on Mount Nam in Seoul last November. Courtesy of Haon PublicationRev. Song Kil-weon, critical of funeral service companies cashing in on death, campaigns for 'small funerals' By Lee Yeon-wooLast November, a 63-year-old patient surnamed Kim, who was fighting terminal cancer in hospice care at the time, was able to fulfill her last wish in this world, thanks to Rev. Song Kil-weon: Kim visited Mount Nam in Seoul to see the autumn leaves in person. She visited the mountain in a wheelchair on that beautiful sunny day with her two daughters and a 16-month-old grandson. Kim repeatedly said how happy she was.“She told me she wanted to go there to see the autumn leaves, but she didn't notice them much because of her marvelous grandson,” Song said. “She couldn't take her eyes off the baby boy and said again and again with a happy smile on her face that she was so happy.” Song, a pastor of the small Chungran church in the eastern Gyeonggi Province county of Yangpyeong, said he has not heard any news

DAILY FORTUNE - AUGUST 03, 2022

CICI to host Cultural Communication Forum on space in digital era

French-American economics and philosophy columnist Guy Sorman / Courtesy of CICI By Kim Rahn Korean architect and Hongik University professor of architecture Yoo Hyun-joon / Courtesy of CICI Renowned architects and scholars will discuss the role of real-life and digital spaces in cultural communication at this year's Culture Communication Forum (CCF).The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), the organizer of the forum, said Tuesday that the annual forum will take place on Aug. 25. Participants in Korea will gather at Grand Hyatt Seoul while those abroad will join online.Under the theme of “Space and cultural communication,” the participants will talk about how real-life and digital spaces respectively affect cultural communication and how they can be integrated.“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept and meaning of 'space' has become diverse,

Ex-taekwondo chief Kim Un-yong inducted into new Hall of Fame

Kim Un-yong, the late founder of the WT and a member of the inaugural class of inductees into the WT Hall of Fame / Courtesy of the World Taekwondo (WT)Kim Un-yong, the late founder of the global taekwondo governing body, has been inducted into the newly created World Taekwondo (WT) Hall of Fame.The WT honored the inaugural class of inductees during its General Assembly in Sofia on Monday (local time).Kim, the first president of the WT and also a former vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), received the Lifetime Contribution Award, earning recognition for his "leadership in developing taekwondo's role with the IOC and securing Olympic recognition for the sport," according to the WT.Taekwondo became an Olympic medal sport in 2000, with Kim, who founded the WT in 1973, playing an integral role.Former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, also credited with supporting taekwondo's entry into the Olympic program, received the Lifetime Contribution Award, too. The inaugural Hall of Fame class featured two other Koreans: Lee Dai-soon in the "official" category for his

Number of non-family households hits record high

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin A female office worker surnamed Jeong, 29, has been living together with her boyfriend for over two years in a studio apartment in Yeongdeungpo District, southwestern Seoul.Saving rent and spending more time together were the main reasons why they chose to live together, but two years on, Jeong feels there are many more benefits. “It definitely feels more secure and safer than living alone, both emotionally and physically. We spilt household chores and take care of each other when someone gets ill,” she said. “Of course, we sometimes argue, but it's easier to talk it out since we have to see each other every day.” She may marry her boyfriend in the future, but not now. “Marriage seems like a big decision that I should make at some point in my life. But I'm not ready for it yet. Anyways, we already consider each other as family,” she said. Jeong is not alone. The makeup of Korean households is rapidly changing, with diverse forms of households, such as unmarried cohabiting couples and roommates, significantly increasing