South Korea - The Korea Times

Tizzard to give talk on Korean cinema

When David Tizzard first encountered Korean cinema, he found it hard to understand. "Climaxes would hit like a punch to the face, heroes would fail and stories would end unresolved. Things simply didn’t make sense," he said. Over time, however, he realized these films reflect deeper truths about Korean culture, social norms and morality, truths that textbooks or academic seminars didn’t always make immediately obvious. "Why does Park Chan-wook’s 'Decision to Leave' end the way it does? What does Lee Chang-dong’s 'Burning' reveal about modern society and the crushing existential anxieties of young adults? Why do I still wake up at night gripped by the terror of Na Hong-jin’s 'The Wailing'? And how does Yoon Je-kyoon’s 'Ode to My Father' still make me emotional, despite having watched it dozens and dozens of times?" questioned Tizzard, a professor at Seoul Women’s University and Hanyang University, a podcaster and a Korea Times columnist. "There was a language running through these movies, subtle and unconscious, yet that made perfect sense to the directors and the audience.

Oct 23, 2025By Jon Dunbar

Labor minister rejects calls to cut Cambodian worker quota after kidnappings

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon on Monday firmly rejected calls to cut the E-9 visa quota for Cambodian workers amid growing public anger over kidnappings and other crimes targeting Koreans in the Southeast Asian country. At a press conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul, Kim rejected suggestions that the Cambodian government should be held accountable for the recent crimes involving its nationals or that Korea should reduce Cambodia’s E-9 labor quota in response. “We have no plans to adjust Cambodia’s E-9 allocation at this time,” Kim said. He cautioned that unilaterally cutting quotas or restricting employment permits based on such isolated incidents could unfairly stigmatize Cambodian workers already residing and employed in Korea, while undermining bilateral labor relations. His comments come as a wave of crimes targeting Korean citizens by Cambodia-based crime syndicates has sparked debate about the future of labor cooperation between the two nations. Since Korea signed a labor-sending agreement with Cambodia in 2006, the partner nation has become the second-largest

Oct 20, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Labor minister rejects calls to cut Cambodian worker quota after kidnappings

KOREA ENCOUNTERS Revisiting 'Inchon,' Hollywood’s Korean War gamble

In 1979, Hollywood came to Korea to film “Inchon,” an epic war film about Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s famous landing during the 1950-53 Korean War. Directed by Terence Young, who had made the first two James Bond films, and written by “French Connection” author Robin Moore, it had a star-studded cast that included Laurence Olivier, Omar Sharif, Jacqueline Bisset, Richard Roundtree, David Janssen, Ben Gazzara and Toshiro Mifune, and featured music by respected film composer Jerry Goldsmith. Filming took place in various locations, particularly Korea in the summer of 1979. Helped by the Republic of Korea Navy, which assembled a fleet of warships, troop transports and landing craft, as well as the ROK Army, which supplied extras, Young told The New York Times that he believed the film would be a commercial success, as it would “recreate the Korean conflict with documentary detail.” Film locations in Korea included Incheon, the Seoul area and a farming village near Waegwan on the Nakdong River in North Gyeongsang Province that saw an actual, disused bridge blown up. Among the ext

Oct 19, 2025By Matt VanVolkenburg

[KOREA ENCOUNTERS] Revisiting 'Inchon,' Hollywood’s Korean War gamble

Foreign actors carve out space in Korea’s competitive entertainment world

Breaking into Korea's increasingly competitive entertainment industry as a foreigner requires more than talent — it takes persistence, the ability to adapt quickly and a knack for impressing in a system built around local networks. British actor Adam Strandt, 39, knows this reality all too well. “I had to learn to navigate a lot of different dynamics, different casting systems and understand how productions operate here versus abroad,” he said. Strandt’s journey to Korea’s entertainment world began in England, where he studied film and photography. He was also scouted as a model, but never pursued it full-time. Restless and ready for change, he left for Japan, and later moved to Korea in 2012 to teach English. What was meant to be a one-year stint stretched on — first in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, where he met his wife, and later in Seoul. His marriage gave him the visa freedom to pivot away from teaching, returning to modeling and acting. He started small before moving into dramas with single-line parts that gradually grew into more substantial roles. “Now I think I’m

Oct 16, 2025By Mariam Ibrahim

Foreign actors carve out space in Korea’s competitive entertainment world

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Palma showcases traditional tacos, experimental flamboyance

The origins of the taco are lost in the mists of history. Beyond its clear birth in Central America, there’s very little agreement even on the etymology of the word. The small folded tortillas, stuffed with anything from fish to cheese, may date back to pre-Columbian foodways, but along the way they’ve picked up influences from 18th-century European miners and Lebanese immigrants fleeing the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. There’s debate over everything from the kind of tortilla that should be used to the allowable fillings, and the arguments have only grown more interesting as the mighty taco has become an entrenched part of global cuisine. In Seoul, tacos have more than arrived — they’ve become a fingerpost of the city’s international food scene. At some places, they’re localized concoctions barely beholden to the idea of Tex-Mex. At others, authenticity reigns supreme. Palma, located in the trendy Seochon area, plays with Korean ingredients and draws influence from around the world in a deliberate way. There are no hasty attempts at slapping some

Oct 15, 2025By Jennifer Flinn

[RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] Palma showcases traditional tacos, experimental flamboyance

21st Performing Arts Market in Seoul brings global creativity to Korea

Every October, Seoul pulses with creativity, dialogue and possibility as the Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS) returns. This year, the 21st edition of PAMS marks its 20th anniversary of promoting Korea’s performing arts on the international stage. PAMS 2025 takes place from Oct. 14 to Nov. 9, running for a total of 27 days. The main segment, known as Market Focus, runs Tuesday to Friday, offering events and programs that highlight key themes and participants of this year’s edition. The events have been scheduled across multiple major venues in Seoul, including the National Theater of Korea, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, ARKO Arts Theater, Daehakro Arts Theater, SFAC Theater QUAD, TINC, Arts Theater at the Korea National University of Arts (Seokgwan-dong Campus), and Jindalrae Theater operated by the Gangbuk Cultural Foundation. PAMS 2025 is co-hosted by the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) and National Theater of Korea (NTOK), and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Arts Council Korea (ARKO). In a greeting message, KAMS President Kim Jang-ho highlighted th

Oct 14, 2025By Bereket Alemayehu

21st Performing Arts Market in Seoul brings global creativity to Korea

India's DJ Spindoctor ready to take over Lit Lounge turntables

India's top hip-hop DJ is coming to Seoul this Saturday for one show only, as Lit Lounge in Itaewon prepares for a high-energy night featuring The Spindoctor alongside local favorites DJ Bora and DJ D.Yana. The Spindoctor, real name Sanjay Meriya, is an internationally recognized turntablist and performer who has rocked stages from Mumbai to Boston. A Red Bull Dance Your Style India finalist and co-founder of song request platform SpinItUpOfficial, he has built a reputation for blending technical mastery with crowd-moving energy. Promising "pure energy and real DJing — no gimmicks," Spindoctor's sets fuse hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeat and global club sounds into a signature performance that keeps dance floors alive from start to finish. "I’m all about creating a journey on the decks, blending genres, scratching, remixing live and making the crowd feel something real," he told The Korea Times. "Expect absolute madness, big vibes and a set that’ll take you from hip-hop to house to global beats — Spindoctor style." The show was put together when Spindoctor found Lit Lounge while researchin

Oct 13, 2025By Jon Dunbar

India's DJ Spindoctor ready to take over Lit Lounge turntables

‘Hangover’ aims to elevate 'K-small theater' to global stages with English performance

After an 11-year run, comic thriller play “Hangover” in September premiered an English version of the performance that runs every Friday. The play, produced by Ninejin Entertainment, follows the story of a protagonist confined in a hotel room and, having lost his memory, suddenly finds himself accused of his wife’s murder. The narrative’s clever mix of tension and humor — filled with intense psychological conflicts and unexpected twists — turned the showcase into an easy crowd favorite, making it one of the most iconic and longest-running hit productions in the Daehangno theater scene in northeastern Seoul. Playwright and director Jung Gu-jin saw an opportunity to expand the play beyond its local roots. “Daehangno is often called the ‘Broadway of Korea,’ but foreign audiences have long faced the limitation of a language barrier. To overcome this, we launched a brand-new English version of 'Hangover,'” he told The Korea Times. “I hope this challenge will mark the first step for Korean theater to meet audiences on the global stage.” The cast is composed of actors wh

Oct 9, 2025By Mariel Abanes

‘Hangover’ aims to elevate 'K-small theater' to global stages with English performance

Dongdaemun Market's ever-evolving nature

Richard Rutt, future president of Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea, wrote in The Korea Times, Jan. 1, 1962, “I heard a young man talk of going to do some shopping in the Bae-ogae Market the other day,” which led him to realize that many of the younger Koreans around him were unsure of its location, despite knowing the name. “It was finally decided that Bae-ogae, Peartree Hill, was around the 4th intersection of Jongno, and so the name refers to the East Gate Market.” As this reveals, more than 60 years ago, Dongdaemun Market was considered to be further to the west of its current location, founded as it was in 1905 on the current site of Gwangjang Market. It suffered destruction during the 1950-53 Korean War but was rebuilt in 1960. The war had also seen dozens of North Korean refugees settle further to the east in shacks along Cheonggye Stream and make a living by sewing clothing, establishing one of many “peace markets” that could be found throughout the nation. When Cheonggye Stream was covered up to Dongdaemun and hidden under a wide street in 1958, these merchants ban

Oct 8, 2025By Matt VanVolkenburg

Dongdaemun Market's ever-evolving nature

Rain or shine, Seoul Drag Parade glitters in gold

No amount of rain could dull the sparkle of the kings and queens of the Seoul Drag Parade, who graced the streets of central Seoul’s multicultural Itaewon and Haebangchon neighborhoods, Friday, aiming to show the world the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of Korea’s queer community. Gathered outside the small neon sign that marked Haebangchon's Rabbithole Arcade Pub, a home for many in Seoul’s LGBTQ+ community, were drag artists of all walks of life: queens draped in elaborate, bedazzled costumes and multicolored tulle, alongside kings who donned fierce statement pieces. Behind them were young queer people wearing Pride flags, carrying signs that declared their gender identity and expression loud and proud. Against the usual neutral-toned backdrop of Seoul were these exuberant declarations of identity, flamboyant and fearless, buzzing with excitement as they sought to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. “We don’t want [drag] to be hidden away and just tolerated on the fringes. It deserves to be a part of the everyday cultural landscape,” Seoul Drag Parade c

Oct 4, 2025By Inna Christine Cabel

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