Global Community

African residents of Korea to hold football tournament during Chuseok holiday

Foreign residents from eight African countries will compete in the second edition of the Korea Africa Cup of Nation (KAFCON) on Oct. 2.

Palestinian refugee calls for Koreans’ broader awareness

By Bereket Alemayehu Saleh Elrantisi, a 26-year-old Palestinian with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, moved to Korea in 2022 to escape war in his homeland. While suffering with memories of Palestine, he continues struggling with the refugee application process in Korea. “So far, my experience in Korea has been very positive,” he told The Korea Times. “Korea made me feel like I am in a safe place, far from war and killing, and I therefore hope to live here until Palestine is liberated from occupation, and then I shall return to living in my country peacefully.” But even though he was able to share paperwork from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) about his status, he has had to fight to stay in Korea. “It was a shock to me when I understood that the Korean government didn’t recognize me as a refugee immediately, even though I submitted official documents from the UNRWA proving that I had an asylum number,” he said. "Unfortunately, I am not being dealt with as a refugee, but rather I have to apply as a n

Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some

It took some time for Sil-A, nee Priscilla, to get used to performing on stage.

TEMPLE ADVENTURES No need to misunderstand Korean Buddhism's manja symbol

Shock, horror and dismay can be but a few of the myriad emotions that foreign visitors experience when first encountering a swastika at a Korean Buddhist temple. Because to some, especially those from Western nations, this symbol is more popularly known as the swastika.

Foreign tour operators pay close attention to Seoul's new Tourism Future Vision plan

Seoul Culture Club seeks artists, performers to present 'Change'

All performers of the previous Seoul Culture Club performing arts festival pose at Eulji Space after the final June show, June 24. Courtesy of Seoul Culture ClubBy Jon DunbarSeoul Culture Club, a performing arts festival operated in downtown Seoul's Eulji Space, is holding auditions for its next performance show. Artists and performers of all mediums including musicians, dancers, actors, spoken word, filmmakers and photographers are invited to visit Euljiro and try out to be in the next performance event, to be held in November.Gu Gung, a Korean traditional percussion-vocal duo performs the original piece "Bluebird" at Seoul Culture Club performing arts festival at Eulji Space, June 24. / Courtesy of Seoul Culture ClubThe upcoming event will be themed on the concept of change. “Fall is a season of change. As Seoul's tree leaves bloom into a firework of colors, Seoul Culture Club's second show will be in full bloom in November,” the organizers said in an invitation. “Life is a series of changes, big and small. Where and how we live and whom we meet. Our thoughts and

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Petra Palace offers home cooking from Jordan

Tunnels in Incheon's Bupyeong reveal imperial history

Inside Tunnel 6 in Area C of eastern Incheon's Bupyeong District. Sept. 8. Courtesy of Jack GreenbergBy Jack GreenbergIt was a Friday evening, and the sun was beginning to set. I got off the bus near the gates of the Central Force for National Defense's 3rd Supply Depot and walked along its barbwire perimeter. Against the concrete fence, senior citizens were getting ready to turn in for the day after tending to the narrow vegetable gardens they had planted there.Just before Inpyeong Automotive High School, I rounded the corner and began climbing a narrow path lined with mounds of empty detergent bottles, scraps of metal and other junkyard waste. Eventually, I reached my destination ― a small gravel lot at the foot of Mount Hambong. A few folks were already gathered and waiting for others to arrive; a couple of schoolchildren tested their flashlights and headlamps excitedly while the adults passed around a bottle of mosquito spray.The Bupyeong Cultural Center organized a special nighttime excursion to educate members of the community about a neglected aspect of forced labor under Japa

Austrian doom-jazz band Black Air spreads night across Korea

The members of Austria's doom-jazz-post-rock band Black Air / Courtesy of Black AirBy Jon DunbarThe very oddly described doom-jazz-post-rock band Black Air is coming to Korea from Austria for at least one show and an art event. “Actually, the music we play is not very common in Austria,” said Marian Waibl, drummer of Black Air. “There are some very cool bands that play doom, post-rock, sludge and similar genres. But so far, our style seems to be rather unique ― we tried to take our influences of harsh distorted guitar music, and turn it into something lighter and more atmospheric.”Doom is an odd, but increasingly common adjective attached to various ― usually metal ― bands. But there aren't many bands out there that mix doom and jazz. According to the band, this style of music can be traced back to Black Sabbath. It's “a kind of rock music which gives space to the feeling of being crushed by an overwhelming world,” Waibl said. “So not the typical rock attitude of 'I'm riding my motorbike down the highway, and I'm so cool, yeah!' but rather 'T

RAS Korea celebrates 123rd anniversary with resumption of annual garden party

RAS Korea President Rev. Steven L. Shields gives a welcoming speech during the RAS Korea Garden Party held at the British ambassador's residence in central Seoul's historic Jeong-dong, Sept. 16. Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarMembers of the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea, the world's oldest Korean studies organization, gathered at the U.K. ambassador's residence in central Seoul's historic Jeong-dong on Saturday for the organization's 123rd anniversary party.Dr. Joanne Hong Jung-wook, office manager of RAS Korea, smiles while running around busily during the RAS Korea Garden Party held at the British ambassador's residence in central Seoul's historic Jeong-dong, Sept. 16. Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarOver 150 RAS Korea members and their guests, plus volunteers, embassy personnel and a few VIPs gathered for the first proper RAS Korea Garden Party to be held since the previous one in 2019. Present were people from various countries, ranging in age from young to old. Perfume maker Oh Ha-ni, left, and Ahn Ju-young, organizer of Insadong KOTE pose together at the RAS Kor