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Fri, July 28, 2017 | 05:39

Culture > Korean traditions >

Secrets behind Joseon court wrapping

In the art of wrapping, external beauty is just as important as the substance. The royal court of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) was no exception and master craftsmen used the best materials to create wrapping cloths and boxes fitting royal objects. An exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea (NPMK) sheds light on the sophisticated wrapping techniques used in the Jos...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-27 18:07

Calligrapher wins Korea image contest

Renowned calligrapher Kang Byung-in won a video contest hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), Tuesday. The competition titled “Korea Seen Through the Lens” awarded participants who best represented images of Korea as part of CICI’s Culture Communication Forum (CCF). Kang received the grand award for his video, “Beautiful Korea and Hangeul,” featuring the “...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-25 19:35

'Ex-president refused to obtain royal seals from US'

Former President Park Geun-hye could have secured the return of two ancient royal seals, looted during the Korean War (1950-53), back to Korea during her visit to the United States in 2015, but did not do so for dubious reasons, those familiar with the issue said Monday. According to Buddhist monk Hye Moon, Park could have received the seals, which date from the 16th and 17th...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-24 17:10

Jeju to provide subsidy for 'haenyeo'

"Haenyeo," the female divers on the southern island of Jeju, will receive a subsidy as the province strives to support and preserve their culture. The life and culture of haenyeo were listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last December. Jeju Special Self-Governing Province establi...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-23 15:43

[Joseon Images] Joseon and Currie

What does Currie have to do with Korea? Not curry, the food, but Currie the small American city in Minnesota. Currie was founded in 1872 when Archibald Currie built a flour mill near the Des Moines River. The town was never very large and its population peaked in 1920 when 405 people called it home. Now there are only 226 and few, if any, of them know anything about William Hendricks. In 1920, William Hendricks, one of the more colorful but mysterious residents of the city, died leaving behind a small fortune _ $3,500 _ and no heirs. It is his history that ties Currie to Joseon.

Korean traditions | 2017-07-18 16:54

[Joseon Images] Temples: sanctuary to escape summer heat

The Bukhan mountain region has always been popular with Seoul’s residents as a refuge from the summer’s heat. In the late 19th century, many of the Western residents in Seoul - mainly missionaries - rented space in Buddhist temples and set up camps - complete with servants. They usually stayed for two or three weeks and viewed it as “a novel experience.” But not all experienc...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-14 18:48

Looted royal seals returned to Korea from US

Two royal seals from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) illegally taken out of Korea around 65 years ago were returned home on the presidential plane Sunday evening with President Moon Jae-in heading back to Korea from his first diplomatic trip. The royal seal of Queen Munjeong and the royal seal of King Hyeonjong were displayed at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., Fr...

Korean traditions | 2017-07-02 20:08

Locking horns with Korea's bullfighting culture

Animal rights activists are locking horns with a local government over its plans to construct a new bullfighting stadium. The activists have demanded the Jeongeup City Government to drop its plan, which they say will promote “nothing but animal abuse.”

Korean traditions | 2017-06-14 16:55

[Joseon Images] Joseon's fatal beef

Epidemics have plagued the Korean peninsula throughout history and have had a horrendous impact on the population. But not all of these epidemics were human diseases, some were animal diseases. Arguably one of the worst was rinderpest -- a highly infectious viral disease of cattle.

Korean traditions | 2017-06-11 16:27

Lim Hyun-bin to sing 'Chunhyangga' in full

Pansori singer Lim Hyun-bin will sing the entirety of "Chunhyangga," the most famous of the five surviving pansori plays, at the KB Haneul Round Theater of the National Theater of Korea (NTOK) on June 24. This performance will wrap up the NTOK's Complete Performance of Pansori series for the first half of 2017. Lim is the first male sorikkun (pansori singer) to take part in t...

Korean traditions | 2017-06-06 16:41

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Park's impeachment