K-wave AI News

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story.

The Korean government plans to implement a temporary visa exemption for Chinese group tourists in the third quarter of this year, as part of its "Global Growth Strategy for the Korean Tourism Market."

The initiative focuses on attracting group tourists from China's second-and third-tier cities by offering themed tourism products in areas such as sports, cuisine, beauty, and culture.

According to the Bank of Korea, an increase in the number of Chinese group tourists by one million would boost Korea's economic growth by 0.08 percentage points.

The visa exemption is widely seen as a reciprocal gesture in response to China's trial visa-free policy for South Koreans amid thawing Seoul-Beijing relations.

Korea's temple cuisine is set to be designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

"Temple food" is a plant-based culinary tradition that excludes meat, fish, and pungent vegetables, embodying Buddhist principles by preserving the natural flavors of ingredients.

The National Heritage Service emphasized its unique cultural significance, shaped by Buddhist values such as respect for life and mindful restraint.

Temple food is gaining wider global recognition for its simple, balanced, and health-conscious approach, attracting interest from renowned chefs worldwide.

An exhibition showcasing mirrors that reflect the lives and culture of ancient people opened today at the Cheongju National Museum.

Featuring over 320 pieces, the collection includes mirrors used by shamans who believed they could communicate with divine beings, as well as various types of mirrors from the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee's collection.

Experts describe the exhibition as a "one-stop shopping mall of ancient mirrors," offering a rare glimpse into the daily lives and traditions of past civilizations across different ages and regions.

A standout piece is a 6.5 cm iron mirror, discovered in 1916 and preserved in museum storage for over a century, which is now being unveiled to the public for the first time.

The mirror exhibition runs through July 20.

That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.