News

[K-Travel] Where to travel in Korea this summer? Part 4: Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju

2025/07/29 15:34

You may have noticed a South Korean city making more frequent appearances recently on Korean media. Gyeongju has been in the spotlight as the host city of the APEC summit this year. Gyeongju is also a top travel destination for locals and foreigners alike. For our fourth summer K-Travel segment we want to introduce the southeastern city of Gyeongju and a special destination within the city, Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO heritage site and symbol of Buddhism. For that, we connect to Richard McBride, Professor of Korean studies and Buddhist studies at Brigham Young University. Hello Professor McBride! Q1) Professor, you've been to Bulguksa Temple numerous times. Do you remember your first visit to the temple? And how do your trips feel every time you go? Q2) Korea is home to a lot of Buddhist temples. Among them, Bulguksa is one of the most representative ones. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the inscription of Bulguksa Temple on the UNESCO World Heritage list. What kind of space does it feel like to you, and what symbolism or value do you think it has in Buddhism? Q3) Another of Gyeongju's heritage sites that was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list three decades ago is Seokguram Grotto. It's distinct from Bulguksa Temple, yet interconnected? Tell us more. Q4-1) From late October to early November, Gyeongju will host the APEC summit. Do you believe World Heritage sites such as Bulguksa Temple bring more attention to the city? Q4-2) Big international events like APEC are a great opportunity for foreigners to be exposed to Korea's traditional culture and Buddhist heritage. But what significance do you see in such experiences? Q5) As many foreigners are expected to visit Gyeongju for the APEC summit, what other places apart from Bulguksa would you recommend? Thank you very much Professor McBride for your insights today. Thank you Walter! We'll see you again soon.

Disney drops 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' first look trailer and stills

2025/07/29 11:40

Disney has released the first official trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron's epic sci-fi saga, on Monday. The trailer debuted exclusively in theaters alongside Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and is now available online. It encompasses the visionary land, sea, and air worlds of Pandora at their most dramatic, and also unveils the Ash clan, a tribe that inhabits volcanic regions. Reviews praise the trailer as a "huge level up" in action, world-building, and emotional depth. The movie is set to open in theaters in December.

Muddy escape from the summer heat Boryeong Mud Festival is back!

2025/07/28 22:40

In other news. It's not vacation season without this festival here in the country. People from around the world gather in Boryeong city to enjoy the summer in the mud. Our Park Hyo-been takes us there. Splashing, tumbling, and soaking up the fun. Despite the scorching heat, people are all smiles as they dive into the mud and leave the summer swelter behind. Daecheon Beach in Chungcheongnam-do Province is holding the 28th Boryeong Mud Festival, which opened last Friday. "It's over 30 degrees here in Boryeong, but the more mud, the cooler it gets. This is why people head here to beat the summer heat." What began as a local event has now become one of the most beloved summer festivals in the world, attracting around 1.6 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. The only goal here is to get dirty, together. "Oh yeah, it's really fun." "It's a lot more fun than we thought." "The mud dunk tank was really good because we got fully submerged in mud." "Yeah just completely covered." "Hi, I'm from the U.S. and I am having a lot of fun here." "I'm from Canada, I'm having so much fun. I've never been to an event like this before. It's been so fun." "You can see it feels really good. I hope it's good for my skin. It doesn't feel sticky or dirty at all it actually feels really nice." But the now-famous Boryeong mud wasn't always celebrated. Back in the early 1990s, Daecheon Beach was seen as murky and uninviting, until it was discovered that the mineral-rich mud was great for the skin. What was once worthless became a treasure, and by 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival was born. This year's event is bigger and bolder than ever. Visitors can dive into a mudslide, spin through the mud barbeque, or simply cover themselves in the mineral-rich sludge. There are special zones for families with young children and by night, the energy ramps up with K-pop concerts and dazzling drone light displays. Festival organizers say safety is a top priority, especially with the record-breaking heatwaves this summer. "The heatwave has been especially intense lately, so we've prepared safety measures to make sure visitors can stay comfortable while enjoying the festival." Officials say more than 2 million people from around the world are expected to join the festival this year. To help visitors from overseas enjoy the fun, interpretation services are offered in English, Chinese, and Japanese. The ultimate summer playground, Boryeong Mud Festival, runs until August 10th. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News, Boryeong.

"King of Kings" surpasses 700,000 viewers in S. Korea

2025/07/28 19:39

The Korean animation "King of Kings" has drawn over seven-hundred-thousand viewers as of this past Sunday which also noted its 12th day at local theaters. The film marks the second-fastest pace for a K-animation following "Leafie, A Hen into the Wild" which hit the same milestone in 10 days. "King of Kings" released on July 16th here in Korea is now also the second-highest-grossing animation for the year in the country following "Attack on Titan: The Last Attack." The "King of Kings" set a box office record in North America following its debut in April earning more money than Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite". The animation is based on the book "The Life of Our Lord" by Charles Dickens.

Muddy escape from the summer heat Boryeong Mud Festival is back!

2025/07/28 19:39

And Korea's annual mud festival is back at its largest beach on the West Sea. Our Park Hyo-been files this report from Daecheon Beach over in Boryeong . Splashing, tumbling, and soaking up the fun. Despite the scorching heat, people are all smiles as they dive into the mud and leave the summer swelter behind. Daecheon Beach in Chungcheongnam-do Province is holding the 28th Boryeong Mud Festival, which opened last Friday. "It's over 30 degrees here in Boryeong, but the more mud, the cooler it gets. This is why people head here to beat the summer heat." What began as a local event has now become one of the most beloved summer festivals in the world, attracting around 1.6 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. The only goal here is to get dirty, together. "Oh yeah, it's really fun." "It's a lot more fun than we thought." "The mud dunk tank was really good because we got fully submerged in mud." "Yeah just completely covered." "Hi, I'm from the U.S. and I am having a lot of fun here." "I'm from Canada, I'm having so much fun. I've never been to an event like this before. It's been so fun." "You can see it feels really good. I hope it's good for my skin. It doesn't feel sticky or dirty at all it actually feels really nice." But the now-famous Boryeong mud wasn't always celebrated. Back in the early 1990s, Daecheon Beach was seen as murky and uninviting, until it was discovered that the mineral-rich mud was great for the skin. What was once worthless became a treasure, and by 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival was born. This year's event is bigger and bolder than ever. Visitors can dive into a mudslide, spin through the mud barbeque, or simply cover themselves in the mineral-rich sludge. There are special zones for families with young children and by night, the energy ramps up with K-pop concerts and dazzling drone light displays. Festival organizers say safety is a top priority, especially with the record-breaking heatwaves this summer. "The heatwave has been especially intense lately, so we've prepared safety measures to make sure visitors can stay comfortable while enjoying the festival." Officials say more than 2 million people from around the world are expected to join the festival this year. To help visitors from overseas enjoy the fun, interpretation services are offered in English, Chinese, and Japanese. The ultimate summer playground, Boryeong Mud Festival, runs until August 10th. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News, Boryeong.

[Features reporter] Muddy escape from the summer heat Boryeong Mud Festival is back!

2025/07/28 15:38

Although South Korea's summer can be brutal, there are some exciting festivals that help take the edge off the heat. Hyobeen, I heard you went to an exciting festival last week where did you go to cool down and have some fun? I went to the Boryeong Mud Festival, one of the most well-known summer festivals in South Korea. I was there on opening day, which was last Friday, and even then, the energy and excitement were incredible. Let's take a look. Splashing, tumbling, and soaking up the fun. Despite the scorching heat, people are all smiles as they dive into the mud and leave the summer swelter behind. Daecheon Beach in Chungcheongnam-do Province is holding the 28th Boryeong Mud Festival, which opened last Friday. "It's over 30 degrees here in Boryeong, but the more mud, the cooler it gets. This is why people head here to beat the summer heat." What began as a local event has now become one of the most beloved summer festivals in the world, attracting around 1.6 million visitors last year, many of them from abroad. The only goal here is to get dirty, together. " Oh yeah, it's really fun." "It's a lot more fun than we thought." "The mud dunk tank was really good because we got fully submerged in mud." "Yeah just completely covered." "Hi, I'm from the U.S. and I am having a lot of fun here." "I'm from Canada, I'm having so much fun. I've never been to an event like this before. It's been so fun." "You can see it feels really good. I hope it's good for my skin. It doesn't feel sticky or dirty at all it actually feels really nice." But the now-famous Boryeong mud wasn't always celebrated. Back in the early 1990s, Daecheon Beach was seen as murky and uninviting, until it was discovered that the mineral-rich mud was great for the skin. What was once worthless became a treasure, and by 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival was born. This year's event is bigger and bolder than ever. Visitors can dive into a mudslide, spin through the mud barbeque, or simply cover themselves in the mineral-rich sludge. There are special zones for families with young children and by night, the energy ramps up with K-pop concerts and dazzling drone light displays. Festival organizers say safety is a top priority, especially with the record-breaking heatwaves this summer. "The heatwave has been especially intense lately, so we've prepared safety measures to make sure visitors can stay comfortable while enjoying the festival." Officials say more than 2 million people from around the world are expected to join the festival this year. To help visitors from overseas enjoy the fun, interpretation services are offered in English, Chinese, and Japanese. The ultimate summer playground, Boryeong Mud Festival, runs until August 10th.

[K-Enter] Cha Eun-woo officially begins mandatory military service

2025/07/28 15:36

Time for K-enter with Walter Lee. Starting off with some news on heartthrob Cha Eun-woo . Member of K-pop group ASTRO and actor, Cha Eun-woo , begins his mandatory military service on Monday. According to Cha's agency Fantagio , Cha has enlisted as an active-duty soldier and will serve in the army's military band. On the eve of his enlistment, Cha greeted fans through a live broadcast on YouTube, where he revealed his freshly shaved head and shared his thoughts about joining the military. During the stream he said, "It's still hard to believe this day has come for me. This is the shortest my hair has been since I was about two or three years old." Lastly, he wished his fans the best and encouraged them to stay healthy. To which fans replied "heart emoji, heart emoji", "Love you Oppa", "So handsome" Speaking of handsome, let's move on to news on Lee Byung-hun . Actor Lee Byung-hun has been announced as the host of the opening ceremony for the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Lee will serve as the festival's first solo male host in its three-decade history. Lee has maintained a strong connection with the festival since he first participated in 2003. Now in his 35th year in the industry, Lee Byung-hun has solidified his status as one of Korea's most prominent actors on both the big and small screens. He recently starred in hits like Netflix's "Squid Game" series, did voice work on Netflix's popular movie "K-pop Demon Hunters", and he also did the Korean dubbing of Charles Dickens in the animated film "The King of Kings". The 30th Busan International Film Festival will run from September 17 to 26 at venues around the Busan Cinema Center. BIFF is always a big event in Korean cinema and I am sure we will have a lot to report on once it rolls around. Speaking of "The King of Kings" you have some news on that. K-animation "The King of Kings" is showing strong domestic box office momentum, surpassing 700,000 cumulative admissions just 12 days after its release. As of Sunday, the film has recorded over 730,000 viewers. This marks a faster pace than 2024's animation hit "Heartsping: Teenieping of Love", which reached the same milestone five days later on its way to 1.24 million total admissions. "The King of Kings" has also climbed to second place among "2025's top-grossing animated films", overtaking Disney Pixar's "Elio" and now trailing only anime "Attack on Titan : The Last Attack." Thanks for the news Walter, now we go to our AI anchor Ari for more culture news. Ari.

K-wave AI News

2025/07/28 15:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Culture Ministry is expanding its AI content support program, aiming to boost Korea's competitiveness in the industry. Support will now go beyond the production stage to encompass the entire content life cycle, from planning to distribution and promotion. In partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency, the ministry will launch the "K-Content AI Innovation Leadership Project," injecting 21 billion won, or over 15 million dollars, from the government's supplementary budget. The initiative aims to move past short-term production aid to foster new business models across the content industry, with a focus on global market expansion and broader industrial impact. Renowned Japanese installation artist Chiharu Shiota has returned to Korea with her first solo exhibition in three years. Known for her intricate, large-scale installations, Shiota has earned wide acclaim at major international venues including the Grand Palais in Paris and the ICA Watershed in Boston. Her Korea exhibition, "Return to Earth," now open at Seoul's Gana Art Center, expands on themes she has long explored, such as memory, identity, and the human condition, bringing them into a more universal dimension. At a press preview, Shiota reflected on how her cancer diagnosis prompted a deeper meditation in her work. The exhibition runs through September 7. As the peak summer holiday season begins, an estimated 800,000 people visited beaches along Gangwon-do Province's east coast over the final weekend of July. According to provincial authorities, more than 420,700 beachgoers were recorded at 83 beaches in the region on Sunday alone. Gangneung saw the highest number of visitors, followed by Goseong, Samcheok, Donghae, and Yangyang. The total number of beachgoers in the province this summer has now topped 1.7 million. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Hallyu People] K-pop dance classes for exchange students: emerging academic interest in K-pop dance

2025/07/28 15:34

When we spoke of K-pop dance, we usually understood it as dance moves performed to K-pop music. But K-pop dance is now being recognized as a genre of its own, so much that we are seeing academics study K-pop dance. For today's "Hallyu People" segment we are joined by someone who teaches K-pop dance, and someone who learns it. Dr. Oh Chuyun , Professor of Dance Theory at the School of Music & Dance at San Diego State University is here with us in the studio. Welcome Dr. Oh! And, we are joined by Alexandra Esteban Escudero, a student of Dr. Oh's class. Hello Alexandra! Q1) Dr. Oh, happy to have you in the studio in person. So, you are teaching K-pop this summer for exchange students? Please tell us about this class. Q2) I can imagine there is a high demand for K-pop dance classes these days. How many people have applied, how do you apply and what kind of students are in your class? Q3) Alexandra, you are one of Dr. Oh's students. You are from Spain I heard and you go to university in Hong Kong. What brought you to Korea? Q4) So, why are you taking the K-pop dance class? Q5) Alexandra, how big is K-pop in Spain right now? Q6) Which K-pop dance moves do the students want to learn? Do you see specific preferences? Q7) Dr. Oh, it's not just about teaching the choreography. You also teach theory and cultural aspects of K-pop. Why do you believe this educational approach is needed? Q8) Alexandra, as a student of the class, please tell us in detail how you earn your credits. Q9) How has the class been so far for you and what more would you like to learn in the K-pop dance field? Q10) Dr. Oh, what do you ultimately wish for your students to learn? Thank you very much for joining us on the program today Dr. Oh and for playing a big role in spreading K-pop dance to the world and educating it. Thank you Alexandra, for sharing your story with us today, it was a pleasure.

[NEWs GEN] Mystery Box Mania: Unpacking the rise of gacha culture

2025/07/28 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Mystery Box Mania: Unpacking the rise of gacha culture

Ahead of APEC 2025, Gyeongju Arts Center hosts Korean contemporary art exhibition

2025/07/28 11:38

With less than 100 days left till the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the host city,.. Gyeongju, is holding a set of cultural events that allow visitors to get to know the city through Korean modern and contemporary art. Our Ahn Sung-jin has this report. A collection of four of the greatest. Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Lee Jungseop, and Jang Ucchin are artists who represent Korean contemporary art, and works of all four can be seen together at Gyeongju Arts Center. In celebration of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Gyeongju this fall, the exhibition, a collaboration between MMCA and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, puts the spotlight on Korean art. "These four leading figures of modern and contemporary art reflect the hardships of their era, as well as Korea's tradition and nature and show it into their own unique artistic styles." Kim Whanki is known as the pioneer of Korean abstract art through his notable pieces, including "Mountains." His signature style of all-over dot paintings is often seen on canvases filled with blue dots. Park Sookeun also had his own style in portraying human goodness with layers of oil paint, as seen with his painting "Under the Tree." And just like Park, who illustrated the hardships of ordinary people in post-war Korea, Lee Jungseop expressed his hardships and emotions, such as deep longing for his family, using silver foil paintings like in "Family." And like all other artists, Jang Ucchin also focused on the everyday aspects of life that are reflected on his canvases through simple yet clear depictions, as seen in "Village." "I got to see all the artists in one spot, and as someone who is interested in art, I had to see the artworks up close. Pieces from Artist Kim Whanki are not so easily seen, and to see the change throughout his work was moving." Through this special exhibition with all four artists, visitors can see the essence of Korean beauty, and the Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture notes that more such events in accordance with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place to boost the city. "Holding such a large-scale exhibition means a lot. Not only will it contribute to the vitalization of regional culture and art, but by hosting these exhibitions outside of Seoul and the capital area allow local residents to explore these cultural events and boost their pride." This exhibition runs till October, so for those interested in exploring Korean contemporary and modern art, visit the historical city of Gyeongju. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Gyeongju.

STOCK&FX

2025/07/25 21:40

KIDS SWEAT OFF HEAT IN WATER SEOUL, S. KOREA JULY 25, 2025 40TH NATIONAL FLOWER ROSE OF SHARON EXHIBITION BUSAN, S. KOREA JULY 25, 2025 BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL BORYEONG, S. KOREA JULY 25, 2025

[Arts & Culture] Lost Joseon-era building returns home from Japan after nearly 100 years

2025/07/25 21:40

It's Friday, which means it's time for Arts and Culture. We have our culture correspondent Choi Soo-hyung in the studio. Welcome back, Soo-hyung! Thank you for having me here, Dami! So, what do you have for us today? About a year ago, a lost Joseon-era building was returned home from Japan after about 100 years. This is "Gwanwoldang," which is believed to have been used as a Joseon royal shrine, has been returned. Around 5-thousand pieces have been revealed for the first time. Let's take a look. Roof tiles, wooden pillars, and planks all carefully wrapped one by one. A lost Joseon-era building that had been hidden behind a Japanese Buddha statue for nearly 100 years has finally come home, piece by piece with nearly 5,000 wooden parts. This building, called Gwanwoldang, is now being kept in the Traditional Architecture Elements Conservation Center in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province. It is the first time that a full wooden Korean structure like this has been returned home. It used to be located at the very back of a famous Japanese temple called Kotoku-in in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is believed that in 1924, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the building was given to a Japanese businessman by the Joseon Industrial Bank, and from there, it was moved to Japan. Later, the building was donated to the temple and used as a prayer room until it was first revealed in the 1990s by a Korean professor Kim Jeong-dong. Though Korea tried several times to bring it back, those efforts failed, until last year. However, thanks to the support and strong will of Takao Sato, the chief priest of the temple, the return was made possible ensuring the shrine could be preserved in its original home, Korea. Experts say the building may be related to royal architecture, based on the unique and colorful roof tile designs, including dragons and butterflies. "This feature has a striking appearance. It is usually found in palace buildings, and at Gwanwoldang, 10 pillar patterns like this were installed. This shows that Gwanwoldang is linked to royal architecture." "There are five known remaining, Joseon royal shrines. We think this one was also royal, but likely outside in a small palace near Gyeongbokgung. It's probably a prince's shrine, smaller than those for royal concubines." Park also noted that, even though the building stayed in Japan for a long time, there are clear signs that any attempts at restoration followed traditional Joseon architectural styles. "The roof tiles taken from Joseon were only the original ones installed at Gwanwoldang. So, if those tiles were damaged, they would have had made new ones in Japan. But they copied the original Joseon's designs exactly, even though the dragon pattern is very complex to produce." Administrator of Korea Heritage Service, Huh Min, also expressed a strong commitment to continue bringing back cultural heritage items that were taken out of the country. "Currently, about 247,000 national heritage items have been taken abroad. Of these, only about 5 percent have been returned by repatriation or donation. We are determined to recover all items that were stolen or illegally taken." Once research are complete, the plan is to restore Gwanwoldang by preserving its key parts and recreating the damaged sections using traditional methods as much as possible. Right, Soo-hyung. Then, what is the current stage of the research progress on Gwanwoldang? Actually, there's not much information about whether "Gwanwoldang" is even its real name, what it was used for, where it was located, or when it was built. Even in the process of it being taken abroad, it is believed that the Joseon Industrial Bank gave it to a Japanese businessman, but also, we still don't know how the bank came to possess it in the first place. Experts said since the building was made of wood, tree rings and carbon dating can reveal when the timber was cut and the structure was built, providing important clues about its age and possibly even about who owned it. I'm sure a lot of research will be needed. So, what are the restoration plans for Gwanwoldang? Fortunately, the damage is not severe, so many key parts can likely be preserved. KHS plans to restore Gwanwoldang to its original location after the investigation. However, if that site is already occupied, they are considering restoring it elsewhere, as they did with Ajaedang, now in Paju. Originally located at Unhyeongung in Seoul, Ajaedang was moved because the original site had been redeveloped. Most of its original materials were reused, with damaged parts restored using traditional methods. Gwanwoldang will be restored in a similar way. And Soo‑hyung, besides Gwanwoldang, what other cultural heritage items are being preserved at the conservation center? Currently, besides those awaiting restoration, some items are preserved under strict temperature and humidity controls between 65 percent and 80 percent. Around 3,500 burnt pillars, panels, and debris from Sungnyemun Gate, which was destroyed in a 2008 fire, are being stored. Also, peeled dancheong traditional decorative coloring and broken pillars from various buildings from Gyeongbokgung Palace are stored awaiting restoration. Soo-hyung, thanks for sharing your report. My pleasure.

Ahead of APEC 2025, Gyeongju Arts Center hosts Korean contemporary art exhibition

2025/07/25 21:37

With less than 100 days left till the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the host city, Gyeongju, is holding a set of cultural events that allow visitors to get to know the city through Korean modern and contemporary art. Our Ahn Sung-jin has this report. A collection of four of the greatest. Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Lee Jungseop, and Jang Ucchin are artists who represent Korean contemporary art, and works of all four can be seen together at Gyeongju Arts Center. In celebration of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Gyeongju this fall, the exhibition, a collaboration between MMCA and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, puts the spotlight on Korean art. "These four leading figures of modern and contemporary art reflect the hardships of their era, as well as Korea's tradition and nature and show it into their own unique artistic styles." Kim Whanki is known as the pioneer of Korean abstract art through his notable pieces, including "Mountains." His signature style of all-over dot paintings is often seen on canvases filled with blue dots. Park Sookeun also had his own style in portraying human goodness with layers of oil paint, as seen with his painting "Under the Tree." And just like Park, who illustrated the hardships of ordinary people in post-war Korea, Lee Jungseop expressed his hardships and emotions, such as deep longing for his family, using silver foil paintings like in "Family." And like all other artists, Jang Ucchin also focused on the everyday aspects of life that are reflected on his canvases through simple yet clear depictions, as seen in "Village." "I got to see all the artists in one spot, and as someone who is interested in art, I had to see the artworks up close. Pieces from Artist Kim Whanki are not so easily seen, and to see the change throughout his work was moving." Through this special exhibition with all four artists, visitors can see the essence of Korean beauty, and the Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture notes that more such events in accordance with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place to boost the city. "Holding such a large-scale exhibition means a lot. Not only will it contribute to the vitalization of regional culture and art, but by hosting these exhibitions outside of Seoul and the capital area allow local residents to explore these cultural events and boost their pride." This exhibition runs till October, so for those interested in exploring Korean contemporary and modern art, visit the historical city of Gyeongju. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Gyeongju.

Ahead of APEC 2025, Gyeongju Arts Center hosts Korean contemporary art exhibition

2025/07/25 18:37

On the cultural front. The venue of this year's APEC leaders' meeting Gyeongju City is currently hosting a Korean contemporary art exhibition to commemorate the upcoming multilateral economic meeting. My colleague Ahn Sung-jin was there. A collection of four of the greatest. Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Lee Jungseop, and Jang Ucchin are artists who represent Korean contemporary art, and works of all four can be seen together at Gyeongju Arts Center. In celebration of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Gyeongju this fall, the exhibition, a collaboration between MMCA and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, puts the spotlight on Korean art. "These four leading figures of modern and contemporary art reflect the hardships of their era, as well as Korea's tradition and nature and show it into their own unique artistic styles." Kim Whanki is known as the pioneer of Korean abstract art through his notable pieces, including "Mountains." His signature style of all-over dot paintings is often seen on canvases filled with blue dots. Park Sookeun also had his own style in portraying human goodness with layers of oil paint, as seen with his painting "Under the Tree." And just like Park, who illustrated the hardships of ordinary people in post-war Korea, Lee Jungseop expressed his hardships and emotions, such as deep longing for his family, using silver foil paintings like in "Family." And like all other artists, Jang Ucchin also focused on the everyday aspects of life that are reflected on his canvases through simple yet clear depictions, as seen in "Village." "I got to see all the artists in one spot, and as someone who is interested in art, I had to see the artworks up close. Pieces from Artist Kim Whanki are not so easily seen, and to see the change throughout his work was moving." Through this special exhibition with all four artists, visitors can see the essence of Korean beauty, and the Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture notes that more such events in accordance with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place to boost the city. "Holding such a large-scale exhibition means a lot. Not only will it contribute to the vitalization of regional culture and art, but by hosting these exhibitions outside of Seoul and the capital area allow local residents to explore these cultural events and boost their pride." This exhibition runs till October, so for those interested in exploring Korean contemporary and modern art, visit the historical city of Gyeongju. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Gyeongju.

[Features reporter] Ahead of APEC 2025, Gyeongju Arts Center hosts Korean contemporary art exhibition

2025/07/25 15:37

So, Sung-jin, I heard you were in Gyeongju all this week. What were you up to? Well, we have less than 100 days left till the APEC Leaders' Meeting, and among other things, I was there to see an exhibition that showcased four masters of Korean modern and contemporary art in celebration of the upcoming event. Have a look at what it was like. A collection of four of the greatest. Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Lee Jungseop, and Jang Ucchin are artists who represent Korean contemporary art, and works of all four can be seen together at Gyeongju Arts Center. In celebration of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Gyeongju this fall, the exhibition, a collaboration between MMCA and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, puts the spotlight on Korean art. "These four leading figures in modern and contemporary art reflect the hardships of their era, as well as Korea's tradition and nature and transform it into their own unique artistic worlds." Kim Whanki is known as the pioneer of Korean abstract art through his notable pieces, including "Mountains." His signature style of all-over dot paintings is often seen on canvases filled with blue dots. Park Sookeun also had his own style in portraying human goodness with layers of oil paint, as seen with his painting "Under the Tree." And just like Park, who illustrated the hardships of ordinary people in post-war Korea, Lee Jungseop expressed his hardships and emotions, such as deep longing for his family, using silver foil paintings like in "Family." And like all other artists, Jang Ucchin also focused on the everyday aspects of life that are reflected on his canvases through simple yet clear depictions, as seen in "Village." "I got to see all artists in one spot, and as someone interested in art, I had to see the artworks up close. Pieces from Artist Kim Whanki are not so easily seen, and to see the change throughout his work was moving." Through this special exhibition with all four artists, visitors can see the essence of Korean beauty, and the Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture notes that more such events in accordance with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place to boost the city. "Holding such a large-scale exhibition means a lot. Not only will it contribute to the vitalization of regional culture and art, but by hosting these exhibitions outside of Seoul and the capital area allow local residents to explore these cultural events and boost their pride." This exhibition runs till October, so for those interested in exploring Korean contemporary and modern art, visit the historical city of Gyeongju.

[K-enter] Park Bo-gum becomes the new face of Korea tourism

2025/07/25 15:36

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Yesterday we talked about G-Dragon being appointed as an ambassador for APEC 2025 KOREA. Today we have a story on another star being appointed as an ambassador for something else? Actor Park Bo-gum has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for Korea Tourism for the year of 2025. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will officially appoint Park as the ambassador next Tuesday. The ministry often works with top-tier Hallyu stars to promote their annual campaigns, including BTS, Lee Jung-jae and NewJeans. Park, who was one of the stars of the recent Netflix hit "When Life Gives You Tangerines," will now lead efforts to promote Korea abroad over the next year. As an ambassador, he will appear in two videos, produced in the style of a short film and music video. He also recorded the tourism campaign's official theme song "On My Way." The campaign videos will be screened on landmark billboards in 16 major cities around the globe, including New York's Times Square, Tokyo, Beijing and Bangkok. Excited to see Park Bo-gum's face on billboards world-wide. On a different note, the third hearing for the NewJeans-Ador lawsuit took place on Thursday. Please give us the updates. The legal standoff between NewJeans and their agency Ador rumbles on, with both sides presenting conflicting arguments over the validity of the group's exclusive contract. On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court held the third hearing in Ador's lawsuit seeking to confirm the enforceability of its contract with NewJeans. NewJeans' attorneys claimed that Ador failed to meet fundamental management responsibilities, alleging that this breach justified the members' attempt to end their ties. Ador rejected the accusations, asserting that there is no reasonable grounds to terminate their contract. The case will now move into mediation, with a closed-door mediation session scheduled for August 14th. If an agreement is reached, the result will carry the same legal effect as a settlement in court. If the mediation fails, a tentative court ruling date is set for October 30th. Please keep us updated. And we will end off with a boy group dropping a new album. Stray Kids will soon release a new full-length album titled, "KARMA." Their agency, JYP Entertainment, announced that the group's fourth full-length album "KARMA" will be released on August 22nd. It comes two years after their last full-length album "5-STAR." The trailer video for the upcoming album leaps through time to the year 2081, where the eight members compete against each other in "2081 KARMA SPORTS" as former winners of the same event. Stray Kids are currently travelling around Europe for their world tour "dominATE." They will wrap up the tour which went to 34 cities with their final show in Rome next week. Looking forward to more amazing milestones from them. Thank you Bella for today's stories. And now let's take a look at what Ari has for us on the culture-front. Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/07/25 15:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. A K-pop Street is set to be established in Luanda, the capital of Angola. The Korean Embassy in Angola plans to sign an MOU with the city's Rangel district in October, outlining a framework for cooperation on the project. The embassy expressed confidence the street will serve as a year-round hub for showcasing Korean culture and a platform to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. The announcement follows the regional preliminaries of the 2025 K-pop World Festival held in Rangel, where 14 teams performed before an audience of over 600 fans. The top three teams will move on to the next round of global auditions, with a chance to compete in the finals set for this October in Korea's southern city of Changwon. A postcard signed by Korean marathon legend Sohn Kee-chung shortly after his 1936 Berlin Olympics victory has been unveiled to the public for the first time. It's part of the National Museum of Korea's special exhibition, "The Radiant Strides, Moving the World," being showcased to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan. Sohn won gold with a new Olympic record but was forced to compete under the Japanese flag, as Korea was under colonial rule. The museum says the postcard reflects Sohn's strong desire to assert his Korean identity. Also on display are his Olympic gold medal, laurel crown, and other memorabilia, including items highlighting his symbolic role as the final torchbearer at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The exhibition runs through December. The first solo exhibition in Korea dedicated to Chinese contemporary art master Wu Guanzhong opened today at the Seoul Arts Center. Running through October 19, the exhibition is part of the "Hong Kong Week 2025 @ Seoul" program, curated by the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Seventeen of Wu's representative works are on display under three themes– white, gray, and black. Wu was one of the most important Chinese painters of the 20th century, widely recognized for his lasting impact on the global art scene. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] Horror and female-centered K-movies in the spotlight this summer

2025/07/25 15:34

Korea's movie theater landscape appears to be undergoing some change this summer season. Instead of the classic male-dominated summer blockbusters, audiences are opting for horror films with young female leads. While female-centered horror movies have been around for a long time, they have recently had a resurgence with fresh material. For more, we invite Jae Soh, professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts into the studio. Welcome back! Q1. Professor Soh, before we get into our main topic, there has been some welcome news at the Korean box office regarding a couple of movies we've been anticipating for a long time, right? Q2. Now it's going to get a little scary with our main topic. Right, summer season calls for horror movies! This summer, female actresses in their 20s and 30s are notable as the main characters. Please tell us more Professor. Q3. While it's often assumed that commercial movies with female leads are a box office risk, do you think the releases this summer can be seen as an attempt to break that perception? Q4. Female-centered plots in horror movies are nothing new, but what can you infer from the recent attention these movies are gaining? Q5. Another interesting aspect we're seeing in recent horror productions are storylines based on real-life social issues, from noisy neighbors to social media. Why do you think audiences are drawn to these types of movies? Q6. At the same time, there seems to be an increasing diversity of styles within the horror genre lately. Are there any works you're keeping an eye on? Q7. There seems to be a preference for films that bring real-life horror and social anxiety to the forefront. In your opinion, how is this different from past scary movies, and will horror productions lean more toward these real-life based themes from hereon? Thank you Professor Soh for your insights. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you Bella, have a great weekend and see you next week.

Legendary pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dead at 71

2025/07/25 13:39

American pro-wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died on Thursday in Florida after suffering a "cardiac arrest." Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was the biggest professional wrestler of the 1980s and 90s, transforming the World Wrestling Federation, which later became the WWE into a global entertainment powerhouse. With his iconic "Hulkamania" persona, Hogan won the world champion title 12 times and popularized wrestling through crossovers into film, reality TV, and pop culture. Figures across wrestling, entertainment, and politics, including President Trump, paid tribute, while the WWE described him as "one of pop culture's most recognizable figures."