When fake feels real: 'Rohtko' brings one of art's big questions to Seoul

The Korea Times - Nov 11, 2026

A painting does not change when it is exposed as a fake. Its price and the way people see it do. That gap between an object and the value attached to it drives “Rohtko,” Polish director Lukasz Twarkowski’s multimedia theater production, which makes its Korean premiere Friday at LG Arts Center Seoul. Inspired by a multimillion-dollar forgery scandal, the production arrives here four years after its world premiere, with its questions about originals and copies taking on fresh urgency amid the increase of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Twarkowski explored multiple perspectives on authenticity, inviting audiences to draw their own conclusions. “I truly believe that we have this possibility in theater to communicate contradictions,” he said, describing art as a way to explore complexity without declaring one single interpretation to be true. Produced by Latvia’s Dailes Theatre, “Rohtko” premiered in March 2022. It won five Latvian theater awards that year, including production and directing honors, followed by Italy’s Ubu Award for

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Saving tomorrow's memory: Korea names 6 modern artifacts to national preservation watchlist

Nov 11, 2026

Saving tomorrow's memory: Korea names 6 modern artifacts to national preservation watchlist

Under the traditional framework of cultural preservation, an artifact typically had to weather decades — if not centuries — of history before earning state protection. But as modern history moves at a relentless pace, Korea is taking a proactive stance to ensure that the physical relics of its turbulent 20th-century journey toward democracy, industrialization and global recognition are not lost to time. The Korea Heritage Service designated six key modern historical artifacts as preliminary cultural heritage on Wednesday. Introduced as part of a national framework to safeguard items under 50 years old that possess high preservation value, the designation system aims to protect recent heritage from destruction or neglect long before it reaches formal registered status. The newly recognized items capture pivotal moments across politics, sports, fine arts and popular culture from the late 1970s through the 2000s. Among the most notable selections are original manuscripts documenting the nation's fight for democracy against the autocratic regime of President Park Chung-hee, whose 18-yea

From pork to tangerines: 3 foods to try on Jeju autumn trip

Nov 11, 2026

From pork to tangerines: 3 foods to try on Jeju autumn trip

Travelers heading to Jeju Island for a last look at this year’s autumn scenery can round out their trip with the island’s local specialties. Here are three food items that represent Jeju. Black pork Pork is Jeju’s signature meat, central to the island's food culture and long served at family occasions such as weddings and funerals. Today, the island’s black pigs are known to yield meat with more intramuscular fat and red meat than common breeds, giving it a rich, savory flavor. Locally, it is often sold in thick cuts by “geun,” a traditional Korean unit equal to 600 grams. The meat is typically grilled over coal briquettes or charcoal and dipped in anchovy sauce, called “meljeot” in the local dialect. Other popular pork dishes include “dombae gogi,” boiled sliced pork served on a wooden cutting board, and “gogi guksu,” noodles in pork-bone broth. Omegi-tteok "Omegi-tteok," a millet and mugwort rice cake, is a traditional Jeju treat made from sticky foxtail millet. Paddies are rare on the volcanic island, so rice was scarce and residents brewed alcohol from millet in

Fall foliage peaks on Jeju, silver grass rounds out scenery

Nov 11, 2026

Fall foliage peaks on Jeju, silver grass rounds out scenery

Although autumn foliage has largely passed its peak across Korea this year, those who missed the season still have one last chance on Jeju, the country’s southernmost region, where the colors have yet to reach their height. According to a 2026 autumn foliage forecast released by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum, ginkgo trees and oak species at Halla Arboretum on Jeju are expected to peak — defined as when 50 percent or more of their leaves have changed color — on Nov. 16 and maples on Nov. 19. Around the same time, silver grass blankets Jeju’s "oreum," or small volcanic cones, and its coastlines. Here are some of the best places on Jeju Island to catch the year’s last autumn scenery. Halla Arboretum Opened in 1993 in Jeju City, this public arboretum displays about 100,000 plants representing 1,321 species, including native Jeju and subtropical plants. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment designated it in 2000 as a conservation center for endangered wild plants outside their natural habitats. Its forest bathing area offers a refreshing a

MMCA exhibition to highlight iconic American modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe

Nov 11, 2026

MMCA exhibition to highlight iconic American modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe

Celebrated as the "Mother of American Modernism," Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) is known for her pioneering works featuring motifs of flowers, animal bones and desert landscapes. She was a leading figure in a new artistic wave in the first half of the 20th century that turned to American cities and landscapes when Paris was largely considered the center of the art world. "Georgia O'Keeffe and American Modernism," an upcoming exhibition by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), brings together O'Keeffe's own paintings, as well as works by other key figures in American modernism. The exhibition, set to begin Thursday at the Gwacheon branch of the MMCA, features nearly 120 artworks, including 16 paintings by O'Keeffe, according to the museum. It also highlights the works of other artists, including Alfred Stieglitz, O'Keeffe's husband and an accomplished photographer; Arthur Dove; Marsden Hartley; and Charles Demuth. The exhibition comprises three sections, beginning with the Alfred Stieglitz Collection, which O'Keeffe donated to the Art Institute of Chicago after his deat

Seoul rolls out 6 night coupon packs to keep tourists exploring after dark

Nov 11, 2026

Seoul rolls out 6 night coupon packs to keep tourists exploring after dark

Seoul is looking to turn its nights into a bigger draw for international visitors, introducing six themed discount packages designed to encourage tourists to stay out longer and spend more across the city. The Seoul Tourism Organization announced Wednesday that it is expanding nighttime attractions available through its Discover Seoul Pass and launching six Night Coupon Packs covering dining, shopping, wellness, sightseeing and cultural experiences. The initiative follows growing demand for after-dark activities among foreign visitors. According to the organization's analysis of pass usage, nighttime visits between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. accounted for 14 percent of partner-facility visits in 2024 and 15.2 percent in both 2025 and 2026, as of Nov. 1. The pass recorded 98,880 nighttime visits over the past three years, with observation decks and Han River cruises drawing particular interest, alongside spas, saunas and water-based leisure facilities. The six packages are designed to make those experiences easier to discover. They include the Seoul Night Taste Pack for Korean food and dining, Nig

Seoul to bring 150 singles together in latest bid to encourage marriage

Nov 11, 2026

Seoul to bring 150 singles together in latest bid to encourage marriage

Seoul is giving singles more chances to find a match this year, expanding its final city-run matchmaking event of 2026 to 150 participants for the first time. The event will take place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) on Dec. 12, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. The matchmaking initiative is part of a broader policy push to reverse the country's demographic decline by encouraging people to form relationships, marry and have children. In Korea, where childbirth remains closely tied to marriage, fewer and later marriages have contributed to the decline in births. Seoul has incorporated matchmaking events into its broader Birth Encouragement Seoul Project, which also includes housing, child care and financial support for families. The city expanded the number of matchmaking events from one to four in 2025 as part of that effort. The program, called “Seoul-ting,” combines Seoul with “ting,” Korean slang for a group blind date. The program has drawn some 17,700 applicants and produced 179 matched couples since it began in November 2024. The city will select 75 men and

Andrew Lloyd Webber to make 1st visit to Korea

Nov 11, 2026

Andrew Lloyd Webber to make 1st visit to Korea

British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the legend behind the musicals "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats," will make his first official visit to Korea this month, officials said Wednesday. Lloyd Webber will meet the cast and producers of an upcoming performance of "The Phantom of the Opera" here and hold a press conference on Nov. 19, according to performing arts company S&Co. His visit comes on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of "The Phantom of the Opera," which debuted on London's West End in 1986. The musical has since attracted some 160 million viewers from 54 countries around the world. In South Korea, 1.5 million have watched it since it premiered in 2001. Lloyd Webber is known for composing hit musicals, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Evita" and "School of Rock." He has won numerous accolades, including an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. In 2024, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in the first such order given to a British arts and culture figure.

KTO picks 6 promising tourism startups at investor demo day

Nov 11, 2026

KTO picks 6 promising tourism startups at investor demo day

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has recognized six emerging tourism startups for their business potential at an event aimed at connecting innovative companies with investors, the state-run agency said Wednesday. The 2026 Tourism Venture Final Demo Day, held Tuesday in central Seoul, brought together about 100 participants, including startup founders, investors and aspiring entrepreneurs. Fourteen companies presented their business models and growth strategies to potential investors, including managers of tourism-focused funds and funds backed by pension funds. The six selected companies were chosen through a mock investment evaluation. Their businesses span travel technology, retail and marine tourism. RavenL, for instance, developed a tool that analyzes tourist spending patterns using travel videos filmed by foreign visitors, alongside a system that helps retailers turn customer behavior data into sales. Another winner, About Fishing, operates a marine leisure platform combining fishing information, boat reservations and equipment purchases. A third company offers an integrated v

Fire breaks out again at shantytown in southern Seoul; no injuries reported

Nov 11, 2026

Fire breaks out again at shantytown in southern Seoul; no injuries reported

A fire broke out early Wednesday at a shantytown in Seoul's southern ward of Gangnam, but firefighters fully extinguished the blaze, officials said, with no injuries reported. The fire began at a home in Guryong Village at 4:28 a.m. before fire authorities put it out at 6:27 a.m. after mobilizing 105 personnel and 32 vehicles. Authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire. The latest fire at the village came about two weeks following the Oct. 27 fire that forced 39 people to flee and left one person with a minor injury. Many of the makeshift homes illegally built in the town are prone to fires as they are built with highly flammable materials.

Korea adds 139,000 jobs in October, above 100,000 for 4th month

Nov 11, 2026

Korea adds 139,000 jobs in October, above 100,000 for 4th month

Korea added 139,000 jobs in October from a year earlier, government data showed Wednesday, with job growth exceeding the 100,000 mark for the fourth consecutive month. The number of employed people came to 29.17 million in October, compared with 29.04 million a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Job growth turned positive in June after declining by 40,000 in May, the first drop in 17 months. The country's jobless rate came to 2 percent last month, down 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The number of unemployed people totaled 602,000 in October, down 56,000 from the same month in 2025. The employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 came to 70.4 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier. The figure for those aged 15 to 29, on the other hand, fell 1.7 percentage points to 42.9 percent.

Justice minister nominee reiterates special counsel role over indictments against Lee

Nov 11, 2026

Justice minister nominee reiterates special counsel role over indictments against Lee

Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol on Wednesday reiterated that a special counsel probe into allegedly fabricated indictments against President Lee Jae Myung should focus on uncovering the truth, declining to offer a clear stance on whether he would seek to drop the indictments. His remarks come after the National Assembly passed the special counsel bill last week, which the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has criticized as being aimed at ultimately canceling all indictments against the president. "As I said earlier, now is the time to focus on uncovering the truth, while there is no change to my stance that the rest should follow the law and principles," the nominee told reporters outside his office. He earlier emphasized the role of the special counsel probe Monday following his nomination Friday. When asked about whether he would order an investigation based on the special counsel probe results, the nominee declined to comment, noting that the special counsel has yet to even launch. "I will watch the special counsel's fact-finding activities without any presumptions or pr

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