
Korea heritage institutions to offer special palace programs for marginalized groups this fall
The Korea Heritage Service's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Agency, will invite socially underserved groups to experience special programs at Korea's royal palaces in the latter half of this year, offering them an opportunity to explore the nation's royal heritage.
The special event will offer some 980 individuals the opportunity to participate in a nighttime palace tour and a program featuring traditional herbal tea at Gyeongbokgung, one of Seoul's five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces, in central Seoul.
Applications for the event will open from Tuesday until July 30 through the KHA's website. The final list of selected participants will be announced on Aug. 14 and notified individually.
The program is open to people with disabilities, people from multicultural families or low-income households, residents of rural or fishing communities and veterans — individuals who may have limited access to cultural experiences, according to the two institutions.
The tea program, titled "Taste of Suragan," is an immersive cultural event that offers participants a hands-on experience of royal court cuisine, centered around the theme 'see, eat, enjoy and be moved by the royal court culture." A total of 700 individuals will be invited to participate in the program, which will run from Sept. 10 to 14.
Gyeongbokgung's Starlight Night Tour is a special cultural event held at the royal palace, where visitors can enjoy a traditional Korean meal at Sojubang, the royal kitchen, and a traditional Korean music performance, accompanied by expert commentary. It will invite some 250 people and run through Oct. 13 to Nov. 3.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Korean expertise vital for Egypt's sustainable aviation: minister
Egypt is eyeing closer cooperation with South Korea for the country's transition to a sustainable and smart aviation system, said Sameh El-Hefny, Egypt's minister of civil aviation, in an interview with The Korea Herald. El-Hefny visited Incheon to attend the International Conference on Aviation Cooperation (CIAT 2025), Korea's leading triennial aviation conference for global cooperation and the future of air transport. 'South Korea possesses advanced expertise in smart technologies and transport systems," said El-Hefny, expressing his willingness to work with Korean companies to modernize Egypt's aviation system. Referring to Egypt's progress toward green infrastructure, he cited Borg El Arab International Airport, located 40 kilometers southwest of Alexandria, Egypt, as a 'pioneering model' for environmentally friendly development in the region. Borg El Arab serves as the main international gateway for Alexandria, Egypt's northern coast and the Nile Delta, with capacity to handle 3.5-4 million passengers and 10,000 tons of cargo annually. El-Hefny highlighted the airport's focus on reducing carbon emissions and generating solar energy, calling it a key step toward sustainable infrastructure, featuring advanced technology and reinforcing Egypt's role as a global aviation hub. According to El-Hefny, partnering with South Korea will enhance tourism, boost regional connectivity and advance Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development. El-Hefny was in South Korea to attend CIAT 2025 last week, hosted by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. On the sidelines of the event, he held bilateral talks with his Korean counterpart, Transport Minister Park Sang-woo. He described the visit as 'a manifestation of civil aviation diplomacy,' highlighting Egypt's push for digital transformation and sustainability while strengthening aviation ties with South Korea.


Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
SevenToEight embraces both fresh, intense charms
Taiwan-based boy band debuts as K-pop idol Taiwan-based boy group SevenToEight made an ambitious K-pop debut Monday with two contrasting singles. 'Making a debut in Korea has always been my dream. I still can't believe it, even though I am standing on the stage right now,' said D'om during a debut press showcase held at Showking K-pop Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Monday. 'Our team name combines 7, which symbolizes luck, and 8, which represents infinity, reflecting our determination to create endless possibilities together with our fans,' explained Kyojun. SevenToEight consists of six members — Chiwon, D'om, M, Jagger, Kyojun and Exxi — selected through 'Scool: Idol Dream Space,' a 2024 audition program co-produced by Taiwanese label Ten Entertainment and South Korean broadcaster SBS. The sextet already held a fan meeting in Taiwan in April, proving its strong fan base even before its official debut. The debut physical single 'SevenToEight' contains two main tracks. 'PDSR (Please Don't Stop the Rain)' features a fresh, summery vibe with guitar and tender vocals. 'This song captures the sweet wish for the summer rain to never stop, for the girl who loves rainy days,' explained leader Chiwon. The other main track, 'Drip & Drop,' is a deep-house bass track full of the masculine charm of the six members. 'This track conveys the moment of falling for someone with a fast-paced rhythm, delivering a bold and charismatic vibe often called 'iron taste,'' said M. Korean member Jinwoo, who was part of the debut lineup, left the group before the official debut. M shared, 'I truly hope we'll meet again on a bigger stage," adding they still support each other's dreams. With Jinwoo's departure, the group is now composed entirely of non-Korean members, but SevenToEight still plans to actively promote in Korea. All members spoke in Korean as much as possible during the debut press showcase, with the help of an interpreter. Still, their Korean pronunciation was flawless during the performance. "It's not easy to perform and sing in Korean while promoting here, so I've been studying the language very hard," said Chiwon. "We'll be promoting in both Korea and Taiwan. We plan to continue appearing on Korean music shows and will also begin activities in Taiwan," Exxi added. The members named iconic K-pop artists such as G-Dragon and BTS's Jimin and V as their role models, expressing their ambition to grow. 'Our goal is to expand globally and perform on even bigger stages. We want to share our energy with as many people as possible,' said Chiwon.


Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Korea Herald
'All you need is a phone and your voice': Adoo's TikTok rise is just the beginning
Once overlooked by the industry, Korean singer Adoo is capturing global attention on TikTok — and chasing her dream of making it onto Billboard Adoo, whose real name is Choi Sory, always dreamed of becoming a singer. But her path to success has been anything but easy. Now in her late 30s, Adoo is finally gaining recognition — not through music programs or major entertainment companies, but through TikTok. "Ever since I was a child, I loved singing," she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on July 21. "But I wasn't the most confident person." From idol setbacks to viral resurgence Her first experience in the music industry came by chance. She was asked to help as a guide vocalist for a hip-hop track, and the song ended up being recorded and released with her voice. This was back in 2014, when she featured on "The Sun Never Rises" by the group Holla Dang. A year later, she debuted as a member of a girl group called Baby Boo. The group made appearances on TV music shows, but faced hardships and disbanded after just six months. "I didn't get paid and the experience left me disappointed," she recalled. Still, Adoo couldn't give up on singing. She shifted to trot music under the stage name Sarangi and performed at local events. But the COVID-19 pandemic shut down live stages, leaving her feeling stuck. "I realized there was no way for me to actively do anything." That's when she turned to TikTok. Building a career one livestream at a time Adoo uploaded her first video in 2019. Unlike Instagram or Facebook, TikTok felt free and anonymous. "I failed several times, so I was very conscious of how people around me saw me. But TikTok gave me a chance to show my true self without worrying about others' opinions." Her first viral moment came in 2022 with a dance challenge video shot in Haeundae in Busan. Her followers grew quickly, and she began to understand how the platform works. "The more I posted, the more confident I felt. I met people who supported me for who I am. It gave me hope," she said. TikTok also taught her life skills. Without any previous work experience, Adoo said she learned about human relationships through her followers. "I gained courage from people who cheered for me without expecting anything in return," she added. This motivation led her to participate in TikTok's music contest "Gimme The Mic" in 2024, where global users compete by performing songs on live broadcasts. Her strong performance in local music events such as TikTok's 'DIA Karaoke' earned her a spot in the main global competition. Despite little support and no company backing, she pushed through rounds of voting and gifting, eventually finishing third out of 150,000 contestants. "I was the only Korean finalist," she said. "I never thought I could make it to the Top 3. But when one contestant dropped out, I decided to invest in myself for the first time." With her rising fame, she released a song titled "Kiss Like This" as part of her winning prize. Though the production schedule was tight, the music video gained over 1.2 million views. She also released other tracks such as "Gravity" and "Hello, Goodbye," each one holding deep personal meaning. Reclaiming identity, rewriting destiny Adoo is now more active than ever. She broadcasts five to six hours daily, often turning on the camera while doing makeup, picking outfits or simply chatting with fans. Her audience spans across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with fans from Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines supporting her. Through TikTok, she transformed herself from a passive dreamer into an active creator. "Before TikTok, I thought I needed a company or a fanbase to succeed. Now, I know passion and effort are enough." Looking ahead, Adoo wants to chart on Billboard. "That's been my dream since I was young," she said. She is currently working on two songs, one titled "I Do." She hopes her story will inspire others. "There are so many people who want to become singers but don't know where to start. I want to be proof that you can make it, even without a company or connections," the singer said. Adoo believes TikTok can be a powerful tool for any creator. "You don't need fancy equipment — just a phone and your voice." "People didn't believe me when I said I wanted to reach Billboard," she said with a smile. "But now, they do."