Seoul Int'l Writers Festival next month to ask 'Who Are We?': Official poster for 2026 Seoul International Writers' Festival (Literature Translation Institute of Korea) By Kim Seon Ah Writers from around the world next month will gather in Seoul to explore the meaning of humanity and community in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) through literature. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on Aug. 10 announced its hosting of this year's Seoul International Writers' Fest; 2026.08.14

Cultural, artistic events to mark 81st Liberation Day in Seoul: The Seoul Metropolitan Government this month on Saturdays is holding an evening ceremony to ring the Bosingak Belfry in the capital's Jongno-gu District to mark the 81st anniversary of national liberation. Shown is a scene from the event on Aug. 1. (Seoul Metropolitan Government) By Uyen Nguyen Events throughout Seoul this month are celebrating the 81st Liberation Day (Aug. 15), when the country in 1945 gained independence from Japanese colonial rule. Both domestic and international visitors; 2026.08.14

[Global K-life] ⑤ Hallyu steering fans toward Korean literature: Korean culture has transcended being just a passing fad and evolved into part of daily life worldwide. In this five-part series, Korea.net examines the factors behind the global popularity of Korean content in music, cinema, food, beauty and literature and explores how Hallyu (Korean Wave) can have a sustainable future and its strategies for steady growth as well as analyzing the phenomenon. The publisher Moonji Publishing Co. on June 24 runs a booth at the Seoul International Book Fair a; 2026.08.14

Foreign card spending in Korea jumps almost 10-fold in 3 1/2 years: Spending in Korea using foreign cards has skyrocketed nearly 10-fold over the past three and a half years. Shown is a crowded alley at the shopping neighborhood Myeong-dong in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Korea.net DB) By Charles Audouin Spending using cards issued abroad has skyrocketed nearly 10-fold over the past three and a half years. Korea Credit Data on Aug. 7 said this in an August report on sales paid by overseas cards. Such spending nationwide as of June at establishments linked to KC; 2026.08.14

Interactive trade expo to showcase beauty, trends of Hanbok: This is the official poster for this year's Hanbok Expo to run from Aug. 13-16 at Art Hall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) By Aisylu Akhmetzianova The country's largest trade show for Hanbok (traditional clothing) returns on Aug. 13. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft and Design Foundation on Aug. 11 announced their joint hosting of this year's Hanbok Expo from Aug. 13-16 at Art Hall of Dongdaemun D; 2026.08.12

[Global K-life] ④ Why the world is en-glamored with Korean beauty: Korean culture has transcended being just a passing fad and evolved into part of daily life worldwide. In this five-part series, Korea.net examines the factors behind the global popularity of Korean content in music, cinema, food, beauty and literature and explores how Hallyu (Korean Wave) can have a sustainable future and strategies for steady growth as well as analyzing the phenomenon. By Uyen Nguyen "This is the darkest shade of a Korean foundation." This was the verdict in May 2024 fr; 2026.08.12

Busan to host world's largest global ocean conference in 2028: The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Aug. 3 launched an inter-ministerial preparatory task force to ensure a successful hosting of the fourth United Nations Ocean Conference in Busan. (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) By Kang Gahui Busan in June 2028 will host the United Nations (U.N.) Ocean Conference, the largest global congress in the maritime sector, around the convention center BEXCO in the city's Haeundae-gu District. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Aug. 10 announced that it; 2026.08.12

ODA project develops rural areas, improves healthcare in Cambodia: Korean and Cambodian officials on Aug. 6 pose for a group photo at the completion ceremony for the obstetrics ward of Preah Net Preah Rural Hospital in the Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey. (Korea International Cooperation Agency) By Lee Dasom The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) have helped expand village-level facilities and set up medical infrastructure in Cambodia through an official development assistance (O; 2026.08.12

New lab to make Caribbean state self-sufficient in seed potatoes: The completion ceremony of a laboratory to produce seed potato tissue culture free from disease is held on Aug. 6 in the town of Constanza in the Dominican Republic. (Rural Development Administration) By Jeong Euiseok The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has built a laboratory in the Dominican Republic to produce seed potato tissue culture free from disease to help the island country get self-sufficient in producing the vegetable. The RDA on Aug. 6 said it held a completion ceremony for; 2026.08.12

June sees fourth straight month of tourism surplus, KRW 2T surge: Two tourists clad in Hanbok (traditional clothing) on April 20 walk inside Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Korea.net DB) By Lee Jihae June saw a surplus in the tourism balance for the fourth consecutive month, its largest figure since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Korea Tourism Organization's Korea Tourism Data Lab on Aug. 9 said the black figure reached USD 596.6 million (KRW 841.8 billion) in June, a massive turnaround of USD 1.44 billion (KRW 2.03 trillion) from a; 2026.08.11

KOREAN NET

Information Center