Expats raise funds for orphanage X-mas gifts

Expats in Gwangju are gearing up to give gifts to children in care, in an annual Christmas donation drive.The Adopt-a-Child for Christmas campaign has raised 9 million won ($8,000) so far for Christmas gifts, according to organizer Calen Cygan.Fund-raisers have been held throughout the year, including a Christmas in July event and a date auction that raised 1.5 million won. “We have had scavenger hunts and trivia nights and other fund-raisers, too. We’ve had many small events to raise that much

Expat LivingDec. 9, 2015

Intro to homey Korean dishes

For those who wish to enjoy popular dishes such as bulgogi and bibimbap in the comfort of their own homes, “Easy, Home-Style Recipes from the Korean Kitchen,” a new cookbook written in English, provides 20 recipes that can be easily replicated by even those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine.“This book is meant to serve as an introduction to Korean food and Korean culture to people who may have little knowledge of either,” the authors, Han Kyung-im and Jeon Mi-hyang, said in a statement.The book con

FoodDec. 9, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘The Tiger’ tries to do too much

“New World” screenwriter and director Park Hoon-jung brings his brooding, solemn style to “The Tiger,” which uses the rough terrain of Mount Jirisan and the weathered face of veteran actor Choi Min-sik to unfold the story of “Joseon’s last tiger.” The film is a technical triumph. Thanks to the reunion of the production staff from “New World,” the actors give strong performances, the music is stirring, the lensing is carefully controlled and, most importantly, the computer-generated tiger turned

FilmDec. 9, 2015

[Herald Interview] Korean iron man Park Byung-hoon on life after triathlon

This is the first installment in a three-part series featuring athletes who help people transform their lives. – Ed. Park Byung-hoon doesn’t have a special high-tech suit of armor to keep himself strong and invincible like the Tony Stark character in “Iron Man.” Park, who is considered a legendary Asian iron man triathlon athlete with some records that still stand, had relied only on his physical and mental strength -- backed by his family’s love -- to cycle, swim and run the Ironman’s high-inte

PeopleDec. 9, 2015

Spotlight on Kim Whanki

Artist Kim Whanki’s (1913-1974) oil painting of small patches of blue repeated endlessly along diagonal lines fetched the highest price ever for a work by a Korean artist when it went on the block in October.The 1971 painting “19-VII-71 #209” sold at the record price of $4 million at a Hong Kong auction. The pioneer of abstract art is one of the best-known Korean artists in the international art market. His large abstract paintings, featuring blue dots and lines, have taken a prominent place in

PerformanceDec. 9, 2015

[Herald Review] Lang Lang returns to Seoul for solo recital

Pianist Lang Lang (Lang Lang official site)In his first solo recital tour in Korea in five years, international piano superstar Lang Lang received cheers and applause fit for a classical icon Tuesday night.With a sizable international fan following unheard of for most classical musicians, the 33-year-old Chinese pianist is certainly no stranger to having the welcoming fanfare of a rock star. Some ticket-less spectators could be seen watching the virtuoso’s concert from a TV screen in the lobby o

PerformanceDec. 9, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘Himalayas’ is its own mountain climb

Lee Seok-hoon’s “The Himalayas” is one of the most anticipated films of the year, bringing together “Ode to My Father” director JK Youn as producer and star actor Hwang Jung-min (“Ode to My Father,” “Veteran”) to recreate the true story of mountaineer Uhm Hong-gil.So it may come as a surprise that, compared to other mountain-climbing films like Hollywood’s “Everest,” which came out earlier this year, “The Himalayas” is decidedly less dramatic. That may be because of director Lee’s hope that the

FilmDec. 9, 2015

Actor Namgung Won gets lifetime achievement award

Veteran actor Namgung Won was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the fifth Shin Young Kyun Arts & Culture Foundation Artist of the Year Awards ceremony held at the Seoul Press Center Tuesday.Namgung has been a key figure in the Korean movie industry, starring in over 300 films and winning dozens of honors, including a Blue Dragon Award. He played an instrumental role in spearheading the Korean film boom of the 1960s and 1970s and, following his retirement from acting in 2002, has bee

PeopleDec. 8, 2015

National Library holds exhibition of award-winning content

The National Library of Korea is hosting an exhibition of award-winning content, including webtoons, photography and videos, at its digital library until Dec. 23, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Culture and Information Service. The National Library of Korea holds the “Hello, Korea” exhibition featuring award-winning content through Dec. 23 in Seoul. (KOCIS)KOCIS held two competitions ― “Talk Talk Korea” and “Peace Flag Campaign” ― last May to mark the 70th Libe

CultureDec. 8, 2015

Controversy rekindled over late Chun Kyung-ja’s painting

Controversy over the authenticity of the late artist Chun Kyung-ja’s “Beautiful Woman” has been reignited with family members of the late artist issuing an ultimatum to the state-run National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is in possession of the painting.  Artist Chun Kyung-ja (Yonhap)This time, Sumita Kim, the third of Chun’s four children, and Chun’s son-in-law Muhn B.G. said they would take legal actions if the museum does not formally apologize and correct its past wrongdoings

CultureDec. 8, 2015

Herald Phil honored at 2015 Korea Opera Awards

Winners of this year‘s 8th Korea Opera Awards, including the orchestra prize-winning Herald Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Herald Corp., pose at an awards ceremony held at the Press Center in central Seoul on Monday. (Korea Opera Awards)The Herald Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Herald Corp., was honored with an arts award for orchestras at this year’s 8th Korea Opera Awards, held at the Press Center in central Seoul on Monday.Still in its infancy having debuted last October, the Herald P

PerformanceDec. 8, 2015

Lucid Fall to sell album, tangerines on home shopping network

Singer-songwriter Lucid Fall (Antenna Music)As part of an unusual “A Night With Tangerines” music package deal, singer-songwriter Lucid Fall will be prereleasing 1,000 copies of his upcoming seventh studio album on a TV home shopping program, along with tangerines from his orchard on Jejudo Island.According to the singer’s management agency Antenna Music, Lucid Fall’s upcoming 15-track “For Somebody” album will go on sale at 2 a.m. on Friday on the CJ O Shopping TV home shopping network. The pre

PerformanceDec. 8, 2015

‘La Traviata’ brings Korea National Opera’s 2015 season to a close

A scene from the Korea National Opera‘s new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s ”La Traviata“ (Korea National Opera)Following its staging of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” the Korea National Opera is unveiling its latest production of one of Giuseppe Verdi’s best-known operatic tales -- “La Traviata.”The upcoming production will be staged from Dec. 9-12 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater, marking the KNO’s final performance of the year.The three-act Italian opera masterpiece is the quintessent

PerformanceDec. 8, 2015

Seoul Design Week to go abroad in 2016

Seoul Design Week, South Korea’s largest public design festival, will seek to scale up the event regionally with its counterpart in Beijing.  　The plan was unveiled with the closure of the 2015 SDW, organized by the Seoul Design Foundation, on Sunday. Visitors look at design-savvy items displayed at Seoul Design Market on Sunday, which was held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza as part of the 2015 Seoul Design Week. (Seoul Design Foundation)　Seoul Design Week is planning to set up a “Seoul Pavilion

Arts & DesignDec. 7, 2015

Exhibition reflects the ‘messiness’ of thinking

The day before the opening of South African artist William Kentridge’s solo exhibition “Peripheral Thinking” at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, everything was in disarray. Kentridge’s silhouette cutouts, used in his animation works, hung on spots of the wall that would not conventionally be considered exhibition space. There was a cacophony of sounds, some musical and some not, quietly but consistently playing in a ringing jumble throughout the halls. Ligh

PerformanceDec. 7, 2015