Artist explores LGBT, social issues in Korea

An art exhibition in will open Itaewon on Friday exploring LGBT life and other social issues in modern Korea. The show, by Heezy Yang, will include watercolors that echo traditional Korean style but depict homosexual couples, satirizing the claims of conservatives here, who have opposed gay events and gay rights in Korea, calling homosexuality a Western idea.“There are still a lot of people in Korea who think that there are no gays in Korea or who don’t have a good idea of what gay means. But th

Expat LivingNov. 4, 2015

Screening to mark Haiyan anniversary

A documentary screening about the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan on Sunday will mark the anniversary of the storm, which hit the Philippines on Nov. 7, 2013.The documentary, by Korea-based Filipino filmmaker Nash Ang, follows children and their families as they cope with the aftermath of the disaster during the Christmas period.The film looks at three families, one of which lost 22 members, while only three survived ― two children and a grandparent.“The survivors literally climbed coconut trees, th

Expat LivingNov. 4, 2015

SIWA gears up for annual charity bazaar

The Seoul International Women’s Association will host its annual SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar on Monday. More than 40 embassies and several clubs, local businesses, sponsors, welfare organizations and SIWA volunteers take part in the bazaar, which has become one of the largest international fund-raising events in Seoul.The bazaar will include dozens of stalls selling craft and traditional goods, as well as food from around the world. People look around last year’s SIWA and Diplomatic Com

Expat LivingNov. 4, 2015

Brown Eyed Girls goes back to the basics

“Basic” is girl group Brown Eyed Girls’ sixth studio-length album, and their first in nearly two and a half years. Bringing all the members together at Mystic Entertainment’s label Apop and coming right on time for the group’s 10th anniversary, the album was carefully crafted in order to express what the members felt were at their “basic core.”“The album started with the question, ‘What is BEG’s basic?’” said rapper Miryo at a press showcase held at the Hyundai Card Understage in Seoul on Wednes

PerformanceNov. 4, 2015

Korean classic films streaming for free in November

The Korean Movie Database is providing free streaming of 421 classic Korean films on its mobile website for the month of November.Users who log into the site through a smartphone or tablet PC will be able to view free classic Korean films. The streaming service will be available through paid subscriptions starting in December. Still from "Insect Woman" (KMDb)Some classic films that will be streaming for free include Im Kwon-taek’s 2000 film “Chunhyang,” Kim Ki-young’s 1972 film “Insect Woman,” a

FilmNov. 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] Lee Chun-hee: Mutant movie shows hardships of being ordinary

“Collective Invention” is a movie about a fish man -- or more accurately, a man who turns half-fish after an experimental drug wreaks havoc on his body. Inspired by the eponymous painting by Belgian painter Rene Magritte and directed by Kwon Oh-kwang, who became the first Korean screenwriter to win the short film Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 with “Safe,” the film is just as bizarre as it sounds.“When I was first handed the script, they told me, ‘It’s a story about a fish man.’

FilmNov. 4, 2015

Pianist Lim Dong-hyek wants Chopin to evoke tears

It has been seven years since local piano phenom Lim Dong-hyek has released an album. Dubbed one of today’s most acclaimed Chopin interpreters, the 31-year-old pianist has eagerly returned to his Chopin roots in unveiling his new album, which was released Monday, dedicated to the 19th-century virtuoso’s later, more somber works.“With this music, I hope that people will listen and actually be saddened,” said Lim during a press conference at the Stradeum concert hall in Seoul on Tuesday. “If your

PerformanceNov. 4, 2015

Get ready for total immersive K-pop

JUNGMUN, Jejudo Island -- In complete silence and inside a dark theater, light beams down from above and merges to form the image of K-pop singer G-Dragon. G-Dragon’s “Awake” hologram concert at Play K-Pop (Park Hyong-ki/The Korea Herald)Then a concert begins, with the holographic G-Dragon singing, rapping and dancing his way through hits such as “Fantastic Baby.” With large-screen displays on the side of the theater showing dynamic visual images of his dancers dancing to the rhythm, spectators

CultureNov. 4, 2015

European-language translations of Korean novels win big at awards

This year’s Korean Literature Translation Awards went to French, Spanish, Italian and Vietnamese translations of Korean novels, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced Wednesday.“This year, the European-language translations excelled in quality, were released through prominent local publishers, and received praise from the local media,” said poet and head of the awards panel Moon Jung-hee in a statement on the reasons behind the selection. Three out of the four recipients were Eu

BooksNov. 4, 2015

Webtoons eye overseas markets

Once considered “hazardous” to the young, comics in Korea are having their moment in the sun with webtoons, or web comics, hailed as holding the potential to become the country’s next driver of hallyu, or the Korean Wave. “In the ’80s, comics were considered bad and were burnt. But now, they are being displayed at special exhibitions and events, representing Korea’s culture in the world,” Lee Chung-ho, president of the Korea Cartoonists Association, said at the 15th Cartoons Day event in Seoul o

CultureNov. 4, 2015

‘Superstar K7’ Top 5 lacking star power

The seventh season of Korea’s largest audition program “Superstar K” prepares to draw to a close, and the five remaining individual and team contestants are proving to be an interesting bunch. For starters, for a show whose namesake purpose is to discover a “superstar,” none of them could say for certain what gives them star appeal. The finalists of "Superstar K7" (Mnet)Speaking to the media at a press conference held at Mnet’s M Academy in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Tuesday, the top five contestants

TelevisionNov. 3, 2015

Genie joins charts’ move to ditch ‘recommended’ songs

Genie Top 100 charts, with recommended song on top (Genie Official Website)  Another of Korea’s four major digital music providers has followed CJ E&M’s lead in removing “recommended” songs, amid controversy over the market distortions caused by such music curation services.KT Music said Tuesday it would remove recommended songs from its digital music service Genie within the year, and continue to discuss improvements for fairer digital music services.“If the music industry works together to cor

PerformanceNov. 3, 2015

[Herald Interview] Sung Yu-ri finds comfort on camera

Singer-turned-actress Sung Yu-ri has been living in the limelight for half her life. The 34-year-old actress debuted in 1998 with girl group Fin.K.L, and debuted as a TV actress in 2002. Despite her long successful career, she says it’s only now she truly feels she‘s found her comfort zone as an actress.“I really didn’t have enough confidence in the past,” she said in an interview at a restaurant in Seoul. “I‘m sure there are points where I’m lacking even now, but I‘ve realized that the audience

FilmNov. 3, 2015

Yoo Seung-ho bridges movie, terrestrial and cable dramas

After being discharged from the military a year ago, actor Yoo Seung-ho is kicking back into action with a number of films and TV dramas lined up for release before the end of the year.Upcoming works starring the 22-year-old Yoo include cable TV drama “Imaginary Cat,” terrestrial TV drama “Remember” and films “Joseon Magician” and “Kim Seondal,” to be released in that order.  'Imaginary Cat' (MBC every1)MBC every1’s drama “Imaginary Cat” will premiere on Nov. 24 at 8:50 p.m. It is a soothing tal

Nov. 3, 2015

Psy gears up to return Dec. 1

YG Entertainment announced Tuesday that Korean singer Psy will return to the music scene on Dec. 1, via a poster that was shared on the agency’s official blog. It has been three years and five months since he released his last album “Gangnam Style” in July 2012. “I’ll go back to my basics and come back with a new album,” said Psy at last year’s year-end concert. “Look forward to what song Psy will bring, (he has) worked diligently since his concert last year. He is expected to meet your expectat

PerformanceNov. 3, 2015

Korea vows to back U.N.’ convention on corruption

The head of South Korea’s anticorruption body said Monday the country would support the implementation of the United Nations’ Convention against Corruption at an international conference of the state parties.The convention, which went into effect on Dec. 14, 2005, provides standards for countries to develop anticorruption policies and to improve their legal and regulatory regime to fight corruption, according to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. It took effect in Korea on April 26

PeopleNov. 2, 2015

[Herald Interview] Korean artist Yang Haegue holds first solo museum show in China

BEIJING -- Artist Yang Haegue is one of the most visible Korean artists in the international art scene nowadays. Her works were exhibited at major Western art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Modern Museum in Sweden, Vienna Biennale and Lyon Biennale -- all within this year.  She opened her first museum show in China on Oct. 30, bringing some 36 major works spanning from 1994 to the present, at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beiji

PerformanceNov. 2, 2015