Seoul Fashion Week: Bold colors and prints emerge as 2016 spring menswear trend

As Seoul has a reputation for fashionable men whose devotion to fashion and skin care tops in the world, menswear collections by Seoul-based designers are some of the must-see shows at the ongoing Seoul Fashion Week. Here are the highlights of menswear shows from Friday to Sunday. 　Munsoo Kwon　One of the hottest emerging menswear designers in the Korean fashion scene, Munsoo Kwon presented light, sporty looks for the 2016 spring-summer season Saturday.Inspired by some youngsters turning to fishi

Arts & DesignOct. 19, 2015

Banyan Tree Club, Spa Seoul to hold art fair

Upscale guest rooms and outdoor pools at Banyan Tree Club and Spa Seoul will transform into art gallery space during the four-day BANYAF Art Fair next week. The premiere edition of the art fair, organized by the resort company, presents some 400 works of art selected by 20 art galleries and agencies, including Arario Gallery, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Gallery Kong and Gallery Koo. The works will be on display in the hotel’s exclusive club rooms from Oct. 22-25. Plate and tea bowl by Kim Nam-hee (Ga

PerformanceOct. 19, 2015

Actor Lee Joon-gi currently shooting ‘Resident Evil’ franchise

Lee Joon-gi with Milla Jovovich (Instagram)Korean actor Lee Joon-gi is currently shooting the final installment of the “Resident Evil” franchise to mark his Hollywood debut, his Korean agency confirmed Saturday. “Lee is shooting (the film) in South Africa,” Namoo Actors said. The firm, however, refused to give more details about Lee’s role in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.”The confirmation came after “Resident Evil” star Milla Jovovich on Friday posted a photo with Lee to her Instagram, reve

FilmOct. 19, 2015

Barakatt, Herald Philharmonic to present encore concert in December

 Steve Barakatt (Rainbow Bridge Story)Canadian pianist and composer and the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra are teaming up again for an encore concert in December in Seoul.According to Barakatt’s agency, the New Age musician together with the Seoul-based ensemble will play his symphony “Ad Vitam Aeternam” on Dec. 5 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. It follows the resounding success of a March concert in which he presented his largest and first symphonic composition to the Korean a

PerformanceOct. 19, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘The Exclusive’ is thoroughly entertaining

Not only is director Roh Deok’s “The Exclusive: Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” a well-crafted commentary on how information spirals out of control in today’s world of media overflow, it is also thoroughly entertaining.The film centers on Heo Moo-hyuk (Jo Jung-suk), a television reporter who is worn out by pressure at the office and conflict at home. While suspended from work after one of his reports irks a powerful local conglomerate, Heo stumbles upon what seems to be a handwritten note drafted by a

FilmOct. 18, 2015

ZE:A’s Lim Si-wan confirms role in crime-action flick

Actor and idol singer Lim Si-wan of ZE:A has confirmed his role in a new crime-action film titled “One Line.”Lim’s agency, Star Empire, said on Sunday that Lim mulled over the offer for a while and has decided to play the lead character in the move.The upcoming film is based on a large-scale insurance fraud, according to the agency. (OSEN)The production company will reportedly begin shooting in December once it finishes casting smaller roles. Lim started his career as a K-pop singer in 2010 and

PerformanceOct. 18, 2015

CJ E&M takes over Paloalto’s hip-hop label

CJ E&M, one of Korea’s leading entertainment firms, has acquired hip-hop label Hi-Lite Records, the conglomerate said on Friday.Founded by popular Korean rapper Paloalto in 2010, Hi-Lite Records is home to some of the influential rappers of the country’s underground scene -- including Huckleberry P, Reddy, Okasian, B-Free and Evo. The takeover comes amid the broadcaster gaining more viewers through hip-hop audition programs such as “Show Me the Money” and “Unpretty Rapstar.”(Hi-Lite Records)CJ o

PerformanceOct. 18, 2015

Seoul Fashion Week: Colorful season for men

As Seoul has a reputation for fashionable men whose devotion to fashion and skincare tops in the world, menswear collections by Seoul-based designers are some of the must-see shows during Seoul Fashion Week. K-pop stars rocked the 2016 spring-summer menswear shows on Friday and Saturday. R&B singer Zion.T, singer Gangnam and movie stars stole the spotlight in the front rows. Bora of girl group Sistar unusually took the runway of menswear designer Jung Doo-young’s VanHart di Albazar. Here are the

Arts & DesignOct. 18, 2015

[Weekender] Bicycle clubs build bridges for human relations

In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, it is quite a challenge to keep in touch with people we cherish.  The rising popularity of bicycles has made bicycle clubs a potential solution for quenching our thirst for human affection by forming new relationships. Such clubs, which often offer a family-like atmosphere, come with the added benefit of staying fit and healthy at the same time. Since riding in groups requires strong teamwork at times, especially on rough routes, it is often said to

CultureOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Cycling to work in need of systematic support

As the seasons turn and fall comes into full swing, the streets are seeing more office workers commuting on bicycles. 　A recent poll conducted by job searching portal www.career.co.kr showed that 30 percent of office workers from a randomly selected pool of 440 people commuted on bicycles. The benefit of daily exercise and cost-efficiency of the man-powered vehicle were cited as the two major reasons for cycling to work. Park’s shot of a fellow cyclist returning home from work　Civil servant Park

CultureOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] ‘Two wheels good, four wheels bad’

As with most Western inventions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, bicycles landed in Korea relatively recently. 　Although it has not been confirmed, Korean independence fighter Soh Jai-pil, also known as Philip Jaisohn, is credited to be the first Korean man to ride one on local soil in 1896.　After the 1950-1953 Korean War, bicycles gradually became more commonplace and gave rise to a thriving industry with local manufacturers punching out nearly 1.2 million bikes in 1994. 　Over the years, b

TravelOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Skywalk in Chuncheon offers beautiful scenery for bike riders

For a bike rider hoping to explore a new cycle track beyond the Hangang River, a bike pathway in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province, could be the perfect destination. 　Spanning from Uiam Dam to Sinmae Bridge, the 30-kilometer-long bicycle road, which is flat and smooth, allows even beginners to enjoy their ride, offering the breathtaking scenery of Lake Uiam.　When you depart from Seoul, it takes one hour and 15 minutes from Yongsan Station to Chuncheon Station via the high-speed train IT

TravelOct. 16, 2015

Weekend Box Office Guide: 10/17-10/18

Heading to theaters this week? The Korea Herald gives you a rundown of what's playing on the big screen.This weekend's box office in Korea has a lot of thrills and chills to offer up, with Korean flicks "Circle of Atonement" and "The Advocate" both chasing down murder mysteries, and the American "Regression" adding a hint of supernatural horror. For some more light-hearted fun, check out "The Martian," which is going strong in Korea, or the romantic Chinese remake "Only You."Circle of Atonement

FilmOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Peer pressure main cause of burgeoning bike thefts in Korea

As bikes become more popular, and pricey, bicycle-related crimes are also on the rise. 　 A few weeks ago, Lee Sung-jae, a 25-year-old university student, parked his bicycle on a public bike rack close to Seoul’s Wangsimni Station, safely padlocked. When he got back to the rack the next day, however, what he found was his precious bicycle completely knocked over and without the front wheel. 　 “I had to carry my bicycle without a wheel all the way back home that day,” he said.

CultureOct. 16, 2015

History meets modernity in Dresden

DRESDEN, Germany -- Dresden is often associated with the past. Sitting at the midway point between Prague and Berlin, the city is famous for hosting the oldest Christmas market in Germany, for its Saxon history, and for being a part of the former East Germany. However, it is less well known for the revival it has experienced since the end of the Cold War, during which it rebuilt its old glory and began creating a modern counterpart to its historic areas. Today, Dresden offers a balanced tourist

TravelOct. 16, 2015

Around The Hotels

Happy autumn festival at Kensington Jeju HotelKensington Jeju Hotel will present Paw in Paw Kids Package until Nov. 30, 2015.This package is specifically designed for children who love to play and stay at Paw in Paw Kids Club and the kids rooms. There will be ‘Pumpkin Art Festival’ on Oct. 24-31 to celebrate Halloween.Paw in Paw Package comes with a color choice of rooms decorated with the characters from Paw-In-Paw, the television animation series, in blue, pink and brown. The room also provide

FoodOct. 16, 2015

Travel Bits

Cultural events in YeongcheonThe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said there will be a variety of special cultural events in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province from Oct. 16-18.The Month of Culture events will be introducing traditional cultures of Yeongcheon in line with efforts by the ministry to promote regional cultures. The ministry has started to promote regional cultures since last year in Gwangju City.Yeongcheon will have art festivals and exhibitions of Korean young artists, an

TravelOct. 16, 2015

Entertainment takes flight with the help of tech, design

This is the second in a series of articles introducing key features at the upcoming Herald Design Forum 2015 to be held in Seoul on Nov. 10. - Ed.A film festival’s star-studded red carpet is brought to your home in a 360-degree panoramic view. Virtual reality and hologram technology provides an alternative to live concerts, enabling fans to digitally interact with their stars -- dead or alive. Entertainment today mingles with new technologies, churning out innovative new ways of engaging people

Arts & DesignOct. 15, 2015

Man behind revolution of motion picture industry

From “Toy Story,” the first completely computer-animated feature film released in 1995, to this summer’s hit “Inside Out,” Pixar movies have captured the hearts of children and adults around the world. The man who made the computer-generated imagery possible is Alvy Ray Smith, cofounder of Pixar Animation Studios and a pioneer of computer graphics. Since founding Pixar in 1986 with Ed Catmull, he has been at the forefront of leading innovations in computer graphics and its applications to variou

Arts & DesignOct. 15, 2015

Artist breathes new life into classic masterpieces

The image of Van Gogh comes alive in his signature self-portrait with a pipe. The legendary painter blows a puff of smoke, from which an image of him peacefully resting in a field emerges. The digitally rendered image of Van Gogh was made by Korean artist Lee Lee-nam, who has been digitally transforming masterpieces of Western and Eastern art into an animated video art form. Lee, a widely loved media artist in the Korean art scene, has been invited to give a lecture on his art world at the Heral

PerformanceOct. 15, 2015