TV industry ponders monetization of online content

With unconventional and new entertainment media platforms emerging and disrupting conventional media platforms, the industry stands at a crossroads to change its traditional content business to one that suits the digital and mobile age.A variety of experiments using traditional and new production methods have been tested to create and distribute content via new media platforms, including multichannel networks for digital consumers. New technology and media environment have lowered the entry barr

FilmSept. 10, 2015

Director Ryoo Seung-wan mulls sequel to ‘Veteran’

Director Ryoo Seung-wan on Wednesday said he is considering making a sequel to his hit film “Veteran,” which sold more than 12 million tickets. "We’re currently researching what social issues the public is interested in and what kind of individual they are curious to know more about,” Ryoo told reporters. (CJ Entertainment)The high-flying “Veteran” portrayed a seasoned investigator’s struggle and cathartic victory in uncovering criminal acts of a corrupt corporate heir. Kang Hye-jeong, CEO of Fi

Sept. 10, 2015

Kim Hyun-joong’s ex-girlfriend gives birth

Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong’s ex-girlfriend gave birth to a child last week, according to local news outlets Thursday. The legal battle between the two flared up in April when Kim’s ex-girlfriend, surnamed Choi, filed a suit seeking 1.6 billion won ($1.33 million) in damages for Kim’s alleged physical assault. She had also claimed that she was pregnant with Kim’s baby, but refused to hand over a medical certificate to prove her pregnancy. 　

TelevisionSept. 10, 2015

[Herald Interview] Family trio dropping a little opera to the club scene

Classical opera is getting a modern and chic revamp, leaving behind the fancy orchestra concert halls and heading out to the mecca of pop music culture and youth.After hitting it big in their native country of New Zealand with its 2013 self-titled debut album, up-and-coming opera crossover family trio Sol3 Mio will be performing its first concert in Korea in the most unlikely of venues -- Gangnam, Seoul nightclub Octagon. Contemporary classical opera trio Sol3 Mio (Universal Music)As part of the

PerformanceSept. 10, 2015

Netflix's Korea plan excites TV fans

Video streaming service website Netflix’s announcement that they would be rolling out in South Korea early next year has been received with enthusiasm by local TV fans.The expansion plans are welcome news to a market that has a high demand for content from the U.S. and the U.K., with past seasons of various TV shows being aired on cable and fans searching for ways to stream shows online. Many Korean fans unable to find their favorite shows locally have turned to piracy. A quick search for “mi-de

TelevisionSept. 10, 2015

Lin's ‘Rice’ pays visual homage to Asia’s staple grain

Bringing his visually breathtaking and poetically poignant contemporary dance piece “Rice” in front of Seoul audiences for the first time, renowned choreographer Lin Hwai-min will be introducing a whole new way for the audience to conceptualize the significance of even a simple grain of rice. Having been deemed by some critics as “Asia’s most important choreographer,” Lin is no stranger to intertwining the element of rice into his performances.Born and raised in Taiwan, Lin’s parents grew up in

PerformanceSept. 10, 2015

Seoul book club to host three rising Korean authors

The Seoul Book and Culture Club will be hosting a book reading and question-and-answer session with three rising stars of Asian literature. Organized together with ASIA Publishers, the event will see Cheon Myeong-kwan reading from his story “Homecoming,” Hwang Jung-eun reading from “Kong’s Garden” and Yun I-hyeong reading from “Danny.” All three stories were included in ASIA Publishers’ K-Literature series. The three authors will then discuss their works and answer questions. It is the third eve

Expat LivingSept. 9, 2015

Latin American, Brazil Day festivals to hit Seoul

Two cultural festivals are set to bring some Latin American warmth to northeastern Seoul this weekend.Seongbuk Global Village Center will be hosting a Latin American Festival, while the Brazilian Cultural Center will be holding a Brazil Day festival in nearby Hyehwa. Performers at the 2013 Latin American Festival in Seongbukcheon Fountain Square in Seoul. SQVCSGVC first held the festival in 2011, bringing a mix of martial arts, music and dance performances from countries including Ecuador, Brazi

Expat LivingSept. 9, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘Deep Trap’ brings your fears to life

The new thriller from director Kwon Hyung-jin is interesting in its simplicity. There are basically no twists in the plot, and the terror of the film does not come from surprise moments where things pop out from the darkness. Instead, it builds up a sense of entrapment slowly, almost tediously, and makes it easier for the audience to relate to the protagonists’ desperate situation.The film is about a young married couple who are struggling to restore their troubled sex life and marriage after a

FilmSept. 9, 2015

‘Unpretty Rapstar’ presents Vol. 2 with 11 rappers

Eleven female rappers will bring their “swag” for the second season of “Unpretty Rapstar,” the female spin-off of the rap competition program “Show Me the Money.”The show is structured around the creation of a compilation rap album including the work of hip-hop’s top producers, under the guidance of MC rapper San-E. Each week, a new producer presents a new track, and the 11 contestants battle each other for the chance to be featured on it. The 11 rappers span the underground and mainstream rap s

TelevisionSept. 8, 2015

Finding originality in Korean contemporary art

Following a series of unprecedented shows of support for art museums from last year, Hyundai Motor Co. is holding an art exhibition in Seoul that highlights the creativity of Korean contemporary artists and the traditional elements and aesthetics that inspired them. The “Dream Society” exhibition, now in its third year, brings together leading artists, architects and designers, who converge with innovative ideas of “Koreanness” in their installations, sculptures and paintings.   Installation by

PerformanceSept. 8, 2015

Korean fans prop up Maroon 5’s shaky Seoul concert

Maroon 5’s much-anticipated performance in Seoul was a letdown in terms of musical satisfaction. Lead singer Adam Levine’s voice remained unstable, with his trademark high-pitch tone often failing. It was the Korean fans who salvaged the strained performance with their over-the-top support for the band on Monday.   Maroon 5’s “V tour“ in Seoul‘s Olympic Gymnastics Arena (Live Nation Korea)Signs of trouble were detected early on when the group abruptly postponed their concert in Daegu on Sunday,

PerformanceSept. 8, 2015

[Newsmaker] Seoul: Asia’s new fashion window?

Move over Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. Seoul is emerging as Asia’s new fashion showcase, with the world’s top luxury firms seeking to cash in on the regional trend-setting popularity of South Korean pop culture.A woman walks past a Louis Vuitton store in the duty-free shopping area at Incheon International Airport. (Bloomberg)Fast-growing Asia is a key market driving the global luxury industry, with purchases by Chinese consumers accounting for one third of global sales, according to market r

CultureSept. 7, 2015

Pianist Paik going nationwide with Russian classics

Considered one of the most influential pianists of his generation, 69-year-old Paik Kun-woo will be making his way back to the public eye with the launch of his upcoming “Kun-woo Paik Piano Recital” nationwide tour this month.After giving his first public performance at the tender age of 10 with the Korean National Orchestra. The child prodigy later went on to perform at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, in his orchestral debut, at the age of 15. Since then, Paik has performed on some of the wor

PerformanceSept. 7, 2015

Rain parts ways with agency

South Korean singer and actor Rain has decided to part ways with his agency Cube Entertainment. (OSEN)“After a long discussion with Hong Seung-sung, head of the agency, I decided to leave Cube Entertainment. I want to thank him for all the support he has given, and I will announce my future plans as soon as I can,” said Rain on his Instagram on Monday.After finishing his mandatory military service, the 34-year-old joined Cube Entertainment in 2013.He is currently starring in the Chinese TV drama

Sept. 7, 2015

Itaewon sees rise of sidewalk drinking

On a seasonably warm late summer evening after work, 27-year-old Choi Min-ji sat on the stoop of Magpie, a popular pub in the Gyeongnidan neighborhood, with a glass of pale ale in her hands.“It feels so carefree and exotic,” she said, gesturing at the clusters of people who, rather than sitting indoors, were enjoying their drinks while standing outside the establishment. “It’s liberating to be outdoors after a long day at the office,” said Choi, who works in advertising. “And it would be a shame

CultureSept. 7, 2015