A new documentary by an expat director sets out to highlight the struggles of people campaigning for change in North Korea, and hopes to inspire viewers to join the fight.Director of “While They Watched” Jake Smith said he had always been fascinated by North Korea, but was inspired to make the film after reading “Nothing to Envy” by Barbara Demick.“I had previously always seen it from an ideological or political angle, but after reading ‘Nothing to Envy’ I saw it from a personal point of view,”

Expat LivingAug. 26, 2015

Ulsan’s expats are set to compete in a sports day Sunday, as the organizers hope to build on the return of the annual event last year.Athletes will compete in soccer and other sports at the event, with teams representing their countries.Ulsan International Volunteer Center, which hosts the event, said the competitors came from a variety of backgrounds, and include multicultural families, migrant workers, English teachers and foreign faculty and students from universities. Participants at last ye

Expat LivingAug. 26, 2015

Performers showcase traditional Korean music at the Jongmyo Shrine. (Julie Jackson/The Korea Herald)An annual series of performances of traditional music in Seoul’s royal palaces will reopen next month, offering free gugak and pansori concerts against palatial backdrops. This year’s performances will be held simultaneously at the Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine from Sept. 5 to Oct. 11. Each venue will vary in its themes and hold a total of 34 performances, and unlike i

CultureAug. 26, 2015

The nation’s largest and most internationally recognized film festival became the center of controversy earlier this year, when the Korean Film Council announced that it would be cutting its financial support by nearly half compared to 2014. Despite fears that the festival would have to be canceled or downsized, the Busan International Film Festival was able to secure enough funds to hold the event for a 20th year, according to festival directors at a press conference at the Koreana Hotel on Tue

FilmAug. 26, 2015

IKSAN, North Jeolla Province -– A restoration project of the oldest stone pagoda in Korean history is underway at the site of Mireuksa Temple in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. A rhythmic, clear sound of carving stone echoes through the vast site. Inside a temporary tent, stonemasons crack and sculpt stones that will become the new columns for the six-story pagoda. The sound accompanies visitors everywhere in the new UNESCO’s World Heritage site, as no buildings block the sound’s spread. The east

TravelAug. 26, 2015

On the 28th floor of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel in Guro-gu, southwest Seoul, there is nothing much to see from the window of its fitness center but a panoramic view of the area that includes apartment complexes near Shindorim Station.But after a hearty meal at the hotel’s signature Feast buffet restaurant serving a variety of Asian cuisines ranging from Korean and Chinese to Japanese and Thai, visitors will feel the urge to burn some calories at its 24-hour gym.Once you press the start but

CultureAug. 26, 2015

Chadwick International has named Shelly Luke Wille the new head of school as part of its key leadership reshuffle, school officials said Tuesday.Wille succeeded Charles Sachs as the new head of the school located in Songdo, Incheon, effective for the 2015-16 school year that started last week. She has vowed to implement long-term strategies to enhance the learning environment and education program, which is based on International Baccalaureate.  Shelly Luke Wille (Chadwick International)“I’m thr

PeopleAug. 25, 2015

Singer-turned-musical actress Ock Joo-hyun will play the 1900s exotic dancer and female spy Mata Hari in an upcoming musical production, the show’s production company in Seoul said Tuesday.  Ock Joo-hyunAccording to EMK Musical, the show, “Mata Hari,” will premiere in March next year with Ock in the lead role. Ock, who debuted in 1998 as a member of the now-disbanded girl group Fin K.L. is one of the most sought-after musical actresses in Korea. Her previous roles have included such coveted char

PerformanceAug. 25, 2015

April, DSP Media’s new girl group, made their debut with the release of their first EP “Dreaming” and the lead track “Dream Candy.”The group, known to fans as the “younger sister group” to DSP‘s signature group Kara, includes six members: leader Somin, Chaewon, Hyunjoo, Naeun, Yena and Jinsol, born in consecutive years from 1996 to 2001. April (DSP Media)“Our average age is 17.5,” said Jinsol, the youngest member, at their media showcase at Coex in Seoul. “We heard we were the youngest girl grou

PerformanceAug. 25, 2015

“Untouchable Lawmen” starts out with the ballsy, if oversimplified, notion that those who evade the law deserve to be captured through law-defying measures. Under the mantra of “meeting crazy with crazy,” the film initially seems headed in the direction of an exhilarating Robin Hood-esque hero narrative, where the quirky “good guys” deal a satisfying blow to the hypocritical “bad guys.” Choi Daniel (left) and Im Chang-jung in "Untouchable Lawmen" (Pan Cinema)The film begins as the police, after

FilmAug. 25, 2015

The King Sejong Institute Foundation’s seventh annual World Korean Educators Conference kicked off Monday, inviting 180 guests committed to the teaching of Korean from 43 countries for a three-day exchange conference in Seoul. With 90 institutions across the world, the King Sejong Institute is dedicated to establishing educational institutions where citizens of all ages can attend to learn the Korean language. Invited as a guest to this year’s conference is Korean teacher Stepanka Horakova from

CultureAug. 25, 2015

In a K-pop world filled with girl groups offering sexy and sometimes even provocative performances to get in the limelight, Apink has claimed a nearly unrivaled position with unwavering confidence in their clean, friendly girl-next-door image.The girls maximized that charm at their second exclusive concert, “Pink Island,” in Seoul last weekend, allowing themselves to let loose, joke around and have fun with their fans. Apink (A Cube Entertainment)“Tonight, this is an island just for Apink and Pi

PerformanceAug. 24, 2015

When it comes to art exhibitions, the artists’ name recognition often determines whether or not general viewers will go see them.  But museums and galleries are on the lookout for those unknown to the public. They discover and support young talents with fresh ideas and compelling modes of visual expression that may put them on a list of such established names in the future. To give such artists an opportunity to introduce their work to a broader audience, two museums in Seoul are currently holdi

PerformanceAug. 24, 2015

 K-pop singer BoA, who successfully wrapped up her two-day concert at Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, said it was a dream come true to perform at the prestigious venue. 　“I am honored to be celebrating the last of my 20s at such a meaningful place,” she told the press ahead of the concert Sunday. 　“Before making my debut, I saw H.O.T. performing at the Sejong Performing Arts Center, and I thought to myself, ‘When will I get to be on the big stage like them?’” she said. “But this y

Aug. 24, 2015

For Han Hyo-joo, the lead role of Yi-soo in the fantasy romance “The Beauty Inside” was a chance that would never come again.“When would I ever get to work with so many actors in one movie?” she mused at a group interview at a cafe in Seoul ahead of the film’s release. “When would I get to kiss so many people in one day?” Han Hyo-joo (Yonhap)In “The Beauty Inside,” Han’s character Yi-soo falls in love with a man, Woo-jin, whose appearance changes every day. Drawing its inspiration from an ad cam

FilmAug. 23, 2015