Hollywood director talks rise of TV, fall of film

Hollywood TV and movie director T.J. Scott -- best known for his popular on-screen works “Spartacus,” “Gotham” and “Orphan Black” -- has made his way to Seoul to lend his expertise on the current and future state of the film and TV industries in the U.S.Invited as part of the Korea Creative Content Agency’s “Content Insight” lecture series for the month of July, Scott, who is credited with taking part in more than 50 TV shows and movies over the past two decades, discussed his take on television

TelevisionJuly 13, 2015

Infinite sweeps six music charts with new song

Popular boy band Infinite topped six domestic music charts with its new single "Bad" on Monday.The title track on its new album "Reality," released at midnight, is currently No. 1 on real-time charts for six online music services, including Mnet, Genie and Soribada, as of 10 a.m. (Woollim Entertainment)The song is about a boy who vows to devote his everything to a girl even though he knows she is a bad girl."Reality" is Infinite's first album since July last year, when it released "Be Back," a r

July 13, 2015

[Herald Interview] Baek Jong-won, the anti-celebrity chef

Amid the throng of cooking reality shows that pervade Korean television today, one person making big waves in viewers’ kitchens is restaurateur Baek Jong-won.Baek, who appears on such shows as “House Cook Master Baek” and “My Little Television,” is neither a highly trained chef nor a commanding kitchen presence. While most TV chefs dazzle viewers with luxurious Western recipes and impeccable plating, Baek has been preaching the charms of Korean home staples like doenjang (fermented soy bean past

FoodJuly 12, 2015

[Weekender] Refreshing low-cost summer getaways

While South Korea’s Hangang River attracts millions of visitors to its cherry blossom festival in the spring and fireworks display in the fall every year, there are more festivities the river can offer in the summer.As this year’s Hangang River festival kicks off on July 17, the riverside will turn into a major playground for those seeking a respite from the scorching heat and a getaway from the day-to-day hustle.Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government under the theme of “Hangang: A Midsumme

TravelJuly 10, 2015

Eyelike: 9Muses, Minx, Miguel

9Muses targets club scene with new EP9Muses “9Muses S/S Edition” (KT Music)9Muses are a group known mostly for their stunning looks. Nicknamed the “model idol” group, the eight members boast an average height of 172 centimeters and are known for their sexy choreography in songs like “Dolls” and “Wild.”On their new EP “9Muses S/S Edition,” the group continues to do what they are best known for, choosing consistency over variety. Thumping club-style beats underline both the lead track “Hurt Locker

PerformanceJuly 10, 2015

Box office

Inside Out (U.S.) Opened July 9Animation. Directed by Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del CarmenThe latest movie from Pixar takes the audience into the head of 11-year-old Riley, where all emotions are controlled at a switchboard run by Joy (Amy Poehler), together with Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). A mishap sets off a chain reaction threatening Riley’s emotional balance, and Joy tries her best to set things right.The Piper (Korea) Opened July 9H

FilmJuly 10, 2015

Travel bits

Free admission to royal palacesA number of royal palaces and historic sites in Seoul -- the Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Deoksugung palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty -- will offer free admission during the month of July, courtesy of the Cultural Heritage Administration.The Gyeongbokgung Palace, located in Jongno-gu was originally built in 1395 when Seoul was appointed the capital of Joseon. Acknowledged as the largest and arguably the most beautiful of Seoul’s fiv

TravelJuly 10, 2015

Around the Hotels

Pizza festival at JW Marriott Hotel SeoulOlivo, JW Marriott Hotel Seoul’s Italian restaurant, is presenting a summer pizza festival until July 31. The menu will feature 12 pizzas, including the fiorentina, topped with spinach and egg; the capesanta, with sliced fried scallop, basil and mozzarella cheese; the tonno, with tuna slow-cooked in herb marinade, spicy horseradish, red onions and capers; the insalata, with endive, fennel, mango, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese; the aragosta, with lobster

FoodJuly 10, 2015

Spicy marinated chicken

Spicy marinated chicken (Korean Babsang)This spicy marinated chicken dish is another great option for your Korean barbecue this summer. Dark meat stands up better to the bold marinade in this recipe. Boneless thigh meat is my favorite part of the chicken for grilling. Its open, flat surface works well for marinating and grilling. Deboned drumstick meat will be excellent for this recipe as well. Keeping the skin or not is a matter of personal preference.As a sweetener for the marinade, I used a K

FoodJuly 10, 2015

Shim, game changer in Korean cinema

In Paju, near the Book City in Gyeonggi Province northwest of Seoul, a building stands alone next to a construction site in a vast barren area. It looks like a ghost town, with very few people around, except for construction workers. Shim Jae-myung (Myung Films)But the building of Korea’s renowned production company Myung Films ― which has a cafe, film theatre, art center, lecture rooms and student dormitory ― offers visitors a glimpse into the future of this town.Stepping into a new white confe

FilmJuly 10, 2015

Ko Young-wook released from prison

Singer Ko Young-wook was released from prison Friday after serving 30 months on charges of raping and sexually harassing minors. 　Ko, 39, was discharged from Nambu Correctional Service in Seoul on Friday morning after serving his full sentence.   Ko Young-wook (OSEN)　“I am sorry,” Ko told the press gathered at the site. “I’ve had a time of self-examination over two and a half years. The prison time was difficult, but I have learned many lessons that I would have never learned in other places. Fr

July 10, 2015

'Madonna’ gets love calls from international film festivals

South Korean film “Madonna” was invited to international film festivals held in Sweden’s Stockholm and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, its production company said Thursday. The Stockholm Film Festival is known as the top of its class in northern Europe, with high attendance figures from enthusiastic moviegoers and industry insiders.  Poster for 'Madonna' (Little Big Pictures)“Madonna” was asked to join the “Asian Image” section of the upcoming 26th festival scheduled for Aug. 12-16. Tor Nyman, the prog

July 9, 2015

'Beautiful Bonds' a tribute to Koreaphiles

“Beautiful Bonds: Friends of Korea.net,” a new book that tells the stories of 35 “Koreaphiles,” is a tribute to those -- both Korean and foreigner -- who have taken an interest in Korea, discovered its charms and helped spread its culture to the global audience.The 620-page book is a compilation of in-depth interviews given by an eclectic group of people, ranging from former Philippines President Fidel Ramos and farmer-singer Kim Baek-keun to James Hooper, British Everest climber and former cast

BooksJuly 9, 2015

Classic operas to usher in the summer, fall seasons

From crowd favorites Mozart and Verdi, to one of the world’s earliest known opera productions, the remainder of the 2015 season promises moving and memorable arias.Seoul Metropolitan Opera is gearing up for its staging of one of the world’s oldest known operas -- Claudio Monteverdi’s early baroque piece “L’Orfeo.” Based on the mythical musician, poet and Greek prophet Orpheus, the opera tells the tale of his journey to the underworld and his challenge to Hades to retrieve his deceased wife, Eury

PerformanceJuly 9, 2015

K-pop idols to star in musical 'In the Heights'

A slew of K-pop idols will star in the Korean production of Broadway musical “In the Heights.” 　The star-studded musical will feature Key of SHINee, Chen of EXO, Infinite members Jang Dong-woo and Kim Sung-kyu and Luna of f(x), alongside experienced musical stars.   Jang Dong-woo (left) and Key (SM C&C) Kim Sung-kyu (left) and Chen (SM C&C) Luna (SM C&C)Key will play the protagonist Usnavi, sharing the role with actor Yang Dong-geun, musical actor Jung Won-young and Jang. 　Musical actor Seo Kyun

July 9, 2015

Hypnotist promises mix of fascination, fun

An expat stage hypnotist will demonstrate the mysteries of the mind in Seoul this month, while having some fun along the way.Gabriel Dye will be taking to the stage, hoping some brave souls in the audience will join him in what he says will be a mix of intrigue and entertainment.“Someone who just wants to be entertained will enjoy the hell out of it and someone who wants something to think about for the next couple of weeks will definitely find that,” he said.   Gabriel DyePart of the show will

Expat LivingJuly 8, 2015

Gwangju troupe to perform musical ‘The Last Five Years’

Caitlin O’Neill and Adam Volle will appear in Gwangju Performance Project’s “The Last Five Years.” (Relja Kojic)The Gwangju Performance Project is set to open its run of the popular musical “The Last Five Years” on July 17. The musical, written by U.S. composer and playwright Jason Robert Brown, debuted in Chicago in 2001 and has since been performed by theater companies worldwide.GPP president Heather Aitken, who will also direct the show, selected “The Last Five Years” to try something new, as

Expat LivingJuly 8, 2015