Chanel finds new inspiration in Korean aesthetics

The Chanel Cruise collection for 2015/16 was a tribute to Korean aesthetics. Models wore large braided wigs, or “gache,” a key accessory for women of noble birth during the Joseon period. The elegant decorations traditionally worn on the wigs were reinterpreted as brooches and accessories that added a Korean character to each look.  Chanel Cruise Collection 2015/16 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Monday. (Chanel)Drawing on Korean traditional aesthetics, Karl Lagerfeld filled his latest co

Arts & DesignMay 6, 2015

A glimpse into Park Soo-keun’s world

Children play in an alleyway. Women wash clothes by a stream. Girls carry their baby sisters and brothers on their backs. These are the scenes from the lives of ordinary Korean people in the 1950s and ’60s captured in the paintings of artist Park Soo-keun. Fifty major paintings by Park depicting life immediately after the Korean War are on display at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the artist’s death. Park is one of Korea’s first generation of W

CultureMay 5, 2015

Keersmaeker’s renowned choreography to hit Korean stage

Prominent Belgian contemporary dance choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker will be presenting two of her celebrated modern dance works ― “Rosas Danst Rosas” and “Drumming” ― at the LG Arts Center in Seoul this week. “Rosas Danst Rosas” made its world premiere in Brussels in 1983; and now, more than three decades later, Keersmaeker’s Bessie Award-winning masterpiece is still being performed around the world. The contemporary choreographic work has been critically acclaimed for its exploration

PerformanceMay 5, 2015

Film council slashes funding for Busan fest

The Korean Film Council’s decision to cut funding for the Busan International Film Festival by nearly half in 2015 has led to speculation that the quasi-governmental agency is trying to punish the festival for screening a politically controversial documentary last year.On April 30, the agency announced its 2015 funding decisions for six festivals as part of its international film festival development program. The BIFF was awarded a total of 800 million won ($740,000), down nearly half from 1.46

FilmMay 5, 2015

Hanok blends into public buildings

Nestled at the foothills of Mount Inwangsan, Cheongun Literature Library is an emerging tourist draw in Seoul.In a rare architectural style for a public building in Korea, the library’s faade exudes a traditional feel, in harmony with the surrounding mountain landscape. The Cheongun library is one of the latest architecture projects of the district office of Jongno. Starting from the restoration of Bukchon hanok village, the district has been spearheading efforts to popularize hanok in modern li

Arts & DesignMay 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] Bringing Christianity, Islam closer together

Kim Ah-young, director of the Center for Islamic Studies, often finds herself in the middle of a tug-of-war between Christianity and Islam.As a devout and open-minded Christian who seeks deeper understanding of Islam, her action is sometimes branded as “dovish” by hawkish Christians. Muslims don’t always find her stance convincing and trustworthy either, given centuries of hostility between the two religious groups.But her mission is clear ― to bring the two religions closer together through mut

PeopleMay 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] ‘Be tenacious, commit, execute’

Lee Seung-hun’s career story is filled with failures. But when he looks back and adds all those failures up, Lee said, it equals success.He is now living his dream, working as a creature technical director at the world’s biggest special effects movie company, ILM, with his family in San Francisco. “Star Wars” producer George Lucas founded ILM, which is currently part of the Walt Disney Company.“Be tenacious, commit and execute. It’s really hard, but that’s the best advice I can give to the young

PeopleMay 4, 2015

Big Bang: In it for the long haul

VIPs -- as Big Bang fans call themselves -- all over the world are rejoicing at the release of the group’s first single in three years and the single’s two tracks “Loser” and “Bae Bae” are kicking up a storm on the charts, with no signs of slowing. The two songs took the top slots in all of Korea’s major music charts, while "Loser" took the top spot on iTunes in 10 countries and rose to No. 37 on the U.S. iTunes chart. (YG Entertainment)According to the group, the new album was all about coming

PerformanceMay 4, 2015

Big Bang’s ‘Bae Bae’ M/V explained

G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Seungri, and Daesung raised eyebrows online with the release of their “Bae Bae” music video. It was unusual in many ways, and -- as American music magazine Billboard put it, represented Big Bang’s “sexual peak.” In a conversation with reporters at the Conrad Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on Monday, Big Bang talked about the creation of the buzz-creating video. (YG Entertainment)“We wanted to make something unusual, something that people would find fun, something that

PerformanceMay 4, 2015

Seoul shots from ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ revealed

Scenes shot at a public parking lot in southern Seoul Marvel StudiosImages from scenes of the hit movie “Avengers: Age of Ultron” shot in Seoul were revealed for the first time on Monday. Film shoot in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province Marvel StudiosIn the behind-the-scenes images, “Avengers” heroes Captain America and Black Widow can be seen filming stunt scenes against the backdrop of familiar landmarks of Seoul such as Mapo Bridge and the back allies of the Gangnam area.Film shoot in Uiwang, Gyeonggi

FilmMay 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] MapleStory ― 12 years old and still growing

Koo Kyo-seong has a lot on his mind these days.Whether riding his skateboard during lunch hour or sitting at his office desk surrounded by animated figurines, all Koo thinks about is how to make “MapleStory” more visually engaging and entertaining.As the chief concept artist for MapleStory, Nexon Korea’s fantasy adventure multiplayer online role-playing game, he is faced with the heavy burden of making the company’s all-time favorite PC game sustainable in this rapidly-changing mobile environmen

CultureMay 3, 2015

[Markets & Merchants] A marketplace for the locals

Although Dongdaemun and Namdaemun tend to dominate many lists of “must-see markets” in Seoul, small-scale markets that are equally full of history and character are scattered across the city. This is the fifth installment of a series introducing traditional local markets. ― Ed.If strolling up and down the aisle mazes of giant conglomerate shopping malls with marked-up prices and pushing around shopping carts is not your cup of tea, it’s safe to assume that you will be pleased with the Gyeongdong

TravelMay 3, 2015

[Herald Review] McCartney continues Beatles legacy in first Korean concert

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make”― keeping the sounds of one of the most influential bands in history, the one and only Sir Paul McCartney finally graced the Korean audience with his first concert on the peninsula at Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul on Saturday.The 72-year-old rock god is best known as one of the front-men for The Beatles, which as John Lennon once quipped was more popular than Jesus. And over the weekend the legendary musician proved that even now,

PerformanceMay 3, 2015

Paul McCartney concert delights fans in Seoul

Paul McCartney delighted his South Korean fans Saturday with a much-anticipated concert packed with his best-known songs. (Paul McCartney)The concert, the former Beatles member's first-ever in South Korea, took place at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium, where 45,000 fans moved to his music in the rain.The highlight came about two hours into the concert when the 72-year-old singer played the first chords of "Let It Be," causing the entire audience to stand up from their seats.The singer, apparently moved b

PerformanceMay 3, 2015

'Avengers' sequel tops 6 mln viewers in S. Korea

The Hollywood blockbuster "Avengers:Age of Ultron" has become the fastest foreign film to surpass 6 million viewers in South Korea, the film's distributor said Saturday. (Avengers:Age of Ultron)The superhero flick exceeded the 6 million mark in attendance on Saturday, the 10th day of its run, according to the Walt Disney Co. Korea.The film, the sequel to the 2012 work "The Avengers," has also grossed more than 51.2 billion won ($47.66 million).The Avengers 2 reached the 6 million milestone, just

FilmMay 3, 2015

Paul McCartney to perform in Seoul on Saturday

Paul McCartney, a member of the legendary band the Beatles, will hold his much-anticipated first-ever concert in South Korea on Saturday.                                                                 Paul McCartney (AP)The concert will take place at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium at 8 p.m. as part of his "Out There" world tour that began in Brazil in 2013.The event has drawn much anticipation as the 72-year-old canceled his previous concert in Seoul due to health problems a year ago.Upon arriving at I

PerformanceMay 2, 2015

Jeonju International Film Festival gets rolling with ‘Partisan’

The 16th year of the nation’s second-largest film festival kicked off Thursday at Jeonju Sports Stadium.The outdoor stadium was packed with fans as stars lined the red carpet and opening ceremony cohosts Kim Dong-wan and Im Sung-min took the stage to officially begin the Jeonju International Film Festival. Kim Dong-wan is a member of boy band Shinhwa, while Lim Sung-min is an anchorwoman-turned-actress.  Lim Sung-min and Kim Dong-wan host the opening ceremony of the JIFF at Jeonju Sports Stadium

FilmApril 30, 2015

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ explores trials of success

Seoul Players is set to perform David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” as the second part of its spring season.The troupe ended performances of “Top Girls” last weekend in the first part of a double-header featuring all-female and all-male casts.Seoul Players artistic director Barri Tsavaris said the two plays complemented each other in their exploration of success as a man or woman and what it took, as well as other themes.“‘Glengarry’ contrasts with ‘Top Girls’ first and foremost just in the way

Expat LivingApril 30, 2015