The Independence Hall of Korea announced Wednesday the launch of a five-year project that traces the legacies of thousands of Korean independence activists and compiles them into an encyclopedia. “The Who’s Who in the Korean Independence Movement” will feature 16,000 patriots who campaigned against Japanese colonial rule, including well-known heroes Ahn Jung-geun and Yun Bong-gil. The encyclopedia is expected to be published in 2019, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of

CultureApril 8, 2015

Posters of a K-pop boy band and a big stuffed bear imply the owner of the room must be a teenage girl. Indeed, sitting at the center of the room is a large portrait of a girl with the typical look of a Korean high school student with short, straight hair. But she hasn’t been home since April 16, 2014. Seventeen-year-old Danwon High School sophomore Han Se-young was one of the 304 who perished when the Sewol ferry sank off the southern coast of Korea. She was on a school trip to Jejudo Island, wi

CultureApril 8, 2015

The hip-hop duo Jinusean will make a comeback next week, its agency YG Entertainment said Wednesday. Jinusean ― consisting of Sean Ro and Kim Jin-woo ― will release a new single on April 15, ending an 11-year hiatus in their music career. The announcement was made with a poster titled “Jinusean Comeback after 11 Years” on its official website. It listed the date and promised a new single and music video. Despite the long absence in the industry, the duo has frequently appeared on TV talk shows a

PerformanceApril 8, 2015

Upcoming TV series “Splendid Politics” hopes to establish a new genre of Korean period drama by straddling the boundary between history and imagination. Directed by Kim Sang-ho and written by Kim Yi-young, the series’ genre has been described as “faction” ― a blend of fact and fiction. A promotional poster for “Splendid Politics,” starring (from left) Jo Sung-ha, Seo Kang-joon, Cha Seung-won, Lee Yeon-hee, Kim Jae-won, Han Joo-wan. (MBC-The TicTalk)“Our series is somewhere in between fantastical

TelevisionApril 8, 2015

For those seeking to primp up their living spaces in time for spring, inspiration could be found at the 21st Seoul Living Design Fair recently held at Seoul’s Coex Convention Center. Certain decorating trends stood out at the fair, which is currently Korea’s largest exhibition for interior and household-related brands. “Scandinavian patterns, industrial vintage and French antique are among the most popular styles in Korea today,” said Kim Hyung-rak, manager of home interior store Urban In. Frenc

Arts & DesignApril 8, 2015

Seoul’s Samcheong-dong and Garosugil, prized for their eclectic cafes and small fashion boutiques, were relatively unknown to beauty shoppers from overseas. That may soon change. Both are rising as the new hot spots in Seoul for foreign tourists, set to rival the current top district Myeong-dong.Belport in GarosugilSamcheong-dong, north of Myeong-dong, has seen some 10 large-scale cosmetics businesses open since 2011.Innisfree Jeju House, a cosmetics store and organic cafe owned by beauty conglo

Arts & DesignApril 8, 2015

Violinist Chung Kyung-wha is ready to blow fans away with her world-class fiddlework in her first full concert in Seoul in two years. Having fully recovered from what was once thought a career-killing finger injury in 2005, Chung said she was feeling better than new and was looking forward to the upcoming “Immortal” recitals on April 28 and 30. “It was like a temporary retirement after injuring my hand, so for me to make a full recovery is like a miracle. I still can’t even fully believe it. I’m

PerformanceApril 7, 2015

Korean sophistication, artistry and craftsmanship will be exhibited during Milan Design Week, one of the world’s largest showcases for design and craftworks.A total of 192 craftworks by Korean artisans will go on display under the title, “Constancy and Change,” at the Triennale Design Museum from April 14-19. It is the third straight year that Korea is holding the exhibition during the Milan Design Week, which brings together innovative designs from around the world.  Red dry lacquered bowl by K

Arts & DesignApril 7, 2015

A large trove of old Korean films considered lost have been acquired by a state-run film archive center, potentially filling some of the gaps in the official record of Korean cinema, Korea Film Archive revealed Tuesday.At a press conference in Seoul, the Seoul-based KOFA said that it had received a donation of 450 films, 94 of which were Korean films from 1949-1981 that were believed to be lost. The films will lead to a fuller understanding of Korean cinematic history, officials said. The 94 fil

FilmApril 7, 2015

Singer Park Hyo-shin’s new single “Shine Your Light” topped major Korean music charts upon its release, demonstrating the artist’s continuing strength in the K-pop scene. Released at midnight on April 6, the song dominated over six major music streaming sites, including Melon, Genie, Soribada, Mnet.com, and Bugs Music, replacing Miss A’s “Only You” as number one and overtaking current chart favorites such as EXO’s “Call Me Baby” and Lee Moon-sae and Naul’s “Spring Breeze.”  Park Hyo-shin. (Jelly

PerformanceApril 7, 2015

Popular Korean rock band CNBLUE will release its new Japanese EP “White” on Wednesday, its agency FNC Entertainment announced Tuesday. The album’s eponymous title track, which was prereleased on Japanese music site Recochoku, has topped the chart since April 1. The single also reached number one on another major Japanese music chart, HMV. For the band’s ninth Japanese album, all the members actively participated in composing the songs and writing lyrics.  CNBLUE. (FNC Entertainment)The title tra

PerformanceApril 7, 2015

When the clock struck midnight Tuesday, online music sites released the new full-length album from one of Korea’s most beloved singers, Lee Moon-sae. His new album, “New Direction,” is the first full-length album from the balladeer in 13 years, following his 14th album in 2002. “The title is ‘New Direction,’ but it’s not a grand statement about setting a new direction for music. It’s an album that’s truly Lee Moon-sae,” he said at a press conference at Baek-Am Art Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul on

PerformanceApril 7, 2015

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 fourth installment of a series introducing traditional local markets. ― Ed.At first glance, one would probably never guess what lies below the hustle and bustle of persistent food vendors of Seoul Jungang Market. Nestled in Hwanghak-dong near the city’s signature Cheonggyecheon Stream, the marke

TravelApril 6, 2015

Singer-actor Kim Jun-su, also known as Xia Jun-su, will star in the Korean production of musical “Death Note” in June, alongside acclaimed musical actor Hong Kwang-ho. Kim, a member of JYJ and crowd magnet in the local musical scene, will take up the role of genius private detective L in the upcoming musical. Hong, who made his musical debut at London’s West End in 2014, will play Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a deadly notebook that kills anyone whose name is written inside. 

PerformanceApril 6, 2015

A peculiar sculpture greets visitors at the old Seoul Station building. Dangling from the ceiling in the main lobby of the building is a tangled clump of twisted wooden ropes that are studded with rocks. All of the materials are from nature, but the wooden stalks are painted red, yellow, blue and white ― colors that conjure images of the cluttered manmade chaos of electrical wires. Artist Cha Ki-youl, who created the piece, “The Journey of Circulation/A Period Between Ark and Kangmok,” said it w

CultureApril 5, 2015

K-pop mogul Park Jin-young will return to the stage as an artist in his own right, according to industry sources Sunday. The singer, producer and chief of JYP Entertainment will release a new album of original tracks on April 13. It will be Park’s first new release in 19 months, following his 10th album “Halftime” in September 2013.Sources say that Park is putting the final touches on his album, personally working on the music, lyrics and choreography. He is expected to release a teaser and his

PerformanceApril 5, 2015

Noel Gallagher, the former lead guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter for hit English rock band Oasis, made his way back to Seoul to perform two sold-out shows on Friday and Saturday. In his third visit to Korea and the second with his own band, High Flying Birds, the British singer performed songs from his latest album “Chasing Yesterday.”Released in February, the album is a follow-up to his band’s eponymous debut album four years ago. After working on albums for Oasis, with which he par

PerformanceApril 5, 2015