Hongdae is set to lose one of its brightest stars when belly dancer Eshe Yildiz departs for Canada.For the last seven years, through her collaborations with indie bands and the formation of her belly dance troupe Navah, she has been instrumental in marrying local and expat performances.Eshe says she knew there was a passion for belly dancing in Korea, but it took time to find her place.“When I arrived in late 2007, I was hopeful I would find a home here immediately. It wasn’t until I started con

Expat LivingFeb. 11, 2015

In the U.S., the TV landscape is changing drastically, with the rise of Netflix. Enabled by on-demand Internet streaming, viewers now watch several episodes or perhaps even an entire season of a TV series in one sitting, in a phenomenon called “binge watching.” John David Coles, a famed TV director who helmed the hit Netflix series “House of Cards,” said the changes are turning the TV viewing experience into something similar to reading a classic novel. “Television has become something like a 19

TelevisionFeb. 11, 2015

Contemporary art has become borderless, with visual presentations coming to focus less on national identity and more on individuality. In what appears to be an attempt to go against this trend, Art Sonje Center is seeking to explore the national identities of Asian artists whose works deal with historical, social or ideological issues of their countries. The broad theme of national identity is explored in the exhibition of 12 artists from China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Put together by curators

PerformanceFeb. 11, 2015

When people around the world think about music and Korea, one word immediately springs from their lips: “K-pop!” What’s known to some in Korea, but very few outside, is that there is a rich stream of creative talent that bubbles below the surface of mainstream music. Several of such musicians will be making a pilgrimage to the U.S. to play at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas, one of the few events in the world that properly celebrates the indie underside of the gl

PerformanceFeb. 11, 2015

Pernod Ricard Korea CEO Jean-Manuel Spriet (left) delivers a scholarship to a student at Gugak National High School in Seoul at a ceremony on Monday. Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald

PeopleFeb. 10, 2015

The bubbly members of Crayon Pop are gearing up to return to the stage with a roar, teaming up with K-pop hit-maker Shinsadong Tiger for the group’s next single.“This comeback is going to be awesome! Thank you for giving us such a great song,” the members of Crayon Pop wrote on their Facebook page on Tuesday, praising the producer.  K-pop producer Shinsadong Tiger (third from right) poses with the girl group Crayon Pop. (Chrome Entertainment)Shinsadong Tiger is one of K-pop’s most recognized pro

Feb. 10, 2015

To understand Pierre Herme, it is almost implicitly understood that a bite of one of his world famous macarons is the first step. Luscious, fragrant and delicate, macarons like his orange blossom-rose-ginger morsel serve as sufficient proof as to why he has been touted “the Picasso of Pastry” by French Vogue. Now, with two boutiques in Seoul, the master himself is here in South Korea for a four-day trip that includes, of course, meeting with his fans and visiting his shops. When he sat down for

FoodFeb. 10, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) ― Brittany Brown wouldn’t miss the opening of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie for anything. She has read and reread all three books, uses the app, follows a FSOG role-play on Twitter and set her DVR to record trailers for the highly anticipated Valentine’s weekend release. But ditching her boyfriend for her gal gang of superfans was problematic.  Dakota Johnson and James Dornan star in “Fifty Shades of Grey.” (Universal Pictures)“Feb. 14 is actually his birthday. He’ll go out with

FilmFeb. 10, 2015

A Korean computer engineering professor will be listed in this year’s Marquis Who’s Who in the World, an international encyclopedia of short biographies.  Professor Jo Tae-hoJo Tae-ho, 45, who teaches at Inha University in Incheon, was chosen for his academic contributions to the data processing field. He has published more than 100 papers on machine learning, soft computing and data mining in international journals and participated in academic conferences. The encyclopedia is known as one of th

PeopleFeb. 10, 2015

The four young lads, waiting for an interview with this reporter in the lobby of Seoul Arts Center one recent afternoon, might have been mistaken by passersby as classmates. The jolly foursome emits such energy and warmth, and a shared and inexhaustible sense of humor. What binds them, however, is much more than friendship. From left: Kim Jae-young (violin), Lee Seung-won (viola), Kim Young-uk (violin) and Moon Woong-whee (cello).They are Novus Quartet, Korea’s only string quartet that has won i

PerformanceFeb. 9, 2015

This summer already has all the makings of an epic concert season as two more big-name acts have announced their plans to perform in Korea. As part of its first-string lineups, CJ Entertainment announced the Foo Fighters as one of the Ansan M Valley Rock Festival’s headlining acts, with the news of more big-time headliners to be revealed soon. Iconic American rock band Foo Fighters will be hitting the stage at the upcoming three-day festival, which is scheduled to be held from July 24-26 in Ansa

PerformanceFeb. 8, 2015

Korea’s hotel scene is welcoming a new breed of players. Offering no-frills rooms and basic guest services at a relatively affordable price, budget hotels are springing up in Seoul’s tourist-heavy neighborhoods of Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun and Gangnam, aiming to cater to price conscious individual travelers and the surging Chinese tourists. With room rates ranging from $70 to $120 a night, this emerging group is fast filling a slack in the industry that has long been dominated by two extremes ― hi

TravelFeb. 8, 2015