Infinite F unveils first Korean EP ‘Love’s Sign’

Infinite F. (Woolliment Entertainment)Infinite F, a trio subunit of the popular K-pop idol boy band Infinite, dropped its first EP, “Love’s Sign,” on Monday. Although L, Sung-jong and Sung-yeol had initially debuted the album in Japan last month, the group decided to release the Korean versions of the EP’s three singles, marking its official Korean debut. The new EP includes the album’s lead pop-ballad single, “My Heart is Beating,” as well as the singles “I Like You” and “My Girl.” The music vi

Dec. 1, 2014

FNC to hold family concert in Japan

CNBlue. (FNC Entertainment)FNC Entertainment, home to big-time K-pop groups CNBlue, FT Island, AOA and soloist Juniel, will host its “FNC Kingdom” family concert event in Japan this month. Members of the FNC family will hold four shows in Japan including two concerts in Chiba, just outside of Tokyo, on Dec. 20 and two performances in Osaka on Dec. 27. According to officials at FNC, the concert will not only feature performances by each of its idol groups, but will also include a number of never-

Dec. 1, 2014

[Design Forum] Design city moving forward

When Paul Cocksedge, a London-based light designer, entered Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a futuristic Seoul landmark designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, he was in awe of the unusual architecture and its spaciousness. “This building feels really healthy with lots of walking,” said the designer on Friday during the Design Talk, part of Seoul Design Week, which was held from Nov. 26-30.Five designers talked about three topics: the DDP, Korea’s design content and the Seoul Design Spot Tour.

Arts & DesignNov. 30, 2014

Five nights, five bands, one rock-filled week

For the 17th edition of Hyundai Card’s ongoing Culture Project series, the New Year will be kicking off with a bang with “5 Nights,” a week of live music starting Jan. 12.Avenged Sevenfold, Bastille, Starsailor, Rudimental and Asgeir will be making their way to Korea to electrify Seoul in the large-scale music festival featuring five solo concerts over five days.  American rock band Avenged Sevenfold will kick off the festival. Formed in the late ’90s, the band released its official debut album,

PerformanceNov. 30, 2014

Fans go wild over ‘Star Wars’ teaser

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a helmetless storm trooper appeared in frame, panicked and sweaty in the middle of vast desert landscape, kicking off the first official look at “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” After months of leaked images and idle speculation around director J.J. Abrams’ film, Disney and Lucasfilm on Friday debuted an 88-second teaser trailer for the seventh entry into the blockbuster franchise online and in about 30 North American theaters. The dark, energetic teaser

PerformanceNov. 30, 2014

For Julia Moon, life is a date with destiny

Gentle-spoken with a serene smile, Julia Moon, general director of Universal Ballet, is a picture of calm and elegant beauty. Her impeccable posture and graceful turn of head give away her career as a ballerina.At home in Hannam-dong, Seoul, in mid-November, Moon is followed around the house by a toy poodle named Ginger. The house is filled with photographs and memorabilia of her famous in-laws, a reminder of her ties with the late Rev. Moon Sun-myung of the Unification Church. At 21, she wed Re

PerformanceNov. 28, 2014

Calendar

FestivalsThe New Year Festival, Busan: This festival greets the first sunrise of the New Year on Haeundae Beach and at Yongdusan Park, two popular tourist sites. Festival-goers will bid farewell to 2014 at a bell-tolling event at Yongdusan Park from 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015. The event will resume with the sunrise on Haeundae Beach at 6:40 a.m. Small and large events such as fireworks, concerts and other entertainment will add to the festive mood. For more information, vis

CultureNov. 28, 2014

Cumberbatch shines as wartime code-breaker

’Tis clearly the season for Oscar-worthy performances by British actors playing mathematical geniuses facing daunting personal odds. Sound overly specific? Consider: A few weeks ago we had “The Theory of Everything,” starring Eddie Redmayne as the brilliant physicist Stephen Hawking. And now we have Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game” as Alan Turing, the man chiefly responsible for cracking the vaunted Enigma code used by the Germans in World War II. But even though Turing literally cha

FilmNov. 28, 2014

Eyelike: Imelda May’s ‘Tribal’ is a blast of energy

Imelda May’s ‘Tribal’ is a blast of energyImelda May“Tribal”(Verve)Irish singer Imelda May sometimes sounds like a performer who was born a few decades too late, but is not letting it stop her having a good time. With her bright red lipstick and slick curl of hair, May harkens back to rockabilly pioneers like Wanda Jackson and early rock ’n’ roll outlaws such as Eddie Cochran. Her signature sound is rockabilly seasoned with jazz and blues and spiced with punk attitude. It’s party music with a da

PerformanceNov. 28, 2014

Box Office: Big Match, Late Spring, Set Me Free

Big Match (Korea)Opened Nov 26Action, Comedy. Directed by Choi HoWhen Choi Ik-ho (Lee Jung-jae), a professional mixed martial arts fighter, finds out that his brother Choi Young-ho (Lee Sung-min) has suddenly disappeared, he receives a mysterious call from a genius named Ace (Shin Ha-kyun). Ik-ho is forced to become a marker inside a special game designed by Ace for wealthy gamblers. Ik-ho has no choice but to play this real-time life-or-death game if he wants to save his brother and his own lif

FilmNov. 28, 2014

A day in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village

Tucked away from the honking horns and crowded sidewalks of midtown Manhattan sits Greenwich Village, a downtown neighborhood that spans west of Broadway to the Hudson River.Although only a quick subway ride from bustling Grand Central station, Greenwich Village (known simply as “the Village” to locals) seems almost like a different city entirely, its streets lined with ivy-covered houses and candlelit restaurants.While many New York City tourists don’t venture beyond the likes of Times Square a

TravelNov. 28, 2014

Around the hotels

‘Christmas Delight’ at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s Lobby Lounge.Bar is providing a new afternoon tea set in time for the festive Christmas season. The tea set consists of dessert items arranged on a tiered tray and a choice of cocktails, coffee or tea. Desserts include cinnamon raisin scone, blue cheese macaron, Earl Grey panna cotta, red velvet cupcake and snacks such as turkey bruschetta, salmon tataki with yuzu jam and more. The tea cocktails are non-al

FoodNov. 28, 2014

Dak galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken)

Dak galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) (Korean Bapsang)Dak galbi is very popular all over Korea, especially in Chuncheon, a city in Gangwon Province, where the dish originated in the 1960’s. It is a spicy stir-fried chicken dish made with boneless chicken pieces, rice cakes (tteokbokki tteok), green cabbage, sweet potato and other vegetables. Dak means chicken, and galbi means ribs. But, there are no ribs in this dish. Back in the day, pork ribs (dweji galbi) were too expensive for everyday grilli

FoodNov. 28, 2014

A memorable pizza from a Nashua childhood

NASHUA, New Hampshire (AP) ― It’s one of those haunting food memories I’ve tried ― foolishly ― to escape for nearly 25 years. And it’s ruined me for any facsimile since.I’m speaking of the pizza joint ― for in the days before artisanal, gluten-free crusts and free-range mozzarella, they all were joints ― that formed the backbone of my high school years. Sort of dingy with a smattering of so-not ironic arcade games, Espresso Pizza was the only correct answer to teenage boy pizza cravings in this

FoodNov. 28, 2014