Actress Tang Wei: ‘This is my golden era’

Chinese actress Tang Wei poses at a press conference of the film, “The Golden Era,” in Busan during the 2014 BIFF on Friday. (Yonhap)BUSAN -- Chinese actress Tang Wei, in her visit to the 19th annual Busan International Film Festival, shared her thoughts and experiences on her role as Chinese literary icon, Xiao Hong, in director Ann Hui’s latest film, “The Golden Era.”　The Chinese – Hong Kong film is a biopic of legendary Chinese writer Xiao (real name Zhang Naiying), who lived through a period

FilmOct. 3, 2014

2PM idols talk past, present and future

　When 2PM made its debut in 2008 with the single, “10 Points Out of 10 Points,” the idol group captured the hearts of many K-pop fans with the members’ masculine, beast-like image. 　However, back then, the seven-member-turned-six-member boy band was not much more than an idol group that performed songs mainly composed by its agency’s CEO and producer Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment.　Now after more than seven years in the game, the members’ vast experiences as long-time K-pop singers have led

Oct. 3, 2014

Joo Won to hold charity fan meeting

Joo Won (SIM Entertainment)South Korean actor Joo Won will host a charity fan meeting on Saturday to raise money for a teenage patient with cerebral palsy, as well as for multicultural families, his agency SIM Entertainment announced Friday. The financial donations made at the event will help 17-year-old cerebral palsy patient Kim Young-soo receive some needed dental treatment, according to the star's agency. The funds raised will also go to support multicultural families in Korea in need of med

Oct. 3, 2014

BIFF 2014: Red carpet arrivals

BUSAN--The 19th Busan International Film Festival has kicked off and the red carpet is in full swing with A-listers gracing the moment at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan on Thursday evening.Check out the best red carpet looks at the 2014 BIFF:1. Actor Jung Woo-sung and Actress Esom Film “Scarlet Innocence” stars, actor Jung Woo-sung and actress Esom attend the red carpet ceremony. 2. Actress Tang WeiChinese actress Tang Wei waves at the red carpet ceremony for her film “The Golden Era.” 3. Acto

FilmOct. 2, 2014

Busan festival to feature 314 films

The 19th edition of the Busan International Film Festival will roll out the red carpet for a slew of big name actors and filmmakers, drawing film lovers to the southeastern port city of Busan from Oct. 2-11. The largest film festival in Asia will screen 314 films from 79 different countries, including 98 world premieres. “The Truth Shall Not Sink with the Sewol,” a Korean documentary directed by Lee Sang-ho and Ahn Hae-ryong, has stirred up controversy as it deals with the April 16 sinking of th

FilmOct. 1, 2014

Chanel creates Paris street in star-filled show

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld (center) acknowledges the public along with models faking a demonstation as they present creations for Chanel during the 2015 spring-summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show on Tuesday at the Grand Palais in Paris. (AFP-Yonhap)PARIS (AP) ― They were styles literally made to be worn on the street. But not just any street: this was Chanel’s boulevard. Karl Lagerfeld did it again Tuesday, producing the most outlandish and expensive ready-to-wear show of the seaso

Arts & DesignOct. 1, 2014

Artist Lee Bul returns with colossal works

Artist Lee Bul is presenting two gigantic installations in her new exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. One, titled “Civitas Solis (The City of the Sun),” occupies the largest exhibition hall of the museum. Mirror fragments cover all sides of the room and form corridors to create a labyrinth of mirrors. Viewers experience infinite expansion of space with no edges or borders. Yellow light bulbs spell out “Civitas Solis,” producing reflections and curves in th

PerformanceOct. 1, 2014

Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko to release solo album

Gaeko of Dynamic Duo. (Amoeba Culture)Rap star Gaeko of Dynamic Duo is gearing up to break out of his shell with the release of his first full-length solo album this month, according to a press release from the group’s agency, Amoeba Culture, on Wednesday. The rapper is slated to unveil “Redingray” sometime in mid-October, making this his first official solo release in nearly two years since his single “Rhythm is Life.” “With this album, Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko will be on his own, showcasing his per

PerformanceOct. 1, 2014

‘K-pop Star 3’ winner Park debuting under JYP this month

Less than six months after being crowned the winner of popular singing competition program “Survival Audition K-pop Star 3,” Korean-American Bernard Park will officially be making his K-pop debut under JYP Entertainment this month. According to a press release from JYPE officials on Wednesday, Park is slated to drop his first single, which was produced and composed by JYPE founder and famed producer Park Jin-young, on Oct. 6. One week after the release of his debut single, Park will then unveil

Oct. 1, 2014

9 things to know about Jessica‘s exit from Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation, one of the most popular K-pop girl bands in Asia, is facing its toughest time since its debut in 2007 after Jessica claimed on Tuesday that she was “forced out” of the group by her agency. The news first went viral after Jessica accused her label SM Entertainment of unfairly dismissing her from the group without any warning through her Weibo account.The group’s fans refused to believe what Jessica claimed, and some even raised speculations that the account had been hacked. A f

Oct. 1, 2014

Jessica perplexed about SM’s unilateral decision

Jessica, the embattled former member of K-pop idol group Girls’ Generation, renewed her claims that her label SM Entertainment unilaterally dismissed her in a press release on Wednesday. “On Sept. 29, I was notified that I should leave the team. I am too perplexed and devastated,” she said through a press release made by the public relations agency for her newly-launched fashion brand.“I have put my career as a member of Girls‘ Generation first before my personal life or business. But I was info

Oct. 1, 2014

Half-naked celebrity cleared of drug charges

Model and actor Julien Kang was not high on drugs when he was caught walking around half-naked in public, the National Forensic Service confirmed on Wednesday. The local police said the Korean-French actor’s drug test results were negative, citing the state forensic agency. Model and actor Julien Kang. (OSEN)Kang was suspected of illegal drug abuse after being arrested on a busy street in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on Sept. 25 while wearing only his briefs. He was taken to the local police for an

Oct. 1, 2014

Girls’ Generation shed tears at fan meeting

The embattled K-pop idol group Girls’ Generation shed tears at a fan meeting held Tuesday in China, hours after their member Jessica‘s removal from the group was made public.  　The group’s eight members -- Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung and Yoona -- held the fan event “2014 Girls’ Generation First Fan Party” in Shenzhen, China, on Tuesday, without Jessica.　 Girls’ Generation left for China without Jessica on Tuesday (Osen)Earlier in the day, the band’s agency SM Entert

Oct. 1, 2014

KOTESOL reaches out for conference

Korea Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages has joined forces with the Korea Association of Foreign Language Education for its conference this weekend at Coex in Gangnam, Seoul.The annual conference invites speakers from all over the world to share insights on language education, but this year’s event has widened its scope by involving several new organizations.KOTESOL’s members are teachers at all levels, from kindergarten to university, and about 70 percent of them are expats, whi

Expat LivingSept. 30, 2014

Camarata Music Company runs autumn fund-raiser

The Camarata Music Company will host its annual “Fall into Music” fund-raiser with McKinney Consulting next week.The evening will include performances by the Camarata Chamber Singers and Jazz Trio, a standing buffet and complimentary wine.There will also be a live auction with United Airlines round-trip business-class tickets to the U.S. or Canada among the items on offer, and a host of raffle prizes. Camarata runs four big concerts a year, with the biggest being a performance of Handel’s “Messi

Expat LivingSept. 30, 2014

[Herald Interview] Conductor preaches beauty of orchestral music

As many as a hundred people gather ― each with their own musical instrument and own musical world ― to create harmony. There will mostly likely be some drama.It’s the conductor who must put aside whatever discord that members may have, make them work like organs of the human body, and in the end present harmonious music. Conductor Kim Bong-mee says the beauty of orchestral music is right there in that moment. “So many different people with different musical instruments and colors come together f

PerformanceSept. 30, 2014