Hit Korean drama 'My Love from the Star' to get remake in U.S.

 The major American TV network ABC will remake the South Korean mega-hit TV series "My Love from the Star," the series' local producer said Friday."We've been prepared for the U.S. remake of the drama since February, and we're thankful for getting this opportunity," Moon Bo-mi, head of the original drama's producer HB Entertainment, said in a press release.Confirming an earlier report from the Hollywood Reporter, an influential entertainment media company in the United States, Moon said her comp

Sept. 19, 2014

Krystal and Ahn Jae-hyun pose as couple at photo shoot

F(x)’s Krystal and model and actor Ahn Jae-hyun posed for the fashion brand Puma. As fashion icons, the couple looked exceptionally stylish, chic and charismatic. A photo in which they perch on a bike shows their perfect chemistry -- they look just like a real couple.　By Yoon Ji-soo, Intern reporter (thankque@heraldcorp.com)[Photo Credit: Puma]

Sept. 19, 2014

EXO Luhan to join Beijing concert after recovering from poor health

Luhan, a member of the K-pop idol group EXO, plans to take part in the group’s upcoming concert in China. The idol did not participate in the concert held in Thailand due to poor health.  (OSEN)“Luhan has made a full recovery, so he can participate in the concert to be held in Beijing, his hometown,” said an official from his agency SM Entertainment.A week ago, Luhan apologized on his Weibo account for his absence ahead of the concert. “I want to apologize to our Thai fans and all of you. I have

Sept. 19, 2014

The art of reading trends

This is the 15th in a series highlighting women and their accomplishments in the various facets of the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed. While you may be unfamiliar with the name Lee Shin, chances are you’ve come across her work on album covers or even used one of the series of emoticons she designed for KakaoTalk. “Foul-Mouthed Grandma” and the “Dog Series” have been particularly popular. As the design director at Hansigan, Lee develops the concepts for characters and leads the team that des

CultureSept. 18, 2014

Peter Fonda’s ‘Easy Rider’ bike going to auction

NEW YORK (AP) ― The customized Captain America chopper Peter Fonda rode in “Easy Rider” has come to symbolize the counterculture of the 1960s. Now it’s for sale. The auction house Profiles in History told The Associated Press that it estimates the Harley-Davidson will bring $1 million to $1.2 million at its Oct. 18 sale being held online and at its galleries in Calabasas, California. The seller is Michael Eisenberg, a California businessman who once co-owned a Los Angeles motorcycle-themed resta

CultureSept. 18, 2014

Five reasons to visit Busan this fall

Busan, Korea’s second-largest city, nestled on the fascinating southern coast, has various attractions that beckon tourists all year round. They range from beautiful beaches and fresh local seafood to ultraconvenient mega shopping centers. But if you happen to be a big fan of movies, fine art or computer games, or just want to explore the city’s charms on a crisp, sunny day, fall is the best time to visit Busan. Here are the reasons why: Busan International Film Festival In Busan, the arrival of

TravelSept. 18, 2014

[Herald Review] ‘Mupung’: Tradition lives on with all-female troupe

The sounds of culture, a dance of beauty and an exhibition of strength ― the National Theatre of Korea’s production of “Mupung” harnesses the tradition of “nongak” through a troupe of female performers. “Nongak” is referred to as traditional Korean farmer’s music, which nowadays is mainly done as performance art. In the 1950s and ’60s, before the television became the main source of entertainment, touring all-female nongak troupes enjoyed huge popularity in Korea. But their era ended in 1979, wi

PerformanceSept. 18, 2014

[Herald Review] Warriors battle in fantasy realm in ‘Tournament’

A battle of warriors hoping to reach the thrones of heaven and rise up against the guardians who stand in their way take the stage in the National Theater of Korea’s upcoming modern dance production of “Tournament.” The imaginative storyline of the dance piece is the lovechild of Yun Sung-joo, director of “The Scent of Ink,” and Ahn Sung-soo, choreographer of “Altar.” With Yun taking charge of the powerful, martial arts-inspired choreography of the male warriors, and Ahn taking the reins of the

PerformanceSept. 18, 2014

Journalist’s memoir lacks personal insight

Foreign Correspondent: A MemoirBy H.D.S. Greenway(Simon & Schuster)A memoir is defined as a written account in which someone describes past experiences. Longtime journalist David Greenway certainly does that in “Foreign Correspondent: A Memoir.” Working for Time, The Washington Post and others, he covered nearly every significant historical conflict during the past half-century from Vietnam and Israel to Afghanistan and Iraq. Greenway’s book serves as an excellent primer to America’s history of

BooksSept. 18, 2014

Professor looks at economics of slavery

The image of the genteel, benevolent Southern slave owner was the creation of early 20th century artists and writers like D.W. Griffith and Margaret Mitchell. Life on the antebellum plantation, they led us to believe, was as languid as a slow-moving river winding through magnolia trees.At about the same time, American historians were writing the first analyses of slave-centered Southern society. Slavery was an economically inefficient institution, they argued. For slave owners, profit was a seco

BooksSept. 18, 2014

‘Hold the Dark’ no simple crime story

Hold the DarkBy William Giraldi (Liveright) If dark, violent novels aren’t usually my cup of tea, why did “Hold the Dark” exert such a hold over me, right from the start? “Hold the Dark” begins simply enough ― wolves have taken three children from a tiny Alaska hamlet. Medora Slone, mother of the most recent missing child, beckons Russell Core, a nature writer who has become a wolf expert after living with them for a year in Yellowstone, to her village that is so far off the grid that it doesn’t

BooksSept. 18, 2014

Novel with vivid sense of Japan

Tokyo KillBy Barry Lancet (Simon & Schuster)Art, social issues, culture and, yes, war ― all the things that make or break a society ― converge in Barry Lancet’s exciting second novel about antiques dealer Jim Brodie, who inherited his father’s Tokyo-based private investigation and personal protection firm. Lancet delves deep to illustrate the intricacies of Asian culture in “Tokyo Kill,” while also delivering a believable, action-packed plot. The combination of Brodie’s occupations might seem od

BooksSept. 18, 2014

‘Blind Spot’ picks up Jesse Stone novels

Robert B. Parker’s Blind SpotBy Reed Farrel Coleman (Putnam)Although Robert B. Parker died in 2010, stories about iconic Boston private eye Spenser have continued through novels by Ace Atkins. Now award-winning author Reed Farrel Coleman takes up the mantle by continuing the Jesse Stone novels with “Robert B. Parker’s Blind Spot.” In his first outing with Jesse Stone, Coleman deftly captures the nuances of this character who Parker introduced in 1997 and featured in nine novels. Parker was caref

BooksSept. 18, 2014

Historic fantasy to inspire youth

Most people in their 70s slow down when it comes to work and settle into the comfort of retirement ― but not Daisy Lee Yang. Instead, the former teacher, doctorate in comparative and international education, diplomat’s wife, and loving grandmother pursued a new chapter in her life. She decided to write a novel with a superhero whom her grandchildren can look up to. The result is “Lady Bora from Diamond Mountain,” a historical fantasy novel of a super heroine during the Joseon era (1392-1910). Th

BooksSept. 18, 2014

Lee Min-jung returns to parents’ home, not to marital home

South Korean actress Lee Min-jung, the wife of top-tier actor Lee Byung-hun, is currently staying at her parents’ home away from her husband, Korean media reported Thursday. 　Lee, who stayed in Paris for two weeks, returned to Korea on Tuesday. The actress headed to her parents’ home in Gangnam, southern Seoul, instead of going back to the home she shares with her husband after shooting a TV commercial. 　“Lee came back to Korea to attend her friend’s wedding. It would be a lie if she said she wa

Sept. 18, 2014

Seo In-guk in street fashion

Singer and actor Seo In-guk has posed in a photo shoot for fashion brand Pancoat. Seo pulled off street fashion perfectly. From impish grins to serious looks, the star showed a variety of styles in the picture.You can see the photos on the Pancoat website ( http://www.pancoat.com).　By Yoon Ji-soo, Intern reporter (thankque@heraldcorp.com)[Photo Credit: Pancoat]

Sept. 18, 2014

‘Dansaekhwa’ under global spotlight

In the 1960s and 1970s, some Korean artists took on different painting methods. Instead of applying paint to canvas, they pushed thick paint from the back of the canvas, applied paint with a finger, or sprayed water onto the canvas surface. Suppressed by the military-backed government, the artists sought to explore a deeper part of their mind through repetitive, performative painting. Criticized by their contemporary peers for turning away from reality, the artists continued to develop an abstra

PerformanceSept. 17, 2014

Chinese vases soar 120 times past estimate to fetch $1.2m

NEW YORK (Bloomberg) ― A pair of Chinese porcelain vases sold Monday for $1.2 million at Doyle New York, soaring 120 times past its low estimate. The two 16-inch tall glazed vases, painted with branches of blooming peonies on a turquoise background, each had a Qianlong-era seal on its base, referring to the reign of the Qianlong Emperor from 1736 to 1795. Estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, they were part of Doyle’s “Asian Works of Art” sale in New York. The price includes buyer’s commission.  A pa

CultureSept. 17, 2014

History meets modern art, high tech

Move over galleries, museums and theaters. Royal palaces are the new face of Seoul’s vibrant art and culture scene ― at least for nine days starting on Sept. 20. The first-ever Royal Culture Festival brings a plethora of performances, art exhibitions and cultural programs to four majestic royal palaces of Seoul, blending history, modern art and futuristic technology. Cute robots reenact royal ancestral rites. The kings’ royal procession plays in a three-dimensional documentary film screened in a

CultureSept. 17, 2014

Yoon goes acoustic on solo EP

Rock musician and TV personality Yoon Do-hyun has returned to the stage with his first solo album in nearly five years.Best known as the lead singer of rock band YB, Yoon unveiled the tracks from his new solo EP, “Singing Yoon Do-hyun,” for the first time at a media showcase at the YES24 Muv Hall in the Hongdae area of Seoul on Tuesday. “I have been very anxious about this release this time around, especially because of the fact that this is a solo album,” said the rocker, visibly nervous during

Sept. 17, 2014