Stars on the red carpet at Baeksang Awards

Celebrities showed off their sense of style on the red carpet at the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Award in Seoul on Tuesday evening.Actor Kim Soo-hyun Actor Kim Soo-hyun poses at the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Award in Seoul on Tuesday evening. Kim won three awards – as the best new actor in a film and most popular actor in both television and movie segments. Actress Jun Ji-hyunActress Jun Ji-hyun flaunts a light pink dress at the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Awards. The Oscar De La Renta number is reportedly the

May 28, 2014

Gary to meet Hong Kong fans

Korean hip-hop singer Gary will hold a fan meeting in Hong Kong next month, sources said Wednesday.  (OSEN)The event is scheduled for June 8 at shopping center Tseung Kwan O in the city.Meanwhile, fan meeting requests are pouring in from other regions, his management agency said. Gary has recently released a single, titled “Your Scent,” with Jung-in. He currently appears on SBS entertainment show “Running Man.” (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

May 28, 2014

Song Gang-ho, Jun Ji-hyun get top nods at Baeksang Awards

Actor Song Gang-ho and actress Jun Ji-hyun won the grand prizes in the film and television segments, respectively, at the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Awards, held in the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in northeast Seoul on Tuesday. Song and Jun starred in the film “The Attorney (2013)” and SBS romantic drama “My Love from the Star,” respectively.Clockwise from top left: Song Gang-ho, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Soo-hyun, Shim Eun-kyung, Jin Kyung and Jun Ji-hyun. (JTBC)The best acting in film awards w

May 27, 2014

Loose Union to launch first compilation album

Seoul-based indie music collective Loose Union is launching its first 17-track compilation of local artists two years after it first formed.The mixtape includes songs from 17 Korean and expat artists, including all seven bands that Loose Union officially works with, and will be available on CD at the showcase and eventually streamed online. Loose Union cofounder and Used Cassettes member Danny Arens said that the CD would not be available for purchase due to rights issues, he said.“We are doing

Expat LivingMay 27, 2014

KOTESOL conference takes pragmatic tack

Korea Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages will hold its 2014 national conference in Daegu this weekend with a focus on practical advice for real-life classes.The annual conference is generally more practical than KOTESOL’s international conference, according to conference cochair Rob Dickey, but this time it will be “even more practical than usual.”“Instead of talking about theoretical classrooms or ideal classrooms, we are saying, ‘You’ve got 32 students in front of you, what do

Expat LivingMay 27, 2014

Everything about webtoons on show at national library

The National Library of Korea is holding an exhibition exclusively dedicated to webtoons ― digital comics that have emerged as one of the most prominent forms of online entertainment in Korea.Titled “All Webtoon,” the exhibit displays webtoon-related items and also runs programs in which visitors can try creating webtoons and have live discussions with webtoon artists.“For a long time, Korean comics have been regarded as low-brow culture and bemoaned by society at large. That webtoons are now sp

PerformanceMay 27, 2014

Exhibition looks into Korean beauty

Buddhist statues, stupas and ceramics have been associated with the image of Korea in overseas exhibitions of its culture and traditions. But an exhibition underway at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea seeks to break the stereotype with art inspired by Korean landscape. One of the exhibition walls displays images of Korean landscapes captured by observant artists ― majestic white clouds in a blue sky; small islands on the distant horizon; tall pine trees and the effect of

PerformanceMay 27, 2014

Korean hit movie to be reborn as Chinese version

"Miss Granny," a South Korean film that topped the local box office early this year, will be made into a new movie tailored for the vast Chinese market, the film's copyright holder said Tuesday.CJ E&M said the filming for the Chinese adaptation of the comedy will begin next month for release in the Chinese market.The new film, titled "20th Year, Once Again," will be co-produced by CJ E&M and a Chinese studio and directed by rising Chinese filmmaker Leste Chen, who is best known for "The Heirloom

May 27, 2014

15& releases first full-length album ‘Sugar’

Young K-pop vocal duo 15&, consisting of “K-pop Star” season 1 winners Park Ji-min and Baek Ye-rin, has finally released its first full studio album, titled “Sugar.” The 10-track album was released Monday and came nearly two years after 15& debuted. The album features the title track was written by DEEZ and Andrew Choi, the people behind the duo’s debut single “I Dream” and second single “Somebody.” While past “K-pop Star” contestants Lee Hi and Akdong Musician made a huge splash on the K-pop ch

May 27, 2014

4minute holds solo showcases in Sweden, Spain

The five-member K-pop idol group 4minute recently wrapped up its first solo showcase in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sunday and became the first K-pop girl group ever to hold a solo concert in the country.“4Minute Fan Bash in Stockholm 2014” was a small-scale showcase held at the Debaser Medis in the country’s capital and attracted around 1,000 fans from across Europe, including Norway, Finland, France, Germany and Italy. Two days before becoming the first female K-pop group ever to host a solo show in

May 27, 2014

BEAST returns with new EP on June 16

Officials at Cube Entertainment announced on Tuesday that popular boy band BEAST’s new EP will drop on June 16. According to a press release from Cube, the soon-to-be-released sixth EP will feature seven singles and mark BEAST’s first release since it unveiled its second studio album, “Hard to Love, How to Love,” last July. The album featured the group’s popular hit singles “Will You Be Alright?” and “Shadow” and topped the local music charts. In the past year, the members of BEAST have continue

May 27, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun named best new movie actor in Baeksang awards

Kim Soo-hyun won the best new actor award in the film segment of the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Awards at the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in northeast Seoul on Tuesday.  Actor Kim Soo-hyun (JTBC)Kim was nominated for his performance in “Secretly, Greatly (2013),” beating out Kim Woo-bin, Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Joon of MBLAQ and Yim Si-wan of ZE:A, who starred in “Friend: The Great Legend (2013),” “Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013),” “Rough Play (2013)” and “The Attorney (2013),” respectively.The ann

May 27, 2014

G-Dragon meets hero Pharrell Williams

(Instagram)Hip-hop artist G-Dragon revealed a photo that he took with an internationally renowned musician Pharrell Williams, saying in the caption: “I am pleased to finally meet you.”In the photo disclosed Tuesday, G-Dragon raises a champagne glass alongside the world star while making a V sign with his hand.“Pharrell Williams is my only idol star. He is the one who I want to work with most,” he said in an earlier interview with Hollywood magazine.  　By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.oc

May 27, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun wows crowd at LF Baeksang Arts Awards

(OSEN)Actor Kim Soo-hyun made an appearance at the 50th LF Baeksang Arts Awards held in the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in northeast Seoul on Tuesday.  (OSEN)The Korean heartthrob showed up in a black single-buttoned suit with a white shirt, sticking to a simple black-and-white code of fashion.  (OSEN)The annual awards ceremony has been hosted by IS PLUS Corp., publisher of Ilgan Sports, since 1965. The award ceremony recognizes outstanding achievements in Korean film, television, t

May 27, 2014

EXO‘s next steps under spotlight following successful concert

(SM Entertainment)Asian fans have their eyes on K-pop sensation EXO’s next steps after the idol group successfully wrapped up its first solo concert series from May 23-25 in Seoul. The EXO members will continue both their group and individual activities at home and abroad to expand their fan base that has been limited to teenage girls.D.O. plans to make a debut as an actor by playing a supporting role in the drama “It’s Okay, That‘s Love,” slated to be aired from July. The drama, written by one

May 27, 2014

Miss A’s Suzy cheers for LA Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin

 South Korean sweetheart Suzy of Miss A joined the crowd to cheer on Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the LA Dodgers.Ryu was tapped as the starting pitcher for a Major League Baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in California. The lefty managed to hold off the Reds for seven hitless innings until he allowed three hits early in the eighth. “Ryu’s sacrifice bunt was really great and he pitched so well. Although he missed a perfect game I still think it was flawless. I had so m

May 27, 2014

TVXQ‘s concert in Japan attracts 220,000 fans in 4 days

(OSEN)K-pop idol group TVXQ garnered as many as 220,000 fans at the concert “Tree: Live Tour 2014” held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 21-24, according to the Japanese music website Oricon Style.The sought-after duo also unveiled their new song “Sweat” to be released next month during the concert. TVXQ embarked on a concert tour on April 22 in Yokohama to visit 10 cities in Japan including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya for 29 performances.　By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

May 27, 2014

Kim Jae-joong, Lim Si-wan have contrasting fashion styles on ‘Triangle’

Korean celebrities Kim Jae-joong and Lim Si-wan have appeared with contrasting fashion styles on the TV drama “Triangle.”Kim Jae-joong, who plays the role of Heo Young-dal, the good-for-nothing guy, appears in comfortable T-shirts and jumpers. To highlight his masculine character, he often wears shirts with large printed patterns. But Lim Si-wan, playing Yun Yang-ha, wears expensive suits and ties to emphasize his gentlemanly character. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com) (Pho

May 27, 2014