After School’s Yui reveals healthy beauty look

Korean girl group After School’s Yui showed off her healthy summer look in CeCi magazine. In the pictures, the K-pop singer and actress shows her feminine and playful side under the bright sun. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: CeCi)

May 22, 2014

After School’s Nana wearing stylish outfits for Allure

K-pop girl group After School’s Nana poses in stylish suits and medium long dresses for a fashion magazine. The photo shoot was done at Seoul landmarks including Deoksugung Palace, Cheonggyecheon and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo Credit: Allure)

May 22, 2014

Kara agency should compensate advertiser for damages: court

The Seoul High Court ruled Wednesday that DSP Media, K-pop girl group Kara’s agency, must compensate the Seoul-based apparel company Real Company, which claimed it suffered a serious toll due to the cancellation of the contract between Kara and the agency. According to the court decision, DSP Media must pay Real Company 50 million won ($48,800) as Kara failed to maintain the dignity needed to carry out the TV commercial shooting agreed to between the clothing company and Kara’s agency in 2011. T

May 22, 2014

Billboard picks 2NE1’s top 5 music videos

Billboard, the renowned American music magazine, has made a list of the five must-watch videos of K-pop girl group 2NE1 in celebration of the quartet’s fifth anniversary.2NE1’s signature song “I Am the Best,” released in 2011 and viewed more than 90 million times on YouTube, was crowned the best music video of the group. “Missing You” was ranked No. 2, followed by “Can’t Nobody,” “Do You Love Me” and “Fire.”The U.S. magazine lauded 2NE1’s high-quality tunes and videos featuring incredible visual

May 22, 2014

Ivry Gitlis still perfecting his craft at 91

At 91 years of age, legendary Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis shows no signs of retiring his bow as he has returned to Korea after two decades to perform a special solo concert in Seoul and to conduct two master violin classes. “I don’t remember exactly when it was (when I was last in Korea), but it was anyways the last century,” said Gitlis during a press conference held in Jung-gu on Wednesday. In his nearly nine-decade-long affair with the violin, Gitlis has become one of the most highly decora

PerformanceMay 21, 2014

Chung Kyung-wha is back ― 100%

Violinist Chung Kyung-wha has never felt so good in recent years. With her fingers fully recovered from what was once thought a career-killing injury, she practices for hours a day again, plans concerts around the world and, most importantly, is dreaming again. “It feels so good. My fingers have never been in such good condition before,” Chung said at her home at the foot of Mount Bukhansan, northern Seoul, on Wednesday. A world-acclaimed violinist and sister of conductor Chung Myung-whun and ce

PerformanceMay 21, 2014

Korean artist behind icy magic of ‘Frozen’

The long, turquoise blue dress of Queen Elsa from the movie “Frozen” seems to be the hottest fashion item among kindergarteners in Korea, months after the film finished its wildly successful run here.But few know that the shimmer and glitter of the famous gown is the work of a young Korean artist, who, many years back, was just a typical Korean teenager playing the computer game StarCraft for hours on end. “It took one and a half years just to complete (the effects on) the dress,” Yoo Jae-hyun,

FilmMay 21, 2014

Bowie returns to Berlin ― if just for a retrospective

Berlin (AFP) ― David Bowie’s richly creative years in gritty 1970s Berlin, where he made his iconic “Heroes” album, are explored in a new exhibition expanding on last year’s hit London show. Handwritten lyrics with words crossed out for the title track about a couple meeting at the Berlin Wall, a letter he wrote to Marlene Dietrich, and the painting he did that helped him kick a drug habit ― are among some 60 additional items in the Berlin show that reveal the seminal period Bowie spent in the d

PerformanceMay 21, 2014

Crayon Pop’s agency to launch new girl group next month

Quirky girl group Crayon Pop’s agency Chrome Entertainment has announced that it will launch a new girl group named Bob Girls next month.“Following Crayon Pop, Chrome Entertainment’s second girl group Bob Girls will be making its official debut in June,” the agency said on Wednesday.As their name signifies, all four members of Bob Girls ― Dahye, Yoojung, Jina and Danbi ― have short, bobbed hair and are said to possess professional vocal and dance skills, according to Chrome.Bob Girls (Chrome Ent

May 21, 2014

Bae Doo-na confirms dating Jim Sturgess

Bae Doo-na (left), the star of filmmaker July Jung’s “A Girl at My Door,” and Jim Sturgess walk together at the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival on Monday. (Yonhap)South Korean actress Bae Doo-na has revealed that she is dating British Hollywood actor Jim Sturgess, confirming rumors about the two stars.Bae was attending this year’s Cannes International Film Festival as the star of July Jung’s feature debut “A Girl at My Door,” which was selected for the festival’s Un Certain Regard sectio

May 21, 2014

McCartney cancels Seoul concert

Former bass player of the Beatles Paul McCartney’s first concert in Korea has been canceled due to his health problems, the concert organizer Hyundai Card announced on Wednesday.“Paul McCartney will regrettably have to postpone his forthcoming concert in Seoul, South Korea. After coming down with a virus in Japan, doctors have ordered Paul complete rest. Paul is still not feeling better and this cancellation is unavoidable,” said a spokesperson for Paul McCartney. “All possibilities to reschedul

PerformanceMay 21, 2014

U.S. rapper in ‘tempest in a teapot’ Jewish row

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Grammy-winning U.S. rapper Macklemore has apologized to anyone offended by a stage costume which critics claimed was anti-Semitic.One Jewish group called the row a “tempest in a teacup,” but hailed the apology by the rapper known for his liberal stances on issues including gay marriage.Comedian Seth Rogen took to Twitter to denounce the costume, including a beard and a large hooked nose, worn by the musician at a concert last week.“First you trick people into thinking you’re

PerformanceMay 21, 2014

Tiaras never get old: Pageant entrants enjoy their senior moment

LOS ANGELES ― Contestant No. 9 took the stage wearing satin gloves and a billowy chiffon gown. She had 35 seconds at the mike:“To be happy in life,” Gail Stebbins told the audience, “you have to learn to adjust to the things you can’t change.”When she lost her teeth years ago, she got new ones. When her hair fell out, she began to wear wigs. And when her bosom headed south, she gave it a lift with a little padding.It’s not exactly the kind of thing a beauty queen cares to admit. But Stebbins was

CultureMay 21, 2014

Polishing the image of factory-built homes

AKRON, Ohio ― Factory-built homes have long suffered from an image problem.But it’s time for that image to change, representatives from the industry say.Tim Williams, executive director of the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association, thinks people may be surprised by the homes if they see them.“People think they’re just trailers,” he said. “If they see it, I think they’ll realize the benefits” in terms of affordability and quality.These aren’t the shoddily built tin cans of old. They’re well-constru

Arts & DesignMay 21, 2014

Figurine-maker hopes for a miniatures resurgence

LOS ANGELES ― Susan Renaker Nikas still remembers the duck that saved her parents’ ceramics business nearly 70 years ago.The tiny bird was white and seemed to be gliding on a lake, designed on a whim by her mother. As an afterthought, her father added it to an order sheet for the dishware that the couple had been selling, somewhat steadily, despite a few nagging production problems.The duck, however, changed everything. Customers snapped it up.“From that point on, they decided to make animal fig

CultureMay 21, 2014

Shinhwa’s Eric considers appearing on new TV drama series

(Shinhwa Company)K-pop band Shinhwa member Eric Mun is considering starring on KBS’ new drama series, temporarily entitled “Discovery of Love.”“We are considering the offer for the new drama and it seems optimistic,” an official at Shinhwa’s management company told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. (Capture from MBC)The new TV program is stoking much anticipation among viewers as actress Jung Yoo-mi, who appeared on MBC’s drama series “Que Sera Sera” in 2007 together with Eric, was also mentioned a

May 21, 2014

f(x)’s Victoria, sexy but not over the top in Shanghai

Korean girl group f(x)’s Victoria was the main model of the pictorial lead by fashion brand Louis Quatorze and Allure magazine. Victoria looked both feminine and sexy, wearing bodysuits, crop tops and see-through dresses matching the photo location in Shanghai, China.By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo Credit: ELLE)

May 21, 2014

Actress Lee Yeon-hee on cover of Sure magazine

Korean actress Lee Yeon-hee appeared as the cover girl of Sure magazine. The actress showed a mature side and posed for eight moods including “pink” and “girlish“ for the inside pages of the magazine. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo Credit: Sure)

May 21, 2014

Whereabouts of EXO-M Kris remains unclear

The whereabouts of EXO-M leader Kris are uncertain amid no signs of immediate compromise with his entertainment agency over a legal battle surrounding his contract nullification.(Yonhap)Kris filed a lawsuit on May 15 against S.M. Entertainment to nullify his contract and has not returned to Seoul following a showcase in China. Some news outlets reported speculations that Kris is currently staying in Guangzhou, China. According Chinese news site Sina.com, Kris recently visited a hospital in Guang

May 21, 2014

SISTAR’s Bora takes selfie with Park Hye-jin

 K-pop girl group SISTAR member Bora has revealed a selfie taken with actor Park Hye-jin.On the official SISTAR Twitter page, Bora posted, “Did you catch today’s episode of ‘Doctor Stranger’? First time shooting scenes with Hye-jin oppa! Wonder if I’ll see him again…”The picture showed Bora and Park standing very close to each other and smiling. The two are both acting in the SBS drama “Doctor Stranger.”Park is playing the role of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Han Jae-jun and Bora plays Lee Ch

May 21, 2014