[Herald Interview] Designer Munsoo Kwon adds whimsy to menswear

Munsoo Kwon attracted more viewers than any other rookie designer for his runway show at this year’s Seoul Fashion Week. His show was also frequently mentioned by foreign buyers and press as a favorite during the event. Since his debut with his 2013 fall and winter collection last year, he has become one of the most anticipated young designers in Seoul. His collection, featuring modern silhouettes and fine tailoring with a unique sense of humor, was widely praised by foreign buyers and press. Fo

Arts & DesignApril 1, 2014

Rich heritage of Korean craft to be showcased in Milan

The aesthetics and rich heritage of Korean craftwork will be introduced during Milan Design Week in April. A total of 174 craftworks by 21 Korean artisans will go on display at the Triennale Design Museum from April 8-13. The second showcase of Korean craftworks in Milan will feature diverse pieces ranging from metalware, lacquerware inlaid with mother of pearl, ceramics, fabric works and mulberry paper. Under the theme “Constancy and Change,” the Korean exhibition will focus on the natural beau

Arts & DesignApril 1, 2014

A garden of garments: Fashion’s a fabulous flower show this spring

PHILADELPHIA ― Designers pulled a bunch of pretty, petaled patterns from their graphic arsenals this spring, planting them generously all over sheaths and trousers, jumpsuits and shorts.The idea, of course, was to get women so excited about the sweet peony prints that they would start shopping well before the first crocuses of spring. The last time flowers were this fashionable was the early ’90s ― so most of our closets had nary a bud. And coincidentally, it also helped that we needed a boost a

Arts & DesignApril 1, 2014

Wheesung to come back with new EP

Wheesung (YMC Entertainment)Veteran singer-songwriter Wheesung is slated to make a comeback with a new album next month, marking his official return to the music scene since completing military duty last year.Wheesung is working on a new EP to be released in early May, his agency YMC Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album will be the singer’s first official EP release in more than two years. His last EP, “They Are Coming,” dropped in 2011. Since completing his military duty last August, W

April 1, 2014

Boy band EXO to return this month with showcase, EP

EXO, one of the nation’s most popular K-pop acts, is returning to the music scene with “EXO Comeback Show” at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium on April 15 as well as the release of its latest EP. Although the group will promote its new album separately in Korea and China through the subunit groups EXO-K and EXO-M, the upcoming showcase will combine the two to feature all 12 members. The group’s upcoming promotions will be done in collaboration with Samsung, and the showcase will be streamed live throug

April 1, 2014

BoA stars in Hollywood dance flick

BoA has taken her dance moves to Hollywood, becoming the leading lady in the independent dance flick “Make Your Move.” The movie is a Romeo and Juliet-inspired dance film directed by Hollywood filmmaker Duane Alder, who was also behind the scripts for box office smashes “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up.”Starring alongside American dancer, choreographer and five-time “Dancing with the Stars” winner Derek Hough, BoA plays Aya, a dancer from Japan who leads the “Cobu” hip-hop dance crew in New Yo

April 1, 2014

Lee Byung-hun to star in ‘Terminator: Genesis’

Actor Lee Byung-hun will continue his strides in Hollywood as it was announced that he will be starring in “Terminator: Genesis” alongside former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the star’s most iconic acting role ― the terminator. Lee is best known for Hollywood roles such as Storm Shadow in both “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” as well as playing the role of Han Jo-bae in “RED 2.” “Terminator: Genesis” will be the fifth sequel to the sci-fi hit Terminator f

FilmApril 1, 2014

New Michael Jackson songs set for release

PARIS (AFP) ― Five years after the death of the “King of Pop,” a posthumous Michael Jackson album due in May is set to thrill fans with eight previously unreleased songs, Epic Records announced on Monday. The album, due for release on May 13, has been named “XSCAPE,” which is also one of the new tracks mined from Jackson’s archives. After gaining access to four decades of the late singer’s material, Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony, chose eight songs that featured completed vocal tracks by Jac

PerformanceApril 1, 2014

Tongyeong, unlikely home to contemporary music fest

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province ― The sleepy little fishing town of Tongyeong on Korea’s southeastern coast is suddenly awakened from its winter slumber when spring brings with it cherry blossoms, tourists, and busloads of music aficionados who come for the Tongyeong International Music Festival, a festival of contemporary music.The opening of the Tongyeong Concert Hall this year marks a milestone in the growth of the festival that traces its roots to the 2000 Tongyeong Contemporary Music F

CultureMarch 31, 2014

Finnish choreographer teams up with traditional Korean dancers

Since its establishment in 1962, the National Dance Company of Korea has been focusing on Korean traditional dance.The troupe is making a meaningful step this month by collaborating with a non-Korean choreographer for the first time since its inception. Their latest work, “Vortex” ― slated to be staged on April 16 ― is choreographed by Finnish artist Tero Saarinen. “One of the main reasons behind this project is to give more opportunities for our dancers, who are the best in the country, to prep

PerformanceMarch 31, 2014

Wildflower Film Awards Korea to dole out first gongs

The newly established Wildflower Film Awards Korea is holding its first awards ceremony Tuesday, recognizing the achievements of Korean independent and low-budget films.Founded by film critic Darcy Paquet, who has written extensively on Korean cinema, the awards will hand out a total of nine trophies, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Documentary, the Documentary Jury award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best New Actor or Actress, Best New Director and Best Cinematography.A total of seven ind

FilmMarch 31, 2014

Outrage as U.S. comedian mocks Asian-Americans

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Social media erupted in outrage and counter-attacks Friday after U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert used language that mocked Asian-Americans in what was intended as an anti-racist jibe.Colbert, who is liberal but parodies a blustery conservative on his late night talk show, took aim at the Washington Redskins football team whose name is considered offensive by many Native Americans.Colbert mocked team owner Dan Snyder who has announced a fund to support Native Americans while reje

TelevisionMarch 31, 2014

How ‘Frozen’ characters were created

“Frozen” didn’t start off as a tale of two sisters. In the beginning of production, Elsa was a self-proclaimed “Snow Queen,” a classic villainess. Anna was not related to Elsa. Neither of them were princesses. It was only after the movie took multiple alternations in its nearly three-year production process that the two became sisters, and later, princesses of the kingdom of Arendelle, said Peter del Vecho, the award-winning producer behind Disney’s latest animated film, “Frozen.”“Frozen,” which

FilmMarch 31, 2014

Akdong Musician to debut next week

Akdong Musician, the winner of last year’s popular SBS singing audition program “K-pop Star 2,” will make its official debut next week.The young duo of singer-songwriter Lee Chan-hyuk and his sister and vocalist Lee Soo-hyun will release the album online on April 7, its agency, YG Entertainment, announced on its official blog Monday.Akdong Musician is scheduled to showcase these new songs on the upcoming episode of “K-pop Star 3” on April 6, the eve of its official release.Every song recorded on

March 31, 2014

[Herald Interview] Lee Michelle talks empowerment and breaking down stereotypes

Lee Michelle was first introduced to the public eye after auditioning for the first season of popular reality audition program K-pop Star in 2011, and has since further redefined racial stereotypes in Korea. Born to a Korean mother and African American father in the artistic rural town of Paju just north of Seoul, Lee grew up in Korea with her mother and older sister after her parents split. Her father returned to the States before she was born and to this day, Lee has never met him. Lee has alw

March 31, 2014

Ritz-Carlton Seoul names new general manager

The Ritz-Carlton Seoul has appointed Romanian hotelier Radu Cernia its general manager, the hotel said on Monday. Cernia has extensive experience in the East Asian hospitality industry. He previously held managerial posts in JW Marriott Beijing and The Ritz-Carlton Beijing and took charge of food and beverages at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo. Since he joined The Ritz-Carlton Company in 1998, he has held various positions at The Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Bulgari Hotels in Indonesia. Cernia graduated from

PeopleMarch 31, 2014

London skeletons reveal secrets of Black Death

LONDON (AP) ― You can learn a lot from a tooth.Molars taken from skeletons unearthed by work on a new London railway line are revealing secrets of the medieval Black Death ― and of its victims. This week, Don Walker, an osteologist with the Museum of London, outlined the biography of one man whose ancient bones were found by construction workers under London’s Charterhouse Square: He was breast-fed as a baby, moved to London from another part of England, had bad tooth decay in childhood, grew up

CultureMarch 30, 2014

‘Angels’ organ’ makes heavenly comeback

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Only a handful of professional musicians can play it, but a rare instrument banned in the 19th century is making a comeback, and even seducing a new generation of rock and electro stars.The glass armonica, invented by U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, was blamed for driving musicians crazy, and is not taught in any of the world’s top conservatories.“There are five or six of us who play it, for our own pleasure. It’s a very small community,” said Fren

PerformanceMarch 30, 2014