Rihanna stands out at McCartney Paris show; Menkes quits Tribune

PARIS (AP) ― High fashion equals high drama, the latest installment of Paris Fashion Week proved Monday. A hooded Rihanna tried her best to pass unnoticed at the Stella McCartney show but caused yet more mayhem. Meanwhile, the world’s most influential fashion critic, Suzy Menkes, announced she’s ditching newspapers after a quarter of a century, though she denied there’s an end in sight for the print industry. Elsewhere, Swinging ’60s icon Marianne Faithfull lambasted a reporter after getting squ

Arts & DesignMarch 5, 2014

Expats to celebrate Holi in Busan

This event is organized by a group called Indians in Korea. However, there are two groups using that name. The organizers of this event should not be confused with the Indians in Korea that began in 2002 and can be found at indiansinkorea.com. -- Ed.Indians in Korea will celebrate Holi at Haeundae Beach in Busan on March 16. Holi is a Hindu spring festival that is most famous for its tradition in which people throw colorful dyes and water at each other. Although a religious festival, it is incre

Expat LivingMarch 4, 2014

International Women’s Day event to be held in Seoul

International Women’s Day Korea and Seoul International Women’s Association will be holding an event to highlight the difficulties and achievements of women around the world on Saturday.International Women’s Day has been celebrated internationally on March 8 since 1911, with IWDK holding events since its centenary in 2011. This is the first time SIWA will cohost the event.The afternoon will begin with a reception, followed by performances by storyteller Kim Seung-ah, who will narrate “The Golden

Expat LivingMarch 4, 2014

A feast of classical music

March looks set to be another memorable month for classical music fans in Korea, with big-name musicians such as legendary pianist Evgeny Kissin set to return. Kicking off this spring feast of music is the London Symphony Orchestra, which will perform March 10-11 at Seoul Arts Center. Although the orchestra itself is familiar to local fans ― it has performed eight times here in total, and every year since 2011 ― the upcoming concerts are still among the most anticipated of the season. Holding th

PerformanceMarch 4, 2014

Rock band Monni to release 4th studio album

Korean modern rock band Monni has announced that it will release its fourth studio album “Follow My Voice” on March 18.Monni’s upcoming release is expected to showcase various emotions such as strength, tenderness, coldness, sweetness and yearning, according to the band’s management agency Modern Rock Record.The agency said the album was titled “Follow My Voice” in hopes that people will naturally be attracted to the music and “come over when hearing Monni’s sounds.” The title track “In the Mome

March 4, 2014

Lim Chang-jung to release 12th studio album

Veteran singer-actor Lim Chang-jung is scheduled to unveil his 12th studio album later this month, according to his management agency NH Media on Monday.The upcoming release will be Lim’s first studio album in five years. Though Lim released the EP “A Guy Like Me” last September, his most recent studio album, “Return To My World,” was released in 2009.Lim’s 12th album features songs he wrote himself as well as works by singer Wheesung and renowned ballad composers such as Baek Min-hyuk, Ahn Youn

March 4, 2014

With new album, So Chan-whee returns in neo-rockabilly fashion

Longtime veteran singer So Chan-whee, best known for her hit single “Tears,” has returned to the music scene, only this time around she has shed her dance-ballad image and is paying tribute to the legendary Elvis Presley and the tremendous influence he had on the rockabilly movement. “Although I did make my debut performing dance music, the truth is I have always had the desire to pursue rock music,” said So during a press conference held at Rolling Hall in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on Monday. “I thou

March 4, 2014

Rain to debut in Chinese film

South Korean singer and actor Rain has been cast in a Chinese film for the first time, his management agency said Tuesday.Rain will play a talented young painter who falls in love with a woman in a melodrama directed by Gao Xixi, one of China’s most famous movie directors, Cube DC said.Rain is one of the most popular male celebrities in South Korea and a well-known star in other Asian countries, and has appeared in several TV series and films, including two American action flicks: “Speed Racer”

FilmMarch 4, 2014

‘Snow Queen’ syndrome grips Korea

This weekend, Disney’s animated film “Frozen” broke the 10-million viewer mark in local theaters, becoming the second film to reach the milestone this year after “The Attorney.” It is no exaggeration to say the country is almost obsessed with the film. Not only is “Frozen” the highest-grossing animated film ever in Korea but it is also one of only two foreign movies among the nation’s 10 highest grossing films of all time ― the other is James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Local costume players like to dre

FilmMarch 3, 2014

Remainder of Chun’s seized art trove to be auctioned next week

With about 90 percent of former President Chun Doo-hwan’s confiscated art collection sold, the remaining 97 artworks will come under the hammer at K Auction on March 12. K Auction is the second biggest art auction house in Korea and was commissioned by the government to sell the former leader’s seized artworks to collect his unpaid fines.  Some 600 artworks owned by Chun were confiscated by prosecutors last year as he had long refused to pay a fine imposed in 1997 for a number of crimes includin

PerformanceMarch 3, 2014

‘12 Years a Slave’ wins best picture at Oscars

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Perhaps atoning for past sins, Hollywood named the brutal, unshrinking historical drama “12 Years a Slave” best picture at the 86th annual Academy Awards. Steve McQueen’s slavery odyssey, based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir, has been hailed as a landmark corrective to the movie industry’s long omission of slavery stories, following years of whiter tales like 1940 best-picture winner “Gone With the Wind.” The British director dedicated the honor to those past sufferers of sl

FilmMarch 3, 2014