Sharon biography exhaustive, exhausting

Arik: The Life of Ariel SharonBy David Landau (Knopf) Its dust jacket hails “Arik,” published this month, as “the first in-depth, comprehensive biography of Ariel Sharon, the most dramatic and imposing Israeli political and military leader of the last 40 years.”Comprehensive it certainly is, and author David Landau’s timing is fortuitous. Sharon died Saturday at age 85. Born Feb. 26, 1928, in Kfar Malal in central Israel to parents of Russian Jewish descent, Ariel Sharon (originally, Scheinerman

BooksJan. 16, 2014

New collection of author interviews

How to Read a NovelistBy John Freeman (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)The arts journalists can get a little weird around great novelists. We write for a living. So do they. But that shred of similarity can make us envy and idolize what they do. They’re like us, but bigger, better and more imaginative.I’ve always enjoyed reading John Freeman’s author profiles because he seems entirely comfortable with his corner of the firmament and place in the pecking order. His new collection, the cheekily titled “

BooksJan. 16, 2014

Galaxy smartphone wins top honor at Korea Image Awards

Every year, the Corea Image Communication Institute puzzles over the person, place or thing that promoted South Korea’s image abroad the most.CICI awarded the equine dance sensation Psy last year; the group recognized the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid Committee in 2012; and the year before that, it lauded Incheon International Airport.This year’s “Korea Image Stepping Stone Award” went to Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy smartphone for its “enormous contribution toward promoting Korea’s image as

PeopleJan. 16, 2014

Obsessive fan follows Sunny home

Girls’ Generation member Sunny posted a warning message on her Twitter Wednesday, aimed at an obsessive fan shadowing her car as she headed home. “I’m driving home to eat with my family. There is not much to look for today, so please don’t endanger others’ lives with your reckless driving,” Sunny wrote. The girl group member was driving alone unaccompanied by her manager around 8 p.m. to her parents’ home. She is said to have been followed by a fan at the time. The tweet was deleted but other fa

TelevisionJan. 16, 2014

‘Inspiring Generation’ attempts to grab top drama slot

The premiere of KBS drama “Inspiring Generation” aired Wednesday and came second to SBS’ “Man from the Stars,” emerging as a strong rival to the front-runner. The drama generated two times the viewership ratings at 7.8 percent, premiering as a follow-up in the Wednesday-Thursday TV drama time slot, taking away 1.3 percent of viewers from “Man from the Stars.”“Inspiring Generation” started with a 15 billion won budget and stars K-pop idol Kim Hyun-joong as Shin Jung-tae, a fighter who is torn bet

TelevisionJan. 16, 2014

Why so many churches in Korea?

Aaron Tan, a renowned architect based in Hong Kong, once described Seoul as “A city full of glowing church crosses.” And that seems to be an impression shared by many foreign visitors to Korea, as crosses atop high-rise church steeples, illuminated white or red at night, dot the skyline of Seoul. Has Korea been transformed into a Christian nation after hundreds of years of cultural domination by Confucianism and Buddhism?Professor Chung Byung-joon of Seoul Jangshin University in Gwangju, Gyeongg

CultureJan. 15, 2014

‘Pine Trees’ bring attention to tricky issue of photograph copyright

Internationally acclaimed British-American photographer Michael Kenna appeared in a Korean court Wednesday afternoon.He was there to testify as a witness in the copyright lawsuit filed by his Korean agent Gallery Kong against Korean Air, which used “almost the same” image as his for a TV commercial in 2011.He called Korean Air’s use of the image “bad behavior.”Kenna said he believes Korean Air was aware of his picture, “Pine Trees,” when it used a similar photograph taken at the same location an

PerformanceJan. 15, 2014

When a gangster falls in love

Prominent actor Hwang Jung-min is back with his latest romance “When a Man Loves a Woman,” a typical Korean tearjerker in many ways. There is a gangster, a terminal illness and a betrayal. And tears. A lot of them. “When a Man Loves a Woman” is produced by the same producers of last year’s successful noir “New World,” which earned Hwang the best actor prize at the Blue Dragon Awards for his performance as Jung Chung, the powerful, charismatic gangster. In spite of his impressive acting, the new

FilmJan. 15, 2014

Psy and Snoop Dogg to film music video in Incheon

Psy and international hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg are filming the K-pop star’s latest music video in Incheon, according to an announcement released by YG Entertainment on Wednesday. It reported that Snoop Dogg flew to Korea for the video shoot. Filming began Tuesday and will continue for two to three days in various locations around Incheon. “Snoop Dogg has come to Korea and we are currently shooting the video in Incheon,” stated a YG representative. “However, we have not yet decided when the actual

PerformanceJan. 15, 2014

Bruno Mars to bring ‘unorthodox jukebox’ for first Seoul concert

Renowned American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars will stage a live concert for the first time in Seoul on April 8.The gig to be held at Olympic Park Gymnastics Gymnasium is part of the 2014 Moonshine Jungle Tour, his East Asian debut tour stopping through China, Japan, then moving on to Southeast Asia.Born to a musical family in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mars moved to Los Angeles with the dream of becoming a musician after graduating from high school. The first thing he did on the way to a musical career

PerformanceJan. 15, 2014

Last call for the hotel minibar?

The quintessential “Me Generation” hotel amenity, the minibar, may be fading away like disco music, transistor radios and bell-bottom jeans.Upscale resorts today seem lukewarm, at best, about providing and maintaining the self-service, in-room liquor caches, where guests can crack open a miniature bottle of tequila or vodka or perhaps even enjoy cookies and soft drinks.Never a huge moneymaker due to chronic petty larceny and the high labor costs of monitoring and restocking liquor supplies, the

CultureJan. 15, 2014

Milan designers trumpet workmanship

MILAN (AP) ― Italian fashion trumpeted its roots during the third day of Milan Fashion Week on Monday. Milan designers emphasized what they do best, showing off tailored silhouettes, highlighting advanced textiles that elevate the looks and putting the spotlight on the artisanal work behind their exclusive wears.Etro, the Milan-based fashion house famed for its paisley prints, went one step further, parading out the men and women who create their garments at a factory in the southern region of A

Arts & DesignJan. 15, 2014

[Photo News] New CCK leader

PeopleJan. 15, 2014

[Photo News] Jesuit leader in Seoul

PeopleJan. 15, 2014

Young Korean pianists win prizes in Russian competition

Two young Korean pianists won prizes in an international music competition in Russia. An Bong-su and Lee Jung-soo, both studying at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory, took first and second prizes in the piano section of the 15th International Maria Yudina Music Competition held in St. Petersburg from Jan. 3-10.The grand prix went to Oleg Kopeliuk of Ukraine. The annual contest started in 1999 to honor the late Russian pianist Maria Yudina (1899-1970). This year, 63 players participated in its

PerformanceJan. 15, 2014