Mirror, mirror on the wall: Using the face to read one’s fate

Some people turn to psychics or crystal balls to learn their future, but many Koreans believe that all they need to see what lies in store is a mirror. Fortune-telling has a longstanding history in Asia dating back thousands of years, yet it is not necessarily perceived as a pastime practice or mere hocus pocus folklore. Many methods of fortune-telling such as tarot card and palm reading are still a common practice in Korea ― not only among the elderly, but among young people as well. However, a

CultureAug. 30, 2013

Calendar

Classical music“Paik Kun-woo Piano Recital”: Paris-based pianist Paik Kun-woo is performing Schubert’s Impromptu Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4; Moments musicaux Nos. 2, 4 and 6; and Klavierstucke Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on Sept. 14 at Seoul Arts Center. Making his international debut at age 10, Paik has performed with numerous internationally acclaimed orchestras such as the London Symphony, Berlin Symphony and BBC Symphony. Tickets are priced between 50,000 won and 130,000 won. For more information call (02) 599-

CultureAug. 30, 2013

Box office: Elysium, Now You See Me, The Grandmaster

Elysium Sci-fi. Action. Drama. Directed by Neill Blomkamp.Opened Aug. 29In the year 2154, people are divided into the wealthy and the poor, the former living in a floating luxurious space station Elysium and the latter living in an overpopulated, disease-stricken Earth. People on Earth are especially in need of the state-of-the-art medical care available on the spaceship. Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), an ex-convict living on Earth, is desperate to get into the Elysium, and reluctantly takes on a da

FilmAug. 30, 2013

Eye like: Seungri all grown up in ‘Let’s Talk About Love’

Seungri all grown up in ‘Let’s Talk About Love’Seungri“Let’s Talk About Love”(KT Music)Seungri has always been considered the baby of Big Bang, but now he’s come out with the new album “Let’s Talk About Love,” and has gotten rid of his “younger brother” exterior with a more mature look and sound. His title track “Gotta Talk to U” starts with a soft but fast-paced acoustic melody that grows into an electronic house beat in the chorus. The chorus definitely has a catchy hook but by no means is the

PerformanceAug. 30, 2013

Brian De Palma casts his murderous gaze on ‘Passion’

The 2010 French film “Crime d’Amour (Love Crime)” opened to unspectacular reviews and indifferent box office in France and then the United States. But something about it intrigued legendary American filmmaker Brian De Palma. And when a producer pitched the idea of an English-language remake to him, the director of “Scarface,” “Dressed to Kill,” “The Untouchables” and the first “Mission: Impossible” could see places where this story of two women’s cutthroat (literally) rivalry in the workplace mi

FilmAug. 30, 2013

Busan to kick off biggest annual sale in September and October

Busan kicks off its biggest sales event next month, offering discounts up to 70 percent in shopping, accommodation, dining and travel programs in the city’s popular tourist destinations from Sept. 1 to Oct. 10. Nearly 3,800 businesses are participating in the 2013 Busan Grand Sale, up by 63 percent from 2,400 shops that participated in last year’s sales event. For shopping, department stores and duty-free shops offer discounts and free gifts: Lotte Duty Free offers a 5 to 15 percent discount on

TravelAug. 30, 2013

Tramway planned for Machu Picchu’s ‘sister city’

LIMA (AP) ― The former mountaintop refuge of Incan royalty has elegant halls and plazas much like those of fabled Macchu Picchu just 50 kilometers away. Yet only a handful of tourists visit the ruins each day, those willing to make a two-day hike to reach its majestic solitude.That is about to change: The national government has approved what would be Peru’s first aerial tramway. Bridging the deep canyon of the Apurimac River, it is expected to make Choquequirao reachable in just 15 minutes from

TravelAug. 30, 2013

L.A. galbi gui (grilled L.A.-style short ribs)

Beef short ribs (galbi) come in two different cuts ― flanken cut (ribs are cut thin across the bones) and English cut (ribs are separated and cut into short lengths). Koreans call the flanken cut “L.A. galbi,” supposedly named after the city where early Korean immigrants started to use this cut to make galbi. L.A. galbi is increasingly popular both in America and Korea. Short ribs are a tough cut of meat that needs to be tenderized for grilling. Traditionally, grated Korean pear is used as a ten

FoodAug. 30, 2013

Around the Hotels

W Seoul-Walkerhill celebrates 9th anniversary Commemorating its ninth anniversary, W Seoul-Walkerhill is providing a variety of exclusive events and promotions. On Sept. 7 WooBar will throw a WOW Party including performances by popular Italian DJ B-Sharry. Party tickets will be available by reservation for 30,000 won, or 40,000 won per person at the door. Ninth Anniversary Celebration Packages will be available from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31 for 305,000 won and up. The packages will include one night’s

FoodAug. 30, 2013

Brotchen and bretzels at Ach So!

For Ach So! owner-baker Heo Sang-hoi, making authentic German bread and serving it properly is important. The tradition of eating bread is deeply ingrained in the fabric of day-to-day life in Germany, according to Heo, who equates the role bread plays in the German diet to the role that rice plays in the Korean diet. “Germans do not eat bread plain, just as Koreans do not eat rice without banchan (side dishes),” Heo, 45, said.Heo’s goal, since he first started selling German bread in Korea in 20

FoodAug. 30, 2013

G-Dragon to hold exhibition next month

Big Bang member G-Dragon is planning to hold an exhibition, “G-Dragon ― SPACE 8,” at Cheongdam-dong’s CAIS Gallery from Sept. 10-17, releasing never-before-seen photographs and items used for his concerts. Themed “8,” which is the lucky number for the singer taken from his birthday Aug. 18, 1988, the event will be held for eight days showcasing 88 items with an entrance fee of 8,800 won.  Those who have already purchased tickets to G-Dragon’s “One of a Kind: The Final Concert” will be allowed fr

Aug. 30, 2013

Emulating Paris Hilton, Hollywood glamour

Many local moviegoers liked her previous movies, especially “Lost in Translation” (2003) and “Marie Antoinette” (2006).Sofia Coppola’s latest film is arriving in Korean theaters next month, and the movie ― titled “The Bling Ring” ― will likely draw those who love designer labels, interested in the lifestyle of Hollywood celebrities, and of course, Coppola and her well-known taste in fashion. (The filmmaker is the famous muse of Marc Jacobs). And the high-fashion heist film has another local conn

FilmAug. 30, 2013

Korean films rocket toward record box office numbers

Domestic films are set to break the 100-million mark in attendance since January this year by next month, according to the state-run Korean Film Council. Local films exceeded the 100 million-viewer mark for the first time in November 2012. The milestone meant Koreans saw at least two local films on average last year. A new box office record is about to be set, beating last year’s performance by almost three months.In the month of August alone ― from Aug. 1 to 25 ― Korean films drew 24.36 million

FilmAug. 29, 2013

British designer Gary Card talks about creative journey

The Korea Herald is publishing an interview series on some of the world’s most creative minds who are invited to Korea to share their design philosophies and vision during the Herald Design Week 2013, Oct. 7-11. ― Ed. By Lee Woo-young London-based designer Gary Card has explored areas between design and art with a diverse mix of work such as sculptural props, illustrations and set designs. Although it’s hard to give him a label, he has fallen under such names as prop-maker, illustrator and set d

Arts & DesignAug. 29, 2013

Korea leads the way in smart packaging design

Smart packaging is the latest development in the Korean packaging industry ― the technology that enables consumers to connect with and communicate better with products, according to Shim Jin-kie, director of the Korea Packaging Center of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology.“Technology creates products and packages that are easy and convenient to use. Some packages will be built with a technology that talks to users about product information, such as how to use it and how many days are l

Arts & DesignAug. 29, 2013

Sustainable packaging design for better life

This is the third installment in an eight-part series that examines the social role of design beyond its aesthetic aspect. The weekly series is a precursor to Herald Design Week 2013 from Oct. 7-11, which will be organized under the theme of “Re-imagine the World.” ― Ed.Sustainability has been a keyword in the world of design for nearly a decade and packaging design has been no exception in this effort. The packaging industry moved from the conventional idea of the role of packages as a sales bo

Arts & DesignAug. 29, 2013

International forum on ancient Buddhist texts due in Seoul

An international conference will be held next week in Seoul to discuss and promote the historic value of the Tripitaka Koreana, one of the world’s oldest Buddhist scriptures, organizers said Thursday. The forum, scheduled for Tuesday and organized as a preliminary event for a global Tripitaka festival kicking off next month, will bring together scholars and experts from the United States, Japan and South Korea at Plaza Hotel in central Seoul to explore the messages and structures of the 750-year

CultureAug. 29, 2013