Before Polish publisher Marzena Stefanska founded her own publishing company, Kwiaty Orientu, in 2007, there were only 15 Polish-language books about Korea available in her home country.Stefanska, who studied Korean literature at the University of Warsaw, initially wanted to work as a full-time Korean-Polish translator. She decided to found a publishing company after finding it difficult to find publishers to release her translated works. Since 2007, Stefanska has introduced some 20 works of Kor

BooksJune 27, 2013

Opera halls have always been a little distant to those who are unfamiliar with either opera or the venue. Cinemas are now moving to bring people closer to opera as video footage is made available by the world’s top opera companies, armed with state-of-the-art video and audio technologies to convey an equal level of emotion to the audience. Megabox, the country’s second-largest cinema chain, will screen Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo in Maschera” from June 29 and “La Traviata” from July 6 at its COEX, C

FilmJune 27, 2013

Two old Korean paintings, one given away as a gift, the other looted, finally returned to their home country and found new owners at an auction Wednesday in Seoul. A granddaughter of German businessman Carl Andreas Wolter, who established the first trading company in Korea in the early 1900s, brought back to Korea a painting that was presented to her grandfather by Emperor Gojong to be auctioned.On Wednesday the 10-panel folding screening was sold at 660 million won ($574,162) by Seoul Auction i

PerformanceJune 27, 2013

Korean film “Secretly, Greatly” will be released overseas, according to the movie’s producer Showbox/Mediaplex.The film, starring national heartthrob Kim Soo-hyun in the lead, tells the story of three young and attractive North Korean spies who disguise themselves as a rock musician, a high school student, and an intellectually challenged young man, in South Korea. It is based on the popular 2010 webtoon series “Convertness” by artist HUN.The movie will be released in the U.S. and Singapore on J

FilmJune 27, 2013

After its launch last year, “KCON All Things Hallyu,” a large-scale K-pop and K-culture convention, is making its return to Los Angeles for a two-day star-studded second round of hallyu madness. KCON was first established to allow hallyu enthusiasts from around the world to experience the full extent of Korea’s culture. Unlike the previous year’s all-day event, this year’s KCON festival will be a two-day weekend K-culture experience, jam-packed with a wide range of activities related to Korean

PerformanceJune 27, 2013

Stamps of Donguibogam, one of the most famous traditional Korean medical books, and its editor Heo Jun have been printed in the United States. Media Joha, a New Jersey-based Korean-American business, recently printed the stamps through Photo Stamps, a postage service provider approved by the U.S. Postal Service, Yonhap News Agency reported.The stamps commemorate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the book and its editor. “Donguibogam: Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine” is an

PeopleJune 27, 2013

Kim Soo-hyun considers alien role in dramaPopular actor Kim Soo-hyun is considering taking up a role in a forthcoming drama on SBS slated for December. The drama, temporarily titled “A Man from a Star,” will be written by Park Ji-eun, known for hit KBS drama “My Husband Got a Family.”Kim’s agency said casting was not finalized but the actor seemed likely to accept the offer. In the drama, Kim’s character Do Min-jun is a handsome alien with amazing abilities. Do, who has lived in Korea for 400 ye

TelevisionJune 27, 2013

South Korean singer Baek Ji-young suffered a miscarriage on Thursday. “Baek had a stomachache on Wednesday night, and visited the Seoul National University Hospital at around 10 a.m. this morning but it was too late,” Baek’s agency said. She was four months pregnant. Baek married actor Jung Suk-won on June 3. The couple had postponed their honeymoon due to her condition after their wedding. 　From news report　(knews@heraldcorp.com)　　

PerformanceJune 27, 2013

South Korea’s celebrity yogi, Nadia, plans to open a new course customized for yoga instructors. She hosted a major yoga festival, “Korea Yoga Marathon,” on June 2. The new class will start from July 20. For more information, visit www.daniayoga.com(khnews@heraldcorp.com) 

PeopleJune 27, 2013

Korean idol groups are reaching out to Japanese television drama market in a bid to create new Hallyu in the neighboring country.The idol stars are aggressively targeting the market, departing from the passive ways which were heavily relying on exporting music and dramas produced in Korea, with fine Japanese language abilities and fresh images. Unlike Korea where acting ability regarded as one of top qualifications for actors, Japan offers more opportunities to new faces that don’t have much exp

June 27, 2013

All seven members of MBC’s popular variety show “Infinite Challenge” will participate in the show on Thursday even though two members, Jeong Jun-ha and Jeong Hyeong-don, are in the hospital.The shooting schedule hit a bump as the two TV personalities were taken to hospital for different reasons. The program’s staff said they adjusted the schedule in a way that the remaining five members would visit each Jeong’s hospital to produce a “hospital episode.” Back in 2009, a similar show was filmed wit

TelevisionJune 27, 2013

Entertainer-comedian Jeong Jun-ha was hospitalized on Wednesday with a neck injury suffered during a musical performance earlier in the day, his agency said.“Jeong is being hospitalized for disc problems in his neck and is receiving medical treatment,” said the agency.During the musical “Spamalot,” Jeong was hit by a puppet’s mask that was thrown toward him, aggravating a herniated cervical disc.His stay at the hospital put the brakes on his schedule, which includes MBC’s “Infinite Challenge,” c

TelevisionJune 27, 2013

Roy Kim’s agency on Thursday denied rumors that the singer is in a romantic relationship with actress Park Soo-jin.“They met several times in the past with mutual feelings toward each other, but they are not dating anymore,” Kim’s agency CJ E&M said via an official statement.Earlier in the day, local media reported that the 20-year-old singer was dating Park. It said Kim, who gained fame by winning popular TV talent show “Superstar K4,” has been dating the 28-year-old actress for four months.The

PerformanceJune 27, 2013

HOTEL (CONVENTION)GRAND HILTON SEOULThe Grand Hilton Seoul Convention Center is the venue of choice for domestic and international meetings and conventions. Facing directly across from the main hotel building, the center houses a large convention hall as well as small and medium-sized banquet halls and conference rooms. With a spacious lobby and reception area, the new convention center provides a quiet and serene atmosphere well-suited for cocktail receptions, meals and meetings. The fourth-flo

TravelJune 26, 2013

SERVICED RESIDENCE(WORLDWIDE)OAKWOOD PREMIER COEX CENTEROakwood Premier COEX Center Seoul is the city’s first deluxe furnished serviced residence area, combining the highest class in hotel services with the spacious and cozy atmosphere of a private home. The property offers 280 furnished apartments from studio apartments to four-bedroom suites. Each residence has a separate living, dining and sleeping area, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. Oakwood Premier COEX Center offers its guests a wide

TravelJune 26, 2013

Whether it be for business or for pleasure, the Sheraton Incheon Hotel has all the amenities to ensure its guests the perfect hotel stay. The Sheraton Incheon Hotel is strategically situated at the heart of Songdo, Northeast Asia’s vibrant new business hub with thriving businesses, exciting cultural experiences and modern leisure options. The Songdo international business district, located just 20 minutes from the Incheon International Airport and 40 minutes from Seoul, was developed as one of t

TravelJune 26, 2013

Somerset Palace Seoul, located in the heart of Seoul’s diplomatic, business and financial districts and beside Gyeongbokgung Palace, is famous for its luxurious yet family-friendly residences. Many popular tourism sites, restaurants, shopping and entertainment outlets in the city are easily accessible through the nearby Anguk, Jonggak, and Gwanghwamun subway stations. Its apartments are available in four different sizes: studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and penthouse. Every unit offers an enrich

TravelJune 26, 2013

Hotel (business), Imperial Palace SeoulImperial Palace Seoul is rising not only as a landmark hotel in the Gangnam area of Seoul, but also a convenient urban hotel that caters to the needs of international visitors to southern Seoul. The award-winning hotel has small and large halls that can host different meetings and conventions. The hotel was named “Favorite Business Hotel” by readers of Time Asia in the Travel Choice Awards in 2006 for the first time in Korea. The Dubhe Hall, decorated in a

TravelJune 26, 2013

Animal prints have been in style for years, adding a chic and bold edge to modern women’s clothing. As much as today’s women enjoy wearing prints, Koreans of yore appreciated them as art. The leopard skin-patterned painting made in the 18th century amazes viewers with its sophisticated composition of black leopard prints that look more chic and slick than any other animal patterns featured on today’s fashion items. “Many people are surprised to find out the animal print was a feature in old pain

PerformanceJune 26, 2013