[Herald Review] 'Memphis' brings Korean audiences to 1950s Tennessee despite limitations

The musical "Memphis" presents the story of the white disc jockey Huey Calhoun, who was one of the first in the 1950s to play music by Black artists, and how his love for rock 'n' roll became the catalyst for a groundbreaking chapter in the history of US music. This story takes place in 1950s Memphis, Tennessee where the racial divide was pervasive everywhere, in the night clubs and restaurants, as well as in music and romantic relationships. In its Broadway run from 2009 to

PerformanceAug. 4, 2023

[Photo News] Pioneering painter Na Hye-sok's rare photographs donated to Suwon Museum of Art

Photographs of Na Hye-sok (1897–1948), a Korean artist and writer who advocated for women's rights during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) of the Korean Peninsula, were donated to the Suwon Museum of Art in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The photographs were taken when Na was staying in Le Vesinet, France in 1928 for three months at the home of French philosopher Felicien Challaye (1875-1967), to attend the Ranson Academy under French artist Roger Bissiere (1886-1964). The donation of

Arts & DesignAug. 4, 2023

[Photo News] International music fest unites musicians with and without disabilities

CultureAug. 4, 2023

[Well-curated] Immersive exhibition, music by Han River and fancy desserts

Artifacts come to life at national museum's digital gallery Artifacts typically remain static in museums, prompting visitors to imagine for themselves how they were used historically. The National Museum of Korea Immersive Digital Gallery hopes to offer interpretations of them with cutting-edge digital technologies. Spread across the ground floor to the second floor, the NMK's Immersive Digital Gallery offers a journey through time. On the ground floor, paintings by renowned Joseon-era

CultureAug. 4, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Taebaek Sunflower Festival The Taebaek Sunflower Festival is scheduled to run until Aug. 15 at Guwau village in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. Visitors can enjoy the village’s wide array of colorful wildflowers and sunflowers. The event features busking performances by local artists, artwork exhibition and hands-on activities, including goat feeding, succulents planting experience and more. The festival events run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are priced at 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won f

TravelAug. 4, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Josun Busan offers promotion package for kids Grand Josun Busan is promoting a special package centered on experiences for children. The package offers a one-night stay in a themed room, with a choice of forest, sea and sky themes. Child-friendly amenities such as bathrobes, slippers and bath sets are included. The package features Haribo-themed merchandise including a water bottle, a two-tier lunchbox, a thermal bag and a storage box. The package is available through Aug. 31 with prices

FoodAug. 4, 2023

K-Diaspora exhibition offers platform to discuss needs, visions for diasporic solidarity

“Everyone Knows: K-Diaspora Art Exhibition & Panel Talk,” organized by the K-Diaspora Worldwide Network, provided a platform for discussions on Korean culture and the Korean diaspora. Over 200 Korean Americans and local citizens interested in Korean culture gathered at LUME Studio in New York City from July 21-22. The nonprofit organization, K-Diaspora Worldwide Network, is led by five co-representatives: Ko Do-won, Morning Letter Cultural Foundation chair; Kim Jong-ki, Blue Tree

CultureAug. 3, 2023

[Herald Review] Dystopian black comedy ‘Concrete Utopia’ has questions instead of message

When it comes to ‘living in an apartment,’ or specifically ‘owning an apartment,’ many Koreans perceive that differently from simply having a place to live. An apartment could be someone’s life goal or another’s deep grudge. In that context, “Concrete Utopia” raises questions about the contradictions humans face when put in extreme situations -- such as when your apartment building becomes the only place in Seoul that has survived a devastating ear

FilmAug. 3, 2023

[Herald Interview] Lee Byung-hun loves black comedy projects for allowing him to bring creative ideas

Lee Byung-hun finds acting in black comedy flicks exciting, as there is room for him to suggest creative ideas and improvisation, or even slapstick action sequences. According to Lee, his upcoming “Concrete Utopia” is not a mere disaster flick, but a black comedy that realistically depicts human nature in an extreme environment. “For some comic scenes in the movie, not just me but the entire staff really enjoyed shooting. I think the black comedy genre gives me room to suggest

FilmAug. 3, 2023

Popular webtoon series 'Moving' now a Disney+ TV series

Webtoon writer Kang Full’s popular webtoon series “Moving,” which achieved a total of 200 million views, has been transformed into Disney+ TV series to be released Aug. 9. The series centers on the lives of seemingly ordinary people with hidden super powers. The stories of “Moving” revolve around Lee Mi-hyeon (played by Han Hyo-ju) who has extraordinary physical abilities such as exceptional hearing, and falls in love with her colleague Kim Du-sik (played by actor Z

TelevisionAug. 3, 2023

KNSO brings back conductor workshop to foster future maestros

The Korean National Symphony Orchestra is bringing back its conductor workshop designed to nurture the country’s future maestros. From Tuesday to Aug. 12, the workshop will offer one-on-one instructions and a series of seminars offering practical advice to becoming a professional musician. David Reiland, who has been leading the orchestra as its music and artistic director since 2018, will provide extensive one-on-one instructions tailored to the three young conductors Kim Ri-ra, Par

PerformanceAug. 2, 2023

Kakao founder Kim Beom-su appointed Korea National Opera board of directors chief

Kim Beom-su, the founder of South Korean internet juggernaut Kakao, will take charge of the sponsorship of performances for the Korea National Opera as the chief of its board of directors for the next three years, according to the Culture Ministry. Kim, who currently serves as the head of Kakao's Future Initiative Center, succeeds Seo Jeong-jin, the founder of biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion, in the non-executive role. This position has previously been held by other prominent corporate

CultureAug. 2, 2023

EBS doc festival to deliver spirit of the age

The 20th EBS International Documentary Festival will take place from Aug. 21 to 27, introducing 56 documentary films from 35 countries. The annual documentary festival will begin with an opening ceremony at the EBS headquarters in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which will also be aired on EBS 1TV, the EIDF organizing committee said in a press conference Tuesday. South Korean director Jeong Da-woon’s “Poetry on Land” will open the festival. The documentary revolves around the daily

CultureAug. 2, 2023

National intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, performances lined up

A series of special events providing opportunities to explore and learn about Korea’s national intangible cultural heritage will take place around the country this month, the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, announced Monday. A total of 15 performances and exhibitions will take place, showcasing original forms of national intangible cultural heritage. Among the highlights is the Korean traditional musical instrument exhibition held at the Nati

CultureAug. 2, 2023

[Herald Interview] Do Kyung-soo says idol past helped his gravity-defying performance

Do Kyung-soo, the main vocalist of K-pop idol group EXO, said his idol background was especially helpful in playing an abandoned astronaut in “The Moon.” “I have been doing choreography as a singer and I’m good at memorizing body movements in a short period of time. I personally think action sequences are like memorizing choreography, so it was very helpful to shoot action scenes using wires with movements like swimming in space,” Do said in an interview with The Ko

FilmAug. 2, 2023

[Herald Review] High-quality, realistic visual effects lift ‘The Moon’ beyond banal plotline

After several attempts, the spaceship finally rises high in the sky. Despite small errors and an unfortunate accident losing two fellow spaceship crew members, the youngest and the most unprofessional astronaut inside the damaged spaceship pushes ahead with the mission to land on the moon. But will he be able to get back to Earth safely? This kind of imaginative story taking place in outer space is nothing new to moviegoers these days, with moon-themed sci-fi movies from around the world such as

FilmAug. 2, 2023

‘Physical: 100’ production team to create new sports competition show

Local broadcaster MBC on Tuesday confirmed the production of new sports variety show “University Survival.” MBC will join hands with production company Luyworks Media and screenwriter Kang Sook-kyung, who helmed Netflix’s hit reality series “Physical: 100,” together with the broadcaster. “University Survival” will require its contestants, who are sports-related majors or are members of Korean university sports clubs, to battle it out in intense survival

TelevisionAug. 2, 2023

Sejong Summer Festival to turn Gwanghwamun Square into dancing club

Seoul’s iconic Gwanghwamun Square is gearing up for a remarkable transformation into a space for dancing, DJ parties and an opera performance later this month. The outdoor Sejong Summer Festival will be held under a “Groove” theme from Aug. 11 to Sept. 9, according to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on Monday. This is the first outdoor event organized by the Sejong Center in four years and the first since the pandemic. Five performances are scheduled, with seating cap

PerformanceAug. 1, 2023

Sanji Gallery to relocate to Samcheong-dong

Sanji Gallery will relocate from Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, to a larger space in Samcheong-dong in October, to strengthen its programs and artist lineup. The Samcheong-dong space had been occupied by French gallery Perrotin since 2016. Perrotin closed the space in June, but continued to operate its other space in Seoul, Perrotin Dosan Park in southern Seoul. “With the newly expanded space, we will put full efforts to promote Korean artists to the international art community,” sai

Arts & DesignAug. 1, 2023

[Herald Interview] What ‘Smuggler’ actor Park Jung-min has learned from working with renowned filmmakers

Having debuted in 2011 with “Bleak Night,” actor Park Jung-min has worked with renowned filmmakers and appeared in hit films at a relatively early stage of his acting career. He has worked with director Lee Joon-ik in “Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet” (2016), director Yeon Sang-ho in “Hellbound” (2021) and director Park Chan-wook in “Decision to Leave” (2022), to name a few. He has played powerful and impressive characters in films like “Svaha

FilmAug. 1, 2023