Hong Sang-soo’s ‘Walk Up’ invited to two overseas film fests

Director Hong Sang-soo’s new film “Walk Up” has been invited to two film festivals – the San Sebastian International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. “Walk Up,” which was filmed in the fall of 2021 in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, follows the interactions of a middle-aged moviemaker. Actors from Hong‘s previous film “The Novelist’s Film,” Kwon Hae-hyo, Lee Hae-young, Jo Yoon-hee and Park Mi-so also star in t

FilmAug. 3, 2022

Bong Joon-ho starts shooting ‘Mickey7’ in the UK

Korean director Bong Joon-ho has started filming his new sci-fi film under the working title of “Mickey7” at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK. Many popular movies, including films from the “Harry Potter,” “Kingsman, “ and “Mission Impossible” franchises, were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. Bong is scheduled to finish shooting by the end of this year, with the film‘s release expected at the end of 2023 or the beginning of

FilmAug. 3, 2022

[Herald Review] Three Parks bring to life Victor Hugo’s lesser known ‘The Man Who Laughs’

  French writer Victor Hugo’s 1869 novel, “The Man Who Laughs,” went onstage in South Korea as a musical in 2018. Best known for “Les Miserables” and “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” Hugo’s works have inspired many musical and film adaptations. Hugo’s lesser known “The Man Who Laughs” inspired the EMK Musical Company to create a musical version of the story and in its third production this year, the musical shows the power of

PerformanceAug. 3, 2022

'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' regains position as No. 1 non-English series on Netflix

The South Korean legal drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" has regained the top position on Netflix's latest weekly viewership chart of non-English TV shows, the global video streaming service said Wednesday. The TV series, which has aired every Wednesday and Thursday on the cable channel ENA since June 29, marked 65.6 million hours of viewing for the week of July 25-31 to lead Netflix's official top 10 list for non-English TV programs available on the service, according to th

TelevisionAug. 3, 2022

Joo Won returns with Netflix action film ‘Carter’

Korean actor Joo Won is returning with new Netflix action film “Carter” directed by Jung Byung-gil. “I can confidently say that ‘Carter’ is a new kind of action film. I hope that through this film, we can spread Korean action films to the world,” the actor said during a press conference held at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on Tuesday. “When I first read the script, I thought, ‘Is it possible to film these scenes?’ but also really w

FilmAug. 3, 2022

KF World Cinema Week to look into films from Latin America

An unprecedented blackout hits Central America, and people struggle to get through the crisis. A pilot suffers severe injuries from an accidental landing; an elderly lady with her grandson tries to find her daughter at a hospital; a millionaire housewife is trapped in her penthouse with her housemaid; a teenage girl’s 15th birthday party goes awry; a pastor and his daughter take advantage of the chaotic situation; a detached couple finds each other amid a solar storm. These six different

FilmAug. 2, 2022

[Herald Interview] Lee Byung-hun channels fear of flying for new role

Lee Byung-hun recalled the first time he read the script for “Emergency Declaration,” during an interview with a group of local reporters on Thursday. “It was a whirlwind of tensions, like riding a roller coaster throughout. I thought, ‘This is going to be a strong movie,’” the actor said. “The first time I watched the movie, it resonated with me so deeply, perhaps because we went through a long pandemic. It wasn’t intended, but I feel like this

FilmAug. 1, 2022

[Herald Interview] Song Kang-ho wishes audience to find hope through ‘Emergency Declaration’

Cannes-winning actor Song Kang-ho is set to return with the latest airplane disaster film, “Emergency Declaration,” this week. “There are many disaster movies, in Korea and Hollywood. But when I first read the script, I was drawn to the message that ‘Emergency Declaration’ is trying to deliver to the audience,” Song said during a group interview with local reporters. “How we cope with unavoidable disasters is important. I think the film touches on what

FilmAug. 1, 2022

Photography evolves, diversifies by taking different formats

If you think photography is just a form of still image, photographs by two masters -- Henri Cartier-Bresson and Andreas Gursky -- may change your preconceptions, showing how it has evolved over time and can vary depending on the photographer and the format. French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) pioneered street photography and elevated photojournalism to an art form. He applied geometry to black-and-white pictures, imbuing them with poetic rhythm. Rather than the things or fac

Arts & DesignAug. 1, 2022

Marking 25th anniversary, SIDance 2022 to bring dancers to Seoul

  The 25th edition of the Seoul International Dance Festival will feature 34 domestic and overseas dance companies from nine countries from Sept. 14, the organizer said Sunday. The SIDance festival, organized by the Seoul Section of the UNESCO International Dance Council, will take place at four locations in Seoul -- Seoul Arts Center, Sogang University, Seoul Namsan Guakdang and Oil Tank Culture Park -- for 19 days. The festival will kick off with “Hauntology” presented b

PerformanceAug. 1, 2022

Artist Ryu Sung-sil satirizes capitalism at Atelier Hermes show

Starting a few years ago, the newly coined term “bulmeong” – staring at the fire in a trance, like when one stares at a campfire – has become prevalent among young people. The expression is usually associated with “healing” or “emptying one‘s mind” while watching a burning fire, but sculptor and media artist Ryu Sung-sil added a twist when she named her solo exhibition at the Atelier Hermes in Seoul “The Burning Love Song.” &ld

Arts & DesignJuly 31, 2022

[Visual history of Korea] Arirang folk songs, original improvisational rap music of Korean people

Arirang songs evoke powerful emotions and often lead to spontaneous shoulder dance moves among Koreans, at home or abroad. Arirang is a genre of Korean music featuring heart-wrenching laments of tragedy, hardship, suffering and injustice. Arirang‘s improvisational nature enables anyone to easily weave their own poignant life stories into the song, like modern-day rap. Life has always been tough for ordinary Koreans, especially in remote areas. Poverty, hard labor, and abrupt political ch

CultureJuly 30, 2022

Seoul offers free hiking gear rental as mountains lure foreign tourists

   With its rugged granite peaks, leafy forests, streams and walking trails, Bukhansan is an oasis of greenery in the bustling metropolis of Seoul. And it has rightly been receiving attention from foreign residents and visitors. The only drawback is that it is not a leisurely walk but one that requires proper hiking gear.  To address this and support foreigners who want to explore Bukhansan but don‘t have the right shoes or outfits, the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center offers

TravelJuly 30, 2022

Hongcheon beer festival is back

A local summer festival in Hongcheon county, Gangwon Province, is set to kick off next week. The five-day “Hongcheon Beer Festival” will offer programs and activities running from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7. “World Wet Dance Contest,” on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, will see more than 20 dance crews competing on a stage filled with water. The festival will be divided into four different themes -- main, healing, cooling and youth -- offering different moods and vibes for the visitors. Mus

CultureJuly 29, 2022

Kim Sun-wook to lead SPO in Gwanghwamun Square concert marking Liberation Day

Marking the 77th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day on Aug. 15., Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a special concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Aug. 14. Pianist and conductor Kim Sun-wook lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in the concert hosted by the Seoul City. The World Vision Korea Children’s Choir and Forte di Quattro will join the orchestra onstage for the concert that starts at 7:30 p.m. The program consists of works by Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Dvorak, as well as pop

PerformanceJuly 29, 2022

Lee Jung-jae’s 'Hunt' to screen at TIFF 2022

Top actor Lee Jung-jae’s espionage action film “Hunt” will be screened at the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, Lee’s agency Artist Company announced in a press release Friday. As the world’s largest public film festival, TIFF presents over 100 films in different sections based on genre and format, including Contemporary World Cinema, TIFF Docs and Discovery, among 10 other categories. “Hunt” has been selected for the Gala Prese

FilmJuly 29, 2022

Marvel’s Korean superheroes assemble in ‘Tiger Division’

Marvel Comics’ Korean superhero squad will take center stage in their first solo series, “Tiger Division,” set to be released on Nov. 3. Marvel announced a five-issue limited series for “Tiger Division” last week at San Diego Comic-Con. The seven Korean superheroes are: Taeguekgi, the powerful patriot with a heart of gold; White Fox, a character based on the nine-tailed fox legend; K-pop star Luna Snow; mysterious sorceress Lady Bright; street-brawling demigod Mr

CartoonJuly 29, 2022

Concert marking Liberation Day to be held at Cheong Wa Dae

Marking the 77th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day on Aug. 15, a special concert will be held as part of the “Visit Korean Heritage Campaign” at the Cheong Wa Dae compound on the evening of Aug. 13, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced Thursday. Hosted by the CHA and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the event has been held at different historical locations in the past, including Suwon Hwaseong in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province in 2020, and Gwanghanruwon in Namw

CultureJuly 29, 2022

Two Korean films invited to Toronto film fest

Two directorial debut films of South Korean star actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung have been invited to this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the films' distributors here said Friday. According to Megabox Plus M, the espionage film "Hunt," written and directed by "Squid Game" star Lee, will be presented at the Gala Presentations section at the 47th TIFF slated for Sept. 8-18. Starring Lee and Jung, "Hunt" is a story about two rival in

FilmJuly 29, 2022

Unique summer getaway at BTS: In The Soop Estate

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Surrounded by serene nature and lush forests, the iconic two-story villa featured in the second season of K-pop powerhouse Hybe‘s reality show “BTS In The Soop” is set to host two special guests for the leisurely vacation that BTS enjoyed when filming. From RM’s beanbag chair to V‘s trumpet, small details from the show are reproduced, allowing fans to relive their favorite moments. The online house-sharing platform, Airbnb, is off

TravelJuly 29, 2022