[Herald Interview] K-drama star Seo Hyun-jin nervous to present movie ’Cassiopeia‘

Even though K-drama star Seo Hyun-jin has appeared in numerous hit soap operas including “The Beauty Inside,” “Another Miss Oh,” and “Temperature of Love,” she found working on the upcoming feature film “Cassiopeia” nerve-racking. “This is my first proper leading role in a movie, so I am nervous and am very curious about the audience’s reaction,” Seo said during an interview with local reporters via videoconference on Thursday.

FilmMay 27, 2022

Kore-eda says if 'Broker' is not fun, this would be his responsibility

CANNES, France -- Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda has said that he will take full responsibility for any criticism for his Cannes-competing drama "Broker" made with Korean creative minds. "Korea's star actors and renowned crew members participated in this project," the Japanese director told Korean reporters on Wednesday (local time) on the sidelines of the ongoing 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. "If the film isn't fun, it's all my fault." &quo

FilmMay 27, 2022

[Well-curated] Twisted art, fine craftworks and film about female director by a female director

If you are a big fan of director Tim Burton or an even bigger fan of his “Edward Scissorhands,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or “Alice in Wonderland,” you won’t want to miss a special exhibition now in Seoul. “The World of Tim Burton” traces the footsteps of the iconic American director, presenting around 520 of Burton’s unique artworks across mediums such as paintings, drawings and photos. As part of the retrospective’s

Arts & DesignMay 27, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gokseong International Rose Festival The Gokseong International Rose Festival is set to run from May 21 to June 6 at Seomjingang Train Village in Gokseong, South Jeolla Province. The annual event presents 1,004 types of roses from around the world to delight flower-loving visitors and offer splendid photo opportunities. Visitors can enjoy the vibrant beauty of roses from a railbike or take part in a hands-on activity. Various programs have been prepared, including concerts ranging from folk,

TravelMay 27, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers homemade bingsu The Lounge, the premium lounge destination in the eighth-floor reception lobby at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, celebrates the arrival of summer with three varieties of homemade iced bingsu dessert, available until Sept. 18. Annual bestseller Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu, the Lounge’s signature summer dessert, features mango pearls topped with a whole sliced apple mango. Ocean Bingsu, newly created for 2022, features blue pearls topped with blue Cu

FoodMay 27, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Good Morning (Korea) Opened May 25 Drama Directed by Cha Bong-joo Soo-mi (Kim Hwan-hee) wants to die due to the difficult situation she had to face as an orphan. Seo-jin (Yoo Sun), a volunteer hospice worker who lost her daughter five years ago, saves Soo-mi as she is about to jump off a bridge. Seo-jin tells Soo-mi that she can learn how to die at the hospice center and suggests she join the volunteers. There, Soo-mi starts teaching In-soo (Lee Soon-jae) how to read and write Korean befor

FilmMay 27, 2022

[Herald Interview] BTS a ‘wonderful musical companion’ : Big Hit Music producer Pdogg

K-pop has become one of the most popular music genres in the global music scene, thanks to local artists’ active promotion of their songs. Seven-piece boy band BTS is one of the biggest music sensations in K-pop history, dominating global music charts and awards with its megahits. “Butter,” “Spring Day,” “Blood, Sweat and Tears,” “Fake Love” and ”Dynamite” are but a few of BTS’ songs that are well recognized around the wor

PerformanceMay 26, 2022

From farm to market: Where trip to ‘real Jeju’ begins

JEJU ISLAND -- The island of Jeju in recent years has become a popular destination among young people who go museum-hopping, try out new water sports and party the night away at guest houses. However, getting to know the people of Jeju and their lifestyles can be an eye-opening experience that will make you appreciate the volcanic island that is more than just a getaway destination. As a way to enjoy Jeju, online travel platform Jeju Pass connects users with Jeju residents with their own stor

TravelMay 26, 2022

‘Shrimp to Whale’: Well-told story of S. Korea’s rise to spotlight

From BTS to Squid Game, to its internationally heralded handling of COVID-19, South Korea is enjoying the spotlight on the global stage. Yet, books on Korea out there often feel stale and outdated. If not tunnel-visioned on the country’s economic success, South Korea is a nation heavily seen through the lens of geopolitics, or a country technically still at war. In his book “Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop,” Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of i

BooksMay 26, 2022

Disney+ is ready to bring smile to your face with ‘Kiss Sixth Sense’

US-based content giant Disney+ is seeking to make its name in the South Korean streaming scene with the enchanting, fantastical rom-com “Kiss Sixth Sense.” “I really enjoyed the original web novel. From the storylines to the love triangle of the lead characters, every scene was lovely and charming. I am certain that the viewers will enjoy the series along with the warm weather and pleasant spring breeze,” director Nam Ki-hoon said in an online press conference Wednesda

TelevisionMay 26, 2022

Korean web-based comics make presence known in world

While webtoon-based Korean films and TV series have risen as a tried-and-true source of fresh ideas for creators throughout the world, a growing number of Korean digital comics are making their own presence felt on the global stage. "Navillera: Like a Butterfly," written by Hun and Jimmy and published by Kakao Entertainment, was nominated for the Best Webcomic section at this year's Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, or Eisner Awards for short. The four other nominees are "Ba

CartoonMay 26, 2022

'The Roundup' becomes most-watched Korean film in pandemic era

The action comedy "The Roundup" has become the most-watched Korean film in the pandemic era, box-office data showed Thursday. The sequel to the 2017 hit comedy "The Outlaws" garnered 342,000 people Wednesday, bringing its combined total to 4.51 million, according to the Korean Film Council. It surpassed the attendance record of the previous No. 1 pandemic-era hit "Deliver Us from Evil," which was released in August 2020 and posted 4.35 million in attendance. Starrin

FilmMay 26, 2022

Pink Sweat$ counts on ‘big energy’ at first performance in Korea as Seoul Jazz Festival’s headliner

American R&B singer-songwriter Pink Sweat$, who is set to meet his fans in Korea for the first time, said that he expects to see some “big energy” from the audience. In a press conference held on Wednesday at InterContinental Seoul Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, the artist expressed his excitement for the upcoming Seoul Jazz Festival, which is set to run Friday to Sunday. The first thing the musician said as soon as he walked into the venue was “thank you” in K

PerformanceMay 25, 2022

83% of ‘Gen MZ’ foreigners wish to go hiking in Seoul

Hiking ranks as one of the top attractions on foreigners’ to-do lists when visiting Seoul, a recent survey showed, but some raised concerns over the lack of information available. A survey conducted in April showed 83 percent of foreigners in the “Generation MZ” group -- categorized as those in their 20s to 30s in the survey -- would be willing to go on a hike while in Seoul. In order to gauge the interests of potential incoming tourists, the joint survey was conducted by th

TravelMay 25, 2022

Kakao Entertainment webtoon 'Navillera' vies for 2022 Eisner Awards

South Korean webtoon “Navillera” will be competing in the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Kakao Entertainment announced Wednesday. According to the company, “Navillera” has been nominated in the best webcomic category alongside “Batman: Wayne Family Adventures” by CRC Payne and StarBite, “Isle of Elsi” by Alec Longstreth, “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe and “Unmasked” by Breri and Nuitt. Named after Will Eisner, a pion

CartoonMay 25, 2022

[Feature] Double-edged sword: celebrities’ influence on Korean art scene

Lee Hwa-rang, a 26-year-old Seoul resident, considered herself “completely illiterate” when it came to art. That is, before she became a fan of rapper Kim Nam-joon, or RM from BTS, a well-known art collector. She then started to take what the fandom calls the “RM Tour” -- visiting the museums and galleries he frequents. “I started to go to exhibitions last year. At first, I was curious what he would have felt seeing those art works,” Lee said. “I tho

Arts & DesignMay 25, 2022

Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' draws favorable media reviews at Cannes

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook's latest feature film, "Decision to Leave," has attracted high scores and favorable reviews from foreign news media following its premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival earlier this week. Screen Daily, British film magazine Screen International's daily magazine for the film festival, reported Tuesday (French time) that the Korean film took an average score of 3.2 out of 4, the highest score yet on its Cannes jury grid for this

FilmMay 25, 2022

[Video] Why I left everything behind to do stand-up comedy in Spain

What makes your heart beat? Would you give up your stable life for something adventurous? For Kim Byung-sun, the first-ever Korean comedian to stage Spain’s Got Talent, it’s not a matter of question. “Life itself is already rocky and unstable. Better just enjoy it!” Now a YouTuber with over 630 thousand followers, he gave up everything he had and went to Spain, a completely foreign country to do standup comedy. Come and be inspired by his story! Video by Team Konnect K

EntertainmentMay 25, 2022

Ballet Festival Korea returns despite lack of funding

The 12th edition of Ballet Festival Korea will be held with 26 performances in June, the organizing committee said Tuesday, with Seoul Arts Center as the co-organizer. Under the theme of “Open Up the New Ordinary Days,” the festival will showcase old and new ballet productions by both established and emerging dancers from June 9-29. Some of the highlights include the opening performance, “Ahn Jung-geun, a Dance in the Heaven,” a 2015 production by M Ballet Company,

PerformanceMay 24, 2022

Mnet to launch dance programs to promote globalization of ‘K-dance’

South Korean cable music channel Mnet will launch a series of dance programs throughout the year to pave the way for globalizing “K-dance” with the producers of last year’s hit dance competition show “Street Woman Fighter.” Starting with “Be Mbitious,” which is slated to air at 10:20 p.m. on Tuesdays, the cable channel is planning on broadcasting “Anybody Can Dance” and “Street Man Fighter,” the programs’ producers said in

TelevisionMay 24, 2022