Korean TV industry welcomes remakes of American, European series

Recent Korean TV series adapted from American and European originals have made their presence felt on the local entertainment scene, which is expanding its horizons to the global market. Starring big-name stars Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seung-won, "One Ordinary Day," an original by local stream service Coupang Play, is based on BBC's popular crime drama "Criminal Justice." The eight-part series delves into the criminal justice system through the story of two men connected to woman

TelevisionFeb. 24, 2022

Les Clefs d’Or full member wishes to give more to guests

At the core of hotel concierge service is knowing a guest’s needs through even the subtlest gestures, and remembering them on their next visit, according to Kum Sang-jin, assistant manager of the rooms team at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul. Kum received the Les Clefs d’Or badge of two golden keys on Feb. 14, which symbolizes professional expertise as well as the best and most unique concierge services. Founded in 1929 by Pierre Quentin, head concierge of the Hotel Ambassador Paris, th

TravelFeb. 24, 2022

2 Korean children's books win prizes at Bolgna Ragazzi Awards

Two South Korean children's books have won prizes at this year's Bologna Ragazzi Awards, one of the world's largest honors for kids' books and illustrations. "Summer," written and drawn by Suzy Lee, was listed as one of the three Special Mention works in the Fiction category, the organizers of the awards said Wednesday (Korean time) on its website. In the Non-Fiction section, "Father's big hands" by Choi Deok-kyu was also selected as a Special Mention piece. "Summer

BooksFeb. 23, 2022

Busan Biennale to open in early September with theme of port city's history

Busan Biennale 2022 will kick off Sept. 3 across Busan with the theme of “We, on the Rising Wave,” exploring the history of the port city located at the southeastern tip of the country. The 65-day biennale will be led by artistic director Kim Hae-ju, a former deputy director of Art Songe Center, who participated in Busan Biennale 2006. The biennale will look into how the country’s second largest city has evolved, according to the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee on Wednesd

Arts & DesignFeb. 23, 2022

Kim Hye-soo returns with Netflix’s ‘Juvenile Justice’

Top actor Kim Hye-soo will make her Netflix debut Friday in yet another legal drama, “Juvenile Justice,” following the 2020 SBS’ courtroom drama series “Hyena.” “Before ‘Juvenile Justice,’ I thought I continued to have an interest in juvenile delinquency. After studying real cases, learning from the juvenile court judges and taking the role of Sim Eun-seok, a judge who despises juvenile offenders, I learned that my interest was only the tip of the

TelevisionFeb. 23, 2022

Flitto CEO shares insights on metaverse platform

The CEO of language data platform startup Flitto, Simon Lee, also known as Lee Jung-soo, shared his insights on how his company has integrated the metaverse into their everyday work, during an event held by the Corea Image Communication Institute Tuesday. The translation platform’s employees are currently using the beta version of the metaverse platform Metapolis, created by Korean real estate brokerage startup Zigbang, as a virtual office. “From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. around 140 peopl

CultureFeb. 23, 2022

Choi Min-sik returns as math genius in Korean version of ‘Good Will Hunting’

Choi Min-sik is returning to the big screen as a genius mathematician from North Korea in “In Our Prime,” which has been promoted as the Korean version of Gus Van Sant’s American classic “Good Will Hunting.” “Our film can’t be compared with ‘Good Will Hunting’ and Robin Williams,” Choi said humbly during a press conference held after a press preview at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University on Tuesday. “I remember how moving that movie w

FilmFeb. 23, 2022

Purple Island to be featured at Paris Fashion Week

The “Purple Island” in Sinan, South Jeolla Province, will be featured at the 2022 fall-winter Paris Fashion Week, slated to take place virtually next week, according to officials Wednesday.  The island’s 1.4-kilometer purple bridge has been turned into a runway in a recent filming of South Korean designer Yang Hae-il’s show as part of one of the fashion world’s biggest events.  The bridge connects the two islets of Banwol and Bakji, which comprise Purple

TravelFeb. 23, 2022

[Herald Interview] Chang Ki-ha discovers ‘voice’ is his identity

Chang Ki-ha, a former member of the now-disbanded indie rock band Kiha & The Faces, has returned as a solo artist with his first EP “Levitation.” It marked his return as a musician after a nearly three-year break following the band’s disbandment in December 2018. “(Returning to the music scene after a long break) still has not really sunk in yet. I’m excited and nervous at the same time, and glad to hear positive feedback on the latest album,” Chang said

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2022

TXT’s Yeonjun, Taehyun feature in Salem Ilese’s new single ‘PS5’

Yeonjun and Taehyun, members of K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT), took part in US pop singer Salem Ilese’s new single “PS5” as featured artists, according to Big Hit Music Wednesday. “PS5” is a love song that deals with choosing between playing a game and spending time with a lover, produced by famous DJ Alan Walker. In the song, the two TXT members rhythmically sing, “(Let me play the game) two more minutes, I’ll get a trophy.” “P

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2022

Culture minister proposes ‘Culture Olympics’ to IOC

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee on Tuesday said that he plans to officially propose “Culture Olympics” to the International Olympic Committee. Hwang said that he pitched the idea to IOC President Thomas Bach at the Beijing Olympics, saying that an Olympics dedicated to culture would fit the goal of the sports event which brings the global communities together, providing opportunities for athletes to have various exchanges, reduce differences and enhance harmony. &ld

CultureFeb. 22, 2022

Facing myriad challenges, Sejong Center unveils renovation plan

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts unveiled Monday a series of plans to revitalize the ageng cultural complex that is facing competition from newer facilities as well as financial difficulties. Ahn Ho-sang, who took the helm of the center in October, said that the Sejong Center faced competition not just from other performance facilities but also digital content platforms such as Nexflix. Ahn, a former CEO of the National Theater of Korea, said it was therefore “inevitable that center

CultureFeb. 22, 2022

Newlyweds re-create parents’ honeymoon photos

Before Koreans discovered exotic holiday destinations abroad, Jeju Island, the semi-tropical, volcanic island off the south coast of the Korean Peninsula, was the No. 1 honeymoon destination.  But it wasn’t the first choice for Sohn, who tied the knot last October. Like most couples of his generation, his idea of a honeymoon was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a far-off destination, like the Maldives. But the COVID-19 pandemic made such a trip almost impossible for many.  So to ma

TravelFeb. 22, 2022

Korean startup Watcha to offer webtoons, music streaming this year

Korean startup Watcha on Tuesday announced the launch of Watcha 2.0 this year, including plans to provide webtoons and a music streaming service on its video streaming platform. “We think this year is the year to take a leap forward. We have to prepare for our next 10 to 20 years,” Watcha CEO Park Tae-hoon said during a media event held Tuesday in Yeouido, Seoul. “We are aiming to reach 100 million global subscribers by 2030,” Park added. Watcha’s chief operati

TelevisionFeb. 22, 2022

[Herald Interview] 'Ms. Shibal': Actor Lee Eun-saem surprised by show of love from global fans

Among the many Korean high school students who starred in the latest Netflix zombie thriller “All of Us Are Dead,” Park Mi-jin (played by Lee Eun-saem) is arguably the most mesmerizing character, especially to foreign audiences, who were unfamiliar with the Korean curse word “ssibal” until they watched the series. With the 12-part project topping Netflix’s streaming chart around the globe, the Korean swear words have intrigued many viewers. From online posts to h

FilmFeb. 22, 2022

Yoo Jae-suk’s Chinese fan club Yooniverse disbands

Top comedian Yoo Jae-suk is facing backlash in China after remarks made on the latest episode of MBC’s hit variety show “Hangout with Yoo.” Yoo’s Chinese fan club Yooniverse announced Monday evening that the group has decided to disband and end its operation. According to a post on the fan club’s official Weibo channel, the fan club plans to stop its operation because Yoo and the fans’ “directions are different.” No details were offered for the

TelevisionFeb. 22, 2022

[Herald Review] Virtual influencer Rozy sings of finding true self through ‘Who Am I’

Rozy, the first virtual social media influencer in South Korea, has made her debut as a singer by dropping her first single, “Who Am I,” at Tuesday noon. The song, a medium-tempo ballad, talks about the troubles of being a virtual human. Its warm melody and Rozy’s captivating and refreshing voice adds emotional depth to the song. The lyrics speak of the worries about the 22-year-old’s identity, repeatedly asking herself who she really is. The three-minute song also as

PerformanceFeb. 22, 2022

'Colors make me move'

Painter Toh Yun-hee remembers things by their colors. The artist does not hesitate to say it is the colors she encounters that motivate her to paint on a canvas. When the colors become linked to her memories, occasions –- or even sentences -- that remain in her mind, they are expressed as paintings. Toh has unveiled 41 new paintings at Gallery Hyundai in Seoul, the leading commercial art gallery in South Korea. The show titled “Berlin” is her second at the gallery, after &ldq

Arts & DesignFeb. 22, 2022

Choe U-ram named winner of MMCA Hyundai Motor Series 2022

Installation artist Choe U-ram was selected as the artist for the MMCA Hyundai Motor Series 2022, an annual project organized by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea to support established Korean artists. Choe is known for kinetic sculptures known as “anima-machines” that combine the realms of art and science, which he has explored since the early 1990s. The kinetic installations created with stainless steel, robotics and acrylic show how humans’ desire i

Arts & DesignFeb. 22, 2022

MCST to spend W67b to support workers in performing arts and sports sectors

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday said it will inject another batch of capital to support workers in the performing arts sector, which has been hit hard by COVID-19. The ministry and the Arts Council Korea, a state-run organization dedicated to supporting the arts and performers, will support 2,000 workers in the sector with a budget of 22.8 billion won ($19 million). The latest plan follows three similar three packages in 2020 and 2021, totaling 73.9 billion won which went

CultureFeb. 21, 2022