[Herald Interview] Norah Jones aims to soothe COVID-19 blues with first Christmas album

Christmas is just around the corner, but the festive season is more low-key than many hoped for due to rising COVID-19 concerns around the world. To help soothe the COVID-19 blues, American singer-songwriter Norah Jones has released an unexpected gift -- a full-length Christmas album titled “I Dream of Christmas”. “This album did come out of the very long first year of the pandemic. I needed something to look forward to and a way to be creative that had a little joy baked into

PerformanceDec. 21, 2021

'Snowdrop' under fire for distorting modern S. Korean history

The romance series "Snowdrop" has sparked criticism that it distorted the history of South Korea's pro-democracy movement of the late 1980s, prompting calls for the show's cancellation and withdrawals of corporate sponsorship. The weekend primetime drama on JTBC is about a romantic relationship between Young-ro, a female South Korean university student, and Su-ho, a North Korean spy, before the 1987 presidential election. Fierce criticism arose after the first two episodes this weeke

TelevisionDec. 21, 2021

3 foreign chefs give thumbs-up to ‘small, but tasty’ Korean chicken

Korean-style fried chicken has made a name for itself in the global food scene with its crisp texture and various seasoning sauces.  On its home turf, it has become the subject of a debate among local foodies after a famous food critic Hwang Kyo-ik slammed chefs who make the dish for using small chickens and relying too much on sauce.  “Korean chicken is not tasty because the chicken is small. The dish sold at local restaurants uses a broiler weighing about 1.5 kilograms. It i

FoodDec. 20, 2021

Hybe teases BTS webtoon ‘7 Fates: CHAKHO’

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind the superband BTS, has released an official teaser for “7 Fates: CHAKHO,” an upcoming original webtoon collaboration among BTS members, Hybe and Naver Webtoon. The one-minute video, starring RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, talks about fate -- the central theme of the upcoming webtoon. In the teaser clip, the members are seen reaching toward a ball of light as a dramatic instrumental song plays in the background. Drawn from the tiger

CartoonDec. 20, 2021

[Video] Meet this painter behind the viral portraits in Korea

What started as a split-second decision to follow a friend’s suggestion to go on an adventure to Asia became a turning point in Aaron Cossrow’s life. Find out why the Philadelphia native is painting everyday people in Seoul and how he put together an exhibition in the middle of the bustling city. By Team Konnect Kim Min-jung (minjung.kim@heraldcorp.com) Jung Ji-eun (jungje@heraldcorp.com) Choi Jeong-yoon (jychoi@heraldcorp.com) Kim Jeong-ryul (ryul@heraldcorp.com) Cho Eun-bee (hone

EntertainmentDec. 20, 2021

‘The Policeman’s Lineage’ to be first Korean film in theaters next year

“The Policeman’s Lineage,” directed by Lee Kyu-man, will be the first Korean film in the theaters next year, according to the film’s distributor Acemaker Movieworks on Monday. “Despite the toughened Level 4 social distancing rules this summer, Korean films like ‘Escape from Mogadishu,’ ‘Sinkhole’ and ‘Hostage: Missing Celebrity’ were screened,” the distributor said in a statement. “Although we are in a pandemic situat

FilmDec. 20, 2021

Nine independent films to be screened for free at Cinematech KOFA

The Korean Film Archive on Monday announced it will screen nine Korean independent films that were well received between December last year and November this year at Cinematech KOFA in Sangam-dong, Seoul. The nine films are “Happy Children” by Lee Ji-won, “I Don’t Fire Myself” by Lee Tae-gyeom, “Snowball” by Lee Woo-jung, “Festival” by Kim Rok-kyung, “Black Light” by Bae Jong-dae, “Short Vacation” by Kwon Min-pyo and

FilmDec. 20, 2021

[Herald Interview] Top musical producer hopes to work with BTS’ V to create global hit

During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent social distancing measures, musical producer Eom Hong-hyeon may well have been depressed. The CEO of EMK Musical Company, although previously upbeat and outgoing, recalled spending many of his days in despair. This wasn’t without good reason. Just before the pandemic hit, Eom had been planning to launch an office in the US, having been left frustrated and disappointed after meeting renowned musical producers in the

CultureDec. 20, 2021

Calls to halt JTBC ‘Snowdrop’ mount after two episodes

JTBC drama series “Snowdrop” has come under fire for alleged distortions of history after having aired just two episodes. 　 “Snowdrop” centers around the romance between a North Korean spy and South Korean university student during the 1987 presidential election. An online petition was posted to the Cheong Wa Dae website on Sunday demanding a halt to the broadcasting of the drama. “The broadcaster previously faced controversy after releasing the (drama) synopsis

TelevisionDec. 20, 2021

'Spider-Man' smashes S. Korea box office in its 1st week

"Spider-Man: No Way Home," Marvel's latest Spider-Man series film, is smashing the South Korean box office to become the most-watched movie in the first week since the pandemic, data showed Monday. The blockbuster attracted 1.74 million people from Friday-Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to 2.27 million in the five days following its release, according to the data by the Korea Film Council. It is the largest five-day record by a film released since the COVID-19 pandemic started

FilmDec. 20, 2021

First female director’s failed journey a story of inspiration, says actor Lee So-yeon

A 30-something female filmmaker strives to make her first movie, a film about a widow; it’s a commercial failure and, ironically, she gets divorced shortly afterward. Although this trajectory of trial and failure feels common in modern society, now imagine this same story occurring in 1954, right after the Korean War. This is no fiction, but rather the real life of South Korea’s first female filmmaker, Park Nam-ok. The movie director’s story has been brought back to life in

PerformanceDec. 19, 2021

[Herald Interview] SAMG vice president says IP holders will be final winners of future metaverse market

At the entrance of Korean content company SAMG Entertainment’s office in Gangnam, characters from the animation “Miniforce” greet visitors. In a company meeting room, a group of toys from various animations catches the eye. But SAMG Entertainment Vice President Choi Jae-won explains that it is not just a toymaker. The Korean animation company started producing toys along with the animations after realizing the value of IP content back in 2016. Since then it has been proving

CultureDec. 19, 2021

Leeum Museum of Art collaborates with Naver TV, offers special opening on Dec. 27

Leeum Museum of Art will stream its two permanent exhibitions on Naver TV introducing its key collection as well as offer a chance for viewers to visit the exhibitions in person for a special opening of the museum on Dec. 27. One of the country’s top private museums, Leeum Museum of Art has seen an upswing in popularity since reopening on Oct. 8, with reservation time slots allowing 600 people to visit on a daily basis. The museum is currently showcasing two permanent collection shows o

Arts & DesignDec. 19, 2021

India offers huge opportunities to Korean investors: Indian ambassador

India is an attractive investment destination for Korean entities, with the country’s $1.4 trillion infrastructure development plan representing attractive opportunities, Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan said at the Eurasian Economic and Cultural Forum 2021, hosted Wednesday by The Korea Herald. The ambassador said that the size of Indian economy, India’s infrastructure development plans, demography and digital ecosystem, outstanding human resource, private equity, v

PeopleDec. 19, 2021

[Eye Interview] Celebrity photographer MJ Kim trains lens on everyday people

Photographer MJ Kim’s life has been a wild roller-coaster ride. From studying film in London to landing a job with singer Paul McCartney, a partnership that would last more than 10 years, to taking photos of everyday people and making an award-winning short film, Kim, 49, has done it all. With irrepressible optimism and enthusiasm. A soft bossa nova tune plays in Kim’s studio, his “man cave,” in the hipster neighborhood of Seongsu-dong in Seoul. The white walls of the ro

CultureDec. 19, 2021

[Eye Plus] Let there be light

We may be heading into the darkest winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Myeong-dong wants us to keep our spirits bright. The once-bustling shopping mecca of Seoul is not busy as it used to be pre-pandemic, but it is twinkling, sparkling and shining brighter than ever before with extravagant Christmas light displays.  Millions of LED lights adorn the exterior of departments stores and other buildings in the district, creating a spectacle at night.  Street trees decked out with Christ

TravelDec. 18, 2021

[Visual History of Korea] Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, founding father of America’s first Koreatown

Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (1878-1938), one of the most prominent and respected leaders of modern Korea, was an epitome of an “intellectual in action” in 20th century Korea. Dosan, the pen name of Ahn Chang-ho, means a mountain rising out of the ocean. It is also the Korean name for the island of Hawaii rising out of the Pacific Ocean, which Dosan saw from his ship on his first trip to the US in 1902. Ahn and his wife, Lee Hye-Ryeon, immigrated to the US in October 1902 as citizens of the

CultureDec. 18, 2021

Season’s Greetings: Spots to celebrate the Christmas spirit

Myeongdong Cathedral situated in the heart of Seoul is a symbolic destination for the Christmas season. The country’s oldest Roman Catholic gothic architecture is now surrounded by soft lights and glittering Christmas trees adding a festive vibe to the city. Passersby in the neighborhood are attracted to the cathedral to take photos against the background of the rose garden, or some would stay for a while in front of the nativity scene set up in front of the cathedral to pray. The manger

TravelDec. 18, 2021

[Weekender] Working remotely? Why not from Jeju?

JEJU ISLAND -- When Hong’s company, a marketing consultancy based in Seoul, announced a return to remote working early December, the 31-year-old decided to escape the confines of his studio apartment. After getting permission from his boss, he packed up and left for Jeju, with his laptop in tow. “I had Zoom meetings and phone calls with my boss and other business partners whenever necessary,” Hong told The Korea Herald at a beachside vacation home on the western coastal vil

CultureDec. 18, 2021

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Steamed soft tofu with soy chili sauce

Several years ago, I was on vacation in Korea’s east coast with my family, riding three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Our guide told us to go up a steep mountain in the rain. Unfortunately I had a very bad fall, which led to a fracture on my upper femur bone right below the socket. Long story short, instead of spending the day riding ATVs we rode ambulances. I had surgery and was hospitalized for a few days. During the hospitalization I lost over 4.5 kilograms due to the stress and

FoodDec. 18, 2021