'Black Widow' tops weekend S. Korean box office for 2nd straight week

Marvel Studios' latest movie, "Black Widow," sat atop South Korea's weekend box office for the second consecutive week, data showed Monday. The superhero blockbuster attracted over 445,000 people over the Friday-Sunday period, bringing its combined total to nearly 2.14 million in less than two weeks since its release on July 7, according to data from the Korean Film Council. It became the fourth title released in 2021 to surpass the 2 million threshold, following the action film &quo

FilmJuly 19, 2021

MMCA Cheongju turns into a space for humans, animals and plants

A large magnolia tree stands in front of MMCA Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province. The tree became diseased in 2019 and will be cut down soon as it has now died. Artist Han Seok-hyun revitalized the tree, transforming it into a work of art. He covered the dead tree with wood scraps -- cut timber and broken furniture, which ultimately come from other dead trees -- and added plants such as geraniums, trumpet creepers and even green onions in the spaces in this new covering.  The Cheo

Arts & DesignJuly 19, 2021

Music industry on alert as K-pop singers test positive for COVID-19

The Korean music industry is on alert as a growing number of singers have tested positive for the coronavirus amid an ongoing fourth wave of infections. Lee Min-hyuk of K-pop boy band BTOB was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, the band’s agency Cube Entertainment on Saturday. After Lee found out that his vocal coach tested positive for the coronavirus, he took two polymerase chain reaction tests and the results came out negative for both. However, he started showing symptoms on Fr

PerformanceJuly 18, 2021

Korean presence felt at Cannes 2021

 Two years have passed since the 2019 film, “Parasite” won the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. Although Korean films were not among the 24 competing feature films at the festival’s 74th edition, the firm presence of the Korean cinematic scene was acknowledged by the appearance of its star directors and actors. Director Bong Joon-ho proudly announced the opening of the festival on July 6, while actor Lee Byung-hun took the stage to

FilmJuly 18, 2021

[Eye Plus] Ahyeon-dong still bears traces of ‘Parasite’

An area rich in history and culture, the hill street of Ahyeon-dong has one of 10 walking paths that Seoul’s western district of Mapo is promoting to visitors. The district has set up multiple signposts marking notable sights along the paths.  The course begins at Ahyeon Market, near Ahyeon Station on Subway Line No. 2, Exit No. 4. Since the market opened in 1930, it has embodied a typical Korean traditional street market.  On a corner along the hill street, Doijissal Supermark

TravelJuly 17, 2021

New Burgers in town

There are plenty of burgers to be had in Seoul. Burger fiends can take their pick from global heavyweights like Shake Shack or homegrown classics like Brooklyn the Burger Joint. There are also newcomers, like Pound, an American-style joint that opened in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong near Garosugil this May. At Pound, one will find owner-chef Eom Yoo-sang’s tasty, no-frills take on the perennially popular hamburger. “I like to be able to taste the patty,” said Eom, 32, in an

FoodJuly 17, 2021

‘We may be a global brand, but Ananti Hilton Busan thinks locally’

BUSAN – Even as the hospitality industry has suffered from a bruising COVID-19 pandemic, Ananti Hilton Busan at Gijang-gun, Busan, stands ready to offer staycation guests a comfortable, fun and relaxing stay. A scenic view of the ocean by the balcony greets guests. The infinity pool -- one of four different swimming areas at the hotel -- is the largest among five-star hotels in Korea. An open kitchen buffet called Da Moim, meaning “everyone has gathered,” serves fresh seafood

TravelJuly 17, 2021

[Photo News] Zinnias bloom on Jeju Island

Zinnia blossoms are capturing the hearts of visitors at the historic site in Aewol-eup on Jeju Island where 13th-century Korean resistance fighters struggled as hard as they could against Mongolian invaders. Though they were ultimately defeated, the Koreans never gave up. 　 Zinnia elegans, well known for their colorful red, pink and orange flowers, start blooming between June and October. The Korean name of the plant, “baek-il hong,” refers to red flowers that stay in bloom for 100

TravelJuly 17, 2021

Hwang Jung-min returns to big screen as himself in ‘Hostage: Missing Celebrity’

Veteran actor Hwang Jung-min returned to the big screen playing himself in the upcoming movie “Hostage: Missing Celebrity” directed by Pil Gam-seong. Hwang said he did not feel pressured playing the character based off his own life. “I actually enjoyed it. I thought that the audiences would take the situation in the film as being more real,” Hwang said during an online press conference held on Thursday. The actor added that it was interesting to read about his own kid

FilmJuly 17, 2021

Young Korean director wins 2nd prize at Cannes awards for student filmmakers

Director Yoon Dae-won’s “Cicada” has won the second prize at the 24th Cinefondation Selection, the Cannes Film Festival announced Friday. “Cicada,” a Korean short film portraying a transgender prostitute Chang-hyun and his old friend, was invited to the Cinefondation, a category for student filmmakers. Cinefondation, established in 1998, is devoted to spotlighting new talents in the film industry. This year’s selection consisted of 17 short and medium-leng

FilmJuly 16, 2021

LG Arts Center bids goodbye to Gangnam era

  The LG Arts Center has wrapped up its last production at its theater in the Gangnam area, putting a comma to its some 20-year run. Shakespeare’s tragedy “Coriolanus,” helmed by Yang Jung-ung who directed the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, ended its run at the LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong Thursday. It is the last show produced by the arts center while it is located in southern Seoull. Managed by the LG Yonam Cultural Foundation, the non-p

PerformanceJuly 16, 2021

Robert Downey Jr. to star in director Park Chan-wook’s HBO drama

Robert Downey Jr. is joining director Park Chan-wook’s upcoming drama “The Sympathizer,” US online entertainment trade publication Deadline reported Friday. The drama is an adaptation of Viet Tanh Nguyen’s 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title, a spy thriller work of historical fiction. The story centers around a spy from North Vietnam in the South Vietnamese army. The drama will follow the character in exile in the US, depicting the struggles of a communi

FilmJuly 16, 2021

Summer Korean style is only a click a way

Learning about summer Korean style is only a click away from anywhere around the world. The Korean Culture and Information Service, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced Friday that 27 Korean Cultural Centers around the world would be offering cultural programs such as food, music and films that introduce how summer is enjoyed in Korea. The programs will be held online, complying with the respective governments’ COVID-19 guidelines, according to KOCIS, which opera

CultureJuly 16, 2021

Korean ballerino to hold recital at Mariinsky Theater

Ballerino Kim Ki-min, a principal dancer of the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia, will hold a recital celebrating the 10th anniversary of his joining the renowned Russian ballet troupe. Kim‘s recital, titled “An Artistic Evening with Kimin Kim,” at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, will be the closing performance of the theater’s XXIX Music Festival Stars of the White Nights, according to the Mariinsky Ballet website. It will mark Kim’s second r

PerformanceJuly 16, 2021

King Sejong statue to go up in Uzbek capital

A statue of King Sejong, the inventor of the Korean alphabet, Hanguel, will go up in Uzbekistan's capital as part of a cultural exchange between two local districts. The office of Seocho Ward in southern Seoul said Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the office of Mirabad district in central Tashkent on promoting ties between the two regions. In celebration of the agreement, the two districts will each construct a statue of a historical figure from the other country. The st

CultureJuly 16, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Medium (US) Opened July 14 Thriller Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun A documentary team follows Nim (Sawanee Utoomma), a shaman living in a mountain village in Thailand. After Nim’s sister Noi (Sirani Yankittikan) refused to become the designated shaman years ago, she succeeded in the role instead. One day, Nim finds out that her niece Mink (Narilya Gulmongkolpech) has developed some strange symptoms. Black Widow (US) Opened July 7 Action Directed by Cate Shortland Following the e

FilmJuly 16, 2021

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

High tea at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas offers a special tea time for the summer season at The Lobby Lounge from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The promotion runs through August. Summer Passion Royal High Tea comes with premium tea or coffee and desserts featuring seasonal fruits and savory dishes, including coconut shrimp and a beetroot sandwich. A to-go option is also available for those who want to enjoy tea time at home or for special occasions. Summer Passi

FoodJuly 16, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival The Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival is set to take place in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, from Oct. 6 to 10. The festival celebrates the history and culture of the Baekje Kingdom’s Hanseong era, when its capital was in Seoul. Visitors can travel back in time and enjoy activities. Sponsored by Songpa-gu office and Songpa Cultural Foundation and managed by the Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival Organizing Committee, the event features folk performances, mus

CultureJuly 16, 2021

Committee to discuss Korea’s bid for tidal flats as Natural World Heritage

Whether Korea’s tidal flats, or “gaetbeol,” make it onto UNESCO’s list of Natural World Heritage sites will be decided soon as the World Heritage Committee meeting kicks off on Friday. The committee’s 44th annual session is slated to run virtually in cooperation with UNESCO and the host country China. Separated into two groups, Cultural World Heritage and Natural World Heritage, the committee will assess the nominations and decide which sites to include on the Wo

CultureJuly 15, 2021

Actor to return to stage after COVID-19 quarantine

Actor Cha Ji-yeon is to return to the musical stage after a positive test for COVID-19 forced her into quarantine. “Cha tested negative for the virus on Wednesday and checked out of the residential treatment center,” her agency, C- JeS Entertainment, announced Thursday. “She will carry on with the schedules for musicals ‘Red Book’ and ‘Gwanghwamun Sonata,’ while complying with the government’s social distancing rules.” The veteran actor w

PerformanceJuly 15, 2021