[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Deadpool & Wolverine” (US) Opened July 24 Action/Comedy Directed by Shawn Levy A retired Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), who lives an ordinary life as a car dealer, seeks out Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) for a superhero team-up, as he tries to maintain the existence of all the people important to him. “Despicable Me 4” (US) Opened June 24 Animation Directed by Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage Gru and Gru Jr. face their peaceful life crashing down as criminal mastermind Maxime Le

FilmJuly 26, 2024

Yoo Seung-ho to make stage debut as drag queen in 190-minute 'Angels in America'

Actor Yoo Seung-ho hopes to make a bold transformation on stage with his role in the Korean production of the play "Angels in America." Yoo has been cast as Prior Walter, a gay character and drag queen, who becomes a victim of social prejudice and self-hate after being diagnosed with AIDS and is abandoned by his lover. This is a stage debut for the actor who started as a child actor in 2000 and has appeared on television dramas and films. "There wasn't a specific reason. I ju

PerformanceJuly 25, 2024

This summer, cucumbers take center stage

Cucumbers are having a moment in Korea. As one of the most representative vegetables of summer here, cucumbers usually star in summer dishes like cold noodles and soups as a garnish. But this season, they're more than just supporting players — cucumbers have taken center stage. On social media, cucumber gimbap is all the rage, thanks to TV celebrity Choi Hwa-jung. On her YouTube channel, Choi, 63, introduced the dish as an “easy to make, yet surprisingly delicious” dish

FoodJuly 25, 2024

National Museum of Korea provides major grant to Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art

The National Museum of Korea will award the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art $1.4 million as part of its overseas Korean Galleries Support Program. It marks the largest grant ever awarded by Korea's state-run museum to any institution. The grant will be awarded over four years to help the museum expand the program that aims to deepen the public's interest in Korean art and culture. The program includes reinstalling the museum’s permanent collection of Korean art i

Arts & DesignJuly 24, 2024

K-pop industry raked in $900 million from overseas last year, data shows

With all the hype surrounding the K-pop industry, how much does it actually earn? The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute sought to answer this question with data, which revealed that the K-pop industry raked in nearly $900 million from overseas last year. In 2023, the estimated overseas sales of K-pop amounted to 1.24 trillion won ($893 million), exceeding 1 trillion won for the first time, according to the government-run organization's report on Wednesday. Compared to the previous year, K

CultureJuly 24, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Deadpool and Wolverine' is salute to Marvel fans

Fueled by fans' excitement to see two beloved superheroes together in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, "Deadpool and Wolverine" is currently the talk of the town here. Despite its R-rated status, as of Wednesday, the film achieved a 46.5 percent pre-sale rate with more than 210,000 tickets sold in advance. The pre-sale rate is nearly three times higher than that of its competitors, such as "Pilot" (18.2 percent) and "Despicable Me 4" (10.2 pe

FilmJuly 24, 2024

Gyeongpo Beach beckons holidaymakers at night

The coastal city of Gangneung is extending the operating hours of the popular Gyeongpo Beach until 9 p.m. starting Saturday. Gyeongpo Beach, the largest beach along the East Coast that attracts an average of 6.5 million visitors each summer, will increase the number of lights to allow swimming and other water activities in the area up to 200 meters deep near the Central Square, according to the city on Wednesday. Visitors were originally allowed to swim until 6 p.m. The city expects the longer o

TravelJuly 24, 2024

Late Park Bo-ram's music to be re-released on 10th debut anniversary

The music of the late Park Bo-ram will be re-released at the request of her family and colleagues, on her 10th debut anniversary. Xanadu Entertainment, Park's agency, announced it is re-releasing popular tracks by Park, including "As Time Goes," on Aug. 7, her debut date. Park performed "As Time Goes" during the finals of the 2010 Mnet audition program "Superstar K2" which was broadcast live. It was also the last song she recorded while preparing for her 10th-a

CultureJuly 24, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet debuts with reimagined 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The debut performance of Korea's first public contemporary ballet company, Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, is set to break new ground in Korea's dance scene in August. Choreographer Joo Jae-man behind the inaugural production "A Midsummer Night's Dream," expressed his excitement at a press conference held Monday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. "In Korea, dance has been divided distinctly into ballet, traditional Korean dance and contemporary dance. I am so

PerformanceJuly 23, 2024

Art world welcomes eased rule on exports of post-1946 Korean art

A revision to the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Utilization Act's enforcement decree that had banned works of art at least 50 years old from being taken out of the country went into effect Tuesday, allowing for Korean art created after 1946 to be moved out of the country more easily. The art circle welcomed the long-awaited change, which, they said, would make it possible to more effectively promote Korean contemporary art. The previous enforcement decree required any transportable art

Arts & DesignJuly 23, 2024

'I, the Executioner' invited to 49th TIFF

South Korean filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest action film, “I, the Executioner,” has been invited to the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, continuing its streak of acclaim after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May, CJ ENM announced Tuesday. “I, the Executioner" is a sequel to 2015 blockbuster “Veteran.” "Veteran," which attracted 13.4 million cinemagoers in Korea during its run, was showcased in the vanguard category at the 20

FilmJuly 23, 2024

Enforcement decree in heritage law eased to promote Korean art overseas

The Korea Heritage Service has eased a decades-long rule that banned artworks from being taken out of the country. Under the previous rule, artworks 50 years old or more, when being considered for sale or exhibition outside Korea, were required to get agency approval over concerns valuable heritage could slip out of the country. The new enforcement decree to the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Utilization Act, effective Tuesday, has loosened the restriction, removing the review process for ar

Arts & DesignJuly 23, 2024

Don't let the rain ruin your date

With heavy rainfalls battering the entire country, hitting the beach with friends or enjoying water sports and other outdoor activities may not have been an option in recent days. However, Korea offers some interesting indoor travel destinations that are not only entertaining, but also keep visitors cool and dry in hot, humid weather. Lighting Museum Those who wish to feast their eyes on a variety of colors, lights and entertain themselves with dynamic sounds, should head over to the Lighting

TravelJuly 23, 2024

First licensed Chinese musical attracts Korean audience with resonating story

The first-ever licensed musical from China, "The Butterfly on the Bund 1939," premiered Saturday at TOM Theater in Daehangno, marking a milestone for Chinese production companies and fulfilling the collaborative aspirations of the two countries' creators. The musical, a joint effort between Shanghai-based Focustage and Seoul-based Never Ending Play, revolves around two women living in turbulent 1939 Shanghai. “I think the script and music of ‘The Butterfly on the Bun

CultureJuly 23, 2024

Quad Summer Festa to beat the heat with electronic music

The Quad Summer Festa, featuring its signature 360-degree stage, is set to take place from August 22 to 25 at the Quad Theater in Daehagno, a public venue operated by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture. This year, the four-day festival will showcase four distinct electronic music artists, each performing on a different day. The festival kicks off with Kirara, who combines powerful beats with delicate melodies. She has released four studio albums: “Rcts,” “Moves,” &

PerformanceJuly 23, 2024

[Herald Interview] Alternatives to apartments are possible in Korea: curator Chung Dah-young

Apartments constitute the most typical residential form across South Korea's cities, accounting for more than half of all housing in the country. Most people rarely have a chance to think critically about what options other than apartments might be possible. The newly opened exhibition “Performative Home: Architecture for Alternative Living” at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, gets visitors to think outside the box about

Arts & DesignJuly 22, 2024

Lee Sun-kyun's posthumous film 'Land of Happiness' to serve as historical record

Lee Sun-kyun's posthumous "Land of Happiness" accurately recreates events that took place during pivotal moments in Korean history and serves as a historical record, according to the film's director on Monday. “Land of Happiness” is a historical drama that follows the story of In-hoo (Jo Jung-suk), a lawyer striving to defend Tae-joo (Lee), a soldier implicated in the assassination of President Park Chung-hee and put on trial. The assassination, which occurred on

FilmJuly 22, 2024

Ye concert ticket sales schedule unveiled

Channel Candy, a music media brand operated by Nextix, has announced that schedule for tickets to go on sale to see rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and Ty Dolla $ign concert in Korea. Tickets will be available exclusively through domestic ticket sales platform Melon Ticket, with both general and presale options. Presales will be available from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, while general ticket sales begin at 8 p.m. on July 30. Presales will be available only to those also attending th

PerformanceJuly 22, 2024

Iconic Daehangno venue reopens, with focus on children's theater

Hakchon Theater, an iconic venue for Korean performing arts in Seoul's Daehangno theater district and a lasting legacy of Kim Min-gi, who died Sunday, has begun a new chapter in its storied history. Four months after its closure in March, the theater resumed its operations Thursday, rebranded as the Arko Kkumbat Theater, which translates to Arko Dream Field Theater, dedicated to performances for children and youth. “Arko Kkumbat Theater aims to inherit the historical and cultural lega

PerformanceJuly 22, 2024

Korea Heritage Service to extend key independence activist’s tomb

The Korea Heritage Service will expand the tomb of Lee Dong-nyeong, a historic site in central Seoul that the government says needs a makeover to show proper respect for the Korean independence fighter. Lee’s family has long requested the expansion of the site at Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu where Lee’s comrades are also buried. They argue the former independence activist deserves more space, given his role in the Korean Provisional Government in its fight against Japan’s 1910-4

CultureJuly 22, 2024