[Eye Plus] Nocturnal splendor at Seoul palaces

Palaces in Seoul, formerly home to Joseon royalty and now must-see tourist spots, showcase the country’s cultural history. Their architectural style represent what was most aesthetically pleasing at the time of their creation. Hundreds of years have only added depth of time to the stories that are told through aged wood and weighty foundation stones. Given their significance, old palaces awash with bright lights form an out-of-this-world backdrop for pansori performances. At Gyeonghoeru

CultureOct. 24, 2020

[Photo News] White clouds painted across clear, sunny sky in Gangneung

The sunny sky has a bright blue hue in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, near the East Sea on Thursday morning. White clouds are painted across the morning sky as the contrasting colors of the silver grass below bring out its vivid blue. (Photos: Yonhap) By Song Donna (donnadsong@heraldcorp.com)

TravelOct. 24, 2020

[Photo News] Pathways at Joseon royal tombs reopen to public

The Cultural Heritage Administration Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said it will open five more forest trails at Joseon royal tomb sites from Friday. Paths have been opened up at Uireung in Seoul and at four royal tomb sites in Gyeonggi Province: Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong, Jangneung in Gimpo, and Sareung as well as Hongneung and Yureung in Namyangju.  The photo shows a pathway in the traditional tree nursery at Hongneung and Yureung in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. (Photos

TravelOct. 24, 2020

Beloved sandwich shop moves to new Seongsu-dong perch

On a quiet weekday, before noon, Mia Nonna, the beloved sandwich shop that recently moved to Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, is a peaceful and inviting space. Tall, tall walls are awash in soft, beige pink and ceiling length windows let the autumn sunshine filter in. Several outdoor tables welcome those who want to enjoy the fall foliage while munching on sandwiches and sipping from steaming mugs of hot coffee. “I deliberately used indi pink and wood tones to warm up the space because I

FoodOct. 24, 2020

Strong, rapid brushstrokes show artist’s superrational memories

Layers of vigorous brushstrokes are painted on a canvas. It may look like an abstract painting at a glance, but if you examine it carefully you will find objects hidden among the rapid brushstrokes. Jang Jae-min uses all his senses to remember the places he visits -- smell, hearing, sight -- then recalls the memories while he is painting. His works are done intuitively, and the artist’s intuitive nature comes through on the canvas. The semi-abstract paintings will animate the audience&rs

Arts & DesignOct. 24, 2020

KOFIC selects 'The Man Standing Next' for 2021 Oscar submission

The Korean Film Council announced Wednesday that “The Man Standing Next” by director Woo Min-ho was chosen out of the 13 films that applied for submission for the Oscar for best international feature film. The 13 movie submissions included “Peninsula” by Yeon Sang-ho, “Deliver Us from Evil” by Hong Won-chan and “Beasts that Cling to the Straw” by Kim Yong-hoon, among others. “We had a lot of discussion as to which movie made this year has t

FilmOct. 24, 2020

‘Minari,’ more than a memoir of immigrant experience

Director of family drama “Minari,” which won top prizes at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, said US audiences have come to embrace Korean films since director Bong Joon-ho’s ”Parasite” won multiple Oscars. “It’s (‘Minari’ winning the awards is) surprising. I think it is less surprising after ‘Parasite,’” director Lee Isaac Chung said during a press conference held via Zoom on Friday as part of the Busan International Film

FilmOct. 23, 2020

Pengsoo and AKMU Suhyun to showcase duet

Popular EBS penguin mascot character Pengsoo will perform in a duet with AKMU’s Suhyun at 7:30 p.m. on Friday’s episode of “Giant PengTV” on EBS 1TV. Suhyun uploaded a picture of herself with Pengsoo on Thursday in an Instagram story, foreshadowing the collaboration between the two. EBS confirmed Friday they will take to the stage together in the evening’s episode. Pengsoo topped local music charts in April with “This is Pengsoo,” collaborating with

TelevisionOct. 23, 2020

[Video] Asia Culture Week 2020 illuminates Gwangju, connecting past and present Asia

In the heart of Gwangju’s bustling downtown district, the historic building that witnessed the May 18 Democratic Movement became the inspiration for the creation of the Asian Culture Center. Opened in 2015, the ACC’s overarching concept, “The Forest of Light” was planned by architect Woo Kyu-sung. The protest song “March for the Beloved” plays every afternoon at the May 18 Clock Tower, which is located at the entrance of the square. In the spring of 1980,

CultureOct. 23, 2020

CGV shuts down 7 branches with more closures to follow

Multiplex cinema chain CGV announced Thursday that it would close seven of its branches, including the Daehangno location in Seoul, due to the financial burden of COVID-19. The announcement came just three days after CGV decided to reduce the number of branches by 30 percent due to COVID-19 losses on Monday. The company announced that 35-40 branches of the current 119 branches will close within three years. “As COVID-19 continues, we have unfortunately decided to stop operation of some

PerformanceOct. 23, 2020

[Eye interview] Trailblazer who cut new path for women seeks to change lives through coaching

A late start did not stop Yun Yuh-soon from making her mark in South Korea’s notoriously male-dominated corporate world. In fact, Yun was appointed executive director of LG Academy, LG Group’s human resources development center, in 2000, becoming the conglomerate’s first-ever female executive. She had joined the company five years earlier, at age 40. In 2010, she was made senior executive director at LG Academy and the following year, she was appointed CEO of LG Arts Center,

BooksOct. 23, 2020

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Autumn forest at Everland Everland’s Forest Camp is offering eco-friendly programs for visitors this fall. Forest Camp is a park spread across 90,000 square meters of land, managed by amusement park Everland for the past 50 years. The park has a dense forest of some 34,000 trees and plants. Various programs are available, from trekking, meditation, yoga and music concerts to barbecue party events. For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, visit reservation.everlan

TravelOct. 23, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotion and packages

InterContinental presents Halloween Special　 Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and InterContinental Seoul COEX in Samseong-dong offer horror-themed Halloween desserts for the Halloween season. Deli of Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas presents horror-themed Halloween desserts prepared by patissier Eric Kalaboke from New York. Five types of desserts, Halloween Chocolate Cake decorated as a skull, Pumpkin Tart, Mummy Cake Slice, a pumpkin-shaped Pumpkin Mousse Cake Slice and Ghost Hot Chocol

FoodOct. 23, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Voice of Silence (Korea) Opened Oct. 15 Crime, Drama Directed by Hong Eui-jeong Tae-in (Yoo Ah-in) has the unusual job of disposing of corpses and cleaning up crime scenes for an organized crime syndicate, along with Chang-bok (Yoo Jae-myung). One day, Tae-in and Chang-bok become responsible for taking care of a girl (Moon Seung-ah) when her kidnapper, a member of a criminal organization, suddenly dies. Unhinged (US) Opened Oct. 7 Thriller, Action Directed by Derrick Borte Rachel Hunter (C

FilmOct. 23, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Experts share key know-how for attracting future audiences

Three experts from different fields-- D’strict CEO Lee Sung-ho, Dophiners Films CEO Shin Woo-seok and Z-lab CEO Noh Kyung-rok -- shared their thoughts Thursday about attracting audiences in the future during the 10th edition of Herald Design Forum held at Paradise City in Incheon. The annual event which celebrates the art of design and its value was conducted this year under the title of “Another 10 Years.” The CEO of D’strict, the company that created a successful pub

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Artists stress sustainable design for innovation

Tomas Saraceno, an Argentinian contemporary artist who is behind the launch of a fuel-free air balloon, stressed sustainability during a Q&A session at the Herald Design Forum on Thursday. Saraceno launched a project, titled “Fly with Aerocene Pacha,” an air balloon powered only by the sun and air, forgoing helium or fossil fuels, as a way of exploring environmentally friendly flight. The project was exhibited as part of “Connect BTS,” a global public art project i

CultureOct. 22, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Tomas Saraceno calls for time to ‘Free the Air’

INCHEON -- Argentinian artist Tomas Saraceno stressed that “freeing the air” is one of the most important agendas for humanity at the Herald Design Forum 2020, held virtually in Incheon on Thursday. Saraceno is an Argentinian artist based in Berlin whose works span from architecture involving future cities and the environment to climate issues, all striving to work up a “quasi feasible utopia.” At the annual design event, he made a special speech titled “Free th

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2020

SBS drama ‘The Penthouse: War in Life’ to show row over education, real estate

Different human desires are set to clash in SBS’ new suspense drama “The Penthouse: War in Life” starting at 10 p.m., Monday. Director Joo Dong-min and screenwriter Kim Soon-ok have joined hands again for this drama after “The Last Empress,” their previous SBS drama featuring actress Jang Na-ra, met with success in 2018. “The Penthouse: War in Life” is set in Hera Palace, a 100-story luxury apartment in the heart of Seoul. It deals with two of the hot

TelevisionOct. 22, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Preparing for the new future

The 2020 Herald Design Forum was held Thursday, sharing design ideas that envision the next 10 years, at Paradise City Chroma in Incheon.  At the event, Hans Ulrich Obrist, an influential art curator, delivered a speech titled “Toward a New Era of Social Imagination,” which also streamed online. The Swiss-born curator shared his thoughts on the role of art and design. Obrist is the director of the Serpentine Galleries in London, which boasts a wide selection of contemporary

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2020

[Herald Design Forum 2020] Herald Design Forum envisions next 10 years of design, innovation

　 The annual Herald Design Forum kicked off Thursday morning, marking its 10th edition by envisioning how design could change the world in the coming decade. 　 Under the slogan “Another 10 Years,” the largest design forum in Asia brought together prominent designers, architects, artists, curators and directors. The event was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1,400 participants livestreaming the sessions. In compliance with the government&rsquo

CultureOct. 22, 2020