Cinemas' movie development fund contributions cut by 90%

The sums that cinemas contribute every month to a fund to support local film will be reduced by 90 percent as part of a plan to assist theaters hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday. The number of moviegoers plunged to 1.83 million in March, the lowest for the month since the Korean Film Council began compiling box office data in 2004. Currently, movie theaters are required to contribute 3 percent of their ticket sales to the Korean Film

FilmApril 21, 2020

K-pop stars open new chapter in careers with musicals

K-pop stars often make the most of their fame by venturing into a diverse range of second careers, such as acting or business. In recent years, more and more K-pop stars’ names are appearing on the cast lists of major musical productions as idols establish themselves in the highly popular musical scene. Initially, K-pop stars who landed major roles in musicals were met with hostility, as it was feared that musical actors -- actors trained specifically in the genre -- could lose out to big

PerformanceApril 21, 2020

S. Korean religious community set to resume on-site services

The South Korean religious community is set to resume public meetings and services that have been on hold for nearly two months due to the novel coronavirus, after social distancing guidelines were eased. The government earlier said it will extend social distancing for two more weeks, but it has partially eased the rules, conditionally allowing churches, bars, gyms and cram schools to resume operations. The decision came as South Korea's new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases have remained under

CultureApril 21, 2020

Broadcasting watchdog re-approves licenses of 2 TV channels

South Korea's telecommunications watchdog on Monday conditionally approved licenses for two comprehensive programming channels, advising them to maintain impartiality and adhere to public responsibility guidelines.    The Korea Communications Commission announced it approved a motion to re-approve the license of TV Chosun till April 21, 2023. It also approved an extension for Channel A until April 21, 2024.    It said while the licenses have been passed, failure by eithe

TelevisionApril 20, 2020

Templestay programs resume, with strict limitations

The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism announced Monday that it has resumed some of its Templestay programs. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, an affiliate of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, currently operates Templestay programs at 139 temples around the country. All its programs were suspended Feb. 24 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In line with the government’s social distancing guidelines, only Templestay programs for individual participants have reopened. Group programs rema

CultureApril 20, 2020

[Newsmaker] Viewers allege sexual objectification of women in KBS drama

The producers of KBS2’s weekend drama series “Once Again” apologized following criticisms that Saturday’s episodes sexually objectified women. In the two consecutive episodes that aired Saturday, three female characters who opened a kimbab eatery appear in skimpy dresses wearing heavy make-up. The women flirt with the men outside the store to lure them inside, while the male customers stare at the women and comment on the women’s appearance. The controversial epis

TelevisionApril 20, 2020

Moviegoers hit all-time low in March

As the monthslong coronavirus pandemic has emptied South Korean theaters, the number of moviegoers in the country dropped to an all-time low in March, data showed Monday. A total of 1.83 million people went to the cinema last month, plunging 87.5 percent from 14.7 million tallied a year ago, according to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It is the lowest monthly box office number since KOFIC started to compile such data in 2004. The total revenue nose-dived 88 percent on-year to 15.

FilmApril 20, 2020

‘Time to Hunt’ to be released worldwide Thursday on Netflix

Thriller “Time to Hunt” will finally be released on Netflix on Thursday, following a contentious two-week delay. “Time to Hunt” will be released simultaneously in some 190 countries at 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, Netflix said Monday. The streaming company was originally slated to release the film on April 10. However, the release was postponed as a court banned the film’s overseas distribution after the film’s overseas distributor Contents Panda, which w

FilmApril 20, 2020

National museums, libraries to remain closed despite drop in COVID-19 cases

South Korea's state-run art and history museums, libraries and national theaters will continue to remain closed despite a recent drop in new COVID-19 cases, the culture ministry said Monday. A day earlier, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced the government will partly soften its social distancing guidelines, conditionally allowing churches, bars, gyms and cram schools to resume business. The decision came as South Korea's new daily confirmed coronavirus cases have remained under 20 for

CultureApril 20, 2020

Color-blind artist puts a new glaze on donuts

Who doesn’t love donuts? More than 1,700 ceramic donuts welcome visitors to the Hakgojae Gallery in Jongno, central Seoul, each with a different look. “As long as people enjoy my donuts, I would say my works are a success,” artist Kim Jae-yong, who bills himself as a donut lover, told The Korea Herald. “I really feel happy when I see smiles on people’s faces. That is it. I want to give happiness to people.” “Donut Fear” is sculptor Kim&rsqu

Arts & DesignApril 20, 2020

Photo album-like drama ‘When My Love Blooms’ to air

Though we often tend to yearn for the best moments of our life, the upcoming drama series “When My Love Blooms” suggests there is no time like the present. The new tvN series, featuring veteran actors Yoo Ji-tae and Lee Bo-young, will portray the love between a man and woman who reunite 26 years after first falling in love. “I personally believe romance is the most fundamental genre of television drama. Though love might be a really common theme, I wanted to portray a warm a

TelevisionApril 19, 2020

[Herald Interview] US literary agency founder says US, UK opening up to Korean books

The first work of Korean literature to be translated into English was “The Cloud Dream of the Nine” in 1922, translated by Canadian missionary James S. Gale. That was almost a century ago, but until recently Korean literature still did not get much exposure in the global market. “The markets in the US and UK are growing a lot for Korean books,” founder of the BJZ Agency Barbara J. Zitwer told The Korea Herald by email.  Based in New York City, the agency speciali

PeopleApril 19, 2020

Brunch at home with Bimbom

Bimbom co-owner and chef Sim Ka-young has been attracting brunchers with her toothsome eats for over nine years, ever since she started out in Hannam-dong, Seoul.　 Now at two locations -- one in Gyeongnidan-gil and another near Seoul Forest -- Sim shares years of exprience in “Brunch Time,” a compilation of Bimbom’s recipes and know-how, released this March. “‘Brunch Time’ features well-loved dishes from Bimbom, and sadly enough, dishes that are no longer a

FoodApril 19, 2020

'The Future of Silence' asks what language means amid COVID-19 pandemic

In a dark room, 10 Haenyeo -- female divers of Jeju Island who harvest sea food -- appear on four video screens. Standing in a row, they sing a work song in the Jeju Island dialect, one of the world’s critically endangered languages. The 10 women slowly fade out one by one from the screen, illustrating the reality of the dwindling number of Haenyeo. At the end of the 5-minute video, the last Haenyeo disappears eventually and with it the song. The video work, “The Perfect Harmony&

Arts & DesignApril 19, 2020

Corporate logos tweaked for coronavirus times

Logos send impactful messages, and many companies are tweaking their logos to encourage social distancing and convey messages of hope. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday posted on the internet a cheer-up logo that can be used for free. The red, blue and black logo reads “Cheer up, Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province. Cheer up, Korea.” “We hope that this ‘Cheer up, Korea’ logo gives whatever small help it can give to the people suffering from COV

Arts & DesignApril 19, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

24-hour stay at JW Marriott Dongdaemun JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is running a Stay & Relax package that allows guests to check-in at desired hours and stay for a maximum of 24 hours. The deal includes a one night-stay at Deluxe Room or Executive Suite, breakfast for two adults and two children under 12 at the executive lounge and a voucher credit worth 40,000 won that can be used at the hotel’s restaurants. Also, a Barbie doll will be gifted per room. Prices start at 29

FoodApril 17, 2020

KOCIS releases video on Korea’s experience battling COVID-19

The Korean Culture and Information Service on Friday posted “A Letter From Wonderland,” a video on South Korea’s response to COVID-19. “Foreign media are praising Korea’s success in battling the virus. To connect this image to the general image of Korea, we created this video, sharing our success stories and delivering a message to work together to move forward,” KOCIS official Park Byeong-gyu said in a statement. The clip can be watched on KOCIS’

CultureApril 17, 2020

Pengsoo to release first digital single featuring Tiger JK

Pengsoo, the popular costumed penguin character from educational television channel EBS, collaborated with rapper Tiger JK to release his first digital single. On Friday, EBS announced the release of Pengsoo’s digital single, “Billboard Project Vol. 1” at 6 p.m. on April 21. Artists Tiger JK, Bizzy and BiBi featured in the song that has both rapping elements and yodeling elements. “Working with Pengsoo! It was an honor lol,” posted Tiger JK on is Instagram on Tue

PerformanceApril 17, 2020

‘Phantom of Opera’ to resume from April 23

The Seoul run of the musical “The Phantom of the Opera,” which was suspended after its cast members were confirmed with COVID-19, will resume on April 23. On March 31, a Canadian ensemble cast member was confirmed with the virus infection. Two days later, her colleague, an American actor, also tested positive. The production initially decided to halt the musical shows until April 14 but delayed it further after the second infection. Before confirmed as having the coronavirus , t

PerformanceApril 17, 2020

“Time to Hunt” to be released on Netflix after distributing companies reach agreement

After over a monthlong delay, the movie “Time to Hunt” will be available on Netflix with the streaming platform announcing that a new release date will soon be made available. Netflix had postponed the premiere of “Time to Hunt” scheduled for April 10, after a court ruling prohibited the release of the movie outside Korea following a dispute between local and overseas film distributors. Kwon Ji-won, the CEO of Little Big Pictures, the film’s local distributor, re

FilmApril 17, 2020