Actor Kim Soo-hyun to star in tvN drama ‘Psycho but It’s Okay’

Actor Kim Soo-hyun will star in the tvN drama “Psycho but It’s Okay,” which is scheduled to air before July, according to his agency, Gold Medalist Entertainment. This will be his first drama since his discharge from the military and subsequent change of agency. Kim will play the role of Moon Gang-tae, a psychiatric aide who has taken care of his mentally ill older brother ever since they were children and their parents died. With no goals in life, Moon presses on day by day.

TelevisionFeb. 7, 2020

[Video] Why does ‘Parasite’ mix pricey beef into instant noodles?

The food featured in director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” is not just nourishment for the characters but also serves up symbolism and social satire, hinting at social stratification in Korean society. As the movie’s plot gains momentum, one of the foods in focus is jjapaguri -- translated as ram don in the English subtitles. The Korean name comes from its two main ingredients -- the instant noodle brands Jjapaghetti and Neoguri. Bong spices up this otherwise ordinary dis

FilmFeb. 7, 2020

'Parasite' has collected 55 awards at 57 film fests

Bong Joon-ho's sensational black comedy "Parasite," nominated in six categories, including best picture, at the upcoming Oscars, has been invited to 57 film festivals and award events across the world, and collected 55 trophies, its production company CJ ENM said Friday. In May last year, the film about class division through two extreme families embraced the highest prize of Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming a massive hit in 2019 and starting its awards-winning streak

FilmFeb. 7, 2020

Cliffhangers, slam dunks and dark horses at Sunday's Oscars

  (Reuters) - Hollywood's awards season reaches its climax at Sunday's Oscars, with a cliffhanger over the top prize after a season marked by dark horses, renewed anguish over diversity, and a South Korean underdog that could snatch victory from the biggest names in show business. While dark comic book movie "Joker" goes into the ceremony with a leading 11 nominations, it's the immersive World War One movie "1917" that has emerged as the film to beat in the best picture

FilmFeb. 7, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Closet (Korea) Opened Feb. 5 Horror, Thriller Directed by Kim Kwang-bin After losing his wife in a tragic accident, Sang-won moves to the countryside with his daughter Ina. A busy architect, Sang-won (Ha Jung-woo) had not been too devoted to his family before the death of his wife and tries to get closer to Ina. One day, Ina, who had been behaving strangely since their arrival at their new home, disappears inside the house. Self-proclaimed exorcist Kyung-hoon (Kim Nam-gil) approaches Sang-

FilmFeb. 7, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Ruby Valentine at Grand InterContinental Seoul The Lobby Lounge at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas presents “Ruby Chocolate Special” promotion for the upcoming Valentine‘s Day. The promotion features desserts made with chocolate and offers diamond-shaped ruby chocolate as an addition to the three-course meal and strawberry dessert buffet at Strawberry Gourmet Boutique. On Valentine’s Day, the meal and buffet will be available twice at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. “

FoodFeb. 7, 2020

[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea

Taean Tulip Festival Taean Tulip Festival is a picturesque event for both local residents and tourists alike with beautiful and vibrant tulips in full bloom. The festival venue is divided into multiple sections, which are decorated in different themes, allowing visitors to enjoy the sight of colorful tulips against creative and fun backdrops. The festival runs from April 14 to May 11 at the Korea Flower Park in Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province. The event is open to visitors of all ages.

TravelFeb. 7, 2020

Uljin’s winter delicacies

ULJIN, North Gyeongsang Province -- Though the east coast is a favorite summer destination for many, Uljin may not be foremost on the minds of holidaymakers. A three-hour drive from Seoul, Uljin is a quiet harbor community that too often stands in the shadow of the popular tourist towns Gangneung and Sokcho. Old shops and dockyards line the streets, giving Uljin a retro vibe. Though it may lack the sparkle of its better-known neighbors, Uljin -- with its hot springs and forests -- is a go-t

TravelFeb. 7, 2020

[Graphic News] International award-winning Korean films

  　As Korean cinema marked its centennial last year, director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won the country’s first Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, opening a new chapter in Korean cinema. 　Bong continues to write history, clinching the first Golden Globe for a Korean film. ”Parasite“ also became the　first film to win at the BAFTA Film Awards, winning the best film not in English and best original screenplay. “Parasite” now awaits

CultureFeb. 6, 2020

Kim Yong-min steps down from TV show after over 11,000 people sign online petition

Political pundit Kim Yong-min posted on Facebook on Thursday afternoon that he is stepping down as host of the second season of “Road Dinner,” which was to air its first episode Feb. 16. KBS’ announcement Wednesday that it was replacing the talk show’s three female hosts with Kim and actor Shin Hyun-joon had met with criticism. The first season -- with Park Mi-sun, Yang Hee-eun and Lee Ji-hye as hosts -- received acclaim from viewers for looking at current issues, esp

TelevisionFeb. 6, 2020

Translation, wings that helped ‘Parasite’ soar free and high

As director Bong Joon-ho captivated the audience abroad with his dark satire “Parasite,” back home the name Darcy Paquet made headlines in local media outlets. Many Koreans were initially surprised that “Parasite” outperformed Bong’s previous films and those by other prominent auteurs, such as Lee Chang-dong and Park Chan-wook, winning the first Palm d’Or for a Korean film. That is, until they heard of “Ram-don,” “Oxford,” and many m

FilmFeb. 6, 2020

[Weekender] Forgotten stories behind Jeongwol Daeboreum traditions

“I crack nuts with my family on Jeongwol Daeboreum. I am not sure why, but I guess the tradition is supposed to shoo away some bad ghosts and bring good luck,” Kang Min-woo, 26, said. “I do know that there are some other Jeongwol Daeboreum traditions, but I do not celebrate them.” Saturday is “Jeongwol Daeboreum” or “Daeboreum,” a traditional holiday marking the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. However, traditions are slowly fading, especia

CultureFeb. 6, 2020

LA Phil to highlight Seoul with 10-day festival

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, also known as the LA Phil, will hold “Seoul Festival” in 2021, appointing celebrated composer Chin Un-suk as the curator of the 10-day event. On Wednesday, the prestigious orchestra, led by music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel, released its 2020-21 season program, including some of the programs for “Seoul Festival” which will be held from April 25 to May 4 next year.   LA Phil’s website says the city of Los Angeles is hom

PerformanceFeb. 6, 2020

Young female artists raise gender issues through art

The TV screen at the exhibition hall shows a bird flapping its wings midflight, while through the headset connected to the TV set, one can hear a conversation in which a Korean woman from the 21st century talks about her neighbor, Yeonji's mom. The woman says Yeongi's mom, a victim of domestic violence, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for killing her husband. "... it feels like we're living in the 19th century," the woman says bitterly to the three other women, who are from Vienna

Arts & DesignFeb. 6, 2020

Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas dead at 103

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- US silver screen legend Kirk Douglas, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants who rose through the ranks to become one of Hollywood's biggest-ever stars, has died, his family said Wednesday. He was 103. One of the last survivors of the golden age of cinema and the father of Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Michael Douglas, the "Spartacus" actor was renowned for the macho tough guy roles he took on in around 90 movies over a six-decade career. "It is with trem

PeopleFeb. 6, 2020

Music and painting go hand in hand

Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center, better known for their concert halls, are hosting exhibitions showcasing artists who were inspired by music and explored the connections between music and art. A multimedia exhibition featuring digital reproductions of works by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and the first large-scale retrospective of French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec aim to show the ties between music and the artists’ paintings. Kandinsky at Sejong Center Kandinsky, a Russ

Arts & DesignFeb. 5, 2020

Yi Sang Literary Award organizer cancels this year’s awards, modifies contract terms in response to protests

Munhaksasang, the publishing company that confers South Korea’s prestigious Yi Sang Literary Award, apologized Tuesday for the controversy that emerged when three of this year’s runners-up refused to accept their awards to protest contract terms they deemed unfair. “We apologize to everyone who was hurt and disappointed by this issue,” Munhaksasang CEO Lim Ji-hyun said in a statement. “We now realized that the biggest problem was our lack of awareness of copyright

PeopleFeb. 5, 2020

Coronavirus delays film openings

The distributor of “Beasts Clawing at Straws” on Tuesday announced the decision to tentatively postpone the movie’s release, originally scheduled for Feb. 12, due to the spread of a novel coronavirus. The prospect of poor ticket sales and fears of spread of the disease in crowded venues are prompting film distributors to consider delaying releases and canceling promotional events. Another film that may be affected by the spread of the new coronavirus is “Honest Candi

FilmFeb. 4, 2020

Kumho Art Hall introduces four rising stars of 2020

The Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation released a list on Tuesday of four artists it calls the rising stars of 2020, along with a recital schedule through April. Since 2004, the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation has supported young, talented classical musicians in South Korea through the Kumho Rising Star series, selecting some 60 gifted musicians, including today’s hottest names such as violinists Kim Da-mi and Yang In-mo, and pianists Kim Da-sol, Kim Sun-wook and Sunwoo Yekwon.   Thi

PerformanceFeb. 4, 2020

More than 76 percent of non-Koreans have positive image of Korea: KOCIS

The Korean Culture and Information Service on Tuesday released the results of a survey showing that 76.7 percent of non-Koreans have a positive image of South Korea. The survey involved 8,000 people in 16 countries, including South Korea, from July 18 to Aug. 22 last year. KOCIS began the annual survey in 2018 to assess South Korea’s image among global citizens. In the first survey, 80.3 percent of non-Koreans said they had a positive image of South Korea. The latest survey also showe

CultureFeb. 4, 2020