Universal Ballet celebrates 35th anniversary with signature reinventions of classical tales

The Universal Ballet Company will reintroduce its popular Korean classics, “Shim Chung” and “The Love of Chunhyang,” in October in celebration of the company’s 35th anniversary.“The Love of Chunhyang” runs Oct. 4-6, followed by “Shim Chung” Oct. 11-13, both at the Seoul Arts Center. “I am very happy to reintroduce ‘Shim Chung’ and ‘The Love of Chunhyang,’ which have played important roles in promoting Korea&rsquo

PerformanceAug. 18, 2019

Actress Ku Hye-sun, actor Ahn Jae-hyun may divorce

Actress Ku Hye-sun and actor Ahn Jae-hyun could become yet another high-profile Korean couple whose marriage ends in divorce.On Sunday, the actress shared a post that hinted at the end of her marriage with Ahn. In the post that included a private message with Ahn, Ku wrote that she had lost faith in her husband. HB Entertainment, which represents both Ku and Ahn, announced Sunday that the two have agreed to start divorce proceedings.However, Ku has refuted the statement, saying she has not come

TelevisionAug. 18, 2019

Special festival recreates major intangible Korean cultural assets in Seoul

A special festival in central Seoul will showcase the essence of some internationally recognized traditional Korean performing arts, the culture ministry said Friday.    The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation, will host the festival, whose title translates as "Great Inheritance Meets Today," from Aug. 31 to Sept. 21 on the premises of the National Museum of Korea.     The upc

CultureAug. 16, 2019

Becoming a K-pop star for a day with Airbnb

As Korean culture gains popularity around the world, Airbnb has launched a new K-wave Trip section -- a chance for tourists to take part in K-pop or K-beauty activities.The global house-sharing platform held a press event Friday in the Itaewon area of central Seoul, inviting reporters to a class on how to make a vegan bath scrub, registered as a K-beauty trip under Airbnb. “On Airbnb, we have always seen the want for local, authentic experiences. As the K-wave has proved itself to be

TravelAug. 16, 2019

Serial version of latest BTS doc, 'Bring the Soul,' to hit mobile app

"Bring the Soul: The Movie," the latest documentary film featuring global band BTS, will be released in a new mobile version this month on an application for BTS fans, the band's management agency said Friday.The first of the six episodes of the mobile version, "Bring the Soul: Docu-Series," will hit the Weverse mobile application's BTS category for paid service on Aug. 27, Big Hit Entertainment said. The remaining five episodes will be released every Tuesday one by one till

PerformanceAug. 16, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Customized cocktails at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Park Hyatt Seoul’s premium vinyl music bar, the Timber House, is offering a series of cocktail promotions until the end of September. Each promotion runs three weeks: Summer Tropical from Aug. 1-21, Traditional Korean from Aug. 22 to Sept. 11 and Refreshing & Relaxing from Sept. 12-30. Welcome dishes will be served including pickled cherry, Gouda cheese, banana creme brule and more. Guests can ask the bartenders to create customized cocktails

FoodAug. 16, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw(US)Opened Aug.14Action, Adventure Directed by David Leitch Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever, these two sworn enemies

FilmAug. 16, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Seoul Fringe Festival (1)Seoul Fringe Festival is held annually to support indie culture by introducing various genres of artists and artworks. Festival-goers can explore the charm of dances, plays, music and more at festival venues throughout the city. The hours are from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Thursday until Aug.24. Admission fees are 30,000 won per day.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, call the travel hotline at 1330. The homepage (www.seoulfringefestival.net) is on

TravelAug. 16, 2019

[Herald Interview] Four generations of family carry on Jeju’s brewing legacy

JEJU ISLAND -- In her family-run distillery in Seongeup, a small village at the foot of Hallasan on the volcanic island of Jeju, Kim Hee-sook does everything the old way. She crafts the island’s iconic spirits omegisul and gosorisul the same way her ancestors did, using only local ingredients -- glutinous millet, barley, water and homegrown nuruk, the fermentation starter. Traditional earthenware is used for brewing, distilling and aging the liquor. “This house used to have a straw t

PeopleAug. 16, 2019

Chinese-speaking K-pop stars side with mainland China against protesters

As Hong Kong citizens intensify their protests against a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, Chinese-speaking K-pop stars are showing their support for the “One China” policy via social media.Lay of EXO ended a modeling contract with Samsung Electronics because, according to the agency representing him in China, the company’s global website does not adhere to the policy, which holds that the territories of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao belong to the state of Chi

PerformanceAug. 15, 2019

Nation-led dance company’s Swing-styled contemporary dance to rerun

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will stage its production “Swing” between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at Seoul Arts Center.“Swing” is a contemporary dance piece of the state-run dance company’s Director Ahn Sung-soo. It had its premiere in April last year and received a positive response.  “Swing,” an hourlong performance, features Ahn’s swing-styled choreography in which he has also combined different types of movements, like the ones y

PerformanceAug. 15, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Jesters: The Game Changers’ yield disappointing results, despite intriguing setup

In the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, defending champion Josh Smith put down tape well-beyond the free-throw line to indicate that he would jump from there. Had he succeeded in doing so, the leap would have been an unimaginable feat. His jump, however, was well inside the tape, to the dismay and confusion of the frenzied crowd. To me, the disappointment brought by director Kim Ju-ho’s “Jesters: The Game Changers” was like Smith’s weird bluff. The period piece had pumped up e

FilmAug. 15, 2019

Statue of ‘comfort women’ pulled from Japan exhibit finds new home

MADRID (Reuters) -- A Spanish businessman has bought a statue symbolizing women forced to work in Japanese military brothels which was removed from an exhibition in Japan after organizers received threats over the piece. The “Statue of a Girl Of Peace” symbolizes the “comfort women”, a euphemism referring to women, many of them Korean, forced into the brothels before and during World War II. Estimates vary, but historians say thousands of women may have been involved

Arts & DesignAug. 15, 2019

Luxury hotels introduce ‘K-cocktail’ drinks

As more and more tourists join the trend and “go local,” more luxury hotels here are introducing cocktails infused with a Korean vibe.The Park Hyatt Seoul’s premium vinyl music bar, The Timber House, is getting ready to welcome guest bartender Demie Kim from Alice Cheongdam, a hip cocktail bar in southern Seoul. Kim will introduce guests to the “K-cocktails” that have earned him fame -- not to mention a prize at world-class cocktail competition La Maison Cointreau 2

FoodAug. 15, 2019

[Eye Plus] Japanese colonial history in Korea at a glance

On Thursday, a national holiday marking Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule on Aug. 15, 1945, the Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea was very crowded with visitors wanting to better understand the history of the two neighboring countries amid a deepening diplomatic and trade rift. The two-story museum, which sits in a small alley in Yongsan, central Seoul, opened in August last year through donations from the public, civic groups and academics. It exhibits the h

CultureAug. 15, 2019

[Anniversary Special] 21 years after ‘Japanese invasion,’ Korean pop culture stronger than ever

JYP Entertainment said Monday that Twice has received platinum certification in the Japanese market for its fourth and fifth singles, meaning the girl group has sold at least 250,000 copies of every single released in the country.Since South Korea opened its gates to Japanese pop culture in 1998, the two countries have exchanged cultural content. But over the past years, South Korea has been more successful in selling its content to Japan than vice versa.According to the Korea Creative Content A

CultureAug. 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] Park Seung-gun still pushing the envelope

Pushbutton will grace the runway in London once again, having established itself as an internationally sought-after fashion brand based in Seoul. Named after a line in Madonna’s catchy 2003 dance hit “Hollywood” -- “Push the button, don’t push the button” -- the label is led by creative director and founder Park Seung-gun. It will present a new collection on Sept. 17 at London Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2020.  It is the brand’s third time on the cat

Arts & DesignAug. 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] Percussion is more than beats and rhythms

To be a solo percussionist is an unusual career choice, as percussionists are usually a part of a larger team such as an orchestra or band. But Lee Hyun-gi is carving out a successful career as a solo percussionist based in London, and she plays a variety of instruments -- not just the drums but also the vibraphone and her specialty, the marimba, an instrument featuring a set of wooden bars that the player strikes with a pair of rubber mallets.“People are unfamiliar with percussion instrum

PerformanceAug. 13, 2019

Mouthy ‘nightlife expert’ sniffs out drug scandal ‘By Quantum Physics’

“By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture,” a story about an enormous drug scandal at a nightclub that involves big names, was not actually inspired by the “Burning Sun” drug scandal.“The first draft was written in 2016, and we learned of the (Burning Sun) incident while we were editing the film,” said director Lee Sung-tae, on his upcoming crime movie. “I actually thought I should change that part (about doing drugs in clubs) after one of our young staff

FilmAug. 13, 2019

Song Kang-ho honored with Excellence Award from Swiss film fest

South Korean actor Song Kang-ho has been awarded the Excellence Award at this year's Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, the organizers said Tuesday.Song became the first Asian actor to earn the Swiss film fest's special award that goes to actors or actresses whose work and talent have contributed to enriching the cinema industry.Internationally acclaimed silver-screen stars like Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Edward Norton, Bill Pullman and Ethan Hawke are among the past laurea

FilmAug. 13, 2019