[Herald Interview] Woman’s devotion revives art of silver threads

Hong Jung-sil, master of metal inlay arts, hopes for a renaissance of centuries-old craft Inside a building in southern Seoul dedicated to the government-designated national intangible cultural assets, Hong Jung-sil, 72, works, studies and teaches as one of 12 resident artisans. Her area of expertise is “ipsa,” the art of inlaying thin threads of silver, gold and other precious metals onto harder surfaces such as iron, creating exquisite decorative patterns. The craft, which dat

CultureJune 28, 2019

[Weekender] The price of a good night’s sleep

It is well-known that South Koreans work too much and don’t get enough sleep. But as more Koreans become aware of the impact of sleep deprivation on health, memory, work productivity and other aspects of life, they are more willing to invest in a good night’s sleep. Among them is Kang Hyo-jung, an office worker in Bucheon, west of Seoul. Sleeping around six to seven hours daily on weekdays, she struggles to get up in the morning, though she needs to head out by 7:30 a.m. for a one-ho

Life&CultureJune 28, 2019

[Weekender] From tech to tonics, sleep aids are all around

Sleepless in South Korea? Tech could be just the ticket. A range of sleep aids are now available to help you rest, from mobile applications and home electronics to more conventional options like food and supplements.  For Lee Ji-woo, a sleep-deprived mother with an 18-month son, a good night’s rest has become the most precious thing in her life. Having slept for more than nine hours a day for most of her life, she has suffered from a chronic sleep deficit since the baby was born. 

Life&CultureJune 28, 2019

[Graphic News] Average spending by foreign tourists in S. Korea tumbles in Q1

　Average spending by foreign tourists visiting South Korea has decreased to a level last seen 10 years ago, data showed.　According to the data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign tourists coming to Korea spent an average of $1,268 per person per trip in the first quarter of this year. 　The figure is down 12.1 percent from $1,442 a year ago and marks the fourth quarterly decrease in a row.　Average spending hovered around $1,200 in the mid-2

TravelJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo and her counterparts in TV dramas

Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, the two top-profile couple, are taking legal procedures for a divorce after two years of marriage. As the two met on set, the other male actors Song Hye-ko have acted with are gaining attention. In 2000, Song Hye-kyo played a central character in a romantic television drama “Autumn in My Heart’ with Song Seung-heon and Won-bin. A year later, she starred in a TV drama series “Guardian Angel” along with Kim Jong-min.  In 2003, Song appea

PeopleJune 27, 2019

‘Respect their choice’: Zhang Ziyi on Song-Song couple

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi seems to be one of the first celebrities to have broken her silence on the pending divorce between Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo.On Thursday Zhang wrote on her official Weibo account, “Respect their choice, believe it to be the best choice, and hope to see them at their best in the future.” While she did not mention the high-profile couple by name, many believe the post alluded to Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, who on Thursday announced their plans t

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song Joong-ki’s divorce announcement has people guessing who is responsible

Actor Song Joong-ki’s announcement Thursday morning that he has filed for divorce from Song Hye-kyo has raised speculations about whether one of them was responsible for breaking up the marriage. While some are claiming that Song Hye-kyo must be responsible for the divorce as it was Song Joong-ki who announced it, others have argued against such excessive speculation. Song Joong-ki filed for divorce through law firm Lee & Ko on Wednesday. According to the law firm, it was the acto

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo to continue acting

Actress Song Hye-kyo is reportedly planning to continue her acting career regardless of the divorce proceedings underway. Local media reported Thursday that Song would soon begin work on a film titled “Anna.” Her agency, UAA, said, “Song Hye-kyo is positively discussing her appearance in the new movie directed by … Lee Joo-young.”  Song had been offered the role of a lawyer in “Haena,” which is set to air later this year, but turned it down. She sa

PeopleJune 27, 2019

[Eye Plus] The streets that once led the nation’s garment industry

Dull knocking sounds and clunky noises from sewing machines resonate through the streets of Changsin-dong. Inside the sweatshops that line the streets, clothes are scattered here and there and colorful rolls of fabric are stacked on shelves. Located in Seoul’s central district of Jongno, this area has for many decades been the mecca of the country’s garment industry. Here stands Lumpium, the Sewing History Museum, a four-story building built in 2018 by the city government.On dis

Arts & DesignJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo suffered distress from marital problems: report

A source close to Song Hye-kyo has disclosed that she has suffered from both mental distress and physical weight loss due to marital problems, according to a local media report. Newsen on Thursday cited a source allegedly close to Song as saying that she cried while talking about her marital problems and had lost around 5 kilograms from related distress.“(Song) is usually quiet and doesn’t normally talk about her feelings, but she cried as she talked about her marital problems,&rdquo

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to kick off

The 23rd annual Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival will commence later on Thursday with the opening ceremony in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, kicking off 11 days of festivities that will showcase 288 films from 49 countries.Under the theme of “Love, Fantasy and Adventure” and with a focus on science fiction, Korea’s largest genre film festival will continue until July 7. A total of 170 feature films and 118 short films will be screened at theaters across the city just

FilmJune 27, 2019

GOT7 showcases new song on ‘The Today Show’

K-pop act GOT7 showcased the English version of its new song “Eclipse” on “The Today Show,” a popular NBC program. The seven-piece act appeared on the show around 10 a.m. to enthusiastic applause and demonstrated the dance moves for the song. GOT7 is visiting the US as part of its ongoing world tour, which kicked off with a June 15-16 concert in Seoul. After a performance in Newark, New Jersey, Thursday, the band will perform in Toronto, Canada, Sunday, then return states

PerformanceJune 27, 2019

Fairytale TV romance proved untenable in real life

Actor Song Joong-ki has filed for divorce from actress Song Hye-kyo, 18 months after their much-celebrated marriage. On Thursday, Joong-ki’s attorney announced that the law firm Lee & Ko has filed for divorce on behalf of the actor. The 34-year-old actor revealed his position through his agency Blossom Entertainment. “Rather than criticizing one another and arguing over who is to blame, both of us hope that the divorce process can be wrapped up smoothly,” a statement f

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song-Song couple’s divorce brings Itaewon luxury house into spotlight

With Song-Song couple’s marriage coming to an end, the house known to be owned by Song Joong-ki in the posh neighborhood of Hannam-dong, has drawn media attention again.In May 2017, The Korea Herald reported Song Joong-ki’s purchase of a luxury house in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul in January. After the couple announced their engagement in July, speculation rose that the newlyweds would move into the house. According to a report by the Ilyo Sinmun newspaper Thursday, the house

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Barbara Kruger’s makes her way to Seoul, with new works in Korean

The Amorepacific Museum of Art is holding a Barbara Kruger solo exhibition, featuring 44 works from the conceptual artist’s four-decade career, ranging from early paste-ups to new work produced in Korean. Titled “Barbara Kruger: Forever,” the show marks her first solo exhibition in Asia.Kruger, born in 1945, is an internationally acclaimed American artist best known for works that combine images and text to convey a feminist cultural critique. More broadly, the artist has been

Arts & DesignJune 27, 2019

Camptong Forest to open in July with mega-scale water activities

The Camptong resort is to open its largest outdoor water park at Cheongpyeong Lake in mid-July, which will also feature accommodations, camping and zones set aside for a variety of activities in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.Called Camptong Forest, the planned water park will occupy about 33,000 square meters across the lake from Camptong’s existing water park. Officials hope the two parks combined will attract around 200,000 tourists per year to the area.The new water park has a 3,300 s

TravelJune 27, 2019

Vacation in Incheon: From triplet islets to Wonderbox

Yeongjongdo, an island off the west coast of South Korea, is popular as a quick getaway spot for Seoulites because the drive is only an hour or so from the heart of the capital.Beaches, seafood and shopping are some of the features boasted by the island -- home to Incheon Airport and connected to the mainland by the 4.4-kilometer Yeongjong Grand Bridge -- but the triplet islets of Sindo, Sido and Modo off its northern coast are also worth visiting in nice weather.Off to the isletsSammok Dock is

TravelJune 27, 2019

Will Song Joong-ki’s divorce affect ‘Arthdal Chronicles’?

Following the Song-Song couple’s shocking divorce announcement, attention is being drawn to “Arthdal Chronicles” featuring Song Joong-ki. The actor stars in the fantasy drama as the main character, playing two characters, Eunseom and Saya.As the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama is a pre-produced show, it will not be affected by the latest development concerning the star. The production team said it is currently editing the latter half of the series. The share price of Studio Drag

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Park Bo-gum denies involvement in Song-Song couple’s divorce

Actor Park Bo-gum has denied rumors that he is involved in the Song-Song couple’s divorce. Following Song Joong-ki’s announcement Thursday that he and Song Hye-kyo are filing for divorce, speculation has been rampant that Park may be the reason for the divorce, as he recently starred in the tvN drama “Boyfriend” with Song Hye-kyo. A few hours after the rumor started to spread on websites and social media, Park’s agency, Blossom Entertainment, told local media outlet

PeopleJune 27, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Mega Wave Festival at Caribbean BayThe Caribbean Bay water park at Everland is celebrating summer with a 50-day Mega Wave Festival.The festival, which kicked off June 21 and runs through Aug. 18, offers flyboard performances and other fun events for visitors of all ages. The Mega Pool Party music festival, which takes place at the wave pool and features popular acts like Mamamoo and DinDin, is one of the highlights. Outdoor attractions such as the Aqualoop and the Water Bobsleigh will be rolled

TravelJune 27, 2019