‘It is all about money after all’

Seoul Arts Center’s new President Yoo In-taek, appointed to the position in March, believes improving the arts complex‘s financial situation to be a priority.　The center in southern Seoul is a venue for various art performances. Opened in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics, it has functioned as a focal point of diverse art activities. 　 “The current financial structure must be revamped,” said Yoo, 64, at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday, pointing to the importance of financial resources i

PeopleApril 30, 2019

Blue Bottle to debut in S. Korea this week

Blue Bottle Coffee will officially debut in Seoul later this week, a South Korean affiliate of the upscale US coffee chain operator said Tuesday.   The new cafe will open in Seoul's eastern Seongsu neighborhood -- a trendy hangout spot where young artists and designers renovated existing buildings into art spaces, fine restaurants and cafes to woo customers -- on Friday, Blue Bottle Coffee Korea, Ltd. said in a press release.  (Yonhap)The location will house a roastery and a training center for

FoodApril 30, 2019

[Photo News] A sea of pink

 Royal azaleas are in full bloom at the Gunpo Cheoljjuk Festival, in Gunpo, Gyeonggi province. The azaleas, known as “cheoljjuk” in Korean, are native to Korea and go into full bloom at the end of April.  (Yonhap)

TravelApril 30, 2019

S. Korea's 1st botanical park to open this week

The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday it will open to the public the country's first botanical park this week after about six months of its pilot operation. The Seoul Botanic Park in the South Korean capital's Gangseo Ward, which has been tentatively accessible since Oct. 11, is set to open Wednesday. During the pilot operation, 2.5 million people visited the park built on a site of 504,000 square meters. (Yonhap)Out of the entire space, the botanical garden accounts for 21 percent, wit

TravelApril 30, 2019

Korea Opera Festival to promote diversity

Aiming to promote interest in the local opera scene, the 10th edition of the Korea Opera Festival will run May 17 to June 9.The festival, now in its 10th edition, hopes to show a wide spectrum of operas, rather than reproducing money-making pieces. “This festival is about providing opera companies an opportunity to perform and, for the audience, it is a chance to watch high quality performances at a discounted price,” Lee So-young, head of the organizing committee, said at a press conference hel

PerformanceApril 29, 2019

Chin Un-suk appointed composer-in-residence at Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

Composer Chin Un-suk, 58, winner of the 2019 Bach Award, has been named composer-in-residence of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. The orchestra, based at the iconic Elbphilharmonie Hamburg concert hall in Germany, announced it had invited Chin as composer-in-residence for the 2019-20 season at a press conference Friday for the inauguration of Chief Conductor Alan Gilbert. Unsuk Chin (Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra)The orchestra will explore Chin’s musical universe this season through seven progr

PerformanceApril 29, 2019

Opposites attract, predictably, in ‘An Ugly Man & Beautiful Woman’

Two lovers destined for each other is a popular cliche in the romance genre. The phrase “and they lived happily ever after” is the stock ending.The first-ever theater adaptation of Belgian writer Amelie Nothomb’s novel “Riquet a la houppe” (“Riquet with the Tuft”), a Seoul Arts Center production that runs there through May 19, features a man and a woman destined to meet, but it leaves out the details of their life together.In “Riquet a la houppe,” a 2016 update of 17th-century French writer Char

PerformanceApril 29, 2019

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: Persona' comes in at 3rd on Billboard 200 chart

"Map of the Soul: Persona," the latest, record-breaking album of K-pop boy band BTS, came in at 3rd on the Billboard 200 main album chart for this week, one week after it debuted at No. 1, the Billboard website said."BTS' 'Map of the Soul: Persona' slips from No. 1 to No. 3 in its second week, scoring 57,000 (equivalent album) units," (Yonhap)Billboard said in an article posted on Sunday (US time) ahead of its official release of the weekly chart dated May 4.A week earlier, the BTS album, the op

PerformanceApril 29, 2019

Met Opera soprano to perform ‘Tosca’ concert opera

The Metropolitan Opera’s Jennifer Rowley, who has been performing “Tosca” at the Met since the 2017-18 season, will take to the stage Tuesday at the Seoul Arts Center in a concert performance of the Puccini opera. “This is my debut here, so I am excited to bring my ‘Tosca’ to Seoul,” the soprano said at a press conference Thursday at the center. “Tosca” is one of the three major operas by Puccini, along with “La Boheme” and “Madama Butterfly.” Soprano Jennifer Rowley speaks during a press confer

PerformanceApril 29, 2019

'Avengers: Endgame' tops 3 mil. viewers on 3rd day in South Korea

Marvel's latest superhero blockbuster, "Avengers: Endgame," recorded more than 3 million admissions in South Korean cinemas in three days after hitting local screens, official data showed Saturday.  It drew 1.04 million viewers on Friday alone, increasing the total number to 3.21 million, according to the data from the Korean Film Council.  (Yonhap)The movie took up 84.4 percent of all seats at cinemas nationwide and 79.7 percent of all screens available in the country on the day.   "Endgame," t

FilmApril 27, 2019

Grand Hyatt Seoul renovates suites

The Grand Hyatt Seoul has completed the renovation of its suites. Australian design firm Bar Studio, which was in charge of the interior spaces within the Park Hyatt Shanghai, Park Hyatt Sydney and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, led the recent renovation of the hotel’s 53 suites. The rooms have undergone a significant upgrade while embracing the original design of famed interior architect John Morford, with subtle references to Korean culture.Three premium-level suites -- the Diplomatic, Ambassador and

TravelApril 26, 2019

'Avengers: Endgame' tops 2 million admissions on second day

"Avengers: Endgame," the finale of the Marvel "Avengers" series, drew more than 2 million moviegoers in two days upon hitting local screens, data shows Friday.The superhero film had sold 2.17 million tickets by Thursday, on the second day of its release in South Korea, according to the data from the Korean Film Council.The movie took up 83.3 percent of all seats at cinemas nationwide and 78.4 percent of all screens available in the country. (Yonhap)The film's ticket sales are expected to grow at

FilmApril 26, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Avengers: Endgame(US)Opened April 24Action, Adventure, FantasyDirected by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo After the devastating events of “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe. The Curse of La Llorona (US)Opened April 17Horror, Mystery, Thriller In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night -- and children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mo

FilmApril 26, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Barbecue night at JW Marriott SeoulJW Marriott Seoul’s grill restaurant The Margaux Grill presents the Grill in the Secret Garden promotion. The promotion allows diners to enjoy barbecue while listening to live jazz. Salad and appetizers are to be served on an unlimited basis. Freshly cooked foods will be passed around and the Surf & Turf plate will be served at each table. Rotisserie and carving stations will be prepared, too. A cocktail drink will also be provided for each person. The meal cos

FoodApril 26, 2019

Lotus Lantern Festival to be held in Seoul

The annual festival commemorating Buddha’s Birthday, a national holiday in Korea, will be held in Jongno and at the temple Jogyesa in central Seoul on May 3-5.The Lotus Lantern Festival, or Yeon Deung Hoe in Korean, unofficially kicked off with the lighting of lanterns on April 17 at Gwanghwamun Plaza, which saw lighting of a special lantern modeled after the national treasure Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda. (Yeon Deung Hoe Preservation Committee) (Yeon Deung Hoe Preservation Committee)Designated Korea

CultureApril 26, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hanbok for foreigners at Coex AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding an event where foreign visitors can try on Korea’s traditional costume, hanbok, free of charge. The event is being held Monday through Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. at Garden of Korea in the aquarium. It is a year-round event that is available exclusively for foreign visitors.Hanbok available at the event are styled after those worn by royals of the Joseon era.For more information on Coex Aquarium in Korean, English, Chinese or Japanes

TravelApril 26, 2019

[Herald Interview] Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn talks band, K-pop, future plans

Being in a band is cool, especially if the band is Linkin Park. The iconic American rock band has produced numerous hits, including “In the End” and “Numb,” since its debut in 1996 and boasts a long list of awards. Since the tragic loss of its vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017, the band is on hiatus. Still, the band exists and Joe Hahn has been part of its miraculous journey through the years, standing in the back as the DJ. The 42-year-old Korean-American artist is now stepping forward in Sou

PerformanceApril 26, 2019

[Eye Plus] Hot spot of multiculturalism

For many expats in Korea, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is like a home away home. More than 86,000 foreign nationals from 107 countries are registered to be living in the city about an hour’s drive west of Seoul. The city claims the highest foreign population density in Korea. Wongok-dong, especially, is heavily populated by foreign residents, with around 21,000 expats from 57 countries. In May 2009, the area was designated a Multicultural Village Special Zone. Expats from China, Indonesia, Nepal, I

TravelApril 26, 2019

[Weekender] Spring in full bloom at open-air markets

It is the best season for outdoor markets right now -- whether they are flea markets, farmers’ markets or art markets. On weekends, stalls sprout up on streets and in parks, beckoning visitors to come enjoy a pleasant spring day at a lively marketplace. Some of them draw larger crowds, as they have made a name for themselves via word of mouth and social media. These markets have their home turf, but they also tour. They put up notices about upcoming dates and locations on social media, then shop

TravelApril 26, 2019

[Weekender] Night market gets glam makeover in Yeouido

Seoul’s Bamdokkaebi Night Market, which runs every Friday and Saturday at four locations in the city, is perfect for those who want a casual night out.At Cheonggye Stream, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Banpo and Yeouido, the city-operated weekend markets beckon visitors with their eclectic selection of food stalls, music and atmosphere -- their own glammed-up versions of the Korean traditional street market. From May onward, a fifth location will be added -- Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu. Bamdokka

CultureApril 26, 2019