‘School of Rock’ musical to rock Korea in June

The hit musical “School of Rock” will be performed in Korea in its original language for the first time in June, as part of the first leg of the show’s international tour.Based on the 2003 comedy music film of the same name starring Jack Black, the musical features the original score from Andrew Lloyd Webber and follows out-of-work musician Dewey Finn on his quest to turn students of a prestigious school into rock musicians. It was first performed in 2015, with its original West End production w

PerformanceApril 8, 2019

IZ*ONE sets record as best-selling girl group, nudging TWICE

IZ*ONE, a project girl group formed through the idol competition show series "Produce," sold more than 130,000 copies of its latest album titled "HEART*IZ" in the first week of its sales, breaking a previous record set by TWICE."IZ*ONE's 'HEART*IZ' sold 132,109 copies during the April 1-7 period. ... It is a number higher than that set by TWICE, who had been the No. 1 girl group in album sales in the first week (of the album's release)," the management agency Off the Record Entertainment said, q

PerformanceApril 8, 2019

BTS releases teaser video of new album's main track featuring Halsey

K-pop superstars BTS released Monday a teaser video of "Boy with Luv," the main track of the band's upcoming album "Map of the Soul: Persona," featuring young American singer and songwriter Halsey. The 46-second video, uploaded on BTS' official homepage and SNS accounts at the start of Monday, begins with an image of Halsey in a ticket box. She hastily closes the box office and leaves the movie theater before briefly encountering BTS in front of the theater.  (Big Hit Entertainment)The scene is

PerformanceApril 8, 2019

Art of being an observer

Stereotypes play a role in perceptions of a foreign country and its people -- especially when it comes to Korea and Japan, which have a relationship strained by history and politics. Yet artist Jung Yeon-doo succeeds in approaching the subject matter from the perspective of a dispassionate observer in “Classic and New,” a 43-minute video work that highlights the narratives of ordinary Japanese people. Jung’s work revolves around the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa area in Tokyo as well as people living in th

Arts & DesignApril 7, 2019

BTS to wrap up world tour in Thailand

Global K-pop sensation BTS will wrap up its monthslong world tour in Thailand later Sunday, its management agency said, having drawn a combined 250,000 fans in four countries in Asia alone.Big Hit Entertainment said the boy band's fourth leg of the "Love Yourself" world tour will conclude at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday. BTS performed to a sellout crowd at the same venue Saturday.(Yonhap)BTS began its world tour in Seoul last August, in promotion of its "Love Yourself" album

PerformanceApril 7, 2019

Korean stars lend helping hand to fire victims

With the nation’s eastern region suffering from one of the worst blazes in recent years, Korean celebrities have stepped up to send relief funds to the people of Gangwon Province. “Gangnam Style” artist Psy has reportedly donated 100 million won ($87,873) to the Hope Bridge-Korea Disaster Relief Association, a private relief organization, which has been collecting relief funds for victims of the fire.  IU (Yonhap)Singer IU also reportedly donated 100 million won through ChildFund Korea, specific

PerformanceApril 7, 2019

Twice wraps up dome tour in Japan, amassing 220,000 fans

Twice on Saturday wrapped up its three-week tour of domed arenas in Japan, which had attracted 220,000 fans. It was the first K-pop girl group to hold such a tour in the country.The nine-piece girl group held a concert in Nagoya Dome, as part of the last leg of the “Twice Dome Tour 2019 #Dream Day” that spanned three cities and five concerts. It was packed with fans who sent messages of support to the singers.Fans had also received a treat as officials at the band’s agency JYP Entertainment had

PerformanceApril 7, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Sweet treats at Park Hyatt BusanPark Hyatt Busan‘s modern French restaurant Living Room presents Ballerina in Paris dessert buffet.The buffet is filled with a variety of pink-colored desserts, themed under the concept of a ballerina in Paris. Unlimited amounts of sweets, including cupcakes, pear tart, baked cheesecake, macarons, seasonal fruit tarts and chocolate grissini, are offered. Living Room’s dessert buffet is available at lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or at dinner hours from 6 to 10

FoodApril 7, 2019

[Eye Plus] Warehouse of used books

The aroma of books is sure to excite any bibliophile -- whether emanating from freshly printed titles or tomes that have sat on shelves for many years. A new establishment perfectly suited for such enjoyment has just opened in the capital city: Seoul Book Bogo, a huge warehouse of 132,730 used books, run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Filling 1,465 square meters of space in a once abandoned warehouse are endless rows of volumes collected from 25 small secondhand bookstores in central Seou

BooksApril 5, 2019

Sweet surprises at Goollim

At Goollim -- a tiny, seven-seat shop in Seoul’s Banpo-dong -- owner and pastry chef Lim Kyoung-jin demonstrates a flair for infusing toothsome treats with unconventional ingredients. Lim trumps tradition by filling madeleines with housemade caramel, topping scones with rum glaze and using perilla leaves in her savory pastries. She had studied French pastries and cakes and worked at several bakeries before opening Goollim.  Goollim’s owner and pastry chef Lim Kyoung-jin bakes both savory and swe

FoodApril 5, 2019

NTC 127 teams up with Universal Music Group to enter US market

Boy band NTC 127 will expand into the US pop market in cooperation with a music label under the entertainment giant Universal Music Group, the band's local management agency said Friday.SM Entertainment said it signed an agreement with Capitol Music Group on Thursday (US time) on the promotion of NCT 127's music content. CMG's sub-label Caroline Distribution will be in charge of distributing NCT 127's music in the global market. (SM Entertainment)CMG is a prominent music label that has such high

PerformanceApril 5, 2019

[Weekender] From vintage to sportswear, retro is in vogue

The retro fever can be best felt at the Dongmyo market, one of the biggest flea markets in Korea where fashionista visitors have sharply increased since last year. “Visitors surged suddenly after September last year, after the market was featured on several popular TV shows,” said Park Choon-ha, a vintage clothes shop owner at the market. Vintage clothes, shoes and accessories are displayed at the Dongmyo street market in Seoul on March 29. (Choi Ji-won/The Korea Herald)On a recent Friday aftern

Arts & DesignApril 5, 2019

[Weekender] In love with #retro

Fashion trends come and go. What was once old-fashioned suddenly comes back in style, as nostalgia for the good old days brings back elements of the past. But the latest retro trend here is being fueled more by curiosity than nostalgia, with its main followers being youths born and raised in this era of dizzying technologies. Locally dubbed “new-tro,” this craze is reaching far beyond the boundaries of fashion and design. In Ikseon-dong, the retro mecca of Seoul, young people dressed up in retro

CultureApril 5, 2019

BTS nominated for 2019 Billboard music award

K-pop superstars BTS was nominated in the Top Duo/Group category for the upcoming 2019 Billboard Music Awards set for May, as well as in the Top Social Artist category, which the septet has conquered for the last two years, according to Billboard on Friday.Billboard released the lineup for nominees in the 56 award categories for the event to be held at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1, in a post uploaded Thursday (US time). 2019 Billboard music award : 2019 NomineesBTS will compete wit

PerformanceApril 5, 2019

Artist Lee Bul awarded 2019 Ho-Am Prize

Artist Lee Bul will be awarded the 2019 Ho-Am Prize, an annual award established in 1990 to honor those who have made contribution to science, culture and the welfare of mankind.Artist Lee Bul (Courtesy of Studio Lee Bul)Lee is an internationally-known artist from Korea, who have been active since the 1980s. A retrospective of her works was held recently at the Hayward Gallery in London and the Martin Gropius Bau in Berlin. She is also participating the main exhibition of the Venice Biennale 201

Arts & DesignApril 4, 2019

[Video] Throwback to Korea’s roaring ‘20s in Ikseon-dong

Tucked deep into Seoul’s central district of Jongno lies Ikseon-dong, the latest hip hangout place in a city where fashion wears fast. At a glance, it is easy to see why the neighborhood’s photogenic cluster of modernized 20th century hanok, or traditional Korean houses, would appeal to the Instagram generation.Crowded on weekdays and weekends alike, Ikseon-dong is imbued with the fashionable ambience of a particular time in modern Korean history: the late 19th to early 20th century period of mo

CultureApril 4, 2019

Government revamps Korea promotional website

The government’s promotional website www.korea.net has been revamped with an improved design user interface and expanded content, officials said Thursday.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korean Culture and Information Service had analyzed how the platform was used and made changes for the new version. For example, the sizes of the text and photos have been made larger, and the menu was reorganized to help users find information more easily. A poll function was added for user feedb

CultureApril 4, 2019

20th annual Jeonju IFF to commemorate 100 years of Korean film

The upcoming Jeonju International Film Festival will be a celebration of the festival’s 20th anniversary, looking at a century of Korean filmmaking and different forms of cinema.“We (at Jeonju IFF) strongly believe that the essence of the film lies not in its technology, but in the free-flowing expression,” said Kim Seung-soo, chairman of the Jeonju IFF organizing committee, at a press conference in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Wednesday, where the opening and closing films for one of the larg

FilmApril 4, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival Everland is hosting a Tulip Festival until April 28 to mark the onset of spring. Its themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers. There is also a photo zone featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, visitors can enjoy the LED Musical Rose Garden with light-emitting diode roses of various colors, accompanied with music.Refer to the official website, www.everland.com, for more information in Korean, English, Japane

TravelApril 4, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Shazam!(US)Opened April 3Action, Adventure, Comedy Directed by David F. SandbergBilly Batson (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi) has trouble adjusting to his new foster home, obsessing over the biological mother he lost as a little child. His life turns upside down when he is summoned by ancient wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) and is given all his powers. But this makes him the target of Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), a champion of evil beings.Birthday(Korea)Opened April 3DramaDirected by Lee Jeong-eonThe

FilmApril 4, 2019