[Weekender] Fan translators break through K-pop’s language barrier

K-pop speaks Korean -- for the most part -- but not all its fans.In addition to K-pop’s nonverbal appeal, the language barrier is being broken down by a network of fans who translate Korean content into other languages in real-time. BTS performs at MBC Plus x Genie Music Awards 2018 (Park Hyun-koo, The Korea Herald)Jessica Cuadros Marquez, who manages the BTS fan organization of Peru, said Spanish-speaking fans depend on reliable fan accounts that have a track record of producing quality Spanish

PerformanceMarch 28, 2019

National Gugak Center seeks to balance tradition, change

Though Korea’s traditional music, gugak, is often neglected as pop music and Western classical music draw more attention, the National Gugak Center hopes to turn things around this year with fresh, innovative performances.The center, designed to preserve, support and promote gugak, operates four separate units: the Court Music Orchestra, the Folk Music Group, the Dance Theater and the Contemporary Gugak Orchestra.  (National Gugak Center) National Gugak Center (National Gugak Center)“Last year’s

PerformanceMarch 28, 2019

Out of rookie league, designers debut big on Seoul runway

Last week, the newest fashion trends packed into Dongdaemun Design Plaza, where the 2019 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week took place. New brands, new models and new styles were presented in front of fashion aficionados.The biannual fashion event is largely separated into two runway parts: “Generation Next” featuring local rookie designers and the main event Seoul Collection.  A model presents a creation by Blanc de Noirs on a catwalk at the 2019 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week on Thursday. (Seoul D

Arts & DesignMarch 28, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Money (Korea)Opened March 20Crime, DramaDirected by Park Nu-riCho Hyeon-il (Ryu Jun-yeol), a young stock broker on the verge of being fired, has his life turned upside down when a colleague introduces him to “Beonhopyo” (Yoo Ji-tae), a mysterious figure who is an architect of shady but lucrative stock brokerage. But Cho’s newfound sense of invincibility is challenged when maverick investigator Han Ji-cheol (Jo Woo-jin) starts pressuring him.Captain Marvel (US)Opened March 6Action, Adventure, Sci

FilmMarch 28, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival Everland is hosting the 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, Japa

TravelMarch 28, 2019

Paradise City resort opens theme park

The Paradise City resort in Incheon said Wednesday that it is opening a theme park featuring media arts, eateries and other attractions.Wonder Box will be a nighttime amusement park within Paradise City with a look befitting its name -- created through media facades and interactive media in a joint effort with the Moment Factory studio. Wonder Box / Paradise CityIts dessert lineup will include Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong’s first store in South Korea.The moonlit Luna Carnival is an event

TravelMarch 28, 2019

Everland rediscovers identity as ‘eco park’

The Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, has vowed to reinvent itself as an “eco park” by fully utilizing its rich botanical gardens, launching new programs with its infrastructure such as the Speedway motor track.Leading the way is the newly created Plum Blossom Trail, opening Friday.  The EverlandSpanning 33,000 square meters, it is the biggest botanical garden in the park’s history. It boasts some 700 plum trees of over 11 different species, scattered among 10,000 trees and color

TravelMarch 28, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

‘Under the Sea’ dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s all-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 presents the Seafood Market promotion. A buffet station will introduce various seafood dishes, including chili crab, butter-fried shrimp and sashimi of fresh abalone, sea squirt, sea pineapple, octopus and shellfish.The promotion runs until April 30. The buffet is priced at 98,000 won per person for weekend brunch and dinner. For more information, call Tavolo 24 at (02) 2276-

FoodMarch 28, 2019

Netflix's S. Korean users triple in 1 yr

The number of South Korean users subscribing to US video streaming platform Netflix Inc. more than tripled in one year, industry data showed Thursday, mainly on the back of the popularity of original local content. Netflix is estimated to have nearly 2.4 million active streaming subscribers as of the end of February, compared with 799,000 users at the end of February 2018, according to Nielsen Korea. (Netflix)Netflix, which started as a video rental firm in 1997, currently has more than 189 mill

TelevisionMarch 28, 2019

‘Lion King’ to perform in Busan for another week

The international tour of hit musical “The Lion King” in Korea will continue until May 26, extending the initial schedule by a week.According to local promoters of the show, the tour in Busan that was slated from April 11 to May 20 will be extended for a week at the Busan Dream Theater. The tour is currently in Seoul, with its final performance in the city on Thursday. “The Lion King” (Clip Service)Tickets for May 21-26 performances in Busan will open at 2 p.m. on April 3 on local online booking

CultureMarch 27, 2019

Cottweiler design duo explores ‘Lost Art of Cruising’

London-based designer brand Cottweiler reached out to the public with its fashion show at the 2019 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week on Friday. Led by the duo of Ben Cottrell and Matthew Dainty, Cottweiler was chosen as the first British brand to stage a runway show at Seoul Fashion Week under an exchange program between the British Fashion Council and Seoul Design Foundation.  Designers Ben Cottrell (left) and Matthew Dainty, who run London-based menswear label Cottweiler, speak during an intervie

Arts & DesignMarch 27, 2019

Korea National Opera to cast spell with ‘Magic Flute’

The Korea National Opera begins its 2019 season with performances of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Seoul Arts Center from Thursday to Sunday.The German opera tells the love story of Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night. After Pamina is kidnapped by the high priest Sarastro, the Night Queen persuades Tamino to rescue his daughter and gifts him with the magic flute.  Singers perform during a rehearsal of “The Magic Flute” on Tuesday at the Seoul Arts Center

PerformanceMarch 27, 2019

Francophone Theater Festival kicks off in Seoul

The five-day Francophone Festival, organized by the Korean International Theatre & Arts Company, kicked off its inaugural edition in Seoul on Wednesday. “The festival’s first edition in Seoul hopes to celebrate the cultural diversity that spans the French-speaking countries. It also hopes to promote the French language and also strengthen ties between the two nations, France and Korea,” said Patricia Vilfeu from KITAC during a press conference Tuesday in Seoul. A scene from Cueilleurs de Brume’s

PerformanceMarch 27, 2019

Actor Im Si-wan discharged from military, set for new TV series

Actor Im Si-wan was discharged from the Army on Wednesday as the 30-year-old completed his mandatory military service, setting him up for his return to show business.Im made his first official public appearance in 21 months in a discharge ceremony held at a boot camp in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. He has been serving in the Army special forces since joining the Army in July 2017. (Yonhap)With a big smile, he gave his final military salute to fans and journalists who gathered together at the scene

TelevisionMarch 27, 2019

Suzy expected to relocate from JYP to new management agency

Singer and actress Bae Suzy, who debuted in JYP Entertainment's girl band missA, will terminate her contract with the management agency and is likely to move to another talent agency specializing in acting, according to JYP and other sources on Tuesday."We announce that Suzy's exclusive contract with JYP will expire at the end of March," her current agency said in a press release. (Yonhap)"After debuting in missA in 2010, Suzy has worked harder than anyone under JYP ... JYP will cheer for the pa

PerformanceMarch 26, 2019

Kohei Nawa’s ‘Vessel’ sculptures shimmer in the dark

Hypnotic sounds in a pitch-dark gallery space create an otherworldly atmosphere -- a fitting environment for sculptures of tangled human bodies glittering in the dark.“Vessel,” a solo exhibition of some 30 works by up-and-coming Japanese artist Kohei Nawa at Arario Gallery’s Ryse Hotel branch marks the artist’s first exhibition here in seven years. Installation view of Japanese artist Kohei Nawa‘s exhibition “Vessel” at Arario Gallery’s Ryse Hotel branch in Seoul (Arario Gallery)Exploring materi

Arts & DesignMarch 26, 2019

3 actors of 'Avengers: Endgame' to visit S. Korea

Three main cast members of Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" will visit South Korea next month to promote the movie ahead of its release in the country, the movie's local distributor said Tuesday.The three actors -- Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and Brie Larson -- and directors Anthony and Joe Russo will be in South Korea on April 14-15 to attend an Asian press junket in Seoul, Walt Disney Company Korea said. (Marvel)This will be Downey Jr.'s fourth visit to South Korea in four years since one for

FilmMarch 26, 2019

Duo HONNE announces second collaboration with BTS' RM

English electronic music duo HONNE announced Tuesday the release of its second musical collaboration with RM, the leader of K-pop band BTS.The duo posted images reading the lyrics of the new song on its official social media accounts, under a note, "27.03.19", the date of the song's release. It was signed with "HONNE X RM" at the bottom.The new song adds rap lines by RM to HONNE's 2018 song, "Crying Over you," off its album "Love Me / Love Me Not.""Now I don't like a cliche, but I'm reading from

PerformanceMarch 26, 2019

Vietnamese version of Korean TV show 'Running Man' goes on-air next month

A Vietnamese version of "Running Man," a long-running TV variety show by South Korean channel SBS, will go on air next month in a joint production project by the two countries, the South Korean broadcaster said Tuesday.The first episode of the Vietnamese edition will hit the small screen on April 6, on HTV7, one of the two main analog channels operated by Ho Chi Minh City Television, or HTV. Vietnamese version of Korean TV show `Running Man`It is the second overseas edition of the popular South

TelevisionMarch 26, 2019

Broad range of David Hockney’s works on view at SeMA

The largest-ever David Hockney exhibition in South Korea is underway at the Seoul Museum of Art, featuring some of the artist’s iconic paintings such as “The Bigger Splash” (1967) and “A Bigger Grand Canyon” (1998) -- as well as “In the Studio, December 2017,” which is being shown to the general public for the first time.  David Hockney’s double portraits are on exhibit at the Seoul Museum of Art on Thursday. (Yonhap)Born in 1937, Hockney is the world’s most famous, beloved and expensive living

Arts & DesignMarch 25, 2019