[Weekender] Winter sports season is upon us

When snowflakes flutter down from the skies, out come the snowboards, the skis, the goggles and the overpriced parka you swore was worth it.The winter season is here, and it’s prime time for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding and ice skating. All over the country, both the young and the young at heart are seeking out traditional and nontraditional winter sports. Some are following newer trends like VR and indoor winter sports. (123rf)Two winters ago, Seoul Square in Jung-g

TravelDec. 20, 2018

Bookstores sell more than just books

You are what you read -- and perhaps where you read at. In recent years, bookstores have been disappearing at a fast rate. Aside from major franchise bookstores in downtown areas, many small, neighborhood bookstores have closed, forced out in the digital era. But lately, bookstores have been returning in different forms. New bookstores sell more than just books, offering a wide range of goods from stationery, food and drinks to various merchandise -- anything related to lifestyle. The trend star

CultureDec. 20, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Welcoming 2019 at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunNovotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residence presents the Countdown package to welcome 2019. The package includes a night’s stay at the hotel, two tickets for the Countdown Party and a late checkout option. The countdown party starts at 9:30 p.m. and ends past midnight. Jazz and other live music performances are to take place at the rooftop bar of the hotel. Guests can choose a welcome drink -- sparkling wine, gin tonic, vin chaud and lemon

FoodDec. 20, 2018

Bostock, financiers and more at Cedrat

Before opening his own patisserie in a residential nook of Seoul’s Daechi-dong, Cedrat owner and pastry chef Choi Kyu-sung had already amassed over a decade of experience in pastry making. It began when he enrolled at the Institut National de la Boulangerie Patisserie in France to study pastries and bread making. He then stayed in France for over 10 years, honing his skills before returning to Korea to work as head chef at two cafes. It was only after that when Choi felt the time had come to str

FoodDec. 20, 2018

Popular TV show’s staff say they worked 29 hours straight

Popular drama series “The Last Empress” has come under fire after allegations emerged that the major network SBS and production company SM Life Design Group made staff work nearly 30 hours in a row.A group consisting of labor union members, including the Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center and Hope-Solidarity Union, filed a report on the matter to the Seoul Regional Employment Labor Office on Tuesday morning. According to a document outlining the filming schedule, revealed by the group, staff of “T

TelevisionDec. 20, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Mal-Mo-E’ has heart, comedy, great characters and a beautiful story

A disclaimer: It is possible that bias may have influenced this reviewer’s opinion that Eom Yu-na’s directorial debut, “Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission,” is one of the best films of the decade. Depictions of the people who fought to keep the nation’s spirit alive against foreign suppression always stirs patriotism in the hearts of South Koreans.But as someone who found the 2015 film “Assassination” a bit clunky and 2014’s “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” a bit too emotional, I can confidently say th

FilmDec. 19, 2018

Artist Jun So-jung wins 18th Hermes Foundation Missulsang

Korean artist Jun So-jung has been selected as the winner of the 18th Hermes Foundation Missulsang, the foundation announced Wednesday.Jun made her name with narrative-focused works of art using various mediums, including photography, installations and video. Her works often include real-life stories of individuals she comes across, framing them in relation to other existing texts and stage works. Artist Jun So-jung (Atelier Hermes)Jun won the Noon Award at the Gwangju Biennale in 2016 the grand

Arts & DesignDec. 19, 2018

Troye Sivan to hold Seoul concert in April

Singer-songwriter Troye Sivan will hold his first solo concert in Korea in April.　Live Nation Korea announced Wednesday that Sivan will come to Korea as part of his world tour titled “The Bloom Tour.” He will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul on April 27. (Live Nation Korea)This will be Sivan’s second visit to Korea after his performance at the Jisan Valley Music & Arts Festival in 2016.Sivan will also tour other Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, from A

PerformanceDec. 19, 2018

K-pop's BTS 'worth $3.6 billion a year' to South Korea

South Korean boyband BTS are worth more than $3.6 billion to the country's economy every year -- equivalent to the contribution of 26 mid-sized companies -- a research institute said Tuesday.The floppy-haired songsters were also the reason that one in every 13 foreign tourists visited South Korea in 2017, the Hyundai Research Institute said. (Yonhap)Known for their boyish good looks and meticulously choreographed dance moves, BTS -- short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates as Bulletproof B

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

BTS tops nat'l survey on best recording artists of 2018

Global K-pop sensation BTS has topped a national survey on the best music acts of the year.Gallup Korea announced Tuesday that the seven-member boy band earned 24.4 percent of support in a survey on South Korea's top recording artists for 2018. BTS (Yonhap - CJ ENM)Gallup polled 4,200 South Koreans between the ages of 13 and 59 from July 4-22, Sept. 7-27 and Nov. 7-30. It has a margin of error of 1.5 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95 percent.Participants were asked to pick their t

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

Billboard highlights BTS, Red Velvet among best K-pop of year

Wrapping up 2018, Billboard released two lists, one ranking the 20 best K-pop albums and the other for songs. BTS, Red Velvet and Shinee’s Jonghyun were especially recognized atop the lists. Billboard picked BTS’ “Love Yourself: Answer” as the best K-pop album of the year. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)“BTS has risen to the top of the global music industry,” commentary accompanying the list read. “They released their ‘Love Yourself’ album series, through which the group weaved a thematic discovery

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

Queen tribute band to perform in Korea in Jan.

Queen tribute band The Bohemians will perform in Korea in January.They will perform at Daeyang Hall at Sejong University in Seoul, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center and Exco in Daegu on Jan. 4, 5 and 6, respectively. (Shangri-La Entertainment)The Bohemians were established in 1996 and are dedicated to re-enacting the legendary music of Queen. The band consists of four members -- Rob Comber, Christopher Gregory, Wayne Bourne and Kevin Goodwin -- who each represent a Queen member. They will perform 22

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

Year-end concert celebrates 65th anniversary of US-Korea alliance

The Eighth United States Army and Seoul Cyber University on Sunday held their 11th year-end joint concert at Seoul Arts Center.The annual joint concert was first organized in 2008 to share the holiday spirit with deployed soldiers and their families here, as well as to strengthen ties between the two countries. Since its inception, the year-end concert has celebrated classic Christmas repertoires and Korea’s traditional dance and music. Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Michael A. Bills (l

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

‘Burning’ shortlisted for foreign language Oscars, first for Korean film

Lee Chang-dong’s thriller “Burning” joined Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” as one of nine contenders for the Academy Awards, becoming the first Korean movie to make the short list for one of cinema’s most prestigious awards.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the list Monday, which also included “Birds of Passage” from Colombia, “The Guilty” from Denmark, “Never Look Away” from Germany, “Shoplifters” from Japan, “Ayka” from Kazakhstan,” “Capernaum” from Lebanon and “Cold War” from P

FilmDec. 18, 2018

Skating at heart of the city: Seoul Plaza Ice Rink opens Friday

The Seoul Plaza Ice Rink, an iconic winter attraction in the city, will open Friday with upgraded facilities. The ice rink will operate through Feb. 10 for a total of 52 days, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday. An artist’s impression of Seoul Plaza Ice Rink (Seoul Metropolitan Government)The rink’s design has been changed for the first time since it opened four years ago. It has also been expanded from 1,166 to 1,897 square meters, 1.5 times its previous size.In addition,

CultureDec. 18, 2018

H.O.T.’s Kangta owns 5,500 S.M. shares

Kangta, or Ahn Chil-hyun, a former first-generation K-pop star from the now-defunct group H.O.T., owns 5,500 shares in S.M. Entertainment. The information was publicly posted on Monday.Ahn is an unlisted board member of S.M. Entertainment. The shares he owns account for 0.02 percent of S.M. As of 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, at the time of this article’s writing, an S.M. share was priced at 49,900 won ($44), making Ahn’s stake worth 274.45 million. Kangta (S.M. Entertainment)S.M. is the biggest talent

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

Elementary YouTube starlet’s success draws ‘haters’

“Ddiye,” a 10-year-old YouTube sensation who charmed the Korean public, has announced she will take a break because “haters” reported her videos for no apparent reason. The YouTuber uploaded her first ASMR video Nov. 2 and had gained 5.9 million views for it as of Tuesday. The child’s unscripted actions -- nibbling on sea grapes with a microphone taped near her mouth -- distinguished Ddiye from numerous professional ASMR YouTubers. Her instant popularity brought in over 460,000 subscribers in a

TelevisionDec. 18, 2018

Fans remember SHINee’s Jonghyun at memorial event

No sounds of sobbing or wailing were heard at a memorial event for SHINee’s Jonghyun on Monday, but the singer’s death is still keenly felt by his fans. On Monday evening, the event to commemorate the late lead vocalist of SHINee, who died a year ago, was held at a theater in S.M. Town Coex Artium in Gangnam. It took the form of an art fair that showcased clips and writing dedicated to Jonghyun. The event also included a memorial service. (Hong Dam-young/The Korea Herald)Organized by Shiny, a no

PerformanceDec. 18, 2018

Jonghyun remembered in arts exhibition on 1st anniversary

Dec. 18 marks the first anniversary of Jonghyun’s passing.On this day last year, boy group SHINee’s lead vocalist was found unresponsive at a studio apartment in Cheongdam-dong, a neighborhood in Seoul’s Gangnam district. He was rushed to the nearby Konkuk University Medical Center, but did not survive. Jonghyun (SHINee`s official Twitter @shinee)The 27-year-old star’s untimely passing was reported in major media outlets across the world, including the BBC, CNN, Forbes, the New York Times and th

PerformanceDec. 17, 2018

Sylvester Levay says ‘Elisabeth’ marked turning point for him

Nearly two decades after winning the Grammy Award for “Fly, Robin, Fly,” composer Sylvester Levay was at a crossroads, about to venture into writing songs for musicals.“Writing music for (musical) ‘Elisabeth’ was around the time when I was peaking in Hollywood writing film music. I was torn between potential career choices when my wife pushed me forward. It was a turning point for me as a creator,” said Levay during an interview in Seoul on Thursday. The interview was in German, translated into

PerformanceDec. 17, 2018