Exhibition brings traditional folding screens into the foreground

Folding screens are a traditional form of art that was popular in Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The paneled artworks featuring paintings, patterns and calligraphy were used to decorate rooms, to highlight the presence of a powerful figure or as a backdrop for various ceremonies and rituals.The Amorepacific Museum of Art’s “Beyond Folding Screens” is a large-scale exhibition that brings the folding screen to the fore. “The Sun, Moon and Five Peaks,” an emblem of royal authority produced in

Arts & DesignOct. 23, 2018

Kim Hyun-joong returns to small screen after scandals

Kim Hyun-joong is coming back to the small screen nearly four years after being mired in a number of scandals.Kim, who faced a paternity dispute with his ex-girlfriend and was caught driving under the influence of alcohol, will star in “When Time Stopped,” KBS W’s first Wednesday-Thursday drama series, which premieres Wednesday.The 12-episode fantasy romance show garnered attention following reports that it would star Kim, who debuted as part of boy band SS501. Kim will play the role of main cha

TelevisionOct. 23, 2018

‘Unstoppable’ to look, feel like Ma Dong-seok

To those familiar with both Korean and US cinema, the comparison between Ma Dong-seok and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson comes pretty naturally, just as “Get Out” producer Jason Blum drew the parallel during his recent visit to Busan.“I’ve heard, and it’s a tremendous honor,” Ma said, during a press conference for upcoming action flick “Unstoppable” in Seoul on Tuesday.From what director Kim Min-ho and other creative minds behind the action flick let on, “Unstoppable” looks to be a film that feels li

FilmOct. 23, 2018

US version of MBC ‘King of Mask Singer’ unveils teaser photos

The upcoming US television adaptation of MBC’s popular reality program “King of Mask Singer” has released full-length photos of its contestants.Unlike the original Korean television show, in which singers and celebrities wear masks but no other disguises, the contestants on Fox’s competition “The Masked Singer” are suited up in elaborate costumes that fully conceal their bodies. (Fox)(Fox)(Fox) (Fox)The US show also differs from the original in that it will feature 12 celebrity contestants and e

TelevisionOct. 23, 2018

NCT 127 lands on Billboard 200 chart as second-highest-charting K-pop boy band

K-pop boy band NCT 127 landed their latest full-length album on the Billboard chart of the 200 most popular albums, becoming the second-highest-charting Korean male band, the Billboard said Tuesday."The 10-member K-pop group sees their 'Regular-Irregular' album debut at No. 86 on the Billboard 200, marking NCT 127's first appearance on America's definitive albums chart," Billboard said, referring to the week ending on Oct. 18."NCT 127 now becomes the second-highest charting K-pop boy band on the

PerformanceOct. 23, 2018

Online troll who sexually harassed Seolhyun found guilty

A man who sent sexually humiliating messages and videos online to singer Seolhyun has been found guilty.In a statement Tuesday, the singer’s agency, FNC Entertainment, said the online troll who’d sent sexually degrading content in direct messages on Instagram had received a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after the Incheon District Court delivered its verdict. FNC EntertainmentThe agency also added that it was taking legal steps against other people who had made an

PerformanceOct. 23, 2018

K-pop singer to open Korean restaurant in Paris

K-pop singer Jung Joon-young, 29, will try his luck at running a Korean restaurant in none other than the culinary connoisseur city of Paris.Jung will open Maison de Coree next year, according to his agency, C9 Entertainment, Tuesday. Prior to a full-fledged launch, Jung will test the waters with a pop-up store at 80 Rue des Tournelles in the third arrondissement in Paris from Oct. 29 to Nov. 17. At Jung’s side will be chef Lee Jun of Seoul’s Michelin one-star contemporary cuisine restaurant Soi

PerformanceOct. 23, 2018

'Burning' wins best picture at Daejong Film Awards

"Burning," the latest movie from award-winning South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, won best picture at the 55th annual Daejong Film Awards on Monday.Lee's first feature in eight years, "Burning," starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and Jeon Jong-seo, depicts the insecurity, helplessness and anger of young Korean people through the story of a part-time deliveryman and aspiring novelist, and two of his friends. (AFP-Yonhap)Premiering in the main competition section of the 71st Cannes Film Festival,

FilmOct. 23, 2018

Taeyeon’s musical versatility on full display in Seoul concert

Singer Taeyeon, a member of the K-pop powerhouse Girls’ Generation, came into her own Sunday as thousands of fans cheered on during her solo concert in Seoul.Taeyeon’s third solo concert was not only a commercial success, drawing nearly 10,000 people in two days, but also a celebration of her artistic identity as she powered through 24 songs in 2 1/2 hours, showcasing her versatility as an artist.Taeyeon kicked off the last day of her two-day Seoul concert with a new song, “Here I Am,” appearing

PerformanceOct. 22, 2018

Ed Sheeran to hold Seoul concert in April

Pop singer Ed Sheeran has confirmed that his first concert here will take place in April. The star will perform at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, an hour’s drive west of central Seoul, at 6 p.m. on April 21.  Poster for Ed Sheeran’s April concert (Private Curve)The artist will be visiting Seoul as a part of his Asian tour next spring. He will also be performing in Singapore and Thailand. A more detailed schedule of the tour has yet to be released. Tickets for his concert cost 110,000 ($97)

PerformanceOct. 22, 2018

Young South Koreans take fashion inspiration from Bernie Sanders and Jesse Jackson

Among young South Koreans, civic rights activist and Democratic presidential nominee Jesse Jackson’s 1988 campaign T-shirts and French fashion brand Balenciaga’s Bernie Sanders-inspired caps are some of the hottest fashion items at the moment.“What size is it?” “Has it been sold yet?” Comments like these quickly appear when well-kept secondhand Bernie Sanders caps are put up for sale in online communities, as a brand new one could cost nearly 350,000 ($310).A Jesse Jackson T-shirt and a Bernie S

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2018

Korea to hold cultural festival near DMZ this weekend

South Korea will hold a cultural festival at a former US army base near the inter-Korean border this weekend as part of efforts to transform the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone into a hub of peace-themed tourism, organizers said Monday.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Gyeonggi Provincial Government said they will co-host a fall seasonal cultural festival called "DMZ Transformation Peace Hanmadang" at Camp Greaves just south of the DMZ on Saturday and Sunday. (Yonhap)The f

CultureOct. 22, 2018

Seoul fashion scene unfolds at Dongdaemun Design Plaza

2019 Spring-Summer Hera Seoul Fashion Week wrapped up its six-day run Saturday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul, where fashion ruled both inside and outside the venue.A total of 42 established fashion brands and 24 rookie designer brands showcased their creations for the upcoming spring-summer season, through the Seoul Collection and Generation Next, respectively. Meanwhile, fashion enthusiasts gathered to show off their own unique, stylish looks. A model presents a creation by Ti:bae

Arts & DesignOct. 22, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Intimate Strangers’ fun and enjoyable, until it’s not

Basketball fans may be familiar with the story of the Minnesota Timberwolves in their post-Kevin Garnett rebuilding years, when they repeatedly played exceptionally for three quarters and then collapsed in the fourth.Watching Lee Jae-kyoo’s “Intimate Strangers” felt just like watching the T-wolves play during that disappointing season. The film had such superb acting, so many funny and witty moments, before a huge letdown. “Intimate Strangers” (Lotte Entertainment)The comedy-drama starts off wit

FilmOct. 22, 2018

[K-Talk] Dark side of K-pop: Leader of The East Light claims years of abuse

Members of teenage K-pop boy band The East Light have suffered years of physical and verbal abuse and threats from a music director, the group’s leader Lee Seok-cheol told a press conference Friday. Lee, the 18-year-old band’s leader and drummer, fought back tears as he described abuse dating back to 2015. In a media report released Thursday, Lee had accused Media Line Entertainment Chairman Kim Chang-hwan of turning a blind eye to the abuse meted out to The East Light members by the resident pr

PerformanceOct. 21, 2018

BTS to appear in videos promoting Seoul tourism overseas

K-pop superstars BTS will present seven different tourist themes in Seoul in a series of videos to be released this week, the Seoul city government said Sunday.The videos, titled "My Seoul Playlist" and bearing the slogan "Live Seoul like I Do," will be released on TV, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other media platforms, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. This image, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Oct. 21, 2018, shows a still from a video promoting tourism in Se

CultureOct. 21, 2018

[Photo News] Street styles we noticed at 2019 S/S Seoul Fashion Week

The shows are amazing at the 2019 S/S Hera Seoul Fashion Week, but the fun spills out to the streets. Brightly dyed hair was a visible trend at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Friday, alongside see-through blouses, neon tops and transparent plastic bags.Oversized jackets, baggy pants, leopard print and fashionable eyewear also drew attention.  (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea He

CultureOct. 19, 2018

Teenage K-pop band member claims beatings, threats by management agency staff

Members of teenage K-pop boy band The East Light have been beaten and verbally threatened by a producer and the head of their management agency, one of the members claimed Friday, vowing to take a legal action.Lee Seok-cheol, the 18-year-old band leader and drummer, held a press conference and confirmed a media report a day earlier that Kim Chang-hwan -- the chairman of Media Line Entertainment -- and a resident producer had assaulted or connived in assaulting the members before and after the ba

PerformanceOct. 19, 2018

YG silent on rumor Big Bang Seungri dating rookie actress

YG Entertainment is once again keeping silent about dating rumors surrounding Seungri of Big Bang and rookie actress Yu Hye-won. Earlier on Friday, a Taiwanese news outlet reported that the Big Bang member had been dating Yu for about a year, with photos of the two together and Instagram posts put up by the pair that seemed to feature matching “couple” items. Yoo is a rookie actress and a model for cosmetics and fashion brands.  (Seungri, Yu Hye-won`s Instagram)Following the rumor, Yoo’s agency

TelevisionOct. 19, 2018

Seoul Fashion Week KYE show draws K-pop celebrities

Designer Hanhee Kathleen Kye’s 2019 spring-summer show at HERA Seoul Fashion Week on Friday attracted a slew of K-pop celebrities in the audience, as well as strutting down the catwalk for her brand KYE. In the photo, from left, are GWSN’s Lena, singer Ko Sung-min, makeup artist Risabe, 9 Muses’ Kyungri, model Irene, f(X)’s Amber, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyoen, Chungha, AKMU’s Lee Su-hyun and veteran singer Noh Sa-yeon.  (Lim Je

PerformanceOct. 19, 2018