AGF 2018 to greet Korea’s anime and game buffs

Korea’s first crossover anime and game festival, Anime X Game Festival 2018, will be held at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from Nov. 3-4　Fans will have a chance to meet top-rated Japanese voice actors such as Ayako Kawasumi (whose roles include Nodame in “Nodame Cantabile”) and Hiroki Takahashi at their live talk sessions. Singer ASCA & halca will also perform. (Screenshot from Youtube)Booths with character goods and comic books as well as collaboration cafes are also open.Early bird tick

CultureOct. 19, 2018

NCT’s Lucas takes to catwalk in KYE show at Seoul Fashion Week

NCT’s Lucas strutted with nonchalant confidence in the KYE show at Hera Seoul Fashion Week, Friday.Sitting in the front row at the show was f(x)’s Amber, who whispered to Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation as Lucas walked in front of them.A look of recognition flashed across Hyoyeon’s eyes as she took another measure of Lucas, while Amber took photos of him. (HERA Seoul Fashion Week) (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heralcorp.com)

PerformanceOct. 19, 2018

Comedian Yoo Jae-suk and wife welcome second baby

Comedian and show host Yoo Jae-suk and his television announcer wife, Na Kyung-eun, welcomed their second baby on Friday, Yoo's management agency said. (Yonhap)FNC Entertainment said Na gave birth to a baby girl earlier in the day and that both mother and child are healthy.Yoo and Na were married in July 2008 and gave birth to their first son in May 2010. (Yonhap)

EntertainmentOct. 19, 2018

Jikji Korea festival to wrap up three-week run Sunday

Jikji Korea International Festival, an annual cultural event in honor of the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, will conclude its 21-day run in the central South Korean city of Cheongju on Sunday. Printed at the Heungdeok Temple in Cheongju in 1377, "Jikji" is the abbreviated title of "Jikjisimcheyojeol," a book on the Zen teachings of great Buddhist priests. In that year, two disciples of Ven. Baegun completed the publication of the book written by him using movable met

CultureOct. 19, 2018

EXO to hold showcase on Nov. 2

K-pop sensation EXO is returning to the stage as a whole group after a long hiatus.According to the group’s agency S.M. Entertainment on Friday, EXO will throw special showcase “EXO Comeback Showcase Tempo” on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. in Paradise City’s Plaza in Incheon.  (S.M. Entertainment)On that same day the album releases, EXO will stage a performance for the upcoming LP “Don’t Mess Up My Tempo” for the first time. The group also plans to talk with fans in various sessions, including about episodes

PerformanceOct. 19, 2018

TV producer Na, actress Jung to sue over affair rumors

Na Young-seok, the producer of “Grandpas over Flowers,” a TV entertainment show remade in the US as “Better Late Than Never,” said he would sue the people behind rumors he was having an affair with actress Jung Yu-mi. Jung was in the cast of one of Na’s more recent series, “Youn’s Kitchen.” The show was a hit, and a pioneering work that took Korean celebrities overseas to Gili Trawangan Island in Indonesia in season one and a beachside Spanish town of Garachico in season two for them to start ov

TelevisionOct. 18, 2018

Music label accused of abusing artists confesses, issues apology

A music label with decades of history admitted Thursday to abusing members of one of its boy bands. Media Line Entertainment owned up to the allegations a few hours after local media outlets reported on suspicions of verbal and physical abuse by the label’s CEO and producer of The East Light, a six-member boy band that debuted under the label in November 2016.In the official statement issued in the afternoon, the label said it offers “words of apology for the disgraceful incident” and admitted t

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018

[Eye Plus] Sinpo-dong, where old meets new

Dubbed Incheon’s “Myeongdong,” one of the busiest shopping districts in Seoul, Sinpo Market in the port city Sinpo-dong is blooming with new energy. (Photographed by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Dating back to the late 19th century, the historical market was formed as Korean vendors started selling fresh vegetables and fish to the Japanese, Chinese and Westerners who settled near the port. Now home to about 160 stores, the market has been Incheon’s most crucial cultural and economic center for

CultureOct. 18, 2018

[Herald Interview] Unmasked by a mask

When rapper Mommy Son stepped out of his van and strolled along a street in the trendy Seoul neighborhood of Mangwon-dong, young passersby held their phones and started to take pictures.“Don’t let them take photos when the mask is off!” the rapper’s manager said, trying his best to keep the rookie artist’s true identity a secret.Mommy Son strolls down the street in Mangwon-dong, Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)It has only been a month since masked rapper Mommy Son made his debut via Mne

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018

Nederlands Dans Theater returns to Seoul after 16 years

Nederlands Dans Theater is holding three concerts at Seoul Arts Center between Friday and Sunday, marking its first visit to Seoul since 2002.　Leading the cutting-edge contemporary dance company are artistic director Paul Lightfoot and artistic adviser Sol Leon. The two have been working for the company for some 30 years, in the past as dancers and choreographers, and now as the heads in charge.“It has been many years since the company has not been returning to Seoul. For us, it’s very significa

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018

[Weekender] Mountaineering clothing climbs down to city life

Korea is a mountainous country with mountains taking up 70 to 80 percent of the land mass. Though downtown areas may barely hint at the presence of mountains amid the skyscrapers and traffic, there are some visual reminders that Korea is a nation of mountains: middle-aged people dressed in mountaineering clothing without a hiking plan on their mind. The “athleisure” look of wearing clothes for athletic activities in everyday life has settled itself as more than a passing trend in the fashion sce

Arts & DesignOct. 18, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Halloween fun at Millennium Seoul Hilton The Oak Room, the Millennium Seoul Hilton’s traditional English-style bar, will host a Halloween party on Oct. 27. The bar will be decorated with jack-o’-lanterns, staff will be dressed in costumes and a live trio will be singing. A face painting artist will be on hand to decorate guests’ faces with Halloween-inspired designs. Entrance is free, and those who arrive in costume will be given a free welcome drink.Cafe 395, the hotel’s all-day dining restaura

FoodOct. 18, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Dark Figure of Crime (Korea) Opened Oct. 3Crime, Drama, MysteryDirected by Kim Tae-kyunConvicted murderer Kang (Ju Ji-hoon) calls up detective Kim Hyung-min (Kim Yoon-seok) from his cellphone and confesses to six additional murders that were never reported to authorities. Kim investigates the cases, and soon learns that Kang’s testimony is mixed with lies and the criminal is manipulating him.Venom(US)Action, Adventure, Sci-fi Opened Oct. 3Directed by Ruben Fleischer Investigative journalist Eddi

FilmOct. 18, 2018

Latest list of Michelin stars in Seoul released

Much awaited news for foodies and food connoisseurs, the third edition of the Michelin Guide Seoul has been released. An awards ceremony revealing the latest list of star chefs in Seoul was held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul on Thursday. This year’s ceremony was held under the theme “Journey to Passion.” Korea’s Michelin star recipients pose at the “Michelin Guide Seoul 2019” award event held at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap

FoodOct. 18, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Daejeon Science Festival Daejeon Science Festival provides a chance for visitors to experience advanced technology, particularly with hands-on activities for children.It is runs Oct.19-22, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The festival is open to visitors of all ages, free of charge, although some paid programs are also available.Call the travel hotline at 1330 for more information in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese. The homepage (www.djsf.kr) is only in Korean.Busan One Asia Festiv

TravelOct. 18, 2018

Can Seoul Fashion Week ever be show for the people?

Dongdaemun Design Plaza has been swarming with crowds of “fashion people,” as the 2019 S/S Hera Seoul Fashion Week kicked off Monday. Fashionable visitors have been showing up in bold outfits, ready to show off their unique styles. According to the Seoul Design Foundation -- the state-funded institution in charge of running the event -- around 60,000 people visited the venue Monday and Tuesday.  A model presents creation by Youser during the 2019 Spring-Summer Hera Seoul Fashion Week fashion sho

Arts & DesignOct. 18, 2018

[Trending] TVXQ’s Yunho rises as icon of relentless passion

K-pop idol Yunho of TVXQ has become an icon of positive energy and can-do spirit, inspiring many of the nation’s frustrated young people.  (JTBC) The veteran singer, who made his debut more than 15 years ago and has been performing ever since, recently appeared on various TV programs and shared his self-empowerment tips.Yunho’s morning routine, which he revealed on MBC’s “I Live Alone” in March, starts with dance practice. As soon as he gets out of bed, he turns on the TV, plays his concert vide

CultureOct. 18, 2018

Kiha & The Faces to disband after 5th album release

Six-member band Kiha & The Faces announced in the dark of the night on Wednesday they would disband year-end after releasing the group’s final and the fifth regular album in November.Having worked together for 10 years, the members of Kiha & The Faces -- Jang Ki-ha, Lee Min-ki, Jeong Jung-yeop, Lee Jong-min, Yohei Hasegawa and Jeon Il-jun -- will go their separate ways after their final album as a group. “The soon-to-released fifth album will be the final work of Kiha & The Faces,” each member u

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018

Twice to be 1st K-pop girl group to hold dome tour

Top K-pop band Twice is to become the first girl group to hold a dome tour.It made an announcement Wednesday that it would be holding a dome tour in 2019 at the last performance of the “Twice 1st Arena Tour 2018 BDZ.”According to the schedule released, Twice will perform at Tokyo Dome for two days and hold one show each at the Nagoya Dome and the Kyosera Dome in Osaka. Further details are to be released next month. (JYP Entertainment)“We are very happy to meet Once through our first Arena Tour,”

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018

BTS renews contract with Big Hit Entertainment

Here’s good news for BTS fans: The K-pop heavyweight group has inked a deal to work with its agency for another seven years. Representing the act, Big Hit Entertainment said Thursday that it had signed a seven-year contract with all seven bandmates of BTS out of “deep trust and affection.”In its sixth year now, BTS still has over one year left in its first deal -- seven-year contracts have become the standard in K-pop -- but both sides decided to seal the deal early, which the agency explained i

PerformanceOct. 18, 2018