‘Burning’ sets record high score at Cannes jury grid

Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” garnered a record high score in the Cannes Film Festival’s daily newsletter upon its jury screening. With a 3.8 average, the film has nabbed the highest score in the history of Screen’s Cannes jury grid, surpassing the previous record of 3.7 set by Maren Ade’s “Tony Erdmann” in 2016.All but two critics awarded the film the full four stars, with two giving three stars. Screen’s review described the film as “quietly devastating…a film of wondrous complexity and

FilmMay 18, 2018

[K-Talk] BTS’ new album sent early by mistake

BTS’ third full-length album “‘Love Yourself: Tear” was shipped out earlier than scheduled due to a mistake by the US-based shipping company.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)According to BTS‘ agency company Big Hit Entertainment, American commerce company Amazon made a shipping mistake with BTS‘ new album scheduled to be released at 6 p.m. local time, Friday. The case was found as individual fans started to upload images of the boy band‘s physical album on their social media pages saying that they s

PerformanceMay 18, 2018

Whoops! Foreign BTS fans get hands on new album before release date

BTS’ third regular EP “Love Yourself: Tear” was allegedly leaked before the promised release time of 6 p.m. Friday, due to an error by US retail website Amazon, according to a Korean media report. A screenshot of the teaser from 'Fake Love''s music videoHankook Ilbo reported Friday that foreign fans of BTS have started updating pictures of the new BTS album to their social media accounts since Thursday. It seems Amazon had already distributed the EP, but the official release date was not until n

PerformanceMay 18, 2018

[Graphic News] Under the hammer: Record art auctions

　A stunning nude that is the largest painting produced by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani sold for $157.2 million in New York on Monday, becoming the fourth most expensive work of art sold at auction.　The exact value of private sales are often not revealed. But a Willem de Kooning painting and a Gauguin were reportedly sold separately for $300 million each in 2015, according to US media. (AFP)

Arts & DesignMay 17, 2018

Fantastic love story ‘About Time’

From time to time, we can all wonder how much time we have left on this planet. What would it be like to have a “life watch” that tells you how much time you have remaining? The new tvN drama series “About Time” uses just such a device to depict a fantastic romance tale. Lee Sung-kyung plays Choi Mikaela in the 16-part production. She is able to see the invisible watch on people’s wrists, including her own. The watch tells how much time a person has left. With the knowledge of exactly how much t

TelevisionMay 17, 2018

European K-pop fans fervent, but underserved

In June last year, BTS fans in the UK helped raise 3,000 pounds ($4,100) for a billboard in London to celebrate the group’s fourth anniversary. This year they plan to do it again, and are nearing their slightly higher goal of 3,500 pounds.With such a dedicated fan base, it’s a surprise that BTS -- who became the first K-pop act to enter the official albums chart in the UK in October 2016 -- only recently announced its first headline concert in the UK as part of its world tour that will also visi

Expat LivingMay 17, 2018

Multicultural celebrations to mark Together Day

Events across the country will be held to celebrate the expat population as part of Together Day.Officially falling on May 20, Together Day was introduced as a nationally observed celebration in 2008, as part of the Act on the Treatment of Foreign nationals.Most areas with a significant population have events, although some are held at other times of the year.One of the biggest is the Global Gathering in Busan. The Busan celebration was started in 2006 before Together Day was created , but has u

Expat LivingMay 17, 2018

From Faust to ‘Flashdance,’ Daegu musical fest to run the gamut

Czech musical “Mephisto” will headline the annual Daegu International Musical Festival this year, which this time features a lineup of 24 musicals from around the world. The 12th DIMF will be held from June 22 to July 9 at major theaters across the city. The opening ceremony will be at 9:50 p.m. at Daegu Opera House, just after the curtain-raiser “Mephisto” makes its first performance at the same venue.The hit musical from Czechoslovakia is an interpretation of the classic “Doctor Faustus” by Go

CultureMay 17, 2018

Gugudan’s Mina joins cast of webtoon-based TV series ‘Gyeryong Fairy Tale’

Mina of the girl group Gugudan has joined the cast of the upcoming TV drama series “Gyeryong Fairy Tale.” Gugudan member Mina (Jellyfish Entertainment)Based on a well-known webtoon of the same title, “Gyeryong Fairy Tale” is a series that revolves around seonnyeo -- women who appear in Korean folklore and who live in heaven. In the series, actress Moon Chae-won plays a seonnyeo who tries to find her husband. Mina will play the daughter of the seonnyeo. In the story, the daughter reunites with he

TelevisionMay 17, 2018

Christian leaders seek reformation for future

Christian leaders from around the world gathered in Seoul to talk about the future of Christianity. The Christian Leaders Fellowship held a press conference at Korea Press Center in the city on May 10. The organization was formed last year, marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It is headed by Pastor Park Ock-soo. More than 24,000 pastors from 70 countries are participating in the CLF.The 2018 World Christian Leaders’ joint press conference is held on May 10 at the Korea P

PeopleMay 17, 2018

[Video] Feeling every bit of pollack roe, altang

Altang’s name describes pretty much everything about the dish. Al refers to egg, tang means soup. It’s a soup of fish roe, and a lot of them. The soup is filled with white small sausage-looking creatures, which are roes of pollack. Pollack roe is the main ingredient of the dish. While roes are usually sliced up when used for pasta dishes, for altang, they are served whole. The texture of cooked roe may take you by surprise. The egg mass is firm yet soft. When chewed, the roe easily breaks up, fi

FoodMay 17, 2018

Claims continue against use of Imperial Japan’s Rising Sun flag

While Steven Yeun’s “flag controversy” has yet to settle down, a music video from Puerto Rican singer Ozuna also stands accused of using the disputed symbol of the former Japanese Empire.Seo Kyoung-duk, professor of general education at Sungshin Women’s University, said Thursday that he has sent a letter of protest to Ozuna’s official Instagram and Facebook accounts regarding the official video of his song, “Siguelo Bailando.” A screenshot taken from the official music video of Ozuna's song, "Si

PerformanceMay 17, 2018

Busan supports foreigners’ startups

South Korea’s second-largest city Busan will support foreign entrepreneurs, seeking to grow into a global startup hub similar to Silicon Valley of the US.The Busan Metropolitan City Government and Busan Economic Promotion Agency on Wednesday announced plans to recruit participants to their startup support project for foreigners by the end of May.The project offers support to foreigners or immigrants who have registered businesses in Korea, or aspiring entrepreneurs that wish to start new busines

Expat LivingMay 17, 2018

[Photo News] Temples don resplendent colors for upcoming ‘Buddha’s Birthday‘

Buddhist temples in Korea were seen adorned with countless colorful lanterns on Wednesday, in preparation for the countdown to the Buddha’s Birthday early next week.The Buddhist belief says lanterns are lights of wisdom that drive out darkness, anguish and ignorance.Vibrantly colored lotus-lanterns can offer an exquisite sight to both Koreans and foreigners. On this day, visitors to the Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, were busy taking photographs to capture the exotic scene. Jogyesa Temple i

CultureMay 17, 2018

Big Bang’s Seungri becomes Tinder model

K-pop star Seungri has become a model for the online dating app Tinder in Korea, YG Entertainment announced Thursday. In one of the ads, Seungri is dressed in a suit and holds a champagne glass. In another, he is dressed casually with a smartphone in his hand.  (Tinder)“Friends of many nationalities that I meet through tours abroad and business use Tinder a lot,” said Seungri in a press release. “It’s a good fit for me, as I enjoy meeting new people,” he said on modeling for the app. Larger vers

PerformanceMay 17, 2018

Famed hanbok designer Lee Young-hee dies at 82

Hanbok designer Lee Young-hee, who helped popularize Korean traditional attire across the world, died of complications from pneumonia Thursday, her family said.Her daughter Lee Jung-woo, also a designer, told Yonhap News Agency, "Since she was admitted to hospital due to pneumonia a month ago, her health deteriorated. One time she got well and doctors said she could be discharged. But her condition became aggravated again."Lee died at 00:40 at the hospital on Thursday morning. This file photo sh

PeopleMay 17, 2018

MBC says ‘Omniscient’ staff did not intend offence with Sewol clip

Network broadcaster MBC on Wednesday said the producers of a controversial episode of its entertainment show “Omniscient” had no intention of offending the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster with the use of news footage of the accident.The committee formed on May 9 to conduct an internal audit over the entertainment show’s use of news clips and a word regarding the Sewol ferry disaster made the announcement during a press conference held at the network’s headquarters located in Sangam-dong, wes

TelevisionMay 17, 2018