Government apologizes for blacklists, vows changes

Following last week’s report on two past administrations’ blacklisting of cultural figures, the Culture Ministry on Wednesday issued the Moon Jae-in administration’s first official apology over the matter. It also pledged to modify the current system to ensure that such blacklisting would not reoccur.In a press conference announcing “Culture Vision 2030” -- the government’s plans for the culture sector through 2030 -- Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan officially apologized on

CultureMay 16, 2018

SHINee to release three-part album

SHINee’s upcoming sixth album -- its first as a quartet -- will be released in three parts on three different dates.According to S.M. Entertainment, the boy band will release “The Story of Light EP.1,” the first segment of “The Story of Light” album, on May 28. The second and third parts will be released on June 11 and June 25, respectively. A teaser image for SHINee’s new album (S.M. Entertainment)Each part will consist of three songs and separate lead tracks, on which the group will focus its

PerformanceMay 16, 2018

Amid flag controversy, Steven Yeun will skip Korean press at Cannes

Caught in “Rising Sun” flag controversy, Korean-American actor Steven Yeun will not meet Korean press at Cannes Film Festival. The actors and the director of film “Burning” were to meet Korean media outlets in Cannes for an interview on Friday. But Yeun and fellow actress Jun Jong-seo will not be attending the event, leaving only actor Yoo Ah-in and director Lee Chang-dong at the press event. Steven Yeun in “Burning” (Pine House Film)Yeun will participate in the official press conference and an

FilmMay 16, 2018

[Album Review] Dreamcatcher’s metal rock sound is rebellious yet unfamiliar

Dreamcatcher“Escape the Era” InterparkDreamcatcher is a name that sticks out in the K-pop scene as an act whose sound is not familiar to most K-pop listeners: Its songs are heavy and rich with blaring metal elements, often referred to as the so-called Japanese anime style. As an act that values consistent concept in each album, Dreamcatcher’s recent EP “Escape the Era,” follows in the footsteps of the group’s past works. The only difference is that the act is in full-swing in revealing its rebel

PerformanceMay 16, 2018

Park Yu-chun splits up with fiance

　K-pop singer-cum-actor Park Yu-chun has split up with his fiance, his agency said Tuesday.    　The 32-year-old Park had been dating a granddaughter of the founder of dairy giant Namyang Dairy Products Co. since 2016 and announced a now-cancelled plan to marry the woman, who is surnamed Hwang, for September last year.　“Park Yu-chun recently ended his relationship with Hwang,” an official at C-JeS Entertainment said.　Reasons for the breakup were not given, with the official only saying that “I be

PerformanceMay 15, 2018

[Video] Polyglots, businesswomen among winners of 10th Miss SuperTalent pageant

(Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) Twenty-seven contestants from across the world took part in this year’s April-May edition of Miss SuperTalent, held in Seoul. Aspiring models and actresses competed in the semiannual super talent and modeling event. The final competition took place at the Premier Ballroom of Songdo Convensia in Incheon on Friday, with the top prize going to Spain’s Alexia Navarro. First and second runners-up were Cape Verde’s Simone Louisa He

PeopleMay 15, 2018

Ultra Korea adds more artists to lineup

With this year’s Ultra Korea just around the corner, the organizers for one of the largest EDM festivals in the world announced a lineup change that added Ice Cube, Modestep and RL Grime to their list of headliners.In addition to the five headliners, Carl Craig, Nicole Moudaber, Andrew Rayel, Coyu, Fedde Le Grand, Julian Jeweil, Kris Kross Amsterdam, Nastia, Popof, and Technasia were added to perform on stage on June 6-10 at a venue yet to be confirmed. Last year’s event was held at Jamsil Olymp

PerformanceMay 15, 2018

Lee Hi, Zion T added to Summer Sonic lineup

Lee Hi and Zion T will perform at this year’s Summer Sonic, one of Japan’s most renowned music festivals.According to the two singers’ agency, YG Entertainment, they have been added to the list of artists who will perform at Summer Sonic 2018 in Tokyo on Aug. 19. Summer Sonic is held every year simultaneously in two metropolitan cities, Tokyo and Osaka, for two days. It is scheduled to be held this year on Aug. 18 and 19.   Singer Lee Hi (top) and Zion T (YG Entertainment)Top Korean groups such

PerformanceMay 15, 2018

Seoul Spring Festival features less well-known music

The 2018 Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music will continue to highlight various chamber music pieces, including those that are less well known.Starting Tuesday, the Seoul-based chamber music festival will run until May 27, featuring a total of 16 concerts at venues including Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the preserved traditional Korean house of former President Yun Bo-sun in Anguk-dong. Violinist and the artistic director of the SSF Kang Dong-suk speaks during

PerformanceMay 15, 2018

Anchor apologizes to Twice for ‘service’ comment

Anchor Lee Jung-pyo has apologized to Twice for his inappropriate comment at a university festival. Last Friday, Twice performed some of its hit tracks, including “What is Love?” and “Likey,” at a festival organized by Sungkyunkwan University. After its performance, Twice left the stage. Lee, who was hosting the festival, said to the audience, “Everyone, Twice won’t come back (by just shouting) for an encore. At a time like this, (shout) ‘service.’”He repeated the comment, encouraging the audien

PerformanceMay 14, 2018

[Herald Interview] Isabella Eklof takes no breaks in ‘Holiday’

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- Danish director Isabella Eklof pulls no punches with her feature film debut “Holiday,” which has been a darling of the film festival circuit, even if it is not so likely to see wide, international theatrical releases. She is determined to bring the female gaze to film, and holds a steady, anthropological eye on her subjects.“I think people like a challenging first movie, one that’s different and interesting,” Eklof told The Korea Herald on May 5, after screening

FilmMay 14, 2018

BTS hints more on return

BTS dropped the track list for its upcoming album “Love Yourself: Tear.” According to the band‘s agency Big Hit Entertainment on Monday, there will be 11 tracks in total, with the lead track called “Fake Love.” One of the songs will be a collaboration with Steve Aoki. The band has worked with the world-class DJ, making a remix version of its hit track “Mic Drop” last year. BTS is set to release the new album on Friday, ready to perform “Fake Love” for the first time at the 2018 Billboard Music A

PerformanceMay 14, 2018

MBC show under fire for dishonoring Sewol ferry disaster victims

Network broadcaster MBC is conducting an investigation of its hit entertainment show for its offensive use of news clips from the Sewol ferry disaster. In an episode of “Omniscient” aired on May 5, the production team used news coverage clips from the Sewol ferry sinking to describe comedian Lee Young-ja, one of the cast members on the show, eating fish cake.  Screenshots of “Omniscient” using Sewol ferry accident news coverage clips (MBC)More than 300 people, mostly high school students on a fi

TelevisionMay 14, 2018

[Trending] Who’s behind that mask? #RyanReynolds

Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds wowed Korean audiences by making a surprise appearance on MBC’s “King of Mask Singer” on Sunday. Reynolds, who visited Korea on May 1 to promote “Deadpool 2,” which opens this week, reportedly took part in the show in the middle of the movie promotions tour.Clad with a silver cape and unicorn-shaped mask, Reynolds sang “Tomorrow” from the “Annie” musical.Not knowing who was behind the mask, the panel of the show expected he would be either local TV personality Rober

TelevisionMay 14, 2018

‘Rose Day’ brings attention to symbolic meaning of rose colors, bouquet size

Flowers have been a symbolic agent for the expression of love through time and space. For Koreans who have attributed special meanings to the 14th day of each month, May presents “Rose Day,” when lovers are encouraged to convey the contents of their hearts in a bouquet of roses.(Yonhap)Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on this day urged the general population to alleviate overcast sentiments in the local flower market by gifting roses to a special someone.To help consumers make

CultureMay 14, 2018

Hwanhee to release new single on May 22

Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky will release a new single next week, resuming his solo career after the rhythm and blues duo’s EP last year.H2 Media announced Monday that his new digital single will be released at 6 p.m., May 22, marking the first time in 14 months for him to release a song as a solo artist. The agency said the new track will show “a radically different musical style” than demonstrated by Hwanhee previously. Hwanhee (left) and Jung Il-hoon (H2 Media)Rapper Jung Il-hoon of boy band Bto

PerformanceMay 14, 2018

Black Pink’s ‘As If It’s Your Last’ tops 300m views

The official music video for girl group Black Pink’s latest single “As If It’s Your Last” surpassed 300 million views on YouTube.The video, released in June 2017, reached the mark at around 3 a.m. Monday, the group’s management agency, YG Entertainment, said Monday. The video has gained the most views among K-pop music videos uploaded on YouTube last year.  (YG Entertainment)YG chief Yang Hyun-suk also congratulated Black Pink via Instagram, while apparently announcing an upcoming return for the

PerformanceMay 14, 2018

Steven Yeun’s flag controversy grows despite apology

Former “Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun has found himself neck-deep in controversy in his birthplace surrounding him “liking” an image of a disputed flag, as some called even his apology not good enough.On Friday, Yeun pressed “like” on a picture posted by Joe Lynch -- with whom he worked on 2017 flick “Mayhem” -- of him wearing a shirt with a design resembling the “Rising Sun” flag of the Empire of Japan, which carries strong negative connotations in Korea. The actor acknowledged the next day th

FilmMay 13, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Marching for our Beloved,’ important message, ineffective delivery

May of 1980 marked one of the bloodiest and greatest moments in modern Korean history, as citizens of Gwangju rose against Chun Doo-hwan’s rule after his military coup the year before.Thirty-eight years on, plays, movies, comic books and even songs have been made to commemorate the hundreds killed and many more scarred for life. “Marching for our Beloved,” directed by Park Ki-bok, is among them. “This is not the first film about the May 18 (Gwangju Democratization Movement), but I felt we have t

FilmMay 13, 2018

EXO-CBX kicks off first Japanese arena tour in Yokohama

Having recently wrapped up its “Blooming Days” promotions in Korea, EXO-CBX has kicked off its first Japanese arena tour.  EXO-CBX performs at a concert in Yokohama on Friday. (JYP Entertainment)The subunit of EXO, consisted of Chen, Baekhun and Xiumin, successfully held its first leg of “EXO-CBX Magical Circus Tour 2018” at Yokohama Arena on Friday, drawing about 13,000 concertgoers. For about two hours, the band performed 21 songs, including tracks from its first Japanese full-length album “Ma

PerformanceMay 13, 2018