Book details Joseon’s ‘warts and all’ approach to portraits

Lee Sung-nack, a board member at the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation, has released a new book that attempts to explain how portraits created in the Joseon era depicted their models in a realistic way. Lee, 80, worked as a dermatologist and professor before he got a Ph.D. in art history at Myongji University in 2014. Cover of "Joseon Dynasty Portraits: Expression of Scholar Spirits" (Yonhap)In his book “Joseon Dynasty Portraits: Expression of Scholar Spirits,” published on March 16 by Nulwa, L

BooksMarch 20, 2018

Wanna One apologizes for remarks made during live broadcast

K-pop boy group Wanna One has come under fire for remarks it made that were accidently aired during a live broadcast Monday.About four hours before the release of the act’s new album “0+1=1” EP, the members appeared on Mnet’s onelife broadcast “Star Live” to celebrate its comeback. The live show featured the members waiting in a green room before the official broadcast, but the trouble began with Kang Daniel shouting out, “Why aren’t we getting our payment?”Kang’s remark was followed by Park Ji-

PerformanceMarch 20, 2018

[Video] TV show ‘I Live Alone’ at its heyday

With the reality TV show “I Live Alone” enjoying a purple patch, the program’s real-life couple, Jun Hyun-moo and Han Hye-jin, opened up about their relationship at a press conference held Monday to mark the show’s fifth anniversary. TV personality Jun Hyun-moo and fashion model Han Hye-jin admitted to the relationship at the end of last month, after news reports regarding the two surfaced. The two have been dating since Christmas.  Jun Hyun-moo and Han Hye-jin pose for photos at a media briefin

TelevisionMarch 19, 2018

Yoon Do-hyun denies reports about performing in Pyongyang

Rock musician Yoon Do-hyun, the leader of band YB, has denied reports he was invited to perform in Pyongyang next month with a South Korean art troupe performing there.Earlier Monday, local media reported that YB had been contacted by the government to join the South Korea’s yet-to-be announced art troupe that is set to perform in Pyongyang in April as part of a series of cultural exchanges agreed upon by the two governments. Yoon’s Dee Company agency, however, declined to confirm the reports or

PerformanceMarch 19, 2018

Wanna One heralds golden age with ‘0+1=1’ EP

Though destined to disband at the end of this year, project boy band Wanna One promised fans that its golden age has just begun with its new album.The 11-piece act, which consists of winters of the second season of the audition program “Produce 101,” returned with its second EP “0+1=0 (I Promise You)” on Monday, marking the group’s first release since the EP “1-1=0 (Nothing Without You)” in November.  With the new album, the group said, it is determined to make this year its “golden age.” Wanna

PerformanceMarch 19, 2018

[Newsmaker] K-pop producer-songwriter to lead S. Korean art troupe to NK

　K-pop music will form the core of a South Korean art troupe’s repertoire when it performs in Pyongyang in April, with a prominent K-pop producer and songwriter to take the helm.　The Ministry of Unification on Sunday named Lee Yun-sang -- a singer-songwriter and producer professionally known as Yun Sang -- as the musical director for the South’s art troupe to Pyongyang. His North Korean counterpart is Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the all-female Moranbong Band. 　Yun Sang will lead the South Korea

CultureMarch 19, 2018

Monk Haemin’s essay nominated for 2018 British Book Awards

“The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down,” written by South Korean Buddhist monk Haemin, has been nominated for the 2018 British Book Awards.The final shortlist for the awards was announced Friday (local time) by The Bookseller, the organizer of the awards and a British journal specializing in the publishing industry. Haemin’s essay was nominated for lifestyle book of the year. The British edition of “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down” (Suo Books)Books from seven categories h

CultureMarch 19, 2018

[K-talk] Actress Lee Tae-im announces sudden retirement

Actress Lee Tae-im has announced she is ending her acting career.“Going through difficulties with many thoughts and pain, I decided to live a normal life,” she wrote in a social media post Monday. “I won’t forget those who loved me. Thank you,” she added. Lee Tae-im (Management Henem)The announcement came as a surprise as Lee had returned to the entertainment scene last summer with the hit drama series “Women of Dignity” on JTBC, after a two-year break. She disappeared from the public eye after

TelevisionMarch 19, 2018

‘Music has power to connect us’

He may be a classical star on his own but for violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, his latest album “Duo” shows the power two musicians can create. “If I am a soloist on a stage, it’s like I am an actor delivering a monologue, and that’s very wonderful. You think of all monologues in Shakespeare, they are very profound and complete. But most stage drama has to have at least two characters,” he said during a press meeting in Seoul on Monday to promote the album. “I think this album is a great example

PerformanceMarch 19, 2018

FNC to sue netizens for swapping AOA Seolhyun’s face onto nude photos

FNC Entertainment plans to sue internet users who modified photos of singer Seolhyun’s face and put them onto nude images, the agency said Monday. “We plan to gather all data on the altered photos that are currently circulating, find out the route through which they circulated, and submit the complaint today,” FNC said in a statement. The agency said it found on the internet last Friday photos featuring the face of singer Seolhyun, a member of girl group AOA, pasted onto nude images of other peo

PerformanceMarch 19, 2018

[Photo News] Holi Hai brings first colors of spring to Geoje

International visitors transformed into a palette of vibrant hues at the Holi Hai Festival of Colors, taking place on Wahyeon Beach in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. The eighth annual festival, dubbed the “happiest event” in Korea, celebrates the coming of spring, the joy of friendship and values such as equality, while encouraging harmony between ethnicities and nationalities. The festival is held to mark the Indian end-of-winter festival of Holi, which people celebrate by spattering

CultureMarch 18, 2018

Brothers dance in two competing ‘Giselle’ productions

Korea’s two leading ballet companies, the Korean National Ballet and the Universal Ballet Company will stage one of the most romantic classic ballet works later this month and in April, respectively.The productions share the same title, but are different in their interpretations. The KNB’s “Giselle” is the 1991 French production staged at the French Opera Ballet by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov. The production is acclaimed for being faithful in its interpretation of Jean Coralli and Jules Per

CultureMarch 18, 2018

Theater director Lee grilled over alleged sexual violence

Police questioned Lee Youn-taek, a disgraced theater writer and director, for two consecutive days over the weekend over alleged sexual violence against female junior members of his drama troupe.His appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Sunday morning, hours after he returned home at 1:10 a.m. following a 15-hour interrogation.The 66-year-old Lee is one of the high-profile South Korean men to fall over sexual misconduct as the "Me Too" movement quickly spreads in the country.After

FilmMarch 18, 2018

BTS video become band's sixth to top 200 million views on YouTube

A music video by the K-pop sensation BTS, or Bangtan Boys, has garnered over 200 million views on YouTube, its management agency said Saturday.The music video of "Save Me" from the group's special album "Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa: Young Forever" released in May 2016 topped 200 million views on the global video site as of Saturday evening, according to Big Hit Entertainment. (Big Hit)"Save Me" is BTS' sixth music video to hit the 200-million-view milestone after "DNA", "Fire", "Dope", "Blood Sweat & Tear

PerformanceMarch 17, 2018

[Trending] #Instagram #socialmedia

R&B singer Dean described Instagram as a “problem (of modern society)” in his latest hit song named after the social media platform, but it seems that the mobile application continues to captivate young Koreans. A survey released by Nas Media on Thursday showed that more than half of the respondents use Instagram, marking a 14.9 percent increase from 2017. The survey was conducted between Dec. 19 and Jan. 3 on 2,000 internet and mobile users in the country. According to the survey, Instagram is

CultureMarch 17, 2018

Theater director Lee apologizes amid sex assault allegations

Police here questioned Lee Youn-taek, a disgraced South Korean theater writer and director, Saturday for allegations that he sexually harassed or assaulted more than a dozen women using his status and clout.Lee was a leading figure in South Korea's theater circles. But he has faced sex offense charges amid the spread of the "Me Too" movement.  Lee Youn-taek appears for questioning at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Saturday. (Yonhap) He is accused of sexually harassing or assaulti

FilmMarch 17, 2018

No phone number, but great tarts at My Funny Dessert

My Funny Dessert’s ascension to worth-the-wait status has been a year in the making, and that is something of a miracle given the shop’s hard-to-find location and utter lack of a phone number. Situated on a small street about a 10-minute walk away from Hanti Station in Daechi-dong, the three-seat nook was originally meant to be a pastry and sweets atelier, but opened as a tiny French dessert shop last February. The three-seater shop offers a variety of desserts including tarts, macarons, madelei

FoodMarch 16, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Be With You(Korea)Opened March 14Romance, DramaDirected by Lee Jang-hoonWoo-jin (So Ji-sub) and his son Ji-ho (Kim Ji-hwan) struggle to cope with the loss of Woo-jin’s wife Soo-ah (Son Ye-jin). Ji-ho believes that his mother will return during the rainy season, just like in his favorite fairy tale. One day, Soo-ah miraculously comes back without her memory.The Vanished(Korea)Opened March 7ThrillerDirected by Lee Chang-heeThe body of recently deceased business mogul Yoon Sul-hee (Kim Hee-ae) goes

FilmMarch 16, 2018

Around the Hotels

Celebrating Easter at Millennium Seoul Hilton For guests who seek to celebrate Easter in a classic yet luxurious way, Millennium Seoul Hilton has prepared various activities and events. Cilantro Deli offers specialty Easter bread and chocolates during Easter week. Precooked Easter lunch hampers will also be on sale at 350,000 won. For lunch on Easter Sunday, diners can head to Cafe 395 for an Easter-themed buffet, at the price of 94,000 per person. On Easter Day, visitors can take part in an Eas

FoodMarch 16, 2018

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Herb Island Lighting & Illumination Festival Herb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, will be hosting the annual Lighting & Illumination Festival until Oct. 31.With its 300-meter wish tunnel, a lavender field lit up in various colors and more, Herb Island aims to get visitors in the holiday spirit. Inspired by European Christmas markets, the festival offers various events, including Christmas-themed soap, tree and candle-making, a Christmas cookie market and roasted turkey.Admission to the Her

TravelMarch 16, 2018