How much 'Along With the Gods' has grossed?

With the Korean film "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds" expected to surpass a cumulative audience of 14 million, attention is now being paid to how much it has earned in and out of its home country.According to the real-time based box office tally from the Korean Film Council, the movie has garnered 13.85 million views as of Saturday. The fantasy action movie is currently the third most-viewed film of all time in South Korea after "Roaring Currents" (2014, 17.6 million) and "Ode to My Father"

FilmJan. 28, 2018

Actress Jun Ji-hyun gives birth to second son

Actress Jun Ji-hyun has become a mother of two sons, her agency said Friday."Jun Ji-hyun gave birth to a baby boy at a maternity clinic in Seoul on Friday at about 6 p.m.," her agency, Culture Depot, said in a release. "Both mother and baby are doing well and relaxing. We thank all those who have congratulated her."(Yonhap)The 36-year-old actress, also known as Gianna Jun outside of South Korea, married Choi Jun-hyeok, the second son of famous fashion designer Lee Jung-woo, in 2012. She gave bir

TelevisionJan. 26, 2018

[Weekender] Services to help you make the most of your time in Korea

From superfast delivery to near ubiquitous Wi-Fi, Korea has a wealth of conveniences that would make many rivals blush.But the language barrier and an idiosyncratic internet environment have often made it difficult for visitors to take advantage. With a growing foreign population and tourism industry -- a record 17 million people visited the country in 2016 -- Korea has worked hard to make the country more accessible, with tech a particular plus if you know where to look.Apps and assistance exis

TravelJan. 26, 2018

[Weekender] Make the most of Korea: Plot your own course

Coming from the tropical Philippines, Korea was a wintry wonderland for Jane Galvez, who has visited the country four times since 2012. Galvez journeyed across Korea in search of off-the-beaten path locations and arty spots where movies and TV dramas had been filmed. With her sister Ellaine, Jane visited Busan, Seoul and Incheon over seven days in April last year. “South Korea will always be my favorite place to visit,” Galvez told The Korea Herald. “I can never get enough of it. It has changed

TravelJan. 26, 2018

19 years on, BoA doesn’t want to be called ‘veteran singer’

There are certain images that K-pop legend BoA, who has spent nearly 19 years in entertainment, keeps away from the public. Her seemingly confident and uptight image seems incompatible with letting loose. She was a “steadfast” musician who pioneered through the rugged K-pop world from the age of 13. And in her upcoming single and first reality show, the veteran singer decided to unveil her true and different selves that weren’t always depicted in the media. “As I got older, I got comfortable wit

PerformanceJan. 26, 2018

Deconstructing sushi at Shimizu

At Sushi Shimizu, a single piece of sushi, that first oblong oval of glistening fish over rice, serves as a reminder of the importance of “shari.” Shimizu’s shari -- also known as sushi rice -- is quite warm, slightly saline with the structure of each grain of rice remaining distinct. For co-owner and sushi chef Lee Kwang-yeol, this is no accident. “I want the salt to be noticeable in the shari,” said Lee, 34. “Strongly-seasoned shari works well with oily fish like blue-skinned fish or tuna.”  S

FoodJan. 26, 2018

[Home Cooking] Crispy guljeon (Korean-style oyster fritters)

Traditionally, guljeon is egg battered and individually pan fried. The golden brown, crispy guljeon in this recipe is made with the typical Korean savory pancake batter, loaded with oysters, and fried to perfection!For the batter, I used buchim garu (Korean ready-made pancake mix) along with a little bit of potato starch to add extra crispiness to the pancakes.This recipe requires minimal vegetables. I used carrot, scallion, and mushrooms. Zucchini, chili pepper, garlic chives, red or orange bel

FoodJan. 26, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Holiday package at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelFor a relaxing getaway during the holidays Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a Lunar New Year Package. The package, including a Deluxe Room with an either choice of a breakfast or a dinner buffet for two, is designed for those seeking a peaceful rest during the holidays. Guests will be complimented with a skincare set from beauty brand Dr. Bronner’s and have free access to gym and swimming pool. The holiday package will be offered fro

FoodJan. 26, 2018

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Anseong Ice Fishing Fest Visitors are welcome to participate in various winter activities such as ice fishing, sledding, traditional winter games and barehanded fishing. Gwanghyewon Reservoir, the venue of the Anseong Ice Fishing Festival, is one of the largest reservoirs of Anseong known for its first-class water quality that runs down from Charyeon Mountain Range.The festival lasts until Feb. 25, and admission is 5,000 won per person. Children under 5 are admitted free.Call the travel hotline

TravelJan. 26, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)(US) Opened Jan. 17Action, sci-fi, thriller. Directed by Wes BallIn the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they

FilmJan. 26, 2018

BTS wins big at Seoul Music Awards

BTS reaffirmed its seat on the throne as the K-pop kings, taking home the grand prize at the 27th Seoul Music Awards on Thursday.It capped off an impressive run for the K-pop juggernaut, which had already taken home the grand prize at the Golden Disc Awards earlier this month, along with artist of the year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and song of the year at the Melon Music Awards in December. BTS speaks onstage after winning the grand prize at the 27th Seoul Music Awards held at Gocheok Sky D

PerformanceJan. 26, 2018

Actress Han Hye-jin to return to small screen with new MBC drama

Actress Han Hye-jin will return to the small screen for the first time in four years in a new MBC series with the working title “Let’s Look at the Sunset Holding Hands,” the channel said Friday. Han will play lead role Nam Hyun-joo in the upcoming drama, which revolves round Nam’s last romance amid her nearing death. The drama unfolds as Nam, who has apparently been happily married to Kim Do-young, her longtime lover since college, suddenly decides to divorce him and goes on a search for new rom

TelevisionJan. 26, 2018

Jung Yong-hwa to enlist on March 5

Jung Yong-hwa of CNBLUE will begin his compulsory military service on March 5, his agency FNC Entertainment said Friday. The agency announced in an official statement that Jung had received his enlistment notice and canceled all overseas tours scheduled after his upcoming Hong Kong concert slated for Saturday.  Jung Yong-hwa (FNC Entertainment)Asking fans for understanding, the agency also said, “We will do our best to make sure our action doesn’t have a negative effect on fans by taking adequat

PerformanceJan. 26, 2018

Dan Flavin’s exhibition to start at newly opened Lotte Museum of Art

Dan Favin’s exhibition will kick off Friday at the newly constructed Lotte Museum of Art, an exhibition space on the seventh floor of Lotte World Tower. “Starting with the Dan Flavin exhibition, the Lotte Foundation for Arts will continue to introduce works of artists from here and abroad, whose works have not been introduced in the country,” said Han Kwang-kyu, the CEO of the Lotte Foundation for Arts, during a press conference at LMOA. Dan Flavin is an American minimalist artist renowned for m

Arts & DesignJan. 25, 2018

[Graphic News] Over 33,000 Korean restaurants across the world

　The number of Korean restaurants worldwide, serving bibimbap, bulgogi and other Korean dishes, rose to 33,499 across 90 countries last year, according to a report published by the Korean Food Promotion Institute. The number increased 262 percent from 9,253 in 2009. 　There were 15,985 restaurants in China, 9,238 in Japan and 3,293 in the US.　Taiwan, Indonesia, Europe and the Middle East also had a greater number of Korean restaurants last year compared to 2009. 

FoodJan. 25, 2018

[Herald Interview] Rapper BewhY: ‘I want to compete with US hip-hop artists, be the best’

“The reason for my US tour? I want to compete with hip-hop musicians in the US in the future,” said BewhY in his dimly lit studio when asked about his six-stop US tour in November last year. He was more than serious, sitting with his hands firmly clutched together and a determined look on his face. And surprisingly, it didn’t sound so cocky when he added, “And in the distant future, I know I will be the best.”The dream of stateside success has been bubbling inside the ambitious 25-year-old rappe

PerformanceJan. 25, 2018

Male beauty vlogger publishes book

There are many words to describe Kim Ki-soo: beauty creator, makeup artist, comedian, influencer. And now he can add one more to the list -- author. Kim recently published a makeup tutorial book, based on his mobile-centric beauty tutorial show titled “Do You Want to Live Pretty or Not?” produced by SBS.　Kim Ki-soo poses for photos, holding his book, at a press conference at SBS broadcasting station, western Seoul, Wednesday. (SBS)“It’s the first time that a mobile show has been made into a book

PeopleJan. 25, 2018

Song Kang-ho’s ‘Drug King’ set for summer release

Versatile actor Song Kang-ho will take on the role of a 1970s drug lord in the upcoming film “Drug King,” set for release this summer.Producers of the film on Thursday released a still that showed Song as the movie’s protagonist Lee Doo-sam.  A film still from “Drug King” (Showbox)The photo shows Song sitting in what appears to be his office, which has lavish decorations and guns hanging on the wall. The shot is somewhat reminiscent of an iconic scene from the 1983 movie “Scarface,” starring ico

FilmJan. 25, 2018

[Photo News] Former German Chancellor to marry Korean interpreter

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder (right) and his Korean fiancee Kim So-yeon held a press conference to announce their engagement at Seoul Press Center on Thursday. Schroder and Kim announced they will tie the knot in autumn and split their time between Korea and Germany. Schroder and Kim met two years ago at a global conference. Kim currently represents Korea for the regional economic development of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, and also acts as Schroder’s interpreter. (Park Hyun-k

PeopleJan. 25, 2018

Sisters Chung Kyung-wha and Myung-wha to leave PyeongChang Music Fest after the Olympics

PyeongChang Music Festival’s two artistic directors Chung Kyung-wha and Chung Myung-wha will leave their posts after the PyeongChang Olympics.At a press conference in Seoul to promote the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Music Festival, violinist Chung Kyung-wha and cellist Chung Myung-wha said that they would wrap up their seven-year journey with the music festival.“Though I leave the music festival after the Olympic Games, I will continue to perform for the betterment and improvement of Korea’s cla

PerformanceJan. 24, 2018