EXO’s Suho to play lead role in remake of Japanese drama ‘Rich Man, Poor Woman’

Suho of EXO will play the lead role in a remake of the 2012 Japanese drama “Rich Man, Poor Woman,” his agency S.M. Entertainment said Friday. It will mark the singer-actor’s return to the small screen in 10 months since he appeared on the MBC drama “The Universe’s Star” in January. Starring Shun Oguri and Satomi Ishihara, the original Japanese drama tells the love story of a young IT entrepreneur and a college girl who has trouble finding a job though she went to the prestigious Tokyo University

TelevisionNov. 17, 2017

[Weekender] Good old radio receivers are back

With mobile devices offering radio service through apps, radio receivers were thought to be machines of the past. Some “listeners,” however, still tune in to the receivers as of a way to connect with the past. Hwanghak-dong Market, located in the heart of Seoul, is a place that takes visitors straight back to the 1970s. The market, filled with old sewing machines, cameras and LP players, seems to be indifferent to the passing of time. At the market, radio receivers are enjoying their second heyd

CultureNov. 17, 2017

[Weekender] Listen to your favorite book this autumn

Yoo Jong-ho, 24, listens to podcasts every morning in the subway. The college student, who spends five hours each day commuting to school, said listening to book podcasts was the best way to pass the time productively.Since podcasts began in 2005, book podcasts have emerged as a powerful social platform for avid readers to gather and share their thoughts on books. The form or duration may vary, but the content of most book podcasts focuses on book-related reviews, news, commentary and discussion

CultureNov. 17, 2017

Singer Rain to unveil new duet next week

Singer Rain will release his new song "Let's Break Up Today," which he sang in a duet with a female singer, next Friday, his management company said.The sad ballad song about a man who wants to end a relationship with his old lover will be included on the upcoming EP album "My Life Love" to come out on Dec. 1, according to the Rain Company Friday.Rain is scheduled to hold a concert titled "2017 Rain Is Back" to mark his comeback at KBS Hall in Seoul's Yeouido on Tuesday. The taped show will be a

PerformanceNov. 17, 2017

After peppy ‘Red,’ Red Velvet delves into woozy ‘Velvet’

If the summer was all fruity and vivacious with the taste of “red,” the year-end will have a toned-down woozy “velvet” vibe, presented by reigning K-pop girl group Red Velvet.After dominating the airwaves with its vibrant seasonal romance “Red Flavor,” Red Velvet returned with “Perfect Velvet,” the five-piece group’s second full-length album fronted by the lead track “Peek-A-Boo.” “After the ‘Red Flavor’ success, we felt burdened. But still, we tried to return with more perfection with ‘Perfect

PerformanceNov. 16, 2017

Design Week in Daegu 2017 kicks off

The fifth annual Design Week in Daegu kicked off Thursday at Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center and will run until Sunday, organizers said. Co-hosted by the Daegu Metropolitan Government and Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center, Design Week in Daegu 2017 will proceed under the theme of “Innovation, Caring and Empathy through Design.” (Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center)With Daegu as the key setting, this year’s event will showcase a “universal design” for everyone that can essentially be applied to five scenario

Arts & DesignNov. 16, 2017

'Steel Rain' takes 'cool-headed' view on inter-Korean relations, says director

The director of the new action blockbuster "Steel Rain" said on Wednesday he wanted to raise the need to take a "cool-headed" look at inter-Korean relations through his new action movie."North Korea is a country of the same tribe but clearly is our enemy at the same time, which makes it difficult for us to look at inter-Korean relations in a cool-headed manner," Yang Woo-suk said during a news conference for the forthcoming film. "We can find a solution when we look more cool-headedly at the rel

FilmNov. 16, 2017

Stars shine in black at Asian awards in Seoul

The color black is always a safe and cool choice for any occasion. While it has been common for the men to wear black suits to awards ceremonies, female stars have typically chosen more colorful dresses, nixing looks that could be too serious or gloomy. Some powerful women at the 2017 Asia Artist Awards, however, chose black and lightened the scene with bold jewelry and fancy details. Suzy (Herald DB)Singer and actress Suzy chose a simple black dress. To perfect the style, she wore a ring and ma

Arts & DesignNov. 16, 2017

[Herald Interview] Jung Yong-hwa on travelers’ romance and reality

In Korea, the country with the longest working hours among OECD nations, traveling abroad and escaping the everyday holds a special meaning. And this was the idea behind the JTBC drama series “The Package,” which began airing last month. K-pop singer-turned-actor Jung Yong-hwa plays the lead San Ma-roo, a tired Korean youth who feels as if he’s lagging behind in life: San went to university, completed his military service and got a steady job several years later than his peers. Abandoned by his

TelevisionNov. 16, 2017

EXO, Kim Hee-sun win big at 2017 Asia Artist Awards

K-pop boy band EXO and actress Kim Hee-sun scooped up the grand prizes for best singer and best actor, respectively, at the 2017 Asia Artist Awards on Wednesday at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul. EXO took home four trophies at this year’s AAA. In addition to winning the grand prize for the second consecutive year, the group also received the Fabulous Award and Popular Award. Its member D.O., also known as Do Kyung-soo, won the Popular Award as an actor.  K-pop boy band EXO poses during a red carpet e

PerformanceNov. 16, 2017

Lee Min-ho, Suzy confirm breakup

Top star couple Lee Min-ho and Suzy have broken up after being together for about three years.JYP Entertainment, which represents Suzy, confirmed a media report of their recent breakup. The agency, however, declined to reveal the details of the breakup citing privacy issues. Lee’s agency MYM Entertainment also confirmed the breakup.  (Herald DB)Suzy and Lee went public with their relationship in March 2015 after photos of the two spending time in London together surfaced. Rumors about a breakup

TelevisionNov. 16, 2017

[Album review] Time for EXID to push beyond boundaries

EXID“Full Moon”Sony MusicEXID has its specialty in seesawing along the line between bass heavy and melodic sophistication. Except for its groovy pop ballads, most of the group’s work, such as “Up & Down” and “Ah Yeah,” has centered on beat-laden electro pop, usually composed of LE’s fierce rapping and the vocalists’ climatic chorus that tempers down the overall “badassedness” of the song. K-pop fans may have dug such formula in the past, turning EXID into one of the most distinctive acts in the

PerformanceNov. 16, 2017

Taeyeon to return with Christmas record, concert in December

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation will give fans a special gift, a Christmas album slated for release next month. According to the singer’s label S.M. Entertainment, Taeyeon has already finished recording the songs and is in the process of shooting the accompanying music video.  A poster for Taeyeon‘s upcoming Christmas concert (S.M. Entertainment)Fully getting into the Christmas spirit, Taeyeon will also hold her solo Christmas concert “The Magic of Christmas Time” at the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung H

PerformanceNov. 16, 2017

Da Vinci sells for $450mn in auction record: Christie's

NEW YORK  - A 500-year-old work of art -- believed to be by Leonardo da Vinci and depicting Jesus Christ -- sold in New York on Wednesday for $450.3 million, smashing a new art auction record, Christie‘s said.The whopping price dwarfed the previous record for the most expensive piece of art sold at auction, set at $179.4 million for Pablo Picasso’s “The Women of Algiers (Version O)” by Christie‘s in 2015.The auction house says “Salvator Mundi” or “Savior of the World” is one of fewer than 20 Da

Arts & DesignNov. 16, 2017

Twice to be featured in NHK’s ‘Kohaku’: reports

K-pop group Twice will appear on Japanese broadcaster NHK’s annual “Year-end Song Festival,” also known as “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”Japanese media outlets including Nikkan Sports reported Wednesday that the K-pop group had decided to appear on “Kohaku” and NHK would make an official announcement Thursday. It will mark the first appearance of a K-pop group on the Japanese year-end show in six years. In 2011, Kara, Girls’ Generation and TVXQ were featured in the special.  K-pop group Twice (JYP Enterta

PerformanceNov. 15, 2017

Mnet to broadcast AMA live

Korean fans will get to see BTS’ US debut performance live at the 45th edition of the American Music Awards. Cable channel Mnet will broadcast the AMA show scheduled to take place at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. Monday (Korea Standard Time). It marks the first time a Korean broadcaster is carrying the show live.  Logo for American Music AwardsMnet has been broadcasting the Grammy Awards live for 17 years.Pop music critic Lim Jin-mo, who has hosted the broadcaster’s live broadcast

PerformanceNov. 15, 2017

S.M.’s Lee Soo-man, CJ’s Jeong Tae-sung among Variety’s 500 most powerful entertainment leaders

Lee Soo-man, founder and head producer of K-pop behemoth S.M. Entertainment, and CJ E&M Pictures CEO Jeong Tae-sung were selected among the top 500 most influential business leaders in the international entertainment industry by Variety on Wednesday. 　The two names are included in the annual “Variety 500” index, which lists the most influential business leaders in the global entertainment scene, reflecting their accomplishments over the past 12 months. 　Lee and Jeong are included in the “Oversea

PeopleNov. 15, 2017

‘Radio Star,’ ‘I Live Alone’ resume as strike at MBC ends

Public broadcaster MBC resumed airing variety programs Wednesday as a two-month strike came to an end.Unionized workers at the major terrestrial network decided to end the strike, which began in September, following the removal of MBC’s President Kim Jang-kyom on Tuesday.　The Foundation for Broadcast Culture, a majority stakeholder in MBC, passed a motion to dismiss Kim, citing overt political bias in programming.　Programming for most shows will return to normal this week at MBC, which aired rer

TelevisionNov. 15, 2017

[Video] Police release black box footage from late actor's car

Gangnam Police Station on Tuesday released black box footage from actor Kim Joo-hyuk’s car showing the moments leading up to the crash that killed him.　The police discovered the black box beneath the passenger seat of Kim’s Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. The video shows Kim’s car suddenly slowing, then steering erratically. It hits another car while attempting to change lanes, before suddenly veering off the road, across the sidewalk and into a building. 　The video has no audio recording, lending little

FilmNov. 15, 2017

Infused with new blood, Lovelyz offers early Christmas vibe with new EP

K-pop sweethearts Lovelyz’s music has been a remedy for those craving some sonic sweetness. And “Twinkle,” the lead song from the eight-piece group’s new third EP, offers K-pop fans another sugary treat to indulge in this winter. What is notable about the latest album “Fall In Lovelyz,” out Tuesday, is that the girls took their first attempt at electro dance pop with “Twinkle.” The group’s tonal transition, shifting from its signature bubblegum sound to powerful dance-driven pop, came after its

PerformanceNov. 14, 2017