Veteran singer Lee Seung-chul produces documentary on war veterans

Veteran singer Lee Seung-chul is creating a documentary highlighting the life of war veterans of the Korean War in collaboration with public broadcaster KBS, the singer said."There are so many countries in the world that joined the Korean War that we don't know of. I feel sorry for the fact that there are only a few left alive and they are being forgotten," Lee told Yonhap News Agency in a recent interview.It was around 2010 when he met a French war veteran at an event organized by the Ministry

FilmNov. 13, 2017

Lotte Duty Free taps BTS as new model

Lotte Duty Free, South Korea's top duty-free operator, said Monday it has tapped K-pop boy band BTS as its new model, as local retailers aim to attract more foreign customers amid a normalization of ties between Seoul and Beijing over a US missile defense system.Including BTS, Lotte Duty Free has 58 K-pop celebrities, including actor Lee Min-ho and K-pop girl group Twice, as its model, according to the company.  (Lotte Duty Free)The duty-free operator's move to expand its presence in the global

PerformanceNov. 13, 2017

Shawn Mendes wins best artist at MTV Europe Music Awards

LONDON (AFP) - Canadian teen singer Shawn Mendes on Sunday won best artist and best song at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) in London, pipping heavyweight competitors such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Ed Sheeran.The awards ceremony at Wembley Arena, the first to be staged in the British capital in 20 years, were hosted by Rita Ora and featured performances by U2 and David Guetta.In a first for the EMAs, which were created in 1994, MTV announced categories stripped of gender in a bid to “br

PerformanceNov. 13, 2017

B1A4’s Gongchan apologizes for remarks regarding fans, bank account

B1A4’s Gongchan has apologized for his recent remarks regarding fans and VIXX member Hongbin’s bank account on Twitter. On Sunday, while talking to his close friend Hongbin of VIXX, Gongchan wrote on Twitter, “Fans want your bank account number. Try putting it on here for 0.5 seconds. Let’s leave fans (to) decide our travel and hotels here.” Gongchan of B1A4 (WM Entertainment)　His words caused a stir on social media. After netizens criticized Gongchan for his alleged intention to use fans’ money

PerformanceNov. 12, 2017

Song couple receives gold bracelets from Wong Kar-wai

A Hong Kong film director gave gold bracelets as a wedding gift to Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. Korean media outlet Sports Seoul reported Sunday that Wong Kar-wai, a celebrated filmmaker from Hong Kong, had sent the gift to the couple, citing an official from the Chinese film industry.  (Online Community)The couple, who both starred in the popular series “Descendants of the Sun,” tied the knot on Oct. 31 in Seoul. According to the report, Wong gave the bracelets to the couple through his prod

FilmNov. 12, 2017

Block B to hold 1st solo concert in nearly 2 years

Boy band Block B will celebrate its recent release of the new EP “Montage” with a solo concert in Seoul.According to its agency Seven Seasons, the K-pop act will hold concerts on Jan. 27 and 28 at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The concerts will be titled “Block B Blockbuster ‘Montage,’” and will be its first solo concerts in about 21 months. A teaser image for Block B’s concert in January (Seven Seasons)The group’s agency on Sunday revealed the news along with a teaser image of the

PerformanceNov. 12, 2017

Twice riding high without a hitch

In the volatile world of K-pop, hundreds of acts rise and fade into obscurity each year. For every successful TVXQ and Girls’ Generation, there have been other groups like The Grace and M.I.L.K. Since entering the music scene two years ago, JYP Entertainment’s newest heavyweight Twice has stood tall and broken records with hits. The nine-piece group on Saturday once again topped the brand reputation chart based on monthly research by the Korea Reputation Center. Based on big data related to cert

PerformanceNov. 12, 2017

[Eye Plus] A feast of colors -- autumn in Seoul

Seoul is generally known as a high-tech city filled with tall buildings and high-rise apartments. But once a year, though not for long, the modern city transforms into a city of colors.  (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)This week seems to be the peak of the nation’s favorite season -- fall.  (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)From the top of Namsan to Jamsil in the southeastern part of the city, urban districts have turned into places to celebrate the harvest season. Streets are de

TravelNov. 12, 2017

Hyun Bin, Yoo Ji-tae make tense team in ‘Swindlers’

A press screening of the upcoming crime thriller “The Swindlers,” starring Hyun Bin and Yoo Ji-tae, took place Friday in Seoul.　Yoo stars as ambitious and ruthless prosecutor Park Hee-soo, who teams up with a gang of scammers to catch another renowned scam artist. It is yet another character chasing justice at any price that Yoo has taken. He currently stars as a hotheaded policeman-turned-insurance investigator willing to go to any lengths to find justice in the drama series “Mad Dog.” 　Yoo Ji-

FilmNov. 10, 2017

Palate-zinging Japanese tapas at Romantei

Ikazaya, essentially Japanese tapas bars, are a longstanding fixture of Seoul’s dining scene, a popular option for those who want a second round of nibbles and tipples on a jovial evening out. While many successful izakaya have built up a reputation on more traditional eats like yakitori and platters of beautifully arranged sashimi moriawase, Romantei is rapidly building a buzz with its unconventional compilation of palate-zinging bites. “We use an eclectic range of ingredients,” said co-owner H

FoodNov. 10, 2017

[Weekender] Trevari CEO offers ways to make reading yours

Trevari is different from most people’s idea of a conventional book club. Instead of a single group of people who enjoy books, Trevari does things on a much bigger scale. The company does all the “annoying administration” of running and managing 111 separate reading groups so people can just enjoy being members. “For a regular meeting to occur with a group of people, it is important that someone manages the schedule and reminds members of the topics. And a lot of people don’t realize that it is

CultureNov. 10, 2017

Victorian-style greenhouse in Changgyeonggung reopens

A greenhouse called “Daeonsil” at Changgyeonggung reopened to the public Friday after a 15-month makeover. (Cultural Heritage Administartion)A greenhouse called “Daeonsil” at Changgyeonggung reopened to the public Friday after a 15-month makeover. Daeonsil was built in 1907 as the first modern Western-style greenhouse of its kind in the nation. Its elegant glass structure is indicative of the then-popular Victorian style represented by the likes of the Crystal Palace, which housed expositions ac

CultureNov. 10, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Happy hour promotion at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s The Timber House is offering a happy hour course menu priced at 59,000 won per person. It features Japanese appetizers, izakaya dishes and shellfish noodles, with unlimited sake and Japanese beers daily from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 31.The course meal includes seasoned ark shells with a wasabi dressing, shrimps and caviar cooked with katsuo broth, tamagoyaki with cream and shrimps and bacon-wrapped asparagus with teriyaki sauce. Oth

FoodNov. 10, 2017

[Herald Interview] ‘Serve guests like family’

Millennium Seoul Hilton’s new director of sales and marketing, Tom Wang, fit almost too smoothly into his job upon arriving here this summer. “I felt totally at home at this hotel after arriving in Korea from Singapore, where I began my career over two decades ago,” Wang told The Korea Herald in an interview. The Singapore native described the five-star executive hotel in the heart of Seoul as his new “home away from home,” highlighting that the staff have “a sense of belonging and ownership.” T

TravelNov. 10, 2017

Son Ye-jin to meet fans at romance film exhibition

Son Ye-jin will be meeting movie fans at a special exhibition of popular Korean romance movies taking place until Nov. 15. 　The actress will be hosting an open talk at the Lotte Cinema World Tower on Nov. 15. 　Six films -- “A Moment to Remember” (2004), “The Classic” (2003), starring actress Son, “Bungee Jumping of Their Own” (2001), “Man In Love” (2014), “Architecture 101” (2012) and “The Beauty Inside” (2015) -- are being screened at Lotte Cinema theaters throughout the country as part of the

FilmNov. 10, 2017

Super Junior to hold ‘Super Show 7’ next month

K-pop boy band Super Junior will hold its signature concert series “Super Show 7” on Dec. 16 and 17 at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul.It will be the group’s first concert in two years and five months since it wrapped up the encore concerts for “Super Junior World Tour Super Show 6” in July 2015. The members of the K-pop group also participated in the concert planning, the group’s agency S.M. Entertainment said. Ticket sales for the December concerts will open at 8 p.m. on Nov. 21 at ticket.yes24.com.

PerformanceNov. 10, 2017

Sooyoung of Girls' Generation signs with Daniel Henney's agency

Singer and actress Choi Soo-young, better known by her stage name Sooyoung from Girls' Generation, has found a new agency after leaving S.M. Entertainment last month.Echo Global Group, which manages, among others, Daniel Henney of "Criminal Minds," announced Friday it has signed a contract with the idol-turned-actress. The company said it won't spare any efforts to support her so that she can keep growing as an actor and a singer.Last month, she let her contract with the K-pop powerhouse lapse,

PerformanceNov. 10, 2017

Fantasy film 'Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds' pre-sold to 103 nations

Korean film "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds" has been pre-sold to 90 countries at a recent film market in the U.S., bringing the total number of countries where it will be screened to 103, its local distributor said Thursday.Lotte Entertainment said the fantasy drama was pre-sold to 13 Asian countries during this year's Asian Film Market held last month in the southern port city of Busan. On top of it, the film was sold to 90 nations at the American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, Califo

FilmNov. 10, 2017

Victon celebrates 1 year anniversary with EP

Victon is sending a thank-you message to fans, who stuck with the group through thick and thin, with the release of its fourth EP “From. VICTON” on Thursday.The boy band was to release the record at 6 p.m. in celebration of the one-year anniversary of its debut.“The record carries a message of gratitude toward fans, who have shown unwavering love (toward the group),” the group’s agency Plan A Entertainment said. The teaser for the music video of “Remember Me.” / Plan A EntertainmentThe lead trac

PerformanceNov. 9, 2017

Yoon Eun-hye to begin activities in Korea after long hiatus

After a long hiatus in Korea, Singer-turned-actress Yoon Eun-hye will begin promotions for tvN’s variety show “Dear Pet, We Need to Talk,” according to the program staff.According to tvN Thursday, Yoon will feature in the cable channel’s program that shows the ordinary lives of celebrities with their pets, with a focus on how they communicate and bond with each other. The program will start featuring the actress from Nov. 15. Yoon Eun-hye (Herald DB)The program will mark Yoon’s first local varie

TelevisionNov. 9, 2017