Fly to the Sky to return next month

K-pop stars Hwanhee and Brian Joo will reunite as Fly to the Sky once again as the duo is set to release a new album in November, its agency said Monday. The new album will be the duo’s first work together since releasing EP “Love & Hate” in September of 2015.  (H2media)According to H2media, the group will follow up with a concert at the end of the year. The two members have focused on their solo careers during the past two years, with Hwanhee recently holding his concert “The Original” in Seoul

PerformanceOct. 2, 2017

Seoul palaces fall short of translators

Historic palaces in Seoul, one of the core tourism sites in the capital city, are seriously lacking in the number of staff in charge of interpretation. Only 12 staff were able to offer foreign language services at Gyeongbokgung, where more than 2.8 million tourists visited in 2016, Cultural Heritage Administration data released Monday indicated.  Gyeongbokgung (Yonhap)Changdeokgung, where 532,000 people stopped by in the same year, had 16 staff. Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung, with roughly 278,0

TravelOct. 2, 2017

[Next Wave] Without gimmicks, ‘Show Me The Money’ finalist Nucksal pursues warm, encouraging hip-hop

Only a decade ago Nucksal, the runner-up of the sixth season of Mnet’s hip-hop audition program “Show Me The Money,” was just an ordinary young man spending most of his time in his ever-changing part-time jobs. But the rapper said there’s always been a flash of light that brightened up his insipid life: Scribbling down hip-hop lyrics and practicing rapping whenever and wherever he was.   Rapper Nucksal poses during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Her

PerformanceOct. 2, 2017

Wanna One member will not miss event despite injury: agency

Despite the minor injury that spooked K-pop fans on Saturday, it will be business as usual for Wanna One’s teenage heartthrob Lee Dae-hwi.The K-pop boyband’s agency released a statement on Sunday saying that Lee’s year injury at the 2017 Fever Festival in Seoul the day before was nothing major, and that he will not miss any Wanna One-related events because of it. Lee Dae-hwi (right) poses at the 2017 Soribada Best K-Music Awards in Seoul on Sept.20 with his bandmates Ong Seong-wo (left) and Park

PerformanceOct. 1, 2017

Budokahn concert marks finale for FT Island’s Japan tour

K-pop band FT Island wrapped up its Japan tour Friday with a concert at the famed Budokan arena in Tokyo. As part of the last stage of its “FT Island Autumn Tour 2017 - Here is Paradise” tour, the five-piece band performed its hits from the past and present. The set list included its single “Paradise” released in Japan as well as songs like “Champagne,” “I Want” and “Night” from “Over 10 Years,” an album released in Korea to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the band’s debut. Lee Hong-ki, voca

PerformanceOct. 1, 2017

[Movie Review] 'The Fortress' depicts defeated king and aides facing tough choices, existential threat

Mount Namhan Fortress on the outskirts of Seoul harbors one of the most shameful memories in Korea's history. In the winter of 1636, King Injo of Joseon Dynasty sought refuge inside the bulwark fleeing an invasion by the Qing Dynasty.     "The Fortress," a new film released Tuesday, illuminates the embattled king's 47 days of hiding which ended in a humiliating surrender to a conquering Chinese general.   Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuck and adapted from a best-selling novel, the movie is not simply

FilmSept. 29, 2017

[Herald Interview] Imagining hanbok as everyday wear

Hanbok designer Damyeon Lee Hye-soon made headlines a few years ago when it became known that a restaurant at a five-star Seoul hotel had refused to let her in on grounds that her hanbok posed a danger to herself and fellow diners. Apparently, the restaurant was concerned that someone might trip over Lee’s skirt.That episode brought to light the prejudices that many Koreans harbor about hanbok and how poorly we treat our own traditional clothing.  Hanbok designer Damyeon Lee Hye-soon speaks at h

Arts & DesignSept. 29, 2017

[Weekender] Hop on the subway to delve into K-pop, nature and history

With a long Chuseok holiday starting this Saturday, it’s almost certain that roads and highways will be jam-packed with honking cars. Rather than stress out sitting in crawling traffic, there is another option for a getaway: Hop on the subway, roam around Seoul and visit places you’ve never been. For your convenience, The Korea Herald has sorted Seoul attractions that are reachable by subway.K-pop hot spots  K-Live (Korea Tourism Organization)For fans of K-pop, there are spots around Seoul where

CultureSept. 29, 2017

[Video] Learning to wear hanbok with confidence

What would it be like to wear hanbok to work every day? Sitting across from hanbok designer Damyeon Lee Hye-soon at lunch earlier this month, my curiosity was piqued. I had seen her in hanbok on the streets of Mumbai, the crisp hanbok standing out among the sea of sari. I had seen photos of her on a bridge in Paris, her skirt swaying with the breeze. Wearing hanbok to work for a week required more confidence than anything else. (Hanbok courtesy of Damyeon)　Over lunch that day, we cooked up a pro

Arts & DesignSept. 29, 2017

[Eye Plus] Pansori, palace and autumn breeze under moonlight

In contrast to the city skyline that lights up the heart of Seoul, the beauty of Joseon-era architecture is revealed at royal palaces, offering magical night views of the centuries-old landscape. And Pansori, traditional Korean music, flows through the crisp autumn night, the best season to enjoy the picturesque royal palaces of the Joseon dynasty. Four royal palaces in Seoul, from Gyeongbokgung to Changgyeonggung, are open to the public also at night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with various cultura

TravelSept. 29, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Discount for foreign visitors at Coex Aquarium Coex Aquarium is offering ticket discount for foreigners in celebration of the upcoming Chuseok holiday.Foreign visitors who present the promotional image of the special discount event posted on the aquarium’s website (www.coexaqua.com/index_eng.asp) or SNS pages can receive a 20 percent discount. The discounted prices are 22,500 won for 19 and above, 20,000 for those aged 13-18, and 17,500 for children. The event is held Sept. 29 to Oct. 9. Passpor

TravelSept. 29, 2017

[Weekender] Holiday getaway near metropolis

The long holiday is an opportune time to take leave of the mundane city life for an exciting getaway. The problem is that everyone else thinks so too, and getting transportation or accommodation for a trip can be near impossible. Majority of the Korean population is expected to move during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which will be 10 days long including the weekends, and nobody likes being stuck in traffic for 10 hours.For those residing in Seoul, finding things to do within a stone’s throw fr

CultureSept. 29, 2017

[Weekender] Alone on Chuseok holiday?

Koreans this year will enjoy the longest Chuseok holiday ever, stretching from Sept. 30 until Oct. 9 for many people. And many young Koreans are opting to spend at least a portion of the mini-vacation alone, surveys show. Six out of 10 twenty-somethings said they will be spending the holiday alone, according a survey of 1,190 people conducted by part-time job listing portal site Alba Chunkuk Tuesday. The reasons behind the solo-holiday were part-time jobs at 27.2 percent and the stress of relati

CultureSept. 29, 2017

Twitter to live-stream KBS’ ‘Music Bank’ worldwide

K-pop fans all over the globe will be able to enjoy KBS’ music program “Music Bank,” featuring onstage performances by Korea’s pop stars, live through Twitter’s live-streaming service starting mid-October, according to Twitter. A poster shows Twitter‘s upcoming livestream service for K-pop World Festival 2017 that will be held on Friday at Changwon Sports Complex Stadium. (Twitter)Twitter said Thursday that it will provide live-streaming services both on KBS.twitter.com and its Twitter account @

PerformanceSept. 29, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (UK)Opened Sept. 27Action, adventure. Directed by Matthew VaughnThe headquarters of Kingsman, hidden inside a tailors shop, has been destroyed and the fate of the planet is at risk once more. Eggsy (Taron Egerton), now a full agent with a year of experience under his belt, and Merlin (Mark Strong) follow the Doomsday protocol and seek the help of Kingsman’s American counterpart Statesman, located in a Bourbon whiskey distillery in Kentucky. The elite agents from both

FilmSept. 29, 2017

Russian visitors say soju is like ‘water’ on travel reality show

“Welcome! First Time in Korea?” the travel reality show featuring foreign visitors in Korea starred a quartet of Russian friends in its Thursday episode.The episode featured Russian-Korean social media personality Svetlana Yoo and her three Russian friends Regina, Elena and Anastasia in Korea.　 “Welcome! First Time in Korea?” (MBC every1)The girls, in their 20s, planned out their travel around shopping for cutesy items and visiting animal cafes around Seoul. 　Upon their arrival in Korea, Yoo’s t

TelevisionSept. 29, 2017

Kim Soo-hyun to enlist on Oct. 23

Actor Kim Soo-hyun will enlist on Oct. 23, his agency said Thursday.“Since (Kim) is just fulfilling his duties as a Korean citizen, he wishes to enlist quietly without a fan event or a press conference,” Keyeast Entertainment said in a press release. (CJ E&M)All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for around two years, with some being allowed to serve in non-combat positions.While he had originally pledged to enlist this year, there has been speculation that his plans ma

FilmSept. 28, 2017

[Album review] IU’s classics cover album lacks raw emotion

IU“A Flower Bookmark #2”Loen Entertainment Attempting to recreate the magic of classics, this 24-year-old songstress seems to be bent on proving that she isn‘t just an idolized K-pop singer. With her latest offering “A Flower Bookmark #2,” IU aims to present herself as a thoughtful musician whose heart belongs to the bygone decades.Maybe it’s her signature breathy and light vocals, but the cover album doesn’t quite bear the weight and complicated emotions of the originals.IU flaunts her crystal

PerformanceSept. 28, 2017

‘The Good Doctor,’ US remake of K-drama, kicks off to top ratings

“The Good Doctor,” the ABC remake of a Korean television series, got off to a good start in the US.The first episode of the show which aired Monday evening at 10 pm (Eastern Standard Time) topped ratings in its time slot. 　The show amassed a 2.4 percent viewership among viewers aged 18 to 49, meaning that some 1.18 million viewers tuned in, according to American ratings site TV By The Numbers. 　NBC’s “The Brave” and CBS’ “Scorpion” trailed behind at 1.3 and 1.0 percent, respectively.　In the US,

TelevisionSept. 28, 2017

[Newsmaker] Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner dies at 91

Playboy founder Hugh M. Hefner, the pipe-smoking hedonist who revved up the sexual revolution in the 1950s and built a multimedia empire of clubs, mansions, movies and television, symbolized by bow-tied women in bunny costumes, has died at age 91. Hefner died of natural causes at his home surrounded by family on Wednesday night, Playboy said in a statement.  This Oct.13, 2011 file photo shows American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises, Hugh Hefner at h

PeopleSept. 28, 2017