[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Birthday package at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CityThe Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel will celebrate its sixth anniversary by offering a package of accommodations and promotions at its Lobby Lounge Bar and Aequalis Spa from Sept. 1-30. The Happy Birthday Sheraton Package offers a stay in an executive, honeymoon, hospitality or presidential suite for an additional cost, access to the Sheraton Club Lounge with breakfast and a bottle of Andeluna 1300 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 wine. Guests receive Club L

FoodAug. 18, 2017

[Weekender] Unique ecosystem of Korean ‘night’

Booming music blasting from the speakers, flocks of people drenched in alcohol and excitement flailing about into the night; nightclubs are normally thought of as places for music-lovers and partygoers to cool off and let their troubles roll by.But the nightclub culture in Korea is divided into two main factions -- what locals call “night” and “clubs.”  (123rf)“Clubs” are basically the same as most nightclubs found around the world. They have a dance floor, a few tables and people socialize as t

CultureAug. 18, 2017

[Eye Plus] Lotus flower, miracle of unwavering purity

Nothing is more divine than this immaculate and pure flower. Gazing into its large colorful blossoms that rise high above broad green leaves, you’ll be drawn to their blithely beautiful figures, and even find yourself unburdened from worldly cares. The lotus, which comes to its beautiful full bloom in the summer, is a flower that defies logic. With its roots deep in the murky pool, the flower slowly emerges toward the surface and bursts out of the water to reveal its fragrant petals, bearing no

CultureAug. 18, 2017

[Weekender] Seoul and adventurous after-hours

It started out with cabarets and discotheques in the 1980s, when Korea saw an unprecedented economic boom. Seoul’s nightlife has been growing and thriving ever since, giving birth to a myriad of clubs with different themes.(D.Bridge)Back then, nightclubs were places for people to dance and performers to put on shows. Cabarets were home to the middle-aged, usually featuring a live band and bluesy tunes. Dubbed “colatheques,” some venues would offer upbeat music and a lively social atmosphere with

CultureAug. 18, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Cultural Night Walk in Jeonju Cultural Night Walk in Jeonju, a program selected by the Cultural Heritage Administration in a competition, offers visitors the chance to walk through hundreds of traditional Korean homes in Jeonju Hanok Village under the moonlight.Highlights include a moonlight photography competition, traditional music, Jeonju traditional opera, a shadow orchestra and night views of Jeonju.The event is being held until Sept. 13. For more information, visit www.jeonju-night.kr for

TravelAug. 18, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Mimic(Korea)Opened Aug. 17Mystery, thriller. Directed by Huh JungHee-yeon (Yeom Jung-ah) has left the city and moved to the mountainside, where she meets a mysterious young girl (Shin Rin-ah) ridden with fear and living in hiding in the forest. Hee-yeon‘s husband (Park Hyuk-kwon) grows suspicious of the stranger, who mimics the voice of their daughter. People in the town begin to disappear one by one following the girl’s appearance. War for the Planet of the Apes(US)Opened Aug. 15Science fic

FilmAug. 18, 2017

TVXQ will embark on 'press tour' in 3 Asian cities next week

K-pop duo TVXQ will meet with press in three Asian cities to announce the resumption of activities as Shim Chang-min, better known by his stage name Max Changmin, will be discharged from the military on Friday, its management agency said Thursday.(S.M. Entertainment)S.M. Entertainment said the duo will have a press conference in Seoul and Tokyo on Aug. 21 and in Hong Kong the next day.The other member, U-Know Yunho, finished his military duty in April."At the events, they will discuss plans for

PerformanceAug. 18, 2017

Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany may study in US

Tiffany of Girls’ Generation may head to the US for her studies, a local media outlet reported Thursday. Tiffany of Girls’ Generation (Herald DB)The report said the singer had recently decided to study acting in the US, quoting a source close to Tiffany who said the singer has already told her close friends about the plan and they are supporting her decision. Following the report, Tiffany’s agency S.M. Entertainment commented on the matter later in the day, saying “We are discussing things relat

PerformanceAug. 17, 2017

Highly politicized state of the seas

Homer may have waxed poetic about “sailing over the dark-wine sea” of the Aegean, but the sea in recent years has become a scene of great human suffering and tragedy.“Gridded Currents,” a group exhibition curated by Kim Hyun-jin which closes Sunday at Kukje Gallery, washes away long-held romantic notions of the sea. In its place is a sea that is highly politicized, a recurring narrative throughout the exhibition. It is a sea that is divided into grids to be conquered, a sea of imperialist ambiti

Arts & DesignAug. 17, 2017

[Herald Review] ‘V.I.P’ shows an intensely pessimistic, trite world

Director Park Hoon-jung rose to acclaim in Korea for depicting the dark, jaded world of men in his 2013 crime flick “New World.” The film’s production company, called Sanai Pictures (“sanai” literally meaning “men” in Korean) has gone on to produce a number of movies tracing the lives of angst-ridden men in the Korean justice system and criminal underworld. One such film is director Kim Sung-soo’s “The City Of Madness,” a bloodstained feature about a corrupt cop, a corrupt mayor, and a corrupt p

FilmAug. 17, 2017

Seoul Drama Awards sees no Chinese shows this year, numerous crime series

Chinese shows are absent from the eclectic selection of global drama series that have been nominated for this year’s Seoul International Drama Awards.It is the first time that Chinese shows are not being considered for the awards since its inception in 2006.“Although cultural exchange with China has become more difficult, a record number of shows from around the globe have been submitted,” said Kim Hye-song, secretary-general of the awards organization, at a press conference in Seoul Thursday.“W

TelevisionAug. 17, 2017

Maestro Chung Myung-whun holds on to the dream of oneness

Bringing people together with music is maestro Chung Myung-whun’s lifetime calling, a calling he has answered this time with One Korea Orchestra, formed specifically for two concerts marking the first anniversary of Lotte Concert Hall on Friday and Saturday.Maestro Chung Myung-whun rehearses with One Korea at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Chung conceived the idea for One Korea Orchestra in 2013 with the goal of musicians from both South and North Korea per

PerformanceAug. 17, 2017

TVXQ’s Changmin, Super Junior’s Siwon to be discharged from military Friday

Changmin of TVXQ and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged from the military Friday. The two singers enlisted in the military on Nov. 19, 2015 and served as police officers at the Seoul Police Agency’s department of public relations. Changmin of TVXQ (left), Donghae and Siwon of Super Junior (Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Instagram)Following Changmin’s discharge, TVXQ will embark on the TVXQ! Asia Press Tour in Seoul on Monday. The duo will visit three Asian cities to meet the press and

PerformanceAug. 17, 2017

Girls' Generation under talks to extend contract with S.M.

K-pop group Girls' Generation is in negotiations with S.M. Entertainment on extending their contract, sources said Wednesday.According to the sources, most of the eight members recently extended exclusive contracts with the South Korean agency, with remaining members also positively reviewing the deal. Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting in 2007 with "Into the New World," Girls' Generation has become one of the major K-pop girl groups with multiple hits including "Gee," "Genie" and "I

PerformanceAug. 16, 2017

Ariana Grande knocked for attitude problem after Seoul concert

The “Dangerous Woman” songstress’s first performance in Seoul would have been perfect, if the singer didn’t leave fans disappointed and upset at what they referred to as her “disrespectful” attitude. Despite pouring rain, some 20,000 people flocked to Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, which was also Korean National Liberation Day, to see the American pop star who won hearts around the world by returning to the stage just three weeks after a suicide bomber attacked her concert in Manchester i

PerformanceAug. 16, 2017

Taeyang returns solo with ‘White Night,’ but roots remain with Big Bang

From “Hot” and “Solar” to “Rise,” the past album titles of Big Bang’s Taeyang describe the singer himself. Taeyang, whose stage name means “Sun” in Korean, returned with his third full-length solo album “White Night” on Wednesday, more than three years after his second full-length album “Rise” in 2014.(YG Entertainment)“I came up with the new album’s concept when I was working on my previous album ‘Rise.’ I didn’t want the sun to go down after it rose, and the image of ‘white night,’ a natural p

PerformanceAug. 16, 2017

Reality television branches out to celebrities’ families

On Sunday evening show “My Ugly Duckling,” Kim Gun-mo crouches down on his kitchen floor to make kimchi. His mother watches through a screen in a broadcasting studio. Like any parent, she is full of affectionate criticism for her son, chastising the veteran singer as if he were still a young boy. On SBS’ “Single Wife,” another reality program that kicked off this month, comedian Park Myung-soo’s wife Han Soo-min embarks on her first backpacking trip to Thailand. Enjoying an escape from her life

TelevisionAug. 16, 2017

‘Nut Job 2’ to hit Korean theaters in October

The animation film “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature,” which was financed by a Korean company, will be hitting local theaters on Oct. 3.The film was co-produced by Canada-based ToonBox Entertainment and Korean production company Redrover. It is currently screening at over 4,000 theaters in North America.The film is also set to screen in South America, the UK and Russia. Directed by Cal Brunker and written by Brunker, Bob Barlen and Scott Bindley, the film centers on the story of a squirrel named S

FilmAug. 16, 2017

Hyeri, Ryu Jun-yeol confirm romance

Hyeri of Girl’s Day and actor Ryu Jun-yeol, the leads in popular tvN drama “Reply 1988,” confirmed Wednesday they are engaged in a romantic relationship. A local media outlet reported earlier in the day the two stars had started dating by the end of last year after starring in the show together. The report also released photos of the two spotted during three secret meetings.  Hyeri (left) and Ryu Jun-yeol star in "Reply 1988." (tvN)Hyeri and Ryu’s agencies were quick to confirm the report.“Hyeri

TelevisionAug. 16, 2017

Girls’ Generation tops Billboard world chart

Girls’ Generation is picking up right where it left off, topping charts with “Holiday Night.”The sixth studio album by the K-pop act took the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s world albums chart as of Wednesday, a little over 10 days after it was released on Aug. 4.  Girls' Generation (S.M. Entertainment)The album, which features the tracks “Holiday” and “All Night,” took the top spot on the iTunes album charts of 19 countries at one point. (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)

PerformanceAug. 16, 2017