Healthy-ish grain bowl and other new eats at Bimbom’s second outlet

In a residential area of Seongsu-dong rapidly morphing into a clutch of eateries and cafes, Bimbom owners Sim Ka-young and Kim Tae-kyung found a second home for their famous brunch-friendly eats. “We came here by chance and had that feeling right away,” said co-owner and designer Kim, 43. “It felt like the neighborhood I grew up in.”  Bimbom’s Seoul Forest outlet serves up new additions like “eggnolia” -- a pesto quinoa and barley grain bowl topped with pickled red beets, avocado and a poached e

FoodJuly 28, 2017

Around the Hotels

Champagne, sparkling wine at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Lounge at Park Hyatt Seoul, offering a panoramic view of the city from the 24th floor, has a promotion of champagne and sparkling wine at discount prices.Two types of champagne -- Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque and Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut -- and nine types of sparkling wine -- including Fantini Gran Cuvee Rose Swarovski and Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rustico -- are available along with snacks. One glass costs 24,000 won or a bottle is 61,00

FoodJuly 28, 2017

JJ Project unveils teaser before comeback

JJ Project, a subunit duo of South Korean musicians JB and JinYoung of GOT7, released their music video teaser “Tomorrow, Today” and some parts of its melody on Friday. JYP Entertainment unveiled the song via YouTube, Naver TV and Kakao TV as part of JJ Project’s new album “Verse 2,” attracting the attention of K-pop fans. In the grayscale short clip, a white car drives through a forest for about 20 seconds. The new song is expected to draw excitement among the fans, as they have waited for five

PerformanceJuly 28, 2017

[Travel Bits] Sights, festivals 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 houses 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

TravelJuly 28, 2017

[Eye Plus] Kimchikan, a kimchi museum that comes to life

Nestled in the heart of Insa-dong, Kimchikan offers Koreans and tourists alike a deep dive into the world of Korea‘s most famous food.The museum is run by food company Pulmuone, which makes and sells kimchi. It has been operating since 1986, but has been at its current location since just 2015. When it moved from its previous location at Coex to Insa-dong, the museum received a major face-lift. Instead of the traditional museum style of showing kimchi-related artifacts behind glass, Kimchikan ma

CultureJuly 28, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Battleship Island(Korea)Opened July 26Drama, action. Directed by Ryoo Seung-wanDeep in the dark, damp underground tunnels of Hashima Island, hundreds of Korean laborers are forced to mine for coal in deadly conditions by the Japanese. A motley crew of Koreans find themselves on the island -- including band leader Kang-ok (Hwang Jung-min) and his daughter So-hee (Kim Soo-ahn), gang leader Chil-sung (So Ji-sub) and Malnyeon (Lee Jung-hyun), who has been sold as a sex slave. Elite agent Park Mo

FilmJuly 28, 2017

New breed of fragrance brands capture scent of Korea

If someone asked you what Seoul’s Gangnam area smelled like, how would you answer?“Very woody and very glamorous,” said Kim Su-hyang, creative director of her eponymous perfume brand Soohyang. A burst of citrus for the 24/7 shopping crowds of Dongdaemun. Sharp notes of patriotic red pine for Namdaemun, South Korea’s first designated National Treasure. Florals to evoke the lilac trees that bloom every April in chic Hannam-dong. Kim Su-hyang at the flagship Soohyang store in Gangnam (Soohyang)Sooh

CultureJuly 28, 2017

Nighttime stroll across the seashores of Yeosu

Whatever you do, do not leave the city of Yeosu without a good view of it at night. Upon sunset, the city comes alive with colorful nightlights scattered across the bridges and islands across the seashore. The cool breeze blows away the sweat from your brows as you stroll across the city, smelling the salty air of the sea. The nighttime view of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. (Yonhap)Alighting from the train at Yeosu Expo Station, you can guess it is a city of youth; evident from animated young co

TravelJuly 28, 2017

Girls’ Generation to prerelease song Aug. 4

Fans hotly anticipating the return of Girls’ Generation will get a surprise treat next week, as the girl group will release songs from its upcoming album “Holiday Night” online ahead of its official release on Aug. 7According to its agency S.M. Entertainment, the 10 songs of various genres from the album will be made available for download at major online music sales websites including Melon, Genie and Naver Music.  A teaser image of Tiffany of Girls‘ Generation (S.M. Entertainment)The album fea

PerformanceJuly 28, 2017

Lorde, Major Lazer to headline 2017 Jisan Valley Rock Festival

Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, one of South Korea’s biggest summer music events, began its three-day run Friday, signaling the start of the country’s summer music festival season.The music event, now in its eighth year, kicked off at the Jisan Forest Resort in Icheon, just outside the capital Seoul, in Gyeonggi Province. CJ E&M, the organizer of the festival, expects 90,000 music fans will congregate at the event, which runs until Sunday. Poster for Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festi

PerformanceJuly 28, 2017

Lee Jong-suk may enlist on Aug.10

Actor Lee Jong-suk has received notification to begin his mandatory military service on Aug. 10, but his agency said nothing has been confirmed yet. Earlier in the day, local media reported that Lee was notified by the Military Manpower Administration to report for duty on Aug. 10. He is expected to be allocated to non-active duty as a public service worker. “It is true that Lee received the notification, but nothing has been finalized on the matter,” YG Entertainment released a statement.Lee Jo

FilmJuly 28, 2017

Rookie K-pop group K.A.R.D goes strong on Billboard charts

Mixed-gender K-pop group K.A.R.D ranked No. 3 on Billboard’s World Album Chart with its debut EP “Hola Hola.”The album also came in at No. 46 on the Independent Album chart and No. 25 on the Heatseekers Album chart.“Hola Hola,” the lead track, secured the No. 4 spot on the World Digital Song Sales chart, while other tracks “I Can’t Stop” and “Living Good” ranked No. 10 and No. 12, respectively.  K.A.R.D (DSP Media)Though it has been only a week since the group debuted on July 19, K.A.R.D, consis

PerformanceJuly 27, 2017

Upcoming rock festivals that will outshine summer heat

Despite a brutal heat wave that has plunged the country and its people into a state of exhaustion the last few weeks, rock fans of all ages are in for a treat, as Korea’s two most famous rock festivals are ready to jolt them with spectacular performances. Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, one of Korea’s most notable annual music festivals that incorporates both music and art, is set to solidify its status again this year with eye-opening headliners and fun-filled activities.  The 2012 Jis

PerformanceJuly 27, 2017

Ananti Cove, seaside haven for heavenly holiday

BUSAN -- As Lee Choon-hee’s daughter-in-law neared the date when her baby was due, their family decided to celebrate the auspicious occasion in the most precious way possible. They decided to take a vacation together in cozy surroundings, finding their ideal place in the Ananti Cove seaside resort on the outskirts of Busan.“Our family often stays at the world-famous Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, but we think Ananti Cove is even better, as it is surrounded by pristine nature and has the s

TravelJuly 27, 2017

New literature translation award to match global sensibilities

Before the 1990s, translating Korean literature was spearheaded by the government, with local translators and professors churning out writing largely considered anachronistic, nationalistic and out of sync with Western sensitivities. Amid the country’s efforts to catapult its literature to the world stage, the Global Korean Literature Translation Award, organized by the GKL Foundation, was launched Thursday with the goal of bringing works closer to global sensibilities through enhanced cultural

CultureJuly 27, 2017

‘Battleship Island’ sees record-breaking opening day, accused of screen monopoly

Much-talked about war flick “The Battleship Island” drew in a record number of viewers on opening day, but has also been accused of monopolizing screens throughout theaters here.　According to Korean Film Council figures, 970,516 tickets were sold for screenings on Wednesday of “The Battleship Island,“ the largest figure achieved by a movie on its first day in Korean cinemas.The previous record was held by “The Mummy,” starring Tom Cruise, which opened in June. The film amassed 872,965 tickets on

FilmJuly 27, 2017

Girls’ Generation confirms Aug. 7 album release

Girls’ Generation will make its long-awaited return next month with the release of its sixth studio album “Holiday Night” on Aug. 7.According to S.M. Entertainment, the album will consist of 10 songs of various genres, including the tracks “All Night” and “Holiday.” A teaser image of Yoona (S.M. Entertainment)In anticipation of the new album, the group released online teaser images and an interview video of Yoona on its official homepage Thursday. The agency said it will release teasers featurin

PerformanceJuly 27, 2017

Boy band The East Light out with first EP album

K-pop's true big players, for the most part, consist of highly choreographed and stylized boy and girl groups. But that doesn't mean there's zero space for diversity. From Bolbbalgan4 to Akdong Musician, several breakout talents have proven that the space and demand for new music exists in the Korean music scene. The East Light, a new six-member boy band that is an actual "band" -- as in musicians that play instruments and sing -- has emerged in that vein, with the young members (average age bei

PerformanceJuly 27, 2017

[Herald Interview] Unlikely pairing of traditional instruments, contemporary dance

When Ahn Sung-soo took the helm of the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company at the end of last year, he came to the job prepared. That is, the seasoned choreographer already had in his mind the first two works he would stage.Yet, it was scarcely more than a week before the curtain would go up that Ahn decided the piece was finally complete.“It was completed just yesterday,” said Ahn at his office at Seoul Arts Center on July 19.“Music for Rites -- The Afterimages of the Rose,” the first of

CultureJuly 26, 2017

[Exclusive]Boycotted by fans, Super Junior’s Sungmin is learning life lesson, says singer’s mother

More than a month after fans announced a boycott of the star, the mother of Super Junior’s Sungmin is still waiting for the calm after the storm.(S.M. Entertainment)Kang Kyung-sook, Sungmin’s mother, opened up about fans boycotting Sungmin during a recent interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, saying she hopes he will overcome the hardships and get back on his feet with a stronger mindset. Sungmin’s fans declared a boycott of the Super Junior member in June, criticizing him for his disrespect

PerformanceJuly 26, 2017