Big Bang's T.O.P hospitalized for suspected drug overdose

Popular South Korean singer and actor T.O.P of boy band BIGBANG has been hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose, his Seoul-based agency said Tuesday. YG Entertainment said the 29-year-old rapper, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, is currently receiving treatment at an intensive care unit of a Seoul hospital. The agency first reported that Choi was found unconscious, but police later denied that he was in critical condition.South Korea's singer and actor T.O.P of boy band Big Bang (Yonhap)"

PerformanceJune 6, 2017

Scholar honored by SUNY for cultural ambassadorship

Kim Seong-kon, president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and Seoul National University professor emeritus, was honored by the State University of New York last month for his lifelong contributions to strengthening academic and cultural ties between the US and Korea. Kim was conferred with a SUNY Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters during the commencement ceremony on May 19 at the University at Buffalo campus. He also gave a speech at the event for graduating students.SUNY, whic

PeopleJune 6, 2017

How we cope with death

Two large works of art face off each other at the Barakat Seoul, sharing the common subject of the death of a father. However, the two pieces, part of “The Absence of Paterfamilias” exhibition, are dissimilar in almost every other way. “The Dinner,” an animation loop by Belgian artist Alex Verhaest, is calm on the surface, but the tension among the characters is clearly palpable. The figures seem void, yet full of angst, their empty gazes looking out in different directions. The characters keep

PerformanceJune 6, 2017

Korean hip-hop duo XXX to perform at Midem music fest

Korean hip-hop duo XXX has been invited to perform at the opening of Midem music festival, the world’s largest business-to-business music event, held in Cannes, France.XXX will be putting on a 40-minute performance at the event’s opening show, titled “Midem by Night,” Tuesday evening, according to its label Beasts and Natives Alike.Some 6,000 music industry insiders from 75 countries are expected to participate at this year‘s Midem.  Hip-hop duo XXX (BANA)Other Korean artists such as rock band G

PerformanceJune 6, 2017

Super Junior to return with new album this year

Global K-pop act Super Junior is preparing to return with a new album this year, according to its agency, Label SJ, Tuesday.This will mark the boy band’s return to the spotlight about two years after it released the second part of its 10th anniversary special album “Magic” in September 2015. K-pop group Super Junior (S.M. Entertainment)Earlier in the day, a local report said the group would return in either late October or early November. Eunhyuk and Donghae will likely be able to promote the al

PerformanceJune 6, 2017

‘Okja’ stars Tilda Swinton, Steven Yeun to visit Korea despite Netflix controversy

The cast of “Okja” is coming to Korea next week despite the controversy surrounding its theatrical release in Korea.　Hollywood actors Tilda Swinton, Steven Yeun, Giancarlo Esposito and Daniel Henshall will be present at the red carpet event for “Okja” at Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo Times Square mall Tuesday at 7 p.m., Netflix announced Tuesday. 　The film’s Korean cast members Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong and Choi Woo-sik will also attend the event.　Swinton, Yeun, Esposito, Ahn and Byun will participate

FilmJune 6, 2017

KCCI chairman re-elected ICC executive member

Park Yong-maan, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry, was re-elected an executive board member of the International Chamber of Commerce, officials said Tuesday. Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chairman Park Yong-maanHe was re-elected at an ICC general assembly held in Nairobi. His term ends in June 2020. The ICC is the world’s largest business organization, with more than 6 million members from 130 countries. It was the first private organization to hold an observer status a

PeopleJune 6, 2017

Hyundai Motor hires VW China designer

Hyundai Motor has hired Simon Loasby, head designer of Volkswagen Group China, to lead its design team in China, the company said Tuesday.Loasby will become the head of Hyundai China Design in Hyundai Motor’s Technology and Engineering Center in the Chinese northeastern coastal city of Yantai later this month.Hiring the British designer, who worked in China for nearly 10 years, was seen as the South Korean carmaker seeking a breakthrough in its declining sales in the neighboring country.  Simon

PeopleJune 6, 2017

2PM’s Junho to release ‘2017 S/S’ in Japan next month

K-pop boy band 2PM’s Junho will drop his fifth solo album “2017 S/S” in Japan on July 26, according to his agency on Tuesday.The artist has been releasing special albums every summer since 2013 and topped the Oricon’s Daily chart in July 2016.  Album image for “2017 S/S” (JYP Entertainment)“’2017 S/S’ will be part of his summer project. ‘S/S’ stands for ‘Summer Stream,’” JYP Entertainment said. “The lead track for the album is ‘Ice Cream,’ which will remind people of fresh summer.” The pop-dance

PerformanceJune 6, 2017

'Produce 101' tops TV chart for eighth-straight week

Season two of "Produce 101," Mnet's all-male idol audition show, topped a TV popularity index for the eighth straight week, data showed Tuesday. "Produce 101" scored 264.3 points on the Content Power Index (CPI), becoming the most popular TV program from May 22-28. (Yonhap)CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of TV shows based on the number of views of related news stories, online search tallies and buzz on social media.In the show, a group of

June 6, 2017

[Next Wave] Getting the language and music right

The Korea Herald is introducing Korean singers, musicians and actors poised to join the next wave of top stars in a twice monthly series. -- Ed.Fans of OOHYO have something to be excited about this year as the singer, who remains a mysterious figure in the Korean indie scene, is expected to finish up her studies in England this summer and return to Korea to focus on music. 　 OOHYO (MUNHWAIN)“(M)y goal this year is to put together a new album, write lots of new, better sounding songs and to reall

PerformanceJune 5, 2017

Bucheon Film Fest to spotlight actress Jeon Do-yeon

This year‘s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival will feature a special exhibition focusing on the works of actress Jeon Do-yeon, BIFAN announced Monday.　“The exhibition will screen the major works from Jeon Do-yeon’s 20 years of acting onscreen. It will feature a press conference, a discussion with viewers, an exhibition of posters and stills from her films, and a booklet of Jeon‘s acting career,” said BIFAN in a statement. 　 Poster for Jeon Do-yeon’s special exhibition at BIFAN (BIFAN

FilmJune 5, 2017

Future of ‘Okja’ uncertain in Korea

The future of Bong Joon-ho’s much-anticipated Netflix-backed fantasy flick “Okja” has become murky in Korea, as the local cinema industry begins to mirror the conflict between online streaming and theatrical screenings that took center stage in Cannes last month. Last Friday, Korea’s largest cinema chain CGV announced it would not show “Okja” in its theaters unless Netflix agreed to postpone online streaming until after the film’s theatrical debut. Other major cinema chains, Lotte Cinema and Meg

FilmJune 5, 2017

Prosecution indicts Big Bang’s T.O.P over marijuana use

T.O.P, a member of Big Bang, has been indicted without detention on charges of smoking marijuana, prosecutors said Monday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said that T.O.P, 29, is suspected of smoking the banned substance four times with a female singer trainee at his home in Seoul in October last year.(Herald DB)The types of illegal drugs he is alleged to have used are marijuana and liquid cannabis through e-cigarettes. T.O.P initially denied he had smoked marijuana. After he test

PerformanceJune 5, 2017

Black Pink confirms June release, following G-Dragon

K-pop girl group Black Pink will release a new album in June, according to its agency on Monday. “The exact date of release has not yet been confirmed but Black Pink is slated to drop the album sometime in mid-June,” YG Entertainment said. “The group will be filming the music video for an upcoming song this week.” Black Pink will be the next YG Entertainment artist to release an album, following Big Bang’s G-Dragon’s album release in early June, according to the agency. K-pop quartet Black Pink

PerformanceJune 5, 2017

Foreign tourists enjoy Korean food, find some dishes overly spicy: poll

Foreigners visiting South Korea generally enjoyed eating traditional dishes but said some were overly spicy, a poll conducted by a state-run tourism agency said Sunday.According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 66.3 percent of the 974 people surveyed in February said they were satisfied with Korean food, with 31.4 percent saying it was "alright" and 2.3 percent expressing dissatisfaction. (Yonhap)Among those that complained about local food, 46.1 percent cited the spiciness as a problem, with

FoodJune 5, 2017

Seoul to run 'K-travel Bus' for foreign travelers

The Seoul metropolitan government said Sunday it will operate an inter-city bus connecting major tourist attractions in South Korea starting this week to provide visitors a chance to explore the many hidden treasures in the country.The "K-travel Bus" exclusively serves foreign tourists, residents and students who want to travel outside the capital city, to boost travel to smaller cities and rural areas, a municipal official said. The initial two-day tours will run till the end of the year.This p

Expat LivingJune 5, 2017

[Herald Interview] Park Hae-jin continues reinventing himself

Since his debut in 2006 with the KBS drama “Famous Chil Princesses,” Park Hae-jin has played a doctor, chaebol scion, stoic college senior and special intelligence agent. But it could be a role he is taking up for the second time that excites his fans most.Actor Park Hae-jin poses for the camera before an interview at a cafe in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. (Mountain Movement Management)In the movie version of “Cheese in the Trap,” Park reprises the role of stoic college senior Yoo Jung from the h

TelevisionJune 5, 2017

Park Myung-soo’s wife makes appearance on ‘Infinite Challenge’

Comedian Park Myung-soo’s wife Han Soo-min made a surprise appearance on MBC’s variety show “Infinite Challenge." Park Myung-soo (left) and his wife Han Soo-min appeared on Saturday‘s episode of MBC‘s “Infinite Challenge.” (MBC’s Infinite Challenge)In Saturday’s episode of the show, cast member Haha was seen patrolling Mapo-gu in Seoul, as he took on a role of a fake sheriff for the program. He was tipped off that his wife, singer Byul, was singing at nearby noraebang with Park’s wife. Han was i

TelevisionJune 4, 2017