Girls’ Day returns with new EP

Girls’ Day made a splash on local music charts Monday with its new EP “GIRLS’ DAY EVERYDAY #5,” achieving immediate impact with its first recording in 20 months.The main track of the four-member group, “I’ll be Yours,” entered the local Genie chart at No. 2, right behind IU’s “Through the Night.” It was also seen rapidly climbing up other charts here, notching the No. 11 spot on the Melon chart just one hour after its noon release. Girls’ Day (DreamT Entertainment)The latest EP by Girls’ Day fea

PerformanceMarch 27, 2017

Hyolyn storming across US

Girl group Sistar’s lead vocalist Hyolyn is gaining recognition abroad, according to reports. US music media outlet Billboard lauded the singer as “one of the most recognizable voices in K-pop” in an interview at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, which took place March 10-19.“Her husky, airy tone has resulted in multiple appearances on a variety of Billboard charts, both through her solo work and collaborative efforts,” Billboard said last week. 　 Hyolyn (Starship Entertainment)H

PerformanceMarch 27, 2017

EXID to release 3rd EP album 'Eclipse' next month

EXID, the South Korean girl group of the hit track "Up & Down," will release its third EP album titled "Eclipse" next month, its agency said Monday.The album containing five new tracks, including title track "Night Rather Than Day," will go on sale from April 10, according to Banana Culture Entertainment, the team's agency. The album will also include an instrumental version of "Night Rather Than Day," co-produced by Shinsadong Tiger, KeeBomb and EXID member Eli. A promotional photo of South Kor

PerformanceMarch 27, 2017

Director Park Chan-wook awarded Florence cultural honor

 South Korean movie director Park Chan-woo was bestowed an award from the Italian city government of Florence in recognition of his role in connecting the cultures of the two countries and his contributions to the development of culture and art.　Florence Mayor Dario Nardella presented the Key to the City honor to Park in a ceremony held on Saturday in Cinema La Compagnia, Florence.　Park is the first South Korean who has received the city award which is conferred on world-renowned artists. Park C

FilmMarch 26, 2017

BTS heats up Newark on North American leg of ‘Wings Tour’

BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, thrilled its fans in Newark on its “2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour.”Thousands of fans attended the concerts held Thursday and Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. BTS performs its “2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour” concert in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday.　(BTS Twitter account)The tickets for the group‘s US tour sold out within minutes, which led the septet to add two more shows -- one in Newark and the other in

PerformanceMarch 26, 2017

Political satire on SNL returns after Park’s fall

The new season of “Saturday Night Live Korea” launched Saturday with the tvN comedy show poking fun at the political situation involving ex-President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil.The return of blatant satire to the show -- which at one point had resorted to relying mostly on sexual innuendo -- is a reminder that the Park administration’s controlling hand over pop culture is no more.In one sketch on Saturday, actor Kim Min-kyo dressed up as the imprisoned Choi. His character was

CultureMarch 26, 2017

[Exclusive] Hwang Chi-yeul set for summer album release

Singer Hwang Chi-yeul is due to release a new album just in time for summer.“The exact release date hasn’t been decided yet, but maybe in June?” the artist told The Korea Herald on Thursday. “I think it might be unveiled before summer.”   Singer Hwang Chi-yeul poses for The Korea Herald at an afterparty held at Lotte L7 Hotel in Seoul on Thursday to celebrate Bada’s wedding. (Jie Ye-eun/The Korea Herald)Hwang said that he participated in the writing of the upcoming album. “There will be a song t

PerformanceMarch 26, 2017

iKon performs at Tokyo Girls Collection

K-pop group iKon excited Japanese fans with its performance at the Tokyo Girls Collection 2017 Spring/Summer, its agency said Sunday.Standing in front of the 31,400-strong audience at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Saturday, the seven-member boyband sang the remix versions of its hits including “Dumb & Dumber” and “Sinosijak,” according to YG Entertainment.  caption:iKon performs during the Tokyo Girls Collection 2017 Spring/Summer held Saturday in Tokyo. (YG Entertainment)YG’s fashio

PerformanceMarch 26, 2017

Gender-bending fashion on Tokyo runway bang on trend

TOKYO, (AFP) -- If gender bending fashion is suddenly all the rage in the West, think Pharrell Williams promoting Chanel’s new unisex handbag, then nowhere has the look excelled more than in Tokyo.Japan, for decades a pioneer of the androgynous look in the style of Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and Kenzo, is spawning young designers blurring the lines expertly between masculine and feminine.Genderless-looking boys are gaining traction in fashion circles and on the streets of Tokyo -- gay but

CultureMarch 25, 2017

After ‘Defendant,’ SBS bets big with another revenge thriller ‘Whisper’

"Whisper," SBS TV's new crime thriller, looks and feels similar to its preceding hit show "Defendant" in many ways.Both are in essence tales of revenge: In "Defendant," the protagonist framed for murder avenges his dead wife and clears his name, while the lead in "Whisper," a female police officer, seeks revenge on a judge who convicts her dad of murder. The cast of SBS TV's new thriller "Whisper" pose for the camera during a press conference at the SBS headquarters in western Seoul on March 24,

TelevisionMarch 24, 2017

[Weekender] Lifelong learning takes first step in Korea

About 40 percent of South Korean adults aged under 70 have received college-level or higher education, according to a recent report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.The figure is far above the OECD average of 30 percent.The Paris-based organization also said its 34 member countries (currently 35) posted 40.8 percent in the proportion of adults that had participated in various types of lifelong learning such as not-for-credit courses by universities, lessons at priva

CultureMarch 24, 2017

BIGBANG's Daesung to release new album simultaneously in Korea, Japan

Daesung, a member of the popular boy band BIGBANG, will drop his new individual EP album simultaneously in South Korea and Japan next week, his agency said Friday.The "D-Day" album will be uploaded on major online music sites of the two countries on Tuesday ahead of his first solo Japanese dome tour set to begin on April 15. The album is scheduled to hit Japanese record stores on April 12. Above is the cover image of Daesung's forthcoming EP album "D-Day." (Yonhap)The album produced by himself w

PerformanceMarch 24, 2017

Watchdog conditionally renews licenses for three general-programming cable channels

The broadcasting regulator on Friday renewed the licenses for three general-programming cable TV channels on the condition that they curtail programs criticized for providing incorrect and biased information and using inappropriate language.The Korea Communications Commission made the decision during a plenary session as their previous three-year licenses are to expire next month.JTBC run by the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper was allowed to continue its operations until Nov. 30, 2020, and TV Chosun, ru

TelevisionMarch 24, 2017

[Eye] Making sense of modern music

Dressed head to toe in black, with her dark black hair worn long and eyes done in her signature dark smoky look, Unsuk Chin is a force majeure.Although her name may not be well-known here, classical music fans know her as the composer-in-residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and, since last year, also the orchestra’s artistic adviser.“I thought about quitting after Chung Myung-whun left,” Chin said during an interview on March 8 at her office at Sejong Center in downtown Seoul. Maestro C

PerformanceMarch 24, 2017

Poland’s WWII museum opens amid an uncertain future

WARSAW (AP) -- A major World War II museum opened in northern Poland on Thursday amid plans by the conservative government to change its content to fit the government’s nationalist views.The Museum of the World War II in Gdansk is at the center of a standoff between the historians creating it and Poland’s populist government, which is seeking a court order to have it closed and then wants to reshape its current multi-national focus.The museum was initiated in 2008 by then-Prime Minister Donald T

CultureMarch 24, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

New general manager at Novotel Ambassador Gangnam Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam has appointed Vincent Lelay as its new general manager, drawing on his Asia-focused expertise to better serve its clients. Lelay was the cluster general manager of The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa and Sofitel So Singapore. The France-born manager held senior management roles including Vice President of Hotel Operations for Greater China where he supervised and operated more than 40 projects from development to o

FoodMarch 24, 2017

3 Korean films presold in Hong Kong film market

Three South Korean films have been presold to Asian markets, including Japan, China, Taiwan and the Philippines, during the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market last week, their local distributors said Friday.The distribution rights for "House of the Disappeared" were sold to seven countries -- Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei -- at the 2017 film market, also known as Filmart, the Peppermint&Company Co. said. This is a promotional poster for "House of t

FilmMarch 24, 2017

[Herald Interview] The meaning of luxury hospitality in the age of Airbnb

MONTREUX -- As travel becomes cheaper and more personalized with the advent of online lodging services like Airbnb, feedback sites like TripAdvisor, and itinerary planners like Google Trip, the notion of “hospitality” is changing.Some say the emerging services have led to a decline in the hotel business. The leaders of Swiss Education Group, however, argue that the field of hospitality -- a sector which incorporates hotel management, fine dining, concierge services and luxury branding -- has exp

TravelMarch 24, 2017