Sistine chapel photographed in unprecedented detail

The famous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling was painted by Michelangelo, can now be examined in minute detail thanks to an unprecedented photographic venture, the Vatican Museums have said.By combining innovative digital technology and special light-emitting diode LED lamps that aimed to reproduce daylight, photographers were able to make images measuring 43 centimeters tall by 1.2 meters wide. Journalists look at the Sistine Chapel with its new lighting during a press visit to the

PerformanceFeb. 26, 2017

Chun Kyung-ja's controversial painting to go on public display

A national art museum said Saturday it has decided to put on public display renowned painter Chun Kyung-ja's work that her bereaved family alleges is a fake.This, if realized, would mark the first time that the painting has been shown to the public in 26 years. "Beautiful Woman" will be part of the exhibition for works by some 100 painters representing the Korean fine art of the 20th century, set to open in the Gwacheon branch of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in mid-April, acc

PerformanceFeb. 25, 2017

[Home Cooking] Gulguk (Oyster soup)

Oysters are in season, and they are great in soups. This oyster soup is simple, refreshingly clear, and incredibly briny. The recipe uses two main ingredients -- oysters and radish. The oysters impart a strong briny flavor, so you don’t need to use a flavorful broth such as anchovy broth as a soup base. I simply add a small piece of dried kelp (dashima) to boost umami, and use salt to season to highlight the briny flavor of oysters. You can use a little bit of soup soy sauce if you want. 　The ra

FoodFeb. 25, 2017

[The Palate] Winter’s oceanic jewels

Oysters can be thought of as the jewels of the winter food season. Delicate, briny and creamy are just a few ways one can describe these beloved bivalves, renowned for their plating style, alluring taste and texture, as well as their sensuous appeal. Oysters in Korea, mainly farmed and harvested from the clean cool southern waters of South Jeolla Province, are abundant and affordable, making a pleasing addition to any dish nearly year-round. But during the winter, when the colder waters produce

FoodFeb. 25, 2017

Around the Hotels

Yachting package at Hyatt Regency Jeju The Hyatt Regency Jeju is offering a yachting package for families until the end of this year, combined with accommodations at the hotel.The package includes a one-night stay in a guestroom and a one-hour yachting trip for two adults. During the tour, guests will see the Jusangjeolli Cliff and have a chance to go fishing. Wine and other beverages are served during the trip. Photographs of the yacht are provided. Guests have access to the hotel’s swimming po

FoodFeb. 24, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals in Korea this week

Yangpyeong Strawberry FestivalThe Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival is being held through the end of May. Visitors can pick their own strawberries at the strawberry farms and participate in a variety of activities and programs in the village. Reservation is required.Exclusive events for bloggers are on offer at blog.naver.com/yp_nadri. Up to 50 teams can participate. The festival is open to visitors of all ages. For more information, visit www.yp21.net for information provided in Korean, English, J

PerformanceFeb. 24, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

A Single Rider(Korea)Opened Feb. 22Drama. Directed by Lee Zoo-youngJae-hoon (Lee Byung-hun) is a stockbroker who loses his fortune, friends and the trust of his clients after a risky investment goes abysmally wrong. He leaves for Australia to find his wife and son, who have relocated there, only to discover that they too are slipping out of his grasp. He hovers around them, observing their daily routine and wandering the streets in search of answers to a horrifying truth. New Trial(Korea)Opened

FilmFeb. 24, 2017

Monsters intrude on a culture clash in ‘Great Wall’

“Tell the world what you have seen,” a character exclaims in “The Great Wall,” “and what is coming!” The warning is about the mythical mass of marauding monsters that are sweeping down northern China but it could just as easily be for the kind of Hollywood-China collaboration that is “The Great Wall.” The first English language feature shot entirely in China, it’s the biggest-budget attempt yet to straddle both sides of the Pacific, plucking a movie star (Matt Damon) from the West for a producti

FilmFeb. 24, 2017

[Eye Plus] Forgotten past relived at Tongin Market

Between the forests of gray buildings in northern Seoul, a 300-meter alley near Gyeongbokgung beckons passersby for a short trip into Korea’s past.Tongin Market is a 75-store covered arcade located between Gwanghwamun and the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, and is a constant reminder of what the lives of ordinary Koreans used to be like -- long before they were tinged with the convenience brought by evolving technology and modernization. From the faces of children waiting for dalgona, a sn

TravelFeb. 24, 2017

Designer with unique vision of fashion and biz

Removing her dark, oversized sunglasses which she had kept on for the photoshoot that just ended, Im Seon-oc remarks that she doesn’t want to be rude wearing sunglasses during the interview.Clad head to toe in her own black top and pants, her petite figure exudes a strong presence. When the sunglasses come off, it is impossible not to be struck by the swaths of black across her eyelids that extend out to her temples. It is her signature look, along with her sunglasses.Twenty years in the cutthro

Arts & DesignFeb. 24, 2017

Twice to debut in Japan

K-pop group Twice on Friday announced the group will be heading to Japan on June 28, starting the countdown on its official Japanese website.The album to mark the start for the nine-member group‘s musical career in Japan is to be titled “#TWICE,” and will be a compilation of Twice’s hit songs, including “Like Ooh-Ahh,” “Cheer Up” and “TT.” Ten songs, in both Korean and Japanese, will be featured on the album. Twice (JYP Entertainment)Twice is also slated to hold a showcase to commemorate the alb

PerformanceFeb. 24, 2017

EXO, BlackPink, Twice win big at Gaon Awards

EXO took home four trophies at this year’s Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in Seoul. For the artist of the year award, the sixth annual ceremony divided the section into two parts: album and songs. The album category was awarded per quarter while the songs were awarded for each month.EXO took home the award for the second and third quarter, becoming the only band to receive multiple awards in the category. The band also won the fans’ choice award both as a group and as an individual, with its member Seh

Feb. 24, 2017

'Good Manager' maintains firm lead, 'Saimdang' gains little

"Good Manager" maintained a firm grip on its lead in the Wednesday-Thursday TV drama race while "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors," also saw a small uptick, data showed Friday.Episode 10 of "Good Manger," which aired Thursday night, recorded 17.2 percent viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. It fell 0.6 percentage point from last week but still dwarfed its rivals in the same time slot.SBS TV's "Saimdang" stood at 10.1 percent, up 0.3 percentage point, and MBC TV's "Missing 9" clocked in at 4.6 perce

TelevisionFeb. 24, 2017

Facts about Dean’s new single

R&B artist Dean dropped a new single titled “limbo” on Feb. 17, comprised of two songs.　The producer-turned-singer, who has written songs for K-pop’s biggest names such as EXO, VIXX and Taeyeon, has been consistently collaborating with artists such as Crush to produce trendy tracks. 　The following is a list of facts about the new album:1. The album’s concept is the state of limbo between dreaming and reality, where the two are indistinguishable. 2. It was inspired by the Christopher Nolan movie

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2017

BoA to host ‘Produce 101’ season 2

Veteran K-pop singer BoA will host the second season of Mnet’s competition show “Produce 101,” according to the cable network Thursday.“BoA is an artist who has both charisma and a warm heart,” said Ahn Joon-young, the show’s director.BoA (S.M. Entertainment)With 17 years in the music business under her belt, BoA will act as a mentor, deliver tasks to participants and announce the results of each competition. “I’m very happy to join the second season of ‘Produce 101,’” said the 30-year-old singe

Feb. 23, 2017

[Herald Interview] After 14 years, actress Go Ara has only just begun

Go Ara’s breakthrough came in 2013, when she starred in the nostalgic drama series “Reply 1994.” Forgoing her previously pristine look, she cut her hair in a frizzy bob to portray the spunky university student Sung Na-jung, in a performance for which Go nabbed praise both critically and with viewers.The role, to a certain extent, enabled the actress to break free from the prejudice that she was “too pretty” to embody diverse characters, which is in fact her ultimate goal, Go said at an interview

TelevisionFeb. 23, 2017

GFriend to release new EP next month

South Korean girl group GFriend will drop a new album next month amid anticipation that it will follow the success of the group's previous hits, its management agency said Thursday.  (Yonhap)The upcoming EP, slated to come out March 6, is the first in eight months after its full-length album "LOL," according to Source Music.The six-member act -- Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB and Umji -- rolled out two albums last year and enjoyed enormous popularity at home and abroad with back-to-back hits "R

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2017

BTS becomes 1st Korean artist to have 4 straight albums on Billboard 200 with “‘You Never Walk Alone”

The latest album by Bangtan Boys has ranked No. 61 on Billboard’s top 200 album charts, marking the fourth consecutive time the Korean boyband has made the list.According to the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment, this is the first time any Korean artist has appeared on the list for four albums in a row. Bangtan Boys (Big Hit Entertainment)The seven-member band last week released the album “You Never Walk Alone,” as a follow-up to its second studio album “Wings” in Oct. 10. The album peaked at

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2017

Red Velvet, Tiger JK, Yoon Mi-rae to perform at ‘K-Pop Night Out’ at SXSW

Korean band Kim Ban-jang and Windy City has been invited to perform at the South by Southwest festival in the US, according to local media reports Thursday.The band is slated to perform at the Flamingo Cantina at Austin, Texas, the venue of the SXSW. It marks the third year the band is participating in the annual event. caption: Red Velvet (SM Entertainment)Other Korea-based artists who will take part include Glen Check, Luna Lee, Neon Bunny, and XXX.　The Korea Creative Content Agency has also r

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2017