Where goblin and mermaid roam

Current drama series on Korean TV boast scenic sets, from immortal goblin god Kim Shin’s majestic mansion in “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” to the marine cove where the mermaid Shimchung lives in “The Legend of the Blue Sea.” “Guardian”: Incheon, Duksung Women’s University  (tvN) (tvN)Incheon, an hour’s car ride away from Seoul, is basking in the fame brought by the popular tvN series “Guardian” -- so much so that the port city plans to build a filming complex with studios and sets in 2020

TelevisionJan. 10, 2017

K-pop stars return from military service, top actors enlist

This year will see the return of K-pop idols as they complete their compulsory military service. Kim Hyun-joong of SS501 will be discharged on Feb. 11, while his bandmate Park Jung-min will leave the Army on July 1. Both members of TVXQ will return to civilian life this year -- Yunho on April 20 and Changmin on Aug. 18. Yoochun of JYJ is also scheduled to be discharged from the military on Aug. 26.Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged on July 12, July 14 and Aug. 18, res

PerformanceJan. 10, 2017

Twice to hold first individual concert next month

South Korean girl group Twice will hold its first individual concert ever in February, its management agency said Tuesday.The "Twice Land - The Opening" concert will take place at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park from Feb. 17-19, JYP Entertainment said. (JYP Entertainment)After the concert, the girls will embark on an overseas tour whose schedule has yet to be announced.Debuting in October 2015 with "Like OOH-AHH," Twice has swept local music charts with "Cheer Up" and "TT."

PerformanceJan. 10, 2017

g.o.d. celebrates 18 years with concert

Boy band g.o.d., which debuted in 1999, held the Seoul leg of its “2017 g.o.d. to Men” concert tour at the Jamsil Sports Complex’s Jamsil Arena on Jan. 6-8.The boy group, marking its 18th anniversary this year, performed a wide selection of the group’s past hits, including “Friday Night,” “Lies,” “One Candle,” “Road” and “Dear Mother” alongside a live session band.Some 20,000 people attended the concerts held over three days, according to reports, who sang along with the veteran band.g.o.d. will

PerformanceJan. 9, 2017

‘La La Land’ waltzes to huge victory at Golden Globes

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Whimsical modern-day musical “La La Land” pirouetted its way into major Oscars contention Sunday as it swept the board at the Golden Globes, the glitziest party of the showbiz year.Damien Chazelle’s nostalgic tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals picked up all seven of the statuettes for which it was nominated -- giving the film momentum as it launches its campaign for next month’s Academy Awards.The film’s influence was felt from the opening moments of the three-h

FilmJan. 9, 2017

Big Bang goes out with bang

Determined to bid what the group has called a temporary farewell in typical Big Bang fashion, the iconic K-pop boy band went all out in every aspect -- fashion, sound, performance, camera work and stage design -- at its final concerts in Seoul this past weekend.Some 64,000 flocked to the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concerts, held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday, according to YG Entertainment -- many from overseas. The shows marked the last installation in Big Bang’s 10-year-

PerformanceJan. 9, 2017

Over 60,000 gather at Big Bang’s farewell concerts

K-pop group Big Bang held what could be its last concert for several years to come on Saturday and Sunday.A total of 64,000 fans flocked to the Gocheock Sky Dome in Seoul over two days, according to YG Entertainment, many from overseas, to witness the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concert. The show is the last installment of the 10-year-anniversary project Big Bang has been showcasing since last year.A gigantic pyramid lift has been installed onstage to offer dynamic stage settings.   Big Bang perfor

PerformanceJan. 8, 2017

January sees flood of new K-pop artists

The K-pop scene is set for a competitive year with numerous newcomers debuting this month and more planning to follow suit throughout the year. INA, a KBS “Gag Concert” comedian, released her first digital single “Rainbow” on Tuesday. This was followed by TopSecret, a seven-member group, which released its mini album “Time‘s Up” on Wednesday. Multinational 12-member group Varsity became the first group to debut this year, releasing its single album “ROUND ONE” on Thursday. (PLEDIS Ent./WM Ent./H

PerformanceJan. 8, 2017

Renee Fleming focusing future on new work

NEW YORK (AP) -- Renee Fleming’s new recording out Friday, “Distant Light,” features a work by Samuel Barber along with pieces by Swedish composer Anders Hillborg and -- surprisingly -- Bjork. With her 58th birthday approaching on Feb. 14, Fleming’s performances in Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” this month at London’s Royal Opera and at the Met this spring could be her last in the standard repertoire.  Soprano Renee Fleming (Timothy White/ Decca)“I haven’t found too many things that are ap

PerformanceJan. 8, 2017

Ailee makes US debut with new stage name

Singer Ailee made her US debut Saturday under the new stage name A.Leean. (Official Page of Ailee Japan)The artist’s first American debut single, titled “Fall Back,” was released through www.nimbit.com on Saturday.“A.Leean already has a large fan base and has performed at concerts all around the world, including South Korea,” said WestSide Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based music label and management company, a day ahead of the debut, without identifying Ailee. The company also released a teaser

PerformanceJan. 8, 2017

Tighten your seat belts

A number of series set to hit Korean television early this year feature the element of time travel. As for their genres, a diverse array of historical dramas, romantic comedies and thriller mysteries will dominate the small screen.Cable channel tvN, which has been come up with hit dramas nonstop in recent years, will be opening the new year with romance.Shin Min-ah (left) and Lee Je-hoon star in “Tomorrow with You.” (tvN)Following on the heels of the hit fantasy love story “Guardian: The Great a

TelevisionJan. 8, 2017

Wines with moderate tannins, umami flavors for a thrown-together soup

The peculiar title of this soup was born of its creation. Making soup from what you have on hand is an excellent way to use leftovers and also to build flavor from the good things you’ve been cooking. Some leftover edamame prompted the title, as it subs for the peas that might be more expected. One diner thought that weird, hence the name. But to us it’s just delicious. A wine with staying power completes the dinner.Make this weird soup Combine 2 cans (395 grams each) low-sodium beef broth, 1 ca

FoodJan. 6, 2017

Korean-French cuisine with a fresh attitude at the Green Table

The food at the new home of owner-chef Kim Eun-hee’s restaurant, the Green Table, channels Korean flavors with a French backbone and fresh nuances. Gamte, paper-thin, dried seaweed, is used to sandwich plump shrimp in one dish, while doenjang (fermented soybean paste) powder is used to season fish for a ceviche.Although Kim, who moved to a new location in Sinsa-dong several months ago, uses Korean ingredients in her cuisine now, there was a time when she would have been more hesitant to use cert

FoodJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] The rules of drinking alone

All lawyer Kim Eun-hye, 29, wanted was to be alone with a glass of wine after a draining day of consulting with clients, wading through legal paperwork, sitting through a tense office dinner and losing a case. Instead of heading home to an empty fridge, Kim decided to drop by Goya, a quiet bar near her house in Yeonnam-dong.“I guess I come here when I feel like having a nice drink, but don’t have the energy to engage in forced conversation with people who can’t offer good advice,” she said, orde

CultureJan. 6, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals around Korea

Boseong Green Tea Plantation light festThe annual Boseong Green Tea Plantation Light Festival has kicked off its celebrations this year, lighting up the country’s famed green tea fields in Boseong-gun, South Jeolla Province. There are various attractions, such as the Korea Tea Culture Park’s Galaxy Tunnel, the colorful Tea Plantation Wave of Lights, Light Valley of Hope, Korea Tea Museum’s Light Plaza, Wishing Tree, along with photo spots. The festivities will also extend to the nearby Yulpo Bea

TravelJan. 6, 2017

[Around the hotels] This week's promotions, packages

Special promotions at Walkerhill The Walkerhill hotel in Seoul is offering new food promotions throughout January. Guests can choose various menus priced at 54,000 won at restaurants Ondal, Geumryong, The Buffet, Clock 16, Myongwolgwan and Pizza Hill.They can also enjoy an overnight stay under three packages until Feb. 28 in the Douglas Room, Deluxe Room and Club Suite Room, which cost 150,000 won, 235,000 won and 295,000 won per night, respectively. A diary will be given to all guests and there

FoodJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] ‘Honsul,’ the art of savoring the tipsy self

With a pensive gaze, Park Si-in sips an old fashioned, a whiskey-based cocktail, at a dim, jazzy bistro nestled in a gentrified alley in Seoul. “I don’t think about anything,” she says. “I come here to empty and organize my thoughts. I need it, regularly and personally. Drinking alone is actually enjoyable.” Beside her, Kang Dong-wan, a university student majoring in graphic design, chatters with a bartender. “The bar acts as a sort of a mental hospital, a healing space,” explains Kang, in an in

CultureJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] Table for one, please

One of the newest cultural trends sweeping the nation is all about the art of being alone. 　From eating, drinking, shopping and living solo, this new trend seems to defy the once cultural norm of “togetherness.”　With the phenomena of “honsul” and “honbap” -- meaning to “drink alone” and “eat alone,” respectively -- there no longer appears to be social stigmas attached to requesting a table for one. Nor is there a corresponding gasp of dismay or pity for one going to a bar solo and enjoying a coc

CultureJan. 6, 2017