S.E.S. hints at comeback

Another first-generation K-pop group is gearing up for a comeback. 　On Monday, Choi Sung-hee -- better known by her stage name Bada -- of girl group trio S.E.S. revealed the group’s plan to make their return next year. 　“S.E.S. will be celebrating its 20th debut anniversary next year,” Bada wrote via her personal social media page, with a recent picture of the group. “To commemorate our 20th year, we are planning on creating meaningful experiences to spend it together with ‘Friends.’” The trio’s

PerformanceOct. 4, 2016

Soyul of Crayon Pop to halt group activities

K-pop girl group Crayon Pop member Park Hye-kyeong -- better known by her stage name Soyul -- will be suspending all group activities for the foreseeable future. 　“Soyul was recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder,” the group’s management agency Chrome Entertainment announced on Tuesday. “As her conditions are worse than expected, she will not be participating in upcoming promotional activities for a while.”The company added that she does not require hospitalization, and that Crayon Pop will

PerformanceOct. 4, 2016

Korean dramas, movies finishing year strongly

This year saw a rich slew of actors making their mark in both television dramas and movies. Memorable performances in cinema came from actresses like Kim Tae-ri, who received international attention for her role as the earthy heroine of Park Chan-wook’s erotic thriller “The Handmaiden,” Kwak Do-won, who appeared as the fear-stricken policeman in Na Hong-jin’s horror flick “The Wailing” and the shrewdly domineering prosecutor in Kim Sung-su’s crime-noir “Asura: The City of Madness.”　On television

FilmOct. 4, 2016

Tooneed Entertainment to expand webtoon copyright business into overseas markets

The globalization of the South Korean webtoon industry now seems to be in full swing. On Sept. 28, the webtoon agency Tooneed Entertainment announced that it would be publishing webtoons and running intellectual-property-related businesses in Southeast Asia as well as China, Japan, and North America. Tooneed provides webtoons to KTooN, the third-largest webtoon service provider in the country, and operates intellectual property procurement and protection businesses.  Tooneed EntertainmentTooneed

CultureOct. 4, 2016

Pianist Paik gives back to fans through ‘Gift’ concert

Renowned for his gracefully fleeting fingers, Paris-based Korean pianist Paik Kun-woo made his much-welcomed return to the local stage last week in a concert program that was all about paying tribute to his loyal fans. While the pianist breathed new life into Bach’s French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 and Brahms’ “Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24” in the first half of his concert, last week’s performance was really all about the second half.  Pianist Paik Kun-woo performs dur

PerformanceOct. 3, 2016

Bask in Ulsan’s autumn scenery

Tourists seeking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Korea’s autumn may want to visit the city of Ulsan in the upcoming months. Nestled in the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula, the city is famous for its wide range of scenery that includes vast fields, mountains, quaint villages and a booming maritime commercial district. Traditional dancers perform at the 50th Cheoyong Culture Festival, which ran from Sept. 29-Oct. 3. (Ulsan Metropolitan City)One noteworthy event is the Ulju

CultureOct. 3, 2016

Song Joong-ki wins grand prize at APAN awards

Actor Song Joong-ki nabbed the grand prize for his lead role in the KBS2 drama series “Descendant of the Sun,” which aired early this year to explosive pan-Asian popularity, at the Asia Pacific Actors Network Star Awards on Sunday.“I don’t know what to say, it’s the first time I’ve received such a big prize,” Song said in his acceptance speech at the ceremony, held at broadcasting network MBC’s headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul. The APAN awards, hosted by MBC and the Korea Entertainment Managem

TelevisionOct. 3, 2016

‘Asura’ tops weekend box office

Crime-noir “Asura: The City of Madness” topped the local weekend box office, drawing some 826,655 admissions Oct. 1-2, according to the Korean Film Council.The film has sold over 1.8 million tickets since its opening Wednesday, when it broke the record for best-selling rated “R” movie on its opening day. A scene from "Asura: The City of Madness" (CJ Entertainment)The bloody thriller, starring a handful of Korean cinema’s A-listers including Jung Woo-sung, Hwang Jung-min and Kwak Do-won, tells th

FilmOct. 3, 2016

Busan Int’l Film Festival screens vast variety of films

The 21st Busan International Film Festival will show a total of 299 movies from 69 countries, and among them 122 films will premiere at the event, its organizers said Sunday.The annual festival, which will open Thursday and run through Oct. 15, will show a wide variety of films ranging from critically acclaimed films to experimental movies and those made by female directors. Under the World Cinema section, numerous award-wining films from the 2016 Cannes Film Festival will be featured. Among tho

FilmOct. 3, 2016

Placido Domingo returns to Korea

With nearly six decades of expertise under his belt, legendary opera singer Placido Domingo feels like he has only recently reached his life’s goal.“Even in my 30s, I had always said that I dream of having a place where young artists can learn and grow one day,” said the maestro at a press conference held at the W Seoul-Walkerhill in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul on Friday. 　Now the 12-time Grammy-Award winner has brought his dream to Seoul. 　Recognized as the “King of Opera,” Domingo -- best known as a

PerformanceSept. 30, 2016

Forward-thinking caffeine at Get Some Coffee

A quick scroll through the menu at the counter of Get Some Coffee’s newest outlet may not clue in an Insta-shy brew addict on what to order. A first-timer might dismiss the cafe’s “Dutch Pepper” as risky and settle for something more familiar. Anyone, however, who has seen the flood of Instagram posts on what is arguably the shop’s most popular drink would probably order it in a heartbeat. The “Dutch Pepper” is essentially slow-drip cold brew coffee topped with a thin, half-inch layer of cool, f

FoodSept. 30, 2016

[Travel Bits] Travel news from around the world

‘Korea Sale Festa’ kicks off with huge discounts from retailersSouth Korea kicked off a nationwide shopping event Thursday with a variety of promotions, cultural and entertainment events to draw more shoppers at home and abroad, and revive the sluggish domestic consumption.The massive shopping campaign called the “Korea Sale Festa” runs until Oct. 9, involving major retailers, manufacturers and traditional markets, while cultural and entertainment programs for foreign travelers will be held thro

TravelSept. 30, 2016

Espresso and crushed beans add kick to coffee pudding

Choose the right path -- so says the sermon, convocation and nature guide. But if a trailhead offers only one route, and you’ve hiked it every autumn forever, you’re good to go.Underfoot, your path is springy with pine needles. Overhead, it’s shady and cool. Ahead it promises water crashing a narrow canyon and a boulder, wide and flat as a piazza, perfect for a picnic.You walk. You talk. You find your rock, scrabble up and are met not with waterfall, but with flat field, and, in the distance, ab

FoodSept. 30, 2016