Controversial Hong Kong movie wins ‘Best Film’ award

HONG KONG (AFP) - A controversial movie about the future of Hong Kong won the top prize at the city's film awards Sunday, after being a local box office hit but antagonizing Beijing over its portrayal of the semi-autonomous territory in 2025.　“Ten Years” scooped the “Best Film” prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, following a short cinema release that was widely believed to have been curtailed for political reasons.　The film is made up of a series of five vignettes that tap residents’ worst fears

FilmApril 4, 2016

Priceless tomes in Italy hold key to European identity

ROME (AFP) - As Europe struggles with an identity crisis, a new exhibition in Rome looks at the birth of European culture through ancient manuscripts and the earliest printed books, including a first edition of Dante's Divine Comedy.　While mass migrant arrivals have fuelled xenophobia and threatened to undermine the EU’s core values, the exhibition extols the melting pot of cultures which shaped Europe -- beginning with the 13th century Italian poet, himself a political exile and migrant.　“The e

BooksApril 4, 2016

10cm’s latest song tops charts

Male indie duo 10cm’s new song “What the Spring??” topped music charts including MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Bugs Music on Saturday.　“What the Spring??,” released on April 1, depicts single men complaining about couples enjoying the spring season. Unlike other songs about spring, 10cm’s piece speaks for the singles, not for couples, with the chorus “Flowers all fall down at last just like you two fall apart soon. Screw all up.” 　The duo’s new song garnered great attention with its April Fools’ Day

PerformanceApril 3, 2016

What determines Seoul cityscape?

The overcrowded landscape of Seoul seems to lack unity and style with its mix of skyscrapers, high-rise apartment buildings and low-rise houses that crowd the hilltop towns. 　“Foreigners often ask me why Korean urban architecture lacks unity. In fact, the bizarre, spontaneous cityscape is the result of the floor-area ratio limit,” said Kim Sung-hong, architecture professor at University of Seoul and commissioner for the Korea Pavilion exhibition at the upcoming Venice Architecture Biennale. Henc

Arts & DesignApril 3, 2016

JYJ Junsu to release album in May

K-pop boy band JYJ’s Kim Jun-su will release his fourth studio album in May, the singer’s agency C-JeS Entertainment announced Friday.　Kim will kick off the Asia Tour in June, starting in Seoul. The tour will see the singer perform in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe in Japan, the agency added. Kim Jun-su performs his song for KBS drama series “Descendants of the Sun” at a concert on Saturday. (C-JeS Entertainment)　Kim unveiled the video announcing his May comeback during the finale of his spring tour at

PerformanceApril 3, 2016

Bowie the eclectic celebrated in star tribute

 NEW YORK (AFP) - David Bowie had many faces -- the attention-grabbing glam rocker, the inward-looking experimentalist -- and for a tribute to his life, leading names in music celebrated him by embracing his eclectic spirit.　Nearly three months after the shock of Bowie's death from an undisclosed battle with cancer, some of the many musicians influenced by the rock legend honored him with two sold-out nights in New York.　Yet the concerts were not about dutiful covers of Bowie’s hits, many of whi

PerformanceApril 3, 2016

Secret Tut chamber? Egypt calls experts to examine evidence

VALLEY OF THE KINGS, Egypt (AP) -- Egypt on Friday invited archaeologists and experts from around the world to examine new data from new, extensive radar scanning conducted on King Tutankhamun's tomb to explore a theory that secret chambers could be hidden behind its walls.　The open invitation to a conference in Cairo in May, issued by the antiquities minister at a news conference just outside the tomb, aims to bring broader scientific rigor to what so far have only been tantalizing clues.　The n

CultureApril 3, 2016

Museum invites visitors into colorful world of Eric Carle

ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta's High Museum of Art is inviting visitors into a colorful world populated by playful animals and imaginative children.　"I See a Story: The Art of Eric Carle" opened Saturday and features more than 80 collages from 16 books by the author of children’s favorites like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Grouchy Ladybug." Carle's bright images explore themes including childhood, nature and journeys.　Adults can revel in the nostalgia of books they read as children or read t

BooksApril 3, 2016

[Weekender] Auctioneers make a difference in sales

With art auctions booming in South Korea, auctioneers are increasingly a crucial factor in boosting sales at such events. “Auctioneers play a key role in setting market prices during art auctions,” Kim Hyun-hee, an experienced auctioneer for Seoul Auction, said in an interview with The Korea Herald.“They need extensive understanding and knowledge of art to induce participants to compete for the best prices,” she said. Kim, who studied history in college and art history in graduate school, starte

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

[Weekender] Arts emerging as alternative investment

Given the current low interest rates, negative rates, low inflation and slow growth, investors are in search of alternative investment products that offer higher returns than savings.Stocks and equity funds are ideal during low inflation, but can be volatile when unpredictable forces suddenly catch markets off guard. Gold and U.S. dollars are attractive assets in times of uncertainties, in addition to bonds that can offer steady monthly returns.Bids are placed on “Nu assis sur un divan (La Belle

PerformanceApril 1, 2016

Song Joong-ki to serve as Korean tour ambassador

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday it will feature Song Joong-ki, the actor from the hit TV drama “Descendants of the Sun,” in a new video series to promote tourism in South Korea. 　The Korean tourism TV ad will be filmed in the former mining cities of Taebaek and Jeongseon in Gangwon Province, the main venue of the show. Photo caption: Actor Song Joong-ki poses at the 2016 Style Icon Asia awards in Seoul on March 15. (Yonhap)　The TV and print ad will begin in early July in

TelevisionApril 1, 2016

Classic, no-fuss sushi at Matsumoto

Hours later, after the last piece has been consumed, it is the memory of the rice served at Sushi Matsumoto that lingers, how each oblong orb under its blanket of fish was consistently warm, pillowy and subtly seasoned. 　“With sushi, one should not only focus on the fish, the rice needs to be good as well,” head chef Matsumoto Mizuho explains.  Head chef Matsumoto Mizuho focuses on serving classic nigiri and edomae sushi, one carefully crafted piece at a time. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)　Goo

FoodApril 1, 2016

Korean novel enthralls Mexican young adults

A Korean young adult novel is gaining popularity in Mexico, with positive reviews spreading via social media, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea said Friday. 　“Wizard Bakery” by Koo Byung-mo was published by Mexican publisher Nostra Ediciones under the translated title “La Panaderia Encantada” in December last year. 　Since then, the novel has been receiving positive responses on social media. Readers have posted reviews on over 30 blogs, prompting the publishing house to produce a sho

BooksApril 1, 2016

Electric bike tour gives cyclists taste of city’s trendiest restaurants

AUSTIN, Texas — These cyclists don’t choke down PowerBars or Gatorade. They’re not interested in going fast or finishing first. And Spandex shorts? Forget it.　Frankly, they prefer a slow-moving roll, fueled by bacon ravioli, glazed Brussels sprouts and trendy cocktails. As for appropriate gear, a dress and high-heeled boots will do just fine.　“I was a little bit scared, because I’m not the most coordinated person,” said Nicole Khalife of New York, who, along with her friend Mary Kenney of Chicag

TravelApril 1, 2016

Gyeran mari (rolled omelet) with gim

This Korean rolled omelet, gyeran mari, is made with gim (dried seaweed sheet). 　Gyeran mari is a staple side dish that is typically made with chopped vegetables. This gim variation uses a whole gim sheet. Gyeran mari is made by cooking beaten eggs into a thin sheet until almost set, then folding in layers, and cutting into pretty, eye-catching slices. 　It’s an easy dish to whip up! The key to making gyeran mari that’s tender and delicious is to cook it over a gentle heat. If the heat is too hig

FoodApril 1, 2016