MMCA to be part of ‘Asian Avant-Garde’ project

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea will take part in a long-term art research project that seeks to define and study Asian avant-garde art trends in conjunction with major art institutions in Tokyo, Singapore and London. 　The MMCA will participate in the “Asian Avant-Garde” project as part of its goal to expand its global presence with the Tate Modern, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and National Gallery of Singapore. Bartomeu Mari, director of the MMCA, announces

PerformanceMarch 20, 2016

G-Dragon features on ‘Harlem Shake’ producer’s new album

Rapper G-Dragon of K-pop boy band Big Bang has collaborated with Baauer, best known for his 2013 hit song “Harlem Shake,” on a song on the American producer’s debut LP “Aa” released Friday.　“Temple,” the ninth track on the album, features G-Dragon rapping in both Korean and English to a hypnotic trap melody, alongside British rapper M.I.A. Screenshot of music video for “Temple,” produced by Baauer and featuring G-Dragon and M.I.A (YouTube)　This is the second time the two artists have collaborate

PerformanceMarch 20, 2016

Comedian-turned-director's new movie 'D-War II' due next year

BEIJING (Yonhap) -- Comedian-turned-film director Shim Hyung-rae announced Saturday the production of a sequel to his fantasy movie “D-War” from 2007.　The sequel, “D-War II,” is the first “Hollywood-class” science fiction movie to be produced in China, Shim said at a news conference in Beijing.　Production will begin around June with the movie slated for release worldwide in the summer of 2017, he said. 　With the new movie, Shim said he aims to generate more than 4 billion yuan ($618 million) in

FilmMarch 20, 2016

[Weekender] Will ‘Descendants’ spur film-style TV drama production?

Almost everyone is talking about “Descendants of the Sun,” the latest joint Korea-China television drama project.Fans have fallen head over heels into the love story between an Army captain played by Song Joong-ki and a doctor played by Song Hye-kyo in a faraway, natural disaster-hit country. Critics, meanwhile, predict that this blockbuster will boost KBS, a network broadcaster that has been lagging behind MBC, SBS and even cable channels such as tvN in dramas.A scene from “Descendants of the S

TelevisionMarch 18, 2016

[Weekender] Stars reap rewards of hallyu drama success

Behind the glory of hallyu dramas are the star-studded casts. After garnering attention abroad in Korean dramas -- mainly other Asian countries including China and Japan -- stars quickly jump into dramas and variety shows thereOverseas endorsements, and fan meetings follow, consolidating their positions, as well as the prominent status of hallyu.Starting with the unexpected success of the KBS2 TV drama series “Winter Sonata” which aired on Japanese satellite channel BS2 in 2003, the drama’s prot

TelevisionMarch 18, 2016

[Weekender] TV dramas exert tourist pull

As worldwide interest in Korean entertainment and content continues its global thrust, the city of Seoul is starting to see an influx in “hallyu-based” tourism, leading to the establishment of Korean drama-inspired tourist guides to assist die-hard fans in tracking down the filming locations of their favorite Korean dramas. “Not long ago, something strange happened on a cold winter day in China -- fried chicken and beer starting selling like hotcakes,” reads VisitSeoul’s Hallyu Tourist Guide. “T

TelevisionMarch 18, 2016

[Weekender] How Korean dramas hook global viewers

A longtime fan of Korean dramas, Yu Yijie, a 25-year-old Chinese graduate student at Kookmin University, instantly fell for Korean entertainment watching “Full House,” starring Rain and Song Hye-kyo, which aired in 2004.　Since then, she has watched every popular Korean drama and gradually developed an interest in drama production.　“I thought I would come to Korea (to study) when I was watching ‘My Girl’ in 2005, which was a huge hit in China, starring Lee Jun-ki and Lee Da-hae,” said Yu, in a ph

TelevisionMarch 18, 2016

[Weekender] ‘Makjang’: Escape into the absurd

A vindictive mother-in-law slaps the male lead with a thick wedge of kimchi. Neon green laser beams shoot out of a businessman’s eyes. A woman fakes her own death, gets plastic surgery and remarries her ex-husband to take revenge.　These are scenarios that have actually aired on prime-time Korean television series, and moreover been met with favorable ratings. Locally, these types of shows are referred to as “makjang” -- vernacular for situations that seem too outrageous to be true. The genre is

TelevisionMarch 18, 2016

Actor Lee Byung-hun wins best actor at Asian Film Awards

Actor Lee Byung-hun won the award for best actor for his performance in “Inside Men” at the 10th Asian Film Awards on Wednesday. 　Lee, who starred as mobster Ahn Sang-goo in the box office hit political thriller, received the prize at the ceremony on March 17 at the Venetian Theater in Macau.　“Inside Men,” which opened to much acclaim in local theaters last November and sold over 9 million tickets, is slated for release in Hong Kong on April 21, according to reports. Actor Lee Byung-hun poses wi

FilmMarch 18, 2016

[EYE] Grandma’s lifelong prayer answered

When Korean-American author Helie Lee wrote her first book, “Still Life with Rice,” she had no inkling that it would endanger the lives of her extended family in North Korea.　Having moved to Canada as a 4-year-old and settled in the U.S. a year later, Lee’s life could have been described as that of the typical “1.5 generation” in the U.S. -- one foot here and the other there, the generation that did not feel completely comfortable in either Korea or the U.S. 　“I am (part of the) 1.5 generation,

PeopleMarch 18, 2016

Korean chicken noodle soup at Woo Hyung-joon Rice Mill

At Woo Hyung-joon Rice Mill, a new Korean restaurant that opened in January, the carbs are the real draw, from extra-chewy, glossy noodles strewn in chicken broth to nutty chicken porridge. The key to all those tasty carbs lies in the rice. “They say freshly milled grains are the backbone for very good rice,” said owner Woo Hyung-joon, which is why, he added, he and his team mill their grains.For the chicken porridge, Woo uses brown rice, allowing those hearty grains to add an earthy flavor to a

FoodMarch 18, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals in Korea

Chicken and beer in Daegu　The 2016 Chimac Festival, featuring Korea’s beloved combination of crispy fried chicken and cold beer, returns to Daegu.　The local government has approved selling beer at this year’s festival and fried chicken and beer will be sold in large quantities at booths throughout the festival grounds. Musical performances by K-pop stars will accompany the food and drinks.　The festival will take place at Duryu Park in Daegu’s Seongdang-dong from July 27-31. For inquiries, call (

TravelMarch 18, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

　Franny　(U.S.)　Opened March 17　　Drama. Directed by Andrew Renzi　A mysterious philanthropist (Richard Gere) begins to show an obsessive interest in a newly married couple (Dakota Fanning and Theo James) and becomes deeply involved in their lives. “Franny,” also titled “The Benefactor,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last April. 　　Risen　(U.S.)　Opened March 17　　Biblical drama. Directed by Kevin Reynolds　When the body of Jesus of Nazareth (Cliff Curtis) goes missing, Pontius Pilate (Peter Fi

FilmMarch 18, 2016

Uninspired tour programs discourage return visits to Korea: survey 　

Substandard tours and a dearth of activities are the top reasons why foreign visitors do not want to return to Korea, according to a survey released Thursday.　The online survey of 206 local opinion leaders and 203 foreigners who have been to Korea was conducted by the cultural and tourism promotion body 5.4 Club. 　The organization was founded by Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha and Didier Beltoise, president of Cs, a hospitality consulting firm. 5.4 Club members pose a

CultureMarch 17, 2016

Viewers to choose ending in new Web drama ‘Click Your Heart’

In the new Web drama series “Click Your Heart,” released Thursday, viewers will be given a chance to choose the ending they want. The Web drama, featuring Kwon Mina of AOA and nine rookies of FNC Entertainment, will allow viewers to select from two stories of different casts and endings, a novel approach in the Web drama format. "It’s my first time acting in a Web drama with two different endings. I had a great time shooting with the actors and director Min Doo-sik,” said Kwon at a press confere

March 17, 2016