[Hallyu Power] Kim Jun-su remains ‘ticket power king’ despite legal hiccups

Kim Jun-su (C-JeS Entertainment)This is the third article in a series that explores the driving forces behind hallyu and the global rise of Korean pop culture. --Ed.Dubbed Korea’s “ticket power king” for his ability to sell out performances at the snap of a finger, K-pop and musical icon Kim Jun-su (also known as Xia) is inarguably one of the original driving forces of hallyu. Despite being entangled in a series of legal battles throughout his career, Kim has still managed to rise above all odds

Feb. 2, 2016

Classical music icon Cho Seong-jin back home

In a short span of time, pianist Cho Seong-jin has risen from an unknown musician to a household name in Korea who shatters classical music records. His popularity has grown since he won the highest prize at the prestigious International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition last October. “It’s been almost a year since I’ve been back in Korea and I’m both anxious and happy to be back,” said Cho, during a press conference at the Seoul Arts Center on Monday, just hours after he arrived back to Seoul.“

PerformanceFeb. 2, 2016

[Newsmaker] Former Arirang TV chief under probe for corporate fund misuse

The Culture Ministry has accepted the resignation of Bang Suk-ho, president & CEO of Arirang TV, Korea’s state-run English satellite and cable broadcaster. Bang submitted his resignation to the ministry on Monday after local media reported allegations of misuse of the company funds during his overseas trips last year. The ministry will continue its probe into the allegations, which began late Monday night, his resignation notwithstanding. “Bang is currently under investigation. The ministry will

TelevisionFeb. 2, 2016

Remembering ‘crazy Corean’ Nam June Paik

In 1963, Nam June Paik hung a blood-dripping cow head at the entrance of his first solo exhibition “Exposition of Music – Electronic Television” in Germany, shocking those at the scene and the German art circle. He continued to shock people with experimental and radical performances and said in several media interviews that he wanted to be remembered as a “crazy Corean.” At the same show, Joseph Beuys gave a performance in which he destroyed a piano on display with an axe. The performance was si

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2016

4minute brings love story, EDM twist in ‘Act. 7’

It has been nearly eight years since girl group 4minute burst onto the K-pop music scene with the catchy, colorful pop song “Hot Issue.” Since then, they have gone on to establish themselves as a “girl crush” group in K-pop, building up a large female fan base with their tough, party-hard style. 　With their new album “Act. 7” featuring the electronic dance music lead track “Hate,” 4minute stays the course, keeping up their party music while trying to add a more seasoned touch. 4minute poses for

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2016

New webtoon center opens on Seoul’s Cartoon Street

People can now create character figurines via 3-D printing at a new Webtoon Workshop Center on Cartoon Street, or Jaemiro, in Myeong-dong. The center, which aims to promote the webtoon culture, was opened by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday. It also showcases character figurines and posters from Korean webtoon as well as DC Comics and Marvel, such as Batman and Iron Man.  Webtoon Workshop Center on Cartoon Street in Myeong-dong opened to the public on Monday. (Yonhap)　The center will

CultureFeb. 1, 2016

[Herald Review] f(x) goes all out at first exclusive concert

The path leading to girl group f(x)’s first exclusive concert has been a long one. It has been nearly seven years since their debut and in this time, the group even lost one of their members. 　However, the group did not disappoint, delivering a stellar performance at “Dimension 4 – Docking Station” on the final day of a three-day concert at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul on Sunday. F(x) performs at Olympic Hall in Seoul on Sunday in “Dimension 4 -- Docking Station,” the group’s first exclus

Feb. 1, 2016

'Birth of a Nation’ wins jury, audience awards at Sundance

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nate Parker continued his victory lap around the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Saturday night when “The Birth of a Nation” took both the U.S. drama grand jury prize and the Audience Award. The historical slave rebellion drama had already broken the acquisition record when Fox Searchlight scooped it up for a cool $17.5 million, and quickly became the must-see of the festival, commanding reported $100 offers for tickets. Agnieszka Smoczynska, director of the Polish film “The L

FilmFeb. 1, 2016

Book with connection to Salem witch trials being auctioned

SALEM, Mass. (AP) --  A psalm book once owned by a judge in the Salem witch trials is being sold.The previously unknown seventh edition of "The Bay Psalm Book" that once belonged to Jonathan Corwin could sell for $40,000 when it is auctioned on Thursday by Swann Auction Galleries. This 2015 photo provided by Swann Auction Galleries shows a page of the seventh edition of “The Bay Psalm Book” that once belonged to Jonathan Corwin. Corwin was a judge during the 1692 Salem witch trials. (Yonhap)Corw

BooksFeb. 1, 2016

F(x) let loose for first concert

The members of SM Entertainment’s girl group f(x) said that they let themselves loosen up for their first solo concert, “Dimension 4 - Docking Station.”“We’re a group that always tries to be perfect, so we normally didn’t accept even the smallest mistakes (in our performances). But with this concert, we wanted to focus on being free and interacting more with our fans, so we made some more mistakes,” member Luna told reporters ahead of the concert‘s third and last show at Olympic Hall on Sunday.A

PerformanceJan. 31, 2016

Luna says f(x) music is trendy, global

Luna of SM Entertainment girl group f(x) said that f(x)’s music has been successful because it is global and trendy. The girl group is known for its high quality dance music in addition to its energetic performances. Billboard named the quartet’s latest album “4 Walls” the No. 2 K-pop album of 2015.“F(x) communicates a lot with composers from abroad, so we can connect better with our fans abroad. It also helps us to develop our musical color,” she said at a press conference before the Sunday per

PerformanceJan. 31, 2016