While Korean monochrome art, dansaekhwa, movement continues to garner international attention as a unique abstract art movement in Asia, curators and art critics in Korea are looking to highlight other important artistic movements. 　Gana Art Center is presenting works of eight artists who led the minjung art movement and realism art that reflected Korea’s fast-changing social and political environment in the 1980s and 1990s. 　Another exhibition, also backed by Gana Art Foundation, an affiliate o

PerformanceJan. 24, 2016

The Korea Association of Futures Studies held a launching ceremony Friday and elected Lee Kwang-hyung of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology as its founding president.Lee, currently a dean of KAIST Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy, will head the group devoted to research in the field of future studies, including establishment of state-level strategy, education in the field and hosting conferences. He will lead the group for two years. Lee Kwang-hyungProfessors at colle

PeopleJan. 24, 2016

YG Entertainment released a video Saturday titled “Zion.T – ‘Baby Baby’ by Winner Cover 03” on its official blog, www.yg-life.com.　This is the third time that other musicians have released their own version of Winner’s upcoming song “Baby Baby.” A still from “Zion.T-‘Baby Baby’ by Winner Cover 03” (YG Entertainment)　The prerelease promotion of the album by Winner, a five-member idol group affiliated with YG Entertainment, began Jan. 21. The promotion presents part of Winner’s new song “Baby Baby

PerformanceJan. 24, 2016

PARK CITY (AFP) - A documentary about James Foley, the U.S. journalist slain by the Islamic State group, premiered to a standing ovation on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, leaving few dry eyes in the audience.　Directed by Brian Oakes, a childhood friend, “Jim: The James Foley Story” chronicles the life of the journalist through interviews with his family, friends and fellow reporters who had worked or were held captive with him in Syria. Composer J. Ralph (left) and recording artist Stin

FilmJan. 24, 2016

Actor Lee Byung-hun, one of the country’s top stars, has accepted the invitation to be a presenter at the 88th Academy Awards on Feb. 28, Lee’s agency BH Entertainment said Saturday.　Lee made his Hollywood debut with “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” in 2009, playing Storm Shadow. Since then, he has been holding his place as a Hollywood movie star with “Terminator Genisys” and “Red: the Legend.” Lee Byung-hun poses for photos at the Korean Film Actors Association awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt S

FilmJan. 24, 2016

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AFP) -- San Sebastian kicked off its year as the European Capital of Culture Saturday with a concert on the beach as the northern Spanish city pushes a banner of peace years after being hit by waves of violence.　The traditional “tamborrada,” a drum festival originating in the early 19th century that is held in the city every January, took place on San Sebastien‘s beach as thousands of men, women and children watched, while an outdoor show created by Cirque du Soleil choreog

CultureJan. 24, 2016

PARIS (AFP) - When Kris Van Assche was designing the new Dior menswear collection, he had a very specific person in mind, he told AFP Saturday as it debuted on the Paris catwalk.“It‘s a young Parisian who creates a skate park in the 800-square-meter apartment he lives in a (historic) Haussmannian building,” the Belgian designer said. Models wear creations as part of Dior men‘s Fall-Winter 2016-2017 fashion collection, presented in Paris, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)　Mere mortals may wonder if such a pe

Arts & DesignJan. 24, 2016

Savoring traditional Korean soju requires five steps, similar to wine tasting. You have to look at the color, smell the aroma, sip and hold it in the mouth for several seconds before letting it slide down the throat and enjoying the slowly spreading scent inside the nose and throat. “A good soju is soft and makes you smile,” said artisan Kim Taek-sang at his brewing studio at Samcheong-ro in Jongno, central Seoul. Kim, who was named Seoul Intangible Cultural Asset No. 8 in 1990, has carried on t

CultureJan. 22, 2016

Drinking is almost a national sport in Korea, and soju takes a large chunk of the market.Soju is so popular that the fact that mineral water sales outpaced those of soju at one of Korea’s largest supermarket chains made headlines in 2015. Soju comes in many shapes and guises, ranging from the cheap but effective brands that cost about $1 a bottle at a supermarket to those produced using traditional methods with significantly higher price tags. Regardless of the quality of soju, “anju,” or food e

FoodJan. 22, 2016

Christine Cho, a Korean-American expat in Seoul, has been eating and cooking her way around the world for 16 years as a private chef. -- Ed.The list is long as to what one should eat on Jejudo Island as a visitor, but it is a top culinary destination. Some of the most flavorful fruits and vegetables in the country grow on the island and it is prized for its Jeju black pigs and the abundance of seafood from the surrounding waters. Jeju black pig is a heritage breed indigenous to the island and pr

FoodJan. 22, 2016

Non-profit publishing house Olje released the 17th set in its “Olje Classics” series Thursday, focusing on the art of writing.The four-book series includes “Classic of Poetry,” the oldest collection of Chinese poetry in existence, “The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons,” a treatise on Chinese literary aesthetics, Aristotle’s “Poetics,” and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”According to Olje, these classic texts have been reinterpreted for the series. “Classic of Poetry” has been

BooksJan. 22, 2016

Thinking about watching a movie this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide to the top movies playing on the big screen.A Melody to Remember (Korea)Drama, war. Directed by Lee HanOpened Jan. 21　Sang-ryeol (Im Si-wan) is a soldier who has lost everyone he loves in the Korean War. He is sent to another division, and meets a group of children who have lost everything, just like him. Along with volunteer teacher Ju-mi (Ko A-sung), he creates a children’s choir to bring a little warmth to the cold

FilmJan. 22, 2016

The Legend“Sound Up!”(Loen Entertainment)　It’s almost a shame that “Sound Up!” wasn’t boy group The Legend’s first EP. Making a 180-degree flip from rookie group’s original pained, brooding image, “Sound Up!” brings out the commercial pop appeal of the group, who had previously had trouble getting off the ground despite the tall, handsome looks. The five-track EP kicks off with the lead track “Crush on You,” a funky, fun and brass-heavy dance track about a guy who falls in love at first sight wi

PerformanceJan. 22, 2016

JQ“Paper Moon”(Bugs)　Singer-songwriter and rapper JQ’s music is always easy on the ears. Although he is a rapper, his songs are catchy and rhythmic and never overbearing. Perhaps the reason that his music is so listener-friendly is that he is best-known for being the rap coach for artists at SM Entertainment such as TVXQ, Super Junior, and EXO. On his sixth EP “Paper Moon” JQ aptly demonstrates that he has a full understanding of how to shape rap for a pop audience.The six tracks each take on a

PerformanceJan. 22, 2016