The Korea Herald

Filmmaker Spike Lee to boycott Oscars over all-white nominees

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee said Monday that he is boycotting the Oscars next month because for the second year in a row all the nominees in the actor categories are white.　Separately, black actress Jada Pinkett Smith said she too would not be attending the Feb. 28 star-studded ceremony. 　Lee, an African-American and previous Oscar winner, posted an open letter to the president and board of governors of the Academy Awards on Instagram. The post was accompanied by a photo of

FilmJan. 19, 2016

Zico releases ‘It Was Love’ teaser

Zico, the leader of hip-hop idol group Block B, released a teaser music video for his new song “It was Love” on YouTube at midnight, Monday.　“It was love,” the second track on Zico’s new special single to be released Jan. 25, is a ballad with a sensitive melody, which will display the new possibility of Zico as a true musician, according to Seven Seasons, the group’s agency. Stills from a teaser for Block B member Zico‘s new song “It Was Love,” released Tuesday (Seven Seasons)　The music video s

PerformanceJan. 19, 2016

Gang Dong-won signs with YG Entertainment

Gang Dong-won, one of the country’s top movie stars, signed an exclusive contract with YG Entertainment on his birthday, Jan. 18, according to YG Entertainment.　YG Entertainment posted a congratulatory image welcoming Gang to the YG family, which represents global stars including Psy, Big Bang, Cha Seung-won, and Choi Ji-woo, as well as celebrating his birthday on their official blog, www.yg-life.com. A poster congratulating Gang Dong-won on his birthday and joining YG Entertainment (YG Entertai

FilmJan. 19, 2016

Gang Dong-won signs with YG Entertainment

[Newsmaker] JYP in tight spot over Tzuyu furor

JYP Entertainment, the smallest of Korea’s three main entertainment agencies, is under fire for its handling of the controversy surrounding Taiwanese K-pop star Tzuyu, in which the company made a politically charged statement.The agency’s official homepage was down yesterday and its shares fell nearly to 4,000 won ($3.30) when the stock market opened Monday, down from a 52-week high of over 6,300 won. It closed at 4,300 won. Tzuyu is part of JYP’s multinational nine-member girl group Twice, whic

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

[Newsmaker] JYP in tight spot over Tzuyu furor

Mother of Taiwanese K-pop singer hopes flag controversy will end soon

The mother of a 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop singer, who was apparently forced to apologize for waving the island's flag, has told Taiwanese media that she hopes the situation will ease and her daughter can "sing and dance pleasantly again." The K-pop singer, Chou Tzu-yu, waved Taiwan's national flag on a South Korean entertainment TV program in November. The flag-waving image of Chou, who performs under the name of Tzuyu as a member of the South Korean girl band TWICE, sparked a row in mainland

EntertainmentJan. 18, 2016

The success of the TV series "Reply 1988" has translated into a widespread demand for retro goods and family values at a time when empathy between generations is harder to come by.Set in the 1980s when South Korea underwent major political and economic changes, the series that ended Saturday struck a chord with those yearning for the good old days. Perhaps more importantly though, it managed to captivate younger generations with a storyline and characters they could identify with.Those factors c

CultureJan. 18, 2016

Cultural belt to operate in full swing this year

The government said Monday it will push the operation of its “cultural convergence belt” into high gear this year while rendering full support to start-ups that have moved into the government-run cultural venture complex in central Seoul.　The government will also intensively cultivate the country’s promising cultural content, such as computer games and webtoons, and build a platform for circulating the country’s “killer content” worldwide.　These were included in a 2016 work plan that the Ministr

CultureJan. 18, 2016

‘Red Point’ filled with Teen Top touch

Sextet boy group Teen Top’s latest EP “Red Point” is packed with music and lyrics from the members themselves, showing that they are slowly making the evolution from an idol group to a crew of self-producing musicians.　“The members all began writing music and lyrics last year,” leader C.A.P told reporters at a media showcase at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul on Monday. “The whole team is moving in that direction.”　“I think we all began writing so that we could perform the music that each of us wanted,”

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

Original cast of French musical ‘Mozart, L’Opera Rock’ to come to Korea

The French musical “Mozart, L’Opera Rock (Mozart, The Rock Opera)” will make its way to Korea, bringing its original cast for the first time in March. 　The show with the original cast will also be making its Asian premiere at Daegu Keimyung Art Center in Daegu from March 3-6 and at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from March 12-April 24. Its Korean-language production was previously staged in both cities in 2012. A scene from “Mozart, L’Opera Rock” (Mast Entertainment)　The origina

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

Original cast of French musical ‘Mozart, L’Opera Rock’ to come to Korea

Bowie finally tops chart in U.S., adopted home, after death

NEW YORK (AFP) -- David Bowie’s final album on Sunday hit No. 1 in the United States, his adopted home, with the British music legend posthumously achieving a feat he never managed in life.　“Blackstar,” which was released two days before Bowie’s Jan. 10 death from a secret battle with cancer, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart for the week through Thursday.　Amid the outpouring of grief, Bowie not only scored his first U.S. No. 1 album but became among the rare artists to have two in t

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

Indecent exposure: artist arrested for nude pose in Paris museum

PARIS (AFP) -- A woman has been arrested for indecent exposure after lying down naked in Paris’ Musee d’Orsay in front of Edouard Manet’s similarly nude painting of the prostitute Olympia, her lawyer said Sunday.　Museum-goers were enjoying an exhibition entitled “Splendour and Misery: Images of Prostitution 1850-1910” when Luxembourg artist Deborah de Robertis got undressed and took on the pose of the famed Olympia. “Olympia” by Edouard Manet. Luxembourt artist Deborah de Robertis was arrested S

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

Indecent exposure: artist arrested for nude pose in Paris museum

Splashes of color at Milan runways

MILAN (AP) -- The worlds of music, fashion and art continued their long collaboration on the menswear runways of Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.　　Missoni creative director Angela Missoni says collaborations between the art world and fashion, which her father pioneered decades ago, have become ever more natural. Models wear creations for Salvatore Ferragamo men’s fall-winter 2016-2017 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Sunday. (AP-Yonhap)　``There are fewer taboo

Arts & DesignJan. 18, 2016

The Beach Boys to hold first Korea concert at Conrad Seoul

Iconic 1960s American rock band the Beach Boys will hold a concert at Conrad Seoul Grand Ballroom on March 21.　Titled “An intimate evening at Conrad Seoul; featuring America’s iconic band, The Beach Boys,” the band’s first ever performance in Korea will offer a special opportunity to experience the Beach Boys’ performance from right in front of the stage, Conrad Seoul said in a press release. American rock band “The Beach Boys” (Conrad Seoul)　A legendary rock band known for surf music, including

PerformanceJan. 18, 2016

The Beach Boys to hold first Korea concert at Conrad Seoul

Gov't to operate cultural belt in full swing this year

The government said Monday it will kick the operation of its "cultural convergence belt" into high gear this year while rendering full support to startups that have moved into the government-run cultural venture complex in central Seoul.The government will also intensively cultivate the country's promising cultural content, such as computer games and webtoons, and build a platform for circulating the country's "killer content" worldwide.These were included in a 2016 work plan that the Ministry o

CultureJan. 18, 2016

Students' gift throws lifeline to specialty burger shop

The delectable smell of stir-frying minced meat and vegetables fills the air of a small, cozy burger shop in front of Korea University run by "Uncle Lee Young-chul," effectively driving out the strong odors of the newly renovated space. "I never imagined finding myself standing in front of this iron fry top again this soon when I shut my business down last summer," Lee said.With his shop reopened two weeks earlier, Lee was all smiles as he was busy making pork patties for his signature "Street B

FoodJan. 18, 2016

‘Reply 1988’ ends with record viewership

TV drama “Reply 1988” aired its grand finale Saturday, breaking all records to go down as the most popular cable broadcast of all time. 　On Saturday, 19.6 percent of viewers tuned in to watch the 20th and final episode of the retro-drama that debuted in November, broadcaster tvN said. 　With the record viewership, the drama became the most popular cable broadcast and TV drama here, proving it’s possible for cable channels to create big hits. From left: Lee Hye-ri, Go Kyung-pyo, Ryu Jun-yeol and

TelevisionJan. 17, 2016

‘Reply 1988’ ends with record viewership

Activist, author Shin Young-bok dies at 75

Activist and author Shin Young-bok, a professor at Sungkonghoe University best known for writing “Reflections from Prison,” containing his thoughts while imprisoned during the military-backed government, passed away Friday from skin cancer. He was 75.Shin was imprisoned for his pro-democracy ideas in 1968, accused of being part of the Tongil Hyeongmyeongdang (Unification Revolution) party. He remained imprisoned for 20 years until he was released through a special pardon on the Aug. 15 Liberatio

PeopleJan. 17, 2016

Activist, author Shin Young-bok dies at 75

New generation of Korean abstract art

Amid the unprecedented boom of Korean art in the global art scene driven by the popularity of dansaekhwa, monochrome painting, Korean galleries are raising their antennas to search out the post-dansaekhwa generation. Untitled-12050 by Lee Kang-wook (Arario Gallery)In their relentless search for new artists, Arario Gallery has introduced artist Lee Kang-wook in its first exhibition of the fresh new year. Lee has just returned to the local art scene after a seven-year hiatus. In 2009, Lee left K

CultureJan. 17, 2016

Weekend Box Office Guide: Jan. 16-17

Headed to the theaters this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide to the latest films to hit the big screen in Korea.Mood of the Day (Korea)Romantic comedy. Directed by Cho Ku-jang　Opened Jan. 14　Su-jeong (Moon Chae-won) and Jae-hyeon (Yoo Yeon-seok) are two strangers who find themselves as seat neighbors on a train to Busan. The confident, suave Jae-hyeon is attracted to Su-jeong, and proposes a one-night stand -- but she won’t have any of it. Will he be able to convince her to come over to

FilmJan. 15, 2016

[Weekender] Korea’s urban regeneration projects

Instead of tearing down buildings and starting anew, regions across Korea have given neglected areas a new purpose for public use. Here are eight urban renewal projects that aim to transform rural, run-down or deserted areas into praised landmarks.　Seoul Station overpass SeoulThe Seoul city government plans to transform Seoul Station overpass, a 1-kilometer-long section of a flyover near Seoul Station, into a pedestrian walkway as part of its urban renewal projects. Dubbed Korea’s version of New

TravelJan. 15, 2016

[Weekender] Korea’s urban regeneration projects