V.O.S reunites as trio after 6 years apart

Vocal group V.O.S has released its first EP as a trio in six years, bringing back member Park Ji-hun to join Choi Hyun-joon and Kim Kyung-rok for the first time since his departure from the group in 2010.　According to Park, they owed their reunion to Lee Joo-won, the CEO of their agency HappyFace Entertainment. 　“We had been apart for so long that it became uncomfortable to tell each other how we felt (about the reunion),” he told reporters at a media showcase at the Art Hall on Wednesday.　“He a

PerformanceJan. 14, 2016

Bohjalian explores light and dark side of upper-middle class

A well-heeled Wall Streeter, generally considered a good guy, agrees to throw a bachelor party at his suburban Westchester house for his slightly sleazy younger brother. With his wife and daughter in the city for the night, he allows -- despite his own uneasiness -- strippers at the bash.　This will not end well.　But we can‘t predict just what a disastrous turn the party will take. Within the first few pages of “The Guest Room,” the latest novel by prolific author Chris Bohjalian, the booze-fuele

BooksJan. 14, 2016

The saga of the resilient beaver

Reading natural history is fraught with a particular kind of peril. The typical progression from “here are amazing facts” to “there used to be [X] million of these majestic creatures, until humans wiped them out” is a disappointing road. "Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver" by Frances Backhouse(ECW Press)　Frances Backhouse’s “Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver” starts down that path, but the story ends in a slightly more upbeat place. The once ubiquitous beaver

BooksJan. 14, 2016

Kalman pays tribute to the dogs of life

Noted illustrator and author Maira Kalman‘s thesis statement couldn’t be clearer: “You, reading this book, most likely have, or had, a dog, You certainly know that your dog is, or was, the dearest, funniest, lovingest, loyalest friend you ever had.” "Beloved Dog" by Maira Kalman (Penguin)　Oddly enough, Kalman grew up in a family without dogs, in part because her family feared the way the animals were used against Jewish people in their ancestral Belarus, and in part because her mother, and her g

BooksJan. 14, 2016

ROK Ultimate set to kick off spring season

Whether you’re a dedicated disc chaser or just want to try a new sport, the Republic of Korea Ultimate is seeking your involvement as it recruits players for its spring season.The season includes 15 regular matches of Ultimate, the team sport played with a flying disc, followed by a playoff round scheduled for June. Dante Greeff of the HongSeong Ajumafia makes a catch as his team celebrates against Gyeongnam Feel in ROK-U’s fall season last year. (Ron Genech)ROK-U organizers Tom Capranica and Ge

Expat LivingJan. 13, 2016

Expat film fest seeks movie reviewers

The Korea International Expat Film Festival is returning for a second run this year and seeking film lovers to help review the submissions. Last year, KIXFF screened 48 films by and about expats from around the world over four days, along with Q&As with directors and other events.The organizers are expecting more submissions this year, and are looking to see how they can make the festival better.People gather for a rooftop screening at last year’s Korea International Expat Film Festival. (Lofbom

Expat LivingJan. 13, 2016

Top Korea image award praises ‘creativity of hallyu’

K-pop sensation Psy accepted an award from a nonprofit organization as a representative on behalf of the “creativity of hallyu,” Tuesday night. At the Corea Image Communication Institute’s annual awards ceremony, CICI Korea Image Awards 2016, in Seoul, Psy was joined by the cast of the popular cable TV talk show “Non-Summit” and violinist Clara Jumi Kang in accepting awards for spreading Korean culture overseas.Awards recipients pose for press photos with CICI president Choi Jung-wha (third from

CultureJan. 13, 2016

Virtual reality ― the future of content

Ever wondered what it would be like traveling in space? Or diving deep underwater alongside whales and turtles? How about being a hero fighting crime?Ordinary people may not be able to experience these firsthand, but they can indirectly experience them through the emerging technology of virtual reality.Visitors try out virtual reality headsets at the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. (KT)Just across from the headquarters of local PC gaming giant NCsoft, the

FilmJan. 13, 2016

‘Non-Summit’ panelists share thoughts on Korea

Four panelists from the hit JTBC show “Non-Summit Meeting” were honored Tuesday for their work in bridging cultural understanding between Koreans and non-Koreans. At the CICI 2016 gala evening, hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute, Tyler Rasch (U.S.), Alberto Mondi (Italy), Guillaume Patry (Canada) and Zhang Yuan (China) shared their thoughts on Korea while accepting the Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award. Guillaume Patry (Yonhap)Patry, who is a former professional gamer, noted

TelevisionJan. 13, 2016

Bowie finale soars on charts after death shock

NEW YORK (AFP) - David Bowie’s final album soared toward the top of the charts Tuesday after the music legend’s death from cancer stunned the world, with the details still shrouded in mystery two days on.　“Blackstar,” released on Bowie’s 69th birthday Friday, was on course to be the first number-one album in the United States for the quintessentially avant-garde artist who lived his last two decades in New York but enjoyed greater mainstream success in his native Britain. Christopher Schwartz lo

PerformanceJan. 13, 2016

Waxing nostalgic over vinyl records

LAS VEGAS (AFP) -- Turntables turned heads as a renewed love of old-time vinyl records struck a chord at the famously futuristic Consumer Electronics Show.　Sony, Panasonic, Victrola and Audio-Technica were among the companies showing off turntables boasting digital-age spins such as high-resolution audio or wirelessly connecting to speakers.　Turntable-makers at CES told of vinyl records being all the rage after years of digital tunes dominating the music industry.　Sony Electronics president Mike

Arts & DesignJan. 13, 2016

Local publisher Hangilsa seeks to revive interest in novels through ‘My Struggle’

Confronting growing problems in the Korean literary landscape, such as a continuing decline in book reading, plagiarism and the unpopularity of novels, Hangilsa Publishing, a Korean publisher based in Paju, Gyeonngi Province, seeks to turn the tide with a new book from Norway.In celebration of its 40th anniversary this year, the company has published the first volume of the Korean translation of autobiographical novel “My Struggle,” by Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgard. Hangilsa is known for h

BooksJan. 13, 2016

Highest Korea image award given for 'creativity of hallyu'

K-pop sensation Psy accepted an award from a nonprofit organization as a representative on behalf of the “creativity of hallyu,” Tuesday night. 　At the Corea Image Communication Institute’s annual awards ceremony, CICI Korea Image Awards 2016, in Seoul, Psy was joined by the cast of the popular cable TV talk show “Non-Summit” and violinist Clara Jumi Kang in accepting awards for spreading Korean culture overseas.Psy accepts the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award for “creativity of hallyu” from CIC

EntertainmentJan. 13, 2016

Pop artist Mari Kim explores alien life

Artist Mari Kim, known for the big-eyed, cartoon-like female characters in her pop art paintings, explores the eccentric concept of intelligent aliens in her solo exhibition. One of the leading figures in the Korean pop art scene, Kim transforms her “eyedolls” into aliens disguised as human beings, revealing her long-held belief in intelligent alien beings. Her solo exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery showcases 189 paintings, installations, sculptures and video works -- her visual exploration of extr

PerformanceJan. 13, 2016

Local indie rock band to release debut album in U.K.

Up-and-coming local indie duo Dead Buttons has signed on with U.K. record label Baltic Records to release its first full-studio album, “Some Kind of Youth,” in both Korea and the U.K., the Love Rock Company announced Tuesday.The upcoming debut album, which was produced by iconic rocker Kim In-su of Crying Nut, will drop in Korea Thursday, while its U.K. release date is scheduled for some time later this May.  Dead Buttons (Love Rock Company)The young Korean rockers Hong Ji-hyun (guitar and lead

PerformanceJan. 13, 2016