London’s Saatchi gallery opens landmark women-only show

LONDON (AFP) - For the first time in its 30-year history, London’s influential Saatchi Gallery is holding a female-only exhibition, showcasing 14 of the brightest stars in the art world.　Exhibits at the “Champagne Life” show include stuffed animals, giant portraits, abstract sculptures and a giant wall of saucepans. A visitor views works on display during a preview of Champagne Life, the first Saatchi show entirely devoted to female artists, being held at Saatchi Gallery on Jan. 13-March 9. (Saa

PerformanceJan. 13, 2016

Feel warm ‘energy of life’

Spring seems to have arrived early at 313 Art Project gallery in Seoul, despite the subzero temperatures outside. A warm yellow vibe fills the cold gallery space, created with bright LED lights emitted through thin layers of vinyl sheets in different shades of yellow. The installation by artist Park Ki-won invites visitors to experience the warmth of spring that makes seeds sprout and flowers bloom. The air, carrying a winter chill, makes one feel like being out on a cold spring day. “Temperatur

PerformanceJan. 12, 2016

Kakao stands to dominate K-pop market with Loen acquisition

A seismic shift may be in store for the local entertainment industry after tech giant Kakao’s entrance to the market, upon its acquisition of Loen Entertainment, the operator of MelOn, Korea’s top music-streaming service.　The big buy, which gives the maker of mobile messenger KakaoTalk a 76.4 percent stake in Loen worth 1.87 trillion won ($1.55 billion) later this month, could open a greater platform for the company to create new music services, on top of access to Loen’s plethora of entertainme

PerformanceJan. 12, 2016

Top stars billed for ‘Like for Likes’

Veteran stars, rising stars and rookies are all coming together to form the cast of the highly anticipated omnibus romantic comedy “Like for Likes,” from director Park Hyun-jin. 　Featuring accomplished actresses Lee Mi-yeon and Choi Ji-woo, 2015’s trendiest actor Yoo Ah-in (“Veteran,” “The Throne”), TV variety show star Kim Joo-hyuk (“1 Night, 2 Days”), Kang Ha-neul (“Twenty”) and model and actress E Som, the film shows how three different 21st century couples fall in love using social media. 　T

FilmJan. 12, 2016

KARA nears disbandment

The disbandment of girl group KARA is imminent with the Feb. 2 termination of the three members’ contracts with DSP Media, the group’s agency. KARA (DSP Media)　Park Gyu-ri, Han Seung-yeon, and Goo Ha-ra, the oldest members of KARA, have not declared their intention to renew the contracts, which implies the termination of their contracts. The standard practice is to renew a contract months before its expiration, according to industry insiders.　DSP Media has yet to officially announce the group’s

PerformanceJan. 12, 2016

Tahiti‘s Jisoo claims harassment

Singer Jisoo of group Tahiti uploaded a screenshot Monday showing what she claims is a message from a “sponsorship broker” on Instagram. She added, “This kind of messages upsets me. You keep messaging me and commenting on every photo I upload, which you need to stop immediately.” Tahiti Jisoo (Dream Star Entertainment)　Sponsorship broker in Korea refers to a person brokering sugar-daddy deals.　The broker, who claims to belong to a membership-only networking society, asked Jisoo to meet a member

PerformanceJan. 12, 2016

L7 lifestyle hotel to operate as ‘non-Lotte brand’: CEO

Lotte Hotels & Resorts’ new concept lifestyle hotel L7 Myeongdong seeks to promote itself as “hip, fun and trendy,” targeting mostly young female tourists in their 20s and 30s. Hotel Lotte CEO Song Yong-deok speaks during a press conference at L7 Myeongdong in Seoul on Monday. (Hotel Lotte)“We basically want L7 to run as a non-Lotte brand ― a totally new hotel ― and move away from our existing image,” said Hotel Lotte president & CEO Song Yong-deok at a press conference at L7 Myeongdong on Monda

TravelJan. 12, 2016

Sparking education for girls

 In Korea’s turbulent path toward independence and nation building, there were foreign nationals who stood steadfastly by the Korean people, although their contributions have been largely overshadowed by those of Korean patriots. The Korea Herald, in partnership with the Independence Hall of Korea, is publishing a series of articles shedding light on these foreigners, their life and legacies here. This is the 11th installment. ― Ed. The missionaries and their families in the Busan Missionary Uni

CultureJan. 11, 2016

Iranian literature showcased in Seoul

The Iranian Embassy has organized an exhibition that sheds light on the country’s literary masterpieces spanning over a thousand years. The event at the Seoul Metropolitan Library ― “For two eyes, for two hands, Persia” ― is a collection of Iran’s finest books, poems and folktales, as well as handicrafts and calligraphy, running until Jan. 24. Organized to mark the 37th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution of January 1978-February 1979, the venue showcases works of Persian Gulf intellectuals: O

PeopleJan. 11, 2016

Big-name directors flock back to big screen

After a year of crowd-pleasing action films such as “Assassination” and “Veteran,” the Korean box office gears up in 2016 to welcome back star directors who have received international critical acclaim for their artistically crafted films. The big names in Korean cinema are focusing their attention on period pieces, many of them choosing to base films on novels and true stories, and are bringing fail-proof star actors in their casts. Director Park Chan-wook, known for “Oldboy,” “Thirst” and “Sto

FilmJan. 11, 2016

DMZ art project opens residency program in border town

The DMZ Art Project, an annual exhibition project that takes place near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, invites Korean and international artists to work in residence in a border town from April to October this year. The residency program will take place in Yangji-ri in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, a two- to three-hour drive from Seoul. Artists live for three to seven months at a remodeled house in the rural village to explore the meaning of the DMZ and related issues in the regional and broader

PerformanceJan. 11, 2016

[Herald Review] Zedd kicks off ‘5 Nights’ series with some ‘clarity’

Adding fuel to the thriving electronica music craze in Korea, international electronic dance music phenom Zedd kick-started this year’s Hyundai Card “5 Nights” concert series with his solo performance at the AX-Korea stadium Friday night. Dance music fan or not, it would be hard to come across a music lover who has never once listened to a Zedd collaboration. Since his U.S. debut in 2012, the young artist has become one of the music world’s most popular mainstream DJs.A visual concert if there e

PerformanceJan. 11, 2016

[Herald Interview] Kim Ha-neul returns to big screen with ‘Remember You’

Actress Kim Ha-neul is known for her solid romantic comedy credentials, which she continued to build up after her 2003 hit film “My Tutor Friend.” So when it was announced that she would play the part of Jin-yeong opposite heartthrob actor Jung Woo-sung in the romantic film “Remember You,” many fans thought it was a natural choice. 　However, in an interview with reporters at a Seoul cafe on Wednesday, Kim said that “Remember You,” a mix of dramatic romance and mystery, was a different beast from

FilmJan. 10, 2016

CJ E&M launches mega K-pop project ‘Boys 24’

CJ E&M, one of the country’s largest entertainment companies, is investing 25 billion won ($20.6 million) over the next three years in a new idol group that will perform throughout the year at a permanent venue.  　Boys 24 project envisions 24 male performers, selected through auditions and professional training, holding live performances throughout the year at an exclusive venue, according to a press release issued by CJ E&M on Friday.  Poster of "Boys 24" (CJ E&M, Liveworks Company)　Boys 24’s s

PerformanceJan. 10, 2016

Certificate for Lee U-fan’s famous painting forged, say police

The certificate for the authenticity of Lee U-fan’s 1978 painting, sold at the December auction of Korea’s second-biggest auction house K Auction, was confirmed to be forged, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said. “We confirmed the certificate to be a fake after we had it appraised by experts,” police said Friday.The fake certificate for Lee’s painting “From Point No. 780217” has the same registration number as one that appears on the certificate for artist Kim Ki-chang’s landscape painting

PerformanceJan. 10, 2016