TV show ‘Real Men’ cast member injured in car accident

Comedian Kim Young-chul in military reality show "Real Men" (MBC)Comedian Kim Young-chul, currently a regular on MBC reality show “Real Men,” will not be able to appear on the show’s next episode due to a fractured finger resulting from a car accident.Two vehicles occupied by the “Real Men” cast and staff, including Kim, were involved in a five-way collision on the highway from Daegu to Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on Monday at 6 a.m., according to local police. Some 20 victims, including

TelevisionNov. 2, 2015

Mah, Hwang win Daesan literary awards

Poet Mah Chong-gi (left) and novelist Hwang Jeong-eun, winners of the 2015 Daesan Literary Awards (Daesan Foundation)Poet Mah Chong-gi and novelist Hwang Jung-eun have been named this year’s awardees for the 23rd Daesan Literary Awards, Korea’s largest annual literary accolade.Mah’s collection of poems “42 Shades of Green,” which deals with different colors the speaker encounters during a train ride, and Hwang Jung-eun’s “Let Me Continue,” a story of persistence through life’s hardships for one’

BooksNov. 2, 2015

Pianist Yundi flubs Seoul performance, angers local fans

Chinese piano prodigy Yundi Li’s recent Seoul performance has been making headlines -- not for an outstanding performance, but because of his tempo blunders and seemingly shameless attitude afterward. The 33-year-old pianist returned to Korea to play alongside the renowned Sydney Orchestra, which performed two shows on Oct. 30 and 31 at the Seoul Arts Center -- with Li performing as a soloist with the orchestra Friday and violinist Vadim Repin performing Saturday. Despite being referred to as a

PerformanceNov. 2, 2015

Local thrillers rule weekend box office

"Fatal Intuition" (CGV Arthouse)Local thriller flicks were the winners at the weekend box office, outdoing hit Hollywood films. According to data from the Korean Film Council on Sunday, actor Joo Won’s “Fatal Intuition” stayed at the top of the box office for four straight days, drawing a total of 450,000 viewers during the period. Prior to the release of “Fatal Intuition,” veteran actor Son Hyun-joo’s “The Phone,” which hit theaters on Oct. 22, was ranked in first, so far drawing 1.2 million mo

FilmNov. 1, 2015

K-pop boy bands to go head-to-head on music charts

Winner (YG Entertainment)Four popular K-pop boy bands are preparing for releases this month, signaling some formidable competition on the music charts. WINNER’s long-awaited album is due out this month after two more music videos for the album are recorded in Korea. The group’s agency, YG Entertainment, said earlier that WINNER had just returned from Sweden, where the band shot music videos for two tracks on the album.The five-member group’s return to the music scene overlaps with that of iKon,

PerformanceNov. 1, 2015

[Herald Interview] Joo Won pursues endless change

Actor Joo Won is one of the hottest rising stars in Korea today, having built an impressive repertoire crossing the stage, TV and the silver screen.He is best known for his roles as a doctor suffering from autism in the drama “Good Doctor” and his current role across actress Kim Tae-hee in the drama “Yong-pal.”The Korea Herald sat down with the 28-year-old actor for an interview at a restaurant in Seoul to talk about his acting goals and his first thriller film, “Fatal Intuition.” Joo Won (Yonha

FilmNov. 1, 2015

Conrad Seoul named Korea’s leading hotel

An exterior view of Conrad Seoul, located in Yeouido, Seoul (Conrad Seoul)Conrad Seoul, the Yeouido branch of Conrad Hotels & Resorts, was named South Korea’s leading hotel and ranked first place in four other categories at the 2015 World Travel Awards.　The hotel has swept an unprecedented series of wins, it said in a statement, nabbing the top spot in the following categories: Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel, Asia’s Leading Luxury City Hotel, South Korea’s Leading Business Hotel, South Korea’s L

TravelNov. 1, 2015

Royal birthday celebration relived after 220 years

Brought back to life after 220 years, the lavish royal birthday celebration of a Joseon-era crown princess was recreated at the Changgyeonggung Palace in Seoul on Friday and Saturday. The National Gugak Center performed a grand reenactment of one of the country’s most illustrious royal birthday celebrations ever recorded in the history books -- the eight-day festival that King Jeongjo hosted for the 60th birthday of his mother, Hyegyeonggung, the Lady Hong. The one-hour reenactment gave audience

PerformanceNov. 1, 2015

[Weekender] Interview: Redesigned space for upcycled art

A few minutes’ walk from the entrance of Gwangmyeong Cave in Gyeonggi Province stands the Gwangmyeong Upcycle Art Center, which opened in June. The Korea Herald got a look around the center’s two buildings -- one for exhibitions and one for hands-on classes and seminars -- with Suzy Kang, the executive director of Gwangmyeong City’s Cultural Regeneration Project Team, which oversees the center’s operations.“This is the first physical space in Korea devoted to the idea of upcycling,” Kang said. 

CultureOct. 30, 2015

Weekend Box Office Guide: 10/31-11/1

Heading to the movies this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide of what's playing on the big screen.Thrill and adventure abound at this weekend's box office in Korea. "The Martian" starring Matt Damon continues to ride strong, with moviegoers recommending the 3D theater experience. Crime thriller "The Phone" draws fans in with its fast-paced plot, while "The Exclusive" is gaining traction with its well-crafted balance between comedy and thriller. New openers are the dizzying "The Walk" starr

FilmOct. 30, 2015

On the road again, casinos to canyons

This is a second and final story on the two-part travel series following a weeklong West Coast road trip from the bayside city wonders of San Francisco, California, to the frills and thrills of Las Vegas, Nevada. -- Ed.LAS VEGAS, Nevada / GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Arizona -- Known as the city where jet-setters are openly encouraged to let go of their inhibitions and indulge themselves in the seedier pleasures of life, Las Vegas is called the sin city for all the best reasons.Following the seas

TravelOct. 30, 2015

‘Gain life’s wisdom from King Sejong, nature’

Whenever people find themselves in trouble, in conflict or in depression, Lee Bae-yong, the president of the Academy of Korean Studies encourages them to look to and study history.Lessons, cases and events from the past can boost one’s insight and help develop inner wisdom and solutions for the future, she says.Lee Bae-yong, president of the Academy of Korean Studies  (Academy of Korean Studies)When Lee talks about history, she is not just talking about general Korean history.She is specifically

CultureOct. 30, 2015

Around the hotels

Selena Wedding Hall renovated for new openingImperial Palace Seoul said it renovated its Selena Wedding Hall with vintage gold and white decor of authentic European style concept. In celebration of the new concept launching event, Imperial Palace Seoul is offering a table flower décor upgrade benefit to soon-to-be newlyweds that are tying the knot in Selena Wedding Hall next March. Pinned as the representative of “luxurious Gangnam wedding,” Imperial Palace Seoul wedding boasts 26 years of servi

FoodOct. 30, 2015

Travel Bits

Smile for foreign touristsThe Korea Tourism Organization said that it is expanding its “K Smile” campaign with the retail and tourism industries in an effort to boost inbound tourism.The K Smile program is aimed at promoting the Korean culture of kindness and reliable tourism and retail services for local and foreign tourists.It has established ties with regional governments such as North Jeolla Province and interest groups including the Visit Korea Committee to boost K Smile.Under the theme of

TravelOct. 30, 2015

[Design Forum] 3-D printing designs every aspect of our lives

This is the fourth in a series of articles introducing key features at the upcoming Herald Design Forum 2015 to be held in Seoul on Nov. 10. ― Ed.Forget about the magic of unwrapping a bar of chocolate Charlie Bucket oh-so-dearly held in his hands in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” It is time to push the “print” button of the “Magic Candy Factory,” and voila! Gummies will start dropping out right in front of your eyes. Avoid stool, 2014 (jannekyttanen.com)Katjes, a German manufacturer of je

Arts & DesignOct. 30, 2015

Is the Korean digital music market pushing out artists?

This is the second in a two-part series examining Korea’s digital music industry. – Ed.　If it’s hard to name more than a few Korean artists who are currently active and not idol stars, K-pop ballad singers or TV discoveries, it’s not because they don’t exist.“There are only two genres in today’s Korean music,” said Shin Dae-chul, head of the Barun Music Cooperative, at a forum in Seoul. “Idol music, non-idol music. The rest is meaningless. ... (The current digital music system) has naturally pus

PerformanceOct. 29, 2015

4Minute to hold fan meetings in South America

4Minute will become the first K-pop girl group to hold a fan meeting in South America. The group will hold fan meetings in Peru on Nov. 8, followed by Chile on Nov. 10 and Argentina on Nov. 12. The quintet, having a six-year history, is expecting to gather about 10,000 fans for the event. The members have been working on planning diverse segments, including performances of their hits, for the fan meetup.  (Cube Entertainment)“Performance requests from fans in South America have been pouring in.

PerformanceOct. 29, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘La Bayadere’ starts slow, ends strong

Set against the imaginative backdrop of exotic India, the Universal Ballet’s latest production of “La Bayadere” pays homage to the 19th-century tale of two people’s eternal vows that ends in tragedy. The nearly three-hour-long “La Bayadere,” or the “The Temple Dancer,” follows the story of the alluring lower caste temple dancer Nikiya and her unflinching love for a young, royal warrior named Solor. Sharing her deep love and affection, Solor vows to the gods his eternal devotion to her.  Scene fr

PerformanceOct. 29, 2015

See, eat with K-pop stars in Gangnam

Apgujeong-dong in the affluent Gangnam district is considered the Beverly Hills of Korea, where people can catch the latest trends in fashion, food, music and entertainment.If Chungmuro in Jung-gu, central Seoul, is considered the movie town, Apgujeong is a town for K-pop artists and fans.GangnamDol art dolls designed based on K-pop stars on K Star Road  (Park Hyong-ki/The Korea Herald)With rows of restaurants, gift shops and malls next to famous record companies and talent agencies on the stree

TravelOct. 29, 2015