Mapping K-pop stars' wealth

The road to becoming a successful K-pop star requires years of unpaid training starting from an early age. But those big-hitting K-pop singers who have persevered and emerged out the other end of the high-risk, high-yield system often amass a fortune equally early in life, raking in considerable sums of money in their tender twenties. The Korea Herald has compiled a list of ways Korea’s youngest and hottest celebrities manage their wealth, from investing in real estate to opening chic cafes and

Oct. 15, 2015

Chrysanthemum flower festivals in the offing

A string of various regional events and festivals promoting the beauty of chrysanthemum flowers will be held across the country beginning next week. Children play with chrysanthemum flowers at Sanglim Park in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival in Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province, will kick off the country’s first chrysanthemum event on Oct. 23, going for 17 days at the Hampyeong Expo Park.The festival, which was launched in 2004, will have various

CultureOct. 15, 2015

Buddha statue, circa 9th century Korea, found

A Buddha statue found at a temple site in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)A Buddha statue, presumed to date back to the ninth century, has been found in Korea in what archeologists say may be an important new discovery to understanding ancient Buddhist art. The gilt bronze statue, measuring over 50 centimeters in height, was discovered at a temple site in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, where a stone pagoda and other Buddhist relics had earlier been uncovered. “According to experts

CultureOct. 15, 2015

Cities gear up for multicultural festivals

Vietnamese participants perform a traditional dance at last year’s GIC Day. (GIC)Major cities across Korea will be hosting multicultural festivals this weekend, as annual events in Seoul, Busan and Gwangju coincide.　The festivals are an opportunity for foreign community groups to show off their food and culture, while residents can enjoy cultural performances, try new food for the first time and find out what the local support centers for foreign residents offer.　　Busan　The Global Gathering will

Expat LivingOct. 14, 2015

Camarata to host fall fund-raiser next week

The Camarata Chamber Singers (CMC)Nonprofit music organization Camarata Music Company will be holding its annual fall fund-raiser next week to help fund its activities.Held in partnership with the Korea Business Leaders Alliance, the “Fall into Music” event will feature performances from the Camarata Chamber Singers, an auditioned choir of 27 singers, a performance from gayageum player Jocelyn Clark and the Camarata Jazz Duo.“It’s one of our largest events of the year. It goes a long way to help

Expat LivingOct. 14, 2015

Comic books and the joys of doing nothing

Two pairs of visitors are reading at comic book cafe Jeulgeoun Jakdang (which means "a merry gang" in Korean) on a Monday afternoon. (Rumy Doo/The Korea Herald)To reach Jeulgeoun Jakdang, you go down a narrow staircase located in a hidden corner of Hongdae, take off your shoes, slip into a set of snug slippers and push open a red door. The space that greets you inside is something like a very homey library, with cushioned seats, blankets and rows of shelves filled with comic books.　Visitors -- w

CultureOct. 14, 2015

Two More Super Junior members head to military

Another member of Super Junior is to begin his mandatory military service on Thursday, becoming the eighth member of the all-boy group to do so. Donghae, 30, will enlist on Thursday, following Eunhyuk who joined the army on Tuesday.  (SM Entertainment)Donghae will serve as a conscripted policeman, a substitute to active duty in armed forces, after the completion of four weeks of basic training at a boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. Siwon, another member, is scheduled to follow sui

PerformanceOct. 14, 2015

Jeungdo -- heal and relax on the beautiful island of angels

JEUNGDO ISLAND, South Jeolla Province -- Walking in a forest of pine trees in a park that is shaped like the Korean Peninsula along a beach, visitors can instantly feel relaxed on this small island off the country’s southwestern coast.Jeungdo in Shinan, South Jeolla Province -- Asia’s first Cittaslow or “Slow City” -- is a quiet getaway island for those especially the elderly who seek to heal their body and soul from the daily hustle and bustle of big city life. The term Cittaslow comes from Ita

CultureOct. 14, 2015

[Herald Interview] Royston Tan hopes to capture fading Singaporean moments

Singaporean director Royston Tan is known for several signature touches in his films, two of which are his love for items from the past and his use of color and music. For Tan, these touches serve as tools that help to preserve snapshots of Singaporean history.“In Singapore, we are changing too quickly,” Tan told The Korea Herald at the Busan International Film Festival, where his latest film “3688” made its international premiere.“Every 20 years, there’s a big, major change in our society. Ever

FilmOct. 13, 2015

[Herald Interview] TV veteran Frankie Chen kicks down the door to film world

When she sat down to chat with The Korea Herald, Taiwanese producer and director Frankie Chen was glowing, coming straight from meeting thousands of festival attendees at an outdoor event at the Busan International Film Festival. Chen was amazed at the Korean audience’s enthusiasm for her film. In her nostalgic romance flick “Our Times,” two high school friends who each have a crush on a guy and girl dating each other work together to try and tear them apart -- only to end up falling in love wit

FilmOct. 13, 2015

A week of design, fun in Korea’s ‘textile’ city

 A three-day festival in the southern city of Daegu will highlight the Korean city’s on-going efforts to reposition itself from a “textile city” to a design capital. Design Week in Daegu, starting this Friday, will proclaim once again the hoped-for transition, as the city with a population of 2 1/2 million rolls out various events for industry insiders, experts and the general public, intended at thrusting the local industry into the spotlight of the design world. 　Visitors make bracelets using

Arts & DesignOct. 13, 2015

Elton John to play in Korea next month

Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John is coming to Korea next month for an intimate concert.  The Grammy-winning artist will be putting up a one-night only performance on Nov. 27 at Hyundai Card Understage in Seoul‘s Hannam-dong, a venue that seats up to 500 people. The show, which is part of John’s currently running world tour “All the Hits,” is the only one on such a small scale, providing the audience with a rare opportunity to experience the celebrated musician’s performance up close.  Prom

PerformanceOct. 13, 2015

Bizet's opera 'Pearl Fishers' to hit Seoul

Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” is one of the most beloved operas, with its incredible drama and music featuring an alluring gypsy enchanting fans around the world. The timeless classic is a Korean favorite, having ranked No. 1 in a 2013 Korea National Opera survey. A lesser-known work of the French composer is set to hit the local stage this week, marking the very first time for it to be staged in Korea. The KNO will stage a production of “The Pearl Fishers,” with an international cast, at Seoul Arts

PerformanceOct. 12, 2015

[Foreigners Who Loved Korea] Zhou Enlai, Chinese revolutionary and like-minded comrade of Korean patriots

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 sixth installment. ― Ed.Zhou EnlaiMany Koreans are well aware of Zhou Enlai as a represe

PeopleOct. 12, 2015

Ticket sales open until Nov.3 for Herald Design Forum 2015

2014 Herald Design ForumThe annual Herald Design Forum returns for its fifth edition on Nov 10, bringing together the design world’s big names to Seoul. This year, the forum will explore the potential of design when it integrates with other fields such as technology, management, psychology, humanity and art. It will focus on how design acts as an intermediary and comprehensive platform between different industries, merges them, and creates new values in the process. The forum signals the start o

Arts & DesignOct. 12, 2015

‘Craft that responds to our problems’

Alain de Botton, best known here for his 1993 book “Essays in Love,” continues his relationship with art after his 2013 book ”Art as Therapy,” this time curating a craft exhibition in Korea. The Swiss-born British philosopher and writer has taken up the unusual job of an exhibition curator at the ongoing Cheongju International Craft Biennale to offer fresh ways to view craft. He worked with 15 Korean artists to come up with craftworks and explore their psychological side.“I started to think what

PerformanceOct. 12, 2015

IU to drop 4th EP ‘Chat-Shire’

Singer IU will drop her fourth EP “Chat-Shire” on Oct. 23, the 23-year-old singer revealed via social media.  (Loen Entertainment)Her previous album “A Flower Bookmark” was released in May last year. IU, who debuted in 2008, is one of the most visible female solo singers in the local music scene now, with hits “Good Day,” “You&I,” “The Red Shoes” and “Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms.”She recently admitted her two-year romantic relationship with Korean singer Chang Ki-ha.By Kim Yu-jin　(kimyu

PerformanceOct. 12, 2015