EXO’s ‘Call Me Baby’ most watched K-pop video in the first half

EXO. (SM Entertainment)South Korean mega-idol group EXO’s “Call Me Baby” was the most watched K-pop music video in the first half of 2015 on YouTube. “Call Me Baby,” the title song of EXO’s second regular EP “EXODUS,” released March 31, recorded a smashing 52.4 million combined views on YouTube with its Korean and Chinese versions as of July 2. The Korean version raked in 40,621,247 views, already enough to give it the most views of any K-pop music video released in the first half of 2015, while

PerformanceJuly 2, 2015

'Nanta' creator appointed Pyeongchang Olympic ceremony artistic director

Song Seung-hwan, creator of the famous percussion performance “Nanta,” will direct the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the organizing committee said Thursday. Song, 58, was chosen as artistic director of the ceremonies, the committee said in a press announcement, citing his “directorial skills” and “understanding of the audience, media and human network.”Song Seung-hwan (Yonhap)An acclaimed show producer, Song runs PMC Production Co. in

CultureJuly 2, 2015

Schwarzenegger and Clarke talk ‘Terminator Genisys’ in Seoul

　Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke have landed in Seoul to promote the summer blockbuster “Terminator Genisys“ directed by Alan Taylor, the fifth installment in the “Terminator” franchise.　As an actor who has become an icon through the “Terminator” series and a new face taking on the legendary role of Sarah Connor, they shared their different thoughts and experiences about the movie at a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, ahead of the local red carpet to be held Thursday

FilmJuly 2, 2015

Korean politics through the eyes of British journalist

  “Democracy Delayed”By Daniel Tudor(Munhakdongne) 　For Daniel Tudor, a former Korea correspondent for the Economist, Korean politics seems a bit strange. 　With blurred ideological differences between the right-wing and left-wing parties, the left is mired in the past and lacks professionalism while the right has no concrete agenda other than a pro-conglomerate, me-first policy.　“Is Korean democracy in retreat?” Tudor, 33, asks in his latest book “Democracy Delayed,” which was recently published

BooksJuly 2, 2015

Park Shin-hye, Lee Jong-suk rumored to be dating

Actors Park Shin-hye and Lee Jong-suk were reported to be dating Wednesday morning, but their agencies quickly denied the rumors, saying they were “just close friends.”Park and Lee starred as the onscreen couple of hit TV drama “Pinocchio,” which ran from November to January.Park is also known for acting with Lee Min-ho in another drama series, “The Heirs,” in 2013. Lee appeared in drama series “I Can Hear Your Voice” in the same year. Both are celebrated hallyu icons with international fan base

July 1, 2015

How to decipher a wine label

A wine label is more than a pretty marketing device. Most of the information printed there is highly regulated and can tell you a lot about what to expect. (Handout/TNS)Trumping whatever aesthetic value a wine label may have, its main function is to impart legal information to the consumer. As such, the bottler, winery or winemaker, as well as the legal authority in the country where the wine is sold, have an interest in shaping that information. For their part, the people who put the wine in th

FoodJuly 1, 2015

[Herald Review] Peering through mask of ‘Phantom’

In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-hit musical “Phantom of the Opera,” the protagonist ― a disfigured man living in dark cellars of a Paris opera house ― has no name. Known as the Phantom, he lurks in the shadows and manipulates, desires and finally kidnaps the object of his obsessive affection, Christine Daae. In another musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 horror romance, currently playing in Seoul, he is Erik ― a man who has to live underground and hidden because he was born with the face of

PerformanceJuly 1, 2015

Basketball group scores big with online support

 GOAT basketball players pose at a fund-raiser tournament for a local children’s welfare center. GOATCombining sport with fun and a little community goodwill, “GOAT” has quickly become one of the most popular sports groups in Seoul’s expat community.The most recent spring season of the GOAT ― “greatest of all time” ― basketball league brought the largest turnout so far. The eight-week league was composed of teams of eight picked in a draft. The teams ― capped to six due to space constraints ― pl

Expat LivingJuly 1, 2015

Expat’s children’s book blends lessons on language, patience

A page from “Worth the Wait,” with illustrations by Sol LeeBlending luscious illustrative messages about patience, Ilsan-based writer Georgia Scott has recently released “Worth the Wait,” a children’s book tailored for English teachers here. It will be the first book of a trilogy created by the former New York Times art director, in collaboration with Korean native Sol Lee. “Worth the Wait,” a story about the value of waiting, began when Scott spoke with Sol Lee, a student in Scott’s adult Engli

Expat LivingJuly 1, 2015

Discover creative design products at Hi Design Festival

Innovative design products of emerging young designers in Korea will go on display at Hi Design Festival from July 3-5 in Seoul. The festival, co-organized by Herald Corp., publisher of The Korea Herald, and shopping mall Hi Brand, offers young designers a chance to market their creations directly to customers, while inviting visitors to participate in open do-it-yourself making sessions. Various eye-catching products will be up for sale on the first floor of the Hi Brand mall and on the outdoor

Arts & DesignJuly 1, 2015

‘Veteran’ actors hope to conquer summer with laughs and action

　The press conference for the upcoming summer action film “Veteran,” at CGV Apgujeong Wednesday, was a gathering of some of the most trusted names in Korean cinema. Director Ryoo Seung-wan and the cast of "Veteran" at CGV Apgujeong Wednesday (CJ E&M)　The film is helmed by Ryoo Seung-wan, the director behind “The Unjust” (2010) and “The Berlin File” (2012), and the cast includes veteran actors like Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Hae-jin, and Yoo Ah-in. 　“The two hours will just fly by because you’ll enjoy t

FilmJuly 1, 2015

Korean culture industry awakes from MERS slumber

The Korean culture industry is slowly awakening from its pronounced slump, which came following the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak and the public’s ensuing reluctance to visit populated areas. As the past four days have seen no new cases and the anxiety begins to abate, movies that had postponed their premieres are now on screen and thriving, concerts once indefinitely postponed are revving up again and on-stage performances are seeing full theaters.Cinemas regained their pre-MERS att

CultureJuly 1, 2015

Modigliani, Kahlo and Botero on show

As the summer begins, Seoul welcomes exhibitions of great art masters such as Amedeo Modigliani, Frida Kahlo and Fernando Botero. These exciting shows offer a cool cultural getaway from the city’s hustle and bustle. Meet some of the early modern iconic artists at Seoul’s major museums. Modigliani: Legend of Montparnasse  "Reclining Nude with Loose Hair" by Amedeo Modigliani (Osaka City Museum of Modern Art)The rare exhibition of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) just kicked off last w

PerformanceJune 30, 2015

Seoul Philharmonic gets new chief amid lingering bitterness

A former top banking executive was appointed chief executive of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday, amid lingering troubles at the country’s finest ensemble after the scandalous departure last year of its former CEO. Choe Heung-sik, the former head of Hana Financial Group, the country’s fourth-largest financial group, will take office on July 1 as the orchestra’s CEO, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a press announcement. The orchestra is partly funded by the municipal governme

PerformanceJune 30, 2015

Daegu musical fest rolls out hard-to-find works

DAEGU -- From an out-of-this-world space musical set on a forbidden planet to the skin-crawling murder mystery of a serial killer, the ongoing Daegu International Musical Festival features a wide range of international productions, catering to all artistic tastes.The 9th annual DIMF kicked off its 18 days of festivities Friday in the southern city of Daegu, inviting cast members from all corners of the world, with shows that one would be hard-pressed to see in Korea or elsewhere in Asia. 　A scen

PerformanceJune 30, 2015