Celebrating 20 years of modern ballet

The pensively fragile and emotionally shattered Giselle fumbles across the stage after learning that the man she had fallen hopelessly in love with was not the man she thought, resulting in her dying of heartbreak. For regular theatergoers, this is a variation on a scene they know far too well. “Giselle” is one among a long laundry list of classical ballets that have stood the test of time. However to some, the excessive reprise of such classical stories can place a stymie on creativity and conc

PerformanceApril 3, 2015

Box Office

Salute D’Amour (Korea)Opening April 9Drama, Romance. Directed by Kang Je-gyu70-year-old Sung-chil (Park Geun-hyung), who works at a local supermarket Jangsoo store is a stubborn, short-tempered, old man living by himself. One day, he meets a beautiful, thoughtful woman named Geum-nim (Yoon Yeo-jeong), who owns a flower shop and lives with her daughter Min-jung (Han Ji-min). Sung-chil is interested in Geum-nim and gets advice from his younger friends to go out on a date with her. Geum-nim’s cheer

FilmApril 3, 2015

Eyelike: Lila Downs, Modest Mouse, Kevin Eubanks & Stanley Jordan

‘Balas y Chocolate’ equal parts emotion, styleLila Downs“Balas y Chocolate”(Sony Music)Fluency in Spanish isn‘t necessary to understand Lila Downs’ shape-shifting voice: It transcends language, carrying pure emotion.　 On her latest album, “Balas y Chocolate” (Bullets and Chocolate), the Grammy-winning Downs expresses outrage and pain over events in Mexico, her birthplace. And she capably blends traditional Latin rhythms with modern elements in an array of popular standards and her own compositio

PerformanceApril 3, 2015

Travel Bits

Seoul city tour bus goes classicTour Seoul on the classic trolleybus: The trolleybus, long beloved in global cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Singapore, became available in Seoul starting Thursday. The buses are designed to look like classic vintage trolleybuses and aim to provide a fun way to tour Seoul. Encompassing key tourist sites, the “Panorama Course” will depart from Gwanghwamun and run through Cheonggye Plaza, Myeong-dong, Mount Namsan, the 63 Building, Hongdae, Sinchon

TravelApril 3, 2015

Around the Hotels

Couple spa treatment at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CityThe Aequalis Spa at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is presenting a “City Couple Spa Treatment” event for couples who want to enjoy a relaxing spa break and a quick urban getaway from the stress of everyday life. The treatment will include a moisturizing, muscle-relieving body massage for two inside the couple treatment room, a romantic bath, glasses of wine, and a gift set from Elemis Quiet Mind Bath. The massage will last 60 minutes and the ba

FoodApril 3, 2015

Miss A holds onto No. 1 with ‘Only You’

K-pop girl group Miss A has held onto the No. 1 spot on Korea’s music charts with its latest track “Only You” for five straight days. As of Friday morning, “Only You,” from the group’s seventh project album “Colors,” came in first on Korea’s nine major real-time charts, including Melon, Genie Music, Olleh Music, Naver Music and Daum Music.  Miss A (JYP Entertainment)Produced by Black Eyed Pilseung, who is behind Sistar hit “Touch My Body,” Miss A’s latest dance track describes a modern-day appro

April 3, 2015

TVXQ’s Yunho to join military

Yunho, one half of K-pop idol duo TVXQ, will enter military service this year, his label SM Entertainment told media Friday. His exact enlistment date is yet to be confirmed.  Yunho of TVXQ. (SM Entertainment)The announcement came after a Japanese media outlet, the Sankei Shimbun, reported Friday that the 30-year-old singer’s enlistment was approaching. He is reported to have cried at a recent Tokyo Dome concert and said he won’t be able to perform at concerts for a while. The news also reported

April 3, 2015

Mozart opera to get Korean premiere

With its Turkish harem motif and timeless tale of love, Mozart’s opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio” was set out to be a crowd pleaser. Ever since its premiere, the fantastic tale of love and clashing cultures has intrigued many opera fans and novices alike, firmly establishing itself as one of the most beloved operas in Europe. A long overdue Korean premiere of the opera is scheduled for April 16 at Seoul Arts Center. Helming the Korea National Opera production of the 18th-century work is G

PerformanceApril 2, 2015

Song Hye-kyo, Song Joong-ki pair up for new drama

Actress Song Hye-kyo and actor Song Joong-ki will pair up in the new drama “Descendants of the Sun,” it was revealed Thursday. The drama is scheduled to simultaneously air in the second half of the year in Korea and China.  Song Hye-kyo in “That Winter, the Wind Blows.” (SBS)It is being produced by the state-run broadcaster KBS in Korea and follows the lives of doctors and soldiers on an overseas disaster relief mission. The series will be written by Kim Eun-sook, whose previous work includes th

April 2, 2015

BoA to release first album in 3 years

K-pop singer BoA will likely release a new album this year to mark 15 years since her debut. “BoA is preparing to release a new album in Korea,” an official from SM Entertainment said. “But the exact date has not been confirmed.”  Singer BoA. (Official website)The upcoming album comes three years after she put out the seventh studio album “Only One” in Korea.The 28-year-old also posted a photo of herself singing at a recording studio on Instagram, leading fans to suspect a comeback. BoA debuted

PerformanceApril 2, 2015

N. Korea, no longer confidential

Two journalists, after covering the two Koreas for a while, were frustrated with the narrow focus of media reports and books on North Korean leadership, its nuclear program and propaganda. “We wanted to clearly and concisely explain the real daily challenges ordinary people face, and the surprises which that brings,” James Pearson, a Korea correspondent for Reuters, told the Korea Herald through an email interview.  Daniel Tudor (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)“There are few (books) which really

BooksApril 2, 2015

ZenKimchi food guide a surprise hit

The ZenKimchi Seoul Restaurant Expat Guide surprised even the author when it started placing at the top of travel categories on Amazon.com when it was released last month. The independently published food guide was created by Joe McPherson, a food writer and consultant in Korea who recently worked on the Emmy-award-winning “Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain.”The book includes brief sections on more than 400 restaurants, wine bars, makgeolli houses and other places to eat and drink in the city.

Expat LivingApril 1, 2015

Mesh print exhibition blends style, fun

For those who find Kakao characters too cute, an upcoming exhibition by Daegu’s Mesh Printing features the friends in somewhat less savory situations, alongside other work.Jess Hinshaw and Christopher Cote, the men behind Mesh Printing, have been working together for almost three years, producing artwork as well as logos and designs for local companies.  KakaoTalk characters in debauched pop art depictions are among the posters on display in Mesh Printing’s upcoming exhibition. (Mesh Printing)Th

Expat LivingApril 1, 2015