Hong Kwang-ho wins British musical award

Korean musical actor Hong Kwang-ho won a British musical award for his West End debut role, Thuy, in “Miss Saigon.”Hong was named Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in a ceremony that took place Sunday, his Korean agency said Monday. Run by the U.K.’s biggest theater website WhatsOnStage, the annual awards honor musical actors and actresses based on the popular vote of the audience. “Miss Saigon” was the star of the show this year, reaping a record nine awa

PerformanceFeb. 16, 2015

Hallyu festival coming to Japan for the first time

KCON, the world’s largest hallyu convention, will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan on April 22. Held annually in Los Angeles since 2012, KCON is coming to Asia for the first time this year and visiting Japan, where the hallyu sensation began.Hosted by Korean entertainment firm CJ E&M, KCON is a comprehensive festival of Korean culture, including fashion, beauty, food, and IT trends coupled with product marketing and live performances by K-pop stars.  Programs including a K-pop danc

Feb. 16, 2015

Korea leads world in hotel Wi-Fi: study

South Korea has the highest percentage of hotels that offer quality wireless Internet, according to a study released last month by Hotel Wi-Fi Test, a company that collects and analyzes hotel Wi-Fi data from around the world. With 92 percent in Wi-Fi quality, South Korea topped the list by a healthy margin of 7.1 percentage points. Japan came in second with 84.9 percent. In third and fourth places were Ukraine and Switzerland, with 82.1 percent and 79.8 percent, respectively. The study assessed

CultureFeb. 15, 2015

Hotels woo locals with lavish weddings and parties

Under dazzling chandeliers, models in wedding gowns walked down the aisle decorated with spring-inspired flower arrangements, as Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas marked the reopening of its grand ballroom last month with an extravagant wedding show. Inviting guests with hotel memberships and would-be newlyweds, the hotel unveiled the redesigned banquet hall and promotion deals. “Weddings are considered the epitome of hotel services,” said Grace Kang, banquet sales manager at Grand InterContin

TravelFeb. 15, 2015

Korean short wins top honor at Berlin film festival

The graduation film of a Korean university student won a top honor at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday. Na Young-kil, 32, won the Golden Bear for best short film at the German film festival for “Hosanna,” his graduation project at the Korea National University of Arts. The 24-minute-long horror-fantasy film centers on a boy living in a remote village who has the power to heal the sick and raise the dead. The villagers get a new lease on life through the boy’s help, yet find the

FilmFeb. 15, 2015

[Weekender] Get in the mood for Seollal

Seollal, or the Lunar New Year, is one of the few times in Korea when tradition comes out from behind its ultramodern facade and to the fore. During the holiday, which this year falls on Feb. 18-20, most Koreans rekindle with distant family members and pay respects to one’s ancestors through “charye,” offering up a table full of food on the first morning of the New Year. Koreans and foreigners exchange Lunar New Year greetings. (The Korea Herald)Aside from the ancestral rite, one of the most com

CultureFeb. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Lunar New Year entertainment guide

After eating a bowl of tteokguk (rice-cake soup) and giving older family members a big bow on Seollal, chances are you will consider seeing a movie, a TV show or both, during the five-day holiday.From local family-friendly flicks to beloved animations and star-studded variety shows, here’s the handy guide to this year’s Seollal holiday entertainment on the small and silver screens.Movies For those searching for local films to watch with their family, the comedy flick “Detective K: Secret of the

FilmFeb. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Celebrating holiday with tradition

The Lunar New Year holiday is a great opportunity for locals and expats to experience traditional Korean activities. For those who are at a loss for how to spend these five days off, we suggest you take advantage of the various holiday promotions being offered at cultural sites around Korea. The National Gugak Center’s folk music group giving a “pangut” percussion performance (National Gugak Center)Palaces, tombs and games On Feb. 19, Lunar New Year’s Day, the Cultural Heritage Administration wi

CultureFeb. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Record number of Chinese tourists to visit Korea

As Koreans empty the usually bustling streets of Seoul, spending the Lunar New Year holiday with parents and relatives, their travel-loving neighbors from China will surge in.This year, an unprecedented number of Chinese tourists are expected to arrive. The country hopes to greet some 126,000 Chinese visitors for the Lunar New Year holiday starting next week, up by 30 percent from the previous year, according to the state-run Korea Tourism Organization. A Lotte duty-free shop in Seoul is crowded

TravelFeb. 13, 2015

‘The top person must want change’

“Sorry seems to be the hardest word,” crooned singer Elton John; “Hard to say I’m sorry,” belted rock group Chicago ― indeed, the word “sorry” appears to be a difficult word to utter, so caught up are we in not wanting to appear weak.However, according to Kim Hoh, founder and head coach of THE LAB h who specializes in crisis management and communication, “sorry” is the word of the strong.  Kim Hoh (sixth from right) conducts a workshop at Hyundai Card last year. (THE LAB h)“People think apology

CultureFeb. 13, 2015

Highlights: Theatre, Dance, Exhibition, Pop Music, Festivals

Theater“Heavy Metal Girls”: Joo-young, Eun-joo, Jung-min and Boo-jin are all 40-year-old women working at the same small company. When they all face a possibility of layoff, they decide to learn heavy metal, to impress their new boss who is a heavy metal fanatic. “Heavy Metal Girls” runs through March 1 at Yegreen Theatre in Daehangno, Seoul. Tickets are priced at 20,000 won and 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 744-7090.“The Best in Tragedy”: The play centers on the playwright and Nob

CultureFeb. 13, 2015

Eyelike: The Last Five Years, Love You, Honeybear, 'Fifty Shades of Grey’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Songs tell story of emotions in a relationship“The Last Five Years”Various Artists(Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight)Hollywood went to two actors with Broadway backgrounds to star in the film version of the musical “The Last Five Years” -- and it paid off.Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan star as a young New York couple who fall in, and then out, of love. She’s a struggling actress. He’s a writer who finds success. Both Kendrick and Jordan have Tony Award nominations on their resumes, and they have perfect voi

PerformanceFeb. 13, 2015

Box Office

Stand by Me Doraemon (Japan)Opened Feb. 12Animation. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki and Ryuichi YagiBased on the famous Japanese manga series Doraemon, the animation “Stand by Me Doraemon” will be released as the first-ever 3-D version of the series, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Doraemon creator Fujiko Fujio’s birth. The film loosely connects seven episodes from the series to tell a story involving Jingu and Doraemon -- one of Japan’s most well-known and beloved cartoon characters -- from

FilmFeb. 13, 2015

Fifty Shades of dissatisfaction

Curious? The posters for “Fifty Shades of Grey” coyly ask. Whether or not you’re one of the 100 million who bought, and presumably read, E L James’ kinky book, the buzz alone surrounding this “Twilight” fan fiction turned international phenomenon is enough to pique the interest of a rock. “Fifty Shades of Grey” is inherently spectacle.With all that irresistible anticipation, how could a movie about BDSM be so run of the mill? The short answer: fear and money. It’s one thing to read about the bon

FilmFeb. 13, 2015

Dragon of the future hatches in Sejong City

Parking was a nonissue at Administrative Complex Sejong, the heart of Korea’s newest city, with 17 mostly empty parking lots. The only sign of life was a pair of guards patrolling the fence of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Looking for tourist information, we approached the front gate of the ministry, where a security guard directed us to Sector 6 ― roughly in the middle of the huge complex. From the car window, the connected structures looked a bit like an airport terminal; from a

TravelFeb. 13, 2015

Get in the mood for tomatoes, the apples of love

We have entered February, the month of love. Chocolate may be the popular Valentine’s Day currency, but think outside the chocolate box, think sensual, think pommes d’amour, French for apples of love. In Italian, they say pomo d’oro, apples of gold. We know them in English as tomatoes.Like apples, tomatoes are, botanically speaking, fruit, and they love us right back. They’re low-calorie, high-fiber and super-high in antioxidants, vitamin C and biotin, nutrients necessary for glowing skin and ha

FoodFeb. 13, 2015

Around the Hotels

Around the HotelsLunar New Year’s packageat Grand Hilton Seoul Hotel Grand Hilton Seoul Hotel is presenting a selection of Lunar New Year packages from Feb. 17 to 22. The Bok (“luck”) Package I includes a one-night stay at a Deluxe Room, a complimentary selfie-stick, and traditional Korean tea for two with a choice of ginger, ginseng, ssanghwa, jujube or yuzu tea. The Bok Package II provides an additional breakfast for two at the buffet restaurant. Free access to the fitness club and swimming po

FoodFeb. 13, 2015

Amber unveils first solo album

Amber, a member of K-pop girl group f(x), released her debut solo album on Friday.The album “Beautiful” was revealed at midnight online before its physical release on Feb. 16, along with the music video for her title track “Shake That Brass,” featuring fellow singers including Taeyeon and Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation, Joon Park of g.o.d, Jackson of GOT7 and comedian Ahn Young-mi.  A scene from the music video “Shake That Brass” for Amber’s title track. (SM Entertainment)Her debut song, featuri

PerformanceFeb. 13, 2015

Sejong arts center appoints new CEO

Lee Seung-yeop, art management professor of Korea National University of Arts, has been appointed head of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts this week.  Lee Seung-yeop, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)Lee, 53, began his three-year term on Thursday with a goal to make the arts center an accessible and friendly place for Seoul citizens. “I will promote the brand value of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts so that it can be the

CultureFeb. 13, 2015