Kkaennip kimchi (perilla kimchi) (Korean Bapsang)Kkaennip is a fragrant herb that is widely used as a vegetable in Korean cuisine. It is a variety of perilla, which is a member of the mint family, and has a distinct, robust flavor. The fresh leaves are usually used as ssam (wraps) for grilled meat or fish, or added to other dishes such as bibim guksu (spicy noodles), savory pancakes or jjigae (stews) for extra flavor. However, pickling kkaennip, either as jangajji or kimchi, is hugely popular in

FoodAug. 22, 2014

Chuseok holiday feast at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelSheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s buffet restaurant Feast presents Korean traditional Chuseok cuisine in celebration of the holiday from Sept. 7-8. The hotel chefs will present Chuseok holiday menus such as galbijjim braised beef rib, japchae noodles and various kinds of jeon pancakes. The dessert section will present a wide variety of traditional Korean desserts, including rice cakes, persimmon, soojeonggwa cinnamon punch and sikhye, a s

FoodAug. 22, 2014

Suzy (JYP Youtube)Yoo Jae-suk (Actor Lee Kwang-soo’s Facebook)K-pop idol Suzy, “Roaring Currents” actor Choi Min-sik and comedian Yoo Jae-suk are among the many Korean celebrities who have had buckets of ice water poured over their heads, joining the viral worldwide sensation to raise funds and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Ice Bucket Challenge asks people to make a recording of themselves getting drenched with ice water, post it onli

Aug. 22, 2014

South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong, who has been sued for assaulting his girlfriend, will hold a concert in Thailand as scheduled despite the controversy over the alleged charges. 　Kim is flying out to Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 23 to participate in the concert slated for the following day as part of his world tour. 　 (OSEN)“Regarding the concert, it is difficult for us to (cancel) concert schedules due to terms and conditions with local agencies. We will hold the concert as scheduled,

Aug. 22, 2014

K-pop boy band Winner has topped the Billboard World Albums chart with its debut album on Friday, becoming the fastest Korean rookie group to take No.1 on the chart.The quintet’s debut EP “2014 S/S” rose to the top of the chart, and ranked No. 6 on its Heatseekers Albums chart the same day, proving the new group has been receiving global attention.　 (YG Entertainment)Winner is creating a frenzy at home as well. Shortly after the group dropped its debut EP on Aug. 12, the title track “Empty” swep

Aug. 22, 2014

K-pop idol band JYJ’s Yoochun was sighted at Incheon International Airport before flying out to Beijing, China for an upcoming concert to be held on Aug. 23. JYJ is now on its Asia concert tour “The Return of The King” that kicked off in Seoul on Aug. 9 shortly after the release of its second studio album “Just Us” on July 29.　The trio will head to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand after China.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 22, 2014

Actor and singer Kim Hyun-joong has been accused of using violence against his girlfriend, Dispatch reported Friday.According to the report, Kim is suspected of having committing physical abuse from May to July. His girlfriend recently filed assault charges against him at the Songpa Police Station in southeastern Seoul.“The two had been a couple since 2012. Since last May, Kim has fought with his girlfriend over his women issues. During their fights, Kim used severe physical violence against her

Aug. 22, 2014

The comedy-action film "The Pirates" has topped 5 million in attendance, helping lead Korean movie sales along with the mega hit history film "Roaring Currents," according to its distributor Friday.The action film with the subtitle "Bandits Going to the Sea" reached the mark early Friday morning, Lotte Entertainment said.Friday was the 17th day since the movie's release.With the latest feat, the film exceeded the break-even point with profits fully covering all investments.It also became the thi

Aug. 22, 2014

South Korean researchers said Thursday they have uncovered dozens of artifacts used in Buddhist ceremonies nearly a millennium ago, as they begin to unravel the mystery behind an ancient shrine where they were discovered.The 77 artifacts include a vajra, a type of club with ribbed spherical heads, bells and censers thought to be from the Joseon era (1392-1910), or possibly even earlier.Researchers at the Seoul Institute of Cultural Heritage were wrapping up an archaeological field survey on Dobo

CultureAug. 21, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A gay couple who have been together for almost four decades are separated ― at least physically ― by factors beyond their control in “Love Is Strange,” the latest tender and meandering exploration of human relationships from indie darling Ira Sachs (“Keep the Lights On,” “Forty Shades of Blue”). Set in the Big Apple, this is a sprawling yet intimate narrative, constructed almost entirely of in-between moments rather than the big turning points and tragedies. The starting point

FilmAug. 21, 2014

“Slow, Same, Slow #2205” by Moon BeomMoon jar by Lee Ki-joKorean minimalist abstract paintings and white porcelain moon jars are on exhibit at the Korean Culture Center in Beijing, offering an insight into the spirit and materials that form the basis of Korean modern art. The exhibition “Empty Fulfillment: Materiality and Spirit of Korean Contemporary Art” showcases 11 Dansaekhwa paintings, minimalist abstract paintings and five moon jars ― white porcelains dubbed as such for resembling a full m

PerformanceAug. 21, 2014

The name Jamal Sims was not familiar to people in Korea until he appeared on “Dancing 9,” a dance survival show on cable channel Mnet, as a judge for the final round.But he is an established choreographer in the United States, where his recent projects include choreographing the “Step Up” film series and “Footloose,” and working with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Usher and the Spice Girls. As a dancer and choreographer for more than 20 years, he knows about maintaining a solid career in a

PerformanceAug. 21, 2014

Shortly after the return of formerly enlisted K-pop star Lee Teuk, the members of Super Junior are not only gearing up for their upcoming “Super Show 6” series, but will also be dropping their seventh full studio album “Mamacita” next month.According to a press release from SM Entertainment on Thursday, Super Junior will be dropping its new album on Sept. 1, more than two years after the release of the group’s previous “Sexy, Free & Single” sixth album. Although last year the group released two

Aug. 21, 2014

This is the 13th in a series highlighting women and their accomplishments in the various facets of the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed.It’s no walk in the park becoming a television producer in Korea. First, one must pass a test that can take at least two to three years of studying ― and often more than one attempt. Then it’s a matter of companies having vacancies, with thousands of applicants vying for as few as four positions a year. Variety show producer Kim No-eun says it was luck that h

Aug. 21, 2014

Late in his novel “Your Face in Mine,” Jess Row cites a parable attributed to Zhuangzi, a Chinese philosopher from the fourth century BC. “Zhuangzi awoke from dreaming that he was a butterfly,” he writes, “And didn’t know whether he was a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi.” It’s the kind of brain-twister beloved by the ancient masters, but it also has a lot to do with what Row is after in this book.“Your Face in Mine” is his first novel after two well-regarded collections of stories, and it dea

BooksAug. 21, 2014

I grew up within sight of the ocean, close enough to hear the boom of the surf as it exploded across the sandbars. My grandfather pulled his living from the ocean, and a great uncle died in it. I spent thousands of hours in the Atlantic and thousands more along its edges. I knew it, I thought.Then I read James Nestor’s fascinating new book, “Deep,” an exploration, layer by layer, of the oceans’ depths. My knowledge barely dipped beneath the surface.Nestor’s journey begins in Greece, on assignmen

BooksAug. 21, 2014

All Our NamesBy Dinaw Mengestu (Knopf)At first glance, “All Our Names” seems to be a straightforward immigrant story. A young man, carrying the name of Isaac on his passport, has come from Uganda to Laurel, a small Midwestern town, on a one-year student visa. His case is assigned to Helen, with Lutheran Relief Services. Chapters segue between those in Uganda narrated by Isaac, and those in America, narrated by Helen.The novel partially takes place in Uganda in the early 1970s, after it has won i

BooksAug. 21, 2014

Remember Me Like ThisBy Bret Anthony Johnston (Random House) A page-turner of a plot alone usually is not enough to keep me reading long into the night, abandoning my dreams for a writer’s creative imaginings. Bret Anthony Johnston delivers the special something that makes a book worth losing sleep over: a masterfully designed architecture of psychological truths and observations that build ironclad believability.Just a couple of chapters into “Remember Me Like This,” I cared enough about the fa

BooksAug. 21, 2014