Murakami recounts pilgrim’s progress

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of PilgrimageBy Haruki Murakami (Alfred A. Knopf)When the bottom falls out of your life, you can’t always figure out what the hell happened. You just have to get through it.But getting through it and getting past it can be the difference between surviving and living.“Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage,” Haruki Murakami’s accessible and often moving new novel, underscores that difference, and the personal journey necessary to bridge that ga

BooksAug. 14, 2014

Art of mathematical logic

For many, the thought of solving math problems doesn’t bring positive feelings, but evokes memories of stress from agonizing over equations.An exhibition commemorating the 2014 International Congress of Mathematicians currently underway in Seoul attempts to ameliorate such discomfort in an artistic way. Instead of equations and graphs, the exhibition “Matrix: Mathematics ― Heart of Gold and the Abyss” features artistic aspects of mathematics in the forms of painting, sculpture, design, media, so

PerformanceAug. 14, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun to sing at Nanjing Youth Olympics opening

Actor Kim Soo-hyun will reportedly sing the theme song at the opening ceremony of the Nanjing Youth Olympics in China.According to Sina.com and various Chinese news agencies, Kim is to stage a performance together with Chinese pop star Zhang Liangying on Saturday.The reports on Kim’s appearance at the sports event went viral among local fans as Kim has established a large fandom in Asia amid huge success in Korean TV show “My Love From The Star.”(Giogia)The theme of the upcoming Youth Olympics i

Aug. 14, 2014

Kang Dong-won and Song Hye-kyo’s Vogue cuts revealed

Actor Kang Dong-won and Actress Song Hye-kyo, who recently shot film “My Brilliant Life,” reunited for a fashion shoot with Vogue Korea. The pictorials show Kang and Song in trench coats and other chic fashion pictured in black and white. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: Vogue Korea )

Aug. 14, 2014

Jung Joon-young’s chic charisma spotted

Singer Jung Joon-young’s chic charisma was apparent in a fashion shoot by siero. The singer posed in front of a modern background, dressed in white and black. Jung currently appears in the famous variety show “2 Days & 1 Night.”By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: siero)

Aug. 14, 2014

Clara’s ‘Secret 24’

Clara’s fashion shoot with bnt shows the model and actress in a hotel suite, swimming pool and fitness center. The concept for the shoot is to picture how Clara spends her day. She can be seen in a black dress, sporty outfits, swimsuits and jeans. She also revealed that her secret for maintaining her figure was the ballet lessons she took when she was younger. She also told the magazine that she prefers slim-designed skin-tone clothes. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo

Aug. 14, 2014

Park Hae-jin dressed in fall, winter clothes

 Actor Park Hae-jin dressed in fall, autumn clothes for fashion brand Zishen Homme.  The actor seemed to have prepared for the cold season already by dressing in warm looking  jackets and scarves. Park is going to appear in the TV drama “Bad Guys,” kicking off Oct. 4. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: Zishen Homme/WM Company)

Aug. 14, 2014

Seo Taiji breaks silence about his marriage to E Ji-ah

K-pop legend Seo Taiji finally broke his silence on Wednesday, clarifying his stance amid mounting controversy after his former wife, actress E Ji-ah made comments on their marriage on a TV show.　On Monday, E revealed her side of the story about her marriage to Seo, most of which has been hidden behind a veil of secrecy.　On the TV talk show “Healing Camp,” E confessed that the two fell in love after they first met at concert in the U.S. E talked about how lonely her life was as she had to keep t

Aug. 13, 2014

Pope Francis to arrive in Korea Thursday

A symbol of peace, love and new understanding, Pope Francis will arrive in Korea on Thursday for a five-day official visit to a nation still gripped by Cold War geopolitics. A chartered flight carrying the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and his entourage from the Vatican is expected to land at Seoul Air Base, just south of Seoul, at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. President Park Geun-hye will welcome him at the airport, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. “(The president) will treat (the pope) with t

CultureAug. 13, 2014

[Graphic News] Pope’s itinerary in Korea

CultureAug. 13, 2014

[Newsmaker] Francis: ‘People’s pope’ and SNS star

As afternoon turned into evening on March 13, 2013, in Vatican City, white smoke rose from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope had been elected. About an hour later, the identity of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church was unveiled: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires. He would be named Pope Francis, it was announced. Since that moment, Pope Francis never stopped surprising the world ― Catholics and non-Catholics alike. As the first pope born outside of

CultureAug. 13, 2014

Trip signals Vatican’s shifting geographic focus

When Pope Francis arrives here Thursday morning, he will find a small, but dynamic Catholic Church that he hopes will “arise and shine” on the continent and the rest of the world, where Catholicism faces grave challenges. “The Korean Church is dynamic. Only about 10 percent of Koreans are Catholic, but it churns out many missionaries who are now planting the seeds of faith in so many countries in the world, such as Mongolia,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said during a press briefing in th

CultureAug. 13, 2014

Art’s influence on film, fashion, music

Art has inspired many areas of culture. Recently, designers, musicians and a filmmaker who seek inspiration from art have teamed up with artists for collaborative exhibitions. The “Phantasmagoria” exhibition underway at Insa Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul, presents new painting series by celebrated pop artists Mari Kim and Kim Nam-pyo and two short films by filmmaker Min Byung-hun that trace the artists’ respective quests for creative inspiration. Known for supernatural images of an unlikely mix

PerformanceAug. 13, 2014

(Photo News) Comics Festival

Animation majors from Korea’s Bucheon University and Japan Animation and Manga College hold up their caricatures at the 17th Bucheon International Comics Festival, which opened at the Korea Manhwa Museum on Wednesday. The festival runs until Aug. 17. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)

CultureAug. 13, 2014

Acclaimed jazz guitarist Pat Metheny to perform this fall

Internationally acclaimed U.S. jazz guitarist Pat Metheny will make his way to Seoul this fall to stage a concert with his new project group Pat Metheny Unity Group.Led by Metheny and featuring Chris Potter on the saxophone, Antonio Sanchez on drums, Ben Williams on bass and Giulio Carmassi on piano/keyboard, the quintet will perform in Korea in October as part of its worldwide concert tour.Known for his versatile style that incorporates elements of contemporary, post-bop, Latin and fusion jazz,

PerformanceAug. 13, 2014

CL shows off friendship with Jeremy Scott

2NE1 member CL released a photo she took with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott on Tuesday, boasting of their steady friendship. In the photo posted on Instagram, CL and Scott pose for the camera while holding glasses. Meanwhile, CL is scheduled to perform along with her label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 13, 2014

Winner takes No.1 slot on iTunes chart in Asian countries

Rookie K-pop group Winner has made a splash not only at home but also abroad with its debut album released Tuesday. 　As Winner dropped its debut EP “2014 S/S” at midnight on Aug. 12, one of the band’s two main tracks, “Empty,” instantly topped Korea’s nine major music charts.  (YG Entertainment)A day after the release, the track is drawing positive reactions from abroad as well. The tune debuted at No.1 on iTunes album charts in five countries -- Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Tai

Aug. 13, 2014

Microsoft features 2NE1 song in new ad

International tech giant Microsoft has featured K-pop girl group 2NE1’s hit single “I Am the Best” in a new commercial promoting its latest product Surface Pro 3.The song is featured as the background music for an advertisement that compares Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 with Apple’s MacBook Air. The track will be featured on the ad for six months on television and one year on the Internet and other outlets.“Microsoft expressed its wish to use 2NE1’s song for the Surface Pro 3 advertisement through

Aug. 13, 2014

G-Dragon pictured with Pharrell Williams

G-Dragon of K-pop boy group Big Bang released a photo he took with an American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams on Wednesday.　“The man who always inspires me. Thank you,” G-Dragon wrote on his Instagram alongside the photo.　In the photo, G-Dragon makes a funny face while Pharrell gazes straight-faced.　Meanwhile, G-Dragon is scheduled to perform along with his label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 13, 2014

Still cuts of Red Velvet go viral

The still photos of K-pop girl group Red Velvet went viral Tuesday.　Red Velvet’s agency SM Entertainment released the photos on Aug. 8 taken at the group’s debut performance on the TV music program “Music Bank.” 　The photos of group member Irene, in particular, are heating up online communities. “Red Velvet Irene” became one of the “hot topic keywords” on the nation’s largest portal site Naver as of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. 　The four-member group dropped its EP “Happiness” online on Aug. 4 and deb

Aug. 13, 2014