[Weekender] Mega stores seek to connect with readers

In an effort to overcome a decline in sales, and the profoundly dwindling public interest in reading, Korea’s two largest book retailers Kyobo Book Center and Yes 24 set out their own unique strategies. For Kyobo, Korea’s largest book chain with 14 branches nationwide, it is tailored book consulting service. At the core of this service are a new breed of professionals called “book masters,” who find books that customers are looking for, make recommendations based on their preferences and manage

BooksJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Small, unique booksellers survive competition

Generally speaking, price and brand power matter most in the bookstore business. These factors have earned price-competitive chains the lion’s share of the market, while the small, independent bookstores continue to wither.In reality, the mom-and-pop shops are more embattled than what we see in rom-com films like “You’ve Got Mail” and “Notting Hill.”But not all of the neighborhood bookshops are losing out. Some are staving off the competition through differentiation strategies. Your Mind Your Mi

BooksJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Independent bookshops cater to English readers

Whether looking for the timeless literary classics from Brontë or Fitzgerald, or prefering to check out Danielle Steel’s newest tale of high society crisis or the next mentally disturbing nightmare sequence of Stephen King, Seoul has a couple of well-established bookstores to accommodate all of your English book needs.While it may be no longer that difficult to track down physical copies of the latest English-language publications in the “Foreign Section” at any Seoul’s big chain book establishm

CultureJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Calendar

Pop musicg.o.d. 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert: The newly reunited ’90s K-pop idol group g.o.d. will be embarking on a nationwide concert tour starting in July. After more than 12 years apart, the five original members of g.o.d. made their highly anticipated comeback in May with their newest single “The Lone Duckling.” The K-pop veterans are slated to hold two concerts, on July 12 and 13, at the Jamsil Sport Complex’s Auxiliary Stadium in Seoul, before moving on to Gwangju, Busan, Daegu and Da

CultureJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Box Office

Santa Barbara (Korea)Opening July 17Romance. Directed by Cho Sung-kyuWhen naïve music director Jung-woo (Lee Sang-yoon) meets a talented creative director Soo-kyung (Yoon Jin-seo) to work on an advertisement project together, at first, they do not get along very well because of striking differences in personalities. But one day, they happen to find similarities in three things: movie taste, a love for wine, and longing for Santa Barbara in the U.S. With these similarities, they grow closer. Howe

FilmJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Eyelike: f(x) reaffirms funk with ‘Red Light’

f(x) reaffirms funk with ‘Red Light’f(x) “Red Light”(KT Music)K-pop girl group f(x), known for their innovative and funky style, has returned with yet another album filled with unique sounds ― this time, funky as usual with an added touch of electro-pop.The group’s new 11-track studio album “Red Light” opens with an eponymous lead single featuring diverse electric sounds behind a pop melody, all embellished with a dose of hip-hop. “Red Light” begins with some ominous clock-ticking and the member

PerformanceJuly 11, 2014

Chaz Ebert reflects on her late husband, Roger

By Mark Olsen, Los Angeles TimesThe documentary “Life Itself” is about the life, career, death and legacy of film critic Roger Ebert but, as the title implies, also much more. It is about the role of work and love and passion and ideas in the living of one’s life, all the things that come together to make each of us who we are. An adaptation of Ebert’s 2011 memoir of the same name ― a New York Times review called it “the best thing Mr. Ebert has ever written” ― the movie is directed by fellow Ch

FilmJuly 11, 2014

Park service calls development plans a major threat to Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Arizona ― At the rim of the Grand Canyon, busloads of Chinese tourists jostled on a recent day with 20-something backpackers and an Amish family with rambunctious boys in suspenders and straw hats, all eager for a prime viewing spot.They gazed out on a dizzying sight of receding canyons and sheer rock walls, with the Colorado River cutting through the canyon floor more than a kilometer down.Generations of park managers have tried to preserve that natural vista, but of

TravelJuly 11, 2014

French presidents’ holiday retreat open to public

PARIS (AP) ― It’s an old fortress on a tiny island, surrounded by pine trees and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea: The Fort de Bregancon has been the very private holiday retreat of French leaders for decades. And now it’s open to the public. Socialist President Francois Hollande has decided to break with tradition and to show it to the masses for the first time instead of vacationing there, as a symbol of a toned-down presidential lifestyle in tough economic times. The stylish vill

TravelJuly 11, 2014

[Weekender] Around the hotel

Summer set menu at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s The Lounge is presenting a summer set menu until August. The set menu includes a bowl of bingsu, (ice flakes with various toppings), two smoked martinis and a snack dish. Guests can choose from four types of bingsus: Pat Bingsu, made with red beans and rice cake; Berry Bingsu, made with fresh berries, chocolate and nuts; Honey Bee-ingsu made with honeycomb, vanilla ice cream, apple puree and pecans; or Spicy Melon Bingsu, made with cantaloupe

CultureJuly 11, 2014

Gochujang saewu gui (spicy grilled shrimp skewers)

Gochujang saewu gui (spicy grilled shrimp skewers) (Korean Bapsang)Sometimes it only takes one special ingredient to give a dish a total makeover. In this recipe, that one ingredient is gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste). Simply add a couple spoonfuls of it to your usual marinade for grilling shrimp. It turns what would have been ordinary grilled shrimp into something totally different and delicious. How can you go wrong with gochujang? This grilled shrimp is savory, peppery, slightly swe

FoodJuly 11, 2014

Macaron eclairs in Gyeongnidan

At Eclair by Garuharu, a dessert shop that opened late this June on Seoul’s Gyeongnidan Street, there are eclairs and macarons, and then there is the macaron eclair. Owner and pastry chef Yun Eun-young explained that she put this hybrid dessert on the menu because she wanted to give a nod to the eclair, the titular dessert of her new store. Also, one of her leading specialties as a pastry chef is the macaron. Those who have tasted a macaron cake or macaron eclair will already understand the basi

FoodJuly 11, 2014

Actor Cha confirmed dating actress Hwang

South Korean actress Hwang Bo-ra, actor Cha Hyun-woo. (Fantasio)South Korean actor Cha Hyun-woo, the younger brother of actor Ha Jung-woo, and actress Hwang Bo-ra have been dating for a year, their agency Fantasio confirmed Thursday.The confirmation came shortly after a local daily reported that the two have been in a romantic relationship for a year now. “They first met through an acquaintance at church. As they share the same religion, they have been on good terms just like other normal couple

July 11, 2014

GOT7 receives monthly sexual ed class

Rising K-pop boy group, GOT7, revealed they attend sex ed once a month during SBS radio program “K.Will’s Young Street” on Wednesday.JYP Entertainment is the management agency for GOT7 and has many other groups and K-pop singers such as 2PM, Miss A, 2AM and 15&. According to its policy, trainees receive education on various topics including sex.“Don’t (trainees) of JYP Entertainment have sex education?” the emcee of the show asked GOT7.The group of young singers confirmed their agency’s policy a

July 11, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong releases 4th EP “Timing”

Singer Kim Hyun-joong released his fourth EP “Timing” on Friday.The mini album features tracks of various genres, ranging from up-tempo dance song “Beauty Beauty,” to acoustic ballad “Nothing on You,” and modern British pop in “Things I Want to Say.” All four songs were released at noon through Korean online music portals. In addition to the EP, Kim’s agency released a still photo of the K-pop singer. (KeyEast Entertainment)(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

July 11, 2014

Kang Ji-hwan grilled for controversial photos with Filipina

Actor Kang Ji-hwan came under fire on Friday when a Filipina posted several pictures of Kang and herself in bed, on her Facebook. The woman posted selfies with Kang, 37, who seems asleep. She also uploaded pictures of Kang’s sleeping face. With the photos, she wrote “…Together sleep with Korean actor Mr. Kang Jihwan,” stirring up a myriad of fiery responses online. Kang’s agency denied all the rumors regarding the bed-selfie fiasco. The agency spokesperson told reporters, “The pictures were take

July 11, 2014