Along the “design promenade,” the curved, flowing passageway inside the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, visitors pass by stylish, unique chairs. Some take a look, while others hardly notice them and go straight into the exhibition space. The DDP staff recommends visitors pay attention to the chairs, designed by 112 furniture designers from 30 countries around the world. “Visitors are not sure whether the chairs are just decor objects or real chairs that they can sit on. The chairs displayed he

Arts & DesignJuly 7, 2014

More than 20 A-list celebrities gathered at Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral last month sing in a music video for Pope Francis, who’s due to visit here next month. The video was released Monday. The single “Koinonia” celebrates the Holy Father’s Aug. 14-18 visit to Korea. The title is the Greek word for fellowship, sharing in common and communion. “So many people live just for themselves. If more people prayed for others, the world would be a better place to live,” Noh Young-sim, the song’s composer

PerformanceJuly 7, 2014

Joseon era (1392-1910), $17 million, star-studded casts and historical films are some of the defining words of the Korean film industry for the summer of 2014.It is no coincidence that three large-scale period movies will open in theaters in July and August, only weeks apart from each other. “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” will be the first to open on July 23, followed by “Roaring Currents” on July 30 and then “The Pirates” on Aug. 6. These films are part of the box-office trend in which historical

July 7, 2014

The international fashion icon and notorious socialite Paris Hilton will be packing her bikini and DJ set and performing live at the upcoming SuperX Summer Festival in Seoul next month. The SuperX Summer Festival is the first all-day poolside party to hit South Korea and will be held at the Walkerhill River Park from Aug. 15-16. Although the starlet is best known as the heiress of the Hilton Hotel franchise, her frequent appearances on reality TV shows launched her into superstardom and made her

PerformanceJuly 7, 2014

K-pop girl group f(x) has made a long-awaited return to the local music scene, equipped with fresh electro-pop sounds and eclectic musical styles.The five girls of f(x) ― Victoria, Krystal, Amber, Sulli and Luna ― officially released their new 11-track studio album “Red Light” on Monday, with the eponymous title track “Red Light” immediately climbing up to the top of local music charts.f(x). (SM Entertainment)The lead single “Red Light” is a funky electro-pop tune that opens with a rap-like chan

July 7, 2014

YG Entertainment will debut Winner, a new five-member hip-hop boy band, on Aug. 1. This will be the first time in eight years that YG has debuted a male idol group. The agency has completed a three-week promotional campaign for the group that began on June 16. Winner. (YG Entertainment)In the three weeks, dubbed “Test Week,” “New York Week” and “Winner Week,” it released new individual and group teasers every day. “Winner Week” featured a total of six movie clip teasers, with the last one releas

July 7, 2014

K-pop sensation EXO’s Chen will contribute a song to the soundtrack for the drama “It’s Okay, That’s Love” in his first solo activity since his debut in 2012.  (EXO's Chen)The news about Chen’s participation on the album has excited EXO fans who viewed it as a move to back fellow member D.O., who has a role in the TV series. D.O is to play an innocent high school student who dreams of becoming a best-selling author to make his mother happy.  (EXO's D.O)The SBS-TV drama will also feature top-clas

July 7, 2014

Kim Dong-wan during Shinhwa's 16th anniversary concert (OSEN)K-pop singer and actor Kim Dong-wan is to play the role of transgender rocker “Hedwig” from mid-August, officials in the local musical industry said.The musical team selected Kim for the lead role to mark its 10th anniversary in Korea as he is able to bring out the unique character of Hedwig while performing steady yet powerful vocals.“Kim Dong-wan is full of merits. On the outside he is manly and masculine but on the inside he is sens

July 7, 2014

Tattoos are no longer a symbol of gangsters on the backstreets in Korea. They have rather become fashion items to represent one’s identity and philosophy. With such a trend, more and more Korean celebrities are getting inked with their own unique designs. The Korea Herald listed the top five hallyu stars who have tattoos. 1. Lee Hyori (OSEN)K-pop diva Lee Hyori has multiple tattoos on her neck, right wrist and right arm. (OSEN)(OSEN)While Lee tattooed the simple word “love” on the back of her ne

July 7, 2014

South Korean actor Joo Won will appear as a guest on the hit SBS-TV variety show “Running Man.” The 26-year-old heartthrob will participate in the filming of the program in Seoul on Tuesday, eight months after he stepped down from the KBS-TV reality show “1 Night, 2 Days.” Joo’s appearance on the show comes following months-long efforts by the production team. Having wrapped up his work in the musical “Ghost,” the actor is gearing up for his upcoming drama “Nodame Cantabile,” in which he will pl

July 7, 2014

Yoona, actress and member of K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, confirmed Monday that she would play the female lead in the drama “Nodame Cantabile.”  (OSEN)The idol will play Nodame, a talented yet eccentric piano student, a counterpart to Korean actor Joo Won who will play her boyfriend and conductor. Veteran actor Baek Yoon-sik and Dohee of K-pop girl group Tiny-G have also joined the cast, playing Nodame’s teacher and a music student named Sakura, respectively. Nodame Cantabile was original

July 7, 2014

K-pop girl group KARA’s Han Seung-yeon is seen with orange makeup in the fashion magazine High Cut. This summer issue shows the K-pop star in pure white outfits with various orange shades of makeup. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: High Cut)

July 7, 2014

South Korean entertainment powerhouse YG Entertainment is to debut its long-awaited rookie idol band WINNER in August. WINNER, the five-member boy group unveiled by the agency in 2013, wrapped up its “WINNER WEEK” last Sunday with a sixth teaser video on the YG official blog that heralded the group’s debut on Aug. 1. The fledgling band has broadened its presence for the last three promotional weeks -- “TEST WEEK,” “NEW YORK WEEK” and “WINNER WEEK” -- while disclosing photo shoots taken in Korea

July 7, 2014

K-pop diva Lee Hyori introduced her older sister on her blog on Saturday. “My older sister visited me on a rainy day. We look alike and share many (of the) same things,” Lee said. Both joyfully played cat’s cradle, the photos showed. Other photos showed Lee dyeing her and her husband’s nails with garden balsam, which is one of the traditional Korean ways to naturally color one’s nails. “A friend of mine gave me some garden balsam. My sisters and I used to dye (our) nails with the flowers every y

July 7, 2014

Hallyu star Lee Young-ae showed off a casual yet chic style in a photo shoot with the magazine StyleChosun.  (StyleChosun)Wearing jeans and a T-shirt as well as Cartier accessories, Lee’s style was both casual and luxurious. (StyleChosun)More photos are available in the magazine’s July issue. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

July 7, 2014

Chinese actress and emcee Liu Yan (Ada Liu) sent shockwaves as she admitted to reporters that she is in a relationship with Chansung of K-pop boy band 2PM. Liu, 34, met the Korean singer when they were participants on the Chinese dating entertainment show “If You Love.” Since then they have been in a romantic relationship, the actress alleged in a press conference for the launch of her friend’s new project in China. She told the press, “I’m currently in a relationship. My boyfriend has met my pa

July 7, 2014

‘Doctor Stranger’ gets nearly 400 million views in ChinaThe South Korean TV series “Doctor Stranger” has gained popularity throughout China with the number of hits coming close to 400 million on the country‘s major online video services, a local entertainment agency said Monday.The drama series recorded 330 million views on Youku and 50 million views on Todou, both of China’s leading video streaming and downloading services as of Sunday night, according to WM Company, which manages one of the dr

July 7, 2014

The Australian Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday launched the “Australia-Korea Friendship Tree” art project to celebrate 125 years of contact between South Koreans and Australians.The project will explore the connection between the two nations through old and new artistic mediums. Smartphone users will be able to scan posters around Seoul to access a digital model of a tree, where they can view 125 images of Australian-Korean friendships, watch music videos from both countries, and even upload their o

Expat LivingJuly 6, 2014