EXO’s Kris expresses his feelings in a written letter

Kris, the embattled leader of EXO-M, posted a picture of his handwritten letter on Weibo to express his feelings about filing a lawsuit against S.M. Entertainment.“螳螂拒轍 (It is like a fly trying to bite a tortoise). I am doing better, thanks to all your blessings. I would like to thank you for supporting me. I appreciate every voice you make. Wu yifan is always here,” Kris wrote in the autographed letter posted on Weibo on Friday. Wu yifan is Kris’ Chinese name. The post has gained more than 80,0

May 19, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun: I’ve never been kissed

Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun surprised his fans in Japan when he revealed that he had never kissed a woman besides his partners in movies and television dramas.On a fan meeting named “Kim Soo-hyun Asia Tour 1st Memories” in Japan on Sunday, the 26-year-old was asked about his secret to being a good on-screen kisser, according to OSEN’s reports.“Actually, I have never been kissed besides acting,” Kim was quoted as saying. About 4,000 fans, who packed the meeting, greeted him with shouts and enthusia

May 19, 2014

AOA’s Jimin and Park Hyung-sik in sweet mood

Girl group AOA leader Jimin and actor Park Hyung-sik signaled that they were in a sweet mood on a variety show. In “Real Men,” an MBC reality show in which celebrities experience life in a military barracks, which was aired Sunday, the surprise guest AOA melted the hearts of the military unit that was joined by Park Hyung-sik and other celebrities. In a quiz competition which offered a holiday for the soldier who won the final round, Park and Jimin teamed up together. The partner was chosen by J

May 19, 2014

EXO-K hopes controversy over Kris will settle

(SBS)EXO-K members expressed Sunday their hopes that the growing controversy surrounding the group‘s Chinese unit leader Kris would be settled soon.“I would like to share this honor with EXO-M’s members,” EXO-K leader Suho said after the group won the top prize Sunday on “Inkigayo,” a weekly SBS music program. “I hope you can feel my heart and know what‘s on my mind. Thank you, our fans,” he said in the acceptance speech on behalf of the K-pop boy band. But he did not elaborate on what was on hi

May 19, 2014

Huang Xiaoming reveals intimate selfies with Song Hye-kyo

Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming took and revealed two selfies of Korean actress Song Hye Kyo and himself having a good time in Cannes, France.In the selfies, Huang, wearing a black suit and black tuxedo, poses with the star hallyu actress in white, beaming. Huang posted the photos on his Instagram page on Friday local time.  (Huang Xiaoming`s Instagram) (Huang Xiaoming`s Instagram)The two Asian celebrities made an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival to promote the film “The Crossing,” along with

May 19, 2014

Pop singer Seo Tai-ji to make comeback in fall

Popular veteran singer Seo Tai-ji will return to his fans with a new album in the fall, an entertainment agency said Monday.Wellmade Starm Inc. said Seo has recently signed a contract with its performance planning subsidiary, Show21, for a nationwide concert tour to mark the planned release of his ninth full-length album.The tour is set to begin in Seoul but the exact timing and venues of the shows were not fixed, the company said.The shows are expected to sell more than 10 billion won (US$9.77

PerformanceMay 19, 2014

[Herald Interview] Artistic endeavor to bridge gap on thorny issues

Paintings inspired by the beauty of Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo will be on exhibit at the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza area in August. Given the tension between Korea and Japan over the sovereignty of the rocky islets, the exhibition seems a rather bold move. The artist behind the daring attempt is Jeong Jai-young, 50, who has been painting abstract images of the islets for the last decade. Through his representative Lee Il-young, director of the Korea Art Center, a private gallery in Seoul, t

PerformanceMay 18, 2014

Cannes biopic probes Saint Laurent’s dark side

Belgian actor Jeremie Renier poses during a photo call for the film “Saint-Laurent” at the 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, Saturday. (AFP-Yonhap)CANNES, France (AFP) ― Yves Saint Laurent, France’s shy fashion genius of fashion, came to the big screen at Cannes today with a biopic delving into the darker side of the celebrated designer and his struggles with depression, drinking and drugs. The high priest of fashion who pioneered tuxedos for women and ready-to

FilmMay 18, 2014

10.5-meter sugar sculpture honors black workers

“A Subtlety or the Marvelous Sugar Baby,” by artist Kara Walker, is on display inside the former Domino Sugar Refinery, located in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)NEW YORK (AP) ― A 10.5-meter-tall sphinxlike sculpture made of sugar is on display at an old New York City factory as a tribute to black workers. Artist Kara Walker’s monumental installation occupies much of the cavernous interior of the former Domino Sugar Refinery in the Williamsburg section

PerformanceMay 18, 2014

Powerful ‘Winter Sleep’ wows Cannes

CANNES, France (AP) ― “Winter Sleep,” the bookies’ early front-runner for the Palme d’Or, the slow-burning but powerful Turkish family drama, is unafraid to tackle Sartrian questions of personal responsibility ― and the hate that lurks beneath a seemingly peaceful family. Its director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, is a Cannes Film Festival darling, having won the Jury Prize in 2011 for the acclaimed “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia.” His film explores the silent life of the easygoing Aydin, played majestical

FilmMay 18, 2014

[Band Uprising] HarryBigButton unleashes ‘Perfect Storm’ with coffee, cigarettes, rock ’n’ roll

As the Korean music market begins to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the 12th installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed.While its name may imply to some a man named Harry who likes to wear large, tacky buttons, the hard-rockers of HarryBigButton are anything but buttoned-down John Q. Public types. Lead vocalist and guitarist Lee Sung-soo

May 18, 2014

‘Inkigayo’ returns, EXO-K tops music chart

 EXO-K, one of the most popular K-pop boy groups, won the first prize on “Inkigayo,” an SBS music program that aired on Sunday.The program started up again after a five-week suspension in memory of the deaths of passengers aboard the ill-fated Sewol ferry, which sunk last month off the nation’s southwest coast.The other competitors for the first prize were g.o.d with “The Lone Duckling” and Jung Gi-go with “Want U.”“I would like to share the joy of winning this prize will our members. We especia

May 18, 2014

Choo Sa-rang mimics elephant with passion

Choo Sa-rang, a child-starlet and daughter of mixed martial arts fighter Choo Sung-hoon, mimicked an elephant, her favorite zoo animal, on an episode of the KBS2 reality show “Superman is Back” that aired on Sunday.After a family visit to the zoo, the starlet was asked to pick her favorite animal at the zoo. She happily cried out “Elephant!” and immediately rushed to make the long nose of an elephant, making the participants and staff burst into laughter. By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com

May 18, 2014

Fans donate to historical foundation for Taeyang’s birthday

Fans on Saturday delivered donated funds to a local historical institution as a birthday gift for Taeyang, a member of the boy band Taeyang, who was born on the anniversary of the May 18th democratic uprising. Taeyang’s fan club “You Are the Sun, I Am the Moon” donated a total of 5.18 million won ($5,059) to The May 18 Memorial Foundation, hoping that the gift would be a “meaningful birthday gift” for the K-pop star’s 26th birthday.  Taeyang (YG Entertainment)“The representative of the fan site

May 18, 2014

EXO-M members call Kris 'betrayer,' vow 11-member concert: report

EXO-M members condemned Kris’ recent legal waging against the agency as a “betrayal of trust,” Korean media reported on Sunday, citing Chinese online news outlet.“(Kris) should not have done such a thing without telling anyone in advance, especially when the world tour that we have all been dreaming about is just around the corner,” Tao, one of the four Chinese members of the six-member boy band, told Chinese online media Tencent Yule on Thursday. He called Kris’ act “bad behavior” and a “betray

May 18, 2014

EXO-M leader Kris diagnosed with myocarditis: report

EXO-M leader Kris. (SM Entertainment)Popular K-pop group EXO-M leading member Kris has been diagnosed with myocarditis, a disease marked by the inflammation of the heart muscle, according to Chinese media reports.The news comes after Kris officially filed a lawsuit against his agency SM Entertainment to terminate his contract. His complaint was received by the Seoul Central Court on Thursday. Prior to Kris’ diagnosis and lawsuit, the group had been scheduled to hold its first solo concert in Se

PerformanceMay 16, 2014

[Weekender] What a difference a draught master can make

When it comes to a glass of a cold one, Franck Evers finds the same problems everywhere around the world.“Temperature, dirty glassware, too much or too little foam, and presentation. These are the four major issues with serving beer,” noted Evers, a Dutchman who holds the unusual title of Heineken Global Draught Master. Since assuming the post in 2006, he has traveled to some 60 countries, spreading the gospel of how to pour the perfect glass of draught beer.“It is not marketing gimmickry,” insi

FoodMay 16, 2014

Calendar

Pop musicSeoul Jazz Festival 2014: Every year the annual two-day Seoul Jazz Festival features a wide variety of musical acts, from legendary jazz musicians to popular contemporary figures. This year’s headline artists include Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, jazz-pop musician Jamie Cullum, jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, the Jack DeJohnette Trio and R&B soloist Eric Benet as well as local bands Jang Kiha and the Faces and Urban Zakapa. The 2014 Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Seoul Olympic

CultureMay 16, 2014

Have fun at floating five-star hotel, safely

The Diamond Princess Cruise ship is one of the three cruise ships deployed in Asia by Princess Cruises for the 2014-2015 season.At first glance, the Diamond Prince ― set to sail from Busan to Japan ― looks like a high-rise building placed horizontally. A staff member hints that the ship is longer than the length of the South Korea’s tallest 63 building. The ship, one of the 17 cruise ships owned by U.S. cruise line Princess Cruises, was on a 10-day cruise to Japan. It was anchored in Busan on th

TravelMay 16, 2014

[Weekender] Eyelike: Wheesung shares confessional monologue on new EP

Wheesung reflects on self on new EPWheesung“The Best Man” (KT Music)Ballad and R&B singer Wheesung has released his new EP “The Best Man,” featuring seven tracks filled with personal reflections and signature vocals.Wheesung looks back on his life as a singer on his new album, sharing his thoughts as he returns to the music scene after more than two years of military service.The last track, “Must Make Money,” is particularly attention-grabbing given that the singer blatantly criticizes himself a

PerformanceMay 16, 2014