Four-member girl group 1PS, made up of leader Ye-na, Ji-eun, Sae-ha and Yoon-seo, has joined this year’s lineup of K-pop rookies with the ladies’ debut single album “The First Score” on Monday. The album includes the pop-ballad main track “Because I am a Woman” as well the single “Anticipating.” 1PS took to the stage last week on “M! Countdown” and performed the group’s lead track live for the first time. Despite the influx of girl groups pursuing the sexy and risque concept, 1PS ― an abbreviati

March 3, 2014

Girls’ Generation made a much-anticipated return to the music scene last month with the new EP “Mr. Mr.,” topping major music charts in South Korea.The nine girls are reaffirming their global popularity with the release of the new music video for “Mr. Mr.,” which has received more than 4.3 million views and comments on YouTube as of Monday, just days after the video was released on Feb. 28. In the video, the girls portray glamorous nurses dressed in pink, as they play doctor in a colorful operat

March 3, 2014

Top K-pop girl group 2NE1 released music videos for their popular title tracks “Come Back Home” and “Happy” on its official YouTube channel and YG’s blog on Monday, receiving thousands of hits, likes and comments within minutes.The music video for “Come Back Home” is set in an undefined future, where people escape to a world of virtual reality. Once “plugged in,” they experience psychedelic effects as euphoric colors and odd images warp into an endless cosmos. The four girls eventually set fire

March 3, 2014

JW Marriott Seoul has named veteran hotelier Matthew Cooper as its new general manager, the hotel said on Monday. Starting as a banquet waiter in Australia, Cooper has built a professional career in hospitality of 16 years with Marriott International. He previously served as the general manager in India at Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield and at Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon. He has been involved in the preopening stages of several hotels and was awarded the Marriott International “Prestigio

TravelMarch 3, 2014

“Secret of Curry,” an online post, has gone viral in Internet communities. 　The post explains that curry is good for the health due to the medicinal effects of its powdered spices.  　Most curries contain turmeric, cumin, allspice, cardamom, ginger, garlic and capsicum -- spices with strong anti-bacterial properties. 　According to recent studies, curries are known to improve memory, appetite and immunity. They also help stave off Alzheimer’s, cancer and obesity. 　Curry, which originated from Indi

FoodMarch 3, 2014

Harrowing historical drama "12 Years a Slave" was crowned best picture Oscar on Sunday, while 3D space thriller "Gravity" was the top prize winner at the 86th Academy Awards with seven.True-life AIDS activist drama "Dallas Buyers Club" won three Oscars including best actor for Matthew McConaughey, while Australia's Cate Blanchett won best actress for Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine."But 1970s crime caper "American Hustle" and Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" went home empty-handed from th

FilmMarch 3, 2014

The Korean National Ballet, which welcomed new artistic director famed ballerina Kang Sue-jin in February, is opening its 2014 season with Marius Petipa’s “La Bayadere.” It is the first ballet Kang is staging since her appointment earlier this year.The ballet company premiered Petipa’s 1877 piece last year, showcasing its own, slightly altered version specially created for the troupe by Russian choreographer Yury Grigorovich. The first run of the ballet, featuring the tragic love story of a Hind

PerformanceMarch 2, 2014

PARIS (AP) ― The host of an eccentric Jean Paul Gaultier show promised guests a trip into outer space with catwalk attendee Rihanna at Paris Fashion Week. Though guests’ hopes were eventually dashed when the superstar left on foot through the emergency exit, this was surely the highlight of Saturday’s ready-to-wear shows. But Vivienne Westwood, who hosted hers in an incense-filled church, and showed exposed breasts while branding the altar with a dazzling “W,” came a close second.Here are detail

Arts & DesignMarch 2, 2014

As the Korean music market is beginning 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 first installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed.There is nothing garish about the members of 3rd Line Butterfly. No frantic gallivanting across the stage, no smashing guitars, no outlandish stage outfits; just their music coupled with a very mystical voice. Na

PerformanceMarch 2, 2014

ExhibitionsThe Korea Galleries Art Fair: This art fair, hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, will be held from March 6 to 9 at Coex, presenting artworks of both emerging and established artists of each participating gallery. The art fair will be showcasing more artists than last year as each gallery may introduce its top five artists. Last year’s art fair allowed galleries to present three artists each. A total of 470 artists will participate in the 32nd art fair, displaying diverse sty

CultureFeb. 28, 2014

In line with global efforts to curb their ecological footprints, a growing number of businesses at home and overseas have been introducing products designed to last longer and reduce waste. Some toothbrushes naturally break down on their own, while a rocking chair powers a smartphone or lamp. Used coffee grounds, which would otherwise go in the trash, are transformed into mushroom compost, mugs and even lamp shades; old banners and car seat belts become stylish yet strong clothes and purses. Wha

Arts & DesignFeb. 28, 2014

Elegant Lies (Korea), Opening March 13Drama. Directed by Lee Han. Hyeon-sook (Kim Hee-ae) is a single mother who is raising two teenage daughters while working at a big grocery store. One day, her youngest child Cheon-ji (Kim Hyang-gi) suddenly commits suicide without even leaving a note. Struggling with guilt and anger, and not knowing why Cheon-ji chose to kill herself, Hyeon-sook and her eldest daughter Man-ji (Ko Ah-sung) wonder whether there was something they missed or something they could

FilmFeb. 28, 2014

He says he is a “failed revolutionary,” but there is not a trace of defeat in his eyes. A revolutionary-turned-poet and photographer, Park Ki-pyung, better known by his penname Park No-hae, meaning liberation of laborers in Korean, has abandoned socialist revolution. But there is purposefulness in his slow, articulate speech and a steely resolve in his voice ― marks of a man with a mission.As he sits down for an interview on Feb. 10 at Sejong Center in Seoul, the venue of his latest photo exhibi

CultureFeb. 28, 2014

 Girls’ Generation returns with ‘Mr. Mr.’Girls’ Generation “Mr. Mr.” (KT Music)Iconic K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation made a much-anticipated return to the music scene on Monday with their fourth EP “Mr. Mr.” Given the group’s popularity and news that renowned producers and songwriters The Underdogs and Lindy Robbins participated in the production of the six-track album, many had high hopes for the return of the nine girls.Unfortunately, though it definitely has a few strong tracks, the group

PerformanceFeb. 28, 2014

Blame Mel Gibson for it if you like, but no Jesus movie these days is worth its salt without an utterly unflinching treatment of his torture and crucifixion. And “Son of God” has stretches where the agony we watch this poor man endure is avert-your-eyes awful. If history ever produced a more excruciating form of punishment, it probably included lions at dinner time.But “Son of God,” a big-screen version of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s History Channel TV series “The Bible,” has a redemptive opt

FilmFeb. 28, 2014

The trekking guides of Nepal sometimes entertain themselves with a nonsensical piece of doggerel that asks, right before the punch line, “What to do in Kathmandu?” While it may be a dull city for some of the locals, finding something to do or see should never be a problem for a visitor ― except when the country is in the middle of one of its political crises. Before the latest election, worries about stability ― and basic mobility ― put a serious dent in tourism, the country’s main industry. The

TravelFeb. 28, 2014