What makes Kim Soo-hyun so popular in China?

Asian viewers have their eyes on South Korean dramas and actors. Kim Soo-hyun, in particular, hero of the hit drama “Man from the Stars,” is gaining explosive popularity in China, topping the “Today’s Actor” chart on China’s largest search engine Baidu on Jan. 14. “Kim Soo-hyun is handsome, and many girls would want to approach him,” said Connie Pang, 33, a big fan of Korean dramas who lives in Hong Kong. 　The 27-year-old heartthrob has been well-regarded for his acting, too. “Kim Soo-hyun is on

Jan. 22, 2014

10 tips for working smarter

Forbes reported 10 tips for working better. David Rock, director of the NeuroLeadership Institute and author of “Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long,” provides the tips.(MCT)1. Don’t check your email first thing.2. Make your first task of the day prioritizing your top three goals.3. Conserve your decision-making energy at every opportunity.4. Find and protect your quality thinking time.5. Reserve meetings for your low-focus

Life&CultureJan. 22, 2014

Farm volunteers join hands in Korea

A group from World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms will descend on a farm this weekend to lend a helping hand.But instead of spades or secateurs, they will be using hammers, saws and paintbrushes, as they look to create murals and add to the facilities.The farm is one of 60 across Korea participating with the local branch of the international farming volunteer group.The group has volunteered at the farm regularly. Last summer, it hosted a WWOOF farm camp there for 50 people, during which the

Expat LivingJan. 21, 2014

Friends in Korea turns language swaps into social events

For those fed up with the pitfalls of individual language exchanges or who just want a quick, informal way to broaden their social circle, Friends in Korea is there to help.David Lund and Daniel Kim founded the group in 2004 to connect expats with locals. It now hosts about 25 events each month. Kim started the international parties on a monthly basis, said Lund.“We’ve been close friends for about 10 years now, so naturally when Daniel’s original parties grew, we started to work together,” he sa

Expat LivingJan. 21, 2014

Music ‘made by Korea’

SM Entertainment, the largest record company in Korea, is at the forefront of K-pop’s worldwide popularity, churning out the hottest groups such as Girls’ Generation and EXO. Although it has received lots of praise for earning precious dollars, there is also growing criticism over the supposed lack of “Korean-ness” in its music, due to widespread employment of foreign professionals, including songwriters and even singers, during the production process. A typical example is EXO. The Korean-Chines

PerformanceJan. 21, 2014

Troubled Bolshoi presents new musical director

MOSCOW (AFP) ― The Bolshoi Theater on Monday presented its new musical director, who has been appointed to help restore the tarnished reputation of the scandal-ridden theater.Tugan Sokhiev, a 36-year-old conductor who studied in Saint Petersburg, is currently musical director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.On Monday, the Bolshoi’s general director Vladimir Urin presented Sokhiev to journalists, calling him “one of the most in-dem

PerformanceJan. 21, 2014

Ko Un wins prestigious poetry award

Renowned poet Ko Un has been selected as the 2014 winner of the Golden Wreath, one of the most prestigious awards for poets given by Struga Poetry Evenings, an international poetry festival held annually in Struga, Republic of Macedonia.The festival was first founded in 1962, and the Golden Wreath international award was established in 1966. The first recipient was Soviet poet Robert Ivanovich Rozhdestvensky (1932-1994), who is considered one of the pioneers of poetry in the former Soviet Union.

BooksJan. 21, 2014

Clara to show her true self

Actress Clara has gone from relative obscurity to headline-grabbing fame within the eight months since she threw her issue-making pitch last May. In less than a year, the 28-year-old actress has landed a juicy, eye-catching role as a seductive anchorwoman, showcased her flair for comedy on “SNL Korea” and even starred in her own reality TV show. Now, she is set to make headlines again in the tvN rom-com “Emergency Couple,” where she will be playing medical intern Han Ah-reum alongside “Running M

TelevisionJan. 21, 2014

Koyote returns with ’90s retro feel

Veteran hip-hop and dance group Koyote returned to the music scene Tuesday with its new mini-album “1999,” bringing back ’90s style and celebrating the 17th anniversary of the group’s debut.Filled with upbeat, discoesque rhythms, Koyote’s new album is expected to bring a fresh array of the group’s signature “old school” sounds to a K-pop music scene dominated by an avalanche of young boy and girl groups. “We launched our new album with the hope of making listeners feel as if they have really gon

PerformanceJan. 21, 2014

CNBLUE releases new documentary film in Japan

Popular K-pop band CNBLUE returned home from Japan on Sunday after promoting its first documentary film, “The Story of CNBLUE: Never Stop,” which was released in Japanese theaters last week.The two-hour film depicts the band’s daily life before its formal debut, personal interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of world tours. The documentary was directed by Jeon Yong-seung, a renowned director who produced highly acclaimed works including the “NHK Special” and “Jung Yul Dae Ryuk.”The four-membe

PerformanceJan. 21, 2014

Crazed fan attempts to sell EXO member’s underwear

Controversy over obsessed fans is firing up again after a netizen posted an online ad Monday, advertising a pair of underwear for sale, supposedly belonging to D.O., a member of K-pop group EXO.　On Jan. 20, a photo of men’s underwear was posted on social network service Kakao Story with the caption, “Do Gyung-soo’s (D.O.) underwear for sale.”　The poster, who is believed to be a “sasaeng fan,” offered to sell the underwear for 100,000 won ($94), writing that she had taken the item from his dorm h

Jan. 21, 2014

Solution still out of reach?

More than 40 years have passed since prehistoric engravings were found on the surface of a rock cliff in Ulsan, about 305 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Over the years, the etchings have been submerged repeatedly because of a nearby dam, but Korea still hasn’t figured out what steps to take to preserve them. The Bangudae Petroglyph, measuring 3 meters in height and 10 meters in length, was discovered in 1971, six years after Sayeon Dam was built to secure drinking water for Ulsan and prevent flo

CultureJan. 20, 2014

Billboard recognizes YG CEO as ‘international power player’

YG Entertainment CEO and producer Yang Hyun-suk has been recognized by U.S. Billboard magazine as an “international power player” for bringing about significant changes in the dynamics of the world music market. According to a press release on Saturday by YG Entertainment, Yang was the only South Korean leader on the list of “international power players” recognizing world-renowned leaders in the music business. The list was compiled for the first time by Billboard magazine and Midem, an annual i

PerformanceJan. 20, 2014