Rain to make quiet return, eyes set on overseas comeback

Korean entertainer Rain will be attending his first fan meeting since his military discharge on July 10, Rain’s agency Cube Entertainment announced Friday.According to the agency, the fan meeting was organized by the star’s fan club, which invited him to attend the event in his honor to be held on Aug. 3 at Kyung Hee University.  Rain is also scheduled to join the all-star line-up of the upcoming “Sonic Bang” music festival in Bangkok, Thailand. The festival is Thailand’s biggest concert event a

PerformanceJuly 21, 2013

Winterplay returns as ‘Two Fabulous Fools’

The quirky duo Winterplay has returned with its upbeat fusion sound of groovy bossa nova beats and retro jazz pop. After nearly 2 1/2 years, Lee Ju-han on trumpet and Haewon on vocals have finally released the duo’s newest studio album, “Two Fabulous Fools.” “We are two fabulous fools,” said Lee at the Winterplay showcase held at Olleh Square on the day of the album’s release on Wednesday. “We want to show both the exciting and humorous sides of jazz while also conveying the message that ‘You an

PerformanceJuly 21, 2013

Students to hold concert for ex-comfort women

University students will hold a concert in front of Seoul City Hall on Friday in support of Korean women who were coerced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. A handful of members of a student volunteer club came up with the idea for such an event, and started to recruit concert planners in May. They posted recruitment posters around universities and gathered participants through word of mouth using social networking services.Currently, some 300 students of 30 universitie

PeopleJuly 21, 2013

Pioneering U.S. journalist Helen Thomas dies at 92

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Helen Thomas, the irrepressible White House correspondent who used her seat in the front row of history to grill 10 presidents ― often to their discomfort and was not shy about sharing her opinions, died Saturday. She was 92. Thomas died surrounded by family and friends at her Washington apartment on Saturday, the family said in a statement. A friend, Muriel Dobbin, told The Associated Press that Thomas had been ill for a long time, and in and out of the hospital before coming

PeopleJuly 21, 2013

[Photo News] Stars at 20’s Choice award

Top South Korean celebrities attended “20’s Choice,” an annual award show organized by music cable network Mnet, on Thursday in Kintex, Ilsan.The event awarded South Korean celebrities who were active in the past year, based on the votes of people in their 20s. Singer and actor Bae Suzy won the award for best drama star for her role in “Gugaui Seo.” Boy band Infinite received the award for best global tour, and girl group Sistar was selected as the winner in the best online music category. Other

PerformanceJuly 21, 2013

Escape the blazing heat or grab it by the horns

The dog days of summer aren’t quite over yet and the hot and sticky climate is enough to make anyone want to stay at home in nothing but their shorts, planted in front of a fully cranked-up air conditioner, just waiting for autumn to arrive. However, for those who are looking for more exciting ways to pass the time, there are a number of options available. Whether you opt to beat the heat in the shade or fight fire with fire by sweating it out in even more scorching temperatures, you don’t need

CultureJuly 19, 2013

Calendar

Theater“The Moon Embracing the Sun”: Many fell in love with Hwon, the cynical but attractive fictional Joseon king in MBC’s enormously successful TV drama series “The Moon Embracing the Sun” last year. Its fans now have the opportunity to revisit the series, this time onstage. The TV series’ theater adaptation is currently being staged at Seoul Arts Center, featuring local musical star Kim Da-hyeon in the lead. Based on the novel of the same title by author Jung Eun-gwol, the TV series and the m

PerformanceJuly 19, 2013

Eyelike:Dynamic Duo ‘lucky’ on new album

Dynamic Duo ‘lucky’ on new albumDynamic Duo “Luckynumbers”(Loen Entertainment)“Lucky Numbers” is indeed a “lucky” comeback album for the “hip-hop legend” Dynamic Duo. After a year-and-a-half hiatus, Dynamic Duo does not disappoint fans with their 13-track album, which has earned them top spots in numerous music charts. The album includes collaborations with Zion T, Crushn, DJ Friz, UV’s Muzie, Supreme Team, Sistar’s Hyorin and more. It begins with the fittingly titled “Return of the Kings,” an o

PerformanceJuly 19, 2013

Box Office: Snowpiercer, The Wolverine, RED 2

SnowpiercerAction. Sci-Fi. Thriller. Directed by Bong Joon-hoOpening Aug. 1Based on the French novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, the film is set in a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off almost all living things on Earth with the sudden onset of an Ice Age. Survivors are on the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe via a perpetual-motion engine. As time passes a class system evolves on the train, the elites inhabit the carriages i

FilmJuly 19, 2013

Michael Pena hopes family-friendly ‘Turbo’ will bowl over his son

For a guy who rarely goes bowling and is content with breaking 100 on the score sheet, Michael Pena ― best known for his roles in “Crash” and “End of Watch” ― sure carried himself like a big shot on the lanes last Monday. But it was all in good fun, other than the fact that Pena really wanted to win.“Are you nervous?” asked Pena, 37, before the first of our two embarrassingly low-scoring games at Lucky Strike Lanes in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. “I feel like you’re nervous.”In addition

FilmJuly 19, 2013

Daejanggeum in modern-day Seoul

As Oriental medicine gains attention around the world, Korea is turning to traditional Korean medicine to attract more tourists. At Namsangol Hanok Village, international visitors can experience a fusion of traditional Oriental medicine and cuisine as seen on the internationally acclaimed historical drama “Jewel in the Palace.” The show not only boosted hallyu, or the movement of Korean popular culture, but also triggered an interest in traditional Korean medicine among many tourists and foreign

TravelJuly 19, 2013

On top of the world

We’re often stuck on cars, buses, and trains, commuting to work or trying to get to our next destination. But what about transportation that highlights a destination?Aerial trams and cable cars take visitors up mountains, over rivers, and above cities, often as a means to an end ― but sometimes these cable cars are the destination themselves. With gorgeous views and unique experiences as our criteria, the members and editors of VirtualTourist.com have compiled a list of the “Top 5 Aerial Trams.”

TravelJuly 19, 2013

Around the Hotels

Special skin care at JW Marriott Hotel SeoulThe Marquis Thermal Spa at the hotel is offering the “Hydramemory” treatment, a powerful anti-aging facial treatment that quickly enhances dull and dry skin using ultraviolet light. The treatment lasts approximately 90 minutes. The spa is offering a 20 percent discount until Aug. 31. In addition to the discount, all guests will receive a free ice ball treatment which will brighten and tighten the skin and make it feel refreshed. The promotion is availa

FoodJuly 19, 2013

Hobak bokkeum (stir-fried zucchini)

This is a simple summer side dish that goes well with meat dishes such as bulgogi, galbi or jeyuk bokkeum. You can use any variety of zucchini, which happens to be plentiful this time of the year. The classic seasoning for this dish is saeujeot which is tiny salted and fermented shrimp. Its distinct, savory flavor works wonderfully with zucchini. If unavailable, substitute it with fish sauce or simply season with salt to taste.Ingredients:● 1 medium zucchini (about 300 grams) ● 1 tablespoon oil

FoodJuly 19, 2013

French brasserie with a spin

French restaurant La Categorie’s new offshoot, neo-brasserie Maison de La Categorie, will be unveiled to the public this Saturday. Maison will be in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, an upscale location on the main thoroughfare near Apgujeong Rodeo Station, not too far from La Categorie, which opened in Sinsa-dong in 2011. La Categorie executive chef Lee Hyung-jun explained the concept of the second brand, Maison, describing it as a spot where “one can get full on one plate.”“We are not a traditional Frenc

FoodJuly 19, 2013

Emmy nominations snub much-favored contenders

NEW YORK (AP) ― That cliche about awards says it’s an honor just to be nominated. But what about all the worthies Emmy overlooks each year? Are they being dishonored by Emmy’s neglect?It was a question raised by Emmy’s latest round of snubs as this year’s nominees were announced Thursday.HBO’s magnificent “Treme”? Jilted yet again.Same for AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and HBO’s “True Blood.” They just seem to freak out Emmy judges.Showtime’s “Dexter” was shut out, too, with no Emmy love lost on Mich

TelevisionJuly 19, 2013

‘Cold Eyes’ smashes 4 million mark

Korean thriller film “Cold Eyes” attracted 4 million viewers in just 17 days, becoming the fifth domestic film to hit the record this year ― following box office hits “The Berlin File,” “Secretly Greatly,” “New World” and “Miracle in Cell No.7.”The star-studded film, which stars actors Sol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung, and actress Han Hyo-joo, tells the story of a group of detectives specializing in surveillance activities on high profile criminals. In the film, they together try to arrest the member

FilmJuly 19, 2013