The Korea Herald

Gugak musical ‘Arirang’ sings of Korea’s bright future

The Korean traditional folk song “Arirang” reflects Koreans’ unique sentiment of “han,” representing the suppressed yet hopeful desire for justice. The UNESCO Cultural Heritage piece is also believed to have played a key role in creating solidarity among Korean people throughout historical hardships and in shaping the Korean identity. In commemoration of gugak, or Korean traditional music, song’s listing as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage item last December, the National Gugak Center is staging the o

CultureJune 26, 2013

Gugak musical ‘Arirang’ sings of Korea’s bright future

Brazil set for limelight at 2013 Frankfurt book fair

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) ― Brazilian literature and arts will this year come under the spotlight at the world’s biggest book fair, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors in the western German city of Frankfurt, organisers said Tuesday.After New Zealand was last year’s guest of honor, Brazil takes centre stage at the 2013 Frankfurt book fair, with 70 of its authors as well as artists and others expected to showcase the country’s literary and cultural traditions.“We want to show

BooksJune 26, 2013

U.S. blocks sale of $11.5m Picasso painting

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. authorities blocked the sale of a Pablo Picasso painting following a request from Italy after the $11.5 million work of art’s owners were charged with embezzlement and fraud, the U.S. government said said Tuesday.The U.S. Justice Department said it had “restrained” the 1909 masterpiece “Compotier et tasse,” which had been offered for private sale in New York, amid a probe into its owners, Gabriella Amati and her late husband Angelo Maj.The couple have been charged by Ital

PerformanceJune 26, 2013

Metallica, Muse to perform at City Break concert

Rock fans will be treated to performances by world-famous acts Metallica, Muse, Iggy and The Stooges and Limp Bizkit, as well as popular local acts Jang Ki-ha and the Faces and Kwon Soon-kwan, at the upcoming Hyundai Card Super Concert 19 City Break. The two-day music festival will be held Aug. 17-18 at Jamsil Sports Complex with ticket prices ranging from 250,000 won for a two-day pass to 165,000 won for a one-day pass. Metallica, from Los Angeles, has been active for more than 30 years and is

PerformanceJune 26, 2013

Metallica, Muse to perform at City Break concert

Next from Stevie Wonder: A gospel tune in Arabic?

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Soul music legend Stevie Wonder says he’s toying with the idea of including a gospel song in Arabic on an upcoming album dedicated to his mother.“Gospel Inspired by Lula” is among several projects that Wonder, 63, has going right now, he told Rolling Stone in an interview posted Tuesday on the pop culture magazine’s website.“We’re going to do some traditional gospel stuff, but I’m thinking about doing a gospel song in Arabic,” he revealed.“I’m going to twist it all up in diff

PerformanceJune 26, 2013

Korean War film gets first showing in 60 years

For decades, South Korean film buffs thought all their country’s moviemaking from the Korean War era was lost forever. And it would have been, but for one film wrapped in a cocoon of old newspapers, tucked inside a plastic bag and placed in a dark, dusty closet.That film, “The Street of the Sun,’’ got its first screening in six decades Tuesday, the 63rd anniversary of the beginning of the war. Now digitally restored, it offers South Koreans a rare glimpse at how their ancestors lived amid the de

FilmJune 26, 2013

A walk by the pine trees, by the ocean

This is the fourth installment in an 11-part series that introduces some of the best walking trails in Korea. Based on each trail’s popularity and the recommendations of travel experts and the Culture Ministry, The Korea Herald selected the 10 best places for walking and hiking. The series received funding from the Korea Press Foundation. ― Ed.TAEAN, South Chungcheong Province ― The 2007 oil spill in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, was Korea’s worst oil spill ever, dumping more than 12,000 to

TravelJune 26, 2013

BoA’s film trailer released

The official trailer of BoA’s Hollywood debut dance film “Make Your Move 3D,” formerly called COBU 3D, was released on Tuesday on YouTube. The video features a love scene between BoA and Derek Hough.BoA previously performed with Hough, a four-time champion of “Dancing with the Stars,” on an American Latin dance competition program. The movie is directed by Duane Adler, who wrote the screenplay for “Step Up” (2006).Adler began to shoot “Make Your Move 3D” in 2011, and the film will be released

FilmJune 26, 2013

Choi Philip makes an apology for slip of tongue

South Korean actor Choi Philip apologized for his offensive words toward a TV program that spotted “entertainment soldiers” coming out from a local massage parlor. Choi said it was a “slip of the tongue.”Choi tweeted Wednesday that he “uploaded thoughtless words last night before watching the program and is sorry for all the inconvenience caused.” The 33-year-old actor explained that he misunderstood the purpose of the program, thinking it was to disclose the private life of celebrities.Accordin

TelevisionJune 26, 2013

Choi Philip makes an apology for slip of tongue

‘Entertainment soldiers’ spotted at massage parlor

South Korean celebrities fulfilling their mandatory military service were recently spotted at a local massage parlor, sparking a backlash from the public over whether so-called “entertainment soldiers” enjoy too many privileges. According to “Hyeonjang 21 (On the spot 21), an investigative TV program by SBS, two celebrity soldiers were spotted last Saturday at a massage parlor in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. Massage parlors in Korea are viewed as seedy, as many of them are known to offer sexual

PerformanceJune 26, 2013

‘Entertainment soldiers’ spotted at massage parlor

H.K. citizens urge K-pop stars to boycott music fest

A large community of Hong Kong citizens has announced it will boycott the upcoming Hong Kong Dome Festival on July 1 and publicly requested that the acts scheduled to perform at the show ― including K-pop stars BoA, SHINee, f(x), Super Junior-M’s Henry and EXO ― withdraw from the event. Pro-democracy protesters argue that the festival is a government ploy to discourage young people from participating in a rally protesting Chief Executive Leung Chun-yin that is taking place on the same day.The ci

PerformanceJune 25, 2013

Big Bang, 2PM win at MTV Video Music Awards Japan

The K-pop idols Big Bang and 2PM took home awards at the annual MTV Video Music Awards Japan, which was held on Saturday at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. 2PM’s “LEGEND OF 2PM” took the crown for Best Album, beating out other international stars including Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Kiss,” Linkin Park’s “Living Things,” One Direction’s “Take Me Home” and Kana Nishino’s “Love Place.” Along with 2PM’s big win, Big Bang was awarded for their 2012 music video “Fantastic Baby,” which won Best Dance Video. T

PerformanceJune 25, 2013

Big Bang, 2PM win at MTV Video Music Awards Japan

Kara to embark on second arena tour of Japan

Kara recently performed for 24,000 fans at a two-day fan meeting in Yokohama, Japan, where they also announced their plans to hold their second arena tour in the country. The group’s upcoming arena tour titled “Kara 2nd Japan Tour 2013 ― Karasia,” will kick off in Yokohama on Oct. 8 and then make its way across the country to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Fukui and Kobe. The tour is expected to attract a total of 140,000 fans.Kara performed its first Japan arena tour in April 2012, drawing arou

PerformanceJune 25, 2013

Kara to embark on second arena tour of Japan

Orange Caramel, Lee Hong-ki to release books

Orange Caramel, a subunit of girl group After School, and FT ISLAND frontman Lee Hong-ki have expanded their interests beyond showbiz and released books on travel and nail art, respectively. According to Pledis Entertainment, the agency of Orange Caramel, the members ― Raina, Nana and Lizzy ― have released a book, “Cheongchun Yeohaeng (Travel of the Youth),” about their recent trips around Korea. They took a day trip in central Seoul, checked out famous restaurants in the historic city of Jeonju

PerformanceJune 25, 2013

Orange Caramel, Lee Hong-ki to release books

Expat bands to play at rock fund-raiser for N.K. defectors

North Korean human rights group PSCORE is running a fund-raising event on Saturday at Club Freebird in Hongdae, with music from expat and Korean bands.The event will feature indie and rock music from bands including Beatniks, Spacepapa, The Lads, Magna Fall and Wasted Johnny’s.The money raised will help fund educational and social programs for North Korean defectors in South Korea, and activities to highlight human rights abuses in North Korea.The music starts at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are 10,000

Expat LivingJune 25, 2013

GIC offers Korean classes

Gwangju International Center is running a new round of Korean classes from July 6 to Aug. 23.The classes range from beginner to advanced. Regular courses are available on Wednesday and Friday mornings, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, or on Saturday mornings.Two specialist classes, on grammar and punctuation, are available on Wednesday mornings and a class based on Korean pop culture runs on Saturday afternoons.There are basic classes for kids that run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and on Satur

Expat LivingJune 25, 2013

Seoul City takes nominations for honorary citizens

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is accepting nominations for foreign residents to be named honorary citizens.Nominees should have lived in Seoul for at least three years and have improved the status or economy of Seoul, helped enhance the quality of life and promoted cultural activities, or introduced cutting-edge technology. Important guests to Seoul are also eligible.Candidates must be nominated by the head of a public organization, a civic group with more than 10 members or at least 10 Seou

Expat LivingJune 25, 2013

A life of a different order

Hospital Orderly Peter Russel does not quite appear the cut of a hero. But the hunched and husky-voiced 46-year-old has a fearsome pastime. At the weekends, he likes to battle Vikings. Making up beds as he hides out from his boss in a hospital ward, Peter croaks about his weekend reenactments of the 991 Battle of Maldon. But when he steps on stage as Earl Byrhtnoth, his words boom out as though against the waves that separated the Anglo-Saxons from the Viking hoards. Recounting the ancient battl

Expat LivingJune 25, 2013

English camp grows green shoots

Mustard Seed English camp is seeking expat teachers to volunteer for underprivileged children on July 13-14.Brad Curtin, who leads the expat volunteers at the weekend camp, said that they were hoping to get about 30 foreign teachers involved on Saturday and about 10 for the next day.The teachers will lead lessons planned by camp organizers on the first day, and the camp is seeking people who can lead special classes for Sunday.“On Sunday we try to get teachers to teach special subjects,” he said

Expat LivingJune 25, 2013

Charles Dutoit’s Royal Philharmonic to perform evanescent French music

Under legendary conductors such as Andre Previn, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Daniele Gatti, the internationally acclaimed Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has developed the power to highlight the smallest details, even in the most complicated pieces. On Saturday and Sunday, classical music lovers in Seoul will be treated to the orchestra’s interpretation of works by French composers such as Debussy, Ravel and Berlioz as well as Chopin, Mendelssohn and Weber, under the baton of Charles Dutoit.“Dutoit is c

PerformanceJune 25, 2013

Charles Dutoit’s Royal Philharmonic to perform evanescent French music