Around the hotels

Tiramisu and blueberry ice flakes at The Ritz-Carlton, SeoulStarting on June 3, The Garden at The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul will serve tiramisu ice flakes and blueberry ice flakes. Tiramisu ice flakes are a rich, creamy combination of milk, espresso, nuts, freshly roasted homemade granola, mascarpone cheese, tiramisu ice cream and red beans on finely shaved ice. Blueberry ice flakes feature fresh and condensed milk, red beans, some nuts, homemade granola and vanilla ice cream on shaved ice, garnished

FoodJune 7, 2013

Jeyuk bokkeum (Spicy stir-fried pork)

Jeyuk bokkeum is a marinated pork dish. Sliced pork is marinated in a gochujang sauce, typically with lots of fresh garlic and ginger. I also use grated apple to add an acidic sweet flavor to the marinade. You can omit it, but the apple works really well with the pork. Although any cut of pork can be used for this dish, pork shoulder or loin with some fat works best. Sometimes, I add sliced pork belly to intensify the pork flavor. Grill or pan fry and serve with lettuce leaves and ssamjang. Ingr

FoodJune 7, 2013

Quincy Jones to give first concert in Seoul

Famed American record producer and trumpeter Quincy Jones is to perform in Korea for the first time.The 80-year-old is best known for producing Michael Jackson’s 1982 studio album “Thriller,” which has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. His upcoming concert, which is set to be held on July 25 at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, is to feature a number of American singers, including R&B, pop and jazz music singer Patti Austin, singer-songwriter James Ingram and vocalist Siedah Gar

PerformanceJune 7, 2013

Chongdong Theater names new director

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Friday appointed Jeong Hyun-wook, the head of children’s theater Sadari Theater Company, as the new general director of Chongdong Theater. Jeong, 46, will serve a three-year term at the Myeongdong Chongdong Theaters Foundation’s Chongdong Theater, replacing Choi Jung-im, whose term ended on March 28.The 400-seat theater was established in 1995 near Deoksugung Palace in Jeong-dong, Seoul, at a site where the country’s first Western-style theater, ope

PeopleJune 7, 2013

‘Gentleman’ tops 400m YouTube hits

The video for South Korean rapper Psy’s new single “Gentleman” has drawn more than 400 million views on YouTube, the global video-sharing website said Friday.The video recorded 402.1 million hits as of 11 a.m., jumping to 16th place on YouTube’s all-time list of most-viewed videos. The milestone was reached 55 days after its release on April 13 and 29 days after the video broke the 300 million mark on May 9.The singer’s previous hit “Gangnam Style” has attracted more than 1.6 billion YouTube vie

PerformanceJune 7, 2013

Lee Hyo-ri rides another wave of popularity

South Korean singer Lee Hyo-ri’s recent comeback is creating a buzz on and offline. Songs from her new album are routinely heard on the streets of Seoul. Her trademark cool personality is also spicing up her music on TV entertainment programs. The 34-year-old singer made her debut in 1998 as a member of K-pop girl group Fin.K.L. and enjoyed much popularity due to the group’s girlish image. After the group disbanded, Lee came out in 2003 as a solo artist with sexy hip-hop song “10 Minute,” which

PerformanceJune 7, 2013

Growing up in television, in search of her own voice

Tuned an octave lower than the viola and an octave higher than the bass, cello is said to be the instrument that most resembles the human voice.For former child star and actress Lee Jae-eun, the instrument serves as a metaphor; it prompts her desire to find her “own voice” as an individual, after almost 30 years of living her roles. “My life has been all about pretending (to be someone else),” the 33-year-old actress said during a press showing of her theater debut “La Dame au Violoncelle” (The

PerformanceJune 6, 2013

Museum brings makeover to crime-hit Marseille

MARSEILLE, France (AP) ― A new flagship museum dedicated to Mediterranean civilization in Marseille is hoping to shake off the southern metropolis’ reputation as France’s deadliest city with a drastic cultural makeover.The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, which was inaugurated by French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, is the centerpiece of Marseille’s turn as the European Capital of Culture for 2013, which aims to attract 10 million visitors to the city this year. Offi

CultureJune 6, 2013

Entertainer Johnny Yune to make his way back home

After a long hiatus, veteran entertainer Johnny Yune is making his comeback by hosting the “World Pop Concert in Korea” in August. The concert will be held Aug. 9 and 10 at Yonsei University in Seoul and at the International Convention Center Jeju on Aug. 11. “It will be a precious moment to gather youngsters and elders together and listen to music and think about the past and future,” Yune said at a press conference on Wednesday in Gangnam. “I have recently regained my Korean citizenship after

PerformanceJune 6, 2013

What do Spike Lee and Bob Saget have in common?

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Some of the film industry’s most illustrious talents got early confirmation they were on the right track when they won Student Academy Awards.Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis, Pixar founder John Lasseter and “South Park’’ creator Trey Parker are just a few of the famous filmmakers who won honors from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when they were college students.The latest crop of winners will be feted on Saturday, when the 40th annual Student Academy Awards are pre

FilmJune 6, 2013

Ban receives honorary black belt in taekwondo from WTF

Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has received an honorary 10th dan (degree) black belt in taekwondo.Ban was awarded an honorary 10th dan taekwondo black-belt certificate by the World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chung-won at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday, the federation said.The dan was given to Ban as part of celebrations marking the federation’s 40th anniversary. The U.N. secretary general is the third recipient of an honorary 10th dan black belt after

PeopleJune 6, 2013

Miranda Kerr to appear on ‘SNL Korea’

Australian Miranda Kerr will appear on the Korean version of comedy show “Saturday Night Live,” local media reported Thursday.“Miranda Kerr will appear on the latest edition of SNL Korea, which will air Saturday,” reported South Korea’s No Cut News, citing an official from tvN’s operator CJ E&M.Kerr is expected to make a cameo appearance on Saturday’s show, which will star Korean actor Lee Beom-soo. The live comedy show features a different star every episode. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

TelevisionJune 6, 2013

Nam June Paik’s works highlight of K-Auction’s summer sale

Video artist Nam June Paik’s video installation work “Faust 8 Channel-Arts” (1991) is among the pieces by prominent Korean artists that will be put on the block this month by K-Auction, an auction company specializing in art.With an estimated price range of 480 million won-800 million won, “Faust 8 Channel-Arts” is the eighth in Paik’s 13-piece series “My Faust.” The series addresses 13 different topics of public concern, such as environmental, agricultural and educational issues.Paik was best k

CultureJune 5, 2013