Director Uchida Eiji believes B-movies lower hurdle for filmmakers

Uchida Eiji, the Japanese filmmaker who helmed the award-winning “Midnight Swan” (2020), visited this year’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which kicked off June 29, with the crime black comedy flick, “Life of Mariko in Kabukicho.” The movie's plot follows Mariko, a private investigator who runs a small bar in Shinjuku’s red-light district. One day, she receives a request to find an alien living among the people in Kabukicho. With the help

FilmJuly 8, 2023

[New in Korean] Kim Bo-young spends 23 years completing 'Tales of Origin of Species' trilogy

"Tales of the Origin of Species" By Kim Bo-young Arzak Livres One of the pioneers of science fiction in Korea, Kim Bo-young has now completed her three-part series, “Tales of the Origin of Species,” after 23 years. Her previous collection “On the Origin of Species and Other Stories,” which includes the first two stories of “Tales of the Origin of Species,” became the first Korean science fiction novel to be longlisted for National Book Award in Trans

BooksJuly 8, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] 1970s public bathhouse now hip cafe-cultural complex in Sangdo-dong

Sangdo-dong, a neighborhood of Dongjak-gu in Seoul, is a mostly quiet residential area with a mix of apartment complexes, houses and schools. It is not known as a cool or Instagrammable area, that's for sure. Amid such an ordinary area, a three-story red brick building located just a five-minute walk from Sangdo Station on Subway Line No. 7, stands out. It’s Bugangtang, or "Bugang public bathhouse" in Korean, which transformed into a bakery cafe last year. “The buildin

FoodJuly 8, 2023

MMCA gives people chance to let loose at museum

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea wants people to let their hair down this Saturday at the museum, as part of a workshop held alongside the running exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s.” Aiming to challenge social norms, participants of the workshop can clap, laugh out loud, lie down on the floor and more, the museum said. Over the past two weeks, the museum has aggregated ideas of how the audience can break stereotypes and norms

Arts & DesignJuly 7, 2023

Cultural events to mark global gathering of World Federation of the Deaf

An international event is set to kick off July 11 in Jeju Island, with a variety of cultural activities designed for and prepared by deaf people. The 19th World Conference of the World Federation of Deaf will open with an opening ceremony on July 11 and run until July 15 under the theme of “Securing Human Rights in Times of Crisis.” The WFD is an international organization that represents and promotes the rights of deaf people globally. The World Conference, which takes place every f

CultureJuly 7, 2023

[New in Korean] Chilling reality overlaps with horror in Bora Chung's stories

"The Midnight Timetable" By Bora Chung Purplerain International Booker Prize shortlisted author Bora Chung of "Cursed Bunny" has returned with a new anthology titled "The Midnight Timetable," consisting of seven interconnected stories. Narrated by “I” who works the night shift in a mysterious laboratory, the stories revolve around her colleagues and the strange experiences they encounter during their night shifts. The security guards follow a night p

BooksJuly 7, 2023

[New in Korean] 'A tender heart will save us countless times'

"The Radiant Greetings" By Baik Sou-linne Munhakdongne Publishing A girl named Hae-mi had to lie “sincerely” to comfort her parents and younger sister after her family lost her older sister in a tragic gas explosion. Following her mother’s decision to emigrate, Hae-mi arrives in a German city and starts rebuilding her life with the help of her aunt, who was one of the many Korean nurses dispatched to Germany during the 1960s and '70s. Baek Sou-linne’s first

BooksJuly 7, 2023

[Photo News] Diva and 12 cello virtuosos

CultureJuly 7, 2023

[Well-curated] Culinary journey, unique designs and forest trails

Culinary journey around the world at Yongnidan-gil Less than five steps after passing an American-style bistro, you will find yourself in a Vietnamese back alley. However, just around the corner, a casual Japanese diner awaits you. Welcome to "Yongnidan-gil," a cluster of streets between Samgakji Station and Sinyongsan Station in Yongsan-gu. Yongnidan-gil follows on the heels of Itaewon's Gyeongnidan-gil and Haebangchon -- hot spots for both Koreans and foreign nationals alike. Co

CultureJuly 7, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (US) Opened June 28 Adventure/Action Directed by Danial Rifky The legendary archaeologist Indiana Jones returns, and welcoming him back are his goddaughter Helena and Jurgen Voller, a former Nazi who now works for NASA. Jones heads for another adventure to retrieve a dial that can change history. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (US) Opened June 21 Animation Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos The Multiverse opens up in front of S

FilmJuly 7, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Haman Sunflower Festival, Haman The Haman’s Sunflower Festival started its 15-day journey on Wednesday at Gangju Sunflower Village in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province. The event presents a 37,000-square-meter field of yellow, filled with sunflowers of various kinds, including those from the French Provence region and Japanese Tohoku region. The festival also has a special venue to promote Haman’s specialties. Visitors of all ages are welcome and the tickets cost 2,000 won. Preschoo

TravelJuly 7, 2023

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Josun Hotels & Resorts presents summer promotions Josun Hotels & Resorts is presenting promotions celebrating the summer season at its Seoul, Busan and Jeju properties. Westin Josun Seoul offers two champagne promotions with side dishes: Champagne Tribaut with French fries, and Champagne Duval-Leroy with seafood dishes. Westin Josun Busan showcases gourmet dishes featuring healthy seafood, while Grand Josun Jeju is holding a saxophone and vocal music concert every Friday and Saturday fro

FoodJuly 7, 2023

‘The Hill of the Secrets’ cast attracted to atypical characters

Set in 1996, director Lee Ji-eun’s feature debut film “The Hill of Secrets” follows 12-year-old Myung-eun’s growing pains through her relationships with her family, teacher and friends. Starring actors Moon Seung-a, Kang Gil-woo, Im Seon-woo and Jang Sun, the film vividly depicts the adolescent life of Myung-eun (Moon), who compares her ill-fated family to those of her friends and feels an attachment with her homeroom teacher Ae-ran (Im). She pours all her secrets into he

FilmJuly 5, 2023

Bucheon film fest shines spotlight on Korean genre films

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province – Now in its 27th year, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has long held a special place in the hearts of film buffs for the unique experiences it provides – sometimes gruesome, sometimes strange, always different. This year’s festival opened June 29 with Ari Aster’s “Beau is Not Afraid,” and runs for 11 days, presenting 262 films from 51 countries – 109 of which are making their world or international premiere a

FilmJuly 5, 2023

Empty seats dampen Lim Yun-chan, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra concert

Piano sensation Lim Yun-chan's performance with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra was eagerly anticipated. It was Lim’s first concert with an overseas orchestra in South Korea and the first performance in six months here as the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has been traveling around the world. It’s also Switzerland's oldest orchestra’s first return in four years, this time with new artistic director Michael Sanderling. Together, they

PerformanceJuly 5, 2023

KCC decides to remove KBS, EBS fees from electricity bills

The Korea Communications Commission, the state broadcasting watchdog, cleared the way for the license fees for public broadcasters KBS and EBS to be removed from household electricity bills. The change, which does not require Assembly approval, is expected to be confirmed in mid-July after it is passed by the vice ministers, the Cabinet and then approved by the president. But the KCC expects it will take more time to put the change into effect as KBS and the state-run company Korea Electric Po

TelevisionJuly 5, 2023

Hakgojae Gallery dusts off works by forgotten artist Rhee Sang-wooc

Galleries discover artists and show their work to the world, much like finding gems that have been left hidden for a long time. Korean painter Rhee Sang-wooc is an artist whose work has received relatively little attention. Born in 1923 in Hamhung, in today's North Korea, Rhee left his hometown for Seoul a couple of years after South Korea's liberation from Japan. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the artist remained in Korea, unable to travel to his hometown which became part o

Arts & DesignJuly 5, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director says storytelling vital to ‘The Food of Love’

Documentary director Chung Hyun-sook shared that her latest food documentary series, “The Food of Love,” meant more than just creating entertaining video content. “The Food of Love” was a joint production series between five Asian countries -- South Korea, India, Mongolia, Thailand and Malaysia, featuring their cuisines to present each country's culture and life. Chung was the director who helmed the entire project. The veteran director discussed some of the difficul

TelevisionJuly 5, 2023

Roof tile with 'Yeongmyojisa' inscription found in Gyeongju may shed light on city structure in ancient Silla

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- Remnants of roof tiles and Buddhist relics from the Unified Silla to the Goryeo periods were uncovered during sewage pipe construction in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced during a press conference at the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, on Tuesday. Among the roof tiles, a tile fragment inscribed with Chinese characters, "Yeongmyojisa," meaning "Yeongmyosa Temple Site

CultureJuly 5, 2023

For Yoo Jun-sang, enduring means living every moment to the fullest

Since its premiere in 2013, “The Days," a jukebox musical based on songs by the late Kim Kwang-seok, has had five successful runs, garnering 11 prestigious awards and captivating countless audiences. Throughout this journey, actor Yoo Jun-sang has continued to grace the stage as Jeong-hak, the central character of the musical. As the musical returns for its sixth run in July, Yoo will share the role of Jeong-hak, a security guard who works at the presidential office, with three ot

PerformanceJuly 5, 2023