'Gyeongseong Creature Season 2': faster and ready to confront past

The second season of "Gyeongseong Creature," one of Netflix Korea's largest projects, promises a faster pace as well as an exciting new plot and characters to address viewer comments about the slow pace of the first season, director Jung Dong-yoon said Wednesday. The first season of "Gyeongseong Creature" is set in 1945 Gyeongseong, where Chae-ok (Han So-hee) and Tae-sang (Park Seo-jun) uncover secret experiments intended to transform humans into monsters. The series dra

TelevisionSept. 25, 2024

Cho Yong-pil to drop 20th studio album

Legendary singer Cho Yong-pil is returning with his 20th studio album. Cho announced the Oct. 22 release of a new studio album his website Wednesday. The album marks his first full-length album in 11 years since "Hello" released in 2013. The new album features several new tracks in addition to previous releases, such as the 2022 single "Road to 20 - Prelude 1" and "Road to 20 - Prelude 2" issued last year. The release of the 20th album was originally planned for las

CultureSept. 25, 2024

[Herald Interview] Portraying a version of god for young people in 'Hadestown'

When Kim Min-seok sees veteran musical stage actor Choi Jung-won on stage during the musical performance of "Hadestwon," the singer-turned-musical-actor hopes the audience can see her up close from his perspective. "Her face is full of expression, giving a sense of warmth and courage," Kim, who portrays poor dreamy musician Orpheus, said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Sept. 12. And that is exactly how Choi, 55, intends to portray Hermes, a role originally create

CultureSept. 24, 2024

'Stage Fighter' to showcase Korea's top dancers

The new dance survival program "Stage Fighter" is set to dazzle viewers not only with performances from some of Korea's most celebrated dancers, but also with appearances by auteur Park Chan-wook, the program’s producer said Tuesday. "Stage Fighter" is the latest installment in Mnet's successful dance survival series, following the hit shows "Street Woman Fighter" and "Street Man Fighter." The new series will feature 64 male dancers special

TelevisionSept. 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korean ballet sensation Jeon Min-chul pours his heart into dancing

For Jeon Min-chul, the 20-year-old sensation who has captured the hearts of Korean ballet fans, dancing has been at the center of his world. Asked about hobbies outside of dance, he struggled to find an answer. “That’s actually the hardest question for me. I think I’ve spent all the time I could’ve used for hobbies on dancing. From high school on, it’s all I thought about. Ballet reflects the time and effort you put into it, so I didn’t have the energy for any

PerformanceSept. 24, 2024

CJ ENM seeks to diversify its presence at 29th BIFF with TV series, K-pop documentary

South Korean entertainment conglomerate CJ EJM, a leading movie distributor as well as the operator of the country’s largest multiplex chain CJ CGV, is seeking to diversify its presence at the 29th Busan International Film Festival by showcasing its series and a documentary. According to CJ ENM subsidiary Tving, a leading domestic streaming platform, two of its original series “Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard” and “Way Back Love” are screening at the BIFF’s O

FilmSept. 24, 2024

[Herald Review] Two misfits’ evolving friendship, chemistry spice up ‘Love in the Big City’

“Why it doesn’t make sense that we live together? I mean, the house price in Seoul is so damn expensive!” In a conservative country like South Korea, it’s hard to imagine two friends -- man and woman -- living under the same roof. If that line were from a typical K-rom-com, the next scene would show two friends found in the same bed and falling in love, almost inevitably. But in director Lee Eon-hie’s “Love in the Big City,” they get to know and understa

FilmSept. 24, 2024

Park Sang-young's ‘Love in the Big City’ nominated for French literary award

South Korean author Park Sang-young's "Love in the Big City" has been longlisted for the Prix Medicis etranger, one of France's major literary awards for foreign-language novels translated into French, alongside the Goncourt, Prix Femina and Renaudot. The French edition of "Love in the Big City" ("S'aimer dans la grande ville" in French) is among 14 titles nominated for the first round of this year’s prize. The novel, which follows a Korean quee

BooksSept. 24, 2024

'Shazam!' to bring multidisciplinary spectacle of dance, circus, visual magic

World-renowned French director and choreographer Philippe Decoufle, known as a pioneer of imaginative multidisciplinary performances, is returning to Korea with his masterpiece "Shazam!" Since its 1998 premiere commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "Shazam!" has been performed over 200 times at major theaters worldwide. One of the iconic and steady hits of Decoufle's DCA Company, "Shazam!" is scheduled to be performed at the LG Arts Ce

PerformanceSept. 24, 2024

Hanwha Hotels and Resorts offers discounts of up to 80%

Hanwha Hotels and Resorts, the country’s leading premium leisure services company, launched a large-scale discount program Monday, offering discounts of up to 80 percent. The Hanwha Resort Sale Festa promotion, offered from Monday to Oct. 20, features a total of four different packages. Vacationers can choose to book a two-night stay for the price of a one-night stay -- with prices starting at 159,000 won ($118.99) for a standard room. The Signature Package offers a choice between discount

TravelSept. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Culinary Class Wars': fresh, creative survival show minus the drama

“Culinary Class Wars,” one of the hottest entertainment shows trending in Korea right now, offers a refreshing take on the survival show format, while highlighting the ingenious recipes created by some of Korea's most acclaimed cooks and chefs. The competition features 100 contestants divided into two teams: the white team, consisting of the nation’s top star chefs, and the black team, made up of lesser-known cooks and local restaurant owners. Contestants participate in a

TelevisionSept. 23, 2024

Qatar Pavilion at Gwangju Biennale brings solidarity through rain

GWANGJU -- A soundscape combining rainfall with a Qatari children's folk song fills the corridor where a reflection of Qatari traditional architecture patterns surround visitors. On the wall are Qatari idioms. One reads: “Whatever comes from the sky, the earth accepts.” The National Museum of Qatar presents its national pavilion exhibition at the Gwangju Biennale, Asia’s leading art biennale, which kicked off Sept. 7 across the city of Gwangju. The title of the exhibition

Arts & DesignSept. 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kentaro Sakaguchi says cultural differences shape 'What Comes After Love'

Japanese heartthrob Kentaro Sakaguchi said he thought the cultural distinctions in how people express affection, played a crucial role in his Korean debut series "What Comes After Love." The six-part Coupang Play original series portrays the romance between Choi Hong (Lee Se-young) and Aoki Jungo (Sakaguchi), who unexpectedly reunite five years after their breakup. The series is based on the novel of the same name, co-authored by Korean novelist Gong Ji-yeong and Japanese writer Tsuji

TelevisionSept. 22, 2024

[Herald Review] Olivia Rodrigo thrills Korean fans with endless energy

American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo captivated the audience with her boundless energy for the first time in South Korea. As part of the Guts World Tour, she held concerts on Friday and Saturday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, drawing a total of 15,000. Wearing a sparkling silver two-piece outfit, the 21-year-old opened the show by performing a series of hit songs, including “Bad Idea Right?,” “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” and “Vampire.” S

PerformanceSept. 22, 2024

Arrival of fall calls for more outdoor festivals

Festival goers can finally enjoy the diverse cultural programs offered at Seoul's outdoor festivals without worrying about the heat, after the latest autumn rain cooled nationwide high temperatures that lasted well into the Chuseok holidays, a major mid-autumn harvest festival. Seoul Children’s Grand Park, a popular theme park located in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, is scheduled to hold outdoor screenings of family movies at its Four Seasons Garden. “The Sound of Music” (19

TravelSept. 22, 2024

Honorary degree given to late student who donated money she saved up while fighting cancer

Cha Su-hyeon, a former student of Daegu University who passed away due to cancer, received an honorary degree from her school Friday in appreciation of her donating 6 million won to be used as a scholarship fund for fellow students. Daegu University on Friday held a ceremony in honor of Cha, who was 22, to deliver her father Cha Min-su the honorary diploma from the department of biological education where she had attended. Six students of the same department each received 1 million won in schola

PeopleSept. 22, 2024

[New in Korean] Can knowing your past life save your present one?

"The Novice Shaman Reading Past Lives" By Lee Sun-young Clayhouse A pair of novice shamans claim that past-life insights can unravel present-day problems. With their help, people find a second chance at life in this heartwarming drama infused with comedy and emotion. The fortune-telling shop Miss Korea has garnered a reputation for helping clients discover their past lives. The vibrant place is run by two shamans: There's the enigmatic Madame Go, whose age remains a mystery, and D

BooksSept. 22, 2024

[Weekender] Young Koreans more open to Japanese cultural products

Japanese songs playing on South Korean TV and radio stations and giant posters of Japanese anime hung outside cinemas -- unimaginable just over two decades ago -- are no longer surprising. This year marks 20 years since Korea fully opened its doors to Japanese pop culture products. Following liberation from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule in 1945, Korea had banned Japanese cultural products from reaching its shores, only gradually opening the market to Japanese cultural products in 1998. The

CultureSept. 21, 2024

Jeju's solo traveler-friendly spots offer solitude as well as camaraderie

The Jeju Tourism Organization has unveiled five destinations that are a perfect fit for holidaymakers who travel solo to South Korea’s southern Jeju Island. The tourism organization's recent data shows one out of 10 South Koreans traveling to Jeju Island to be a solo traveler and services that cater to the needs of those traveling alone are on the rise on the island. The destinations introduced by the Jeju Tourism Organization allow vacationers not only to escape the scorching summe

TravelSept. 21, 2024

[New in Korean] Architectural wonder, love story in Paris from award-winning architect/novelist

"To Where the Light Leads" By Baek Hee-sung Book Romance Lumiere Clerget is a disheartened architect who, despite designing beautiful homes for others, struggles to find a place he can call his own. One day, he receives a call from his real estate agent who has miraculously found him an affordable listing in Paris. The house, with its peculiar features like an unusually low staircase handrail, intrigues Lumiere. He discovers that the house belongs to Peter Waltzer, a wealthy man living

BooksSept. 21, 2024