[Herald Interview] ‘We Are the Zombies’ creator offers fresh twist on zombie apocalypse

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- From the webtoon series “All of Us Are Dead” (2009), “Dead Life” (2018) and horror thriller “Train to Busan” (2016) to the Netflix series “Kingdom” (2019), South Korea’s zombie content have become popular for their bone-breaking portrayals of the undead, thrilling action sequences and desperate survival stories. Author Lee Myeong-jae, however, impressed viewers around the world by presenting a new twist to the

CartoonOct. 5, 2022

Annual performing arts festival explores changes in our times

The Seoul Performing Arts Festival, in its 22nd edition this year, will explore changes in our times with domestic and overseas projects that test the boundaries of performing arts, the organizers said during a press conference on Tuesday. The SPAF is an annual festival held in the Daehangno neighborhood of Seoul, considered the mecca of performing arts in Korea. It is co-organized by the Korea Arts Management Service under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Foundation for

CultureOct. 5, 2022

University festivals return in full glory after pandemic hiatus

With cooler and crisp air, the season of university fall festivals has arrived. Since mid-September, major universities across the country are holding their biggest and most exciting campus event of the year. During the past two years of the pandemic, university festivals had faced a hiatus, like many other in-person events. But with social distancing rules and the outdoor mask mandate lifted, the festivals are back in all their glory, with their typical elements of K-pop, student-run food sta

CultureOct. 5, 2022

High school student’s cartoon ignites debate on freedom of expression

A cartoon featuring a figure resembling the well-known British comic book character Thomas the Tank Engine, an anthropomorphic blue steam locomotive in the children’s television series “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends,” found itself at the center of controversy over freedom of expression Tuesday after the Culture Ministry said it would look into how the work was selected for the top prize in a recent contest. Titled “Yoon Suk-yeol-cha,” the cartoon by a high

CartoonOct. 4, 2022

BIFF to return to pre-pandemic scale with 243 films

The 27th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Wednesday and runs through Oct. 14, is returning to its pre-pandemic scale. There will be no distancing in the theaters and the organizer is expecting around 170,000 total audience members this year. A total of 243 films from 71 countries will be screened during the film festival and Asian film support programs. The Asia Cinema Fund also will resume this year after a three-year hiatus, according to the BIFF organizer. Following an eve

FilmOct. 4, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Atomic Bomb’ writers delighted by their graphic novel’s international recognition

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Writing about one of the most lethal weapon ever invented, Didier Alcante and Laurent-Frederic Bollee, the authors of “Atomic Bomb,” never expected to visit South Korea -- much less to win an award. “This was our first time to win an award outside of our respective countries. We won a prize in Belgium, Canada and France. It is very nice to get international recognition,” Belgian author Alcante said in an interview with The Korea Herald at

CartoonOct. 4, 2022

Lim Yun-chan's 'Emperor Concerto' live recording to be released November

A live performance recording of Beethoven’s “Emperor Concerto” by Lim Yun-chan, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will be released in November, Universal Music announced Tuesday. Lim will take the stage with the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Hong Seo-kwon, on Saturday at Tongyeong Concert Hall to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, known as the "Emperor Concerto." The album, to

CultureOct. 4, 2022

[Herald Interview] Versatile flutist Choi Na-kyung discovers new adventures during pandemic

On July 13, 2011, South Korean flutist Choi Na-kyung, also known as Jasmine Choi, played at a recital for the celebration of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s re-election. There she met people she considered to be truly selfless, people who live their lives for the purpose of tackling famine, climate change, improving women's rights and other pressing global issues. Unexpectedly, the joyful event made her depressed for months. “I love music so much, but I couldn’t help

CultureOct. 4, 2022

'Ulysses' European tour seeks modern touch for Joyce's epic novel

MARSEILLE -- A festival dedicated to James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" is touring 18 European cities, with artists and writers linking the work to contemporary issues such as immigration. "Ulysses," published in 1922, counts among the 20th century's key novels, and its centenary has already sparked much celebration in Joyce's native Ireland. But Liam Browne, co-artistic curator of "Ulysses European Odyssey," said the tour is to go beyond the kind of liter

CultureOct. 4, 2022

Reenactment of King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade to take off this weekend

In 1795, King Jeongjo traveled from Changdeokgung in the capital to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress to visit his father’s grave, Yongneung, in Hwaseong. Accompanying King Jeongjo on the eight-day journey was his mother, Lady Hyegyeong, celebrating her 60th birthday. Often cited as the expression of King Jeongjo's filial piety, the royal parade will be reenacted on Saturday and Saturday. The parade will set off at 10 a.m. at Changdeokgung, located in Jongno-gu, and course through areas of Seoul on

CultureOct. 3, 2022

Exhibition exploring Nigerian art to kick off Thursday

Contemporary Nigerian art will be explored at an exhibition opening Thursday at the Summit Gallery in southern Seoul. A total of 110 art pieces including 35 paintings and six sculptures by 22 Nigerian artists will be on display at the exhibition entitled “Seeds of Friendship.” The exhibition is being held under the slogan “planting the seeds of culture on friendship.” Among contemporary Nigerian artists represented at the exhibition is John Ogbeta, a mixed media painter,

Arts & DesignOct. 3, 2022

New multi-sensory webtoon experience with 4DX film ‘Moon You’

Vertically scrolling comics on smartphones are being brought to the big screen by CJ 4DPLEX, a tech subsidiary of CJ CGV, and Naver Webtoon. While retaining the webtoon format, including the typography, speech bubbles and cartoon layout, “4DX Moon You,” which opens in theaters Oct. 12, is "told" with motion seat action and environmental special effects, including wind, fog, snow and more. The result is a fully immersive experience for the upcoming 4DX webtoon’s audien

FilmOct. 3, 2022

‘Leeds era’: How one English city's name became a buzzword in Korea

Buzzwords come and go in Korea after a few years. But one has stood the test of time -- “Leeds era,” which is read as “lijeu sijeol” in Korean. The term, believed to have originated from online football communities around 2005, is used to refer to a period of one’s greatest success or popularity, similar to a heyday or a golden era. It is used in various contexts including the appearance of celebrities to the performance of athletes. Since July this year, local cabl

CultureOct. 2, 2022

Action comedy film becomes 3rd Korean flick to top 6m admissions in 2022

"Confidential Assignment 2: International," the action-comedy sequel to a 2017 hit, became the third South Korean film to top 6 million tickets sold on Sunday. According to the film's distributor, CJ ENM, the film, starring Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin, reached over the 6 million mark at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, 26 days after its premiere. It joined "The Roundup" and "Hansan: Rising Dragon" in the 6-million club among South Korean flicks in 2022. "Confidential Assignme

FilmOct. 2, 2022

[Well-curated] Exhibits, night tours and street performances

Time travel to Japan's Edo period in Seoul An exhibition will take you on a time and space travel journey this weekend to 17th century Japan, without having to leave the city. An exhibition introducing urban customs and lifestyles of Japan's Edo period (1603-1867) is ongoing at the Seoul Museum of History, in central Seoul, through Oct. 23. Edo is the former name of Tokyo and the capital of the military government at the time, the Tokugawa shogunate. Titled "Scenes Around Sumidagawa River i

CultureOct. 1, 2022

Busan night festival to kick off Saturday

Next week is a big week for Busan. Not only will some of the biggest film stars grace the red carpet for the Busan International Film Festival, another glitzy festival -- "Busan Starry Night Festa" -- that is being held for the first time will light up the port city. Major tourist destinations across Busan will come alive with films, live performances and tasty refreshments, starting Saturday to Nov. 13, welcoming both domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy the fall evening out in th

CultureOct. 1, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul showcases Autumn Teppanyaki Selection Tamayura, the luxury Japanese dining destination at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, greets autumn with an authentic set-course teppanyaki menu. The highlight of the epicurean eight-course dinner is the main dish of Korean Woorungchan hanwoo beef tenderloin, grilled to perfection on an iron hotplate. Autumn pine mushroom shabu-shabu showcases Tamayura’s signature plating, evoking Biwa, Japan’s biggest lake, offering a feast for th

CultureOct. 1, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Incheon Soraepogu Port Festival The three-day Incheon Soraepogu Port Festival will kick off Oct. 1 at Soraepogu Port and Soraepogu Traditional Market in Incheon. To promote its rich cultural history as an old fishing village, the event features a traditional market selling fresh fish caught off Sorae and an exhibition of traditional fishing tools. A special stamp tour, fireworks and music performances by local artists are scheduled to entertain visitors of all ages. Admission is free. Updated in

TravelOct. 1, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Honest Candidate 2 (Korea) Opened Sept. 28 Comedy Directed by Jang Yoo-jung Sang-sook (Ra Mi-ran) is jobless after losing the Seoul mayoral election. One day, she accidentally saves a man in the sea and sees an opportunity to return to politics. She starts lying again for a higher approval rating. But Sang-sook soon finds out that she is once again unable to lie -- and this time, she’s not the only one suffering from this mysterious affliction. Project Wolf Hunting (Korea)　 Opened Sept.

FilmOct. 1, 2022

Asian stars to take part in BIFF

Star actors from Asian countries will take part in the 27th Busan International Film Festival, which will be held from Oct. 5-14. Among the actors in attendance will be Thai film star Mario Maurer, as his new film, “Six Characters” directed by M.L. Bhandevanov Devakula, is screening at the festival. Maurer is known for “Pee Mak,” the first film to attract an audience of more than 10 million in Thailand. Along with Maurer, three other actors from “Six Characters&r

FilmSept. 30, 2022