[Herald Interview] Food seen through documentarian’s eyes

Conceptualizing and categorizing food when filming a food documentary series is the strategy behind documentary producer-turned CEO Lee Wook-jung’s 30-year career. Lee pulls everything together at the end of the show, emphasizing the overarching theme that all food connects. Speaking with The Korea Herald on his first day out of quarantine following a business trip to Argentina where he went to capture the country’s distinctive pizza, Lee seemed thrilled and rather impatient to unve

FoodMarch 26, 2022

[Eye Plus] Colorful and elegant royal hanbok sweep down runway

Hanbok is Korea’s traditional costume and has been a part of the country’s culture for over 5,000 years. It has been praised for the beauty of its colorful and unique design. Traditional costumes worn by royal families were even more elegant. Models wearing royal hanbok from different periods in Korean history appeared at “The Hanbok” held Wednesday in front of Gyeonghoeru located in Gyeongbokgung, central Seoul. While the event was held to promote Korea’s traditi

Arts & DesignMarch 26, 2022

[Weekender] Disputes surrounding new presidential office continue

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol announced that he would begin his term on May 10 as president of the Republic of Korea at the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul. Cheong Wa Dae -- which has been the presidential office for 70 years, since South Korea’s inaugural President Syngman Rhee -- is to open to the public on the same day. 　 Putting an end to the legacy of the “imperial presidency” and to better communicate with people are reasons offered i

CultureMarch 26, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Jjajangmyeon, Korean Chinese dish invented in Incheon by Chinese migrant workers

In the 19th and 20th century, Western missionaries introduced brick buildings to Korea. Most of the building work was done by overseas Chinese workers. The Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul was built with bricks by Qing dynasty “Hwagyo” (overseas Chinese) workers in the late 1800s. Ehwa Women’s University’s brick building was also built by Qing dynasty Hwagyo workers. According to Yi Jung-hee, a professor at Incheon National University, Qing dynasty workers were large-frame

CultureMarch 26, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Wanja jeon, Korean meat tofu patties

My mother made these little patties on the day before holiday every year. She often cooked them on an electric griddle and made a ton of these little yummies for her family and relatives. These patties were only one of a variety of dishes that she pan-fried on the griddle. I usually sat down next to her to chat, grabbing a few of these little patties while they were piping hot off of the griddle. Oh, how delicious! The day before Korean New Year’s Day was a long, labor-intensive day for

FoodMarch 26, 2022

[Weekender]History of Cheong Wa Dae

The site of Cheong Wa Dae dates back to Goryeo (918-1392) when the kingdom had royal palace halls at the site. During the Joseon era (1392-1910), the site was considered a sacred place. Located right outside Sihwamun, Gyeongbokgung’s north gate, it was a place where royal retainers pledged their loyalty to the king. According to annals from the reign of King Sukjong, the place was considered so sacred that no king dared to occupy the place despite its beautiful scenery. The land was la

CultureMarch 26, 2022

Rising above obstacles, Tongyeong International Musical Festival marks 20 years

Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province -- Twenty years after a music festival kicked off in a remote port city in southern South Korea with little music infrastructure, Tongyeong International Music Festival, armed with composer Chin Un-suk as its artistic director, began the 2022 edition Friday. The obstacles that TIMF has faced vary, according to Lee Yong-min, CEO of Tongyeong International Music Foundation, ranging from the physical distance to an audience unfamiliar with contemporary

PerformanceMarch 25, 2022

Actor Gang Dong-won signs with CAA

Top actor Gang Dong-won has signed with the US-based talent agency Creative Artists Agency, US entertainment publication Variety reported Friday. While he will continue to be represented in Korea by his current agency YG Entertainment, Gang’s international representation will be made by the CAA. The 41-year-old model-turned-actor made his name hit movies including “Romance of Their Own” (2004), “Jeon Woochi: The Taoist Wizard” (2009), “A Violent Prosecutor&

FilmMarch 25, 2022

Cardi B to star in 'Baby Shark’s Big Show!' as Sharki B

Pinkfong, the company behind the hit YouTube “Baby Shark Dance,” is collaborating with American rap superstar Cardi B. The rapper is scheduled to guest-star in “Baby Shark’s Big Show!”, a television program jointly produced by Pinkfong and children’s entertainment network Nickelodeon, according to a press release from The Pinkfong Company on Friday. “Inspired by the rapper, a new character Sharki B and her family -- Offshark (played by Cardi B’s

TelevisionMarch 25, 2022

Iconic ‘Gayo Top 10’ revived after 25 years with K-pop artists performing on virtual stage

State-run broadcaster KBS’ legendary music program “Gayo Top 10” is set to return for the first time in 25 years on both YouTube and TV, bringing performances from some of the hottest acts in K-pop to the virtual world. “Virtual Gayo Top 10” will carry on the tradition of “Gayo Top 10,” which ended its 17-year run in February 1998. Applying the format of giving the “Golden Cup” to artists when their songs stay at the No. 1 spot for five con

TelevisionMarch 25, 2022

[Video] Why I photograph Seoul at night, winner of Cyberpunk 2077 photo contest speaks

Video by Team Konnect Kim Min-jung (minjung.kim@heraldcorp.com) Choi Jeong-yoon (jychoi@heraldcorp.com) Kim Jeong-ryul (ryul@heraldcorp.com) Park Sun-yeong (psyworld0710@heraldcorp.com) By Korea Herald (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

EntertainmentMarch 25, 2022

S. Korean art market makes upbeat start in 2022

The boom of the local art market is expected to continue this year thanks to swelling demand for artworks from individual investors amid the protracted pandemic, industry data showed Friday. The 2022 Galleries Art Fair, one of the biggest art trade fairs in South Korea held from March 16-20, posted 17.7 billion won ($14.5 million) in sales over the five-day period, up sharply from 7.2 billion a year ago. The number beat the forecast of some 15 trillion won in sales by the Galleries Association o

Arts & DesignMarch 25, 2022

Veteran broadcaster Heo Koo-youn elected new KBO commissioner

A longtime baseball commentator Heo Koo-youn has been formally elected the new commissioner of the South Korean professional league. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday that its board of governors, made up of the 10 club owners, unanimously approved Heo's nomination the previous day. Heo, 71, had been put up for the position by the team presidents on March 11. He needed at least a three-quarters majority to be elected. (Yonhap)

PeopleMarch 25, 2022

[Well-curated] Hanok bakery, picnics on Han River and art to help Ukrainian refugees

Hanok-themed Solbangul Bakery About a five-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul is a new bakery shop that resembles a hanok, a traditional Korean house, which makes it hard to miss. A cute sign of the bakery’s mascot squirrel holding a pine cone welcomes customers, and they pass by an open kitchen located up front to the bakery. Solbangul Bakery sells over 20 different types of bread, tarts and sandwiches.  Loaves of rice mugwort bread, which has ssukgaetteok (mugwort ric

CultureMarch 25, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers new signature menu Cafe One at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul celebrates the arrival of spring with a new signature menu combining existing favorites ideal for pairing with coffee or beer. Highlights include the ricotta salad, made with ricotta crafted by Cafe One’s own chefs and tangy lemon juice; croque madame with Italian cotto ham and a soft bechamel sauce, topped with a sunny fried egg; and the chicken sandwich with thickly sliced chicken breast cooked sous-v

FoodMarch 25, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Busan Lotus Lantern Festival The Busan Lotus Lantern Festival will be held at Songsanghyeon Plaza and Busan Citizen’s Park in Busan from April 22 to May 8. Sponsored by the Busan Buddhism Association, the annual festival offers visitors with an opportunity to experience Buddhist culture through the many activities and hands-on experiences, including a lotus lantern making program, temple food meals, widely known as gongyang, and more. In celebration of Buddha’s birthday, various t

TravelMarch 25, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Hot Blooded (Korea) Opened March 23 Crime, Action Directed by Cheon Myoung-kwan In 1993 in Kuam, a small port town outside Busan, third-rate gangster Hee-su acts like a hotel manager under Don Son (Kim Kap-soo). One day, Yong-kang (Choi Mu-sung), who fled the country suspected of murder, returns home and begins causing trouble. Hee-su finds out that the trouble was caused by the drugs that Yong-kang has been smuggling. Spencer (UK) Opened March 16 Drama Directed by Pablo Larraín

FilmMarch 25, 2022

[Herald Interview] French filmmaker Denis Dercourt not surprised to see Korean content thrive globally

French director Denis Dercourt said he is not surprised to see Korean films gain popularity worldwide. “It is no mystery that Korean films are everywhere in the world because they (Koreans) work so hard,” the director said during an interview with a group of Korean reporters Wednesday. He explained that the staff he worked with for his upcoming thriller, “Vanishing,” which was filmed entirely in Korea, had a deep understanding of cinema and also spent a lot of time wo

FilmMarch 24, 2022

Han So-hee, Park Hyung-sik tell all about unrequited love in ‘Soundtrack#1’

Global streaming platform Disney+ didn’t forget the romance as it went musical with its third Korean-language series, “Soundtrack#1.” Starring Han So-hee and Park Hyung-sik, the music drama revolves around two characters who have been best friends for 20 years, as their relationship changes in a romantic way. Taking the role of songwriter Lee Eun-soo, Han, 27, said that her character is a bright, honest person who does not know much about love. “Unlike the character

FilmMarch 24, 2022

Physical shows’ return at Seoul Fashion Week reinvigorates stagnant fashion industry

Seoul Fashion Week, South Korea’s biggest fashion event held every March and October, wrapped up its six-day fashion extravaganza on Wednesday. By holding in-person shows and events for the first time in three years, it revived the stagnant local fashion industry, which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week ran in an online-offline hybrid format to avoid crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 35 fashion brands -- 23 established designer

Arts & DesignMarch 24, 2022