Naver under fire for kimchi translation on BTS program amid Chinese claims over dish

Naver’s V Live is being criticized for translating kimchi as “pao cai” -- a pickled vegetable dish eaten in China -- in the June 15 episode of BTS’ variety program “Run BTS!” 　 On the show, the BTS members are divided into two teams and make two different types of kimchi with restaurateur Paik Jong-won. Each time kimchi is mentioned in the video, the Chinese subtitles read “pao cai.” With Chinese media having claimed kimchi originated from pao c

CultureJune 21, 2021

Actor Jo Woo-jin says ‘Hard Hit’ is like miracle to him

For actor Jo Woo-jin, playing his first title role in the upcoming action film “Hard Hit” in his 22-year career seems like a miracle. “There was a posting that I recently wrote to my fans. It says: ‘Hard hit’ will be released and I am now starting my race. I came to Seoul in 1999 with only 500,000 won ($440.84) in my hand. Everything that is happening to me from now on will feel like a miracle,” Jo said during a press conference held last Wednesday in CGV Y

FilmJune 21, 2021

K-dramas face challenges in transnational streaming era

 As more and more viewers around the world watch South Korean dramas on streaming platforms, the industry faces critical challenges that must be met if it is to continue to expand overseas. In an era of transnational streaming, cultural sensitivity has become an issue for content creators around the world. Korea is no exception, and Korean dramas have drawn criticism in recent weeks for racial and cultural stereotypes. The producers of two popular SBS TV dramas, “Penthouse 3&rdquo

TelevisionJune 21, 2021

[Exclusive] MMCA postpones Paik Nam-june festival, once again

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea’s plan to celebrate the legacy of South Korea’s pioneering video artist Paik Nam-june will be canceled again this year, with an exhibition dedicated to Paik unlikely to happen for a second year in a row, according to the museum. Earlier this year, MMCA Director Yun Bum-mo announced a “large-scale festival” would be held to shed light on Paik’s legacy, including an opening the exhibition titled “After t

Arts & DesignJune 21, 2021

Baritone singer Kim Gi-hoon wins BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition

Baritone singer Kim Gi-hoon,won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition held in the United Kingdom on Saturday. Established in 1983, the competition is organized jointly by BBC Wales and Welsh National Opera and its winners include some of the biggest names in opera such as Bryn Terfel. With the win, Kim became the first Korean to receive this main prize at the competition. Kim received 20,000 pounds ($27,600) in prize money. Korean Baritone No Dae-san and bass Park Jong-min have wo

PerformanceJune 20, 2021

British artist Fiona Banner poses questions on humans’ desire, power

British artist Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press’ first exhibition in Asia is being held at Barakat Contemporary in Seoul, unveiling the artist’s 14 new works comprising paintings, installations and video art. Banner first gained attention in the mid-1990s for her “wordscapes” and “still films,” which explored the relationships of primitive human desire and violence conveyed through traditional nudes, pornography and Hollywood war films relayed as dense verb

Arts & DesignJune 20, 2021

Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd asks one’s true-self

Australian artist Daniel Boyd has presented his identity as part of a native tribe of the country, challenging Western hegemony through his convex-dot paintings that ask radical questions of the audience about their identity, roots and true self. The artist’s second solo exhibition, “Treasure Island,” in South Korea is running through Aug. 1 at Kukje Gallery in Seoul, presenting 24 works including a video unveiled for the first time in the country.  "I think there

Arts & DesignJune 20, 2021

[Eye Plus] Seoul Yangnyeongsi Market, mecca of Korean traditional herbal medicine

The Seoul Yangnyeongsi Market, located in Dongdaemun-gu, eastern Seoul, is the capital’s hub of herbal medicine. Walking through the market, one may be struck by the fragrances in the air created by the wide variety of herbal ingredients -- from ginseng and dates to milk vetch roots. The smell of “hanyak,” traditional Korean herbal medicine, provides comfort and relaxation for many, as it invokes memories of aromas they may have smelled at their grandparents’ homes.&nbs

CultureJune 19, 2021

Demand for overseas travel soars after more than a year of staying put

Demand for travel is back in Korea. Fueled by the government’s recent announcements that travel bubble partnerships with other countries could be in the cards, grounded travel-hungry individuals are anticipating a return of quarantine-free holidays. So are businesses in the tourism industry that have been hit hard by a bruising pandemic since early 2020. A leading Korean travel agency which offered a Europe vacation package on a TV shopping channel on June 16 saw some 52,000 people bo

TravelJune 19, 2021

[Photo News] Lavender flowers paint Korea purple

Lavender flowers in full bloom form violet clouds at Herb Village in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Tourists take pictures in a field of lavender flowers at Herb Village in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Visitors enjoy blooming lavender flowers at Herb One, the largest lavender farm in the country, in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province. Lavender flowers fill a field measuring 330,000 square meters at Herb One, a lavender farm in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province.

TravelJune 19, 2021

Pandemic-weary seek solace in garden exhibition

Gardening has become a new trend recently as people start to turn their eyes to nature to seek comfort from it. Although gardening is not easy in South Korea as many live in high-rise apartment complexes, many are growing potted flowers and plants at home and take care of them as “pet plants.” Why are we attached to plants and flowers? The exhibition “Gardening” at Piknic in central Seoul explores our psychology behind gardening and how we can interact with the nature.

Arts & DesignJune 19, 2021

Yeowoorak fest aims to introduce a world of different sounds

Yeowoorak Festival, an annual gugak, or traditional Korean music, event, will return to the National Theater of Korea from July 2 to 24, after being held online last year. Now in its 12th year, the festival has established itself as a grounds for new experiments in gugak. And this year, the festival breaks away from having an artistic director and music director, and instead appointed a creative director to head the festival. Park Woo-jae, an acclaimed geomungo player was named as this year&rs

PerformanceJune 18, 2021

‘Hospital Playlist 2’ records highest first episode viewership rating in tvN history

The second season of hit medical drama series “Hospital Playlist” got off to an auspicious start Thursday, recording the highest first-episode viewership rating in tvN history. Thursday night’s episode recorded an average viewership rating of 10 percent, according to Nielsen ratings, making it the first tvN drama series to chart double-digit ratings on day one, as it reached as high as 12.4 percent at its peak. The TV drama written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho

TelevisionJune 18, 2021

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival commemorates the Great Battle of Hansan of 1592, one of the most intense naval battles in Korean history. Held from Aug. 12 to 21, the festival is sponsored by the city of Tongyeong, and managed by the Great Battle of Hansan Memorial Foundation. Visitors will be able to see a reenactment of the battle followed by other performances. A variety of hands-on experience programs will be available for visitors at Yi Sun-sin Park. Perfo

TravelJune 18, 2021

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul launches online store for to-go menus  The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul has opened an online store for to-go dishes that can be picked up at the hotel. All orders need to be made at least 24 hours in advance. The online store’s most popular dish is American-style smoked BBQ that offers beef, pork and side dishes, including roasted potatoes, coleslaw, a brioche bun and mac and cheese. The BBQ menu serves 4 to 6 people and is priced at 220,000 won. The online s

FoodJune 18, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming (Korea) Opened June 17 Horror Directed by Lee Mi-young Eun-hee (Kim Seo-hyung) is posted as a vice principal at a girls high school where she was once a student. After starting work at the school, she begins having hallucinations. One day, Eun-hee unexpectedly meets student Ha-yeong (Kim Hyun-soo) in a hidden washroom at the school that is now used as a storage space, and they hear a mysterious humming sound.  A Quiet Place Part II (US) Opened June 16

FilmJune 18, 2021

Bandi & Luni’s, Korea’s third-most-popular bookstore, goes bankrupt

With books going digital and online buying the preferred means of purchasing books, one of the major bookstore chains in South Korea has declared bankruptcy. The Seoul Book Center, operator of the country’s third-largest offline bookstore franchise, Bandi & Luni’s, was officially declared bankrupt as of Wednesday. The Seoul Book Center failed to clear some 160 million won ($143,000) on Tuesday, according to the Korean Publishers Association and publishing companies. Bandi &

CultureJune 17, 2021

Labor activist-turned-poet chronicles travels in new book, exhibition

Walking along the narrow alleys of Tongeui-dong where modern and contemporary Seoul coexist in harmony, one will come upon a two-story cafe that greets visitors with colorful trees and flowers at its entrance. The first floor of Ra Cafe Gallery operates like any ordinary cafe, serving beverages and sandwiches during the day, and desserts by night. Upstairs, an unexpected trip beyond borders awaits. Ra Cafe Gallery first opened its doors in April 2012 in Buam-dong in Jongno, as part of poet Pa

BooksJune 16, 2021

‘Everglow’: love story of couple with more than 30-year age gap

“Everglow,” directed by So Jun-moon, depicts the love story of Jin-ok, a 70-year-old female diver of Jeju Island, also known as “haenyeo,” and a 30-something documentary producer Kyung-hoon. The unconventional love story was a shock to veteran actor Go Doo-shim, 70, who plays Jin-ok in the upcoming film. “Ji Hyun-woo and I have somewhat of an age gap. I was an actor who did not get to perform in many romantic films so I craved them. But when I read the script, I

FilmJune 16, 2021

Musical ‘Beetlejuice’ opening postponed to late June

The opening of the licensed Korean-language musical “Beetlejuice” -- a production based on Tim Burton’s iconic film -- will be postponed to June 29 for technical improvements, according to CJ ENM, the co-producer of the show. Describing the musical as a tech-heavy show, an official from the entertainment company told The Korea Herald, “We have decided to move back the opening date after concluding that we need more time to thoroughly prepare the technical elements for

PerformanceJune 16, 2021