Number of weekend moviegoers plunges to record low

The number of moviegoers dropped to a record low over the weekend as lingering fears of the novel coronavirus keep people staying at home, data showed Monday. A total of 80,180 people went to cinemas on Saturday and Sunday, down sharply from a combined 86,274 tallied a week earlier, according to the data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It is the lowest weekend number since KOFIC started to compile local box office data in 2004. The record-breaking downbeat trend in the number of moviegoer

FilmApril 6, 2020

‘Snowpiercer’ to come to small screen sooner

The serial adaptation of Korean film “Snowpiercer” is moving up its premiere date to mid-May, two weeks ahead of the original schedule. According to news reports from several US entertainment media outlets Thursday, US cable network TNT has decided to advance the release date of “Snowpiercer” to May 17. The move comes in response to a growing thirst for more content on the small screen by viewers as the COVID-19 outbreak pushes back new releases elsewhere. “Snow

TelevisionApril 5, 2020

Jeongdong Theater to stream ‘Red Cliff’ online

Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul is to stream its signature show “Red Cliff” through YouTube on Wednesday. The show, originally slated to run from Feb. 14 to Sunday, has been on hold to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 since Feb. 24 after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered all national theaters and art troupes to cancel their performances.   Instead, for patrons who had been eagerly awaiting the show, Jeongdong Theater will stream the show live Wednes

PerformanceApril 5, 2020

‘Companion plants’ good company for young people living alone

As soon as Choi Seoul-gi, 26, gets home from work, she checks on the six plants she bought last summer: an orange jasmine, a Guiana chestnut tree, a Swiss cheese plant, an alocasia, a bird of paradise and another plant she can’t remember the name of. When she moved to a studio apartment last year, she was a bit lonely. That’s why she started bringing plants home, almost one every month. “As human beings, we have a desire to be loved, but the important thing is that we also ha

CultureApril 5, 2020

[Eye Plus] Let’s enjoy yellow forsythia blossoms from afar

For many South Koreans, it feels like spring hasn’t arrived yet. Thanks to the novel coronavirus, school closures and social distancing mean many of us spend most of our time indoors. But many parts of the country are already in color, with seasonal flowers coming into bloom about a month earlier than usual. In Seoul, yellow forsythia bushes are usually one of the first signs of spring.   One of the popular places for spring festivals in the city is Eungbongsan in Seongdeong-

CultureApril 4, 2020

App deliveries, ready-to-eat foods fill tables amid #StayAtHome time

While #StayAtHome challenges have been trending around the world, perhaps one of the most challenging tasks at a time like this is preparing three meals a day at home. In response to the call to stay at home, people are flocking to online food delivery platforms, purchasing ready-to-eat foods. Orders on grocery delivery platform Market Kurly have skyrocketed in recent weeks. Market Kurly offers a wide range of groceries and merchandise for delivery by 7 a.m. the next day for orders placed

FoodApril 4, 2020

Exclusive dating apps cater to cream of the crop

　 Dating apps that bar people from signing up based on appearance, education and wealth are a growing phenomenon in Korea. In order to join Amanda, one of the best-known dating apps in Korea, the applicant needs to receive an average score of three or higher out of five from 20 members of the app. The name “Amanda” is wordplay for the Korean meaning of “not meeting anyone.” 　 “We understand that there can be controversy over the nature of our app. At first, the

CultureApril 4, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Safe delivery from Mayfield Hotel As more people are staying in these days, Mayfield Hotel in western Seoul is presenting food delivery service. The hotel’s bakery Cafe Delice presents a lunch box deal for four people, consisting of six Italian dishes, from pasta to salad. The deal is priced at 90,000 won. The bakery also offers one-person lunch boxes, offering a choice one pasta and a drink, at 20,000 won. Korean restaurant Bongraeheon also offers a lunch box deal, consisting of nin

FoodApril 4, 2020

[Weekender] Brighten up home quarantine with home furnishings

As the COVID-19 situation draws out, many of us have been spending all day in our homes. Staying in can be boring, even stressful for some. Worse, we are not sure when this will ever come to an end. While we are at home, how about lightening up the mood by making some small changes to your home decor? Some changes can be made while staying in. And sometimes, small changes make a big difference.  Spring arrives with flowers The arrival of spring is a sure thing. The mercury is rising

CultureApril 4, 2020

SUPERNOVA leader tests positive for COVID-19 as 1st infected entertainer

Jung Yun-hak, the leader of K-pop boy band SUPERNOVA, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment in Seoul, the band has said. The band broke the news on its official Japanese website Friday, saying, "Having been in a bad condition, Yun-hak got tested on Tuesday, and the test result found the next day that he had been infected with the new coronavirus." He has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul and is focusing on treatment, the website said, apologizing for "

EntertainmentApril 3, 2020

Seoul to monitor all 8,578 audiences of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’

The Seoul City government on Friday announced that it will monitor all the 8,578 people who watched “The Phantom of the Opera” at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. On Tuesday, a Canadian female ballet dancer of the show was confirmed with novel coronavirus infection and another American actor in the ensemble was tested positive on Thursday. “We have the list of all the audiences and will send out text messages,” Na Baek-joo, director of Seoul City’s public healt

PerformanceApril 3, 2020

Play ‘Art’ halts after two cast members of ‘Phantom of Opera’ infected with coronavirus

Double K Film & Theatre announced Thursday that its production of “Art” would close temporarily, after cast members of “Phantom of the Opera” tested positive for the new coronavirus. “As people of the performing art industry test positive with the coronavirus, for the safety of actors, staff and audience and to prevent further spread, we have decided to temporarily cancel ‘Art’ performances from April 4-12,” Double K Film & Theatre posted

CultureApril 3, 2020

K-pop star Kim Jae-joong cancels schedule amid public uproar over making April Fools‘ Day joke about coronavirus

K-pop group JYJ’s Kim Jae-joong canceled his schedule in Japan after criticism for announcing he had the new coronavirus as an April Fools‘ Day joke. Kim released his third Japanese single “Brava Brava Brava” in March and was scheduled to promote the album by appearing on several music shows in Japan. Kim’s agency CJes Entertainment on Friday announced that due to the current situation Kim would not appear as scheduled on TV Asahi’s music show “Musi

PerformanceApril 3, 2020

Temples, Catholic churches further postpone public services due to coronavirus

Roman Catholic churches in Seoul and temples of the country's biggest Buddhist sect will further suspend their public services, at least till mid-April, as part of national efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Catholic Church's Seoul archdiocese said in a press release on Thursday that all weekly public Masses will remain on hold until future notice. "On Tuesday, the government announced that it will put school openings on indefinite hold while starting the new school year throu

CultureApril 2, 2020

Movie series to binge-watch in time of social distancing

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many people stuck indoors are coming up with ways to spend time at home, and for movie lovers it is an almost welcome chance to watch famous series one never had a chance to start or rewatch a favorite movie series. Two of the best-known series in cinema of the 21st century are “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), “The Lord of the Rings: T

FilmApril 2, 2020

Film and drama crossover for sci-fi anthology series

A project aimed at creating and original science-fiction series has set off in South Korea, jointly led by filmmakers, television networks and an OTT service provider. Soo Film on Wednesday announced that it has started production of “SF8” an eight-episode sci-fi anthology, in conjunction with the Directors Guild of Korea. The series will be released on OTT platform Wavve and network broadcaster MBC in the summer. With each of the eight episodes helmed by a popular director, the s

TelevisionApril 2, 2020

New hobbies #TogetherAtHome with YouTube

Jin Ho-young and Yoon Jung-lin, the creators of YouTube channel “Sewing TV” said the number of subscribers to their channel has surged after they posted a video on making fabric masks with reusable filters at home in February. “Our channel is fairly new and small. After the mask-making video became popular among both Korean and foreign viewers, we saw the daily number of new subscribers jump almost a hundredfold,” Jin, the channel’s editor said during an online pr

TelevisionApril 2, 2020

‘Phantom of Opera’ tour production confirms one more case of COVID-19

A second cast member of international tour production of “The Phantom of the Opera” has tested positive for COVID-19, organizers said Thursday. After the first cast member was confirmed to have tested positive for the coronavirus, all 128 members of the production team were tested. On Thursday, another ensemble cast member was confirmed with the infection. Another 80 members of the team tested negative, while 46 were still waiting for results as of Thursday afternoon. The organi

PerformanceApril 2, 2020

MMCA launches online museum series for kids

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea has launched an online museum series for children who are spending most of their time at home amid the COVID-10 outbreak, to help them better understand the modern art. The museum is unveiling a total of five episodes on its YouTube Channel, uploading new episodes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The episodes will cover four renowned artists: Park Seo-bo, Marcel Duchamp, Ahn Kyu-chul and Choi Jeong-hwa. The videos aim to help kid

Arts & DesignApril 2, 2020

[Video] ‘Dalgona coffee’ is piping hot during social distancing

With many self-quarantining themselves during the novel coronavirus spread, people are finding innovative measures to stay tuned. For many, who are cooped up at home for days, or even weeks -- visits to movie theaters and shopping malls are a distant dream now -- new hobbies are becoming popular. People have found ways to stay connected with others while practicing social distancing. Exotic challenges on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are keeping them occupied while hunkering down at home.

CultureApril 2, 2020