The Galleries Art Fair to go ahead, despite virus fears

The Galleries Art Fair, the oldest art fair in South Korea, will go ahead next week in Seoul’s Gangnam area despite worries over the spread of COVID-19. “We had thorough discussions and have agonized about whether to host the art fair amid a serial cancellation of cultural events including Art Basel Hong Kong, due to the novel coronavirus,” said Choi Woong-chull, the president of the association. “However, most of the galleries wanted to host the art fair as scheduled.

Arts & DesignFeb. 13, 2020

‘Parasite’ to return to big screen in black and white

The black-and-white version of Oscar-winning social satire “Parasite” will be screened in local cinemas starting Feb. 26, distributor CJ Entertainment said Thursday. “The black-and-white edition of ‘Parasite,’ which results from director Bong Joon-ho and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo adjusting the contrasts and tones shot by shot, will present a different impression of the film,” the company said. Bong and Hong previously worked together to produce a spec

FilmFeb. 13, 2020

Drag artists prepare to ‘Werq the World’

All eyes will be on Seoul’s burgeoning underground drag scene when local artists kick off the Asia tour of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World” at Yes24 Live Hall at the end of this month. The Asian leg of the international tour, produced by Voss Events, will take popular performers, including Kim Chi -- a Korean American contestant from Season 8 -- to Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Tokyo, in addition to Seoul. The Emmy award-winning television show “RuPaul&r

CultureFeb. 13, 2020

[Herald Interview] Playing harmonica more than a hobby

For Park Jong-seong, the harmonica is a sophisticated instrument with great versatility. The 34-year-old is a harmonica player, a rare profession in the local music scene. Although many pick up the instrument as a hobby, especially seniors, the number of professional harmonicists remains limited. Park is therefore unique, having won awards at international competitions in Japan, China and Germany. He has also released three solo albums. The third album, released in 2019, includes harmoni

PerformanceFeb. 12, 2020

Yonsei professor gets 1st Korean Studies Writing Award

The Academy of Korean Studies conferred the first Korean Studies Writing Award on Wednesday, honoring a Yonsei University scholar for his nine-volume collection of works on the history of Korean agriculture. For health reasons, professor emeritus Kim Yong-sup was unable to attend the ceremony at the school in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, so a family member accepted the prize on his behalf. “Kim Yong-sup’s Collected Works” documents the history of Korean agriculture from anci

BooksFeb. 12, 2020

Oscar-winning Bong Joon-ho’s films to be adapted into English TV series

“Parasite” continues to soar after winning four Oscars this week, including best picture. Last month, it was revealed that US cable network HBO had secured the rights to adapt the genre-defying film into a television series, helmed by writer-director of the original film Bong Joon-ho and HBO’s “Succession” executive producer Adam McKay. While no other details have been confirmed, Bong and HBO are reportedly in talks. Based on Bong’s previous interviews, th

FilmFeb. 12, 2020

Co-curated exhibition touches on feminist perspectives on art

Three young women curators were curious about how Chang Jia’s works would be interpreted in 2020 after they received the spotlight for dealing with discrimination against women in the early 2000s, when gender issues were still considered an uncomfortable topic. Stepping into the Doosan Gallery in Seoul, which is holding the exhibition “Don’t Care If You Give Me That Evil Eye,” one is overwhelmed by the wide range of media dealing with female bodies, cult films and fabr

Arts & DesignFeb. 12, 2020

‘Parasite’ team returns home in Oscar glory

The cast members of “Parasite” returned to Korea early Wednesday morning, two days after they were honored at the 92nd Academy Awards with historic four wins. The “Parasite” cast, including Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam, arrived at Incheon International Airport, along with the film’s producer Kawk Sin-ae, screenwriter Han Jin-won, film editor Yang Jin-mo and production designer Lee Ha-jun. As the party passed through the airport doors, cheers and ap

FilmFeb. 12, 2020

'Parasite' jumps to No. 4 at North American box office after Oscar wins

South Korean film "Parasite" soared to No. 4 at the North American box office after its Oscar victories, data has shown. According to Box Office Mojo, a box office revenue tracker, the black comedy was the fourth most sold title as of Monday (US time), sharply up from its 12th rank a day earlier. The box office ascent came one day after "Parasite" picked up four awards, including best picture, at the 92nd Academy Awards held in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Korean film bec

FilmFeb. 12, 2020

British rap duo help students unlock inner creativity

In an hourlong workshop, ninth grade students were tasked to write a piece about the things they loved or hated and perform it. They wrote about family, the new coronavirus and TikTok. Students from Dulwich College in Seoul participated in a session run by Mark Grist and MC Mixy, a poetry and rap duo from Peterborough, England, also known as the Dead Poets. The workshop was the last in the duo’s Asian tour. For 10 years the Dead Poets have toured the world, holding workshops like this

CultureFeb. 12, 2020

‘Parasite’ Oscars have Twitter abuzz

Filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s dark comedy “Parasite” not only ruled the Oscars with its four wins, but also dominated social media, being the subject of more tweets than any other film from the event. “Parasite” won four awards at the Oscars: best picture, best director, best international feature film and best original screenplay. It was the first foreign language movie to win best picture in the 92-year history of the annual film event.  Since Jan. 13, when th

FilmFeb. 11, 2020

Concept Korea New York Fashion Week F/W 2020 celebrates 10th anniversary

Concept Korea NYFW Fall-Winter 2020 commemorated its 10th anniversary on Friday in New York with three Korean standout designers who received favorable responses in previous seasons showcasing their latest collections. Concept Korea, which was held at Spring Studios Gallery in New York, is part of New York Fashion Week, which runs through Wednesday. The government-sponsored fashion show aims to help promising Korean designers expand overseas by providing opportunities to promote their brands

Arts & DesignFeb. 11, 2020

‘Parasite’ to show in more theaters worldwide after historic Oscars win

The hype around “Parasite” after it won four Oscars on Monday has led to more theaters in the US screening the movie. Director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won for best picture, director, international feature film and original screenplay on Monday. It was also nominated for best editing and production design. According to entertainment magazine Variety, Neon, the film’s North American distributer, will double the number of screens showing the movie from 1,0

FilmFeb. 11, 2020

Largest Castiglioni exhibition in Asia at Seoul Arts Center

An exhibition that pays homage to Achille Castiglioni, a 20th-century Italian industrial designer, is currently running at the Seoul Arts Center. Titled “Achille Castiglioni and his Brothers,” it is the biggest of its kind in Asia. Born in 1918 in Milan, Achille Castiglioni started his career as an architect and a designer in 1944 at a studio run by his two older brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo. After Livio’s departure, Achille and Pier Giacomo collaborated until the latter

Arts & DesignFeb. 11, 2020

[Herald Interview] Jeon Do-yeon can now dream about an Oscar

Veteran actress Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Woo-sung came together for the first time in the upcoming film “Beasts Clawing at Straws.” The debut feature by director Kim Yong-hoon recently won the Special Jury Award of the Tiger Competition at the Rotterdam Film Festival. The crime noir revolves around eight desperate individuals who chase after a mysterious Louis Vuitton bag full of cash. Jeon plays Yeon-hee, a former bar owner, and Jung, corrupt customs officer Tae-young. Yeon-hee app

FilmFeb. 11, 2020

Oscar-winning 'Parasite' gets biggest-scale British screen release for Asian title

SEOUL/LONDON -- The Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite" is getting the widest-ever theatrical release for an Asian title in Britain. The black comedy was officially released last Friday and is now showing on 1,554 screens in some 100 theaters across Britain. Tickets for several showings of "Parasite" sold out in the opening weekend, and the news of the film's victories at the Oscar is further boosting the film's appeal to British audiences. "Parasite" picked

FilmFeb. 11, 2020

Doorbell song, chapaguri from 'Parasite' become talk of town

With the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" creating a lot of buzz throughout the world, a short catchy song and a recipe from the sensational movie are also sweeping the internet. The so-called Jessica jingle is a line that the character Ki-jung, played Park So-dam, sings with her brother Ki-woo (Choi Woo-sik) in order to remember her false identity before ringing the doorbell of a rich family's house. In the movie, the wily siblings sweet-talk the affluent Park family into employing th

FilmFeb. 11, 2020

Moon congratulates 'Parasite' on winning 4 Oscars

President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory message Monday to Bong Joon-ho and his "Parasite" team for the historic Oscar success of the South Korean film, saying it has given South Koreans pride and courage as they try to overcome the challenges of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The president wrote in an official letter that his government will "be with our movie people" so that they can engage in imaginative filmmaking free from worry. He was apparently reaffirming his

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

Oscars yield to Bong Joon-ho and ‘Parasite’

Auteur Bong Joon-ho of “Parasite” has become the first South Korean director to win an Oscar, and he has broken down barriers in a big way with four trophies, including the festival’s most coveted award -- for best picture. At the 92nd Oscars on Sunday night, Bong received four Oscars for “Parasite” -- best international feature film, best original screenplay, best director and best picture. It turns out the Korean movie had been making history not just for its ho

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

‘In the Absence’ raises international awareness of Sewol ferry disaster

Director Yi Seung-jun’s “In the Absence” missed out on the award Oscar for best short-subject documentary Monday, but leaves the Academy Awards having broken new ground as the first-ever Korean documentary to be nominated. “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl),” a documentary on Afghanistan girls learning to skateboard and gain confidence in life, took home the prize. “In the Absence” deals with the Sewol ferry sinking in April

FilmFeb. 10, 2020