Chin Un-suk wins Leonie Sonning Music Prize 2021

Composer Chin Un-suk, 58, has been named the winner of Leonie Sonning Music Prize 2021. The Leonie Sonning Music Prize is awarded every year to an internationally recognized composer, instrumentalist, conductor or singer. Chin is the first Asian to receive Denmark’s highest music award since its founding in 1959. Chin will receive 133,000 euros ($146,529), according to the Leonie Sonning Music Foundation. “With music rich in shimmering light effects and endless color play, Chin i

PerformanceJan. 30, 2020

Hong Sang-soo's new film included in Berlin fest competition lineup

South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been nominated to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival next month. In a press conference held Tuesday, festival organizers unveiled a list of 18 movies that will vie for the Gold and Silver Bears at the festival scheduled from Feb. 20 to March 1. Hong's film, "The Woman Who Ran," is his 24th feature as well the seventh film starring his muse Kim Min-hee. The director was first invited to the film fest in 1997 with h

FilmJan. 29, 2020

Park Hae-jin, Cho Bo-ah usher in spring with ‘Forest’

The first episode of KBS2’s upcoming drama series “Forest,” a love story between a perfect-but-heartless man and a hurting-but-warm-hearted woman that unfolds in the woods, is slated to air Wednesday night. Park Hye-jin plays corporate takeover specialist Kang San-hyeok, who, looking for new prey fakes his way into working as a special rescue worker at Miryeong Forest. Here, Kang comes face-to-face with past trauma that has been causing a burning pain in his arm and tumbles

TelevisionJan. 29, 2020

Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism to promote temple food at foreign universities

Reaching the heart through the stomach, the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism on Wednesday laid out its plan to Korean promote temple food internationally. Established in 2004, the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism promotes Korean Buddhism and its cultural contents by providing traditional cultural experience programs, education, exhibition and campaign. “We will promote Korean temple food overseas with Korean Cultural Centers and Korean embassies located outside of Korea,” head

CultureJan. 29, 2020

Margot Robbie explains Harley Quinn’s return in ‘Birds of Prey’

Harley Quinn does not cope well with the breakup from her “pudding” Joker in the beginning of “Birds of Prey,” but this may just be her first step out into the world, said Margot Robbie, who reprises her role from “Suicide Squad,” during a video press conference Tuesday. Robbie was joined by director Cathy Yan and lead actors Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Ella Jay Basco. In the first DC flick to hit the screens this year -- “Bir

FilmJan. 29, 2020

'Parasite' screened at over 1,000 theaters in North America

The number of theaters in North America screening director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" surpassed 1,000 over the weekend, industry watcher Box Office Mojo has said. According to the US website tracking film revenues early this week, the South Korean black comedy was screened in 1,060 cinemas Sunday. Since it opened in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 11, the movie took $30.91 million at the North American box office, the seventh largest ever among foreign language f

FilmJan. 29, 2020

Films about S. Korean immigrant family in 1980s US, Kim Jong-nam murder premiere at Sundance

Actress Han Ye-ri, Korean American actor Steven Yeun and veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung received a standing ovation for “Minari” at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday. The festival, which kicked off Thursday at Park City in Utah, runs until Sunday. The annual event is one of the largest indie and documentary film festivals in North America where up-and-coming filmmakers and original titles aim for a big break. The movie “Minari” tells the story of a South Korean fam

FilmJan. 28, 2020

5 cities to get nearly W16b for tourism development in 2020

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday announced five cities across the country will be developed into tourism hubs. “Five cities were picked based on their potential. We will inject around 15.9 billion won ($13.51 million) in total this year,” Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said during a press conference in Seoul. The move is aimed at promoting destinations outside of Seoul, which currently attracts the vast majority of overseas tourists. Busan, picked as a glob

TravelJan. 28, 2020

Billie Eilish to have concert in Seoul in August

Grammy-winning teenage pop star Billie Eilish will have a concert in Seoul in August, marking the first South Korea visit by the chart-topping sensation. According to the announcement on the singer's official website last week, Eilish's 2020 world tour, titled "Where Do We Go?" will start March 9 in Miami, Florida, and run through September in 19 countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Germany, France and Italy. She will perform in Seoul on Aug. 23, with the venue to be determined l

PerformanceJan. 28, 2020

S.M. Entertainment chief producer makes Billboard's '2020 Impact List'

Lee Soo-man, founder and chief producer of South Korea's biggest K-pop label, S.M. Entertainment, was listed by Billboard as one of the world's influential music industry leaders, the agency said Monday. Lee was the only South Korean chosen to be on "The 2020 Billboard Impact List" that recognizes 22 individuals for their influence over the future of the global music industry, according to S.M.  "SuperM, the 'supergroup' recruited from members of other Korean boy bands and

PerformanceJan. 27, 2020

Future that Beethoven dreamed of

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of maestro Beethoven’s birth, a contemporary music recital will be held at Kumho Art Hall on Thursday, featuring up-and-coming composer-conductor Choi Jae-hyuck and his chamber music ensemble. Since 2017 -- the 190th anniversary of Beethoven’s death -- the art hall, under the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, has featured a series of 25 programs in homage to the maestro, ranging from piano and violin solo performances to chamber music recital

PerformanceJan. 27, 2020

Written, monochrome work highlights 2020 gallery calendar

From modern text and monochrome work to Joseon-era calligraphies, many galleries are keeping things simple in the coming year. Elsewhere, there is a planned exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and the Seoul Mediacity Biennale marks its 20th outing. Here are some exhibitions worth visiting this year. Yun Hyong-keun’s solo exhibition at PKM Gallery In March, PKM Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, will put on a solo exhibition of 20th century monochrome artist Yu

Arts & DesignJan. 27, 2020

Classic operas on big screen gain popularity

Classical performances and operas shown in cinemas have been gaining popularity among classical music fans and moviegoers, industry data showed Saturday.CJ CGV, a leading multiplex chain run by entertainment giant CJ Group, launched a monthly opera program to show Italian operas in special theaters starting this year. The first title is “La Traviata,” by Giuseppe Verdi.More than 90 percent of tickets of the opera‘s theatrical showing at its Yongsan branch on Tuesday were sold,

CultureJan. 25, 2020

‘The Man Standing Next’ attracts more than 1.12 million viewers

“The Man Standing Next” has attracted more than 1.12 million moviegoers since the political thriller‘s release three days ago, box-office data showed Saturday, highlighting its popularity during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.The accumulated attendance for the film, which was released Wednesday, was tallied at 1,127,757, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. It was trailed by “Hitman: Agent Jun” that has attracted 220,805 viewers so f

FilmJan. 25, 2020

‘Parasite’ team beefs up last-minute Oscar campaign

Director Bong Joon-ho and the cast of “Parasite” are entering the final stretch in the heated race for the upcoming Oscars.The genre-bending family satire was nominated in six categories -- best picture, best director, best screenplay, best editing, best production design and best international feature film -- for the 2020 Academy Awards slated for Feb. 9.It is the first time that a South Korean-made film has earned a nod for one of the world‘s biggest film events.According to

FilmJan. 25, 2020

[Eye Plus] In search of Korean traditional music

Across from Changdeokgung Palace’s main gate are two Korean traditional-style buildings where efforts are being made to preserve Korean traditional music and rekindle interest in the heritage through cutting-edge technologies.Opened in March 2018, the Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater is dedicated to performances of gugak, or traditional Korean music. Right next to the theater, the Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music, which opened in November 2019, boasts an archive of 20,000 Korean folk s

CultureJan. 24, 2020

IZ*ONE to resume music career next month

K-pop girl band IZ*ONE will return to the music scene next month, resuming its high-profile music career that was put on hold amid a vote-rigging scandal involving the band's native audition show last year. "Mnet and the management agencies of IZ*ONE members decided to resume their activities in respect of the members and their fans who wish for a career resumption," Mnet said in a statement. The music channel said the girl band will return to the music scene next month, saying the exa

PerformanceJan. 23, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Man Standing Next(Korea)Opened Jan. 22Drama, HistoryDirected by Woo Min-hoIn the 1970s, South Korea is under the authoritarian rule of President Park Chung-hee (Lee Sung-min) who relies on the Korean Central Intelligence Agency to tighten his grip on the country. The director of KCIA, Kim Gyu-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun), is seemingly the most likely second-in-command. As anti-government demonstrations threaten to shake the regime, tensions escalate in the inner sanctum of power.Spies in Disguise(

FilmJan. 23, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Swellfish season at Millennium Hilton SeoulGenji, Millennium Hilton Seoul’s Japanese restaurant, offers promotion menu featuring swellfish (also called fugu), a seasonal delicacy highly revered in Japanese cuisine. Guests can enjoy a special curated set menu that features swellfish prepared in a variety of ways, including swellfish sashimi, tempura, swellfish cooked in a hotpot, and more. The set course is priced at 170,000 won per person, and is available for lunch and dinner. A-la-carte

FoodJan. 23, 2020

[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea

Inje Icefish FestivalInje Icefish Festival, officially launched in 1997, offers a true winter experience with icefish fishing.The festival takes place at Bingeoho Lake in Gangwon Province. Admission is free but additional fees may apply depending on the program. For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, call the travel hotline at 1330. The homepage (www.injefestival.co.kr) is in Korean only. Herb Island Lighting Festival The Herb Island Lighting Festival creates a romant

TravelJan. 23, 2020