TWICE tops Japan's Oricon weekly chart for 5th time

A new Japanese album by South Korean girl group TWICE has risen to the top of Japan's leading music chart soon after its release, its management agency said Thursday.According to JYP Entertainment, "&TWICE," the second full Japanese album by TWICE, topped the Oricon weekly albums chart for the third week of this month.With the feat, TWICE has climbed to the top of the Oricon weekly chart for the fifth time. Earlier, the girl group's first Japanese album "BDZ," sixth Korea

PerformanceNov. 28, 2019

Gracias Choir tours 18 cities with heart-warming ‘Christmas Cantata’

In celebration of Christmas, Gracias Choir has embarked on its “Christmas Cantata” tour across Korea from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22. The choir will perform in 18 cities, including Ansan, Gyeonggi Province; Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province; Gwangju; Gangneung, Gangwon Province; and Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. The tour ends in Seoul. The 120-minute performance is separated into three acts. The first act takes the format of an opera, depicting the birth of Jesus. The second follows a mu

PerformanceNov. 28, 2019

Colors and more colors: new social media-friendly exhibition opens in Seoul

As the art scene becomes more social media-friendly, a new exhibition -- literally full of colors -- opened Friday, openly welcoming Instagram users. Sfactory, a culture complex in the hip Seongsu-dong neighborhood in eastern Seoul, has organized an exhibition inspired by colors, titled “Museum of Colors,” targeting 20- and 30-somethings.Influential artists on social media are featured, in the exhibition, including Russian photographer Kristina Makeeva, Korean artist Yoon Sae-rom, Sc

Arts & DesignNov. 28, 2019

JYJ's Kim Jae-joong to drop first new album in 4 years

Singer Kim Jae-joong will drop a new album early next year, returning to the Korean music business after a near four-year hiatus, his agency said Thursday.Kim, a member of the Korean pop group JYJ, will also start a concert tour across Asia starting in Seoul in January, according to C-Jes Entertainment.The detailed schedule of the Asian concerts will be determined later, it added. It is Kim's first Korean album in four years since he released his last studio album "No.X" in 2016.His la

PerformanceNov. 28, 2019

New EXO album tops iTunes charts across globe

K-pop boy band EXO took iTunes music charts by storm Thursday with its latest album, "Obsession."The sixth full-length album by EXO, released on Wednesday, had topped iTunes' Top Album charts in 60 countries by Thursday morning, according to SM Entertainment, the band's management agency. The 60 countries include Canada, France, Denmark, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Peru and Taiwan. At home, "Obsession" also came atop daily album sales charts by online book stores and music di

PerformanceNov. 28, 2019

‘Forbidden Dream,’ tale of relationship between legendary king and inventor

Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon era, was a man of science -- as popularly demonstrated by his depiction in the “Civilization” video game series. Jang Yeong-sil was an engineer and inventor, who made his mark in history with countless inventions during Sejong’s reign that showed the technological advancement of his country.Upcoming historical drama “Forbidden Dream” highlights the relationship between the two geniuses of the 15th century in a creative

FilmNov. 28, 2019

[Photo News] CICI hosts winter welcoming gathering

Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) hosted the “CICI-Korea CQ Winter Welcoming Gathering” at the Intercontinental Seoul Coex, in southern Seoul on Tuesday. At the event, Korea CQ Cooperation Award went to Hungarian Ambassador Mozes Csoma (third row, sixth left) and his spouse Sunmi Nam (first row, second left). Korea CQ Friendship Award was given to James Park, director of BIO Plastic Surgery (second row, fourth right). Around 50 guests, including Kuwaiti Ambassador

PeopleNov. 28, 2019

Netflix unveils "Made in Korea" collection

Netflix Inc., the global internet entertainment service provider, showcased a new collection entirely devoted to South Korean content on Wednesday."Made In Korea" allows viewers to select original South Korean content ranging from drama series to variety shows within a single collection, Netflix said.The new collection underscores Netflix' recent push to expand its engagement with South Korean film and TV content that can appeal to the global audience. Netflix said that South Kore

TelevisionNov. 27, 2019

[Herald interview] Star ballerina Seo Hee talks on loving yourself and others

She may be the principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, but Seo Hee didn’t always have such lofty ambitions. As a student at Sunhwa Arts Middle School, she simply wanted to be part of a group of friends who would go out to eat tteokbokki (stir-fried spicy rice cake) after class. Having started ballet at a relatively late age of 13, she was shy and timid, thinking she fell behind her classmates. However, things began to change when it turned out she took the third place at a school

PeopleNov. 27, 2019

PKM Gallery’s exhibition brings together 6 internationally renowned artists

PKM Gallery is holding an exhibition where visitors can glimpse works by artists who have drawn a great deal of attention in the contemporary art world.PKM Gallery’s exhibition “Eternal Now,” co-curated by Park Kyung-mee of PKM Gallery and Saskia Draxler of Galerie Nagel Draxler in Cologne, Germany, features works by six artists: Hito Steyerl, Francis Alys, Kader Attia, Koo Jeong-a, Lee Bul and Martha Rosler. The works on display show each artist’s unique take on differen

Arts & DesignNov. 26, 2019

[Video] While in Busan, don’t miss 2 things: Excitement and adventure

The Korea Herald’s intern reporters visited Busan -- the host city of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK summit -- as it was getting boisterous and busy for the international event. Busan has, among other things, stunning mountains and narrow back alleys. It has lustrous coastlines with seagulls and sand. The city is also famous for scorching hot springs and heavenly seafood. Busan is, without doubt, a rollicking port metropolis offering many wonderful things to visitors.From casual cart bars to voguish d

TravelNov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Multiculturalism binds Korea, ASEAN region

Busan -- As the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit got underway in Busan, a conference on multicultural families in South Korea was held Tuesday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Korean Institute for Healthy Family co-hosted the 2019 Multicultural Families Network Conference at the Busan Tourism Organization Arpina on Tuesday.More than 100 people attended the event to share their opinions on Korea’s multiculturalism policies, including multicultural families and experts.&ldqu

Expat LivingNov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Amateur cooks compete at Korea Food Contest Final

Representatives from eight of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations faced off at the ASEAN-KOREA: Korea Food Contest Final, showing off dishes that reflect Korean culture and identity with a common ingredient: rice.The final round of the multinational cooking contest was held Tuesday at the Korean Cuisine Cultural Center in Jung-gu, central Seoul. The contestants, all nonprofessional cooks, came from Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos a

CultureNov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Fermentation at heart of Korean, ASEAN cuisines

Experts on fermented food from Asia came together for a forum on Tuesday, amid growing recognition of the health and nutritional benefits of such food worldwide. Experts from Korea and four member states of ASEAN --Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia -- gathered at the aT Center in Seoul to introduce fermented food, exchanging knowledge and introducing the different cultural backgrounds of their cuisines.The ASEAN-Korea Food Fermentation and Culture Forum was held on the sidelines of the A

FoodNov. 26, 2019

BTS set to heat up year-end festivities with performances at home, abroad

K-pop sensation BTS will heat up year-end festivities with a series of high-profile performances in its home country of South Korea and outside. With the 2019 Melon Music Awards scheduled for Saturday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, BTS will begin its run of performances throughout December, providing an unusually entertainment-packed month.Appearing at the Melon Music Awards last year as well, BTS dazzled fans by staging specially remixed versions of its songs, featuring elements of traditional K

PerformanceNov. 26, 2019

Arko show highlights midcareer artists

Arko Art Center is holding its 2019 Mid-Career Artist Exhibition, which comprises two separate solo exhibitions dedicated to Bae Jong-heon and Heo Ku-young. The annual art show started in 2000 as a way to offer South Korea’s midcareer artists financial support and an exhibition venue.Bae, 50, and Heo, 53, are showing works that feature everyday scenes and everyday objects. Bae works with discarded materials, structures and urban landscapes, often connecting his works to social issues.

Arts & DesignNov. 26, 2019

Pompeii's grand baths unveiled, with hidden tragedy

POMPEII (AFP) -- Magnificent thermal baths designed to be the jewel of Pompeii but destroyed by a volcanic eruption before they could be completed opened to visitors for the first time on Monday after a painstaking excavation.Marble pillars and blocks lie where they were abandoned when the city was submerged by a pyroclastic flow from Mount Vesuvius in the 79 AD disaster.But excavators also found a victim of the disaster, the skeleton of a child who had sought shelter there in vain.The architect

Arts & DesignNov. 26, 2019

Foreign Language Newspapers Association head Ryu appointed honorary Hungarian consul to Korea

The Hungarian government has appointed Ryu Kwon-ha, chief of the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea, as an honorary consul of Hungary. Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma presented the letter of appointment to Ryu on Friday at a ceremony at the country’s embassy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.  Around 40 guests from the diplomatic and business communities attended the event, including former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo and Kim In-chul, president of Hankuk University of Forei

PeopleNov. 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Late Goo Hara left ‘despairing note’: police

Singer Goo Hara, who was found dead at her home Sunday, left a note, according to police.A note written by Goo was found on a table in her living room at around 6 p.m. Sunday by her housekeeper, who then filed a report with police, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said during a press briefing Monday.Police said in the note she “despaired over personal affairs.”Police added that based on on-site inspections and family testimonies, foul play was unlikely. A closed-circuit TV review

PerformanceNov. 25, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Fashion event embraces ASEAN diversity

BUSAN -- Celebrating the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, a fashion show introducing the latest fashion trends of ASEAN member states was held Monday. The Busan Metropolitan Government organized the ROK-ASEAN Fashion Week from Friday to Monday, holding events ranging from fashion shows to networking sessions. The highlight of the four-day event was Monday’s ASEAN Fashion Show, during which designers from ASEAN countries presented their creations on the runway. Featured designers includ

Arts & DesignNov. 25, 2019