[Weekender] ‘We sell a lifestyle’

At Altdif, a boutique teahouse in Seoul’s Seogyo-dong, tea masters don’t just sell a cuppa. They sell a lifestyle.“We’re not just a tea shop. We’re a lifestyle shop that centers on tea and the tea-drinking lifestyle,” explained Ryu Gyeonghyeong, general manager of the shop. Since its opening in late 2016, Altdif has stuck to its unique concept by offering a five-tea course for seven guests only. Just like a full meal, it starts with a straight tea, as ent

FoodOct. 25, 2019

Hot sandwiches, soup and coffee for colder months

Crisp, cool weather invites warmer fare like hot soups exhaling curls of steam, cups of heartwarming coffee laced with creamy milk, and crunchy-edged sandwiches, fresh off the panini grill. That is precisely what one will find at Sunset Swimming Sandwich, a sandwich bar that opened last month in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong. “I felt most confident about sandwiches and coffee,” Sunset Swimming Sandwich founder Lee You-jin explained. Before Lee launched her sandwich bar in September, she f

FoodOct. 25, 2019

[Herald Interview] Nine cups of tea with Ven. Myoudeok

Ven. Myoudeok cut quite a conspicuous figure at last week’s coffee and tea fair in Yangjae-dong, southern Seoul.  In her light-gray Buddhist robes, she sat among coffee and tea masters who had come from across the country to discuss the latest trends in brewing and blending. Her trade is the centuries-old tradition of Korean green tea. “I see a lot of confusion in our tea culture -- what makes good tea, how tea should be made and consumed,” the Buddhist nun said. “I

PeopleOct. 25, 2019

[Weekender] Tea ceremony that draws young sippers

Though the word “dado,” meaning a traditional tea ceremony, may not sound like much fun, it has become a trending practice among young people here, as they seek inner peace and Instagram-worthy shots at the same time. More tea shops are opening across Seoul, branding themselves as cultural complexes that offer more than just a cup of tea. Teaching the art of dado, they offer extra activities such as public lectures, yoga classes and more.One of the highly sought-after tea places is M

CultureOct. 25, 2019

[Weekender] A new leaf

Coffee has a formidable grip on the daily lives of Koreans, but tea is slowly and quietly gaining traction. Social media-savvy hipsters wait for weeks for a tea ceremony experience. Teahouses that claim to sell not just a cuppa, but a lifestyle, are emerging as trendy hot spots. Some see in it as a counteraction to the Starbucks-driven explosion of coffee culture here. Others speak of a refreshing return to the country’s own sipping traditions. “I think we’ve grown too acc

FoodOct. 25, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland ‘Horror Club: Fear the Night’ festival Everland theme park is presenting the horror-themed party “Horror Club: Fear the Night” on each Saturday of October.The event, held as part of its annual zombie-themed festival “Blood City,” will feature DJs like Bequz and Cream, along with performances by rock band Devil’s Rock.Around 100 staff are dressed as zombies, clowns and monsters, creating a Halloween vibe. Photo spots are set up throughout the par

TravelOct. 24, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil(US)Opened Oct. 17Adventure, Family, Fantasy Directed by Joachim Ronning Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and her goddaughter Aurora (Elle Fanning) begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play. Their relationship has flourished, yet the hatred between man and the fairies still exists.Joker(US)Opened Oct. 2Drama, Mystery, Suspense Directed by Todd Phi

FilmOct. 24, 2019

TV star Lee Eliajah debuts on big screen as lead in ‘My Bossy Girl’

Actress Lee Elijah is a well-known name to fans of Korean TV, but her acting chops have been limited to the small screen. Yet director Lee Jang-hee cast Lee Elijah as lead character Hye-jin in the upcoming romantic comedy “My Bossy Girl.” “There is a certain excitement and tension that comes from the word ‘first.’ Since this is my first (movie role), I just focused on having fun, doing the best I can to make a great film,” Lee Elijah said during a press confer

FilmOct. 24, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea Summit] S. Korea, ASEAN culture ministers vow to expand cooperation in culture

Culture ministers of South Korea and 10 Southeast Asian nations on Thursday vowed to promote cultural diversity and discover creative content for future generations in the regions.The joint statement was issued on the final day of the two-day culture ministers meeting of South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held in the southwestern city of Gwangju.“The South Korean and ASEAN culture ministers will cooperate in promoting diversity of cultural expression and discovering

CultureOct. 24, 2019

Some 400 Korean artifacts on show in Poland, first in Eastern Europe

The exhibition “Splendor and Finesse: Spirit and Substance in Korean Art” is a special one for Yang Seung-mee, the National Museum of Korea curator who put it together. This is the first large-scale exhibition of Korean art in Eastern Europe.The exhibition, which opened at the National Museum in Warsaw on Oct. 11 and runs until Jan. 12, features 391 artifacts from five stages of Korean history: prehistory, the Three Kingdoms (57 BC-AD 668), Unified Silla (668-918), Goryeo (918-1392)

CultureOct. 24, 2019

Glide in style through Halong Bay’s spectacular scenery

HALONG BAY, Vietnam -- It’s an iconic Southeast Asian destination. With thousands of limestone islands jutting spectacularly from the sea, the scenery unfolds here like a fantastical Chinese painting. It’s no wonder it has been listed as a World Heritage Site.There are hotels in the area, but the only option if you want to see Halong Bay and do it justice is by boat.While day tours are popular, overnight cruises are a growing option, offering more time to relax and enjoy the scenery.

TravelOct. 23, 2019

Continuing the ancient royal Kim heritage in Paris, fashion-wise

Though South Korean designers have been making a splash in the global fashion scene for some time now, an extra splash of “playful elegance” was added this season.During the recent Paris Fashion Week, fashion label Kimhekim presented the “Me” collection. From the brand name, readers might guess that a Korean designer is behind the label. The designer calls himself Kiminte Kimhekim. His legal name, Kim In-te, is the first name he uses and his last name reflects his fa

Arts & DesignOct. 23, 2019

Korean literature prize goes to Albanian writer

Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare is the winner of the 2019 Pak Kyong-ni Prize, in recognition of a lifetime of socially relevant writing that delves into the historical experiences of the Albanian people.The writer, 83, has been one of the most influential literary figures in Europe since his debut in the 1960s. In 2005 he became the first winner of the Man Booker International Prize for the full body of his work. He is also an often-mentioned nominee for the Nobel literature prize.  The Par

PeopleOct. 23, 2019

[Herald Review] Old formula a double-edged sword for ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’

Pro: “Terminator: Dark Fate” is the best in the “Terminator” franchise other than the first two films, which were both amazing.Con: That’s not saying much considering what followed those two magnificent flicks.The upcoming sci-fi action film by Tim Miller packs good action, a solid message and ample story for quite some fun. The problem is that it rehashes the old formula that has been done before and better, which results in it being neither fresh nor very impressi

FilmOct. 23, 2019

SuperM's debut album comes down to 11th on Billboard 200

K-pop band SuperM's debut album edged down to 11th on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week, after debuting at No. 1, chart results showed Wednesday. The album, "SuperM: The 1st Mini Album," topped the chart for the week of Oct. 19, making the septet the second-ever K-pop artists to conquer the chart following BTS. This week marks the second week in a row that the album has ranked high on the chart. The septet was formed in a high-profile collaboration project between South Korea's

PerformanceOct. 23, 2019

Upcoming BTS concerts in Seoul to be broadcast live

Global K-pop superband BTS' upcoming concerts in Seoul will be broadcast live in movie theaters in six Asian countries, the band's management agency said Wednesday.With three days of concerts in the band's home country, set for Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, BTS will wrap up its latest globe-trotting concert tour, "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself." The Saturday concert will be broadcast on V Live, the live broadcasting service of the biggest South Korean internet portal, Naver, according

PerformanceOct. 23, 2019

18th-century Joseon court makeup offers clues about ‘K-beauty’

An exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea shows the style of makeup favored by the Joseon royal family during the 18th century and offers hints at how it may have influenced today’s globally popular “K-beauty.” The exhibition, titled “Princess Hwahyeop and Her Makeup,” displays relics discovered in a recent excavation of the princess’s tomb, where 12 containers were found with cosmetic substances inside -- along with combs, a bronze mirror and an ep

CultureOct. 22, 2019

Baseball legend shares 48 years on the diamond

A living legend of Korean baseball, Sun Dong-yeol released his autobiography Tuesday, sharing 48 years of life on the diamond. Sun, 56, is a former baseball player and manager, who made his professional debut in 1985 as a pitcher for the Korean Baseball Organization’s Kia Tigers in Gwangju. Later, he signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan on a four-year loan. He retired in Japan in 2000. He then returned to Korea and became the manager for the Kia Tigers and then the Samsung Lions. He l

PeopleOct. 22, 2019

‘The Faceless Boss’ to be a noir film about cruelty of gangster world

The early 2000s in Korean cinema was marked by an onslaught of gangster comedies, which ranged in quality but soon came under fire for glorifying criminals through their affectionate depiction of the mob. This was followed by a period of gritty realism, with ruthless, 19-rated stories.Director Song Chang-yong’s upcoming crime drama “The Faceless Boss” looks to maintain the realism but open it up to a wider audience. Starring Chun Jung-myung, Jin Yi-han and Lee Si-a, it follows

FilmOct. 22, 2019

BTS' global music career up in air as Seoul reviews military exemptions

The fate of K-pop superband BTS' roaring global music career with the full seven-member lineup is up in the air as the South Korean government is in the final stage of revising the country's controversial military duty exemption system.Jin, BTS' eldest member whose legal name is Kim Seok-jin, is required by the military service law to enlist in the armed forces by 2020 when he turns the age of 28.All-able bodied South Korean young men are compelled to serve in the military for about two years fo

PerformanceOct. 22, 2019