Song Kang-ho honored with Excellence Award from Swiss film fest

South Korean actor Song Kang-ho has been awarded the Excellence Award at this year's Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, the organizers said Tuesday.Song became the first Asian actor to earn the Swiss film fest's special award that goes to actors or actresses whose work and talent have contributed to enriching the cinema industry.Internationally acclaimed silver-screen stars like Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Edward Norton, Bill Pullman and Ethan Hawke are among the past laurea

FilmAug. 13, 2019

‘Superstar’ Jon Burgerman brings back joy of doodling

The so-called “doodle art genius” who made a splash with his street paintings in Busan and Seoul subways, Jon Burgerman’s works are currently on exhibition at M Contemporary gallery in southern Seoul. Titled “Fun Factory: Superstar Jon Burgerman” and featuring over 230 artworks, this is the Brooklyn-based artist’s second exhibition in Seoul, following “Burgerworld” held in 2015. Burgerman, born in 1979, is a British-born contemporary artist and gra

Arts & DesignAug. 13, 2019

Cha University provides resource analysis service for SMEs in Gyeonggi Province

Cha University’s resources research center in northeastern Gyeonggi Province aims to help small and medium-sized companies use the region’s resources more efficiently to produce high-value goods.The northeastern part of the province, such as Pocheon and Dongducheon, have had difficulty commercializing natural resources and developing high-value-added businesses due to systemic weaknesses and a lack of technological infrastructure. The biotechnology industry in the area is around 10 t

PeopleAug. 13, 2019

Gyeonggi Province launches campaigns to boost local tourism

Gyeonggi Province’s tourism body is launching a set of campaigns to overcome an upcoming slump in the regional tourism industry following Japan’s recent economic retaliation. The administration was one of the first governmental bodies to express support for the people’s boycott of Japan and take countermeasures to the Japanese government’s decision to remove South Korea from its whitelist of preferred trade partners earlier in July. Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Pro

PeopleAug. 12, 2019

Exhibition highlights King Jeongjo and his legacy

King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the 22nd king of the Joseon era, is one of the most respected rulers of the period, known for his love for the people and innovations he tried to bring to the kingdom.Jeongjo recruited many scholars who pursued pragmatic measures, such Jeong Yak-yong, and established Kyujanggak, a royal library. Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was also one of King Jeongjo’s celebrated achievements.The latest exhibition at the Suwon Ipark Museum of Art, titled “Seong

Arts & DesignAug. 12, 2019

Rain fails to put out the heat at Pentaport Rock Festival

Wrapping up three days of festivities, Weezer took the stage at Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2019 on Sunday at around 10 p.m. As the crowd rocked on to the US band’s “Perfect Situation,” the downpour blew out the generator and the music stopped.The 10-minute delay did not put out the fire for the frenzied crowd, and many continued to rock on as the band played songs including “Africa,” “Happy Together” and “Island in the Sun.”Nasty weather

PerformanceAug. 12, 2019

YouTuber fined W5m for ‘misleading advertising’ of diet products

A YouTuber with millions of followers was fined 5 million won ($4,100) Monday for false advertising of food products. Food content YouTuber Jung Man-su, who goes by the name Banzz online, was fined for falsely promoting the weight-loss effects of his products, according to Daejeon District Court. Eat4U, a health food company Jeong launched in March 2017, marketed its products as diet aids in a misleading ad, according to prosecutors.Judges said the ad, which ran for about three months on social

TelevisionAug. 12, 2019

BTS announces long-term break from music scene after back-to-back album releases

K-pop super stars BTS went on a long-term break to recharge themselves following the band's Billboard-topping back-to-back album releases, its management agency said Monday. "Group BTS will have its first official long-term vacation since its debut," Bit Hit Entertainment said on the band's Twitter account and mobile fan application late Sunday.The break kicked off the same day following the band's performance at the 2019 Lotte Duty Free Family Concert earlier in the day.  "T

PerformanceAug. 12, 2019

BTS' 'Boy With Luv' hits 500m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' "Boy With Luv" surpassed 500 million YouTube views Sunday, its management agency said. The video of the band's main song on the "Map of the Soul: Persona" album released in April, eclipsed the mark earlier in the day, some four months after it went on sale, according to Big Hit Entertainment.  That makes BTS the first South Korean singers with over 5 million YouTube hits for each of its seven music videos, including those of "

PerformanceAug. 11, 2019

Music in PyeongChang wraps up 11-day run

The 16th Music in PyeongChang event, also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, finished its 11-day run Saturday.The finale concert, “Happily Ever After,” took place in the Alpensia Music Tent, with the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra taking the stage under the baton of conductor Pablo Gonzalez. The summer music festival, titled “A Different Story,” kicked off July 31 in the Olympic city of PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. The presentation marked the 210th annive

PerformanceAug. 11, 2019

Food delivery captured in art

Placing a food delivery order is not a complicated process, just a few clicks or touches on a smartphone perhaps. Then, you just wait until the delivery person rings your doorbell. We do not pay much attention to all the steps that are involved in food delivery because we do not need to. Who really cares about which way was taken to get your food delivered to your place? Korean artist Koo Dong-hee seems to care. Koo’s solo exhibition at Art Sonje Center, “Delivery,” runnin

Arts & DesignAug. 11, 2019

Wesley Snipes to visit Korea for action film festival

The ’90s action film icon Wesley Snipes will visit South Korea on Aug. 26 to attend the opening ceremony for the Chungbuk International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival, according to the organizers.Snipes will be accompanied by stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Chuck Jeffreys, with whom he has worked previously. The two will attend a press conference in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Aug. 29, and will attend the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. the same day. The actor will als

FilmAug. 11, 2019

BTS' V releases solo song in English

V, a member of the globally celebrated K-pop boy band BTS, released his English solo song "Winter Bear" on Saturday. The new song was put up on BTS' official social media for free download, along with a music video.V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, composed the song with producers of his agency Big Hit Entertainment and wrote the lyrics for the new release.It is V's first English-written song following his first self-created Korean song, "Scenery," in Jan.RM, the leader of

PerformanceAug. 11, 2019

BTS' 'DNA' music video hits 800m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' hit song "DNA" surpassed 800 million YouTube views Saturday, the band's first music video to accomplish the feat.The video of "DNA," the main track off the boy group's EP "Love Yourself:Her" released in September 2017, passed the threshold at 6:29 a.m., according to Big Hit Entertainment. It is the septet's first music video with 800 million views, following five videos with 500 million clicks, including "Fire" and

PerformanceAug. 11, 2019

Royal palaces, other Joseon cultural sites to waive entry fees

Joseon era royal palaces and other cultural sites of the period will waive entry fees, timed with the 74th Independence Day and the 100th anniversary celebrating the March 1 Independence Movement this year, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration.In Seoul, four royal palaces, Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo Shrine will be free for public between Aug. 10-25. It is the first time in four years that the authorities are exempting admission fees for

TravelAug. 9, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Stylish afternoon tea time at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Cilantro Deli presents a stylish afternoon tea set consisting of desserts that resemble fashion items.On top of their choice of coffee or tea, customers can enjoy either a blue high-heeled shoe or a pink clutch bag, both made out of chocolate, along with other miniature sweets in the shape of a lipstick, a perfume bottle and other accessories. Also included in the set are “fatcarons,” or thick macaro

FoodAug. 9, 2019

Chocolatier’s new macarons pop with flavor

The macarons crafted by chocolatier Ko Eun-su at Macaron Couture showcase palate-teasing flavor combinations like Gorgonzola and honey or truffle and Pecorino. The shells are supremely thin on the outside, folding at the slightest bit of pressure and melting away on the tongue, while the ganache fillings are nuanced, fragrant and oftentimes complex. These bite-sized desserts represent Ko’s desire to experiment with flavors and to continue a sweet-toothed culinary journey that started eight

FoodAug. 9, 2019

[Weekender] Come fly with me

Even preteens can enjoy thrill of skydiving within air-blasting tunnel It looked like I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. The ferocious funnel of wind swept me off my feet, out of Seoul, and into Maseong-ri, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where I sat inside Fly Station Korea, waiting to experience what is called indoor skydiving.Fly Station Korea, just a five-minute drive away from Everland theme park, is the only place in South Korea that offers indoor skydiving programs, operated every day from 10 a

CultureAug. 8, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gamaek Festival The Gamaek Festival began 2015 with the aim of revitalizing the local economy, securing small business markets, promoting community and contributing to society. Like chimaek, the popular term for fried chicken and beer, gamaek is a portmanteau of two Korean words: “gagae (store)” and “maekju (beer).” It refers to chilling out in the evening with beer at the outdoor tables of small neighborhood pubs or supermarkets. Held in Jeonju, it is open to everyo

TravelAug. 8, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Exit(Korea)Opened July 31Action, ComedyDirected by Lee Sang-geunYong-nam (Jo Jung-suk) is a young man struggling in the job market with no real marketable skills. At his mother’s 70th birthday party, he runs into Ui-ju (Im Yoon-ah), an old crush from his college rock-climbing club. Then, a terrorist attack in a nearby building forces Yong-nam to act so he can get the family to safety.The Battle: Roar to Victory(Korea)Opened Aug. 7Action, Drama, HistoryDirected by Won Sin-yeonIn Manchuria,

FilmAug. 8, 2019