LTI Korea invites writers to build ‘Platform for Communication, Peace’

Literature Translation Institute of Korea is to invite foreign and local writers to a three-day forum aimed at bridging the local and overseas literary scenes.. The institution will hold an event titled “A Platform for Communication and Peace” from Monday to Wednesday at Ara Art Center in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, central Seoul. During the festival, five discussion sessions will take place, covering the subjects of diaspora, the division of Korea, writing, Korean literature and culture, and minoriti

BooksMay 19, 2019

[Seoul Food Alley] Buildings filled with stir-fried Korean blood sausage

Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. -- Ed.Though not spread across a labyrinth of narrow alleys, Sillim-dong Sundae Town is still a complex cobweb of eateries. Sundae, Korean blood sausage, refers to pig intestines stuffed with glass noodles, vegetables and various spices. Often served

FoodMay 19, 2019

'Avengers: Endgame' becomes most-viewed foreign film in S. Korea

"Avengers: Endgame" became the most-watched foreign film in South Korean history, with over 13.33 million admissions Sunday, its distributor said.The latest Marvel superhero flick set the record at around noon, Walt Disney Company Korea said based on a real-time box-office tally from the Korean Film Council.The previous No. 1 was "Avatar" (2009), which sold 13.30 million tickets from 2009 to 2010. (Yonhap)"Endgame," the epic finale to the superhero studio's decadelong series, has been breaking S

FilmMay 19, 2019

‘Craft Week’ hopes to encourage local industry

The Korea Crafts & Design Foundation is holding the nationwide festival “Craft Week 2019,” with a goal to encourage interest in local crafts. The 10-day festival, in its second edition this year, aims to allow the public to enjoy crafts in daily life. It is being held from Friday to May 26. “Craft week is about spreading craft culture that everyone can experience in daily life. The festival is being held through voluntary participation. (Through the event) we hope that craft culture can settle s

Arts & DesignMay 17, 2019

Actor So Ji-sub dating former TV presenter

Actor So Ji-sub has been dating a former TV broadcaster for a year, the actor's agency said Friday.The 41-year old actor has been in a good relationship with Cho Eun-jung since they first met on the set of an SBS TV entertainment news program, the agency, 51k, said.Cho, 25, was an onscreen reporter of the show when So appeared on it to promote his latest film, "Be With You," in March last year. She debuted on the small screen as a presenter for the popular online game "League of Legends" on cabl

TelevisionMay 17, 2019

Michelin-starred chef back with another casual dining spot

The first time Michelin-starred chef Yim Jung-sik went into casual dining, he zoomed in on Korean cuisine, putting the spotlight on naengmyeon -- cold noodles -- and gomtang -- beef bone soup -- at the much-publicized Pyunghwaok. Over a year has passed since Yim branched off from his multi-starred namesake restaurant with Pyunghwaok, and the chef is generating buzz again with Jungsik Cafe. Situated in the same building as his Michelin-starred restaurant Jungsik, Jungsik Cafe opened in April, rep

FoodMay 17, 2019

Song Kang-ho becomes first Asian to receive Excellence Award at Locarno Film Festival

Actor Song Kang-ho is to be recognized at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival, becoming the first Asian to receive the Excellence Award. The festival, founded in 1946, is a prestigious film festival held every August at the Swiss-Italian town of Locarno. The film festival organizers announced in a press release Thursday that Song would receive this year’s Excellence Award, becoming the first Asian awardee.  Actor Song Kang-ho poses for photos during a press conference for “Parasite,” held at The West

FilmMay 17, 2019

[Weekender] Meet ordinary but extraordinary people who travel around world

The Korea Herald interviewed seven adventurous world travelers whose journey across continents could provide an inspiration for South Koreans for their next trip. Yoon Jin-young (right) and his wife, Shin Seon-a, traveled around the world in a Toyota SUV for three years. They said travels led them to exotic places and fun adventures, but somewhere along the way, they also experienced self-discovery and gained new attitudes toward life.From amateur stargazers on a quest to capture cosmic wonders

TravelMay 17, 2019

[Weekender] World travel -- living the dream

Shin Seon-a at the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia. She has traveled 47 countries in this rugged 4x4 off-load vehicle with her husband Yoon Jin-young for nearly three years. (Photo provided by Shin)A trip around the world may sound like an unrealistic dream. Especially so for South Koreans, for whom a two-week vacation from work is a rarity and taking years off work can risk a career altogether, unless one has special skills that are in unusually high demand. Yet there se

TravelMay 17, 2019

[Eye Plus] Where have all the flowers gone?

　Along the overpass-turned-park Seoullo 7017 are large pots of flowers that have unfamiliar foreign names but are commonly spotted on the streets of South Korea. 　Among them are pink flowers with the Russian nomenclature Schlippenbach, also known as chuljjuk in Korean, one of the most widespread spring flowers here. Abies Koreana Wilson, better known in Korea as the Christmas tree, also stand on the bridge. 　According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, all the flowers being displayed at Seoul

TravelMay 16, 2019

MMCA retrospective lays bare life of 88-year-old artist Park Seo-bo

Sitting in a wheelchair, artist Park Seo-bo appeared feeble, but his voice was energetic as he spoke during a press conference Thursday for his upcoming retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Seoul branch. “I am very happy to see the retrospective’s opening. This exhibition has everything of me, including the things that I wanted to hide from the world. The exhibition reveals all the steps I have taken so far. I feel naked here. But it will

Arts & DesignMay 16, 2019

[Herald Interview] What makes a good bar, and a good bartender

When veteran bartender Keith Motsi goes to a new bar, he orders beer. “Always, beer first,” said Motsi, the new head bartender at Charles H. in the Four Seasons Seoul. “You see what you get when you order something so simple.”  Head bartender Keith Motsi (Four Seasons Seoul)With beer, he added, a smile and the coldest glass will do. “If they cannot do it (right), do not bother. Just don’t go there.”According to him, bars are not just about the drinks. They are about hospitality and making people

FoodMay 16, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Barbeque night at Grand Hilton Seoul 　Grand Hilton Seoul’s buffet restaurant presents an outdoor barbeque promotion. Along with the usual buffet menu, the chefs will prepare grilled meat and seafood at the outdoor terrace. Guests may sit outside to enjoy the ambiance.The promotion runs through Sept. 30 during dinner hours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The buffet costs 85,000 won per person. For more information, call (02) 2287-8271.Avocado afternoon at Grand InterContinenta

FoodMay 16, 2019

Maestro Chung, One Korea Orchestra hope to perform with NK artists

One Korea Orchestra, led by Maestro Chung Myung-whun, 66, will hold its third performance, amid hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Chung and the orchestra will present Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor at the Seoul Arts Center on Aug. 18. The pianist has yet to be confirmed, as the organizers are finalizing plans to invite a North Korean pianist. Maestro Chung Myung-whun (Jean-Francois Leclercq / Credia)For the performance, the organizers

PerformanceMay 16, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Rose Festival Started in 1985, the long-running Everland Rose Festival opens every year in May. This year it opens Friday and continues until June 16. With a 20,000-square-meter rose garden, visitors can see various kinds of flowers while enjoying the amusement park.It is held inside the Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province and is open to visitors of all ages.To find out more about the event, including admission fees and how to get there, visit the homepage at everland.com for informat

TravelMay 16, 2019

Rock legend Queen to hold Seoul concert in January

Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen will hold a concert in Seoul on Jan. 18-19, marking the first solo concert by the legendary rock band.According to Hyundai Card, the latest artist to be featured in its Hyundai Card Super Concert project are the guitarist and drummer of Queen, who will be joined by singer Adam Lambert.Lambert has been touring with May and Taylor to fill the shoes of Queen’s famed lead vocalist, the late Freddie Mercury. The other original member of the band, bass guitarist Joh

PerformanceMay 16, 2019

Seoul, KOTFA jointly hosts Seoul International Tourism Industry Fair

An international tourism fair jointly hosted by Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea World Travel Fair will take place next month, encompassing promotions for both inbound and outbound tourism and business-to-business transactions. According to the organizers, 50 countries including China, around 50 regional governments in Korea, and 1,400 tourism companies will take part in the Seoul International Tourism Industry Fair, set to take place June 6-9 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul.In

TravelMay 16, 2019

Ultra Korea’s latest lineup includes Knife Party, Underworld

Ultra Korea recently revealed new headliners in the third phase of the lineup for the upcoming festival, slated for June 7-9. “Bass-fueled electronic outfit Knife Party and pioneering British luminaries Underworld have been added as headliners for the eighth annual edition, setting the tone for one of the biggest Phase 3 lineups in the festival’s history,” the organizers of the event said. Hot Since 82 will join the roster for the Resistance stage. Also added to the list were psychedelic duo Inf

PerformanceMay 16, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil(Korea)Opened May 15Crime, ActionDirected by Lee Won-taeA notorious gangster Jang Dong-soo (Ma Dong-seok) narrowly survives a random attack by a serial killer, and sets out to bring justice to his attacker in his own way: by brutally murdering him. At the same time, a cop Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol) seeks to arrest the killer. The two men join forces to form the most unorthodox and perilous team, which will break down the moment they locate Kang.Miss & Mrs. Cops(Ko

FilmMay 16, 2019

2PM's Ok Taecyeon set for return to show biz after finishing military service

Ok Taecyeon, a member of K-pop boy band 2PM, completed his 20 months of military service Thursday, setting himself up for a return to show business."I still can't believe (I was discharged) after waking up to a morning bugle today. Maybe I could if I wake up to an alarm instead of a morning bugle tomorrow morning," the 31-year-old told reporters and fans at the 9th Infantry Division in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, just north of Seoul. He served the division as a training coach, earning the nicknam

PerformanceMay 16, 2019