Korean dramas turn to black magic for success

In recent years, the South Korean entertainment scene has been seeing a new trend of domestic supernatural thrillers stepping into the limelight like never before, ranging from dramas to films.For instance, Korea had been mostly impregnable for local zombie stories, although foreign zombie productions, including the famed “Walking Dead” series, were popular here. But after the success of hit film “Train to Busan” in 2016, a zombie action thriller which sold more than 11 million tickets to become

TelevisionMarch 10, 2019

BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' tops 700 million YouTube views

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" surpassed 700 million YouTube views Saturday, becoming the first Korean music group to set such a milestone.The video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" set the milestone in nearly nine months after being released last June, YG Entertainment said. (Yonhap)The music video also set a record among K-pop groups of adding 100 million views at the fastest pace after hitting 200 million views.BLACKPINK holds the most music videos topping 500 million YouTube views for a K-p

PerformanceMarch 9, 2019

[Newsmaker] Big Bang’s Seungri to enlist in Army on March 25

Big Bang’s Seungri will enlist in the Army as an active duty soldier at the end of this month, according to YG Entertainment on Friday.He will start his basic training at the Nonsan Army Training Center on March 25. The K-pop star had reportedly applied for a conscripted policeman service in January.  (Yonhap)“After checking with Seungri, (we found that) Seungri on Jan. 7 applied for a conscripted policeman position. However, he has decided to enlist as an active duty soldier, regardless of the

Arts & DesignMarch 8, 2019

What to expect from the Korean Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale

“History Has Failed Us, but No Matter.”This bold sentence from the 2017 novel “Pachinko” by Lee Min-jin, a National Book Award finalist, is the title of the Korean Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, director Kim Hyun-jin announced Tuesday at a press conference at the Arko Art Center in Seoul. 　 Kim Hyun-jin, director of the 58th Venice Biennale's Korean Pavilion, speaks during a press conference held on Tuesday at Arko Art Center in Seoul. Joining her, from left, are Siren Eun Young Jung, Nam

Arts & DesignMarch 8, 2019

As rice sales slow, sellers go premium

Rice is under attack like it has never been before. With growing health worries about the intake of refined carbohydrates and gluten, Koreans are eating less and less rice. But at the same time, there is a growing number of rice lovers seeking out better taste, texture and nutrition. Catering to the positive trend, a rice-only shop opened at Hyundai Department Store’s branch in Pangyo, in the southern suburbs of Seoul, in December. The shop, one of four to open at the department store’s branches

FoodMarch 7, 2019

Welcoming spring in Seogwipo, gem of Korea’s resort island

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- Sitting on the rocky southern coastlines of Jeju Island, the city of Seogwipo is known for its beaches, forests, waterfalls, parks and other cultural experiences one may stumble across on Korea’s volcanic island. It is also where winter is warmest and spring comes first. Jeju Island’s unique climate and culture derives from its distance from the mainland. Much like Hawaii, its indigenous culture grew independent from the dynasties on the Korean Peninsula, existing as the

TravelMarch 7, 2019

Affordable kaiseki-style eats at Sazanka

Though Sazanka’s kaiseki-style omakase dinner is an affordable 49,000 won per person, chefs Park Jong-ha and Shin Byung-suk do not skimp on effort or flavor to make ends meet. Drawing from over five years of experience in Japanese cuisine, including time spent learning kaiseki-ryori in Japan, the duo pay careful attention to each detail at this new restaurant, which opened in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong in November. Such dedication shines through in dishes like suimono -- a clear soup served as part of a

FoodMarch 7, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Money’ a suspenseful story with good character, but formulaic

Some may call their acting cliche, others may say it is a formula that works. I’d say actors like Ryu Jun-yeol, Jo Woo-jin operate best when they just run amok with their own unique style.And run amok they have, in the upcoming crime drama “Money” by Park Nu-ri that deals with a small-time stock broker hooked into a life of wealth that has strings attached to it, ones that could drag him right to the bottom.In Park Nu-ri’s directorial debut, Ryu plays Cho Hyeon-il, a young stock broker on the ve

FilmMarch 7, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

A Resistance(Korea)Opened Feb. 27Drama, HistoryDirected by Jo Min-hoAfter the iconic March 1 Independence Movement of 1919, one of its leading figures, Yu Gwan-sun (Go Ah-sung), is sentenced to three years in prison and sent to the infamous Keijo Prison, now known as Seodaemun Prison. But being confined to a tiny cell with dozens of inmates does not hold back Yu, her unconquerable spirit seeping out from behind the locked doors.Savaha: The Sixth Finger(Korea)Opened Feb. 20Mystery, Horror Christi

FilmMarch 7, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Weekday dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul offers benefits for diners who visit the hotel’s restaurants on weekdays. BLT Steak provides truffle-flavored french fries and a glass of rose wine to guests who order dry-aged steak during the week. All-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 has corkage-free days from Monday through Wednesday, for up to one bottle of wine per table. For more information or reservations, call BLT Steak at (02) 2276-3330 or Tavolo 24 at (02) 227

FoodMarch 7, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Yeongdeok Snow Crab FestivalYeongdeok Snow Crab Festival is an annual event that celebrates local snow crabs mainly caught off the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang Province. Among festival highlights are a snow crab market, a public auction of freshly caught crabs, a ride on the fishing boat and cooking competition. Visitors will be able to enjoy various sample dishes of snow crab for free.The festival is open to visitors of all ages.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese

TravelMarch 7, 2019

Jun Hyun-moo, Han Hye-jin break up, walk away from ‘I Live Alone’

TV personality Jun Hyun-moo and fashion model Han Hye-jin have broken up, announcing they will temporarily leave reality show “I Live Alone.”Jun and Han met each other through the MBC reality TV show. They confirmed their relationship in February last year, following a report from a local media outlet. On Wednesday the two stars announced the breakup through their respective agencies.  Jun Hyun-moo (left) and Han Hye-jin (MBC)According to the announcements, the two will be leaving “I Live Alone”

TelevisionMarch 7, 2019

[Eye Plus] Migratory birds say adieu to S. Korea as spring arrives

With the arrival of spring in South Korea one can witness the spectacle of migratory wild birds leaving back to their homes across the world in huge numbers. After enduring a slightly less cold winter on the Korean Peninsula, wild birds are getting ready to return home in regions spanning from Siberia to the eastern Manchuria area of China. Korea is host to more than 100 types of migratory birds every winter.From September to November, birds from northern Russian and China fly several thousands

CultureMarch 7, 2019

[Herald Interview] Cultivating hope through ‘Boccia’

Indonesian moviemaker Natalie Tjahja hopes to promote the para-sport through nonprofit documentary filmUnlike Cristiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather and Lebron James of the sports world, boccia players are not buried in fame and riches, nor do they have the ability to leap off the ground and perform near-superhuman feats. On the contrary, hurdles often loom large for them, even more so than for most people.What they do have, however, is an unconquerable spirit that transcends their wheelchair-bound

PeopleMarch 6, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Captain Marvel’ is both significant and fun, but there’s room for improvement

Hearing all the talk about “Captain Marvel” prior to its release, I was concerned about one thing: Would this film, which depicts the power of women, be so hung up on being a politically correct “feminist film” that it would forget to be an actual film?My concern was unwarranted, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest movie not only delivered a relevant message, but was also fun to watch. While it did have some shortcomings, the film lived up to the standards the audience has come to expect f

FilmMarch 6, 2019

New MMCA director lays out blueprint for state museum

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Director Youn Bum-mo unveiled plans for the state museum during a press conference held Tuesday at its main branch in Seoul. Cooperation with other state-led museums to nurture research and exhibition; cooperation with North Korea’s art institutions; globalization of Korean art; increasing research into Korean art and specializing the four separate museum venues topped the agenda for his three-year term.Details for execution we

Arts & DesignMarch 6, 2019

LTI Korea worries about division of two Koreas’ literature

Poet Kim Sa-in, head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, has expressed worries about division of the literary works of North and South Korea. His comments came as LTI Korea, a state-funded institute that aims to link Korean literature to foreign readership, announced its plans for this year, including events to promote the expansion of the boundaries of Korean literature. Kim Sa-in, head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, speaks during a press event in central Seoul

CultureMarch 6, 2019

Monsta X to perform in US music festival

South Korean boy group Monsta X will perform at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, the group's management agency said Wednesday.The music festival is an annual event hosted by iHeartMedia, which owns iHeartRadio, the largest online radio platform in the United States. Big-name stars such as Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Imagine Dragons and Dua Lipa took part in last year's event. In 2012, South Korean rapper Psy performed his mega-hit "Gangnam Style" in the festi

PerformanceMarch 6, 2019

S. Korean Go master Lee Se-dol considering retiring at end of 2019

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who was famously defeated by Google’s artificial intelligence program AlphaGo, said Tuesday that he might retire at the end of this year.Lee, 36, made the surprising announcement after he fell to his Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel.“I started playing Go when I was six years old, and I became professional player in 1995,” Lee said. “That’s quite a long time. I think this year may be my last year.” (Yonhap)Lee said he hasn’t definitely de

CultureMarch 5, 2019

Will ‘Shazam!’ be DC’s counterpunch against Marvel?

The bitter irony of the film franchise unofficially called DC Extended Universe is that most of its star players have been throwing up bricks while those initially thought of as backups have been slamming it home. It is now up to “Shazam!” a superhero film based on a character of the same name, to pump life into DC in what has been a losing battle against the far more successful Marvel Cinematic Universe.Warner Bros. Korea on Tuesday announced the new comic book-based film will be released here

FilmMarch 5, 2019