Student-run course at UC Berkeley to explore BTS' global success, impact

A student-run academic course has been launched at the University of California, Berkeley, to explore the phenomenal success of K-pop boy band BTS and its growing global impact, the school's website showed Thursday.The 2-unit course, "Next Generation Leaders: BTS," opened as part of the UC Berkeley's Democratic Education at Cal program, or simply called DeCal, the school's time-honored student-run democratic education program. Under the program, students create and facilitate their own classes o

EntertainmentFeb. 7, 2019

[Eye Plus] Cassette tapes make stand in digital era

Many remember listening to a cassette tape on a deck or portable player like Sony’s Walkman. Pressing the rewind and stop buttons to find the right track and flipping the tape to listen to the reverse side were all part of the reel-to-reel tape ritual. Not to forget the messy moment of a tape getting chewed inside of a deck or the importance of having a pencil handy. The heyday of cassette tapes came to a close late in the 1990s, as they lost out to digital compact discs. A resurgence of the onc

CultureFeb. 7, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Extreme Job (Korea)Opened Jan. 23ComedyDirected by Lee Byeong-heonA team of narcotics detectives goes undercover at a fried chicken joint to stake out an organized crime gang. When they learn the restaurant is going out of business, they decide to acquire the place and run it themselves. Things take an unexpected turn when their chicken recipe suddenly transforms the rundown joint into the hottest eatery in town. Hit-and-Run Squad (Korea)Opened Jan. 30Action, CrimeDirected by Han Jun-heeLt. Eun

FilmFeb. 7, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Cheongpyeong Snowflake FestivalThe Cheongpyeong Snowflake Festival in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province includes fun activities such as catching trout with bare hands, ice fishing, riding traditional sleds and many other hands-on activities. Visitors who pay admission to the fishing reservoir are invited to watch the free circus performance as well.The hours are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and admission fees are 15,000 won for adults and 12,000 won for children. It is open to visitors of all ages.For m

TravelFeb. 7, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘Chocolate is all about love after all’

Stepping inside chocolate shop Piaf, the aroma of chocolate fills the nose. The smell is captivating, exciting even those who are not sweet-toothed. The floor plan of the chocolate paradise is relatively simple, without chairs or tables. The furnished atmosphere resembles that of a fine jewelry boutique. A lone refrigerated showcase stands at the center, open without a glass cover on top. Inside, the stainless steel case is jeweled with a variety of chocolate confections. A chocolatier picks up

FoodFeb. 7, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Romantic night at Grand Hilton SeoulGrand Hilton Seoul presents its Valentine’s Day package. The package includes one night’s stay at the hotel, a 30 percent discount for a breakfast buffet for two, a 20 percent discount for a cake at the Alpine deli and white wine. Gift sets from women’s lingerie brand Vivian will also be offered. For the Deluxe Room, the gift will be a set of lingerie valued at 120,000 won. For the Executive Room, a set of sleepwear and lingerie valued at 200,000 won will be i

FoodFeb. 7, 2019

Maverick pastry chef bends flavors at new shop

When pastry chef Kim Min-sun came up with the name for her dessert shop, L’Inconnu, she selected a word that best expressed her approach. “The name, ‘L’inconnu,’ comes from the way I see pastry,” said owner Kim, 31. “I don’t want to copy and paste the stuff that I learned in Paris. “I want to take that and somehow make my own interpretation.” Less than two months into business in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, Kim is still experimenting, still exploring, which is why “l’inconnu,” which means “the unknown” i

FoodFeb. 7, 2019

BLACKPINK to appear on CBS talk show hosted by comedian Stephen Colbert

K-pop girl band BLACKPINK will take the stage on a late-night talk show hosted by US comedian Stephen Colbert next week, the US broadcaster CBS has said.CBS said Wednesday that the four-piece group is scheduled to perform at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York and chat with Colbert on Monday.Celebrities who have made appearances on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" include former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, singer Lady Gaga, actor Ryan Reynolds, singer Justin Timberlake and actor J

PerformanceFeb. 7, 2019

Mamamoo's Hwasa to release first solo album next week

Hwasa, the pivotal member of the four-piece K-pop girl group Mamamoo, will release her first solo album next week, its management agency said Thursday.The 24-year-old is set to launch the solo song Feb. 13, the first solo music outside of Mamamoo since the group's debut in 2014, according to RBW.(RBW Entertainment)Hwasa has been building her own color of music inside Mamamoo, known for its powerful vocals and captivating stage performances. In 2014, she and Korean rapper Loco released a collabor

EntertainmentFeb. 7, 2019

[Graphic News] Asian tourists favor Myeong-dong, but Americans and Europeans prefer Seoul’s palaces

　Foreign tourists in Seoul prefer different sightseeing spots depending on nationality, a research paper showed.　Visitors from Asia prefer Myeong-dong, one of the capital’s main shopping districts, while European and American tourists are most impressed by royal palaces, according to the paper jointly published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Kyung Hee University.　Chinese and Americans gave high marks to Seoul for safety, while Japanese said they were satisfied with the food and Europea

TravelFeb. 6, 2019

Gathering of contemporary art and history of Asia

Suspended in an exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Gwacheon branch is artist Tang Da Wu’s work consisting of seven white pieces of cloth tainted with rainwater and soil, made over 10 days of seeping in a gully.An installation view of Tang Da Wu's "Gully Curtains" (MMCA)The installation by the Singaporean artist, titled “Gully Curtains,” tells a narrative specific to Singapore’s Ang Mo Kio, an area redeveloped in the 1970s.“Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia 1

Arts & DesignFeb. 6, 2019

Non-celebrity TV shows create buzz, juggling between reality, broadcast

Last year, there was an unexpected buzz on TV about several people who were not big-name actors, singers or TV personalities. They were non-celebrities who had not been exposed to media before. From matchmaking to restaurant mentorship, reality programs featuring non-celebrities have risen in popularity, with viewers seemingly tired of celebrity-centric reality show formats.Viewers say they like watching non-celebrities for their natural behavior. Though the outlines of the shows are laid out, t

TelevisionFeb. 5, 2019

First-generation Korean sculptor Um Tai-jung’s works on view at Arario Gallery

A total of some 50 works by sculptor Um Tai-jung are being exhibited at both branches of Arario Gallery in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, and Cheonan, North Chungcheong Province. Um is one of the nation’s first-generation modern sculptors, who worked exclusively with metals. Born in 1938, Um graduated from the Department of Sculpture in the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. Um also studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London -- possibly one of the first Korean artists who

Arts & DesignFeb. 4, 2019

[Herald Review] Two documentaries to feature belated learning of ‘Granny Poets’

The story of the older generation of women in Korea is one of endless sacrifice that borders on tragedy. While the percentage of women receiving college education has surpassed men since 2005, the post-war and pre-1990s generations in particular have suffered from extreme gender discrimination, the most common of which was receiving little to no education.Upcoming documentary films “Granny Poetry Club” and “The Poem, My Old Mother” features the story of the women in their 80s and 90s learning ho

FilmFeb. 3, 2019

'Underdog' director voices disappointment at poor audience turnout

A co-director of the South Korean animated film "Underdog," said Saturday that he is disappointed at the weaker-than-expected public attention to his brainchild produced after seven years of painstaking efforts."I just feel distressed. I've realized the high wall of prejudice against Korean feature animations," said Oh Sung-yoon in a telephone conversation with Yonhap News Agency.The film, jointly directed with Lee Chun-baek for a period of seven years, was released Jan. 16 but has so far drawn

FilmFeb. 2, 2019

Yoon Ji-sung gears up for solo debut

Yoon Ji-sung, formerly of now-disbanded Wanna One, revealed Friday the events leading up to the release of his first solo album “Aside” on Feb. 20.His agency LM Entertainment unveiled the schedule on social media and the singer’s fan site.  (LM Entertainment)Yoon will hold his first fan meetings, titled “2019 Yoon Ji-sung 1st Fan Meeting: Aside in Seoul,” on Feb. 23 and 24 at Interpark IPark as part of the first leg of his tour. The tour will then head to Macau on March 2 before moving on to sev

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2019

Taemin returns to the K-pop scene with ‘Want’

Taemin of boy band SHINee will unveil his second solo EP at a showcase this month. According to S.M. Entertainment, “Taemin Showcase – Want” will take place at the Gyedang Hall of the Sangmyung Art Center in Seoul on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. It will be aired on V Live in real time. (S.M. Entertainment)Taemin will perform the EP’s lead track “Want” at the event for the first time. He will also share stories related to the making of the record, along with updates on what he has been up to recently.The al

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2019

NU’EST renews contract with Pledis

All members of NU’EST have renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment, which has managed the group for the past seven years, the agency announced Friday.The extension allowed the five-piece band -- consisting of JR, Aron, Baekho, Ren and Minhyun -- to remain intact. Most K-pop groups have an average lifespan of seven years.  (Yonhap)NU’EST made the announcement directly on its official fan cafe, saying “We united our minds to show our growth as NU’EST with Pledis Entertainment. We will do

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2019

Ready-to-eat meals on way for Lunar New Year holiday

Lunar New Year holiday is just around the corner. While the word “holiday” may cheer some up, there are also those who don’t welcome the season. The two big traditional holidays in Korea, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (fall harvest holiday), mean days of kitchen labor for many Koreans, particularly married women, to prepare food for their families and their ancestors.But with the popularity of ready-to-eat meals increasing steadily, food companies are looking to Seollal dinner tables as t

FoodFeb. 1, 2019

[Herald Interview] Twitter: K-pop’s great leveler

While Twitter is headquartered in San Francisco, the social media giant’s K-pop capital is its office in Seoul. At the helm of the K-pop hub is Kim Yeonjeong, the head of global content partnerships at Twitter Korea.“It’s been a while since K-pop took off in Asia, and it’s safe to say it has now expanded its reach to a wider audience worldwide -- BTS being one example,” Kim said, adding she is proud to witness the genre’s globalization.As a Billboard charts staple, United Nations speaker and 201

PerformanceJan. 31, 2019