[K-Talk] Brown Eyed Girls snub break-up rumors with comeback

Brown Eyed Girls are returning from a four-year hiatus with their first release since 2015, their agency Mystic Entertainment said Tuesday. The poster for Brown Eyed Girls’ concert in 2016. (Mystic Entertainment)The label confirmed earlier reports that the four-piece act is currently preparing an album that will be revealed in the first half of the year. The members had briefly mentioned a possible comeback on TV. The band had never said it broke up, but speculation had brewed, as a four-year br

PerformanceJan. 29, 2019

Solo activities, watching TV most popular forms of leisure in Korea

With the Moon Jae-in administration stressing the importance of balancing one’s work and leisure, a government survey announced Tuesday found that most Koreans prefer spending their free time alone, watching TV. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a survey on 10,498 men and women aged over 15 and found that 59.5 percent said that they spend most of their free time alone. It was followed by 29.7 percent who replied “with family” and 8.7 percent who said “with a friend.” (Yonhap)

CultureJan. 29, 2019

[K-talk] Taemin of SHINee gears up for new solo EP

Taemin of boy group SHINee heralded a new EP release as a soloist, his first in over a year.Slated for release Feb. 11, the seven-track EP “Want” marks the SHINee vocalist’s first solo Korean work since the studio album “Move” in October 2017. Teaser image for Taemin’s upcoming solo EP (S.M. Entertainment)The 25-year-old debuted as a solo artist in August 2014 with the EP “Ace,” six years after his debut with SHINee in 2008. He has since released two full Korean albums and two Japanese EPs.Taemi

PerformanceJan. 29, 2019

Early 20th century theater building at center of high-brow vs. popular culture debate

Located in a vibrant shopping district at the heart of Seoul is a five-story building that stands as a unique example of colonial architecture.The Myeongdong Theater, a National Theater Company of Korea venue and a sanctuary of South Korean theater, is at the center of heated debate over what performing arts genres it should allow under its roof. Myeongdong Theater (National Theater Company of Korea)The theater has gone through a series of transformations since opening its doors as a cinema in 1

CultureJan. 29, 2019

Ticket sales for BTS concert film top 200,000 in 3 days

"Love Yourself in Seoul," the second documentary film capturing the thrill of live BTS concerts, attracted more than 200,000 local movie goers in the first three days after its release at some local screens last week, data showed Tuesday.The accumulated ticket sales for the film, which hit 161 theaters on Jan. 26, reached 207,339 as of Monday, according to the Korean Film Council's box office data. BTS (Yonhap)The film was the daily box office No. 2 for the last three days despite the limited nu

PerformanceJan. 29, 2019

Winter melodies to bring back memories of PyeongChang

The biannual concert series “Music in PyeongChang - Winter Festival” aims to bring back memories of the PyeongChang Olympics, while also enriching cultural aspect of Gangwon Province with classical music performances. On Monday, the event’s artistic director pianist Son Yeol-eum and Gangwon Art & Culture Foundation Chairman Kim Sung-hwan attended a press conference held at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul and announced the winter portion of the festival’s program, which is held in summer and winter each

PerformanceJan. 28, 2019

Korea Grand Sale to hold ‘welcoming week’ for foreigners

The annual shopping festival Korean Grand Sale will hold a “special welcoming week” from Friday to Feb. 8 to provide events and benefits for foreign visitors, the Visit Korea Committee said Monday. During the period, welcome centers will be installed at Incheon and Gimpo airports to inform visitors of the benefits, as well as to provide interpretations and information on tourism, along with special lotteries and other events with handouts.At the main welcome center, located at Cheonggye Plaza in

TravelJan. 28, 2019

[K-talk] NCT 127 rounds off first solo concert in Seoul

Boy group NCT 127 rounded off its first solo concert on Saturday and Sunday, attracting 24,000 fans and playing to sold-out crowds both nights.The group’s first concert, “Neo City: Seoul -- The Origin,” took place at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul.  NCT 127 (NCT 127’s official Twitter @nctsmtown_127)“This has been our dream since our trainee days. We’ve worked hard for this day to happen,” said band member Taeyong.NCT 127 debuted in July 2016 as the Seoul-based subunit

PerformanceJan. 28, 2019

[K-talk] HyunA, E’Dawn sign with Psy’s new label

HyunA and E’Dawn signed with P Nation, a music label launched by Psy, the musician said Sunday.According to Psy’s Instagram posting, the two former Cube Entertainment artists have gotten on board with the “Gangnam Style” star’s nascent entertainment company. Psy’s official Instagram (Instagram @42psy42)HyunA and E’Dawn left Cube Entertainment last year after getting heat from the label for publicizing their relationship. After her debut in 2007 with Wonder Girls under JYP Entertainment, HyunA ma

PerformanceJan. 28, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Hit-and-Run Squad’ pretentious and impressively unimpressive

How do they keep doing this? I thought I’ve seen the worst in the recent flop “Drug King” in terms of putting together a group of very talented people, throwing in a complete badass of a subject matter and coming up with an utter disappointment despite a sizeable budget. That is, until I witnessed director Han Jun-hee’s “Hit-and-Run Squad,” which had a promising premise, a top-notch car chase and gifted actors yet completely broke down. Just like “Drug King,” it is more infuriating because the f

FilmJan. 27, 2019

Donation delivered to WT for taekwondo education for underprivileged

The Asia Development Foundation delivered a $90,000 donation to World Taekwondo on Friday, with the money to be used in providing taekwondo education to the underprivileged in Asian countries.According to the WT, half of the donated amount will be used for WT Taekwondo Cares projects in Nepal, such as free taekwondo education and training for the disadvantaged, including female victims of domestic violence, students of schools build by the Um Hong Gil Human Foundation, and underage offenders at

CultureJan. 27, 2019

Scores from beloved films, dramas to be performed

Familiar music from Koreans’ favorite films and dramas will be played live, bringing back tears and laughter for fans. A series of concerts featuring orchestral performances of scores from the country’s most beloved visual content will be held in Seoul. As the performances are all based on visual productions, many of the concerts will have clips from the shows screened. Original soundtracks from the tvN drama “Mr.Sunshine” will be played at the Lotte Concert Hall on Feb. 24.  Drama “Mister Sunsh

PerformanceJan. 27, 2019

Musical performance in memory of Sewol ferry disaster showcased to public

A musical performance created in remembrance of the Sewol ferry tragedy was showcased to the public over the weekend. On Saturday, a preview event for “Song of Jjokbit” -- jjokbit translates to indigo blue -- was held at the Seoul City Hall.  The musical performance “Song of Jjokbit” (Yonhap)The performance centers on the tragic accident in 2014, when the Sewol ferry capsized near waters off Jeju Island, resulting in the death of more than 300 people, mostly high-school students on a field trip.

PerformanceJan. 27, 2019

[K-talk] VIXX’s leader N to enlist on March 4

N of boy band VIXX will join South Korea’s armed forces on March 4 as part of the Army band.The VIXX vocalist and leader announced via the group’s official fan website on Saturday that he wanted to enlist without “making a big deal,” but decided he would “deliver the news (himself), as word spreads quickly.” VIXX’s N (Jellyfish Entertainment)He will serve as an active-duty soldier as part of his mandatory military service. All able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the military for arou

PerformanceJan. 27, 2019

[K-talk] EXO tops 200 million view on YouTube again with ‘Ko Ko Bop’

EXO’s hit “Ko Ko Bop” has garnered over 200 million views on YouTube, becoming the third video by the boy band to reach the milestone on the video-sharing platform.  A concept image for the album “The War” (S.M. Entertainment)Dropped on July 18, 2017, the lead track off the group’s fourth studio album “The War” debuted at No. 87 on Billboard 200, marking the group’s second entry on the chart since “Exodus” in 2015.One of the most popular K-pop groups today, EXO also reached the 200-million-view

PerformanceJan. 27, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice FestivalHwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival takes place at Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province. Since 2003, the event has been attended by more than a million people. Available activities include ice fishing, ice and snow sledding, bobsledding, bare-hand fishing, trout ice fishing and ice soccer. The event continues through Sunday and is open to visitors of all ages.Visit the homepage at www.narafestival.com for more information in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese.Chilgaps

TravelJan. 26, 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 that the restaurant is going out of business, they decide to acquire the place and run it themselves. Things take an unexpected turn when the detectives’ chicken recipe suddenly transforms the rundown joint into the hottest eatery in town. Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission (Korea) Opened Jan. 9DramaDirected by Eo

FilmJan. 26, 2019

Thai food empire turns a new chapter

Chicken, consistently juicy and flavorful, can be found at restaurateur Im Dong-hyuk’s newest Thai hangout -- Soi Yeonnam Mao.“We call it Soi Mao,” said Im, 37, of his latest enterprise, which he described as a “Thai tapas” spot. While Soi Mao’s main focus is Thai drinking food and wine, one cannot ignore the restaurant’s mouthwatering chicken dishes, from their “kai yang” to their “kai ping.” “Kai yang,” which is available for both lunch and dinner, is Soi Mao’s riff off a dish that hails from

FoodJan. 26, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Lunar New Year at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul Hotel presents the Good Luck 2019 package in celebration of the Lunar New Year holiday. The package includes a one-night stay in a standard room, breakfast buffet for two at Terrace, admission to an ice rink for two hours as well as skate rental for two and hot chocolate for two at the ice rink’s snack bar.Guests will also be offered complimentary shuttle bus services to and from Namsangol Hanok Village, where families can experience Korean tr

FoodJan. 26, 2019

Police look into news anchor Sohn’s alleged violence

Police said Friday they were looking into allegations that Sohn Suk-hee, a well-known news anchor for cable channel JTBC, punched a freelance reporter earlier this month.Sohn, who is a household name in Korea and also the chief of JTBC, denied accusations of assault at the beginning of his news show “News Room” on Thursday evening, and reported the reporter, surnamed Kim, to the police for blackmail.(Yonhap)According to Kim, Sohn hit him twice during a dinner meeting earlier this month in Seoul

TelevisionJan. 25, 2019