'Makgeolli' contributing to alcoholic consumption by older women: report

The traditional alcoholic beverage "makgeolli" has contributed to the increased consumption of alcoholic beverages by older women, a report showed Monday.According to the report conducted by a team of researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine, a daily average of alcoholic beverages consumed by women aged between 40 and 69 increased from 4.6 grams in 2003 to 5.8 grams in 2009.Also, the percentage of makgeolli consumption among alcoholic beverages jumped from 4.2 percent to 7.4

FoodDec. 31, 2018

[K-Talk] Shoo of girl group S.E.S. prosecuted for ‘habitual’ gambling

Shoo, a member of S.E.S., a girl group popular in the 1990s, has been prosecuted for habitually engaging in overseas gambling, the prosecutors’ office said Friday.The prosecution filed the criminal charge of “habitual gambling” against the 37-year-old entertainer whose real name is Yoo Soo-young. She was indicted without physical detention.According to the prosecutors’ office, Shoo engaged in gambling on several occasions in foreign countries, including Macau from August 2016 to May this year. T

PerformanceDec. 30, 2018

[K-talk] First-generation idol group g.o.d drops 20th anniversary album

First-generation K-pop boy band g.o.d will drop an album on Jan. 10 in celebration of its 20th anniversary.Representing g.o.d, Sidus HQ said Thursday the upcoming album will consist of 10 tracks, including not only new songs but also remakes of the group’s biggest hits. (iHQ)A remake of “Road,” the title track of g.o.d’s fourth album, was arranged by MeloMance’s Jeong Dong-hwan. Singers IU, Henry, Yang Da-il and Jo Hyun-ah are also featured in the remake.The boy band will hold a concert at the O

PerformanceDec. 30, 2018

Choi So Bin Ballet to start 2019 with ‘Cinderella’

The Choi So Bin Ballet will highlight its 2017 production “Cinderella” at a show slated for Jan. 12 at the Yongin Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Based on one of the world’s most beloved folktales, the hourlong “Cinderella” is accompanied by the classical music of Johann and Josef Strauss with delightful choreography to match. The ballet is well-suited to young families, the ballet company added. Leading the show is ballerina Choi So-bin, who is also the ballet company’s artistic di

PerformanceDec. 30, 2018

Box office roundup for second half: stronger showings for Korean films

In the first half of the year, more foreign films than Korean films ruled at box office, including “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and “Black Panther.” Although, Korean films actually managed to sell more tickets than the year before, it was largely due to the success of films released last year, particularly “Along with the God: The Two Worlds Days” and “1987: When the Day Comes.”“Believer” was the only film released in 2018 to surpass 4 million ticket sales, with the

FilmDec. 30, 2018

[Video] D-Crunch hopes to spread own stories around the world

Diamonds are rock-solid, but they’re not unbreakable, says D-Crunch.With its name abbreviated from Diamond-Crunch, referring to the group’s powerful performance and musicality fit to crush diamonds, the fresh K-pop rookie overflows with youthful energy and ambitions.Having just started to make its mark in the K-pop scene, the nine-piece group of Hyunwook, Hyunho, O.V, Minhyuk, Hyunwoo, Hyunoh, Chanyoung, Jungseung and Dylan said it hopes to spread its messages around the globe. (Video shot by Li

PerformanceDec. 28, 2018

Screening of BTS film axed in Russia for being ‘gay’

A screening of BTS’ concert film scheduled in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan has been canceled following accusations that the group is “gay.”The group’s hit film “BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul” was set to be played at a cinema in the city of Makhachkala after hundreds of local fans led a social media campaign to screen the documentary film in their city. (Yonhap)But Cinema Hall, the local cinema where the film was to run, canceled ticket sales just a day after its opening, Russi

FilmDec. 28, 2018

Drummer of 30-year-old band SSAW dies of cancer

Jeon Tae-kwan, the drummer of the 30-year-old rock band SSAW, or Spring Summer Autumn Winter, has died of renal cancer at the age of 56, his bandmate said Friday."I inform you of heartbreaking news. Last night, drummer Jeon Tae-kwan passed away," Kim Jong-jin said.   This image of Jeon Tae-kwan is captured from the official blog of SSAW. (Yonhap)"After struggling with renal cancer for the past six years, Jeon couldn't overcome the illness and breathed his last breath with his family by his side,

PerformanceDec. 28, 2018

Nominees announced for the 3rd Korea Musical Awards

The annual Korea Musical Awards on Thursday announced the nominees in major categories including best musical, best leading and supporting actors and actresses and best music.Operators of the KMA on Thursday held a press conference to reveal the nominees and details of the upcoming ceremony, set for 7 p.m. on Jan.14 at Blue Square in Yongsan, central Seoul. Only musicals that opened between Dec. 1, 2017, and Nov. 30 this year were eligible to be nominated, and the awards for best musical and bes

PerformanceDec. 27, 2018

Actor Cha Joo-hyuk detained over illegal drug use

Actor Cha Joo-hyuk, who was a member of K-pop group Co-Ed, has been taken into police custody for illegal drug use. The latest incident came less than two weeks after Cha was released from prison. He had served an 18-month sentence for illegal drug use and drunk driving. (Yonhap)According to police, Cha was taken into custody on Tuesday for disorderly conduct after causing a scene at an apartment in Seocho, Seoul.During their investigation, police began to suspect that Cha took illegal drugs and

TelevisionDec. 27, 2018

Korea Joongang Daily chief re-elected foreign language newspaper group head

Ryu Kwon-ha, the Korea JoongAng daily executive editor and current chairman of the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea, has been reappointed as the FNA chief.The association announced that Ryu was elected for a second term during a board meeting of the FNA held Wednesday.Ryu has been the leader of Korea Joongang Daily since 2013, prior to which he was the paper’s German correspondent between 2003 and 2007. Ryu Kwon-haThe association was founded in July 2015 for the cooperation and d

PeopleDec. 27, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Ulsan Grand Park Light Festival This year’s Ulsan Grand Park Light Festival features five different themes under “draw the light dream” until Jan. 27.The highlight of the festival is the 11-meter star structure in front of the Rose Garden Fountain, where a multimedia light show will be displayed. Admission fees are 2,000 won for adults, 1,000 won for teenagers and 500 won for children. Senior citizens 65 years old and above can enter for free, though ID is required. It is open to visitors of all

TravelDec. 27, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Take Point(Korea)Opened Dec. 26Action, Adventure, DramaDirected by Kim Byung-woo On the day of the US presidential election in 2024, Ahab (Ha Jung-woo) and his team of elite mercenaries embark on a secret CIA mission to abduct North Korea’s armed forces minister in an underground bunker below the Korean Demilitarized Zone. However, they get caught in the crossfire that causes tensions to escalate to the brink of World War III.Bumblebee(US)Opened Dec. 25Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Directed by Travi

FilmDec. 27, 2018

[Eye Plus] Letting go

After hours of strenuous waiting, standing against the wicked winter winds, those who have flocked to scenic viewpoints stare in awe at the sea’s horizon.On South Korea’s west coast, the gleaming yellow sun in the ruddy sky inches closer to the horizon. Hues spread along the horizon get overwhelmingly richer, creating more dazzling reflections off the waters of the Yellow Sea. Soon, the blinding glare gives way to red-tinged dusk, as the sun goes out of sight, down the horizon.It was worth the h

TravelDec. 27, 2018

Kwanghee’s manager faces bullying rumors

Kwanghee’s manager, who recently appeared on a reality show with the star, faces allegations of childhood bullying, though the agency has denied the claims. Kwanghee appeared on MBC’s “Omniscient” with his manager Yoo Si-jong. After the episode aired Saturday, an anonymous post regarding the manager was uploaded on an online community the next day, claiming that Yoo was a bully in middle school. (MBC's “Omniscient”)Bonboo Entertainment said Wednesday that it had confirmed with Kwanghee’s manager

TelevisionDec. 27, 2018

Celebrate year’s end at local hotels

With the year almost at its end, local hotels are rushing out parties, packages and promotion deals to attract excited guests willing to spend some extra money. As the same old countdown events can be mind-numbing, hotels have prepared their own luxurious events. While staying warm and cozy amid the hospitality of hotels, guests can fully feel the excitement of greeting 2019. Grand Ambassador Seoul Associated with Pullman’s entertainment pub Gran·A hosts Adieu 2018! Bubbly Midnight party. The pa

CultureDec. 26, 2018

[Video] Jinyoung at the center of body-swapping comedy

With each year there buds in a person’s mind the wish to begin anew, to be a new person and a better me for the New Year. Now imagine waking up in a hospital bed in a body that is not yours. Imagine finding out you’re 30 years younger but a social outcast at school, or a powerful man with rivals out to kill you. Such is the plot of the comedy-drama film “Inside Me,” where Jinyoung plays Kim Dong-hyun, a bullied, introverted high school student; and veteran actor Park Sung-woong plays Jang Pa

FilmDec. 26, 2018

MMCA opens its fourth venue in Cheongju

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has opened its fourth branch in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, following the Gwacheon branch that opened in 1986, the Deoksugung branch in 1998 and the Seoul branch in 2013. The Cheongju branch is housed in a five-story building that was a tobacco factory built in 1946. The factory produced an annual average of some 10 billion cigarettes until it ceased operations in 2004. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s fourth branch

Arts & DesignDec. 26, 2018

[Best Brand] Le Meridien Seoul leads luxury staycation market

Riding the staycation holiday wave, Le Meridien Seoul leads the luxury hospitality market here.For some 20 years the property housed the historic Ritz Carlton Seoul. After extensive renovations, the iconic Seoul landmark reopened in September 2017, rebranded as Le Meridien.(Le Meridien Seoul)Originally founded in Paris by the nation’s largest air carrier, Air France, Le Meridien is now part of global hotel chain Marriott International. As a luxury hotel brand, its motto is “Destination Unlocked.

TravelDec. 26, 2018

[Best Brand] Stay warm at Hotel Tops 10

Hotel Tops 10 invites guests to escape the cold this winter at its hot spring facility. Geumjin Hot Springs opened at the hotel in September. Even before the hotel’s opening last December, the region has long been known for hot springs with thermal water. (Hotel Tops 10)The thermal water, with a golden hue, flows from a 1,100-meter-deep coastal terrace. It contains various rare minerals, such as selenium, vanadium and zinc. Proven to be beneficial for various health conditions, Geumjin Hot Sprin

TravelDec. 26, 2018