‘Memories of the Alhambra’ promises sword-wielding Hyun Bin, AR game, Spanish scenery

The new tvN series “Memories of the Alhambra,” starring Hyun Bin and Park Shin-hye, enters uncharted waters for a South Korean TV series, as the story centers on an augmented reality game.As the nighttime weekend show bills itself as “suspense romance,” it does not fall short of spectacle and action, featuring fight scenes between players of an AR game as they live out what gamers dream of in the exotic city of Granada in Spain.(tvN)Director Ahn Gil-ho says he made the show imagining what could

TelevisionNov. 28, 2018

TVXQ to celebrate 15th anniversary with new album next month

K-pop boy band TVXQ will release a special album next week to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their debut and will host a fan meeting event here, its management agency said Wednesday.The male duo is set to drop the special record, titled "New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love," on Dec. 26, fronted by "Truth," according to S.M. Entertainment. (S.M. Entertainment)Including the lead track, the album carries seven tracks.  In the evening of the same day, the band will throw a fan meeting event, "TVXQ

PerformanceNov. 28, 2018

Vivaldi Park launches winter-themed packages

The Vivaldi Park resort said Tuesday that it is rolling out winter-themed packages to attract more foreign visitors, including one for families and one that encompasses skiing, horseback riding and cultural experiences.The Viva Ski Festival is designed to give foreigners a taste of Korean culture along with other activities in a three-day period. It includes Korean traditional food, performances, skiing lessons, horseback riding, and fried chicken and beer. 　The Classic package can be enjoyed in

TravelNov. 27, 2018

Korail launches tour program combining travel, cultural experience

Korail has rolled out a tourism program that allows people to travel and take part in cultural activities, with the inaugural tour held Saturday. Participants of the daylong tour, priced at 59,000 won ($52), traveled to the seaside city of Gangneung, Gangwon Province, for a concert featuring singers Paul Kim and Jeon Sang-geun, and musical actress Lee Ha-nee.“Previous travel patterns were focused on ‘where,’ but we think ‘who’ you are going with is now more important. This is why we launched the

TravelNov. 27, 2018

Busker Busker leader Jang Beom-june returns as YouTuber

Jang Beom-june, leader of the indie band “Busker Busker,” has joined the club of celebrity-turned-YouTubers after a long hiatus from music-related activities.Jang greeted his loyal fans by uploading a cover of Black Pink Jennie’s “Solo” on his YouTube channel on Nov. 22. Previously, he had only uploaded tracks from his own albums and videos of his own live performances. (YouTube)Fans were pleased to hear Jang’s unique interpretation of the song.“It’s so cool that the cover sounds like an origina

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

Celebrities embroiled in controversy over parents’ debt scandal

After rapper Microdot came under fire over a fraud scandal involving his parents, celebrities -- including rapper Dok2 and singer-actor Rain -- have found themselves embroiled in similar allegations.  From left: Rapper Dok2 (Illionaire Records)and singer-actor Rain (Yonhap)A media outlet reported on Monday that Dok2’s mother borrowed around 10 million won ($8,854) from a friend in the late 1990s and failed to pay it back. Though the debtor took the matter to the court and won, Dok2’s mother did

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

Mickey Mouse to make first visit to Seoul

Walt Disney’s iconic Mickey Mouse will be visiting Seoul as part of a yearlong world tour celebrating his 90th birthday.The beloved character’s first trip to the country coincides with the third anniversary of the city’s slogan “I.SEOUL.U,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. Mickey will arrive at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning for his four-day trip. The famous mouse will greet the public at locations including Gwanghwamun Square, Yeouido Hangang Park, N Seoul Tow

CultureNov. 27, 2018

BTS named brand model for Hyundai Motors SUV Palisade

Hyundai Motors announced Tuesday that its new flagship SUV model Palisade will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show with BTS members as brand ambassadors. The boy band is featured in the video that will introduce the vehicle at the annual auto show, which runs Friday to Dec. 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.(Hyundai Motors)The South Korean carmaker will broadcast its demonstration at the auto show live on its official Facebook account Thursday from 8:55 to 9:20 p.m.“We decided that BTS would

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

[Video] Sohee says angles are most important in ‘Hurry Up’ dance

Every year around Christmas time, the lobby of the Herald Corp. building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, lights up with a brightly decorated towering tree.On Thursday, the brilliance was amplified with the presence of rising K-pop star Sohee, who debuted solo from her group Elris with single “Hurry Up,” in October. Sohee had just wrapped up official promotional activities for “Hurry Up” and had dropped by for an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald. (Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

SHINee’s Key talks about what to expect from first solo album ‘Face’

Key of SHINee said he wanted to prove he could pull off making new music as a solo artist despite a hectic schedule.On Friday, the singer will release “Face,” his first solo album in his 10-year career, which includes a track produced by American DJ and producer Skrillex. The record is testament to not only Key’s musical versatility but his determination to prove he can get the best of both worlds: making music and starring in films.  (Yonhap)He stars in a movie set to be released next year. “I

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

NU’EST W returns with last album ‘Wake, N’

NU’EST W has returned with its third and final album as a four-piece unit of NU’EST. Dressed in black suits, the four bandmates looked confident yet nervous as they spoke about “Wake, N.”“Our main focus in this album was to deliver the lyrics well,” said JR during a showcase Monday. “The album includes group songs that express waking up from sleep, and solo tracks talking about feelings coming alive.” (Pledis Entertainment)The seven-track record is led by “Help Me,” a fusion pop rhythm and blues

PerformanceNov. 27, 2018

‘Sanctuary’ promises classic Lovelyz

Lovelyz has an uncanny ability to blend a minor key progression with a synthed-up dance beat -- a characteristic that makes its songs recognizable within a few seconds of listening.After a brief detour with “A Piece of Summer,” the group is back to its signature blend. (Woollim Entertainment)Loyal listeners will recognize the sequence of a mostly minor-key melody punctuated by major-key interjections that is unique to Lovelyz in “Sanctuary,” the group’s fifth EP released Monday. Mixing up contra

PerformanceNov. 26, 2018

WINNER's Mino employs retro beats to enliven his hip-hop solo album

Boy band WINNER's rapper Mino released his first full-length album Monday, the lead hip-hop track of which utilizes brilliantly entwined retro Korean beats.Beats and concepts were borrowed from a soulful, rhythmic 1969 Korean song whose title translates as "A Maiden from Soyang River" to add retro vibes to the lead track "Fiance." Including the unique lead song, the solo album "XX" has 12 tracks, with Mino composing and writing all the songs in collaboration with other artists."I wanted to give

PerformanceNov. 26, 2018

[Photo News] Is this body yours or mine?

The yearslong patent battle between Samsung and Apple over the slide-to-unlock feature was perhaps one of the most explicit cases of how the human body -- human gestures, in particular -- have been privatized or incorporated into capitalism and technological development. Julien Previeux’s first solo exhibition in South Korea comprises works that tackle phenomena in which the contemporary world “buys” the actions of human bodies.An installation view of Julien Previeux’s first solo exhibition, “Pi

CultureNov. 26, 2018

Ssireum becomes Koreas’ 1st jointly inscribed UNESCO world heritage item

The Korean traditional form of wrestling known as ssireum was officially inscribed onto the UNESCO list of intangible cultural assets on Monday, after South and North Korea made their historic first joint bid.The decision was reached at the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Port Louis, Mauritius, which continues through Saturday. Earlier in the day, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to combine their originally separate bids.Ssire

CultureNov. 26, 2018

Ezra Miller spotted with Claudia Kim in Seoul

American actor Ezra Miller toured Seoul with Korean actress Claudia Kim on Monday. Both actors starred in the recently released film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.”(Instagram)Kim posted on her Instagram account photos of the two eating Korean food together. In the photos, Miller had a long piece of kimchi hanging out of his mouth. (Instagram) (Instagram)In a separate post, Kim also uploaded photos taken at a Line Friends Store, where Kim and Miller posed playfully with life-sized

FilmNov. 26, 2018

Koreas make historic bid for ‘ssireum’ as 1st jointly held UNESCO world heritage item

South and North Korea have officially made a joint bid to inscribe the traditional form of wrestling known as “ssireum” on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural assets. It represents the first joint UNESCO bid in history for the two Koreas.According to the South Korean government, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to combine their separate bids for the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which takes place Monday through Saturday in

CultureNov. 26, 2018

Hakgojae targets younger collectors with new space in Cheongdam

Hakgojae, one of the leading galleries in Korea, has opened a new gallery in the posh district of Cheongdam, south of the Han River. Hakgojae started in Insa-dong in 1988, which was then the center of the country’s art scene. In 2008, the gallery moved its headquarters to a traditional Korean-style building in Samcheong-dong.The opening of Hakgojae Cheongdam coincides with the gallery’s 30th anniversary. 　Fiona Rae’s “Sleeping Beauty will hum about mine ears” (Hakgojae)“Hakgojae Cheongdam will t

Arts & DesignNov. 25, 2018

Beleaguered Microdot may leave TV show as scam allegations involving parents rile public

In the latest development concerning allegations that rapper Microdot’s parents were involved in a multibillion-won scam, the 25-year-old rapper is reported to be leaving Channel A’s popular fishing show “The Fishermen and the City.”Local media outlet Sports World, citing a representative of the cable channel, said it has been decided that Microdot should no longer be part of the show as the controversy is hindering him from filming.The latest episode of the show on Thursday aired without any sc

PerformanceNov. 25, 2018

Santa's set of points

A group of children enjoy Milennium Seoul Hilton‘s Christmas train display, now on its 23rd run, on Sunday. A 10-meter high Christmas tree has been placed at the lobby along with seasonal decorations. The holiday train will be on display until Jan. 20. (Yonhap)

CultureNov. 25, 2018