Red Velvet to drop fifth EP 'RBB'

Girl group Red Velvet will release its fifth EP, titled "RBB," on Nov. 30.The new album will have a total of six tracks, including the main song "Really Bad Boy," according to its agency, S.M. Entertainment. (S.M. Entertainment)The band hit domestic music charts with "Bad Boy" in January and "Power Up" in August. It later had a tour of Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore. The girls will have a tour of Japanese arenas in Fukuoka, Kobe and Yokohama in January next year, the agency said. The tour will b

PerformanceNov. 9, 2018

Ananti Namhae recognized at World Golf Awards for 5th year

Ananti Namhae continued its success at the World Golf Awards, selected as Korea’s best golf hotel for the fifth consecutive year. The World Golf Awards, a prestigious tourism industry award, serves to highlight excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Golf travel and tourism industry professionals and golf tourism consumers cast their votes from February to September.  Ananti Namhae　Ananti Namhae features the first seaside golf course in Korea. Due to the moderate c

TravelNov. 8, 2018

[Weekender] Salted shrimp adds spice to Korean soul food

Korean cuisine wouldn’t be what it is today -- spicy, savory and soupy -- without jeotgal: fermented seafood used as a seasoning or condiment. And salted shrimp, or saeu-jeot, is a key ingredient in quintessential Korean food such as kimchi, as well as an indispensable relish enriching broths such as dwaeji gukbap and sundaeguk. Along with salted anchovies, salted shrimp is the most popular jeotgal variety used in Korean cooking. It often replaces salt in dishes such as steamed egg. Salted shrim

FoodNov. 8, 2018

As night falls, Korea’s ancient beauty comes to life at Deoksugung

Deoksugung Palace, Seoul (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)As dusk turns to darkness, the palace of Deoksugung in the heart of Seoul is illuminated by vivid lights and silhouettes. Visitors revel in the venue’s magnetic optics created by palace buildings from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), including forested gardens, fountains and neoclassical structures. Deoksugung’s main structures are its principle hall Junghwajeon, two-story building Seokeodang, reception room Jeonggwanheon and Hamnyeongjeon,

CultureNov. 8, 2018

[Weekender] Macau much more than casino chips

MACAU -- China’s autonomous region of Macau is one of Asia’s top tourist destinations to enjoy gambling, entertainment and nightlife. The mesmerizing nighttime view of extravagant casinos shows why the city became known as the Vegas of the Orient, but Macau also has rich tourist attractions for travelers of all ages.The historical background of Macau, which was a Portuguese territory until 1999, creates a unique atmosphere that permeates every nook and cranny of the city, including its food scen

TravelNov. 8, 2018

‘A Black Box’ looks at Korea’s modern history through photo of King Gojong

The Seoul Arts Center on Wednesday began a run of director Lee Su-in’s “A Black Box,” a 2017 play written by Lee Kang-baek.The story was inspired by a real picture of King Gojong that was presented to a US president’s daughter, who is known to have made belittling remarks about it. A scene from “A Black Box” (SAC)Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of US President Theodore Roosevelt, mentioned the picture in her autobiography, titled “Crowded Hours.” In the book, she wrote that King Gojong and t

PerformanceNov. 8, 2018

[Weekender] Artistry of fermented seafood

Jeotgal, or salt-fermented seafood, continues to be loved Next time you are in Seoul, pay a visit to the heart of the city. Take a gander at Dongdaemun Gate, and tumble onto Jongno 5-ga, where you will stumble across the vibrant Gwangjang Market filled with merchants welcoming regulars, hagglers seeking to put a little more into their bags, and the pungent smell of a mixture of dishes floating in the air.Enter the South 1st Gate into the food zone, and you will find stalls with colorful delicaci

FoodNov. 8, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival The Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival celebrates gwamegi -- dried mackerel -- along with other local specialties of the Pohang city region, including snow crab and squid.The festival presents events like folk games, traditional Korean music performances, specialty product competitions and free samples.The festival is from Nov. 10-11. Admission is free.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, call the travel hotline at 1330. The homepage (gu

TravelNov. 8, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Intimate Strangers(Korea) Opened Oct. 31Drama, ComedyDirected by Lee Jae-kyooA married couple made up of Seok-ho (Cho Jin-woong) and Ye-jin (Kim Ji-soo) invite a group of lifelong friends to their housewarming party: Tae-soo (Yoo Hae-jin), Soo-hyun (Yum Jung-ah), Joon-mo (Lee Seo-jin), Se-kyung (Song Ha-yoon) and Young-bae (Yoon Kyung-ho), with their seemingly perfect lives. However, a series of life-altering events unravels after Ye-jin suggests they reveal the contents of their phones. Bohemia

FilmNov. 8, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

‘Iron Chef’ desserts at JW Marriott DongdaemunGuests will be able to taste sweet desserts prepared by star patissier Jason Licker at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s the Lounge. Sweet delights created by Licker are available at the hotel lounge until the end of November. White chocolate Junmai, matcha and makgeolli desserts are on the menu. Licker was the champion of the Thai version of culinary TV show “Iron Chef.” He has been working in Asia for more than 12 years, successfully adapting t

FoodNov. 8, 2018

[Weekender] Fishy business: Know your garibi from your eorigul

Though the phrase “pickled seafood” may not sound so appetizing to the uninitiated, savor jeotgal, the fruits of days, weeks or even months of preparation, and everything changes . Jeotgal is salt-fermented seafood. A wide variety of seafood can be used to make it, including fish, roe, clams, oysters and tiny shrimps, as well as fish gills and intestines.  Assorted jeotgal (Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)When naming a specific type of jeotgal, the word “jeot” is used as a suffix. Most types of j

FoodNov. 8, 2018

Stray Kids fight discrimination against big, dark-furred dogs

An animal rights organization in Seoul has teamed up with a boy band to increase awareness of prejudice against dark-furred dogs.Last Wednesday, Stray Kids were named honorary ambassadors for the “Black Dog Campaign” organized by a city-run animal rights nonprofit organization, Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth, also known as CARE. President Moon Jae-in adopted a black-coated dog named Tori from CARE in July 2017. (Cheong Wa Dae)The campaign kicked off last year to address the tendency to pa

PerformanceNov. 8, 2018

Govt. to build Korean literature museum in Seoul's northwestern district

The government said Thursday it will construct the country's first-ever national museum to promote Korean literature in northwestern Seoul.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the land where a state-invested housing complex for journalists was once located in Seoul's Eunpyeong district was finally chosen to be the location of the National Museum of Korean Literature. (The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)The government plans to spend 60 billion won ($53.6 million) to

CultureNov. 8, 2018

BTS’ Japanese single tops Oricon chart

BTS has ranked No. 1 on the Oricon daily singles chart following its release of a new single.  (BigHit Entertainment)According to its agency, Big Hit Entertainment, the group’s ninth single “Fake Love/Airplane pt.2,” which was released Wednesday, climbed to the top of the Japanese chart with 327,342 points, beating the record of 269,861 for its previous album, “Mic Drop/DNA/Crystal Snow.”BTS also swept the top spots of iTunes top 200 charts in 10 countries, including Poland, Denmark and Portugal

PerformanceNov. 8, 2018

Hangeul to be featured at Language Show exhibition in London

A Hangeul booth will be set up at The Language Show exhibition, Europe’s largest language event, which is being held from Friday to Sunday in London.Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday it would run a Hangeul exhibition booth together with the King Sejong Institute Foundation at Olympia West Hall in London. (The ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism)The Hangeul exhibition will promote Hangeul, Korean and Korean culture under the theme “Light up the Hangeul, Korean langu

CultureNov. 8, 2018

BTS content circulating among N. Korean teens: Unification Minister

South Korean pop culture is spreading in North Korea amid a surge in mobile phone use, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon.“BTS-related content is understood to be circulating among young people in North Korea,” the minister said Monday during a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. (Big Hit Entertainment)Cho’s remark came as Rep. Yoon Hu-duk of the ruling Democratic Party asked him to corroborate the number of mobile phone subscriptio

PerformanceNov. 8, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Youngju’ a compelling story and gripping performance about hard-hitting issues

The fact that Cha Sung-duk’s independent film “Youngju” is finally getting a theatrical release is welcome news for Korean cinema, currently saturated with an over-the-top, tear-jerking, poorly acted excess of cinematic jumble. The fact that it will screen at a solitary theater in Gwangju is a tragedy.Cha’s drama stars Kim Hyang-gi playing a young girl named Young-ju who is orphaned after her parents die in a car crash. When her younger brother Young-in -- Tang Jung-sang -- is involved in a crim

FilmNov. 7, 2018

Sounds of Munich

Two acclaimed orchestras based in Munich will perform in Seoul later this month, in what are perhaps the most awaited concerts of the season. Their performances will feature pianists Sunwoo Ye-kwon and Evgeny Kissin, internationally acclaimed artists who enjoy huge popular following here. The Munich Philharmonic’s concert with pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon takes place on Nov. 22 at Sejong Center. The concert will highlight two symphonic works: Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 and Mah

PerformanceNov. 7, 2018

SNU professor honored in Spain

A Seoul National University professor emeritus has been honored by the Spanish government for improving Spain’s international status through his newspaper column.Kim Seong-kon, a professor of English language and literature, received the Order of Civil Merit -- an award that recognizes service performed by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain -- from Spain’s King Felipe VI in October. The specific honor awarded to him is the Officer’s Cross.  Professor Kim Seong-kon with the Off

PeopleNov. 7, 2018

Blue Bottle to launch in Seongsu by 2019

Blue Bottle Coffee is launching its first South Korean store in Seoul’s Seongsu neighborhood by the second quarter of 2019, marking the company’s second overseas expansion.Despite rumors that the company’s first Korean branch would be established in either Gangnam or Samcheong-dong, Blue Bottle Coffee Korea announced recently that Seongsu had been chosen as the venue.(Blue Bottle Coffee)The Seongsu district in eastern Seoul is sometimes called “the Brooklyn of Seoul.” The area is emerging as a c

FoodNov. 7, 2018