Gmarket runs campaign for authentic K-pop goods

EBay Korea’s online Korean goods shopping site Gmarket Global store will run a sale on K-pop goods from Nov. 1 through Nov. 11. The store will pair the sale with a verification campaign to boost its reliability as the place to go for genuine goods. (Gmarket)The aim of this campaign is to protect K-pop artists’ rights to their official goods against copycat products, according to Gmarket.Shoppers can check the authenticity of their purchases using the QR code printed on the card that comes with t

PerformanceOct. 29, 2018

BTS and the art of Twitter

BTS is one of the most social media-savvy celebrities around.The band has two Twitter accounts under its name, one managed by the label Big Hit Entertainment (@BTS_BigHit) and another operated by the members themselves (@BTS_twt). The former, followed by 12.8 million users, is more official in tone, primarily used for announcements, press releases and music videos. The latter, with 16.9 million people following, is more personal, serving mostly as a platform for communication with fans. On the s

PerformanceOct. 29, 2018

Jeju Island to host star-studded K-pop concert

The first 2018 Jeju Hallyu Festival will kick off on Nov. 4 at Jeju Stadium. Korea Management Federation, which has been running the Korea Music Festival at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul for the previous two years, is behind the new annual K-pop festival on Jeju Island.Wanna One, AOA, Red Velvet, EXID, Oh My Girl, Momoland, NCT Dream, 9 Muses, GFriend, Hwang Chi-yeol, N.Flying, Pentagon, Stray Kids, The Boyz, Dreamcatcher and more will perform for the festival this year. Tickets for the stands can b

PerformanceOct. 28, 2018

[Video] Zion.T at Busan One Asia Festival

The 3rd Busan One Asia Festival boasted a star-studded line up throughout its nine-day run at multiple locations in the southwestern city.Zion.T was one of the singers that took to the stage on Gunam-ro to perform live in front of Haeundae Beach on Friday.(Shot and edited by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)During his performance, the singer-songwriter sang his latest song, “Hello Tutorial” featuring Red Velvet’s Seulgi. “You may notice that Seulgi is not here with me. This means you must help me

PerformanceOct. 28, 2018

[Herald Interview] Grace Kelly takes ‘leap of faith’ by blending music genres

Musician Grace Kelly -- perhaps like the legendary actress-turned-princess of the same name -- is a person who likes to take chances and travel the world.But of all the paths she has taken since being identified as a jazz prodigy in her preteen years, Kelly said her recent album was the biggest challenge and the greatest source of pride.“GO TiME: Brooklyn 2,” released Oct. 12, definitely ventures into unfamiliar territory for the 26-year-old musician, toying with electronic, pop and other genres

PerformanceOct. 28, 2018

Work and life examined

More than a century ago, the Lumiere brothers’ black-and-white documentary film “Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory in Lyon” showed workers hurriedly exiting their workplace. The film survives as one of the most important records in the history of motion pictures.A century later, the late German artist and filmmaker Harun Farocki summoned the groundbreaking footage to yet another level of discourse. Farocki’s video installation titled “Workers Leaving the Factory in Eleven Decades” starts with

Arts & DesignOct. 28, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Lobster dining at Vista Walkerhill SeoulVista Walkerhill Seoul‘s Italian restaurant Del Vino launches Aragosta di Mare promotion, introducing various lobster dishes.The five-course meal starts with lobster avocado salad, followed by lobster soup and lobster oil pasta. Grilled lobster and beef tenderloin steak will be prepared as the main dish. For dessert, vanilla gelato and raspberry cake will be served.Along with the course meal, a glass of extra dry sparkling wine will be offered. The price o

FoodOct. 28, 2018

39 temples to hold special foreigner templestays in November

For foreigners here looking for a chance to experience Buddhist culture, the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation is running “Templestay Weeks for Foreigners” from Nov. 5-30.Korean Buddhist temples are known to be peaceful and quiet, as most of them are located in mountainous regions. Templestay programs offer participants a glimpse into Buddhist temple life. Poster image for Templestay Weeks for Foreigners (Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation)During the promotional period, 39 temples across Kore

TravelOct. 28, 2018

Vault Steakhouse holds promotion celebrating Michelin recognition

Vault Steakhouse is offering a special promotion to mark its inclusion in the Plate category of Michelin Guide Seoul 2019 for the third consecutive year. The list of Michelin-star restaurants was revealed at an awards ceremony held last Thursday. Vault Steakhouse, located in southern Seoul, made it to the The Plate category, which recognizes restaurants that serve quality food prepared with fresh ingredients.  Dry-aged porterhouse (Vault Steakhouse)Celebrating the recognition, Vault Steakhouse h

FoodOct. 27, 2018

VOICE FOR REFORMATION

Pastors from the Christian Leaders Fellowship hold a news conference in Seoul on Thursday to mark the 500 years since the Protestant Reformation. They spoke on Christian reformation and the future direction for churches. (CLF)

CultureOct. 26, 2018

Lee brothers from The East Light talk to police in Media Line assault case

Lee Seok-cheol and his brother Seung-hyun -- both members of teenage boy band The East Light -- attended the Bangbae Police Station in southern Seoul, Friday, to give additional statements to police regarding the alleged assaults at Media Line Entertainment. In front of reporters who had gathered in front of the police station, Lee, 18, said he’d lived in fear due to the threats and beatings. “I hope my actions do not cause any more victims (of assault). I was only able to make it this far as I

PerformanceOct. 26, 2018

Filmmaker Ahn Kearn-hyung wins SeMA-Hana Media Art Award

Korean nonfiction filmmaker Ahn Kearn-hyung was named the winner of this year’s SeMA-Hana Media Art Award, the Seoul Museum of Art announced Friday. The SeMA-Hana Media Art Award, founded in 2014, is awarded to a participating artist of Seoul Media City Biennale and is presented by the museum and Hana Financial Group. Ahn Kearn-hyung (SeMA) An installation view of “How to Stop Being Korean,” a 66-minute documentary introduced at Seoul Mediacity Biennale 2018 (SeMA)Ahn received the award in recog

Arts & DesignOct. 26, 2018

[Weekender] Homeless animals in Korea: Finding homes for those who fall through the cracks

Emily Doran, an English teacher in Seoul, has found homes for more than 140 dogs over the past two years -- many of them “last-day dogs” from city shelters, where unclaimed strays can be killed after a 10-day holding period under South Korea’s Animal Protection Act. Her rescue group, Domo’s Friends, has more than 1,000 followers on Facebook. Doran is one of a number of advocates concerned about the animal rescue system in Korea and trying to mitigate its shortcomings through private efforts.  (H

CultureOct. 25, 2018

Still passionate at 77, Placido Domingo expects heart-touching performance

Legendary opera singer Placido Domingo is to hold a concert Friday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, marking the Spanish tenor’s seventh visit to Korea since his first in 1991. “I have been different times in Korea for probably the last 20 years or more, and I have always enjoyed your city and the public who is so warm and love classic music and opera,” said Domingo during a press conference held on Wednesday at Lotte Hotel in Jamsil, Seoul. Domingo also praised “the sensibility of the people i

PerformanceOct. 25, 2018

[Weekender] Seoulites seek coexistence with stray cats

Change is taking place on the streets of Seoul for human-cat cohabitation.The Seoul city government’s stray cat policy centers on population control, but there’s more to homeless cats’ lives than reproductive impediment. Where the city government fails to fill in, people who are in touch with their feline neighbors on a daily basis are paving the way for humans and street cats to live together.For as long as anyone can remember, cats have not been the most beloved animals in Korea, often perceiv

CultureOct. 25, 2018

[Eye Plus] Fall colors Seoul

“I‘m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” Anne said while watching the beautiful autumn scenery of the Green Gables. Many Seoulites seem to feel the same. South Korea used to be known for having distinctive four seasons in a year, but spring and fall are getting shorter year by year. To fully enjoy the short period of the autumn season, people in Seoul are flooding to popular picnic spots in the city. Many families, couples and friends can be spotted taking selfies and

TravelOct. 25, 2018

BTS’ BT21 characters to go on sale at Homeplus

Hypermarket chain Homeplus is to launch a range of merchandise in collaboration with BTS.According to Homeplus on Thursday, the market became the only offline shopping mall to launch products using the group‘s BT21 characters. (Instagram)There will be some 49 living products including cushions, blankets and slippers with BT21 characters, luring fans of the K-pop sensation BTS to decorate their houses. However, the products will only be sold until Nov. 28, not in every Homeplus but designated 130

PerformanceOct. 25, 2018

From Goryeong, Sancheong to Busan, a taste of traditional culture

Korea is a country with rich culture and lengthy history, spanning across nearly five millennia. Taking a trip across Goryeong-gun in South Gyeongsang Province, one can come across remnants of one of Korea’s ancient civilizations -- Gaya.Trekking across remains of Daegaya KingdomGoryeong is where Daegaya Kingdom, one of the leading powers of the Gaya confederacy that occupied the southern part of the peninsula, had been based in before succumbing to invasion by Silla Kingdom in 562 AD. The small

TravelOct. 25, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Halloween at COEX AquariumCoex Aquarium is hosting series of events to commemorate Halloween, from raffle events to photo zones set up under the theme of the spooky holiday.Halloween-themed photo zones in the Garden of Jellyfish feature sea creatures that fit their theme, such as a spider crab zone set on the theme of spiders. At the Deep Blue Aquare at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, children can get Halloween candy after Octonaut Underwater Performance.Those who post photos of

TravelOct. 25, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Dark Figure of Crime (Korea) Opened Oct. 3Crime, Drama, MysteryDirected by Kim Tae-kyunConvicted murderer Kang (Ju Ji-hoon) calls up detective Kim Hyung-min (Kim Yoon-seok) from his cellphone and confesses to six additional murders that were never reported to authorities. Kim investigates the cases, and soon learns that Kang’s testimony is mixed with lies and the criminal is manipulating him.First Man (US)Biography, Drama, History Opened Oct. 18Directed by Damien Chazelle A look at the life of t

FilmOct. 25, 2018