[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Mission: Impossible - Fallout(US)Opened July 25Action, Adventure, Drama, MysteryDirected by Christopher McQuarrie“Mission: Impossible - Fallout” finds Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) along with some familiar allies (Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan) in a race against time after a mission gone wrong. Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, and Vanessa Kirby also join the dynamic cast.Illang: The Wolf Brigade(Korea)Opened July 25Action, Sci-fiDirected by K

FilmJuly 26, 2018

[Weekender] Are men with type B blood really womanizers?

Kim Sang-hoon, 29, with type B blood rarely takes part in conversations about blood types linked with personalities. “Koreans have the misperception that a man with type B blood is selfish, a womanizer or hot-tempered. I don’t want people to judge me in such a way before getting to know me,” he said. Despite no scientific proof that blood types and personalities are linked, Koreans often ask about blood types to predict someone’s personality -- sometimes going further to judge relationships and

CultureJuly 26, 2018

Song Joong-ki to star in ‘Asadal Chronicles’

Song Joong-ki will finally return to the small screen with tvN’s upcoming blockbuster drama “Asadal Chronicles” (tentative title). The network on Thursday announced the main cast for the period-fantasy drama including Song Joong-Ki, Jang Dong-gun and Kim Ji-won in the lead roles. It will be Song and Kim’s second time working together, after “Descendants of the Sun” in 2016.  From left: Song Joong-Ki (Blossom Entertainment), Jang Dong-gun (D Entertainment Company) and Kim Ji-won (King Kong by Sta

TelevisionJuly 26, 2018

More K-pop singers creating own video content

More Korean singers are creating their own video content online amid the rising popularity of YouTubers and internet broadcast jockeys. Comedians Kim Sook, Kang Yu-mi, Kim Ki-soo are among celebrities who create personalized content but singers are now jumping on the bandwagon. Singer and artist Kwon Ji-an, better known as Solbi, launched her own YouTube channel Roman Princess Solbi on Friday to better communicate with her fans. She plans to upload four videos per week related to eating and drin

PerformanceJuly 26, 2018

‘Angelic’ Han Ji-min takes role of angry, ‘Familiar Wife’

Actress Han Ji-min, known for her lovely, angelic image, is to take on a completely different role this time -- an ordinary wife with anger management issues. In the upcoming tvN drama “Familiar Wife,” the actress plays a mother of two young children, who works at a shop. She also has to take care of her mother who suffers from amnesia. Ji Sung (left) and Han Ji-min pose for photos before a press event Wednesday at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. (CJ ENM)Coping with work and family,

TelevisionJuly 25, 2018

Pyeongchang Music Festival kicks off, pianist Son Yeol-eum makes her debut as director

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Pianist Son Yeol-eum, the new artistic director of the Pyeongchang Music Festival, appeared nervous but excited to see the very first concert she has devoted herself to. The Korea Herald met the artistic director Wednesday at the convention center near the Alpensia Concert Hall and Music Tent. “It’s unbelievable. I had doubted this day would ever come, but here I am, feeling nervous yet excited. The only thing I am very certain of is that the performances will be

PerformanceJuly 25, 2018

[Herald Interview] Armed with boldness, rookie designers set for global fashion scene

London, Paris, New York and Milan. The “big four” fashion cities are every designer’s dream stage. But it is not easy for small, independent brands, as the runways are taken up by megabrands with years of legacy and money. Overcoming the odds, two Korean brands succeeded in making their dreams come true last season -- and they are not even from mega fashion companies. The two independent designer brands, Besfxxk and Blindness, infused with young energy and bold creativity, captivated Milan and L

Arts & DesignJuly 25, 2018

Using design to improve inter-Korean ties

With the two Koreas in a peace mood, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion is considering ways to use design to support better inter-Korean ties. Eune Ju-hyun, KIDP president and CEO, revealed a plan to enhance inter-Korean cooperation -- if the right opportunity were to present itself -- at a press conference in central Seoul on Tuesday. The press conference was held to mark 90 days in office for Eune. A former Seoul National University professor specializing in user experience design, Eune i

Arts & DesignJuly 25, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days’ tries too hard

Megahit sequel has elements of the original, humor and spectacle, but falls short on blending altogetherThere can be such a thing as too much “sinpa” in a movie. “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,” the second most successful Korean movie in history, was one case that got away with good acting and novelty of the set-up. Its sequel, “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” could be the one that finally went over the line. For those of you not familiar with the term, sinpa in Korean cinema or dr

FilmJuly 25, 2018

Kim Da-mi of ‘The Witch’ wins best actress at Fantasia 2018

Korean starlet Kim Da-mi shined bright on the international stage as the star of “The Witch Pt 1: the Subversion” won the best actress award at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.“Newcomer Kim Da-mi delivers an immaculate, layered performance, displaying intricacy and range in realms both physical and emotional. This portrayal marks the introduction of a kick-ass new heroine,” the jury statement for the Cheval Noir best actress award read.  Kim Da-mi in “The Witch Pt 1: the Subvers

FilmJuly 25, 2018

Preorders for BTS’ new album top 1.5m in Korea

BTS’ upcoming album “Love Yourself: Answer” has sold over 1.5 million albums nationwide, according to BTS’ management agency Big Hit Entertainment on Wednesday.Preorders for the album began July 18 and ended Tuesday with a total of 1,511,910 orders, recording the highest number of preorders for BTS. (Big Hit Entertainment)“Love Yourself: Answer” sold 62,000 more preordered albums than “Love Yourself: Tear,” which was released in April. “Love Yourself: Answer” has also claimed the No. 1 spot in A

PerformanceJuly 25, 2018

Once blacklisted artist highlights controversial issues in solo exhibition

Artist Hong Sung-dam was on the Park Geun-hye administration’s blacklist of artists, which included a total of 9,473 names that were to be excluded from receiving state funds or support.His controversial painting “Sewol Owol” is now being shown for the first time in Seoul at Insa Art Center, as part of his solo exhibition “Sewol Owol and Candlelight,” which opened Thursday. Artist Hong Sung-dam explains a painting based on the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Ki

Arts & DesignJuly 24, 2018

Christian couple’s yearlong honeymoon is investment for future

“About Marriage: the 357-day honeymoon” is a collection of writings by a Christian couple who went on a 357-day-long honeymoon to places like Yanbian, Cambodia and India. Like Japanese female writer Kaori Ekuni’s famous novel “Between Calm and Passion-Rosso,” “About Marriage” comes in two separate books, one written by the wife, Lee Sa-rang, and the other by the husband, Chung Chae-hun. Very different from Ekuni’s novel is that “About Marriage” is not romance fiction. "About Marriage" by Lee Sa-

BooksJuly 24, 2018

Late novelist posthumously receives highest cultural honor

The government on Tuesday bestowed the late novelist Choi In-hun with the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest class of its kind, for his contribution to Korean literature. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan visited the funeral parlor of the late writer at the Seoul National University Hospital to offer condolences to the bereaved family and present the medal on behalf of the government.  Do Jong-hwan (left) talks with the bereaved family of novelist Choi In-hun at a f

CultureJuly 24, 2018

Gwangju Biennale seeks to invite NK artists

The Gwangju Biennale on Tuesday said it has recently received the Ministry of Unification’s approval to contact three North Korean artists. The messages have been sent to invite them to a North Korean art exhibition to be held in September at the biennale, it said. “Gwangju Biennale made a request to the Unification Ministry in June and received the approval in early July to contact the individual artists from North Korea,” the Gwangju Biennale’s officials said.The Biennale will proceed to take

Arts & DesignJuly 24, 2018

E-mart to make film about its mascot Electro Man

South Korean hypermarket chain E-mart unveiled Tuesday its plans to make a film based on its mascot Electro Man.Electro Man, a mascot for E-mart’s electronics store chain Electro Mart, will be featured as the main character in the film slated for release in 2020. The announcement came after overall sales of Electro Man-inspired products including an air fryer rose over 300 percent on-year in the first half of 2018. The film is part of the retailer’s efforts to attract more customers by using sof

FilmJuly 24, 2018

Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo to file for divorce: report

Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo is to file for divorce against his wife, a local media outlet reported Monday. According to the report, Hong has decided to sue for divorce after failing to come to a settlement with his wife, who has so far refused any agreement.  Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee (Yonhap)Citing personnel in the film industry close to Hong, the report said Hong is thinking about marrying actress Kim Min-hee. “A divorce is unavoidable. Hong regrets that he has to go through with a suit,” the

FilmJuly 24, 2018

VIXX’s Leo confirms first solo concerts

Leo of VIXX will perform next month, this time without his bandmates.According to Jellyfish Entertainment, Leo’s first solo concerts will be held at the Blue Square in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. They share the same title with his first EP as a solo artist, “Canvas.”  The poster for Leo’s upcoming concert. (Jellyfish Entertainment)The EP will be released at 6 p.m. next Tuesday, with the lead track “Touch&Sketch.”Tickets for the concerts will be made available online at I

PerformanceJuly 24, 2018

[Epicurean Challenge] Revitalize with chicken foot, eel and carp extracts

The idea of gaining energy by drinking unidentified brown liquid may sound suspiciously close to that of a magic potion. But such potions do exist in the real world, or at least in Korea, under the name of “nutritional extracts.”Plastic pouches of murky brown liquid substances may be healthier than one might expect, as they contain “jeup,” or extracts, of various produce considered beneficial in Korea. Talk about sucking the juice out of life. The extracts may not seem very appetizing, akin to o

FoodJuly 24, 2018

[Photo News] 2018 Waterbomb Festival blasts summer heat

The annual WaterBomb Festival was held Friday and Saturday at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. On the first day of the event, K-pop stars, such as Hyolyn and Jessi, appeared as guests with performances that doubled the fun. The second day was a blast as Black Pink members showed up on Sprite Island, the name of a stage at the event, in outfits that matched the soft drink brand’s colors. Jennie donned a green off-the-shoulder top with short pants, while Jisoo wore a green cropped blouse with white shorts

CultureJuly 23, 2018