Will BTS and Charlie Puth collaborate?

BTS’ Jungkook and Charlie Puth have had a thing going on for about a year and a half now, and we are not sure what to call it.  Jungkook of BTS (left, Big Hit Entertainment), Charlie Puth (right, Charlie Puth official website)Let’s not say ‘bromance,’ which has become too hackneyed a term they will call any sight of two men not hating each other "bromance." It’s more than mere professional admiration between two musicians. It’s not quite a full-blown “stanship (stan: a maniacal fan),” as some ha

PerformanceJuly 13, 2018

Culture Minister meets Vatican diplomat to S. Korea

Do Jong-hwan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism met Friday with Archbishop Alfred Xuereb to discuss exchange and cooperation between South Korea and the Vatican, the ministry said.According to the ministry officials, the meeting between Do and the Vatican envoy to South Korea was held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Do Jong-hwan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, shakes hands with Archbishop Alfred Xuereb in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap)“Minister

CultureJuly 13, 2018

Korean film sales hit $10 million at Marche du Film in Cannes

South Korean films landed deals worth $10 million at this year’s Marche du Film, a trade event for the film industry held alongside the Cannes Film Festival. Films sold at this year’s event in Cannes include “Believer,” as well as “The Spy Gone North,” “Drug King” and “Her Story.”According to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Korean production houses inked a total of 292 deals at the event this year, valued at a record 11.6 billion won ($10.3 million). The value of the deals jumped 47 p

FilmJuly 13, 2018

Mamamoo’s agency to release two ‘brother’ boy bands

Two new boy bands are on the way, produced by the agency that created girl group Mamamoo.RBW said Friday that it will launch ONEUS and ONEWE in the second half of this year. They are to have distinctly different musical styles but are to be “brother groups” that developed deep friendships during their training period. ONEUS (RBW) ONEWE (RBW)ONEUS, a six-piece group, consists of former participants of audition programs like “Produce 101 Season 2” and “Mix Nine,” including Lee Gun-hee and Yeo Hwan

PerformanceJuly 13, 2018

Cast and director of 'Along With the Gods 2' to visit Taiwan for promotional activities

The director and main cast members of the forthcoming sequel to the 2017 box-office smash "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds" will visit Taiwan to promote the film ahead of its release early next month, the film's local distributor said Friday.Director Kim Yong-hwa and actors Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Hyang-gi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Dong-wook and Lee Jung-jae will leave for Taiwan on Aug. 5 for a four-day trip, Lotte Entertainment said. (Lotte Entertainment)In Taiwan, they will attend a red car

FilmJuly 13, 2018

Jung Eun-ji confirms first big screen role

Jung Eun-ji, the beloved star of coming-of-age drama “Reply 1997,” is getting her first leading role on the silver screen.According to her agency Plan A Entertainment, she has been cast as the lead for the horror film “0.0MHz.” The movie, based on a popular webtoon of the same name, will be directed by Yoo Seon-dong. The film will start shooting later in the month. (Plan A Entertainment)Jung, who is a member of K-pop act Apink, first took up acting in “Reply 1997,” which stirred up the country w

FilmJuly 13, 2018

[Herald Interview] Travel startup embraces chatbot to offer intelligent budget options

Amid the sweltering, humid weather, many Koreans look forward to traveling overseas for the perfect getaway. The only problem is that travel requires a set of cumbersome procedures ranging from picking a destination to booking hotels and arranging transportation. While working at global travel site Expedia, Jung Ji-ha wondered how he could simplify the process in booking hotels for future customers. Along with the tech expertise he had gained working at Hyundai C&I, Jung decided to jump into the

TechnologyJuly 13, 2018

[BIFAN preview] N. Korean films highlight BIFAN

What better way to spend Friday the 13th then to indulge in films of horror, thriller, fantasy and mystery at the biggest genre film festival in Asia?The 22nd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival kicked off Thursday at the western city of Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to showcase 290 films, 163 features and 127 shorts. Out of the 53 countries represented on the silver screens, one participant stands out. Nine films shot in North Korea were cleared by the government for screening at this y

FilmJuly 12, 2018

What is life on Mars like?

Even at this very moment, humankind is moving one step closer to Mars. Mars is getting more frequently mentioned by scientists and even non-scientists, as institutions such as NASA and Space X reach for the planet. To bring the exploration one step closer to viewers, tvN’s upcoming sci-fi reality series “Galileo: Awakened Universe” aims to explore what life on Mars would be like, though from the safety of Earth.  Poster for “Galileo: Awakened Universe” (tvN)In June, the cast and crew visited the

TelevisionJuly 12, 2018

5 best K-pop summer tunes that will make you nostalgic

(Screencaptured from YouTube)If this summer is too hot and humid for you, it’s time to for you to freshen your summer playlist. Sistar’s “Touch My Body” and Girls’ Generation’s “Party” may be longtime favorite K-pop summer songs, but let’s go back several years to when K-pop sounded refreshing and remained faithful to its classic seasonal tunes. Here are the five best throwbacks that may evoke nostalgia. 1. Dancing Out – Super Junior (2006)Released in 2006 as part of SMTown’s studio album, the s

PerformanceJuly 12, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Ant-Man and the Wasp(US)Opened July 4Action, Adventure, Sci-fiDirected by Peyton ReedAfter “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) with an urgent new mission.The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion(Korea)Opened June 27Action, Thriller, MysteryD

FilmJuly 12, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Coex Na Hit! AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding the “2018 Summer Na Hit! Aquarium” consisting of special underwater performances and an extension of operating hours.The special features for the summer season include underwater performance by the “Octonauts” at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Other attractions include an exhibition of 20,000 sardines along with music, lighting and commentary at the Deep Blue Sea zone.During the event, the operating hours for the aquarium will be extended by one hour to 9

TravelJuly 12, 2018

Twice’s ‘Heart Shaker’ YouTube video tops 200 million views

The music video for Twice’s “Heart Shaker” has been watched more than 200 million times on YouTube, following in the footsteps of the group’s previous singles.The group’s agency JYP Entertainment confirmed Thursday that the video, which was released in early December last year, surpassed 200 million views on YouTube on Wednesday night, becoming the fifth video from the group to reach the 200 million threshold.Another of the nine-piece band’s singles “TT” became the first video by a female K-pop

PerformanceJuly 12, 2018

Tracing the footsteps of Swan King in Bavaria

Munich, the state of Bavaria retain tradition, mixing with modern lookMUNICH -- Ludwig II of Bavaria was a curious figure: From his obsession with French style, fascination with palaces and his mysterious death to his apparent terror of face-to-face encounters with anyone, even his subordinates, the 19th century monarch was truly “der Marchenkonig,” or “the Fairy Tale King.”But it is not just the palaces. The town of Munich and Bavaria exude an atmosphere of stepping into a storybook, with each

TravelJuly 12, 2018

Lufthansa rebranding more than new paint job

German air carrier vows to boosts value with premium service, Munich hubMUNICH -- The glass-plated walls and ceiling of Munich Airport’s Terminal 2 let in light from outside, sufficiently lighting up the place even in grim weather.The building was designed that way to give visitors the feeling of being completely in the open -- fitting for a place that connects users to 137 locations across the worldThe Munich Hub of Lufthansa, an airline of the Lufthansa Group, flies passengers to 111 destinati

TravelJuly 12, 2018

Seo In-young to release new single next month

Fans of Seo In-young’s music will be glad to hear that the singer, who hasn’t released anything since 2015, will release a new single next month.The K-pop star’s label Soribada on Thursday confirmed reports that she will release a new single on Aug. 2. It was originally slated to be released in late June. Seo In-young (Herald Pop)“(The release date) was pushed back because (Seo) put much effort and thought into it, as it has been so long since she last released a record. It is still a work in pr

PerformanceJuly 12, 2018

Han Seo-hee embroiled in controversy on vandalism of sacramental bread

While Womad, a radical feminist group in Korea, has been criticized for vandalizing sacramental bread, controversial figure Han Seo-hee openly supported the act, drawing more attention to herself and the issue.A person claiming to be a member of Womad recently posted a photo of the sacramental bread scribbled with vulgar words. Questioning the Catholic Church‘s opposition to the legalization of abortion, the person later set the bread on fire. In the Catholic faith, the bread serves as the body

TelevisionJuly 12, 2018

[Epicurean Challenge] Chicken bathing in hot soup, samgyetang

Samgyetang, or ginseng chicken soup, is the most often mentioned dish when talking about revitalizing cuisine for the summer season. Its appearance may seem strange, as a whole small chicken sits in the steaming broth -- seemingly taking a bath with legs crossed. (Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)Looking closer, goosebumps on the chicken skin can be observed. While some crave the skin for its melting mouthfeel, others dislike it for the fat.Some places serve a glass of g

FoodJuly 12, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Superfood afternoon tea at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s The Lounge offers a specially prepared afternoon tea set, filled with superfoods to combat the sweltering heat. Savories and desserts included in the set features spinach, quinoa, salmon, blueberry and avocado, all of which are known to be beneficial for health. Premium green tea, also a superfood, is served with the set. At 18,000 won per person, guests can enjoy a glass of champagne. The tea set is served on a three-tier ceramic tra

FoodJuly 12, 2018