Top 5 artists best known for cover songs in Korea

South Koreans are known for their love for singing. Singing competition programs are always favored by the local audience, while some of them take part in the shows and rise to stardom themselves. To those who missed the chance to appear on TV, YouTube has become another outlet to show off their heavenly voices. Here is a list of the talented YouTube singers in Korea, who are best known for cover songs. 5. Lim Han-byul (118,129 subscribers) (Lim Han-byul's YouTube)Once a member of the K-pop grou

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

Coming to terms with apocalypse

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer‘s solo exhibition at Amorepacific Museum of Art is an exhibition that brings tangible technologies to the fore. From his early works to his latest, Hemmer plays with various technologies, such as surveillance systems, voice recognition, fingerprint scanner and algorithms to allow the viewers to more easily relate to the technologies that have already become ubiquitous.Numerous technologies have already become part of our language, and there is nothing new about his works, He

Arts & DesignMay 21, 2018

Psy to appear in JTBC singing show

The top Psy impersonators from around the country will attempt to overshadow the “Gangnam Style” star himself, as the K-pop star on Monday confirmed his appearance on JTBC’s “Hidden Singer.”In an announcement made earlier in the day, the broadcaster said it was looking for those who can sing just like Psy. It has not been confirmed when the episode will air. Psy(Yonhap)“Hidden Singer” is a show in which singers and people impersonating them sing without showing their faces. A celebrity panel com

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

BTS stages grand performance at Billboard Music Awards

In 2014, when BTS was a rookie group worried about finding 200 fans to fill a concert venue in Los Angeles, who would have imagined that it would one day become the first K-pop act to fire up the Billboard Music Awards?In a watershed moment in K-pop history, BTS on Sunday won the Billboard Music Awards’ top social artist award for the second consecutive year. It also performed the world premiere of its new track “Fake Love” during the awards show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. B

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

[Photo News] BTS delivers another energetic Billboard performance

BTS performed its new track “Fake Love” at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, US time. The six-member boy band delivered an energetic performance, showing off powerful dance moves alongside emotion-filled vocals. International fans in the audience were spotted cheering and singing along to the song, with some appearing teary-eyed.The song is from BTS’ latest album “Love Yourself: Tear.” BTS won the top social artist award at the awards for the second consecutive year. By Rumy Doo (doo@he

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

BTS scoops up second Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist

K-pop sensation BTS won a Billboard Music Award in the Top Social Artist category on Monday, dominating the fan-voted category for the second year in a row.The South Korean septet defeated four competing singers including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande to grab the award at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday (US time).As their name was called, the seven-member act took the stage with bright smiles amid roaring cheers from fans.  BTS attends the 2

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

BTS' 'Blood Sweat & Tears' video tops 300m YouTube views

A publicity photo of South Korea boy band BTS, provided by Big Hit Entertainment (Yonhap)The video for BTS' "Blood Sweat & Tears" has garnered more than 300 million views on YouTube, becoming the fourth video by the K-pop sensation to hit the milestone.The video for the lead song on "Wings," the group's second full-length album, released in October 2016, reached 300 million views on the global video-hosting site Sunday evening, according to Big Hit Entertainment. BTS has three other songs -- "D

PerformanceMay 21, 2018

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ second-most successful foreign film in Korea

Now the highest-grossing comic-based film of all time in Korea and around the world, “Avengers: Infinity War” has become the second-most successful foreign film at the Korean box office with 10.57 million tickets sold. According to data from the Korean Film Council on Sunday, the film sold 128,294 tickets on Saturday, which took it to the No. 2 spot after “Deadpool 2.” It reclaimed the spot from Lee Chang-dong’s critically acclaimed “Burning,” which won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize

FilmMay 20, 2018

Black Pink announces additional concert for Japan tour

Fans are flocking to watch Black Pink perform in Japan, as the girl group recently added one more concert to its first tour of arenas in the country. According to Japanese media, the tour was originally to consist of six concerts in Osaka, Fukuoka and Chiba Prefecture from July 24 to Aug. 26. But YG Entertainment decided to add one more concert in Chiba, due to a flood of requests from fans. The tour is expected to attract 66,000 fans. Last year, Black Pink held its debut showcase in the country

PerformanceMay 20, 2018

‘Burning’ gets critics’ approval with Fipresci prize at Cannes

Despite failing to win the top prize at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” was recognized with the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize for best film in the main competition.The mystery drama was considered one of the favorites to win the Palme d’Or, along with “Capernaum” by Nadine Labaki, “BlacKkKlansman” by Spike Lee and “Shoplifters” by Hirokazu Kore-eda, which took home the top prize.However, the Korean auteur’s masterful depiction of the insecurity, anxiety, pent-up

FilmMay 20, 2018

Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky to release new single Tuesday

Hwanhee of R&B duo Fly to the Sky will return as a soloist on Tuesday, according to the artist’s agency H2 Media. The agency recently said that the singer’s upcoming single will be titled “Obvious” (working title) and feature rapping by BTOB’s Ilhoon. He will be resuming his solo career for the first time in 14 months.  Hwanhee (H2 Media)“Hwanhee, who has showcased sensitive vocal before, sought a dramatic musical change with the upcoming single,” an agency official said.Hwanhee debuted as a mem

PerformanceMay 20, 2018

BTS’ ‘Fake Love’ enters Spotify’s Global Top 200

K-pop heavyweight BTS once again reached a new milestone by entering Spotify’s Global Top 200 Chart at No. 17, the highest ranking for any K-pop act to date.According to the global music streaming service Sunday, “Fake Love,” the group’s single from its recently released “Love Yourself: Tear” album, was the top ranking song from the album. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)With the new ranking, BTS also broke its own record on the list. Its previous hit “DNA” made it to No. 41 in September last year, m

PerformanceMay 20, 2018

‘Shoplifters’ wins Palme d’Or, grand prize to Spike Lee

CANNES, France -- A tumultuous Cannes Film Festival concluded Saturday with the Palme d’Or awarded to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” a tender portrait of a poor, impoverished family, while Harvey Weinstein accuser Asia Argento vowed justice will come to all sexual predators.At the closing ceremony for the 71st edition of the French Riviera extravaganza, the Cate Blanchett-led jury selected one of the festival’s most acclaimed entries, one hailed as a modest masterpiece from

FilmMay 20, 2018

BTS' new album tops iTunes charts in 65 nations

The new album by BTS has dominated the iTunes charts globally, within hours of its release, its agency said Saturday. Big Hit Entertainment said the seven-member act's third full-length album, titled "Love Yourself: Tear," claimed the top spot on iTunes' Top Albums charts in 65 countries including the US, Australia and Brazil. The main track, "Fake Love," ranked top of the iTunes' Top Songs chart in 52 nations including Denmark, Finland and Chile. All 11 songs made it into the top 20 songs of th

PerformanceMay 20, 2018

YouTube star says she was coerced to pose for pornographic photos

Seoul Mapo Police Station on Friday launched an investigation into allegation by a well-known YouTuber that she had been forced to pose for pornographic photos.The police questioned two women, YouTuber Yang Ye-won and her friend Lee So-yoon, under the presence of an attorney in an undisclosed location on Friday. Yang Ye-won, widely known on a streaming site for the videos she makes with her boyfriend, publically spoke about being a victim of sexual abuse. Yang uploaded a clip on her YouTube Chan

PeopleMay 18, 2018

[Eye Plus] Jeonju Hanok Village, a touchpoint of Korea’s past and present

Always bristling with tourists -- local and foreign, many dressed in modernized hanbok -- Jeonju Hanok Village is a top priority tourist spot in the North Jeolla Province city.The antique traditional residential district, however, is not just a photogenic theme park. It is living proof of Korea’s modern history in the early 20th century. It is also a symbol of balance which the ancient city has achieved between its traditional cultural assets and development.The hanok village originates from the

TravelMay 18, 2018

Fashion diplomacy links ‘Two Ethos’

Korean and Italian, contemporary and modern, old and new all meet at “Two Ethos,” a fashion collection that explores the combination of old Korean textiles and new Italian designs. “Two Ethos,” currently on display in Insa-dong, Seoul, combines two different identities which may not seem to have any relation to each other. "Two Ethos" (By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)The project was a collaboration between students of Korea National University of Cultural Heritage in South Chungcheong Provin

Arts & DesignMay 18, 2018

[Eye] Cho Yong-pil, king of Korean pop music

Before there was BTS, Psy, Girls’ Generation or Big Bang, there was Cho Yong-pil. Widely referred to as “Gawang,” which literally means the king of singing, Cho occupies a unique place in the popular music genre in Korea as the O.G. idol singer, pioneer of many genres and the most influential figure in the scene today.  Cho Yong-pil (Yonhap)Last week’s concert in Seoul commemorating the 50th anniversary of his debut was a reminder of his prominence in the Korean music scene. The tickets sold out

PerformanceMay 18, 2018

Around the Hotels

Flavor of ice at Conrad Seoul Conrad Seoul’s 37 Grill and Bar offers two choices of bingsu, the ultimate Korean summer dessert made with shaved ice and milk. Diners are offered a choice between mango and red bean for the topping. The milk is brewed with Althaus’ Earl Grey tea. A special plating decoration is added with the use of dry-ice to create a cloud-like mirage. The ice-cold decoration also prevents bingsu from melting. The bingsu menus are offered until Sep. 16 at the price of 38,000 won

FoodMay 18, 2018

[Home Cooking] Slow cooker pork belly (samgyeopsal)

This recipe is a slow cooker version of the boiled pork dish called bossam. Slow cooking belly renders more fat than boiling if you are concerned about the fat content of pork belly.You can also use Boston butt (moksal in Korean) or picnic shoulder (apdarisal in Korean), which also works nicely. If you’re using a big roast cut, simply cut it into 5 to 7-centimeter thick strips so the seasoning can better penetrate the meat.For the seasoning, I used a tablespoon of doenjang (Korean fermented soyb

FoodMay 18, 2018