[Eye Plus] Travel back in time in Seochon

Just a few blocks off the busy streets near Gwanghwamun Plaza are clusters of Korean traditional houses -- or hanok -- that have stood the test of time in Seochon. Seochon, which means west village in Korean, is a collection of districts west of Gyeongbokgung, including Cheongun-dong, Hyoja-dong, Ogin-dong and Sajik-dong. People of varying classes resided in this area in the Joseon period, while, in the modern era, its residents included writers and artists.Today, it is also a popular tourist sp

CultureApril 13, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Herb Island Lighting & Illumination FestivalHerb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, will be hosting the annual Lighting & Illumination Festival until Oct. 31. With its 300-meter wish tunnel, a lavender field lit up in various colors and more, Herb Island aims to get visitors in the holiday spirit. Inspired by European Christmas markets, the festival offers various events, including Christmas-themed soap-, tree- and candle-making, a Christmas cookie market and roasted turkey.Admission to the H

TravelApril 13, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

What a Man Wants(Korea)Opened April 5ComedyDirected by Lee Byoung-heonLegendary playboy Seok-geun (Lee Sung-min) introduces Bongsu (Shin Ha-kyun), who is married to his younger sister Mi-yeong (Song Ji-hyo) to a world of womanizing.Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum(Korea)Opened March 28Horror, MysteryDirected by Jun Bum-shik Ha-jun (Wi Ha-jun) who runs a YouTube channel that deals with the supernatural, leads a team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to

FilmApril 13, 2018

Around the Hotels

Cherry blossom afternoon at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul hotel’s dining cafe Gallery offers afternoon tea buffet, under the concept of spring cherry blossom. The hotel took advantage of its location, surrounded by blooming spring flowers. As the cafe’s decoration was inspired by a garden of cherry blossoms, bouquets of flowers are placed around the Gallery. Around 17 kinds of pastel toned desserts are prepared, along with coffee and tea. The buffet is prepared every day from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

FoodApril 13, 2018

Actress Go Hyun-jung makes first appearance after stepping down from drama

Go Hyun-jung on Thursday made her first public appearance since stepping down from “Return,” in the middle of production, in February.The actress left her lead role in “Return,” apparently due to conflicts with staff members. She had not made a public appearances since. She did not attend the preview of “Winter Guest Scarier Than a Tiger,” in which she plays the female lead role.  Go Hyun-jung (Yonhap)During a fan meeting held in Seoul on Thursday to promote the film “Winter Guest Scarier Than a

TelevisionApril 13, 2018

Korean films ‘Burning,’ ‘The Spy Gone North’ to screen at Cannes

One of the most recognized film festivals worldwide, Cannes Film Festival announced its official selection list for this year Thursday, including two Korean films.Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” has been invited to the festival’s main competition category, going up against 17 other films. The film features Yoo Ah-in and Hollywood actor Steven Yeun as the main leads. “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)The thriller, an adaptation of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s short story “Barn Burning,” revolves a

FilmApril 13, 2018

Han Kang's novel shortlisted for Man Booker Int'l Prize

South Korean novelist Han Kang, the 2016 winner of the Man Booker International Prize, has been shortlisted for the British literary award of world authority, the organizer said Thursday (British local time).Han's "The White Book" is among the six finalists for the 2018 Man Booker prize. The 2015 winner, Laszlo Krasznahorkai from Hungary, also made the list."The White Book" was translated by Deborah Smith, who was a joint recipient, along with Han, of the Man Booker award two years ago for her t

BooksApril 13, 2018

BTS' 'Face Yourself' becomes fastest-selling K-pop record in Japan

"Face Yourself," the latest Japanese release from boy band BTS, has become the fastest-selling K-pop album in Japan to date, according to the country's main music sales tracker on Thursday."Face Yourself," the septet's third Japanese studio album, released on April 2, sold 282,000 copies in its first week, reaching a new high for a South Korean artist in terms of first week shipments, Oricon reported.The previous K-pop record holder was girl group KARA, which sold 275,000 copies of "Super Girl"

PerformanceApril 12, 2018

Artists use familiar materials to express themselves

In their search for their means of expression, artists sometimes turn to materials to which they are culturally familiar or emotionally attached to. For sculptor Chung Hyun, that material is debris from abandoned traditional Korean buildings.  An installation view of “Untitled” by sculptor Chung Hyun on the first floor of Kumho Museum of Art (Kumho Museum of Art)At his solo exhibition at Kumho Museum of Art in Seoul, Chung, who is well known for his exhibition “The Standing Man” -- a group of 47

Arts & DesignApril 12, 2018

K-pop star Hyoyeon takes first steps as ‘DJ Hyo’

She is most noted in the K-pop scene for her astonishing dance moves, but Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation is showing a new side of herself to fans: DJing.“Sober,” the debut single released under Hyoyeon’s new alias DJ Hyo, will be available at 6 p.m. Wednesday through local online music streaming websites.  A teaser image for “Sober” (S.M. Entertainment)According to her agency S.M. Entertainment, the song is of the tropical future house genre, with Hyoyeon providing both the vocals and DJing.Hyoyeo

PerformanceApril 12, 2018

Comforting life through meeting ‘My Mister’

Drama series “My Mister” didn’t get off to a smooth start, being hounded by controversies from the very beginning. At a media briefing held Wednesday, the producer and cast attempted to dispel concerns about the program, appealing to the public to see its sincerity. The tvN drama that airs at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays aims to portray how scarred souls heal each other, focusing on a relationship between a man in his mid-40s and a woman in her early 20s.  Poster of “My Mister” (tvN)The

TelevisionApril 12, 2018

JTBC’s new channel to launch with beauty show

Broadcaster JTBC’s new lifestyle trend channel JTBC4 is to launch with a beauty show “My Mad Beauty Diary,” featuring singer and actress Koo Ha-ra.  Koo Ha-ra, Hwang Seung-un and Lee Su-hyun (JTBC4)Fashion and beauty magazine Cosmopolitan has been participating in the production with the goal to make a “beauty magazine that can be watched on TV.”According to the network’s announcement, Koo Ha-ra, Hwang Seung-un and Lee Su-hyun are to host the show, revealing their tips on makeup and style. Edito

TelevisionApril 12, 2018

[Epicurean challenge] New ‘rice thief,’ saeujang

Soy sauce-preserved crabs are called a “rice thief” in Korea, as people find it hard to stop eating when the succulent raw crabs are served. But there is a new contender for that coveted title -- raw prawns marinated in soy sauce. Called “saeujang” in Korean, this delicacy is popular among foodies who sing praises of raw seafood preserved in soy sauce.  Saeujang (Photo by Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)To make saeujang, the prawns are soaked in a special soy sauce marinade, painstakingly boiled

FoodApril 12, 2018

Korean anchorwoman with glasses sparks sensation

A female news presenter of one of the three major TV networks here appeared wearing glasses on air, sparking interest online. Lim Hyeon-ju, who delivers the news on MBC’s morning news program “MBC News Today,” wore a pair of round-rimmed glasses on air Thursday.While male news presenters in Korea have often been seen wearing glasses on air on major TV networks, including KBS, SBS and MBC, it is the first time for a female presenter to do so.“Anchormen are free to wear glasses, but why not anchor

CultureApril 12, 2018

Sewol resurfaces on screen in documentary

A documentary film on the Sewol ferry tragedy of 2014 opened in local theaters Thursday, with the creators tracking down what they say is the real reason behind one of the worst maritime disasters in Korea’s history.“Intention” was directed by Kim Ji-yeong and produced by journalist Kim Eo-jun. It analyzes the data of the ship’s automatic identification system, and comes up with what they claim is the real reason the cruise ferry sank on April 16, 2014. Moviegoers attend the premiere of “Intenti

FilmApril 12, 2018

'Avengers' cast excited over ‘Infinity Wars’

To say “Avengers: Infinity Wars” is the most anticipated superhero film of the 2018 would be an understatement: Ever since the highest-grossing film franchise of all time launched in 2008 with the iconic “Iron Man,” the 18 movies, numerous tie-in TV series and comic books have been building up for the final show-down between the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s mightiest heroes and the “Mad Titan Thanos.”“It’s a huge privilege to be part of this ensemble. It is quite astonishing, to mark the 10-year

FilmApril 12, 2018

[Trending] #LeeYoungja’s favorite restaurants #YoungjaRoad

A higher proportion of South Koreans are estimated to have enjoyed eating out over the past decade. The latest stats show that there were 660,000 restaurants opened in Korea in 2015, which translates to one eatery per 78 people across the country. The tremendous saturation of restaurants led the popularity of dining review mobile applications and blogs, which help indecisive customers to choose what to eat for the day.  Lee Young-ja (MBC)The recent advent of a comedian’s restaurant reviews, howe

FoodApril 12, 2018

Eric Nam isn’t sweet anymore in ‘Honestly’ EP

K-pop soloist Eric Nam was once an icon of “sweetness,” the kind of a guy who would readily whisper words of romance into one’s ears. In his new EP “Honestly,” however, he pulled out a more “candid” self, stripping off his previous boy-next-door image and transforming himself into a man who confesses “maybe it’s a lie that I still love you.”   The “Honestly” EP, Nam’s first EP in two years released Thursday, features six tracks including lead track “Honestly…,” a mid-tempo dance pop number that

PerformanceApril 12, 2018

Writing classes at Mulmangcho Open School bring students from North and South together

North and South Koreans are separated by a literal and symbolic divide, but a buzzing writing class in Seoul is helping to change that narrative.Mulmangcho Open School allows its students to overcome such binary divisions and write their own stories.It is the first time the non-profit education initiative has organized a session for both North and South Korean university students. The school is managed by non-profit organization Mulmangcho, which helps North Koreans settle inSouth Korea through

Expat LivingApril 11, 2018

[Photo News] The end of spring cold spell

After the brief cold spell Korea meets every year in spring, temperatures have turned mildly warm once more. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom on Wednesday afternoon, which saw highs of 18 degrees Celsius, at the Seokchon Lake Park in Songpa, southern Seoul. Nearby residents and passersby were seen strolling along the park amid the flowery trees, welcoming the return of spring. Written by Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com) Photos by Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com) 

CultureApril 11, 2018