Gazing anew at subject-object relations

Human bodies are often the users, or namely the subjects. Objects, on the other hand, are used by the subjects. “Spa & Beauty Seoul” by artist Jeong Geum-hyung, explores the relationship between subject and object, as well as the gap between the two opposites. Over the weekend, Jeong held three local performances that were first introduced under the title “Tate Live: Geumhyung Jeong” at Tate Modern in London last year.Jeong’s performance Saturday was held on the fourth floor of the SongEun ArtSp

Arts & DesignApril 8, 2018

Day6 to hold first Japan concert in June

Day6 will hold its first ever concert in Japan in June, its agency said Friday.According to S.M. Entertainment, the five-piece K-pop boy band will hold its Japan solo concert “‘DAY6 1st LIVE in JAPAN “THE BEST DAY’” at Tsutaya O-East in Tokyo and Umeda Trad in Osaka on June 13 and 14, respectively.  Day6 (JYP Entertainment)The act made its Japanese debut on March 14 with its first Japanese single EP “If ~ I See You Again ~” which became a theme song for Japanese drama “Repeat.” Day6 is also set

PerformanceApril 8, 2018

[Herald Interview] Discovering new ways to farm and sell produce from rural Hwacheon

When the sun rises at 5 a.m., Song Ju-hee begins her day. After applying a lot of sunscreen on her face and wearing the most comfortable outfit she has, Song drives to her family’s farm in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. She spends nearly 10 hours on the farm, where she grows corn, perilla, chili pepper and watermelon.The 29-year-old farmer also runs a company named Neorean, which makes about 100 million won ($94,000) in annual sales by producing bottles of perilla and sesame oils. Song is regarded

PeopleApril 6, 2018

[Eye Plus] ‘Pink clouds’ of blooming cherry blossoms

Every spring for the past five years, the song “Cherry Blossom Ending” has topped the local music charts. Released in 2012 by local band Busker Busker, the track is recognized as Korea’s national spring song. People often say, the track will tell our descendants what spring was like for us when the delightful season disappears from severe global warming, as cherry blossoms are a symbol of Korea’s spring. It’s almost an annual ceremony to step outside to enjoy walks under small pinkish-hued flowe

CultureApril 6, 2018

[Video] Barbershop offers a cultural space for gentlemen

The barbershop has been slowly fading into a place of the past, only rarely shown on TV as a symbol of the bygone era. But there are signs of it being reborn into a hip place for Korean men.(Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)The revival of the barbershop is being driven by a set of carefully redefined features and services reserved for male clients. One factor is a pressure-free interaction atmosphere between customers and barbers. “Older barbers in our parents’ time even knew

CultureApril 6, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

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 the team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to have never been opened since the hospital closed decades before. Despite the rumors that the place is cursed, Ha-jun and his team strap on cameras and plunge into the darkness surrounding the battered building.Ready Player One(US)

FilmApril 6, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Samcheok 2018 bike trek A noncompetitive bicycle race around Samcheok, Gangwon Province, will take place on the last weekend of April. The event will take off at Samcheok Culture & Art Center on April 29, and will consist of a course that crosses the city of Samcheok. Olympic gold-medal speedskater Mo Tae-bum has been appointed honorary ambassador for the event.Riders can choose between a 138-kilometer "challenge" course and 42-kilometer "accompanying" course. The challenge course is available t

TravelApril 6, 2018

[Weekender] Where styles are made

It does not take long to realize that Koreans care a lot about looking good. Just take to the streets of Gangnam, Hongdae or Itaewon to find a parade of the fashionably -- and sometimes scantily -- dressed.Perfectly maintained hair plays a crucial part in style too, to which Koreans have turned to beauty salons, beauty parlors or beauty shops for help.The inside view of Uncle Booth located in Yeongdeungpo(Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Prior to the 20th century, the Confucianism that dominated t

CultureApril 6, 2018

[Weekender] Experiencing ultimate delicacy at Korean hair salons

In front of many local hair salons, signboards reading “Welcome foreign guests” and “We speak English” are put up, as a large number of foreign tourists seek to have their hair done while staying in Korea. The outlanders search for a proper glint of “K-style,” while experiencing premium service from head to toe. All-in-one beauty parlors in Korea offer full beauty service, from haircuts to makeup and nails.From the point of walking in, customers are continuously offered to have some beverages an

Arts & DesignApril 6, 2018

Tiger JK to release last album as Drunken Tiger

Korean hip-hop legend Tiger JK announced Friday that in a week he will reveal a prereleased song from his upcoming new album that will be his last under the name “Drunken Tiger.”Drunken Tiger is the name of his hip-hop duo with DJ Shine that debuted in 1999. Even after his bandmate left in 2005, Tiger JK continued releasing new tracks under that name. Tiger JK (Drunken Tiger) (Feel Good Music)The upcoming album is the first full-length album from Drunken Tiger in nine years, since releasing “Fee

PerformanceApril 6, 2018

Around the Hotels

Chef‘s afternoon tea plating at Millennium Seoul HiltonFor a sweet and satisfying weekend afternoon, Millennium Seoul Hilton’s delicatessen Cilantro Deli offers an afternoon tea set, under the presence of its pastry chef. On Saturdays and Sundays, 2:30 to 6 p.m., guests can enjoy some afternoon tea, including sandwiches, boutique cakes and fruit tarts, accompanied by coffee, tea or juice of choice. While the menu may seem ordinary, the delicatessen added a fun twist to it, by having the pastry c

FoodApril 6, 2018

[Home Cooking] Gamja jorim (soy-braised potatoes)

Gamja jorim is a braised potato dish. It’s very popular as a side dish at home and restaurants and for home-packed lunch boxes. The potatoes are braised in a slightly sweet, soy-based sauce until the sauce is reduced and the potatoes are tender. It’s a filling, inexpensive dish we all grew up on.This dish can be made with a few staple ingredients in your pantry. I used a carrot and some green pepper for colors, but you can use other colorful vegetables of your choice or simply omit them.You can

FoodApril 6, 2018

Taeyeon to hold first individual showcase tour in Japan

Taeyeon of Girls' Generation will hold her first-ever showcase tour in Japan in June as a solo artist, her agency said Friday.The tour will take her to four Japanese cities -- Fukuoka, Nagoya, Tokyo and Osaka, SM Entertainment said, without releasing the exact dates for the events.  (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007, Taeyeon began a solo career in 2015 with her first EP album "I." She has since released many hit songs, such as "Rain," "Why," "11:11" and "Fine.

EntertainmentApril 6, 2018

K-pop group BTS teases new release in 9-minute video

K-pop boy band BTS on Friday released a new cinematic video hinting at the themes and sounds of its upcoming new album.Titled "Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself: Wonder," the nine-minute-long teaser video was shared on YouTube at midnight.In similar fashion to BTS' promotional videos in the past, the video was filmed and edited to resemble a mini feature film, with the septet featured in a montage of various dramatic environments and situations. (Big Hit Entertainment)The footage includes several

PerformanceApril 6, 2018

[Epicurean challenge] Step above steak tartare, yuksashimi

Yuksashimi is a dish of sliced raw beef. It is considered a challenging dish, even for many Koreans, as one has to get over the uncomfortableness of eating raw meat. The dish became trendy on social media in the early 2010s, attracting the younger generation, and today raw beef eateries are filled with young people taking pictures of the food for online posts.  Yuksashimi (Photo by Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)While the National Institute of Korean Language asserts the food should be called sa

FoodApril 5, 2018

[Video] 77 student models strut down catwalk ‘cherry blossom way’

Since 2014, student models of Daeduk University have hosted an unusual catwalk under cherry blossom trees in full bloom.Daeduk University is located in the center of South Korea in Daejeon and runs a two-year program for aspiring models. Students learn proper posture and the many ways to execute a walk with style. The university’s “Department of Model” was established in 2014 and has since gained fame through its catwalk under the cherry blossoms. Both male and female students participate, altho

Arts & DesignApril 5, 2018

‘Bosch Dreams’ acrobatic performance highlights Dutch painter’s phantasmagoria

The contemporary circus show “Bosch Dreams” comes to the LG Arts Center from Friday to Sunday.“Bosch Dreams” is a 2016 co-production by Montreal-based The 7 Fingers and Copenhagen-based Theatre Republique, led by artistic director Samuel Tetreault and French video artist Ange Potier. First initiated upon a request made by the Hieronymus Bosch 500 Foundation to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, the contemporary circus production sheds new light on the works of the 15th century Dutch painte

PerformanceApril 5, 2018

Yoo Ah-in teams up with Steven Yeun for new film ‘Burning’

“Burning,” the latest movie by director Lee Chang-dong, will open in Korean theaters in May, starring actor Yoo Ah-in and “Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun.It is a drama featuring three youngsters tumbling into a rabbit hole of mystery. A trailer released Wednesday featured Yoo, who will return to the silver screen for the first time in two year since “Like for Likes.” Poster for “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)Yoo starred in hit films such as “Veteran,” period piece “The Throne” and coming-of-age film “P

FilmApril 5, 2018

Korea Language Village receives $5m donation

Luxury handbag manufacturer Simone Corp. donated $5 million to begin constructing a larger, culturally authentic Korean language village in the US.The company will be supporting constructions for the expansion of the current Korean Language Village at Concordia Language Villages, the world-language and culture education program announced Tuesday.This gift represents the single largest donation in support of Korean language education in North America, Concordia Language Villages said in a stateme

CultureApril 5, 2018

[Herald Interview] Winner says it has never stopped growing

A K-pop idol act’s full-length album means more than just setting out another promotional cycle, especially if it is packed with 12 self-created tracks. Four members of Winner, a prominent K-pop boy band under YG Entertainment, was confident in that the act’s second full-length album “EVERYD4Y” was a result of its continuous efforts to reinvent and hone themselves.“For the last few years since our debut, there was no single time we have stopped to become better Winner. I can confidently say that

PerformanceApril 5, 2018