YouTubers go offscreen to perform onstage

When YouTuber Josh Carrott, better known here as the Korean Englishman, appeared onstage with his creative partner Ollie Kendal, the crowd erupted into cheers. The two English nationals, famous for their video content that introduces Korean culture to foreigners, frolicked around onstage. They brought audience members into the spotlight, handed out snacks and hosted a 15-minute performance with showmanship. 　Magician Nicky followed with a live magic show, bringing audience members onto the stage

PeopleFeb. 26, 2018

[Trending] CL’s ‘Bad Girl’ performance sparks mixed reactions

When the lights went down at PyeongChang main stadium Sunday night, CL appeared on stage to get the crowd going. However, her fierce performance to her hit song “The Baddest Female” didn’t seem in-line with the much-anticipated closing ceremony show. As soon as the K-pop diva appeared on stage, the name “CL” shot to the first spot of the real-time trending bar on Naver and stayed on the rankings until the end of the day. CL performs at PyeongChang main stadium on Feb. 25. (Yonhap)“I wanted to in

PerformanceFeb. 26, 2018

Actor Oh Dal-su denies sexual harassment accusation

Popular comedy actor Oh Dal-su denied Monday that he sexually harassed a junior theater actor back in the '90s, three days after the accusation against him was made public."The claim against me is not true. I didn't do it," Oh said in a statement. "I look back on the past, some 30 years ago when I was in my early 20s, but I have never done such things." Oh Dal-su (Yonhap)The accusation against the actor began with an anonymous online posting dated Feb. 15, in which the author accused the actor o

TelevisionFeb. 26, 2018

YG Entertainment opens dining facility in Jeju Shinhwa World

YG Entertainment on Sunday opened its restaurant complex YG Republique at Jeju Shinhwa World, an integrated resort complex on Jeju Island. YG’s new multifaceted dining complex consists of three restaurant brands: a meat place called “Three-Way Butcher,” a salad cafe called “3Birds” and a pub called “K-Pub,” all of which are operated by YG in conjunction with YG Foods, the agency’s restaurant business.  G-Dragon’s cafe Untitled, 2017 (YG Foods) YG Republique (YG Foods)YG Republique also has branc

CultureFeb. 25, 2018

‘IMA Picks’ looks at different aspects of neoliberal society

Ilmin Museum of Art is examining different aspects of neoliberal society through “IMA Picks,” a project that comprises research-based artworks by artists in their 30s and 40s who have made significant achievements at home and abroad for more than 10 years.As part of this year’s project, Kim A-young, Lee Moon-joo, and Jung Yoon-suk are presenting solo exhibitions that showcase their ways of interpreting different phenomena embedded in neoliberal society.  Kim A-young’s “Porosity Valley” (IMA)Kim’

Arts & DesignFeb. 25, 2018

H.O.T. relives heyday through MBC’s ‘Infinite Challenge’

Legendary K-pop act H.O.T. presented fans with the best present they had been waiting for: Reuniting after 17 years through MBC’s “Infinite Challenge.”Saturday’s episode of MBC’s variety program featured the five-piece band throwing a concert attended by about 2,500 fans at the Olympic Hall in Seoul as a part of the program’s special edition “ToToGa 3: Return of the Kings,” which chronicled the group’s process for its reunion. The actual concert was recorded earlier on Feb. 15. H.O.T. performs a

PerformanceFeb. 25, 2018

More #MeToo sexual misconduct claims hit Korea's culture sector

With a spate of #MeToo accusations spreading through the Korean entertainment scene, local broadcasters and production companies are grappling with the repercussions of the global movement as they witness a cascade of sexual harassment accusations made against big-name actors. On Friday, actors Cho Jae-hyun and Oh Dal-soo were accused of sexual harassment after online posts by victims and witnesses about their misconduct surfaced online. Accusations against Cho, 52, came after actress Choi Yul w

TelevisionFeb. 25, 2018

[Photo News] Beating until perfection, bangjja

Korean traditional bronzeware, called bangjja, is the ultimate in sophistication. Artisan Kim Ki-chan, who is a sixth-generation bangjja maker at his family-run business, makes just one pair of a bangjja chopsticks and spoon a day at his workshop in Yanggu, Gangwon Province. To make one bronze spoon, Kim pounds the metal more than 365 times with a hammer, then tempers and files it.  Photo: Park Hyun-koo/The Korea HeraldTo Kim, making bangjja was more than just continuing his family business. It

CultureFeb. 23, 2018

Rapper under fire for sexually harassing underage fan

Rapper Don Malik has admitted to sexually harassing a high school student. On Wednesday, the rapper, whose actual name is Moon In-sub, was accused of sexually assaulting a high school student fan. The victim said through social media that the rapper demanded sexual acts against her will. Later in the day, the rapper’s management agency, Daze Alive Music, admitted to the accusation and announced that Don Malik would immediately be expelled from the label.  Don Malik (Daze Alive Music)Don Malik is

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Fifty Shades Freed(US)Opened Feb. 21Drama, Romance, ThrillerDirected by James FoleyBelieving they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian and Ana fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.Black Panther (US)Opened Feb. 14Action, Adventure, Sci-fi Directed by Ryan Coogler T’Challa

FilmFeb. 23, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Sunday Paintings’ record life of artist

In this age of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, people’s lives seem to be fully on display, feeding our exhibitionist and voyeuristic tendencies at the same time. To be seen and to see has come to define our times.Yet, viewing US-based artist Byron Kim’s “Sunday Paintings” series at the Kukje Gallery in Sojeok-dong, Seoul, is an oddly discomfiting experience. In a series of 35.5 centimeter-by-35.5 centimeter canvases, the artist depicts the sky over wherever he may be on a given Sunday and write

CultureFeb. 23, 2018

Fostering coffee at Conflict Store

In many ways, the word “conflict” is at odds with the actual concept of barista Park Jin-hoon’s new spot. “I do not want competition between roasters, I want to promote communication,” said Conflict Store owner Park, 33, who wants his cafe to be a level field by spotlighting multiple roasters instead of one in his space.  Conflict Store owner-barista Park Jin-hoon alternates between grinding machines and the hand grinder pictured here. (Photo credit: Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)In essence, th

FoodFeb. 23, 2018

[Home Cooking] Gosari namul

Gosari namul is a popular side dish made with fiddlehead ferns (also known as bracken or fernbrake). It traditionally is one of the vegetable side dishes served in three colors -- collectively called samsaek, or three-color, namul. Gosari grows in the hills and mountains. It has a deep, earthy flavor with a chewy texture, which makes it an essential addition to dishes such as bibimbap and yukgaejang (a spicy beef and vegetable soup). This recipe uses dried gosari. Look for the ones with short, t

FoodFeb. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Around the Hotels

Strawberry afternoon at Sheraton D Cube CityFor those who are unsure who filling a buffet of strawberries can be, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City has prepared a strawberry afternoon tea set. On an intricately designed tea tray, 12 sweets and snacks, all centered on the use of fresh strawberries, are prepared. The hotel’s Lobby Lounge on the 41st floor is widely known for its panoramic view of the city. While enjoying the tea set, one can get a bird‘s eye view of the city. The tea set is offered until

FoodFeb. 23, 2018

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Anseong Ice Fishing Fest Visitors are offered winter activities such as ice fishing, sledding, traditional winter games and barehanded fishing. Gwanghyewon Reservoir, the venue of the Anseong Ice Fishing Festival, is one of the largest reservoirs of Anseong, known for its pristine water that runs down from the Charyeonsan mountains.The festival runs until Feb. 25, and admission is 5,000 won per person. Children under 5 are admitted free.Call the travel hotline at 1330 for information in Korean,

TravelFeb. 23, 2018

Bae Bien-u faces #MeToo movement for his sexual misconduct: report

Renowned photographer Bae Bien-u, 68, has become the latest figure outed in the #MeToo movement, being accused of sexually harassing female students when he was a professor.  (Yonhap)According to local daily Kyunghyang Shinmun, graduates of Seoul Institute of Arts are lashing out at the photographer for sexually assaulting students both verbally and physically. “Teaching a class at his studio in November 2010, the professor came up to me from behind and grabbed my buttocks,” one of the accusers

PeopleFeb. 23, 2018

[Weekender] ‘What’s your flashing green light?’

“Gatsby and I, it was such a perfect coincidence. I just immediately related to him.” When PH-1, a 25-year-old rapper from the US, finished recording two tracks for his latest EP -- both of which take critical aim at society -- he couldn’t find an overarching theme for the album. And while flipping through Netflix, he stumbled upon “The Great Gatsby” film based on F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s 1925 novel. And a light bulb switched on. “I thought of Gatsby as a person who has everything but at the same t

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Dress down to be hip, hop on fashion stage

The hip-hop scene is characterized by its own style of dress -- its loose yet cool sense of fashion. Thanks to the music genre’s recent boom, more people than ever are seeking to dress like the rappers and DJs that they admire. Hip-hop fashion is more commonly referred to as street fashion in Korea. Though the term was originally used to differentiate the “realway” look from the runway one, it is now used to signify a hip-hop style. Rap has been creating a buzz in the last couple of years. Audit

Arts & DesignFeb. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Hip-hop: More than music

In the summer of 2013, Korea was set ablaze by a series of “diss tracks” shot out rapid-fire by local hip-hop artists. Rapper Swings kick-started it with a track attacking the entire Korean hip-hop scene to the beats of “Control” by Big Sean. It soon spread to engulf the scene within a month.Put aside the head-butting of the rappers, the amount of attention it got -- making headlines and being parodied by comedy shows, video games and celebrities across the country -- was a reminder that when so

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2018

BTS' rapper J-Hope to release mixtape next month

J-Hope, a rapper from the K-pop boy band BTS, will release a mixtape next month, the group's agency said Friday. Big Hit Entertainment said the 24-year-old artist will put out a solo mixtape on March 2 for the first time since the group's debut in 2013. He will be the seven-strong act's third artist to do so, after leader RM in 2015 and Suga in 2016.  (Big Hit Entertainment)A mixtape is a self-produced, experimental album that is released free of charge to share an artist's own musical taste and

PerformanceFeb. 23, 2018