Trot singer Hong Jin-young returns with retro ‘Good Bye’

Singer Hong Jin-young, one of the most recognized trot singers in Korea, returned with new single “Good Bye” on Wednesday. “Each time I release a new single, I‘ve always thought that its popularity should outdo my previous hit ‘Love Battery.’ I just couldn’t help but put a lot of thought into each single,” Hong said during a media showcase for “Good Bye” in Seoul on Wednesday. Hong Jin-young performs during a media showcase for “Good Bye” in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap)　Hong, who made her breakt

PerformanceFeb. 8, 2018

Big Bang’s Seungri to star in Chinese film ‘Love Only’

Big Bang member Seungri will star in upcoming Chinese film “Love Only,” the singer’s agency YG Entertainment said Thursday. Seungri, who is making his Chinese acting debut in “Love Only,” will begin promotions for the movie by attending a press conference in Hong Kong on Thursday, according to the agency.  “Love Only” (YG Entertainment)In the romance flick, the singer will play the lead role of Yun Sheng, the marketing director of a conglomerate who grew up in Europe and puts love on top of ever

PerformanceFeb. 8, 2018

[Album review] Seventeen just gets better and better

Seventeen“Director’s Cut”(Loen Entertainment) Whether they are crafted for special occasions or are part of the group’s regular album, Seventeen’s music has been improving with each new release. The group’s “Director’s Cut,” an extended, reissued version of the K-pop act’s “Teen, Age” album from last year, features four new songs. The new songs are off-cuts that were not released at the time, but each of them sparkles with Seventeen’s signature bubbly energy, flagging themselves as perfect singl

PerformanceFeb. 7, 2018

‘Koreans want to see foreigners reacting to food on YouTube’

According to English YouTuber Emil Price, the way to Korean viewers’ hearts is through their stomachs. 　As a foreign YouTuber living in Korea and creating content about the country mainly for a Korean audience, Price, 25, is keenly attentive to the tastes of local viewers. When food is visible in a video’s thumbnail image, the number of views soars, he noted at a talk with foreign YouTubers at Google’s Campus Seoul on Wednesday. 　The internet has seen a rise in foreign social media influencers l

CultureFeb. 7, 2018

[Newsmaker] Poet alleges sexual harassment by acclaimed literary figure

The #MeToo movement is gathering momentum in Korea, as public figures continue to come forward with stories of sexual harassment involving prominent individuals.In a televised interview on JTBC’s news program Tuesday, Choi Young-mi shed light on sexual harassment in the literary world.Choi has published several volumes of poetry, including the popular “At Thirty the Party was Over” and “Things Already Hot.”The interview revolved around a poem titled “Monster,” in which Choi makes thinly veiled a

CultureFeb. 7, 2018

Jo Kwon caught in academic favor controversy

Jo Kwon (Yonhap)A news broadcast reported Tuesday that a K-pop star received a graduate degree from Kyung Hee University despite not meeting the requirements.Along with the report, a photo of the singer was revealed. Though the face was blurred, the public was able to identify the person as singer Jo Kwon, who majored in Postmodern Music at the university. While Jo‘s agency, Cube Entertainment, has been refusing to comment on the matter, the singer’s acquaintance spoke to another media outlet, h

PerformanceFeb. 7, 2018

Kim Ki-duk’s film still headed to Berlin amid film fest’s #MeToo drive

While the upcoming 68th Berlin International Film Festival has announced that it disqualified certain films over sexual misconduct allegations, Korean film director Kim Ki-duk’s work remains on its program. The film festival director Dieter Kosslick said to the press Tuesday that certain productions had been disqualified from participating because a director, screenwriter or star related to the production was involved in credible sexual-assault allegations. Kim Ki-duk (Yonhap)Mentioning that “le

FilmFeb. 7, 2018

‘The Body’ a mystery of missing body in morgue

An ambitious professor who has been living an affluent but miserable married life murders his wife, thinking he has committed the perfect crime. Then the woman’s body goes missing from the National Institute of Scientific Investigation. A tenacious detective starts chasing the truth of the mystery. Upcoming thriller “The Body,” starring Kim Hee-ae, Kim Gang-woo and Kim Sang-kyung, unfolds with the creepy tagline “A corpse of my wife I killed has disappeared,” zooming into the three characters’ t

FilmFeb. 6, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Light-themed arts exhibition and performances at PyeongChang Games

A myriad of cultural events, ranging from arts exhibition to performances are to take place throughout Gangwon Province, home to the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, during the games period.Of numerous events vying for visitors‘ attention are arts exhibitions and performances, held under theme of light. Located at PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, the Culture ICT Hall will host a contemporary arts exhibition including some of Korea’s most acclaimed artists in the Olympics host city.Under the

Arts & DesignFeb. 6, 2018

Seoul Auction to open exhibition space in HK

Seoul Auction, Korea’s leading auction house, will launch an art exhibition space in Hong Kong on Thursday, as part of its effort to expand its footing in Asia and promote Korean art and artists overseas, it said Monday.During a press conference in Seoul to mark its 20th anniversary, Seoul Auction said that the auction house would launch its new exhibition space SA+ in Hong Kong’s new H Queen’s building, dedicated to galleries. “Seoul Auction decided to launch the exhibition space SA+ in Hong Ko

Arts & DesignFeb. 6, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Meet the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics mascots: Soohorang and Bandabi

At every Olympic Game, there is a unique mascot which bolsters Olympic spirit while promoting the culture and values of the event’s host city and country.　And in South Korea, a white tiger named Soohorang and an Asiatic black bear named Bandabi will each be representing the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games set to kick off in PyeongChang this week. There is a rich symbolism and culture behind the two animals, which are closely associated with Korean traditional folklore and mythology. Bandabi

CultureFeb. 5, 2018

WJSN to return with wizardly ‘Dream Your Dream’ on Feb. 27

K-pop act WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, will return with its fourth EP “Dream Your Dream” on Feb. 27, the group’s agency Starship Entertainment said Monday. The upcoming album marks the group’s first release since its first full-length album “Happy Moment” in June last year.  WJSN (Starship Entertainment)The release schedule for the new album shared via WJSN’s official website featured dates for the release of track-list and a music video, slated for Feb. 21 and 22, respectively. The wizardl

PerformanceFeb. 5, 2018

[Herald Interview] Capturing hanbok’s beauty with modern elements

Jeans, knee-length skirt, see-through sleeveless dress, lace and frills -- these are not the descriptions that usually come to mind when thinking about hanbok, or traditional Korean clothes. But for everyday hanbok brand Leesle, these words are part of the vocabulary used to describing its products.Many Koreans these days are reluctant to wear hanbok, as it is expensive and uncomfortable. The skirt is long and the sleeves are too wide. As it is mostly made with silk, it’s difficult to wash. (Lee

Arts & DesignFeb. 5, 2018

[Video] 3 must-eat dishes in Gangwon Province

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games are just five days away, and cities throughout Gangwon Province are bustling in preparation for the biggest event of the year. About 390,000 foreign visitors are expected to come to Gangwon Province during the Olympic Games, according to Yonhap News Agency.For newcomers to the province, following is a list of must-eat dishes in Gangwon Province that you won’t want to miss.1. Buckwheat (Memil)  Buckwheat dishes (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Bongpyeong, a small

FoodFeb. 5, 2018

Luxury European brands extend reach to Korean shoppers

In South Korea, luxury fashion brands from countries such as Italy, France and the UK have gained popularity, particularly among consumers in their 40s and above. The traditional designs and high price tags did not do much to attract young Koreans, but that is about to change.Recently more European luxury brands have been vigorously targeting the so-called millennials -- those born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s -- across the global market.Since 2015 these high-end brands have been succes

Arts & DesignFeb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Try out ‘peach bulgogi’ at PyeongChang

A range of Korean regional cuisine will be available at K-Food Plaza in Festival Park, located near PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.K-Food Plaza opened Saturday and will operate through Feb. 25. It is set to reopen during the Paralympic Games, from March 8-18.As of Sunday, regional specialties from Wonju and seafood from Korea’s neighboring seas are included in the list of food to be presented at K-Food Plaza.  Peach bulgogi (Yonhap)Visitors can try traditi

FoodFeb. 4, 2018

Big Bang’s Taeyang, actress Min Hyo-rin marry in church ceremony

Boy band Big Bang’s Taeyang and his actress fiancee Min Hyo-rin tied the knot in a church on Saturday, the singer’s agency said.YG Entertainment said the closed-door wedding was held at a church in Anyang, south of Seoul, at 3 p.m., with singer Zion.T singing a congratulatory song. (YG Entertainment)Only a small number of their family members and acquaintances, including YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk, attended the wedding, while a number of their Korean and foreign fans gathered outside.The

PeopleFeb. 4, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Art biennale to PyeongChang Games attempts to shed light on overlooked reality

“An event like the Winter Olympics receives delegations from all over the world, so you might have an impression that the circulation is free in the world. But it is not,” Akram Zaatari said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday at the Gangwon International Biennale 2018 in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, a subhost city of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games. Zaatari’s collection exhibited at the biennale comprises 48 photographs of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese prisoners detained in

Arts & DesignFeb. 4, 2018

Yoon Do-hyun to release new singles

Yoon Do-hyun, frontman of YB, will release new digital songs on Feb. 22, his agency said Sunday.According to Dee Company, the two songs will come in the form of digital singles produced by Yoon himself. He recorded the songs with the London Symphony Orchestra at Air studios in London. The studio was founded in 1965 by Beatles producer George Martin and his partner John Burgess. Yoon Do-hyun during records in London. (Dee CompanyAll of the recording process, as well as the shooting for the music

PerformanceFeb. 4, 2018

Foreigners return to small screen, targeting Korea’s national pride

More and more foreigners are appearing on Korean TV, featuring in numerous reality shows. As a large number of locals are curious of outsiders’ opinions of Korea, different formats showcasing foreigners’ reactions are continuously being produced. Recent reality TV show “Welcome! First Time in Korea?” on MBC every1 yielded successful results with a relatively simple format. Three foreigners visited Korea for the first time after being invited by their expat friends. Episodes of the friendly visit

TelevisionFeb. 4, 2018