Late K-pop star Kim Jong-hyun's final album to see posthumous release

The final album produced by late K-pop singer Kim Jong-hyun, who passed away last month, will be released posthumously next week, according to his agency.The album, titled "Poet I Artist," will be released digitally Tuesday, with the physical version to be available Wednesday, S.M.Entertainment announced Friday through the Instagram account of SHINee, which Kim belonged to as one of the music group's members. Late K-pop singer Kim Jong-hyun (Yonhap)The solo record, Kim's final project before his

PerformanceJan. 20, 2018

Michelin-starred chef bets on casual Korean dining

Chef Yim Jung-sik burst onto the world culinary scene nine years ago with then a rather new concept of Korean fine dining.In two years, he tapped New York, the heart of haute cuisine, with his restaurant Jungsik and earned a Michelin star the following year. The restaurant has had two Michelin stars since 2014, and his Seoul store was added to the second edition of the Michelin Guide for Seoul 2018 as a two-star eatery.After nearly a decade of dedication to fine dining, Yim recently embarked on

FoodJan. 20, 2018

University set to revoke idol singer's graduate school admission over unfair treatment

South Korea's Kyung Hee University said Friday it will revoke a popular idol singer's admission to its graduate school once he is confirmed of receiving undue favors in his admission process. CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa is accused of receiving preferential treatment in his admission, as he matriculated a doctorate course of a graduate school at Seoul's Kyung Hee University in 2016 without having an interview. "Once we confirm that (Jung) didn't take part in an interview that the graduate school had n

PerformanceJan. 19, 2018

Star producer Teddy’s plagiarism controversies drag on

K-pop producer Teddy has become embroiled in yet another plagiarism controversy. The producer, who has worked with big-name K-pop groups such as Big Bang and 2NE1, has recently come under fire for “Heroine,” K-pop solo artist Sunmi’s new single, which is being criticized for allegedly copying “Fight For This Love,” a hit of British singer Cheryl Cole.Teddy is no stranger to plagiarism allegations. The producer, who leads The Black Label, a music production subsidiary under YG Entertainment, land

PerformanceJan. 19, 2018

[Herald Interview] A young pianist with an old, romantic soul

Korea is probably one of the few countries in the world where classical musicians can become household names. Here, the name Sunwoo Yekwon elicits the response, “Ah, that young pianist,” even from those unfamiliar with classical music. The 28-year-old pianist, who will turn 29 next month, is a star not only onstage but on television as well, starring in a popular series featuring the lives of several Korean celebrities who stay abroad. Sunwoo, however, is no overnight sensation. Before clinching

CultureJan. 19, 2018

Highlight’s Yang Yo-seob to return solo in February

Yang Yo-seob of K-pop group Highlight will return solo in mid-February after six years, his agency Around Us Entertainment said Friday. According to the agency, Yang recently wrapped up shooting concept photos for his upcoming solo album in Sapporo, Japan. He is scheduled to shoot a music video soon. The album’s release date has not been set yet. (Around Us Entertainment)The album, which will mark his first solo release since “Caffeine” in 2012, will consist of tracks composed and penned by the

PerformanceJan. 19, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Toscana Wine Dinner at JW Marriott Hotel Diners who visit JW Marriott Hotel’s BLT Stake on Wednesday, can experience the Great Toscana Wine Dinner, a set course dinner menu paired with renowned Italian wine. The hotel’s chief sommelier Jeong Ha-bong selected the wines from Toscana’s premium winery Carpineto, which has been selected as the world’s 100 best wines by the prestigious wine magazine Wine Spectator. Six different wines are to offer an exquisite tasting chance to diners. Sommelier Jung

FoodJan. 19, 2018

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Anseong Ice Fishing Fest Visitors are welcome to participate in various 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 first-class water quality that runs down from Charyeon Mountain Range.The festival lasts until Feb. 25, and admission is 5,000 won per person. Children under 5 are admitted free.Call the travel hotline

TravelJan. 19, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

[Box office] Movies in theaters this weekMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)(US) Opened Jan. 17Action, sci-fi, thriller. Directed by Wes BallIn the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions

FilmJan. 19, 2018

Sitting down for authentic Korean meal before hitting the runway

The first Korean Michelin-starred chef Yim Jung-sik hopes to introduce a new perspective on everyday Korean food with Pyunghwaok, which opened at Incheon Airport’s new terminal Thursday. “Foreign diners will be able to taste real Korean food from the entrance of Korea,” Yim said at Pyunghwaok, which means “peace house” in Korean, on Wednesday, ahead of its official opening. “For me, I can showcase my menu to a more diverse spectrum of people.” The restaurant offers classic food of North and Sout

FoodJan. 19, 2018

Momoland’s JooE denies school bullying rumors

JooE of Momoland denied ongoing rumors that claimed she had bullied fellow students while at school. The singer’s agency Duble Kick Company on Friday released an official statement to rebut the rumors, saying it would legal action against any further rumors regarding the issue. The statement read, “Please help our girls, who have been trying their best every moment for their dreams, to not get hurt by those false rumors. From this moment on, we will take legal actions against such malicious acti

PerformanceJan. 19, 2018

[Trending] #Sunmi #Teddy #Heroine #plagiarism

K-pop diva Sunmi has returned with the new single “Heroine,” and the song was plastered all over the internet Friday.(Read the article: Sunmi returns with ‘Heroine,’ backstory of ‘Gashina’)The song’s music video and photos were posted on the singer’s official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, receiving thousands of likes and shares. (1theK)“My new single ‘Heroine’ was just dropped. Please check this out,” Sunmi wrote on Instagram, along with a shortened version of the music video. The cl

PerformanceJan. 19, 2018

[Weekender] Art on the run at new Incheon terminal

Newly opened second passenger terminal of Incheon International Airport is drawing attention not just for the numbers involved, but also its art.Under a project called “Artport,” Incheon International Airport has spent more than 18 billion won on displaying artworks throughout the terminal, ranging from paintings to installations. The latest 4.6 billion won project is highlighted by five artworks by renowned artists including French sculptor Julius Popp and German media artist Xavier Veilhan. Th

Arts & DesignJan. 19, 2018

Hong Sang-soo’s new film to have world premiere at Berlin Film Fest

Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo’s latest work “Grass” will be screened at the upcoming 68th Berlin International Film Festival, the film’s overseas distributor said Friday.According to the distributor Finecut, “Grass” will be screened in the festival’s Forum section, which introduces avant-garde and experimental works, accompanied by discussions and workshops.  A still from “Grass” by director Hong Sang-soo (Finecut)No official awards are presented in the Forum section. Instead, independent jurie

FilmJan. 19, 2018

Sunmi’s chart-topping ‘Heroine’ embroiled in plagiarism controversy

Sunmi’s latest single “Heroine,” which has been topping charts upon its release Thursday, has come under fire for allegedly copying another musician’s music. The controversy came with netizens flooding social media Wednesday to point out striking similarities in the melodies and beats between “Heroine” and “Fight For This Love,” a hit of British singer Cheryl Cole that swept UK charts in 2009. A concept photo for Sunmi’s new single “Heroine” (MakeUs Entertainment)Comments by outraged fans includ

EntertainmentJan. 19, 2018

Sunmi returns with ‘Heroine,’ backstory of ‘Gashina’

After blowing the ultimate kiss-off to an undeserving lover in “Gashina,” soloist Sunmi walked down memory lane with the song’s protagonist with her new single “Heroine.” The former Wonder Girls member, who has been on a winning streak since her first solo outing with tango-disco “24 Hours” in 2014, rattled the K-pop scene with her viral hit “Gashina” last summer. The chart-topping song was not only responsible for the “finger gun,” the most imitated dance of the year, but also played a huge rol

PerformanceJan. 18, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Cultural events galore to set off pre-Olympic festivities

A wealth of cultural events, encompassing different arts, are set to take place throughout Gangwon Province in celebration of the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.　Dubbed the PyeongChang 2018 Cultural Olympiad, the series of cultural displays will begin on Feb. 3, a week ahead of the Olympics.“The Cultural Olympiad has been planned to let global citizens communicate through culture and includes programs for entertainment, celebration, education and culture,” according to a statement rel

CultureJan. 18, 2018

Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center celebrate milestone anniversaries

The Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year with performances by internationally acclaimed artists. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Sejong Arts Center, which has seen some 62 million people attend its shows since opening in 1978. It was the only classical music and performance venue in Seoul until the opening of the Seoul Arts Center in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics. The Sejong Arts Center has hosted numerous international and local

PerformanceJan. 18, 2018

Speculations abound on proposed South-North concert

Following inter-Korean talks, an announcement was made Wednesday night regarding a joint cultural event at Kumgangsan in North Korea, raising speculations about the performance, its venue and also the possibility that it may mark the resumption of cultural exchanges between the two countries. According to the Unification Ministry on Wednesday, South and North Korea agreed to hold a cultural event at Kumgangsan around late January or early February. Details of the program will be decided through

CultureJan. 18, 2018

[Trending] #CelebFive

K-pop project group CelebFive took to MBC’s “Show Champion” on Wednesday night to stage a thrilling performance and get fans excited for the groups’ debut. The term “CelebFive” hit the top spot of a real-time trending topics on Naver throughout Thursday, while the footage circulated on social media platforms. (VIVO TV)CelebFive consists of comedians Song Eun-yi, Ahn Young-mi, Shin Bong-sun, Kim Shin-Young and Kim Young-hee. The five have gathered for web comedy show “PanBeolryo,” which airs via

PerformanceJan. 18, 2018