[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Anseong Ice Fishing FestVisitors 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 a

TravelJan. 12, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Coco(US) Opened Jan.11Animation, adventure Directed by Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina Despite his family‘s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (Gael García Bernal), and together they set off

FilmJan. 12, 2018

[K-Talk] iKon back with ‘Return’ on Jan. 25

iKon on Friday heralded its return, as the boy band confirmed the release date for its second full-length album, “Return,” for Jan. 25YG Entertainment on Friday released the first official poster for the new album on its blog yg-life.com, with images of the seven members and the release date.  Poster for iKon’s “Return” (YG Entertainment)According to the agency, the title symbolizes the group -- going on its fourth year since its 2015 debut -- reflecting upon how it first started. “(The album) w

PerformanceJan. 12, 2018

Try these hot and comforting foods when temperature nose-dives

Need something to fight the brutal cold? Yeah ... us too.It’s time to warm up with soothing comfort food. Nothing beats a bowl of steaming hot chili, soup or stew on frigid days like these.Here, we’re featuring three Test Kitchen recipes to get you through this current cold snap -- one soup, one chili and a tasty roast.Feel free to adjust each recipe to your own taste with seasonings and such.Test Kitchen tips:Use a variety of chili powders for your desired spice level. Check ingredient labels o

FoodJan. 12, 2018

[Home Cooking] Gul tteokguk (Oyster rice cake soup)

It’s a Korean tradition to eat this soup made with white oval rice cake to welcome a bright, prosperous new year. Also, it’s a classic comfort food any time of year, especially in cold months! Tteokguk is usually made with beef broth, but try it with oysters for a change. The intense briny flavor of the oysters plays off quite well with the soft, starchy rice cakes.For soups, small oysters work better because chopped up oysters don’t look as appetizing as small intact oysters. Oysters are packed

FoodJan. 12, 2018

Around the Hotels

Mediterranean dishes at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul’s buffet restaurant The Terrace is offering the “Taste of the Mediterranean” promotion. Around 65 dishes prepared in Mediterranean style include flavors from Greece, southern France, Italy and even some Middle Eastern countries. The Taste of the Mediterranean menu, prepared by a guest chef from Greece, aims to offer diners honest flavors, using fresh and local ingredients, with the main staple ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine -- olive

FoodJan. 12, 2018

IU, BTS win at Golden Disc Awards

IU and BTS, arguably the two biggest music stars of 2017, won the top prizes at the Golden Disc Awards, Wednesday and Thursday. The event, held in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, commended last year’s standout achievements in the music industry by referring to statistics from the Gaon Chart.  (Yonhap)IU won the Grand Prize for digital sales with “Through the Night.” The song, released in March, was the most streamed song of 2017. “(It is) so lucky that the song came to me,” she said, after receiving

PerformanceJan. 12, 2018

SBS under fire for giving gift certificates as payment to staff

Local broadcaster SBS is being heavily criticized for giving out gift certificates as a payment to staff. It was recently reported that a director, who worked for SBS’ “Same Bed, Different Dreams,” received gift certificates for his six-month payment worth 9 million won ($8,500).  (SBS)As the news surfaced, many condemned SBS, one of the three major TV networks in Korea. In response, SBS apologized through its official website Thursday. “No matter why, it is wrong that a part of payment for a di

TelevisionJan. 12, 2018

AOA’s Jimin ‘Hey’s fans in solo comeback

AOA’s Jimin is intent to expand as a musician, as she is set to release solo song “Hey” on Jan. 19.FNC Entertainment on Friday announced the K-pop star would release the single at 6 p.m. via local online streaming websites.  Jimin’s teaser image for “Hey” (FNC Entertainment)It is the second leg of the project “#RTJ(Ready To Jimin),” following “Hallelujah” in October last year. The project, jointly conducted with fashion magazine W Korea, is aimed to establish Jimin’s identity as a solo artist th

PerformanceJan. 12, 2018

Pantone picks Ultra Violet as color of the year for 2018

Pantone chose Ultra Violet as the color of the year for 2018. And the shade of purple is expected to hit stores, manifesting itself in cosmetic and fashion products.　For instance, VDL Cosmetics will introduce items featuring the color. VDL Cosmetics posted a promotion video of “VDL + Pantone” on Facebook. It is taking preorders for the limited edition lineup, which includes products such as eye shadow, tint, makeup primer and cushion compact foundation.  Cosmetic Products from Inisfree with Ultr

Arts & DesignJan. 11, 2018

Borrowing Weberian perspective to dissect North Korea, knotty world

Max Weber (1864-1920), a German scholar who founded sociology, wrote of his contemporary leader Otto von Bismarck: “He consumed a nation without political education. The German people, deprived of will to politics, have become prone to thinking they should merely abet politics of their ‘great leader.’ They are meek lackeys of a government machinated by him, regardless of the deeds it carries out.”Such a statement by the mastermind of modern social science struck a chord for Yang Sung-chul, a Sou

BooksJan. 11, 2018

[Trending] #MazeRunner3

The cast of “The Maze Runner” kicked off promotion of the Hollywood action flick here Wednesday with a press conference, radio show and red carpet event.Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Lee Ki-hong, who play lead roles in the movie, turned up at Incheon Airport early Tuesday, and their visit soon went viral on social media. Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Lee Ki-hong (Yonhap)A tweet with a link to a news article saying the cast would appear on a radio show was retweeted over 4

FilmJan. 11, 2018

‘Maze Runner’ film series has its own identity: cast

Though a film adaptation of a popular science fiction novel, the cast of “Maze Runner” series proudly boasts that the film trilogy has successfully meshed the elements of the book with elements of other genres to form its unique characteristics.“One of the things I’m most proud is we formed our own identity. With our cast, and story, (the series) has very much become its own thing, paved its own way with this generation,” Dylan O’Brien -- who plays protagonist Thomas -- said Thursday at a press

FilmJan. 11, 2018

Lee Jung-jin confirms relationship with Euaerin

Actor Lee Jung-jin and singer Euaerin are in a romantic relationship.It was reported Thursday morning that the two stars are dating, along with some photos of them playing golf together. According to the report, despite the 10-year age gap, the two share a love for sports, particularly golf.  Lee Jung-jin on the left (Yonhap) and Euaerin (Star Empire)An hour after the report surfaced, Lee’s management agency said, “(The actor) confirmed that he has been dating her for the past seven months.” Aft

PeopleJan. 11, 2018

BoA’s first reality show to launch

BoA will launch her first reality show “Keyword #BoA” later this month, ahead of the release of her new album, said her agency S.M. Entertainment on Thursday.  The poster of “Keyword #BoA” (S.M. Entertainment)BoA’s thoughts on life and music will be revealed on the show, along with preparations for her new album. SHINee’s Key, a fan of the solo singer, will also make an appearance on the show. “Keyword #BoA” will be streamed online first via Naver’s V Live and Naver TV on Jan. 22. It will also a

TelevisionJan. 11, 2018

[Graphic News] Foreigners' satisfaction with Korean food lowest in Japan

　Foreigners satisfaction with traditional Korean food, known as “hansik” in Korea, was the lowest in the neighboring country of Japan, one poll showed, amid frayed ties between the two countries over a number of diplomatic issues.　Japanese people’s awareness of Korean food came in at 32.8 percent, compared to an overall average of 64.1 percent, according to a survey from the Korean Food Promotion Institute. The poll was conducted online, questioning 6,000 foreigners living in 10 major cities abr

FoodJan. 10, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Cartoon exhibition for PyeongChang kicks off Wednesday in LA

The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency hosts a cartoon exhibition combining Korean cartoons with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The exhibition opens in Los Angeles on Wednesday, both at the LA Convention Center and LA Korean Cultural Center.  "Fantasy of Snowland" (Photo courtesy of the LA Korean Cultural Center-Yonhap)The LA Convention Center is opening an exhibition titled “Cartoon meets PyeongChang” through Sunday. The exhibition will show 25 cartoon pieces including eight web-based comics th

CultureJan. 10, 2018

Chung Myung-whun continues life’s calling with One Korea Youth Orchestra

Korean maestro Chung Myung-whun is to lead the One Korea Youth Orchestra’s debut performance in Seoul on Thursday, as part of efforts to continue his life’s calling to bring South and North Korea together. 　During Thursday’s performance at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Chung’s project orchestra is to perform Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, in collaboration with pianist Sohn Jeung-beum, the first Korean winner of the piano category at the ARD International Music Competition in September last year.

PerformanceJan. 10, 2018

MMCA seeks to lead arts scene in Asia

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea will step up efforts to lead the contemporary art scene in Asia, it said. During a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday, the MMCA Director Bartomeu Mari announced the museum’s 2018 exhibitions of acclaimed artists here and abroad, as well as projects underscored by its long-term vision of becoming a leading voice of the contemporary art scene in Asia. The MMCA Director Bartomeu Mari announces its 2018 programs during the press co

Arts & DesignJan. 10, 2018

Junho hopes to shed light on survivors in ‘Rain or Shine’

Starring in JTBC’s “Rain or Shine,” Junho hopes that the drama will be of help to victims of disasters and accidents who suffer from survivor’s guilt. In the show, which airs Mondays and Tuesdays, a newly built shopping mall collapses, leaving hundreds of casualties. The fictional incident is reminiscent of the collapse of Sampoong Department Store in 1995, which killed more than 500 people.  Junho attends a press conference Tuesday at Digital Media City in northwestern Seoul. (JTBC)Junho, a mem

TelevisionJan. 10, 2018