Dating rumors swirl online over G-Dragon, Lee Ju-yeon

G-Dragon, the leader of K-pop boy band Big Bang, and actress Lee Ju-yeon, a former member of girl group After School, have become the talk of the town Thursday, as a video and photos suggest the two might be an item.The rumor started Oct. 30 when a Chinese video app circulated online showing the two making funny faces together. Then on Wednesday, an internet user compared several photos captured from the two stars' social media sites in a post on an online bulletin board.  (Kwai)Although the two

PerformanceNov. 9, 2017

[Photo News] Brilliant shades of ‘stinky’ ginkgo trees

Ginkgo trees, beautiful in the fall season with their bright golden hues, are both loved and hated for the picturesque sight they provide and the rancid stench emitting from its rotting berries. A mistaken step on the ginkgo berries leaves the smell of stinky socks throughout the day. In Seoul, talks are being thrown around to switch the female trees to male trees. But as the smelly period of the fallen berries only goes on for about a month, some environmentalists argue it is unreasonable to ge

TravelNov. 9, 2017

Japanese women form largest group of hallyu-related visitors

More than 70 percent of foreign visitors who come to South Korea for Korean Wave events are Japanese, a study said Thursday.An analysis by Kwon Tae-il of the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute showed that among tourists who participated in K-pop, traditional festivals and other cultural events that are broadly called "hallyu," 74.8 percent are from Japan. Chinese visitors come next with 18.4 percent, followed by 3.8 percent from Hong Kong, 0.8 percent from Malaysia, 0.7 percent from Thailand an

CultureNov. 9, 2017

'Forgotten' to be released in 190 countries on Netflix

South Korean film "Forgotten" has signed a distribution contract with Netflix for overseas markets, the movie's production company said Thursday.According to BA Entertainment, the movie will be released in 190 countries on Netflix after it premiers in Korea on Nov. 29."I think it is unprecedented that the contract has been signed while the movie is still being made," BA Entertainment's CEO Jang Won-seok said, adding that it pointed to the fact that the movie has such a compelling story."Forgotte

FilmNov. 9, 2017

[Album Review] Who calls Super Junior lackluster?

Super Junior“Play”Genie MusicFor those who grew up listening to Super Junior’s hits such as “Miracle” and “U,” the latest record of the boy band, self-dubbed the “Last Men Standing” in the K-pop scene, is a throwback to the group’s past, a work of self-reflection and a reunion with its old self. The act has been a constant presence in K-pop since the early 2000s, with its songs emanating from speakers in shops and its music becoming students’ all-time-favorite choice for school talent shows.Twel

PerformanceNov. 8, 2017

BTS to appear on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

K-pop icon BTS will be featured on the popular US talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the boy band’s agency confirmed Wednesday. BTS will visit the US and take part in the shooting of the show later this month. It will also perform at the American Music Awards on Nov. 19.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)The show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel has been airing on ABC since 2003. It is a popular show in the US and has been nominated multiple times for Emmy Awards.BTS wrapped up the promotion of its latest release

PerformanceNov. 8, 2017

Teen actress Kim Yoo-jung will not take college exams: agency

Actress Kim Yoo-jung, 18, will not be taking the college entrance exam this year, her management agency Sidus HQ said Tuesday. The actress, who is currently in her final year of high school, has decided not to take the college scholastic ability test and instead focus on acting, the agency said in a statement.“It is still not known whether or not she will take the exam next year. She will decide that later on,” the statement added. Kim Yoo-jung (Sidus HQ)Kim made her acting debut at the age of 4

TelevisionNov. 8, 2017

[Newsmaker] Wait is over - Michelin unveils latest Seoul guide

Korean restaurants Gaon and La Yeon kept their three Michelin stars in the 2018 edition of Michelin Guide Seoul.Michelin released the second edition of the Michelin Guide Seoul at a press conference at Signiel Seoul in Seoul on Wednesday, awarding the coveted Michelin stars to a total of 24 restaurants.Two new restaurants joined the ranks of the two-star restaurants -- Kojima-Sushi and Jungsik, a modern Korean restaurant which moved up a notch from last year’s one Michelin star-- while Gotgan an

FoodNov. 8, 2017

IFEZ Global Center dedicated to improving expat life

Since a change of status last year, the IFEZ Global Center in Incheon has seen its role expand, along with the number of expats using its services. The center offers services to foreign residents in the three cities designated as part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone -- Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna International City -- from language assistance to cultural experiences. Expats take part in cultural activities at the IFEZ Global Center in Songdo, Incheon. (IFEZ)The IFEZ Global Center opened in

Social AffairsNov. 8, 2017

Gwangju center operates free kimchi tour

Gwangju International Center will run its Kimchi Road program on Nov. 18-19. Held as part of the Gwangju International Kimchi Festival, the two-day tour visits a forest lodge in Mudeungsan, where guests will get an introduction to kimchi and hands-on instruction at making kimchi themselves.The program includes shopping for ingredients and harvesting them from fields as well as making kimchi and a cookery competition using kimchi as an ingredient.Participation is 10,000 won. Registration is open

Expat LivingNov. 8, 2017

Seoul Players set for 10-Minute Play Festival

Back with more bite-size drama and onstage laughs, Seoul Players’ 10-Minute Play Festival holds its opening round this weekend.The festival features brand new works from Korea and around the globe competing to win the top prize. And this year’s festival, the seventh, presents 160 minutes of theater running the gamut -- from comedy and physical farce to drama and experimental performance. “As in years past, we had an impressive number of play submissions to choose from this time,” said festival p

Expat LivingNov. 8, 2017

Gwangju players to perform ‘Taming of the Shrew’

Gwangju Performance Project will stage William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew,” but with a twist: The roles are gender-swapped.In the play, Lucentia wants to marry Bianco, but cannot until his bad-tempered older brother Cato first finds a wife. The plot revolves around efforts to tame Cato and allow Lucentia to get her man. Shows are Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., and again at the same times the following weekend.Tickets are 8,000 won to the early Saturday sho

Expat LivingNov. 8, 2017

Seoul Global Center offers e-commerce course

Seoul Global Center’s Business Start-Up School is offering a course on how to take advantage of Korea’s e-commerce platforms. It is the sixth advanced course offered by the school, in partnership with its business consulting service. Up to 25 people can join the course, which runs at the center’s main building. Classes are in English and take place from 7-9 p.m., from Nov. 29-Dec. 1. The course is free of charge and open to all foreign residents in Seoul.Applications are accepted on a first-come

Expat LivingNov. 8, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] Design guru share views on technology

Design gurus from Korea, Japan and the US shared their thoughts on technology during a talk session of the Herald Design Forum 2017 that took place Tuesday in Seoul.Lampix CEO George Popescu, Daylight’s creative director Sung Jung-gi and Balmuda CEO Gen Terao came to the stage with moderator Kim Ji-hyun, editor-in-chief of The Investor, during a Design Talk session under the theme, design in the “new normal era,” leading changes in the future. Asked how they viewed technology from a design persp

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] The new normal: Imagining wine recommendations in augmented reality

Imagine that when you finish a glass of wine, small text and images instantly pop up on the table, recommending a variety of different wines for you to try next. The selections would take into consideration your preference, pairing with your dish, and so on. This is the type of augmented reality envisioned by tech software company Lampix, founded and headed by Romanian entrepreneur George Popescu. 　The Lampix software, still in development to be commercialized, projects various types of informat

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] ‘Pouring soul into product through design’

Designing is a little more than making a product or building in a pretty shape: It could be giving an identity, preserving a memory, or using it to spark a new way of thinking.Herald Design Forum 2017, the seventh annual event, took place at The Shilla Seoul on Tuesday, wrapping up with a premium dinner talk. The networking opportunity and lecture for a select group of people invited four of the most prominent designers and architects of today -- Claudio Bellini, Baek Hee-sung, George Popescu an

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] Design gurus discuss using design to solve issues in today’s industry

In the era of the “fourth industrial revolution” characterized by hyper-intelligence, hyperconnectivity, and hyperconvergence, the role of creativity and comprehensive thinking is greater than ever. The role of design is also expanding at an unprecedented speed, as it is a key player in the development of new industries and convergence among industries. In the new era, empirical “design thinking” has become imperative in solving today’s issues.For the second session of the Herald Design Forum 20

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] Pondering the meaning of ‘design thinking’

Leading minds in architecture and product design from around the world gathered at the Herald Design Forum 2017, to discuss the concept of design thinking and the significance it holds in the industry today.“Design thinking, for me, is about dreaming how you want the future to be. While business people focus on predicting the next jackpot, designers, they can imagine how life would be in next 10 and 20 years,” said Aernout Dijkstra-Hellinga, design director of Bugaboo International, at a Design

CultureNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] Emotions that drive design: Jaime Hayon, Claudio Bellini, Naoto Fukasawa

He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and form, but Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon’s approach to his craft is first and foremost based on having fun.“I believe design is about more than function,” Hayon said as he opened the first session of The Herald Design Forum at The Shilla Seoul on Tuesday.“My way of looking at design was always observing things. Folklore, traveling around and getting glimpses of things have brought me inspiration to design things,” said Hayon. 　“I never

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2017

[Herald Design Forum 2017] Designers discuss how to harmonize fine art and design, design’s future

Design gurus from Spain, Italy and Japan sat down to discuss ways to harmonize fine art and industrial design, as well as how design should navigate in the face of technological development, at the seventh annual Herald Design Forum in Seoul on Tuesday.“Fine art and design for industrial production differ from each other in that the former allows more freedom to designers. As for designing for production, we work within boundaries as we have to consider both the users and companies,” said Jaime

CultureNov. 7, 2017