[Eye] Shimmering sculpture one cap at a time

I was admiring a stunning installation piece shimmering undulating against a panel when a gallerist manning the Galerie RX booth at the Korea International Art Fair last month asked if she could take a photo of me and the piece. I was wearing hanbok as part of an assignment I was working on at the time and she explained that she wanted to show the artist that his work was being shown in Korea. The artist was El Anatsui, a Ghanaian artist now based in Nigeria, who weaves together discarded bottle

Arts & DesignOct. 13, 2017

Must-see attractions in Busan alongside film fest

An open view of the azure sea, with glitters of sunlight, drifting clouds and forested shorelines, delighted passengers inside a Song-do marine cable car in Busan. “It was thrilling and impressive, a rare scenery in Korea,” Kim So-young, a Busan-native who now lives in Seoul, told The Korea Herald about her experience in early October. “There were many families, couples and children enjoying the spectacular view. Some cable cars also come with a transparent glass floor, which makes the ride all

TravelOct. 13, 2017

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Mindung Mountain Eulalia Festival The Mindungsan Eulalia Festival is taking place in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province. Events being held include mountain climbing, talent contests, Arirang singing contests, eulalia music concerts, a Mindungsan Gate ball competition and a photo exhibition. Other programs involve local food, sending post cards, mountain horseback riding and more.The event will be held until Oct. 29. Visit jeongseon.go.kr for more information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese

TravelOct. 13, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Seaside getaway at Hilton Namhae Golf Spa ResortHilton Namhae Golf and Spa Resort is offering a seasonal package of accommodation, food, spa and coffee through Nov. 30. The Colorful Autumn Package features a one-night stay in a suite room, breakfast at the restaurant Breeze and access to the spa, as well as take-out coffee. The Namhae area in the southern coast of Korea is ideal for travel in fall, with its seaside walking trails and close proximity to scenic mountains. The resort has rooms offe

FoodOct. 13, 2017

Balladeer Im Chang-jung to return on Oct. 23

Balladeer Im Chang-jung will make his long-awaited return on Oct. 23, according to the artist’s NH Entertainment Media Group label on Friday. According to the label, Im’s new EP will feature several ballad tracks and a duet number. The singer recently finished filming a music video for the new single in Seoul.  Im Chang-jung (Herald DB)“Im has put a lot of effort into the new album so as not to disappoint fans. The upcoming songs will be loved by fans as much as his previous hits,” an agency off

PerformanceOct. 13, 2017

BTS album 'Love Yourself: Her' sells over 1.2 mln copies

"Love Yourself: Her," the latest EP by K-pop act BTS, has sold over 1.2 million copies to become the biggest-selling Korean music record in 16 years, data showed Friday.The album sold 1.2 million copies between its Sept. 18 release and the end of last month, according to Gaon Chart, the country's benchmark music sales tracker. (Yonhap)"Love Yourself: Her" became the biggest-selling K-pop album by month in 16 years, coming second to boy band g.o.d's fourth album, which was released in November 20

PerformanceOct. 13, 2017

Director Park Hoon-jung of 'V.I.P.' wins prize at Fantastic Fest

South Korean filmmaker Park Hoon-jung has picked up a directorial prize at Fantastic Fest 2017 for his latest crime noir "V.I.P.," the film's distributor said Friday.Park won best director in the "Thriller Features" category at this year's Fantastic Fest, an Austin, Texas-based genre film festival, held from Sept. 21-28, according to Finecut. (Yonhap)Starring Jang Dong-gun and Lee Jong-suk, "V.I.P." revolves around a police detective who tracks down a high-profile North Korea defector as the pri

FilmOct. 13, 2017

Busan Film Fest embarks on 22nd edition with star-studded red carpet

BUSAN -- The 22nd Busan International Film Festival officially opened Thursday evening at the Busan Cinema Center, the mood considerably lighter than last year, when political turmoil and a boycott by Korean filmmakers shadowed the event.Crowds filled the outdoor stage where the opening ceremony took place despite drizzle and wind. The red carpet featured a significantly busier array of celebrities than in 2016, including prominent Korean actors such as Son Ye-jin, Cho Jin-woong and Moon So-ri.

FilmOct. 12, 2017

A+E Networks expands into Korea, launches two of its channels

US-based global content company A+E Networks on Thursday has launched two of its TV channels in Korea with a plan to make Korea a content hub for original production across Asia. A+E Networks is a joint venture between Hearst Communications and Disney-ABC Television Group, known for such cable networks such as A&E, History, Lifetime and Viceland.  Kim Yoo-jung (Yonhap)The company’s two new channel brands History and Lifetime will be broadcast on IPTV platforms, cables and satellite broadcast, wh

TelevisionOct. 12, 2017

Intangible cultural heritage to be exhibited in Jeonju

Pansori, Arirang, traditional dancing and crafts that define Korea’s traditional culture will be on display from Oct. 26-29 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.The Festival of Korean Intangible Cultural Heritages 2017 will be held under the theme of “Generation after Generation,” according to the National Intangible Heritage Center, which is co-hosting the event with the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.“The event’s goal is for participants to recognize the value of the intangibles that our ances

CultureOct. 12, 2017

Ven. Seoljeong elected to head Jogye Order

Ven. Seoljeong was elected the new leader of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist group, on Thursday.The Jogye Order announced that Ven. Seoljeong won 234 votes from 319 electoral college members representing more than 14,000 Buddhist monks, overwhelming his sole rival, Ven. Subul, who received 82 votes. (Yonhap)Ven. Seoljeong will begin his four-year term as the 35th chief of the order on Oct. 31 after receiving approval from the order's elders' committee.The victory by the 75-year-o

PeopleOct. 12, 2017

'Revolutionary Love' lightheartedly mirrors young Koreans' struggles, aspirations, loves

"Revolutionary Love," cable channel tvN's new romantic comedy, seeks to be a comfort and encouragement to today's young Koreans suffering from unemployment and cutthroat competition.The cable network unveiled the new 16-episode weekend series in a news conference Thursday that was attended by lead actors Choi Si-won, a member of popular boy band Super Junior, and Kang So-ra of the 2014 hit drama "Misaeng" and 2011 film "Sunny." Director Song Hyun-wook said the drama tries to cast light on young

TelevisionOct. 12, 2017

Ex-Wanna One contenders form boy band RAINZ, drop debut album

From its record-breaking debut in August, the unprecedented breakout success of rookie band Wanna One, formed by 11 survivors of the TV audition show "Produce 101," has proven to be a classic K-pop Cinderella story. But what happens to those who narrowly missed the final cut? Former contenders who fell short of making it into the final round, many by painfully slim margins, have wiped away their tears and banded together to launch their own projects -- the first of which is RAINZ, who came out w

PerformanceOct. 12, 2017

OCN series ‘Black’ features Song Seung-heon, Go Ara

Actor Song Seung-heon attended OCN’s upcoming new TV series “Black” production presentation Wednesday at Imperial Palace Hotel to promote his role, according to local media outlets, Thursday. Reporters questioned Song with regards to the high overlap in the grim reaper character between tvN’s popular series “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” and “Black.”  The cast of the new TV series "Black" on cable channel OCN poses for photos before a press conference in Seoul on Oct. 11, 2017. (Yonhap)“It

TelevisionOct. 12, 2017

2017 Michelin Guide Gourmet Fair to open in Seoul

Michelin Guide Seoul will organize a gourmet fair in Seoul from Oct. 28-29, gathering together the restaurants introduced on last year’s Seoul edition of the gastronomical guide. The three-starred La Yeon of The Shilla Seoul Hotel will participate in the fair alongside 18 other restaurants, including French restaurant L’amitie, modern Italian restaurant Ristorante Eo, modern Korean restaurant Mingles, and Chef Tony Yoo -- formerly of one-starred modern Korean restaurant Twenty Four Seasons.The f

CultureOct. 12, 2017

JYP to kick off ‘Blue & Red’ tour, release two singles

Park Jin-young, better known as JYP, will embark on a new “Naughty Party” concert tour titled “Blue & Red” in December and release two songs for the concerts, the singer announced on his Instagram Thursday. The artist also said that he will release two new songs -- a ballad and a dance song -- for the tour. The ballad song, which represents the “Blue,” will be released on Monday while the dance song, which represents the “Red,” will be released in the first week of December.  A promotional poste

PerformanceOct. 12, 2017

Jay Park’s H1GHR Music Records to hold solo showcase at 2018 SXSW

Artists under H1GHR Music Records, a global hip-hop label led by Jay Park and Cha Cha Malone, will have its solo showcase at the next South by Southwest festival.Jay Park was among the first round of Showcasing Artists announced on the website of the Austin, Texas-based festival. Alongside Park on the list were other artists from the label -- Sik-K, pH-1, Woodie Go Child, Phe Reds, Avatar Darko, Yultron, Raz Simone, Jarv Dee and JP the Wavy .  A promotional image for H1GHR Music Records’ showcas

PerformanceOct. 12, 2017

HBC Fest set for fall edition

The HBC Fest’s fall edition will open on Oct. 20 and run through Oct. 21 for a showcase of local live acts.The festival sees bars and cafes in the Haebangchon area of Seoul near Itaewon open their doors and rig up stages for a two-night collection of free concerts. Four venues will open up on Oct. 20 from 9 p.m. – Thunderhorse Tavern, Phillies, Genie Pub and the Hidden Cellar. Another seven stages will be added for the next day, with music starting at 5 p.m. A full list of schedules is available

Expat LivingOct. 12, 2017