Chae Man-shik, compromised conscience of occupied nation

Chae Man-shik was a prolific Korean novelist, playwright, literary critic, journalist and essayist who boldly confronted society’s pretensions and predicaments under the restrictions of Japan’s colonial occupation using satire.Born in 1902 in Okgu, present-day Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Chae lived true to his calling as a public intellectual, practicing his “publish-or-perish” ethos until succumbing to tuberculosis in 1950. In a span of about 25 years he produced some 290 novels, tales, play

BooksJuly 20, 2017

World’s largest IMAX screen opens in Seoul

CJ CGV, Korea’s largest cinema chain, opened the world’s biggest IMAX screen in its renovated CGV Yongsan multiplex in Seoul Monday.The screen measures 31 meters wide and 22.4 meters high -- about five times the size of the average multiplex cinema screen. The pictures projected are also some 50 percent brighter and twice as clear, according to CGV.  CGV Yongsan’s IMAX screen (CJ CGV)Previously, Australia boasted a 35 meter-wide IMAX screens but they are not currently in use. CGV’s CEO Seo Jung

FilmJuly 20, 2017

[Herald Interview] All-female 'Below Her Mouth’ stretches boundaries at Bucheon film fest

One of the big issues in the film world today is getting more female perspectives on to the silver screen, and perhaps no film better exemplifies those efforts than director April Mullen’s “Below Her Mouth,” which made its Korean premiere at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 14. Not content with just a female director for the lesbian love story, the film generated buzz with its all-female crew, from sets and lighting to catering. April Mullen (April Mullen)“We wanted the

FilmJuly 20, 2017

[Photo] Boryeong mud fest around the corner

An annual international mud festival will open in the South Korean city of Boryeong on Friday under the slogan of "Let's Go to Boryeong and Play with Mud!," an official on the event's organizing committee said Wednesday."The 2017 Boryeong Mud Festival will open for a 10-day run at Daecheon Beach in the namesake city, 190km south of Seoul, on Friday," the official said. (Yonhap)Launched in 1998, the festival has developed into a top international summer event with its mud flats attracting many to

CultureJuly 20, 2017

Confident and ambitious: Coed K-pop group K.A.R.D eyes rookie award

Amid high expectations, K.A.R.D, the first coed K-pop group in several years, officially introduced itself to Korea with its debut EP “Hola Hola” on Wednesday. The rookie band under DSP Media, which consists of two women and two men, had already gained overseas fans before its official debut here. (Yonhap)K.A.R.D has released three pre-debut singles, which were highly acclaimed internationally. It saw fans chanting its name at overseas concerts thanks to its sleek choreography and incorporation

PerformanceJuly 20, 2017

Song Joong-ki praises Song Hye-kyo's Mitsubishi ad offer rejection

South Korean actor Song Joong-ki on Wednesday applauded his fiance and fellow actress Song Hye-kyo's decision to decline an ad sponsorship offer from Mitsubishi Motors over the company's association with forced mobilization of Korean laborers during the second World War."I first learned that Hye-kyo declined the offer from the news. It was an act worthy of applause in my mind," Song told reporters at a press conference for "The Battleship Island" at CGV-Yongsan theater in central Seoul. (Yonhap)

PerformanceJuly 20, 2017

[Herald Review] Experiencing Japanese atrocities in ‘Battleship Island’

It is inevitable that Korean cinema frequently retell the story of the Japanese occupation, a defining scar in the country’s history, in various ways. “The Battleship Island” is the most recent of such films, recreating Japanese atrocities on a massive visual scale. 　The film’s message is heavy and clear: it exposes the horrific torture of Koreans on Hashima Island from 1940 to 1945. Records show that around 500 to 800 Koreans were taken captive on the island and forced into slave labor, digging

FilmJuly 20, 2017

Lee Hyo-ri, Yeom Jung-ah to appear on JYP’s ‘Party People’

Actress Yeom Jung-ah and K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri will be the first guests on producer and singer Park Jin-young’s upcoming talk show, SBS announced Thursday.　It is the first time Park, commonly dubbed JYP, will host a talk show in the 25 years of the performer and songwriter’s career. 　The show is set break the traditional talk show format. Its set is staged like a club, with audience members enjoying themselves while standing in front of the stage. 　 Set of “Party People” (SBS)During the first sh

TelevisionJuly 20, 2017

Court sentences Big Bang’s T.O.P to 10 months prison, 2 years suspended

A Seoul court has sentenced Big Bang‘s T.O.P, who had been charged without detention for marijuana use, to 10 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, Thursday. A judge from Seoul Central District Court revealed that the ruling was based on evidence of his wrongdoings and that T.O.P had admitted to the charges.He said, “As the rapper is found to have committed wrongdoings that can harm both the mental and physical state of an individual, as well as have an adverse influence on society, we decide

PerformanceJuly 20, 2017

Making more than makgeolli

Julia Mellor’s first experience with makgeolli was, by her own admission, terrible. The cheap green bottle she had purchased from a local convenience store here left such a bad aftertaste that she gave up on Korean alcohol there and then. So it’s surprising that now, almost 10 years after her first and what she thought would be her final sip, she finds herself at the helm of a company dedicated to educating and spreading awareness of traditional Korean alcohol.Daniel McLaughlin (left), managing

FoodJuly 19, 2017

Queer film festival addresses pressing issues of Korea’s LGBT community

On Thursday afternoon, the 17th Korea Queer Film Festival kicks off, the latest event in a monthlong program organized as part of the Korea Queer Culture Festival.Saturday’s gay pride parade proved a massive success, drawing a record 85,000 people to Seoul Plaza. The turnout apparently shows Korea becoming more understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and the organizers hope to build on that.From left to right: Holic and Ha-re stand outside the Korea Herald building

CultureJuly 19, 2017

The Chainsmokers to perform in Busan and Seoul in September

The electronic dance music-pop duo the Chainsmokers will perform two gigs in Korea in early September, Korean promoters said Wednesday.According to Hyundai Card, the group will perform at Busan KBS Hall on Sept. 11 and at Seoul Jamsil Indoor Gym on Sept. 12. Nick Martin will also perform as a special guest. (Hyundai Card)The concerts are part of the Hyundai Card Culture Project that brings world-famous artists to the country. The Chainsmokers consist of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart. The duo achiev

PerformanceJuly 19, 2017

‘Battleship Island’ sees Song Joong-ki in another heroic role

Much-anticipated war flick “The Battleship Island,” starring Song Joong-ki and others in a star-studded cast, was unveiled to press Wednesday at CGV Yongsan. 　Director Ryoo Seung-wan said he had always wanted to make an escape thriller.　“Escaping can be interpreted as an attempt to deal with the past,” Ryoo told reporters following the press screening.  Actor Song Joong-ki speaks at a press call for the film “The Battleship Island” held at CGV Yongsan on Wednesday. (Yonhap)The war flick is set o

FilmJuly 19, 2017

Liam Gallagher looks forward to playing for ‘mental’ Korean fans

It has been 26 years since the world was introduced to Liam Gallagher and his brother Noel -- a pair of “s---heads,” according to the singer’s own words -- but the 44-year-old singer has never let up, now leading a solo career in his post-Oasis and Beady Eye years.“I’ve been doing this for more than 25 years, I don’t think I’ve got anything more to ‘prove,’” said Liam Gallagher, when asked what keeps him going, in a joint interview with Korean media. “I just want to keep making music. I still be

PerformanceJuly 19, 2017

Madonna asks court to block love letter auction

Madonna asked a judge Tuesday to block an auction of memorabilia including a breakup letter from rapper Tupac Shakur, saying the intimate items were stolen by her former friend.The pop superstar filed a motion with a New York court a day before auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll was set to start taking bids for more than 100 items, with Tupac's letter expected to fetch as much as $400,000. In this July 11, 2017 file photo, Madonna, left, sits with her adopted children David, Stella and Mercy

CultureJuly 19, 2017

Yang Hyun-suk to star as judge in new YG artist audition program

YG Entertainment’s CEO Yang Hyun-suk will be starring in an audition program again. The K-pop powerhouse’s CEO will be the judge of a singing audition program set to air this fall, local news outlets reported Wednesday.　The show, produced by the management agency, aims to search for the next trendy, YG-style artist to tread in the footsteps of K-pop icons Big Bang, iKon, Black Pink and others, reports said. 　 Yang Hyun-suk (YG Entertainment)It has been one year since Yang was featured in the six

PerformanceJuly 19, 2017

Watch Korea’s youngest hip-hop duo swagger through Itaewon (Video)

Korea’s youngest hip-hop duo, Itaewon Kidz, released its debut song “Popo Song” Wednesday. The group consists of Ja-ul, age 10, and his younger brother Ja-on, 6.  Itaewon Kidz (Antworks Communication) The pair are the sons of producer Kim Tae-hoon, who decided to record their new track after watching them chant along to his beats. The music video features the two tiny tots swaggering down the Itaewon s

PerformanceJuly 19, 2017

Bucheon film fest brings 2017's best in gross-out

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival has enjoyed a hard-earned reputation for bringing to Korea the most outlandish, horrific and just plain absurd cinema to Korean audiences over the last two decades. In 2017, it brings “A--holes.” “A--holes,” the title of which appears uncensored on marquees, is the debut directorial feature from Peter Vack, an American actor who has appeared in mainstream efforts like “The Intern” and TV series “The Blacklist.” The X-rated film had its Asian prem

FilmJuly 19, 2017

Everland amusement park remains top tourist attraction for locals, foreigners

Everland Resort, an amusement facility equipped with a water park and a zoo, was the No. 1 destination for local and foreign visitors last year, South Korea's tourism agency said Wednesday.According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 6.96 million people visited the amusement park in Yongin, just south of Seoul, in 2016. It marks the second year in a row that Everland took the top ranking, although the number of visitors was down 6.2 percent. October was the most popular month for the pa

CultureJuly 19, 2017

'Game of Thrones' debut draws record 10.1 million viewers

Women dominate Westeros as never before, and it’s the same with the “Game of Thrones” ratings.The HBO drama’s seventh-season premiere last weekend drew a record-setting 10.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen company figures released Tuesday. That eclipsed previous top-rated “Game of Thrones” episodes, including the 8.11 million who watched the season five finale in 2015 and the 8 million who tuned in to that year’s opener. (HBO)The numbers represent viewers who watched the episodes as they f

TelevisionJuly 19, 2017