Seoul City has released an updated guide on living in Korea for multicultural families. “Hanultari Living Guide for Multicultural Families” aims to minimize the difficulties experienced by multicultural families living in Seoul due to a lack of information or cultural gaps, the city said.It includes basic information relevant to foreign residents, as well as information about programs and policies for them, and relevant support organizations for multicultural families and foreign residents.The b

Expat LivingMay 31, 2017

T-ara on Wednesday released the cover image for its upcoming EP, its first record since the departure of two members Boram and Soyeon.According to its agency MBK Entertainment, the group’s 13th EP will be released on June 14. The lead track is “‘My Name is” produced by Brave Brothers.One of the images revealed Wednesday shows the four member Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin and Jiyeon wearing tiaras, while another photo shows the members in suits with their backs to the camera. Cover image for T-ara’s new E

PerformanceMay 31, 2017

With President Moon Jae-in stepping up efforts to reform the prosecution, new drama series “Stranger,” with its take on corruption in the powerful organization, could not look more relevant right now.Ahn Gil-ho, director of the tvN drama, however, said “Stranger‘ seeks to touch upon the universal value of justice.”“Many people said it would be tough to do a drama on the prosecution. The message we are trying to convey is that of justice, which I think everyone can relate to. The power of the sto

TelevisionMay 31, 2017

BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, has proved once again that its intentional fame is soaring.The K-pop act will hit the small screen in Japan with its “2017 BTS Live Episode III The Wings Tour Japan Edition” on July 16. A teaser image of BTS’ “2017 BTS Live Episode III The Wings Tour Japan Edition” broadcast (Captured from TBS website)Japanese entertainment company Oricon Style said Tuesday that the live tour concert, which will take place in Saitama, Japan, on June 21, will air on TBS Channel 1.

PerformanceMay 31, 2017

G-Dragon of boy band BIGBANG will release his first individual album in four years on June 8, his agency said Wednesday. (Yonhap)The YG Entertainment, however, did not give any details of the upcoming album.Debuting as a BIGBANG member in 2006, the singer whose name is Gwon Ji-yong made a solo debut in 2009 with "Heartbreaker." He has since released two more albums: "One of a kind" in 2012 and "Coup d'etat" in 2013.Following the release of the new album, the singer is to begin a concert tour of

May 31, 2017

Breakout American singer-songwriter and rapper Gnash will perform in Korea for the first time in August. Known for his viral hit “I Hate U, I Love U,” the artist will participate in a two-day hip-hop and EDM music festival, Sounce Parade 2017, which takes place at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul from Aug. 5 to 6, according to the festival organizer Flukers.  Promo poster for Gnash‘s first performance in Korea (Flukers)The 23-year-old, whose real name is Garrett Charles Nash, debuted with his first E

PerformanceMay 30, 2017

Actress Lee Ha-nee can be described as many things: an icon of healthy beauty, Korean traditional music performer, and an all-around cheerful person. In the recently concluded drama series “Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People,” however, she let go of who she was, or seemed, as a person. Actress Lee Ha-nee poses for a photo before an interview last Thursday in Palpan-dong, Seoul. (Yonhap)Critics have heaped praise on Lee for her portrayal of Jang Nok-su, a Joseon-era gisaeng -- courtesan highly tra

TelevisionMay 30, 2017

The moment Mercutio makes an appearance as a drag queen, you know you are in for a different kind of treat. Director Oh Tae-suk’s interpretation of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” takes on a completely new form; one of Korean traditional madanggeuk (outdoor play and performance) that combines humor and almost musical-like dance performances.Promotion images for “Romeo and Juliet” (National Theater Company of Korea)Staged to the sound of gugak -- traditional Korean music -- the scene ope

CultureMay 30, 2017

Global star Psy has set another record on YouTube, surpassing 10 million subscribers on his official channel on the video-sharing site. He is the first Asian solo artist to have reached the milestone.On Monday, the K-pop singer received the Diamond Creator award from YouTube, given to YouTubers when they reach 10 million subscribers.  Psy receives the Diamond Creator award from YouTube on Monday. (YG Entertainment)Upon receiving the award, Psy expressed his gratitude and promised to be a more ac

PerformanceMay 30, 2017

FT Island on Tuesday rolled out the poster for “Wind,” the lead track for its 10th anniversary album “Over 10 Years.”The two images of the poster were revealed on the web page set up by its agency FNC Entertainment specifically for teaser images and videos of the upcoming album.“The song ‘Wind” depicts a man’s sense of longing for a lost love, and his desire to become wind so that he can take off in search for her,“ the FNC said in explaining the concept.  Poster for FT Island‘s upcoming 10th an

PerformanceMay 30, 2017

Behind the bustling Dongdaemun shopping district in Seoul lie streets teeming with life, a remote replica of the Silk Road in the modern and dynamic Korea. The streets are collectively called the Central Asian street, or the Mongolian street, or the Russian street, depending on whom one asks. Their equivocal names speak of the disparate identities that have left their traces, as well as the diverse industries that throng there.Underneath Cyrillic signboards, people tinker with tools of their tra

CultureMay 29, 2017

EXO’s global tour “EXO Planet #3 -- The EXO’rdium” concluded with a grand finale at Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium on Sunday with a powerful and dynamic performance that has come to characterize the group.The group brought the 35,000 fans that packed the stadium to their feet during the three-hour concert, singing 31 songs in total. EXO performs at Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium on Sunday. (S.M. Entertainment)Before getting on the stage, EXO held a brief press conference marking the end of its 10-mont

PerformanceMay 29, 2017

BTS last week became the talk of the town on social media; some members more than others.As pictures of the Billboard-designated top social artist circulated online, some fans new to the boyband started to show interest in “the third guy from the left.” Jin from BTS (Yonhap)“But I‘m not gonna lie, they’re cute, specially the third one from the left,” posted a user identifying herself as “Laura” on her Twitter account. “At first I didn‘t really know about it but people kept asking me about it dur

PerformanceMay 29, 2017

BTS may have made history as the first-ever K-pop group to win a Billboard Music Award, but the Bangtan Boys found themselves gawking at their childhood heroes like little boys at last week‘s BBMA ceremony. “We felt pressure as the first K-pop group to attend the ceremony, but had a blast seeing artists whom we’d only seen on TV,” said Suga of the group at a press conference in Seoul on Monday. “It was so amazing to actually see Drake.”BTS got to do more than just stare; The Chainsmokers invited

PerformanceMay 29, 2017

BTS beat out pop icons like Justin Beiber for the top social artist award at the Billboard Music Awards last week, and the group said communication with fans was key. The boyband, while recognizing that they are not yet as popular worldwide as Beiber, said communicating with fans on social media was one thing that they can confidently say is their advantage over the Canadian superstar.  BTS poses for a photo prior to a press conference in Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)“We share our everyday lives a l

PerformanceMay 29, 2017

Bangtan Boys made a mark in Korean pop music history last week by becoming the first K-pop group to win a prize at the Billboard Music Awards.The boy band, however, said its journey toward global stardom is just beginning, emphasizing that it will steadily build its own brand of music. Speaking at a press conference at Lotte Hotel Seoul on Monday, Rap Monster of the group brushed off comparisons to Psy, whose wildly-popular “Gangnam Style” set the world on fire a few years ago. BTS poses for a p

PerformanceMay 29, 2017

The 51st Asia Pacific Bridge Federation championship opened in Seoul, Monday with 69 teams from 16 nations taking part.The championship, which runs until June 7, has six categories: Open, Juniors for those below 25, Seniors for those over 60, Youngsters for those below 20, Ladies without age restrictions and Girls for those below 25.Players compete in the 51st Asia Pacific Bridge Federation championship held in Seoul from May 29 until June 7. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)The teams in the uppe

PeopleMay 29, 2017