Soo Ae may star in ‘Upper Class’

Soo Ae is considering returning to the big screen with the upcoming movie “Upper Class” (unofficial title), according to her agency Star J Entertainment.  Soo Ae (Herald DB)The agency recently said the actress was offered a lead role in the movie. “She is in the final phase of making the decision. She is considering the role positively,” said an agency official.  The movie, directed by director Byun Hyuk, tells a story of a woman who tries to climb the social ladder. The seasoned actress made he

FilmApril 23, 2017

Korea treads steadily toward cyclists’ haven

Wearing a skintight outfit on his steely, muscled frame, Lee Sang-won has hit all corners of Korea on two wheels over the last decade. “The sceneries of rivers, coastlines, mountains and rice paddies were ineffably beautiful,” the 62-year-old man recalled with a nostalgia-tinged smile. Lee, the pacesetter for the nation’s growing legion of cyclists, has clinched nearly 50 amateur titles, including two national championships last year. As Koreans are increasingly becoming more concerned with thei

CultureApril 21, 2017

IU says she's confident of new album 'Palette'

K-pop singer-songwriter IU on Friday expressed confidence in her new album "Palette" and thanked fans for pushing her pre-released song to No. 1 on music charts despite zero promotional activities. (Yonhap)I had no idea that the pre-released song would be loved this much. I'm so happy that 'Through The Night' reached No. 1 on the music charts even without publicity," IU told reporters at a media event held at the Shinhan Card FAN Square in northern Seoul.IU released her fourth full-length album

April 21, 2017

[Herald Interview] Documentary reopens nearly forgotten history

When filmmaker Jolanta Krysowata arrived in Korea in early April, she didn’t expect people here to be zealous about communism or humanitarianism, the subtexts of her documentary about North Korean orphans who settled in Poland in the 1950s. “I heard in Poland and here that South Koreans weren’t much interested in North Korea or unification. But after watching audiences break down in tears during the film screening, I realized that’s not true,” the director told The Korea Herald at the Polish Emb

FilmApril 21, 2017

SBS TV's comedy show apologizes for allegedly disparaging African people

SBS TV's comedy program "People Looking for a Laugh" issued an apology Friday over a skit that many people found offensive and racist.  (Yonhap)In the segment "Real Gag" aired on Wednesday, comedian Hong Hyun-hee colored her face black and dressed up in what appeared to be African tribal dress with a cheetah-print top and a skirt made of cabbage. The skit made crude jokes about her appearance and gave the impression of disparaging people of color.Soon after the segment went on air, it invited an

April 21, 2017

[Weekender] South Koreans try blissful bike routes

As the weather starts to heat up, many are taking up cycling for either commuting or sport. The number of bicycle riders has gone up steadily over the past few years here. According to the Korea Transport Institute, it now stands at more than 13 million people, translating into 1 in 4 Koreans.The growing affection toward bikes is hardly a surprise for commuters. People in metropolitan cities with notorious rush-hour traffic need an alternative transportation option.  Ho Sung-hyun bikes downhill.

CultureApril 21, 2017

Pure beauty of Joseon era’s white porcelain

More often, beauty is found in things that are simple and naive, or thrifty and pure, rather than with a fancy appearance. Among porcelains, plain white porcelains from the Joseon era are viewed as the most beautiful, as opposed to splendid blue porcelains during the Goryeo kingdom. The No. 309 and No. 310 national treasures are widely called Dal Hangahri, meaning moon-shaped porcelains. Made of white clay and glazed with milk-color enamel, the porcelains resemble the moon against a dark sky.  (

CultureApril 21, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Children’s package at Westin Chosun SeoulThe Westin Chosun Seoul is offering a children’s package from May 2 to May 6 filled with exciting activities. The Playground Package offers accommodation in three different suites ranging from 250,000 won to 480,000 won. It includes tickets to the “Pixar: 30 Years of Animation” exhibition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, two facial towels and access to the Kids Zone at the hotel. Guests can also participate in a cake decorating class with children 5 y

TravelApril 21, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Colossal(US)Opened April 20Science fiction, thriller. Directed by Nacho VigalondoGloria (Anne Hathaway) has lost her boyfriend, along with all her acquaintances and bustling life in New York. She moves back to her hometown and drinks and parties the days away, meeting Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), a childhood friend who now owns and runs a bar. After a night of drinking together, the two wake up to realize that somehow an enormous monster set loose in the streets of Seoul, Korea is mysteriously connec

FilmApril 21, 2017

[Home Cooking] Yeongeun Bokkeum (Stir-fried lotus root with peppers and mushrooms)

Lotus root (yeongeun) is the underwater stem of the lotus plant, which is rich in fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium. My favorite way to eat this crunchy and starchy root is to simply stir-fry (bokkeum) it with some other vegetables. To prepare the lotus root for cooking, peel the skin, slice or cut into bite size pieces, rinse, and then soak in the vinegar water. This will remove any impurities inside and the slight bitterness of the lotus root and prevent discolorati

FoodApril 21, 2017

Earl Grey espresso and ricotta fig toast at Cafe Halfmoon

Located on a quiet stretch of a Cheongdam-dong street, Cafe Halfmoon looks like it would lead a relatively obscure and tranquil existence as a neighborhood hangout.  Cafe Halfmoon serves up eats and drinks in a communal space with an open kitchen (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)That is not what happened when the cafe opened in January. “The first day of our soft opening we had one customer,” said co-owner Yoon Young-sim, 26. That moment was short-lived.“The second day people started showing up,”

FoodApril 21, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Gwangju Royal Ceramic FestGwangju Royal Ceramic Festival is held annually in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where royal ceramic ware was first created during the Joseon period. Launched in 1998, the festival is comprised of various programs such as performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities. The festival is held from April 22 to May 7, and the visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages and there is no admission fee. A separate admission fee is required for

TravelApril 21, 2017

Hilton Busan, opening July, wants to offer secluded getaway

A new Hilton hotel, along with a small village of boutique shops, is currently undergoing construction on a secluded block of land jutting out into the sea in Gijang County.The location is just north of Busan’s Haeundae Beach, one of Korea’s busiest coasts famed for its lively nightlife. The new five-star Hilton Busan, however, seeks to offer a quieter getaway, introducing a more refined type of tourism to the seaside city. “We think there is a large market for both locals and tourists who want

TravelApril 21, 2017

Psy to return in May

Global K-pop star Psy will release a new full-length album in May, according to his agency on Friday. K-pop singer Psy (YG Entertainment)“Psy has been preparing for the new album for a year. The exact date of release has not yet been confirmed but he is slated to drop the album sometime in May,” YG Entertainment said. The artist also finished filming two music videos for the songs, which will be featured in the upcoming album, according to the agency. This will mark his return to the spotlight a

PerformanceApril 21, 2017

CNBLUE to embark on Asia tour in July

K-pop boy band CNBLUE will start its Asia tour concert “2017 CNBLUE Live Between Us” with an event in Singapore on July 1, its agency said on Friday.“CNBLUE has decided to launch the tour to commemorate the group’s latest EP titled ‘7℃N,’ which was released in March,” FNC Entertainment said. K-pop boy band CNBLUE’s ‘2017 CNBLUE Live Between Us‘ tour poster (FNC Entertainment)After the first concert, the group will visit Manila on July 8. CNBLUE will then hold concerts in Jakarta on July 15, Bang

PerformanceApril 21, 2017

New ‘art-tainment’ attraction opens in Incheon

Take yourself down to Paradise City -- as the great Axl Rose once said -- and you will find more than green grass and pretty girls; you’ll stumble upon a giant yellow pumpkin in the lobby.It is a sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama that has come to be known as her alter ego.Peculiar, but so is a stroll through the artwork-filled hallways of Paradise City Hotel & Resort, a multi-complex facility on Yeongjongdo, Incheon, which boasts a five-star hotel, convention halls, shopping area, casino

TravelApril 21, 2017

Lovelyz to release album on May 2

Lovelyz on May 2 will drop a repackaged version of its second studio album on May 2, according to the group's agency.Woolim Entertainment on Friday uploaded a 30-second “prologue film” promoting the upcoming repackaged album on its official YouTube channel. The repackaged album will be a follow-up to “R U Ready?” and will include a few new songs added to the original track list.Blurry images of the band were shown in the brief clip.It would mark an unconventionally quick return for Lovelyz, as t

PerformanceApril 21, 2017

Hyuna's new project group Triple H to release debuting album

"Triple H," the new project group led by Hyuna, former member of the now-disbanded girl group 4minute, will debut with its first EP album "199X," the group's agency said Friday. (Yonhap)The group, which also consists of Hui and E'Dawn of boy group Pentagon, will release the album on May 1, said Cube Entertainment, which manages the artists.The album will have five tracks, including the title piece "365 Fresh" -- a punk-style number reminiscent of the 1990s.Hyuna and E'Dawn took part in the writi

April 21, 2017

'Queen of Mystery' leads TV race, rivals gain ground

"Queen of Mystery," KBS 2TV's comic detective series, maintained its lead in the mid-week drama race, becoming the only late night show with a double-digit rating amongst its competitors, data showed Friday. (Yonhap)Episode six of the Wednesday-Thursday series "Queen of Mystery" recorded a 10.9 percent nationwide viewership Thursday night, according to Nielsen Korea. The figure represents a 3.2 percentage-point increase from the previous day.SBS TV's "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors" stood at 8.3 per

April 21, 2017