Mamamoo to return in June

Mamamoo is set to return in June, according to the group’s agency RBW Entertainment. Mamamoo (Yonhap)The agency said Thursday the group is currently working on a new album, while the exact date for the comeback is yet to be revealed. The four-member group will celebrate its third anniversary in June. The group debuted on June 19, 2014, with the mini album “Hello.”It released its fourth mini album “Memory” with the lead track “Decalcomanie” last November, which went on to sweep several local musi

PerformanceApril 20, 2017

Amazon expands literary horizons, making big imprint in translation niche

SEATTLE - The literary translation community in the US has a tradition of being highbrow, a carefully tended yet narrow reflection of the stirrings of global culture beyond the Anglosphere.Then Amazon.com jumped in, like a whale into a koi pond.Armed with financial might and an intimate, machine-learned knowledge of reader behavior, the e-commerce giant made a big splash.Gabriella Page-Fort, the editorial director for AmazonCrossing, poses for a portrait on March 8, in Seattle, while holding a c

BooksApril 20, 2017

Namgoong Min to play vengeful reporter

On the heels of his successful portrayal of the comical office manager Kim Sung-ryong in the recently ended TV series “Good Manager,” actor Namgoong Min will be returning in the upcoming series “Fabrication” (unofficial translation).The show, written by Kim Hyun-jung and directed by Lee Jung-heum, revolves around reporters who strive to uncover the injustices of society.Namgoong will be taking up the role of Han Moo-young, a reckless reporter who, after watching a colleague die while on a corrup

TelevisionApril 20, 2017

Trends at upcoming Jeonju Int’l Film Fest

The Jeonju International Film Festival, Korea’s second-largest film event, is set to host its 18th edition this year from April 27 to May 7.　Here what to look out for during the festival, which will screen a total of 229 films from 58 countries. Opening, closing filmsHungarian director Ildiko Enyedi’s “On Body and Soul” will open the JIFF on Thursday evening. The film follows a cautious woman bored with life, who meets a man, falls in love, shares his dreams, and becomes curious about deeper hum

FilmApril 20, 2017

IU teases fans with new ‘Palette’ clip

A day before the release of her anticipated album “Palette,” IU on Thursday revealed a new teaser music video clip for the single of the same name from the album.The 24-second video of “Palette” was posted via social media and the YouTube channel of IU’s agency Fave Entertainment. A screenshot from the teaser image for IU’s upcoming single “Palette” (Fave Entertainment)The video features the singer posing with various clothing and hairstyles to words like “I’m 25,” showing off her charms as one

PerformanceApril 20, 2017

EXID’s ‘Eclipse’ ranks fourth on Billboard chart

K-pop girl group EXID has secured the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s World Albums chart with its third EP “Eclipse” for the week of April 29.On Thursday, the group broke its own record, setting its highest ranking and making its first top five entry. K-pop group EXID (Banana Culture Entertainment)“EXID is the only Korean artist to be listed in the upper ranks of the Billboard’s chart,” Banana Culture Entertainment said. The five-member group first featured on the chart in 2015 with its second EP “Ah

PerformanceApril 20, 2017

Jang Na-ra's TV show freezes production over budget problem: source

Production of "Housewife Detective," a South Korean drama starring actress Jang Na-ra and 2PM's Chansung, has been suspended due to budget issues, sources said Thursday. (M Star Media Group)"We're waiting for filming to resume, as the production company has asked us to wait amid production cost issues," said a representative of one of the lead stars, who asked not to be named.The unfinished drama is about an single mother going through economic difficulties working as an assistant to a private d

April 20, 2017

TVXQ's U-Know Yunho ends military service, pledges comeback

U-Know Yunho of K-pop idol duo TVXQ finished his mandatory military service Thursday, promising fans a comeback for the team in the near future. (Yonhap)"Please look forward to the complete TVXQ to return. Now is the start," the 31-year-old singer told an estimated crowd of 800 fans and reporters in front of the Army's 26th Mechanized Infantry Division at Yangju, north east of Seoul.The singer, whose original name is Jung Yun-ho, said he cherishes his experience in the military: "It was an oppor

April 20, 2017

A week of Beethoven

Paris-based Korean pianist Paik Kun-woo is back performing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas.This is not the first time Paik is playing the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle -- he played the 32 pieces in December 2007 at Seoul Arts Center in eight concerts over a period of seven days. The concerts marked the completion of the three-year project to record the complete Beethoven piano sonatas under the Decca label.Ten years later, Paik is taking Beethoven sonatas on a nationwide tour, planning to

PerformanceApril 19, 2017

Sechs Kies to release an album with new songs for 1st time in 17 years

Iconic 1990s K-pop band Sechs Kies plans to release an album April 28, which would mark the first time since 2000 for the group to release an album of new songs.The boy band’s agency YG Entertainment on Wednesday uploaded a poster of the group’s 20th anniversary project, which featured the phrase “New Album[The 20th Anniversary]” on the top.“If last year’s (digital) single ‘Three Words’ heralded a new beginning for Sechs Kies, this album will present a new path for the group,” YG Entertainment s

PerformanceApril 19, 2017

Cannes-bound ‘Merciless’ touts criminal bromance

Sol Kyung-gu and Im Si-wan talked about working together on the upcoming crime action drama film “The Merciless (Bulhandang)” which has been invited to the midnight screening at Cannes Film Festival this year. 　“I think with Im Si-wan, I went through love and jealousy (on screen),” said Sol jokingly at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. “I think we had great chemistry,” said Im. 　Im Si-wan (left) and Sol Kyung-gu attend a press conference for the film “The Merciless” on Wednesday in Seoul

FilmApril 19, 2017

Singer Jung Joon-young, T-ara's Jiyeon deny dating rumor

South Korean singer and TV celebrity Jung Joon-young and Jiyeon, a member of girl group T-ara, on Wednesday denied a news report that the two were going out.  (Yonhap)"After confirming with Jiyeon, we've learned that the two are not seeing each other," MBK Entertainment, which represents T-ara, said. It did though confirm that the two made a recent trip to Southeast Asia together with friends."It's true that they went to Southeast Asia with mutual acquaintances, but the two are just friends. The

April 19, 2017

Lee Min-ho confirms May enlistment

Lee Min-ho is set to begin his mandatory military service in May, according to his agency on Tuesday.Lee Min-ho (MYM Entertainment)“Lee Min-ho’s enlistment date was confirmed today. He will begin service on May 12 at Gangnam-gu office as a public service officer,” MYM Entertainment said. “He’ll spend his time preparing for the service until May.” The actor has been assigned to a noncombat position due to an injury sustained in a 2006 car accident with actor Jung Il-woo. Earlier in the year, offi

TelevisionApril 19, 2017

Nominations open for Michael Simning award

Nominations are being accepted for the Michael Simning Community Builder Award, an annual prize that recognizes people who have contributed to the community in Gwangju.To be eligible, nominees should be involved in an expat-oriented organization that has made a significant, lasting impact on the local community. The selection committee will consider community activities in the last year when deciding on the winner. Michael Simning. (Gwangju Foreigners’ Network)The award was created to honor Mich

Expat LivingApril 18, 2017

10 K-pop springtime tunes

Cherry blossoms have peaked and are falling, marking the arrival of spring. In celebration of warmer days, The Korea Herald has compiled a list of 10 K-pop tunes -- old, familiar, lesser known and newly released -- for road trips and lazy days in grassy parks.  Clazziquai -- “Fiesta”　Listed in the experimental band’s 2007 album “Love Child of the Century,” “Fiesta” is an ambient techno-infused tune about taking off on an unexpected holiday to a tropical beach.f(x) -- “Traveler” feat. Zico　Like i

PerformanceApril 18, 2017

Daejeon Artists stay humble for group show

Daejeon Arts Collective will be running a group exhibition from Wednesday, showing off work by 16 artists from Korea and abroad.Although the show doesn’t have a theme, its title comes from a Korean saying about not teaching grandmothers to suck eggs. “The title, ‘Writing Chinese in Front of Confucius,’ comes from a Korean saying which means a talentless showoff telling a master how it‘s done,” DJAC president Rosalie Knaack said. “I think the title can have a different meaning to different artist

Expat LivingApril 18, 2017

RASKB offers tour to Mungyeong pottery festival

A tour at the end of the month offers Seoulites the chance to get away from the city and immerse themselves in Korea’s ceramic traditions.The Royal Asiatic Society is organizing a trip to the annual Tea Bowl Festival held in the fortress town of Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, to celebrate Korea’s ceramic heritage and tea culture.  (Yonhap)Potters from Korea and overseas gather for a massive exhibition in the folk village at the base of the fortress, and the RASKB tour, the folk village an

Expat LivingApril 18, 2017