Upcoming JIFF enjoys surging ticket sales

Tickets for 80 of the 229 films screening at the Jeonju International Film Festival have sold out in advance, according to JIFF organizers.Tickets for “On the Body and Soul” and “Survival Family,” the festival’s opening and closing films, respectively, sold out Tuesday, while tickets for 80 films sold out Wednesday, a representative from JIFF said. Last year saw tickets for 41 films sell out.  Still from the opening film “On the Body and Soul” by Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi (JIFF)“We believ

FilmApril 14, 2017

5 Korean films make Cannes’ official selection this year

The 70th Cannes Film Festival this year will offer up a feast of Korean cinema. A total of five films have been invited to the official selection, with two competing for the prestigious Palme d’Or award.Invited to the competition category are Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day After (Geu Hu),” filmed last February with Kim Min-hee, and Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja,” a fantasy story of a girl who sets out to save her giant animal friend starring Tilda Swinton. It is the second time two Korean films are competing a

FilmApril 14, 2017

[Eye Plus] Tugging for luck, for 500 years

The Gijisi Juldarigi Festival is a 500-year-old tradition that takes place annually in the city of Dangjin, located on the Asan Bay jetting out into the Yellow Sea, on the west coast.　The festival features a traditional tug-of-war game that has kept to the rules and methods from back when the game began during the reign of King Seonjo (1567-1608). The game was meant to promote unity in the community and pray for good fortune.　Today, youths and elders alike congregate around the gigantic rope use

CultureApril 14, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Green tea promotion at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Lounge at Park Hyatt Seoul, a newly renovated Korean tea house, is offering a green tea promotion until April 23. The promotion includes a selection of premium green tea for two -- Woojeon, Gokwoo, Sejak and Jukro varieties -- and hwajeon, flat sticky rice cake decorated with flower petals. The promotion is available every day from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with prices starting from 42,000 won. The tea is served in a traditional Korean tea ceremony. Along

FoodApril 14, 2017

[Weekender] Travel Bits

Gwangju Royal Ceramic Fest Gwangju 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 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages and there is no admission fee. A separate admission fee is requir

TravelApril 14, 2017

[The Palate] Gyeongdong Market, the endearing traditional marketplace

The traditional markets scattered throughout the country are important resources for their local neighborhoods. Well-known marketplaces, like Namdaemun and Gwangjang, are examples of where Koreans can find their most basic of needs. But their authenticity is somewhat reduced by having been glossed up for tourists. By comparison, Gyeongdong market in Dongdaemun-gu, northeastern Seoul, is where one can truly experience a traditional marketplace within the city, and feel the honesty and warmth of i

FoodApril 14, 2017

Eric Nam features in Forbes ’30 Under 30 Asia’ list

Singer Eric Nam was named one of the world’s most influential Asian celebrities by Forbes. Singer Eric Nam is featured in Forbes‘ ’30 Under 30 Asia‘ list Wednesday. (Herald DB)Forbes unveiled its 2017 “30 Under 30 Asia” list Wednesday, which features 300 young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who are making an impact in the world. The second annual list includes 30 honorees, all under age 30, for each of the 10 industries that make up the list. Nam was featured as one of the most recognized

PerformanceApril 14, 2017

Ancient metal print types not used for ‘Jeungdoga’

The Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday decided not to register “Jeungdogaja” as a national treasure, after examination results confirmed that they could not be the 13th-century metal print types used to print “Jeungdoga.”Hwang Kwon-soon, an official from the Cultural Heritage Administration, announces the results of the examination of movable metal types claimed to have been used to print “Jeungdoga.” (Yonhap)However, the agency said it was still possible that they are metal types from

CultureApril 13, 2017

Kim Woo-bin named ambassador for 2018 Winter Olympics

Kim Woo-bin was appointed an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee.  (Yonhap)The POC said Thursday the actor has been named as the event’s honorary ambassador and will promote next year’s Winter Games in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. Kim attended the signing ceremony held at the POC office in PyeongChang on Thursday afternoon.  Actor Kim Woo-bin, second from right, poses with Lee Hee-beom, head of the PyeongChang Organizing Co

TelevisionApril 13, 2017

Lee Young-ae's 'Saimdang' to end early

The SBS TV series "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors" will end earlier than originally planned, its distributor said Thursday, as the fantasy period drama suffered from less than expected ratings. (Yonhap)The Wednesday-Thursday drama starring actress Lee Young-ae premiered on Jan. 26 on local commercial channel SBS as a 30-episode series. SBS said it will end on May 3 or May 4, a week earlier than scheduled. "The drama's producers have put all their energy into reediting the show from the early stage o

April 13, 2017

Next administration should create single gov’t body focused on media: seminar

Experts called for the creation of a government organization specializing in media, during a seminar on media credibility, held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on Wednesday.“In the future, a media-related government body needs to form a policy frame aimed at strengthening the public function of news media such as newspapers, broadcast news and online outlets, and a support system to develop (media) into a competitive industry,” said Kim Dong-kyu, Dean of Konkuk University’s Graduate School of

CultureApril 13, 2017

JYJ’s Park Yu-chun to wed in fall

JYJ’s Park Yu-chun confirmed Thursday that he is set to tie the knot with a non-celebrity woman in this fall.Singer-actor Park Yu-chun (C-Jes Entertainment)“It’s true that Park Yu-chun will get married in fall,” a C-Jes Entertainment official told The Korea Herald. “We want to be careful about giving any further details, since Park is currently serving as a public service officer and the bride-to-be is a non-celebrity woman.” Earlier in the day, local media reports said that Park is to wed a 28-

PerformanceApril 13, 2017

‘Train to Busan’ director to start shooting new film

Casting for “Psychokinesis” (unofficial translation), the latest film by “Train to Busan” director Yeon Sang-ho, has been completed and shooting will begin Monday, the film’s distributor Next World Entertainment said Thursday. Shim Eun-kyung (left), Ryu Seung-ryong (NEW)Ryu Seung-ryong will play an ordinary man who acquires supernatural powers and uses them to help his wife, daughter and neighbors. The actor starred in “The Sound of a Flower” (2015). Actress Shim Eun-kyung, who appeared in the o

FilmApril 13, 2017

Winner to release first Japanese single in May

 South Korean boy band Winner will drop its Japanese debuting single next month, the group's management agency said Thursday. (Yonhap)The group will release the album with the same title as its latest Korean EP "Fate Number For" and have an event for local fans on May 31, the YG Entertainment said.The album will have the Korean and Japanese versions of "Really Really" and "Fool" from the EP released on April 4.Last year, Winner had a concert tour of four Japanese cities, drawing about 36,000 loc

April 13, 2017

Final 'K-pop Star' season's ad sales estimated over 30 bln won

Advertisement sales of hit audition show "K-pop Star 6" is estimated to have exceeded 30 billion won (26.4 million), thanks to high ratings and its unique programming model, according to industry sources Thursday. (Yonhap)The sixth and final season of the SBS TV show, which ended its 20-week run last Sunday, opted for a unique programming model, airing two, back-to-back one-hour shows each Sunday. In between the shows, SBS TV sold 15-second commercial air time referred to as "premium commercials

April 13, 2017

Kim Whan-ki's painting breaks Korean auction record at 6.55 bln won

A painting by Korean abstract artist Kim Whan-ki has been sold for 6.55 billion won ($5.74 million) on Wednesday, making it the most expensive South Korean artwork ever sold.At an auction held in Seoul, Kim's "Tranquility 5-IV-73 #310" with his signature style of blue dots and a white-edged square broke the previous record of 6.32 billion won set by the very same artist during an auction held in Hong Kong last November with a painting named "12-V-70 #172." The auction for the 205-by-261-centimet

PerformanceApril 13, 2017

Gangwon Province to share local culture

(The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Folk Museum of Korea will collaborate on a special exhibition to celebrate the 300 days that are left until the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Through the exhibition “Spring Picnic – Mountain, Flower and Food,” the ministry plans to introduce Gangwon Province’s food, nature and culture.The exhibition consists of three sections, “Mountain,” “Flower” and “Food.” In the “Mountain” space, vis

CultureApril 12, 2017

Former I.O.I member Kim Chung-ha to drop first solo single

Kim Chung-ha of disbanded girl group I.O.I is set to embark on a solo career, according to her agency MNH Entertainment.  Kim Chung-ha (MNH Entertainment)The agency said Wednesday the singer’s first digital single will be prereleased on April 21 via online music streaming sites and Kim will share details of the song via the Naver V app on Wednesday evening. The official album release is slated for May. Kim will be the first to debut as a solo artist among the 11 former members of I.O.I., which w

PerformanceApril 12, 2017