‘Flight of the angel’ rings in Venice Carnival

Tens of thousands of revelers in masks and period costume packed St. Mark’s Square on Sunday for the “flight of the angel,” the traditional opening of the Venice Carnival.On the 12th chime of midday from St. Mark’s Campanile, Claudia Marchiori descended gracefully from the famous bell tower, attached to a wire 80 meters above the crowd that had gathered for one of the world’s most famous carnivals. Claudia Marchiori, winner of last year’s Maria of the Carnival contest, descends from the Bell Tow

CultureFeb. 20, 2017

'New Trial' tops weekend,' hitting 1 mln viewers mark

Domestic courtroom drama "New Trial" topped the box office on its first weekend, pushing aside the previous No. 1 "Fabricated City," data showed Monday. (OPUS Pictures)"New Trial" starring Kang Ha-neul and Jung Woo attracted 755,268 viewers over the Feb. 17-19 weekend, according to a box office tally from the Korean Film Council. The film exceeded 1 million in attendance on Sunday.Helmed by director Kim Tae-yoon, the movie follows the story of Hyun-woo, the only witness to a taxi driver's murder

FilmFeb. 20, 2017

‘Infinite Challenge’ back on air

Entertainment show “Infinite Challenge” on Saturday aired the first of its four-part “best of” series.This follows the show’s three-week hiatus from its usual Saturday prime time slot on MBC.“Infinite Challenge” first began airing in 2006 and quickly established itself as one of the most popular entertainment programs in Korea. (MBC)However, as the show gears up for a reboot, it will be off the air for seven weeks.For the last three weeks, other shows have taken its time slot. Now, the remaining

TelevisionFeb. 19, 2017

g.o.d. wraps up tour in Busan

Boy band g.o.d. on Sunday held a concert in Busan, wrapping up its monthlong tour of six cities across the nation.The concert, held at the Bexco exhibition center, was part of a tour to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the group’s debut. It started with Seoul concerts from Jan.6-8, and moved on to Incheon, Daegu, Ilsan and Gwangju, concluding in the southern port city. (Sidus HQ)All the concerts were sellouts and the tour amassed a total of 40,000 fans.One of the longest-running K-pop groups

PerformanceFeb. 19, 2017

Twice unveils final teaser image for new album

Twice on Sunday revealed its final teaser image for its new mini album “TWICEcoaster: LANE 2.”Just a day before the album’s official release, the image was released via the official social media accounts of JYP Entertainment. The image showed the nine-member group posing in an area designed to look like a school locker room, with the album’s title, the words “knock knock,” and the release date on one side of the picture.  (JYP Entertainment)On Sunday evening, Twice will wrap up its three-day con

PerformanceFeb. 19, 2017

[Herald Interview] Actor Go Soo still unsure after 20 years

With chiseled features and deep dark eyes, Go Soo has earned himself the nickname “the statue of David” among Korean fans -- but his identity as an actor has been less defined. Now nearing 20 years since his debut, the actor had a busy but less-than-noticeable 2016, starring in the TV period drama “The Flower in the Prison” as a mysterious tradesman and making a brief appearance in the film “The Age of Shadows.”　Actor Go Soo (Young Hwa In)Go returns to the big screen as the lost, confused, tired

FilmFeb. 19, 2017

Kim Min-hee notches best actress at Berlin film fest

Kim Min-hee has become the first South Korea actress to win the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival.Kim won the award for her role in the upcoming movie “On the Beach at Night Alone” which is directed by Hong Sang-soo.“Today, I was presented with a joy that shines like the bright stars...For some, I believe that this movie can bring emotions deep within their hearts,” she said. Kim Min-hee poses with the trophy for the best actress award at the 67th Berlin Inte

FilmFeb. 19, 2017

Kim Min-hee wins best actress in Berlin film fest 2017

South Korea's Kim Min-hee has won best actress at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival for a film exploring the meaning of love through unconventional relationships.She took home the Silver Bear for Best Actress on Saturday for "On the Beach at Night Alone," beating tough competition from 17 other films. She became the first Korean to clinch the honor at the Berlinale.In the film, she plays the role of Young-hee, an actress pondering her relationship with a married movie director while dr

FilmFeb. 19, 2017

Junggigo teams up with EXO’s Chanyeol for ‘Let Me Love You’

Singer Junggigo and Chanyeol of boy band EXO will release a collaborative single “Let Me Love You” on Thursday. Junggigo’s agency Starship Entertainment announced the collaboration on Thursday via its Facebook page, posting a “Coming Soon” image. An image posted on the Facebook page of Starship Entertainment heralds a collaborative track from Junggigo and Chanyeol of EXO. (Starship Entertainment)Junggigo and Chanyeol, who first met through social media, have since have built a close relationship

PerformanceFeb. 17, 2017

What makes celebrities jump into winemaking?

There is a saying among the people who take grapes and turn them into our favorite beverage, and it goes like this: To make a small fortune in the wine industry, you have to start with a large one.Although I’ve never invested (or lost) a penny in a winemaking operation, I trust that the saying is true more often than it’s not. Which is fine -- we’re talking about poetry here, not finance. Making money is not the main priority. That’s easy for me to say, since I have no skin in the game. But real

FoodFeb. 17, 2017

Time to eat? Maybe not. When you chow down, not just on what, can affect your heart

It’s not just what you eat that affects the health of your heart. It’s also when you eat it.A new statement by the American Heart Association says there’s growing evidence that the timing of your meal matters when it comes to cardiovascular disease. The conclusion: Earlier is better.The statement, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, suggests that planning when to consume meals and snacks as well as not skipping breakfast -- all hallmarks of a healthy diet -- might re

FoodFeb. 17, 2017

From Orlando to Sanibel Island, finding magic in the Florida kingdom

For more than a moment, I found magic in Orlando.As I stood in the glow of Cinderella’s Castle on a crisp November night, fireworks filled the sky and the songs of childhood pealed when Tinker Bell, a human sprite in bright green tights and Day-Glo wings, popped out of a turret and zip-lined toward Tomorrowland like a cartoonish flare.Thousands of stunned park-goers clapped furiously as the light show dimmed -- a perfect end to my first day in Florida with two nephews, a great-niece and Grandma

TravelFeb. 17, 2017

Lee Min-ho to drop international album

Actor Lee Min-ho will drop an album worldwide in March, according to the actor’s agency MYM Entertainment on Friday.Through the new single, titled “Always by Lee Min-ho,” Lee wanted to communicate with fans the “happiness and gratitude he felt” during his 10-year career, according to his agency.  Promotional image for Lee’s upcoming single (MYM Entertainment)The song will be revealed for the first time at a fan meeting at Seoul’s Kyung Hee University on Saturday and Sunday. Lee previously releas

PerformanceFeb. 17, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

New Trial(Korea)Opened Feb. 15Crime, thriller. Directed by Kim Tae-yunBased on a true story, the film traces Hyun-woo (Kang Ha-neul), who is framed after being the sole witness of a murder, due to the lackluster and overly aggressive investigation conducted by the police. Hyun-woo subsequently spends a decade in imprisonment. Lawyer Joon-young (Jung Woo) finds out about the case, and decides to uncover the truth.Fabricted City(Korea)Opened Feb. 9Thriller, science fiction. Directed by Park Kwang-

FilmFeb. 17, 2017

[Eye Plus] Time keepers on Watch Alley in Jongno

In Yeji-dong, or better known as “Watch Alley” in Jongno 4-ga in central Seoul, a cluster of watch shops form a sort of island where time remains frozen in a sea of shiny buildings, luxurious restaurants and countless coffee shops. On the narrow street, dozens of watch shops attract a steadily declining stream of customers interested in affordable or rare watches. Behind glass benches where a wide range of wristwatches are displayed, repairmen, often middle-aged or older, work on broken timepiec

CultureFeb. 17, 2017

'Fabricated City' to open in N. America

This image provided by CJ Entertainment shows the official poster for "Fabricated City." (Yonhap)The release of the Korean action film "Fabricated City" in seven North American cities will begin this week, its regional distributor said on Thursday. The movie is set to open in Los Angeles and Buena Park, California, on Friday and New Jersey, Dallas, Honolulu, Vancouver and Toronto a week later, CJ Entertainment America said.The latest by "Welcome to Dongmakgol" director Park Kwang-hyun, "Fabricat

FilmFeb. 17, 2017

'Good Manager' gains more momentum, 'Saimdang' sees weak uptick

KBS 2TV's late night comedy series "Good Manager" has further widened the gap in the Wednesday-Thursday drama race with "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors," which saw an uptick but not enough to erase its increasingly stale reaction, data showed Friday. This image provided by Logos Film shows actor Namkoong Min playing Kim Sung-ryong, an accountant at the fictional TQ Group, in the KBS2 TV series "Good Manager." (Yonhap)Episode eight of "Good Manger," which aired Thursday night, recorded a 17.6 percent

TelevisionFeb. 17, 2017

SHINee goes on North American tour next month

Popular K-pop boy group SHINee will embark on a North American tour next month for the first time since its debut, its management S.M. Entertainment said Friday. The image provided by S.M. Entertainment shows the concert poster for "SHINee CONCERT-SHINee WORLD V." (Yonhap)The group will tour on the continent to perform "SHINee CONCERT-SHINee WORLD V," at Toronto's Sony Centeron March 19, Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre on March 21, Dallas's Verizon Theatre on March 24 and LA's Shrine Auditorium on M

PerformanceFeb. 17, 2017

Park Ji-yoon to release ninth studio album next month

Park Ji-yoon, an idol diva-turned-singer songwriter, will release her ninth full-length studio album next month, her distributor said Friday.Park's new album titled "parkjiyoon9" will be released on March 2 and will carry 10 tracks, according to Sony Music. It will be her first full-length album in five years outside of several singles released since. This promotional image provided by Sony Music shows singer-songwriter Park Ji-yoon. (Yonhap)On the title track "Gereoji Mayo," which means "Don't

PerformanceFeb. 17, 2017