Zion.T talks about two sides of fame with ‘00’

Many say bad publicity is better than complete obscurity; just ask US President Donald Trump, the walking embodiment of controversy.But fame and success often have strings attached, and what follows can include unwanted attention about personal issues and judgement from onlookers.Zion.T described the bitter irony in “The Song,” a single from his latest album “00.” The lyrics “I don’t want this song to be popular. I don’t want people to remember the lyrics to this song,” depict the conflicting th

PerformanceFeb. 2, 2017

Actress Hwang Jung-eum expecting a baby

Actress and former singer Hwang Jung-eum is expecting a baby, due in autumn, her agency said Thursday. (Yonhap)C-JeS Entertainment said the actress will take a temporary break from her acting career to take care of her health.Hwang married golfer-turned-entrepreneur Lee Young-don last February. She began her career as a member of Sugar in 2002. Four years later, the group disbanded and she became fully committed to acting. She's appeared in various popular TV series including "Kill Me, Heal Me,"

TelevisionFeb. 2, 2017

Comedy-action film 'Confidential Assignment' attracts 5 mln viewers

Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin star in a scene from “Confidential Assignment.” (CJ Entertainment)South Korean comedy-action film "Confidential Assignment" topped 5 million in attendance in only 15 days since its release in local theaters, data from a market tracker showed on Thursday.The film passed the milestone to reach 5,046,970 on Wednesday, according to the Korean Film Council, the government agency for the promotion of Korean films.Starring Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin, "Confidential Assignment" gar

FilmFeb. 2, 2017

Jazz and classical come together at snowcapped PyeongChang

The PyeongChang Winter Music Festival, the winter edition of the annual Great Mountains Music Festival, returns this year once again with an offering of jazz and classical music.Launched last year to promote the area as a hub of cultural activities ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the music festival will be held Feb. 15 - Feb. 19 at the Alpensia Concert Hall. This year’s program will kick off with a unique piece that brings together traditional pansori, a narrative song sung to dru

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2017

Bassist Nathan East to perform in Korea

Bassist Nathan East, founding member of jazz quartet Fourplay, will perform in Korea on Feb. 26. The legendary bass player’s performance comes after the Jan. 27 release of his second solo album “Reverence,” featuring collaborations with Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Chick Corea.  Nathan East (U&I Communications)The album debuted at No.1 on Billboard‘s jazz albums and contemporary jazz albums charts.East has recorded numerous works with the likes of Clapton, Collins, Whitney Houston, Michael Jac

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2017

Zion.T sweeps charts with new album, says G-Dragon ‘helped sound cool’

Hip-hop artist Zion.T made a splash on the local charts with his new album “00” on Wednesday, notching up top spots in major online music charts.“The Song” by Zion.T debuted at No. 1 in eight music charts including Mnet, Genie and Melon after its midnight release and held on to its throne as of Wednesday afternoon. On its heels at the No. 2 spot was “Complex” from the same album, featuring G-Dragon of Big Bang. Zion.T (YG Entertainment)On working with the K-pop icon, Zion.T said in a recent inte

PerformanceFeb. 1, 2017

Kim Tae-ri to join Kang Dong-won, Ha Jung-woo in ‘1987’

Korean actress Kim Tae-ri will join the cast of the upcoming film “1987,” which will depict the pivotal year of the Korean pro-democracy movement.Kim’s agency J,Wide-Company confirmed the actress has been cast for a role in the movie and is expected to soon hold a meeting with the film’s producers to discuss the details.  Kim Tae-ri (J,Wide-Company)The flick will be directed by Jang Jun-hwan, best known for science fiction cult classic “Save the Green Planet.” The star-studded cast includes big

FilmFeb. 1, 2017

Crime thriller 'Defendant' surpasses 20% TV viewership in capital area

SBS TV's "Defendant" appears to have clinched its lead in the Monday-Tuesday late night drama race, with more than 20 percent of TV-watching households in and around Seoul tuning into the new series, data showed Wednesday. (Yonhap)The show's fourth episode that aired Tuesday recorded a 20.8 percent viewership among the Seoul metropolitan area households, while snatching an 18.7 percent score nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.Its competitors, MBC TV's "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" and

TelevisionFeb. 1, 2017

Director Hong Sang-soo to attend Berlin film fest possibly with actress Kim Min-hee

Award-winning Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo will attend the Berlin International Film Festival to promote his film set to compete in the event next month, industry sources said Tuesday."On the Beach at Night Alone" was invited earlier this month to compete in the main competition category of the 69th edition of the festival slated for Feb. 9-18."The screening schedules for the film have yet to be fixed," a film industry official said, requesting not to be named. "We understand Hong will attend

FilmJan. 31, 2017

'Guardian' ends chart run with hurrah, 'Missing Nine' debuts at No. 3

"Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," which recently rewrote cable TV ratings history, secured a four-week winning streak on a benchmark TV popularity chart, while new castaway drama "Missing Nine" debuted at No. 3, data showed Tuesday. (tvN)tvN's "Guardian," which ended its 16-episode run on Jan. 21, scored 301.2 points on the Content Power Index, becoming the No. 1 among TV programs during Jan. 16-22.CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of T

TelevisionJan. 31, 2017

Chick Corea Elektric Band to perform in March

Original members of the jazz legend Chick Corea Elektric Band will perform for the first time in Korea on March 8. The five-member band will hold the concert at the LG Art Center located in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. It will then commence on an Asian tour that includes performances in Tokyo and Hong Kong.  Chick Corea Elektric Band (LG Arts Center)The tour is the first one in Asia since the band reassembled its founding members in 2004. This was also when it released its last studio album to

PerformanceJan. 31, 2017

Lee Min-ho to join military this year

Lee Min-ho’s agency said Tuesday that the actor will enlist in the military this year.Officials from MYM Entertainment denied earlier reports that said Lee was planning to start his mandatary military service in March or April, adding that nothing has been decided yet. But the company added that the actor is slated to enlist this year, since his age -- 29 -- makes it difficult for him to delay it any longer. Lee Min-ho (MYM Entertainment)Korean law stipulates that all able-bodied men are to serv

Jan. 31, 2017

'Confidential Assignment' dethrones 'The King' at weekend box office

Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin star in a scene from “Confidential Assignment.” (CJ Entertainment)A Korean comedy-action film about an inter-Korean secret police mission claimed the top spot at the box office over the weekend, dethroning a local political thriller, data showed on Tuesday."Confidential Assignment" topped the chart, amassing 1.9 million viewers in its second weekend of Jan. 27-29, according to the real-time based box office tally from the Korean Film Council."The King," which premiered o

FilmJan. 31, 2017

Black Pink's 'Boombayah' tops 100 mln YouTube views

The "Boombayah" music video by Black Pink, one of K-pop's biggest breakout stars from last year, has racked up more than 100 million views on YouTube, the group's agency said Tuesday. (Yonhap)According to YG Entertainment, view count for the song on YouTube stood at 100,026,826 as of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, reaching the milestone figure 177 days after its release."Boombayah" is one of Black Pink's two songs included on the group's "Square One" debut single album. The dance number features a synth-hea

PerformanceJan. 31, 2017

‘Beauty Inside’ remake to star Amelia Clarke

Han Hyo-joo (left) and Park Seo-joon star in “The Beauty Inside.” (Yong Film)The American remake of the 2015 Korean film “The Beauty Inside” will star Emilia Clarke, best known as the “Game of Thrones” dragon mother, as the female lead. Fox 2000 recently acquired the film rights to remake the Korean flick in a $2 million deal, beating out five competitors, including Universal, Sony and Lionsgate.The remake will be written by “The Fault in Our Stars” writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.

FilmJan. 30, 2017

Young, foreign restaurateurs make foray into Seoul alleys

Kevin Scheid (left) and Gregory DeFraize, the owners of French bistro L'Empreinte, pose for a photo after an interview in their restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)After working at a hotel kitchen and a hip Itaewon eatery for several years, French chef Gregory DeFraize, 34, decided to open a place of his own early last year. L’Empreinte, meaning “impression,” his bistro is a 110-square meter-piece of Lyon, the chef’s hometown, in a corner of Yeonnam-dong

FoodJan. 30, 2017

S. Korean comic book awarded at French Angouleme comics festival

The South Korean comic book "Bad Friend" received an award at a global comics festival, Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) said Sunday.The book by a South Korean cartoonist, who goes by her pen name Ancco, was awarded the Prix Revelation at the 44th Angouleme International Comics Festival, becoming the first Korean comic book to be recognized by one of the most renowned comics awards events."I used to consider myself to be someone who led a weird, lonely life in Korea. But now I am here. Thi

CultureJan. 29, 2017

'Legend of the Blue Sea' ends strong despite being too familiar

To many, SBS TV's "Legend of the Blue Sea" ended up as somewhat of an artistic letdown. Famed screenwriter Park Ji-eun's time-slip tale of star-crossed lovers was criticized by many viewers for being derivative and too familiar.But that doesn't mean people tuned out. On the contrary, Wednesday's happy-ending finale claimed the No. 1 spot among its competitors in the same time slot, garnering a 17.9 percent nationwide viewership, according to Nielson Korea. (SBS)The take away? Star power still ma

TelevisionJan. 26, 2017

Lee Young-ae aimed to show boldness behind the good, wise wife

Returning to television drama after 14 years, Lee Young-ae said she wants to portray a passionate, modern rendition of a historical figure in her latest role. “Saimdang, Light’s Diary,” which launches Thursday at 10 p.m. on SBS, alternates between the present and the past. Lee plays both Seo Ji-yoon, an art history student living in modern-day Seoul, and Shin Saimdang, a famed poet, artist and scholar of the Joseon era, as their lives overlap.“I thought it would be interesting if I could show th

TelevisionJan. 25, 2017