Zo In-sung, Jung Woo-sung play ‘King’ and his maker

In upcoming political thriller “The King,” Zo In-sung returns to the big screen as ambitious prosecutor Tae-soo, who yearns to wield absolute power.To rise to the top, Tae-soo teams up with Han Kang-sik, played by Jung Woo-sung, a kingmaker who is the real decision-maker behind the country’s politics. “I thought it was very brave,” said Jung at a Thursday press conference in southern Seoul, regarding the film’s resemblance to Korea’s current scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her in

FilmDec. 15, 2016

Spend the holiday season with live music

With Christmas and New Year’s just around the corner, festive cheer is in the air. 　Despite the weather quickly taking a turn toward bone-chilling temperatures, there is a long list of live concerts and performances where people can celebrate the holiday season out of the winter cold. 　For those looking to escape the winter blues, there’s nothing like a bit of cultural indulgence to add a little musical enchantment to an evening.  　Steve Barakatt’s “Christmas Dream”　Canadian pianist and composer

PerformanceDec. 15, 2016

Phil Collins, pop star and self-deprecating dad, on his new memoir

“Not Dead Yet” (Crown Archetype, $28)Phil Collins is arching an eyebrow on the cover of his new memoir, as if to let you know he’s in on the joke. The book is called “Not Dead Yet,” a rather wry declaration from one of pop music’s most buoyant hitmakers, who’s not exactly wizened at 65.“Well, my health seems to have been the subject of much speculation in certain parts of the press,” Collins told the Times, alluding to his hearing loss and the chronic upper-body pain that has left him walking wi

BooksDec. 14, 2016

‘The Girl Who Escaped ISIS’

 “The Girl Who Escaped ISIS” by Farida Khalaf and Andrea Hoffmann, translated from German by Jamie BullochAtria Books (240 pages, $24)Amid the endless war news streaming out of Syria, the need for moral clarity in the conflict is running high.Farida Khalaf’s story offers it explicitly. Khalaf was a math whiz and a soldier‘s daughter who was 19 years old when she was captured and sold into sexual slavery by the Islamic State extremist group in 2014.Her first-person account, narrated in “The Girl

BooksDec. 14, 2016

Change is a sign of health, not corruption, in language

“Words on the Move: Why English Won’t -- and Can’t -- Sit Still (Like, Literally)” By John McWhorter Henry Holt and Co. (272 pages, $28)John McWhorter’s breezy “Words on the Move” is the umpteenth attempt to put to death the stubborn misconception that language change is a sign of intellectual laziness and cultural rot.It’s not even McWhorter’s first attempt -- his “Myths, Lies and Half-Truths of Language Usage” remains a go-to reference -- but this time the Columbia University linguist alights

BooksDec. 14, 2016

Lee Byung-hun to tackle boxer role

Lee Byung-hun may portray a boxer for his next role, attempting another radical transformation in his prolific acting career. Though he has yet to officially sign on, Lee is working out the specifics to star in Choi Sung-hyun’s “Only That is My World” (unofficial title) for his next project, a local entertainment outlet reported Wednesday.Lee will be playing bygone boxer Jo-ha whose younger brother Jin-tae is a piano virtuoso. The film will tell a story of reconciliation between the brothers and

FilmDec. 14, 2016

‘Romantic Doctor’ leads ratings

TV drama “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim” is leading ratings by an overwhelming gap, scoring 23.8 percent of viewership for its Tuesday episode, according to Nielsen Korea.The show is set in a rural hospital and features quirky genius doctor Kim, played by Han Suk-kyu, accompanied by young, passionate doctors Kang Dong-joo, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, and Yoon Seo-jung, played by Seo Hyun-jin.A scene from “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim” (SBS)The SBS show’s ratings surpass those of dramas airing in the

TelevisionDec. 14, 2016

Cartoonist shares untainted love of childhood

Exuding youthful exuberance and expectations, American cartoonist Jeff Kinney decided to make a living sketching comics while in college. Majoring in computer science at the University of Maryland, Kinney’s inner soul was tilted toward the stuff of children, the wondrous imagination of a kid growing up in a small town in Maryland.He started drawing comic strips for a college newspaper, and after graduation, sent submission packets to cartoon syndicates. Jeff Kinney, author of children’s classic

BooksDec. 14, 2016

Paris exhibit celebrates UNESCO heritage site of Palmyra

PARIS (AP) -- Days after the Islamic State group seized back control of the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra, a prescient exhibit was inaugurated in Paris on Tuesday that aims to educate the public on the wounded wonder that Syrians affectionately call the ``Bride of the Desert.‘’ 　Its organizers said the display opening Wednesday is designed to be an ``emotional‘’ experience that takes visitors to Palmyra and other endangered world heritage sites in the Middle East. It‘s also meant to show how mu

CultureDec. 14, 2016

Award-winning novelist, Shirley Hazzard, dies at 85

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shirley Hazzard, an award-winning novelist who wrote of love affairs disrupted and intensified by age, distance and war, has died at age 85.　Hazzard had been in failing health and died Monday at her home in Manhattan, according to her friend Frances Alston. The Australian-born Hazzard had lived in New York City for decades, but also had spent time in Hong Kong, Britain, New Zealand and Italy, an international perspective shared by her characters.　She was a writer of predigital t

BooksDec. 14, 2016

Kanye West emerges from hospital to meet Trump

NEW YORK (AFP) - Rap superstar Kanye West on Tuesday delivered a surprise even in this most unusual of political years -- he met President-elect Donald Trump, marking the artist’s first appearance since a reported mental breakdown.　West, a rare artist and even rarer African American celebrity to voice support for Trump, said he went to discuss issues of concern to minorities with the populist leader.　Trailed by an entourage including his own cameraman, West silently walked into Trump Tower and r

PerformanceDec. 14, 2016

[Herald Review] Cult, money and politics in eerily lifelike ‘Master’

After almost two decades of strict censorship under the authoritarian Park Chung-hee regime, Korean cinema began producing heavily political movies following the country’s democratization in the 1980s. While some saw film as a device of pure artistic expression, a large chunk of filmmakers viewed the medium as “the most powerful political and social weapon,” according to “Korean Cinema after Liberation,” a study by Hallym University’s professor Park Seung-hyun.　Countless films have since satiriz

FilmDec. 13, 2016

[Herald Interview] Big Bang wants to enjoy its last moments

No matter how successful he may be, it is the inevitable destiny of every Korean male K-pop star to halt his career and join the mandatory military service.Megastar group Big Bang is no exception. The group has reaped worldwide success since its debut 10 years ago. Reported to have raked in $44 million this year, the five-member band ranked No. 54 on Forbes’ list of celebrity earnings, becoming the first Korean act to make the list. “It still doesn’t feel real,” said Big Bang’s rapper T.O.P. on

PerformanceDec. 13, 2016

‘Death Note’ showcase sells out in less than a minute

Promotional image for the musical “Death Note,” starring Kim Jun-su (C-JeS Entertainment)Kim Jun-su, often referred to here as the “ticket power king,” has not lost his touch: Tickets for a showcase of the upcoming musical “Death Note” sold out in less than a minute.  　On Monday, tickets for the musical preopening day showcase went up for sale on Interpark at 3 p.m. and all 1,000 seats were booked in under a minute.  　The K-pop star recently wrapped up the musical “Dorian Gray,” which is a Korea

PerformanceDec. 13, 2016

Rain to return to music scene next month

K-pop star Rain (Rain Company)　Singer-actor Rain is gearing for a January return with his first album in nearly three years, according to his agency Rain Company. 　The upcoming album will be Rain’s first music release since his “Rain Effect” album in January 2014, which marked his return since completing his mandatory military service.  　The singer was initially slated to return to the stage in the latter half of this year, but his agency said that the album was not ready yet and decided to push

PerformanceDec. 13, 2016

CICI announces Korea Image Awards recipients

The Corea Image Communication Institute will honor South Korean golfer Pak Se-ri, AlphaGo artificial intelligence and KwangJuYo Chairman Cho Tae-Kwon at its upcoming 13th annual awards ceremony CICI Korea Image Awards 2017. 　The Korea Image Awards are given by CICI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a positive image of Korea. It recognizes people and entities that best represent the country and its culture. South Korean golfer Pak Se-ri (CICI)　Former professional golfer Pak, who an

CultureDec. 13, 2016

Cellist Mun Tae-guk named new Kumho Artist in Residence

Up-and-coming cellist Mun Tae-guk has been named as next year’s Kumho Art hall Artist in Residence, which will provide an opportunity to further his musical career.Mun, 22, is currently studying at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts under famed musician Laurence Lesser. He started playing the cello at the age of 4. At 20, he won the Pablo Casals International Cello Competition in Hungary, where he played Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129 accompanied by the Hungaria

PerformanceDec. 12, 2016

Girl groups, old and new to usher in 2017

Next year’s K-pop calendar looks to be dominated by girl groups, ranging from first-generation groups to rookies.One of the earliest sensations, S.E.S. will kick off 2017 with the release of their first album in 14 years on Jan. 2. The group, formed by S.M. Entertainment in 1997, led the first wave of K-pop girl groups, alongside Fin.K.L. and Baby Vox. S.E.S. released the single “Love (Story)” in November and will be holding year-end concerts on Dec. 30 and 31, revving up activities for 2017. S.

PerformanceDec. 12, 2016

Turning the DMZ into vibrant tourism zone

Hong Seung-pyo, CEO of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, has high hopes of revamping the bleak demilitarized zone into a tourism destination. This year, Hong established an ecological tourism zone and held concerts, exhibitions and educational programs by the inter-Korean border. One of the province’s tourism success stories is at Camp Greaves, the US Army base set up at the DMZ following the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953 and closed down in 1997. It was reopened for tourists in 2013, and w

PeopleDec. 12, 2016