Busan, magnet for MICE industry

BUSAN -- Korea’s second-largest city and a major maritime hub, Busan is harnessing its capacities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, known as the MICE industry. Scores of convention centers, hotels, tourism attractions and cruise terminals are being built or renewed to make way for Asia’s top commercial port with 2020 in sight.Strewn with mesmeric beaches, cultural amenities, efficient infrastructure and telecommunications lines, Busan has all the ingredients necessary to att

TravelDec. 4, 2016

Big Bang’s Daesung to kick off first Japanese dome tour in April

Daesung of the iconic K-pop group Big Bang is gearing up for his solo tour in Japan in April. The artist -- also known as D-Lite by his Japanese fans -- will be kicking off his Japanese tour “D-Lite Japan Dome Tour 2017” at the Seibu Prince Dome in Saitama on April 14 and 15, and heading to the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on April 23 to 23, according to his management agency YG Entertainment on Sunday. The tour is expected to draw some 200,000 concertgoers to the two cities.  Before releasing his firs

PerformanceDec. 4, 2016

International push aims to protect endangered heritage

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) - Representatives from dozens of countries gathered in Abu Dhabi on Friday to focus on setting up a $100 million fund to protect and restore heritage sites threatened by extremism and conflict.The two-day conference reflects growing international alarm over the destruction of ancient artifacts by Islamic State group jihadists using sledgehammers, bulldozers and explosives.Another key aim is to establish “refuge zones” around the globe for endangered works of

CultureDec. 4, 2016

Disney teases 28 minutes of ‘Star Wars’ spinoff ‘Rogue One’

MARIN, California (AP) -- The secretive "Star Wars‘" spinoff movie "Rogue One" just got a little more tangible. Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled 28 minutes of footage for reporters on Friday at Skywalker Ranch, teasing the origin story of the band of rebels who aim to steal the plans for the Death Star -- the event that sets into motion the plot of the original 1977 "Star Wars."The footage skipped around in time and story line, but essentially sets up a world on the brink of rebellion. The Empire's

FilmDec. 4, 2016

China rejects Korean pop culture, welcomes Japanese animation

BEIJING (Yonhap) -- China has become hostile toward South Korea’s entertainment content, but is welcoming to cultural products from Japan despite its strained political ties with both countries, sources close to the matter said Sunday.Relations between China and South Korea took a hit earlier this year after Seoul announced the deployment of an advanced US anti-missile system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on its soil. While South Korea and the US argued the system would only be used

Dec. 4, 2016

Sewol ferry disaster to be made into feature film

A ferry incident off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula that caused more than 300 deaths will be made into a feature film, industry sources said Sunday.The movie, tentatively titled “Sea Tiger,” will be based on a novel written by Kim Tak-hwan about divers who were involved in the 2014 rescue operations on the doomed ferry Sewol.Kim wrote the book based on the testimony of late diver Kim Kwan-hong, who committed suicide while suffering from the mental and physical aftereffects of the int

FilmDec. 4, 2016

'Descendants of the Sun' takes top honor at Asian Television Awards

 KBS 2TV series "Descendants of the Sun" received the top prize at the 21st Asian Television Awards (ATA), the network said Saturday. The mega hit drama was named Best Drama Series at the award ceremony that took place at the Suntec Convention Center in Singapore on Friday evening. The 16-episode drama was sensationally popular not only in Korea but also around Asia, especially in China. At one point, its viewership hit 38.8 percent on its home turf.  (KBS)Its popularity made Song Joong-ki and S

Dec. 3, 2016

Bangtan Boys wins best artist award in MAMA 2016

South Korean idol groups Bangtan Boys (BTS), EXO and TWICE took top awards at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) at AsiaWorld-Expo Arena in Hong Kong.K-pop boy band BTS of modest-sized Big Hit Entertainment won the Artist of the Year title, one of the event's three big honors, along with Album of the Year and Song of the Year awards, on Friday night. The band also snatched the best dance performance award for male group artists.   Bangtan Boys wins the Artist of the Year award at the 2016 M

Dec. 3, 2016

[Movie Review] In ‘Jackie,’ a fractured Kennedy fable

History, lately run amok, is ordered with such tidy, forceful finesse by Natalie Portman’s Jacqueline Kennedy in the piercing “Jackie.” Summoning a journalist to Hyannis Port in 1963, not long after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, she coolly sets the record for her late husband’s legacy, coining “Camelot” and shaping the mythology. Some details that don’t fit the narrative she simply crosses out. “I don’t smoke,” she tells the Life magazine reporter (Billy Crudup), with a cigarette danglin

FilmDec. 2, 2016

[Box Office] Upcoming movie releases

Derailed(Korea)Opened Nov. 30Crime, action. Directed by Lee Seong-taeHyung-seok (Ma Dong-seok), the criminal owner of a karaoke bar, one day kidnaps the girlfriend of Jin-il (Choi Min-ho), the leader of a gang of teenage runaways. Pushed to the edge of society, the two men begin a desperate fight to preserve their lives and their loved ones in the bleak underworld of criminals. Missing(Korea)Opened Nov. 30Drama. Directed by Lee Eon-heeDivorcee single mother Ji-seon (Uhm Ji-won) struggles to make

FilmDec. 2, 2016

‘La La Land’ named best film by New York film critics

NEW YORK (AP) -- Damien Chazelle’s Los Angeles musical “La La Land” was named best film of the year by the New York Film Critics Circle. The group announced their picks Thursday on Twitter, spreading around their awards to a variety of Oscar contenders. The top award came as something of a twist after the critics’ early choices leaned toward Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age portrait “Moonlight” and Kenneth Lonergan’s grief-filled drama “Manchester by the Sea.”“Moonlight” won awards for best director

FilmDec. 2, 2016

[Around the Hotels] This week’s promotions and packages

Nighttime package at Grand Hyatt Incheon Grand Hyatt Incheon is offering its “Endless Night” package that includes a one-night accommodation with access to a “Night Lounge” with a scenic view of Incheon International Airport. The offer is available on Friday and over the weekend from 10 p.m. to midnight, and runs until Apr. 23 next year. At the lounge, guests can enjoy unlimited wine and Champagne selected by a sommelier as well as special canapes that add flavors to the beverages. Various chees

FoodDec. 2, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Everland Romantic IlluminationsEverland’s Romantic Illumination festival is continuing its celebrations until March 1 with beautiful and enchanting illuminations for a romantic and memorable holiday season.The festival will feature an extravagant 26-meter-high Romantic Tower Tree, which will be displayed at the fountain area between Four Seasons Garden and Rose Garden. The hollowed out Christmas tree tower can accommodate up to 50 people.The tree’s interior showers the visitors with enchanting l

TravelDec. 2, 2016

Christmas destinations that even Scrooge would love

If this is the year that you decide you’ve had it with untangling Christmas lights, fighting mall crowds to find that “must-have” action figure or video game, and fighting over whose turn it is to host the holiday dinner, there is an alternative.At all of the following destinations, the lights will already be on the tree; the holiday dinner will be handled by a renowned chef and the angry, shoving mall crowds will be replaced by like-minded guests who have one thing in common — a desire for a ha

TravelDec. 2, 2016

Sweet news: Nestle discovers low-sugar chocolate

GENEVA (AFP) -- Nestle has said it has discovered a way to cut the amount of sugar that goes into its Kit Kat, Butterfinger and other candy bars, but without affecting the taste.The Swiss food giant’s scientists say a breakthrough will allow the company to cut sugar content by up to 40 percent. Sweetness of chocolate and other confectionery products will be unchanged.“Our scientists have discovered a completely new way to use a traditional, natural ingredient,” Nestle Chief Technology Officer St

FoodDec. 2, 2016

[Home Cooking] Deulkkae Sundubu Jjigae

Sundubu jjigae is a stew made with smooth tofu, or sundubu, also known as silken or extra soft tofu. The stew is more commonly made spicy, but I sometimes like it purely white without any red spiciness for the simple pleasure of savoring the nuttiness of the silky tofu.You can make white sundubu stew with any broth or add-ins, but my favorite is one made with finely ground perilla seeds (deulkkae). It really gives the creamy tofu distinct nutty flavors! For the broth, I used a small piece of das

FoodDec. 2, 2016

[Weekender] The art of writing in spotlight again

The rapid adoption of digital devices in recent years is reshaping the concept of writing. A growing number of people view writing as a synonym of typing on PC or taking notes on their smartphones. For tech-savvy people, a traditional pen is nothing but an outdated and inconvenient tool. But this tech-oriented perspective is yet to convert the growing group of calligraphy enthusiasts with a penchant for beautiful writing. Calligraphy is making a comeback in Korea. Signs in favor of what people h

CultureDec. 2, 2016

[The Palate] Haejangguk, beyond the hangover

　It would be an understatement to say that Korean food is heavily based on soups and stews. Soup is a great way to stretch a meal so many could be fed cost consciously and to also make the most of modest ingredients and parts of meats that may not translate well into other dishes. In the food world today, what was considered food for “commoners” is now celebrated by an industry that has somehow taken a while to glorify the cheaper less desirable dishes already enjoyed and known by many. Korean f

FoodDec. 2, 2016