[Weekender] Hangeul calligraphy goes mainstream

There was a time when Chinese character calligraphers criticized Hangeul calligraphy for being “too unsophisticated.” Luckily, a few calligraphers ignored the comments and mastered their craft in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Looking back, they served as the trailblazers for the now-burgeoning market for Hangeul calligraphy.“Years ago, the term ‘Hangeul calligraphy’ was virtually nonexistent among graphic designers,” Kang Byung-in, one of the first-generation Hangul calligraphy gurus, told The K

CultureDec. 2, 2016

[Eye Interview] Head full of dreams, feet on the ground

The music video for British rock band Coldplay’s track “Up & Up,” released last year from the album “A Head Full of Dreams,” has been described as “magical.”The video features a montage of moving images that transform the everyday into extraordinary scenes. Synchronized swimmers dance inside a teacup, while a green kitchen sponge becomes a football field for tiny players. Popcorn is popped from the crater of a volcano. The sky is the sea; the earth becomes a stage.Music video director Vania Heym

CultureDec. 2, 2016

[Weekender] Beautiful writing goes beyond words

Nestled in the design books section of Kyobo Book Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, calligraphy workbooks are displayed in a separate stall as a special collection.　According to Kyobo Book Center, calligraphy books began gaining traction since 2012, with the number of new publications and demand for them steadily growing each year.A reader flicks through books in the calligraphy section of Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. (Lim Jeong-yeo / The Korea Herald)In 2013, eight new books on calligra

CultureDec. 2, 2016

Busan recognized as top incentive tourism destination

As Korea’s second-largest city, Busan boasts a wide array of unique cultural experiences, from hosting the largest international film festival in Asia to offering fresh local seafood. However, in addition to being a popular place to vacation, the port city is now recognized as a leading incentive tour destination for travel related to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.In fact, as a result of the city’s proactive marketing efforts, 12 medium-sized to large companies have visited B

TravelDec. 1, 2016

[Newsmaker] Jeju's women divers gain UNESCO recognition

When the female divers of Jeju Island emerge from their minutes-long foray underwater, they let out a much-awaited sigh. Called “sumbi,” the exhalation releases carbon dioxide from the lungs with a sound that is similar to whistling. When the divers pop up in groups, a chorus of singsong breathing echoes through the coast.“Haenyeo,” or women divers who have been diving in the waters off Jeju for centuries to gather seafood, were inscribed onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

CultureDec. 1, 2016

Big Bang to appear on ‘Infinite Challenge’ this month

Members of iconic K-pop group Big Bang will be ending their busy year together on MBC’s “Infinite Challenge,” Korea’s longest-running variety program.“We discussed (Big Bang’s) potential appearance on the show last year, but the timing did not work out,” an official from the show told local media Wednesday. “This will be a meaningful way to end the year all together, and we are in the process of figuring out what the format (of the show) will look like.” Celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary t

PerformanceDec. 1, 2016

New groups to enter K-pop scene

The K-pop scene is about to get bigger. DSP Media -- the agency behind girl groups Rainbow and April -- is getting ready to unveil a new act.On Thursday morning, the entertainment company released a cryptic teaser image, featuring the words K.A.R.D and Ohnana, and the numbers 12 and 13, on the official social media pages for K.A.R.D, the name of the anticipated group. “Until now, (members of K.A.R.D) have been working behind the scenes, showcasing their writing, composing and choreography skills

PerformanceDec. 1, 2016

Murakami's new novel set for release in Japan in February

TOKYO (AP) -- Haruki Murakami’s new novel is set for release in Japan in February -- and that’s about as much as his fans are being told.Publisher Shinchosha Publishing Co. made the announcement Wednesday. The book’s title, theme and exact date of release remain a mystery.The publisher showed two blank white books on its website with the message, “Haruki Murakami’s new novel coming soon in February 2017.”Murakami’s longer novels have been released in multiple short volumes in Japanese.A very str

BooksDec. 1, 2016

New York’s Lincoln Center to remember Leonard Cohen

NEW YORK (AFP) - New York’s Lincoln Center on Wednesday announced a low-key memorial for legendary poet and singer Leonard Cohen next week, with the art complex simply to play his songs.Lincoln Center -- the campus of premier US art institutions including the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic -- said the remembrance event will take place Monday.Recordings of Cohen’s music, as selected by his fans and friends, will play for four hours starting at noon at Lincoln Center’s outdoor plaza

PerformanceDec. 1, 2016

Spanish author Mendoza wins 2016 Cervantes literature prize

MADRID (AP) -- Spanish novelist Eduardo Mendoza has won the 2016 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s highest literary honor, for bringing a “new narrative style to Spanish fiction.”Education and Culture Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo announced the prize Wednesday, saying that beginning with Mendoza’s 1975 novel, “La Verdad Sobre el Caso Savolta (The Truth about the Savolta Case),” the author had reinvented Spanish fiction. He said Mendoza’s books are “full of subtlety and irony.”Several

BooksDec. 1, 2016

Rebuilding history? Debate rages over lost Afghan Buddhas

BAMIYAN, Afghanistan (AFP) -- For centuries they stood, two monumental ancient statues of Buddha carved into the cliffs of Bamiyan, loved and revered by generations of Afghans -- only to be pulverized by the Taliban in an act of cultural genocide.It felt like the loss of family for many who live and tend their crops nearby -- but some 15 years on they are hopeful these awe-inspiring relics can be reconstructed. But experts are divided on the value of rebuilding the artefacts, with some insisting

CultureDec. 1, 2016

TVE to air Spanish version of ‘Fantastic Duo’ next year

“Fantastic Duo,” a popular music reality program on SBS, is heading to Spain. The Spain-based broadcaster TVE will be airing an adapted version of the show, which provides fans the opportunity to perform duets with their favorite singers, according to SBS on Tuesday. It is the first Korean variety program to be reformatted to enter the European market. “TVE also owns channels in South America, where Spanish is widely spoken,” said Kim In-soon, who oversees global production at SBS, in a statemen

TelevisionNov. 30, 2016

Lee Se-young turns down entertainment award

Comedian Lee Se-young declined to accept the 24th Korean Culture and Entertainment Award due to a recent controversy about sexual harassment. “(Lee) was confirmed for the award a long time ago,” Lee’s management agency FNC Entertainment told the media Wednesday. “However, after thoughtful consideration, she decided not to accept it given the current circumstances.” The comedian came under fire when a clip was released online last weekend showing Lee and other female hosts of tvN’s comedy program

TelevisionNov. 30, 2016

[Herald Review] All-too-familiar disaster strikes in ‘Pandora’

Many releases in Korean cinema this year have hit more than close to home, dealing with political corruption and powers consumed with self-gain over public good. Of these, upcoming earthquake-nuclear disaster flick “Pandora” is perhaps the most blatant in its social criticism, making little effort to hide behind the veil of satire. The film takes place as a vigorous, 6.1 magnitude earthquake hits the western coastal town of Wolchon-ri, located adjacent to a nuclear power plant. The shake causes

FilmNov. 30, 2016

Celebrities express fury over President Park’s address

Celebrities are voicing anger via social media over President Park Geun-hye’s Tuesday announcement, in which she said she would let the National Assembly decide the fate of her presidency.“I am so angry,” celebrity writer Heo Ji-woong posted to his Instagram account Tuesday with a photo of a television screen depicting Park’s address. “She is tossing the ball over to the National Assembly, which will obviously be unable to reach an answer at this point. I am so angry at the president and the spe

CultureNov. 30, 2016