Extending his hand in a handshake, Cho Tae-kwon, chairman of KwangJuYo, smiles broadly. Cho Tae-kwonCho has every reason to be smiling. His two restaurants had been awarded much coveted Michelin stars earlier in the week: Gaon, a Korean fine-dining restaurant in Sinsa-dong helmed by chef Kim Byeong-jin, received three stars while Bicena, the more casual sister to Gaon in Hannam-dong, where chef Bang Ki-su presides, was given one star.For those familiar with Cho’s passionate and relentless effort

FoodNov. 18, 2016

 Chung Kyung-wha (PRM)Classical music“Hyungi Kim Brahms Violin Sonata Recital”: Herald Philharmonic Orchestra violinist Hyungi Kim will tackle the works of Brahms in her upcoming solo recital. A graduate of Seoul National University’s College of Music and a member of the Korean Chamber Orchestra, Kim is slated to perform sonatas for violin and piano “No. 1 in G Major, “Regen”, Op. 78,” “Thun”, Op. 100” and “No. 3 in d minor, Op. 108.” The concert will be held at the Seoul Arts Center’s Recital H

PerformanceNov. 18, 2016

This recipe is a simple variation of japchae made with soybean sprouts. All you need for this dish is soybean sprouts and sweet potato starch noodles, along with a few basic seasoning ingredients. Everything else is optional! The ratio between the soybean sprouts and the noodles can be flexible. To make the dish, I cook the soybean sprouts first, remove the bean sprouts and then use the sprout flavored cooking liquid with a little bit of the sauce to cook the noodles. By the time the noodles are

FoodNov. 18, 2016

The oldest and largest marketplace in the country, Namdaemun Market, is synonymous with wholesale bargains for everything and anything you might need under the sun. Mammoth in size compared to other places that may focus on one particular commodity such as cookware or medicinal herbs, and the smaller neighborhood markets, Namdaemun is still a force to be reckoned with after 600 years in operation. Wherever you visit a traditional market in Korea, what to eat and where to buy your food products i

FoodNov. 18, 2016

Members of the 5.4 Club, a group of prominent figures aiming to promote culture in Korea, gathered to discuss the aftermath of Korea’s recently enforced antigraft law Thursday evening at the InterContinental Seoul Coex.　The law is one that stipulates globally unprecedented guidelines, according to Jai Lee, senior foreign counsel at Yulchon LLP. “The whole world is paying attention,” he said. “(This law) affects more than 40,000 organizations and over 4 million people in Korea ... including profe

CultureNov. 18, 2016

Dutch Charcuterie at Grand Hyatt SeoulThe Deli at Grand Hyatt Seoul is offering handmade charcuterie by world-renowned Dutch charcutier Benito Plasschaert until Dec. 4.Plasschaert has mastered his art over the past 45 years, with new recipes using healthy ingredients. The menu includes lavender ham; Swiss meatloaf with Emmental cheese; Greek-style meatloaf with olives and feta cheese; green grape or baked apple and fruit flavored pate; foie gras terrine with truffle oil; terrine of veal marinate

CultureNov. 18, 2016

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte World is gearing up to play host to its annual Christmas Festival every day until Dec. 27. This year’s festival will tackle the theme of “A White Christmas,” allowing visitors the chance to see spectacular Christmas decorations at every corner of the theme park. The park will also feature a Santa Village and a snowman photo zone for the children.There will also be a special snowfall show twice a day at the Adventure Park and during the new Christmas Parade. The

TravelNov. 18, 2016

HONOLULU — If you consider yourself a traveler rather than a tourist, you might tend to avoid Waikiki Beach. It’s too commercial. Overcrowded. Too much of a South Seas cliche.But if you’ve been there you know there’s lots to love about the crazy scene: the platoons of newbie surfers dodging catamarans and outrigger canoes. The beach bars. The perfect sandy beach, with visitors from around the world playing beneath windblown palms in the shadow of distinctive Diamond Head.It’s fun for young and o

TravelNov. 18, 2016

LONDON (AFP) -- Wearing a blonde wig and bicycle helmet, a disheveled Boris Johnson sings and raps at a demonic Vladimir Putin -- Brexit as tragicomedy has hit the London stage.Five months after Britain’s shock referendum to leave the EU, “Brexit: The Musical” opened this week with a star role for Johnson, the gaffe-prone Brexiteer turned foreign secretary.“The trick (to play Boris Johnson) is mainly to pretend to know what you are doing but really sound like you don’t have a clue of what’s goin

PerformanceNov. 18, 2016

Jane Siberry“Angels Bend Closer” (Sheeba Music)Jane Siberry twists genres and conventions on “Angels Bend Closer,” a haunting, uplifting album befitting her eclectic style.On the Canadian’s first major release in five years, Siberry’s lyrics arrive like emotional gushes barely contained by their musical frames, mostly lavish ballads with a bounty of details.Nearly seven minutes long, “Morag” encapsulates several aspects of the album and Siberry’s intense diversity -- nearly stream-of-consciousne

PerformanceNov. 18, 2016

Sting“57th and 9th” (A&M/Interscope)Sting’s new album, his first in more than a decade, sounds a lot like the old stuff, but that’s not a bad thing.The first single “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” sounds like the love child of Police classics “Every Breath You Take” and “Can’t Stand Losing You.”There are the achy lyrics of the former, which holds up well but has more of a stalker vibe than it seemed to the first time around. And there’s the driving bass line of the latter, the style of playing

PerformanceNov. 18, 2016

Pink Martini“Je dis oui!”(Heinz Records)Pink Martini brings its progressive commitment to “Je dis oui! (I say yes),” an entertaining global jaunt in eight languages and a whirling variety of styles.With no airs and graces but plenty of splendor, Thomas Lauderdale’s big band/little orchestra explores songs from Armenia to Portugal, a few originals and American standards like “Love for Sale” on its ninth studio album.NPR’s Ari Shapiro helps out on “Ov Sirun Sirun,” said to be most famous folk song

PerformanceNov. 18, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them(US)Opened Nov. 16Fantasy. Directed by David Yates Eccentric, timid British wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York with a magical suitcase full of fantastical creatures. The city is in chaos over a mysterious force that wreaks havoc everywhere, and a movement calling for the obliteration of all witches and wizards. It is up to Newt and Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) to stop the shadow of evil. Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned(Kor

FilmNov. 18, 2016

Who’s up for a little escapism at the multiplex? J.K. Rowling, embarking on her new, post-Potter blockbuster franchise with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” has said herself that her screenplay, which she began several years ago, was informed by world events -- particularly, she noted, a rise in populism around the globe.And so there’s definitely some darkness in “Fantastic Beasts,” despite its being a family film, complete with the sweetest little beasts (and bigger ones) imaginable -

FilmNov. 18, 2016

An apparently innocent traditional item has found its way to the center of the influence-peddling scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. 　Obangnang, a multicolored pouch that is a traditional symbol of good fortune, featured in Park’s inauguration ceremony in February 2013 -- a giant obangnang setup at Gwanghwanun Plaza opened up to reveal a tree with dozens of mini obangnang hanging from its branches.Almost four years later and the pouch has come

CultureNov. 17, 2016

“Our Love Story” is an exceptional work that portrays a mostly unexceptional love story. Director Lee Hyun-ju’s debut feature centers on Yoon-ju, a quiet 32-year-old art graduate student played by Lee Sang-hee, who says she has “never had time for dating.” Her priorities are shaken up, though, following chance encounters with the person who makes her want to make the time -- the more outgoing waitress and bartender Ji-soo, played by Ryu Sun-young.“Our Love Story” has already won acclaim in Korea

FilmNov. 17, 2016

Yu Dong-hun has been named as the new vice culture minister by President Park Geun-hye.Yu will replace Kim Chong, who resigned late last month amid allegations linking him to the political scandal involving Park and her confidante Choi Soon-sil.   The 57-year-old is a long-time senior communications official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and has been working as a public servant since 1987. “We believe that (Yu) is very capable of handling our pending issues such as preparations

CultureNov. 17, 2016

“The Legend of the Blue Sea,” a new drama series from SBS, received a strong rating for its premiere Wednesday.The first episode had a 16.4 percent viewership rating, reaching as high as 20.7 percent for certain scenes, according to Nielsen Korea on Thursday. MBC’s “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo” and the KBS2 show “Oh My Geum Bi,” both of which premiered Wednesday, recorded 3.3 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.  The SBS hit drama “Jealousy Incarnate,” which aired at the same time as “The

TelevisionNov. 17, 2016

After a two-month hiatus, singer Jung Joon-young may return to KBS2 hit variety program “Two Days, One Night” next month, according to industry insiders on Thursday.However, the artist’s management agency C9 Entertainment denied the claim, telling local media that Jung “and the ‘Two Days, One Night’ team have not yet discussed his return to the show.”The 27-year-old singer-songwriter was mired in an alleged sexual offense scandal in September, when his ex-girlfriend filed charges against him for

PerformanceNov. 17, 2016