A ballet with Korean twist, ‘Sin-Si’ readies to hit Seoul stage

Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater is gearing up to stage its latest production, “Sin-Si, The Festival of the Sun,” a ballet combining the art of traditional Korean dance.Depicting the motif of the Dangun Mythology through dance, the upcoming performance tells the 7,000-year-old tale of Hwanung, the son of heaven, who descended to Earth to guide the Ung (bear) tribe and Ho (tiger) tribe. The two tribes had long been at war, fighting against each other in an effort to establish Sin-Si -- a new city

PerformanceOct. 11, 2016

North Korean defectors open up online

A trendy haircut, eyebrow piercings and a tattoo sleeve on his arm -- nothing about online personality Lee Pyung’s current appearance betrays the fact he was born under a totalitarian regime. But he was, Lee reveals in his live webcast series, 23 years ago in the city of Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. Lee made it to Korea in 2004, after bribing North Korean border guards, crossing into China, being imprisoned there, hiding in the Mongolian plains and being picked up by the Natio

CultureOct. 11, 2016

Film fest sheds light on migrants’ lives in European cities

In the Polish documentary “Kim Ki-dok,” filmmaker Patrick Yoka and journalist Jolanta Krysowata try to uncover the forgotten story behind the grave of 13-year-old girl Kim Ki-dok in Wroclaw, Poland, a country some 8,000 kilometers away from Kim’s birthplace in North Korea. Organized by the Seoul Museum of History and the European Union National Institutes for Culture, this year’s EUNIC Film Festival, titled “Migrants in European Cities,” explores the history of the migrant crisis in Europe with

FilmOct. 11, 2016

‘Asura’ to open across North America

Crime thriller “Asura: The City of Madness” will soon be shown on screens across North America.　Since its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, the film has caught the attention of the global cinema industry. 　It made its US debut in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 and will open in 30 major cities in North America, including New York, Chicago, Toronto, Houston and Washington D.C. on Oct. 14, according to CJ Entertainment. 　 Currently preparing for its Asia rollout, “Asura” will

FilmOct. 11, 2016

I.O.I gears up for stage return

K-pop girl group I.O.I is getting ready to return to the stage. 　The 11-member act shared a teaser image with the question “Miss Me?” on the group’s official social media channels Tuesday morning.　The image also includes the date Oct. 17, which fans have speculated online could be the date when the group releases a new album. I.O.I’s first subunit of seven members -- Kim Do-yeon, Kim So-hye, Kim Chung-ha, Lim Na-young, Jeon So-mi, Zhou Jieqiong, and Choi Yoo-jung -- released the hit track “Whatt

PerformanceOct. 11, 2016

With 3 NYFF films, Kristen Stewart admits she’s a workaholic

NEW YORK (AP) -- Three films at this year’s New York Film Festival certainly qualify Kristen Stewart as a workaholic, but the actress doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. “Oh yeah, I’m totally addicted, man. ... I get super obsessed with stuff, you know, and which is to a fault. But it’s served me well,” said Stewart. Since the Twilight franchise, the actress has quietly amassed an impressive body of work, including a trio of very different films at this year’s festival. She has already premie

FilmOct. 11, 2016

Beyond ‘fun and laughter’

In recent weeks, slow ballad tracks have been creeping their way up on local music charts where light and poppy tunes of K-pop typically dominate. 　Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Park Hyo-shin made his return to the spotlight with his first full-length album “I am a Dreamer” in six years.　Though the album relies heavily on the motif of romance, it has been providing listeners with “unlimited consolation” and a “feeling of self-worth,” according to fans online. 　Korea has been experiencing

PerformanceOct. 10, 2016

BIFF opens Korean indie films up to international audiences

BUSAN -- Huge blockbuster hits keep churning out of Korean cinema in recent years, and all the while Korea’s indie film scene keeps on producing quality films exploring aspects of Korean life on a smaller budget, if no less a smaller scale.This year’s Busan International Film Fest, running Oct. 6-15, presents 301 films from 69 countries, maintaining its position as Asia’s largest. In addition to international cinema and local blockbusters, the spotlight will also shine on lesser-known directors

FilmOct. 10, 2016

Actress Kim Yun-jin returns to local production in upcoming thriller

Actress Kim Yun-jin is returning to the big screen in Korea for the first time in two years after her role in the 2014 historical drama “Ode to My Father.”Directed by horror filmmaker Lim Dae-woong, the upcoming “House Above Time” will star Kim, K-pop boy band 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon and actor Jo Jae-yun, who most recently appeared in romantic comedy “Mood of the Day” earlier this year. 　“I chose this film not only because of the script, but also because it’s a new genre for me,” said Kim in a statem

FilmOct. 10, 2016

BTS makes splash with new album

K-pop boy band Bangtan Boys, or BTS, had a strong first day back in the spotlight.　Returning with its second full-length album, “Wings,” this week, the group has already topped charts at home and abroad. Released Monday morning, the 15-track album soon dominated eight major local music charts -- MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Soribada, Genie, Bugs, Naver Music and Monkey3 -- according to BTS’ management agency Big Hit Entertainment on Monday.Garnering the attention of international fans, “Wings” also

PerformanceOct. 10, 2016

As China rises, top-selling painter looks to his roots

BEIJING (AFP) -- Blue-chip Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi built up a lucrative career by looking to the West for inspiration and buyers, but a new retrospective in Beijing reveals an unlikely turn back toward China’s own aesthetics and traditions.It is a story increasingly common in the world’s second largest economy, where and growing disillusionment with material wealth has sent a generation in search of a heritage lost. Zeng is China’s second best-selling living artist, according to wealth publis

PerformanceOct. 10, 2016

Korean film directors, critics say BIFF's fight for artistic freedom will go on

 The standoff over the Busan film festival's "artistic freedom" may appear to have ended with the opening of this year's festival but what lies beneath is film groups' fiercer fight for the freedom, film critics and directors said Sunday. The 21st edition of the festival kicked off in Busan on Thursday featuring 299 films from 69 countries around the world, a scale that is not conspicuously smaller than past events. It, however, became a lackluster festival without the presence of stellar Korean

PerformanceOct. 9, 2016

[Herald Interview] American concert booker Tom Windish talks finding talent in Korean music scene

The annual MU:CON Seoul is an internationally collaborated music marketing event consisting of showcasing and expanding the networking systems of up-and-coming local Korean artists.　Inviting along some of the global music world’s most influential figures in the field of recording, producing and promoting, this year’s conference may have held the key for a select few Korean artists to make their big break overseas. 　Looking to network and find standout local talents was none other than Tom Windis

PerformanceOct. 9, 2016

Busan Film Fest’s role is to support budding Asian filmmakers: executive director

BUSAN -- Despite its political struggles, Busan International Film Festival strived to “return to the essentials” by spotlighting socially relevant Asian films in its main competition category New Currents this year.“As everyone knows, this event has begun with great anxiety and worries,” said BIFF’s executive director and actress Kang Soo-youn at a press conference with the New Currents jurors Friday morning at Busan’s Dongseo University Centum Campus. Earlier this year, many questioned whether

FilmOct. 7, 2016