Sechs Kies calls comeback concert its ‘dream stage’

A South Korean hit boy band of the 1990s has made a comeback to the K-pop scene after 16 years, calling its two-day concert a “dream stage” and “a beginning,” hinting at active musical activities at home. Of the six original members of the 1997 group, only five -- Eun Ji-won, Lee Jae-jin, Kang Sung-hoon, Kim Jae-duc and Jang Su-won -- showed up at the press conference that took place in the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in southeastern Seoul on Sunday. “This is our dream concert,” said Kang, l

PerformanceSept. 12, 2016

Hollywood is dead, festivals more needed than ever: Kidman

TORONTO (AFP) -- Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman warned Sunday that Hollywood was facing new challenges in the era of online streaming, and needed festivals more than ever to get films noticed.“I don’t think there is a Hollywood anymore,” the Aussie star told a press conference in Toronto following the world premiere of “Lion,” from director Garth Davis.“We’re all scattered around the world and we make films all around the world and Hollywood is of some bygone era now, which is sad in a way,

FilmSept. 12, 2016

CL to perform on US late-night talk show

Singer-songwriter CL will be performing on major American broadcast network CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”　Hosted by British comedian James Corden, the American talk show has featured prominent entertainment figures, including Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon. The program also airs on international CBS-affiliates in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and England. 　CL, who is also a member of K-pop group 2NE1, is the first Korean musician to be invited to perform on the show. She

PerformanceSept. 11, 2016

Black Pink tops brand value ranking among female K-pop groups

Rookie K-pop group Black Pink is topping charts once again. 　According to more than 40 million pieces of data collected and analyzed by the Korea Institute of Corporate Reputation from Aug. 9 to Sept. 10, Black Pink was found to have the highest brand value among major K-pop girl groups, followed by I.O.I at No. 2 and Twice at No. 3. 　Released every month, the brand value ranking is based on participation, communication, media and community indices. 　“(Black Pink) is the first girl group to have

PerformanceSept. 11, 2016

[Herald Interview] Victoria and Albert museum sheds light on Korean art

In 1961, the Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the world’s leading museums of art and design, held Europe’s first Korean art exhibition. In 1992, the museum officially opened the first Korean gallery in London dedicated to the country’s arts and crafts. Beth McKillop, a senior research fellow at the V&A and its former deputy director and director of collections, orchestrated the opening of the first Korean gallery in London and the building of the Korean art collection. The V&A’s Korean Gallery

CultureSept. 11, 2016

Alexander Wang partners Adidas for new unisex collection

Designer Alexander Wang is, by his own description, a total sneakerhead. He once even designed a whole clothing collection around them, with dresses, tops and handbags emulating his favorite sneaks, like the classic white-and-green Adidas Stan Smith.Now, Wang has taken his sneaker love to a new level, partnering with Adidas for a line of apparel and footwear that seeks, in his words, to “disrupt” the famous Adidas look while still preserving its familiarity. One example: rotating the well-known

Arts & DesignSept. 11, 2016

James Cameron talks ‘Avatar’ sequels, Cirque du Soleil show

The first “Avatar” sequel is still years away from hitting movie theaters, but fans of the blue-hued Na’vi can get their fix at a touring Cirque du Soleil show that James Cameron helped create -- without his having to reveal too much of what is up his cinematic sleeve.Cameron, who plans four sequels starting in 2018, served as a consultant on “Toruk -- The First Flight,” a stadium show that opened in Montreal in November and has since toured North America.The writer and director suggested to the

FilmSept. 11, 2016

Last artifacts of 9/11 find new homes 15 years on

Behind the barbed wire, the minivan’s busted windows and crumpled roof hint at its story. But forklifted to this windblown spot on the John F. Kennedy International Airport tarmac, between a decommissioned 727 and an aircraft hangar, it is doubtful passing drivers notice it at all.In the long struggle with the memories of 9/11, though, the van’s solitary presence here marks a small but significant transition point.Tons of wreckage -- twisted steel beams, chunks of concrete smelling of smoke, a c

CultureSept. 11, 2016

[Eye Interview] ‘I always did my own thing’

Troa Cho is the picture of a quintessential fashion designer, with her silver hair in a Louise Brooks bob and sporting black slim-fit tuxedo-style denim pants paired with a black dress shirt. Looking at her posing next to her work from the 1980s -- a slinky python print number fit for a sexy diva of the wild disco years -- currently on exhibition at the Culture Station 284 as part of “Mode & Moments: 100 Years of Korean Fashion,” it does not take too much imagination to picture the septuagenaria

Arts & DesignSept. 9, 2016

[Weekender] Making full use of Chuseok leftovers

Chuseok is usually a time of gluttony. Meals during the Korean Thanksgiving holiday typically include copious amounts of the following: “jeon,” slices of vegetables, fish, or meat thinly coated in batter and grilled; “namul” or seasoned vegetables; “japchae,” vermicelli noodles with assorted vegetables and meat; and songpyeon or a type of traditional rice cake. Overwhelmed with inevitable leftovers, Chuseok observers often let them go to waste by forgetting about them in the fridge, or even wors

FoodSept. 9, 2016

[Weekender] Dealing with holiday stress in all shapes and sizes

Chuseok, or the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving in the West, offers Koreans a few days' break in September, but it can turn out to be both physically and psychologically draining. In traditional homes, wives face the daunting task of preparing a feast for the extended family, while the younger generation cringe as relatives assail them with questions about marriage, jobs and plans to have children. There are various ways to deal with the stress, but above all, people should strive to be less e

CultureSept. 9, 2016

[Weekender] Activities galore for expats this Chuseok

Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the country’s biggest holidays, and traditionally spent at home with family and loved ones. The occasion is widely considered to be about good food and company, but expats without family in Korea are often left with the question of how to spend the break. With Seoul virtually desolate as masses travel to their hometowns, some expats may choose to jet off overseas, too. However, those stuck in the city during this upcoming holiday need not despair, a

CultureSept. 9, 2016

[Around the Hotels] Roundup of hotel events and news

Chuseok Package at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul will be offering the Chuseok Package for guests staying at the hotel from Sept. 1-18.The main component of the package is the Evening Chill-out promotion, which includes a late 2 p.m. checkout time, a discounted breakfast price of 30,000 per person as well as free access to the hotel’s sauna, pool and fitness studio. There is also happy hour for two from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Timber House, which has a wide selection of drinks and Japanese dis

TravelSept. 9, 2016