Chung, SPO perform as one in spirited concert

Conductor Chung Myung-whun and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra opened Seoul’s newest classical music venue last Friday with a rousing concert.Part of the Lotte Group’s CSR efforts, the Lotte Concert Hall is the first new classical venue to open in Seoul since the state-run Seoul Arts Center opened 28 years ago. The opening concert program consisted of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 Op. 72a; “Le Chant des Enfants des Etoiles (The Song of the Children of the Stars),” a new piece composed by S

PerformanceAug. 21, 2016

LA art exhibition look at dying through words, photos

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Four years ago photographer Andrew George approached the medical director of a Los Angeles hospital with an unusual request: He wanted to meet and take photographs of people about to die. There was nothing macabre about the request, George says. He simply wanted to learn of and reflect the wisdom these people had gained in the hope that others could discover how to lead better, more fulfilling lives. “I wanted to make a project about the universal challenge that we all have to

PerformanceAug. 21, 2016

French beach burkini ban sparks disdain across the sea

LONDON (AFP) - The ban on the Islamic burkini swimsuit on some French beaches has triggered disdain in English-speaking countries, where outlawing religion-oriented clothing is seen as hampering integration.Newspaper commentators have condemned the ban as an absurdity, and one questioned how a burkini could be more offensive than “middle-aged bum crack” bursting out from traditional Western beachwear.And experts said the debate raised questions about the French one-size-fits-all model of integra

CultureAug. 21, 2016

[Around the hotels] Round up of hotel events and news

Mediterranean promotion at Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo 　　Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo will be presenting the Mediterranean promotion at the hotel buffet MoMo Cafe from Sept. 1-Oct. 31. 　The promotion will offer guests a wide variety of classic Mediterranean dishes, including fresh Greek salad, grilled lamb chops, chicken and lentil stew, seafood paella, and more. 　The package starts at 37,000 won for lunch, and 49,000 won for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, and 69,000 won from Wednesd

FoodAug. 19, 2016

[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

Water splash parade at Everland　 Everland is paying tribute to the days of summer this year as the amusement park and resort play host to the Summer Splash and Fantastic Summer Night festival. The festival is jam-packed with various programs like splash parades, fireworks and a 3-D mapping show held every night. 　During the day, guests can enjoy Jack’s Splash Parade, which sprays 84 tons of water from 40 water cannons and six floats, three times a day. Then later at night when the heat dies down

TravelAug. 19, 2016

[The Palate] Cool and crisp lettuce wraps, ssambap

In the midst of this unusual heatwave, most locals tend to rely on the usual “go-to” summer foods in an attempt to cool off during these record-breaking temperatures. But, how many chilled noodle soups and chicken based dishes can one eat before the appetite starts craving something new?　　Abroad, salad is the summer “it” food and takes on many creative forms as a refreshing and cooling meal. A dish that requires little effort and zero heat to prepare, enjoying fresh raw greens and vegetables is

FoodAug. 19, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Seoul Station　(Korea)　Opened Aug. 17　Animation, zombie. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho　The prequel to the box office hit “Train to Busan,” released last month and also directed by Yeon. This movie shows how the zombie apocalypse first started. A young runaway woman struggles to survive in a world where zombies may not be the most dangerous beings.　　　Star Trek Beyond　(US)　Opened Aug. 17　Sci-fi. Directed by Justin Lin　The USS Enterprise ship, carrying Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and members of his crew, i

FilmAug. 19, 2016

[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Theater"Kinky Boots": The mega hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots is making is way back to Seoul once again. Based on the book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein and with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winner Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the true story Charlie Price who goes to oddly extreme lengths to save his father’s shoe factory. The local production will star Lee Ji-hoon, Kim Ho-young, Jung Seong-hwa and Kang Jong-seok. “Kinky Boots” will be staged from Sept. 02 to Nov. 13 at the B

PerformanceAug. 19, 2016

[Eye] ‘Cultural Guerrilla’ Lee Yoon-taek talks evolution from poet to theater master

MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province -- A rebel in his own right, Lee Yoon-taek is truly one of the country’s few remaining renaissance men -- he is a veteran South Korean playwright, theater director, poet, dramatist and producer. 　Born in Busan in 1952, Lee has been a pioneering figure in the local theater arts movement. For the past 20 years, he has created 16 plays and adapted 15 works.　Widely dubbed by the media as the “Cultural Guerrilla,” Lee has the undisputed reputation of having been a k

PerformanceAug. 19, 2016

Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung star in new period drama series

A new period drama series “Love in the Moonlight” staring Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung will kick off next week. 　The series follows the unlikely romance between a crown prince, played by Park, and an 18-year-old girl masquerading as a eunuch, played by Kim.  Actor Park Bo-gum and actress Kim Yoo-jung pose for a photo at a press conference on Thursday in eastern Seoul. (Yonhap)　“As soon as I read the script, I really wanted to get on board,” Park said at a press conference for the show Thursday i

TelevisionAug. 18, 2016

FIAP’s congress to gather world’s leading photographers

The biennial congress of the International Federation of Photographic Art will be held in Korea from Aug. 22-28. The UNESCO-registered body of professional photographers, known as FIAP, an acronym of its French name, will bring together some 400 photographers from 87 member countries to network and showcase major photographs selected from each member country. “The 33th FIAP Congress unites photographers around the world to one place to celebrate photography. I hope the event highlights the impor

PerformanceAug. 18, 2016

Silent mukbang brings focus back to food

Child actress Lee Na-yoon eats pasta in an empty classroom, using bread to scoop up leftover sauce after her last forkful. On a rainy day, model Lee Jini devours a bowl of steamed beef at a cafe, humming to herself. Singer Kim Hyun-chul finds himself outdoors next to a babbling stream, gulping down hot noodles while murmuring, “This has been cooked really well.” Celebrities do little else but eat in the new eating reality show “Quiet Dining,” which began airing on July 29 on cable channel O’live

TelevisionAug. 18, 2016

UK critics fall for ‘Groundhog Day’ musical, over and over

“Groundhog Day” is back, this time on stage. Is it deja vu, or something new? A musical based on the much-loved 1993 movie about a jaded weatherman forced to live the same day over and over has opened at London’s Old Vic Theatre at the start of what producers hope will be a journey to BroadwayBritain’s theater critics were largely enthusiastic Wednesday, the day after the show’s gala premiere, praising its zany fun and dynamic theatricality, and hailing star Andy Karl as a worthy successor to th

PerformanceAug. 18, 2016

McCartney working on new album, signs with Capitol

Paul McCartney is back in the studio working on a new album, his new label Capitol Records said Wednesday as it announced a worldwide recording deal with the Beatles legend.The 74-year-old McCartney called the new contract, which encompasses his entire post-Beatles catalog, “genuinely exciting.”The record label said the music icon, who is still one of the biggest concert draws in the world, was “currently working on a new studio album,” without offering further details.“Paul McCartney’s associat

PerformanceAug. 18, 2016

‘Train to Busan,’ 11th most-viewed movie in Korea

Korean zombie flick “Train to Busan” has become the 11st most-viewed film in South Korea, drawing more than 11 million viewers, data showed Thursday.Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the movie has garnered over 11 million viewers as of Wednesday, the 29th day since its release here, according to figures from the Korean Film Council. This made it the 11st most-viewed film in the country, after “Haeundae,” which was seen by 11.3 million people in 2009. “Train to Busan” was 10th among all Korean films in t

FilmAug. 18, 2016

Gugudan to hold first fan meeting

Rookie K-pop girl group Gugudan is scheduled to hold its first fan meeting later this week, just two months after its official debut, according to the group’s management agency Jellyfish Entertainment on Thursday.　Jellyfish Entertainment’s first girl group debuted in June with the mini album “Act. 1 The Little Mermaid,” which gained favorable reviews on music charts and broadcast programs. 　 At the event, there will be opportunities to interact with the nine members of Gugudan and to celebrate t

PerformanceAug. 18, 2016

Roy Kim to hold promotional tour in Malaysia

Singer-songwriter Roy Kim will be holding promotional activities and performances in Malaysia this month, according to his entertainment company CJ E&M on Thursday. The 23-year-old artist will start off his tour with a showcase at the Paradigm Mall in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 26, and perform at Dare Dare Come 2.0 Go! -- a festival hosted by MY FM radio station -- as the event’s first-ever Korean musician on Aug. 27. He is also scheduled to appear in television and radio programs.　 Since the release

PerformanceAug. 18, 2016