Renowned Korean poet’s works translated to English for first time

A collection of works by renowned poet Jeong Ho-seung, often referred to as “Koreans’ favorite poet,” has been translated into English for the first time.Brother Anthony, professor emeritus at Sogang University and a naturalized Korean originally from Britain, and Susan Hwang, who studies Korean literature at the University of Michigan, cotranslated the collection titled “A Letter Not Sent.” The book is published by Seoul Selection."A Letter Not Sent," the collected poems of Jeong Ho-seung, tran

BooksAug. 3, 2016

Godzilla comes back to Japan, in ways fresh and familiar

TOKYO (AP) - Godzilla is back in its homeland of Japan after a 12-year absence, still breathing fire and mercilessly stomping everything in its way. The Associated Press noted four ways the new film “Shin Godzilla,” or “New Godzilla,” breaks from its past, and other ways it is reassuringly familiar. It's now showing in theaters in Japan and is promised for the U.S. and other countries later this year. What's different:The Americans: Japan's most important ally sends scientists and other advisers

FilmAug. 3, 2016

Big Bang chosen to promote national slogan ‘Creative Korea’

Globally recognized K-pop group Big Bang will be representing Korea’s new slogan “Creative Korea” as a “Creative Icon,” the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Monday.“Big Bang will be promoting the ‘Creative Korea’ brand worldwide in its new role as a Creative Icon,” said the Culture Ministry. “The group will have a big impact on promoting Korea’s image.”Created ahead of the South Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002, the longtime nation brand “Dynamic Korea” was replaced with the new sl

PerformanceAug. 3, 2016

Astro to hold first Asia showcase in Thailand

Rookie K-pop band Astro will hold its first Asia showcase in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 29, according to the group’s management agency Fantagio on Wednesday. 　This will be an opportunity for Astro to showcase its music and get to know international fans, the company said.　Taking place at the Muang Thai GMM Live House, Central World, the performance will also feature an opening act by award-winning illusionist Kim Hyun-joon. 　 Within six months of its debut, Astro has already garnered wide global

PerformanceAug. 3, 2016

Restoring medieval Tibetan shrines in Nepal's Himalayas

LO MANTHANG, Nepal (AFP) - Deep in the heart of a medieval monastery in Nepal's remote Upper Mustang region, the battle to restore sacred murals and preserve traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture is in full swing.Tsewang Jigme is among the artists toiling to safeguard the unique cultural heritage of this former Buddhist kingdom high on the Tibetan plateau, which escaped the ravages of the Cultural Revolution in neighboring China.“These murals are irreplaceable ... I feel nervous every time I touc

CultureAug. 3, 2016

I.O.I’s first subunit to release new single

Returning as a seven-member subunit, K-pop girl group I.O.I revealed a teaser image for its upcoming single on the group’s official social media channels on Tuesday morning. 　The photo features seven of the 11 members -- Kim Do-yeon, Kim So-hye, Kim Chung-ha, Lim Na-young, Jeon So-mi, Zhou Jieqiong, and Choi Yoo-jung -- against a metallic background sporting platinum blonde wigs in identical all-white attire. This new look is in contrast with the bright and cheerful image the group had for its d

PerformanceAug. 2, 2016

Miryang pays tribute to Shakespeare

MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province --  One of the country’s biggest theater arts festivals, the annual Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival is continuing its daily staging of domestic and foreign plays under the theme “Theater: Putting Down its Roots in the Region” through Aug. 7.Now in its 16th year, the annual festival appears to have planted its roots firmly in the small city of Miryang, tucked away in the middle of South Gyeongsang Province.This year’s edition, slated to present 53 live t

PerformanceAug. 2, 2016

[Hallyu Power] Korean YouTube stars draw global viewership

What started out as a hobby for Kim Seung-min in 2015 has grown into a YouTube channel with 1.6 million subscribers and total views of 1 billion for more than 600 videos. Kim’s channel Toy Monster focuses on children aged between 3 and 10. It introduces colorful toys and materials as well as how to play with them in videos that range from five to eight minutes. It ranks 21st on a list of top 30 most-viewed YouTube channels for kids’ education globally, according to Socialblade, a YouTube statist

Aug. 2, 2016

3 die at hospitals after attending California rave

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- One man and two women died after attending a weekend rave in California headlined by Ice Cube, Major Lazer and dozens of other hip-hop and electronic dance music performers, officials said Monday.The three people were among nine hospitalized during last weekend’s Hard Summer Music Festival in Fontana, San Bernardino County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jodi Miller said.More than 146,000 people attended the Saturday to Sunday outdoor event, according to organizers.The victims were ide

PerformanceAug. 2, 2016

VIXX returns with new album

K-pop group VIXX is returning with a new album, “Hades,” on Aug. 12. After unveiling the first teaser image for the mini album Monday, the group’s management agency Jellyfish Entertainment released another promotional photo of the band via the company’s official social media channels Tuesday. Referring to the god of the underworld in Greek mythology, “Hades” is the second part of VIXX’s yearlong trilogy project titled “Conception.” The first album of the three-part series, “Zelos,” was released

PerformanceAug. 2, 2016

HyunA says she has more growing to do

Despite having spent significant time in the spotlight, singer-songwriter HyunA says she still has a long way to go. 　“I often get asked where I see myself in 10 years,” said HyunA during an interview at the office of her management agency Cube Entertainment in Seoul last Friday. “I just want to focus on becoming a better person and artiste than I was the previous day.”HyunA, a former member of defunct K-pop group 4Minute, returned as a solo artist with her first album “A’wesome” launched on Mon

PerformanceAug. 2, 2016

Young women drive Korean hip-hop scene

What started out as a subculture street movement in African-American communities in New York in the 1970s has now become a mainstream music genre enjoyed by young women here.In Korea today, hip-hop is taking over mainstream pop charts and, surprisingly, women in their 20s and 30s are the biggest consumers of the genre once considered subversive.　　Those present at recent hip-hop shows may have noticed the masses of 20- to 30-something women with snapbacks backwards on their heads outnumbering the

CultureAug. 1, 2016

Japan exhibition mourns fading sex culture

TOKYO (AFP) - A sex exhibition smack in the middle in one of Tokyo’s hippest areas is shining a nostalgic light on Japanese erotica -- a culture the curator believes is dying out.Kyoichi Tsuzuki’s “Erotopia Japan” deals with Japanese sexuality and fantasies. The gallery in the heart of Shibuya’s trendy fashion district is plastered from floor to ceiling with eye-boggling prints, with one wall dedicated to love hotel beds.“This kind of Showa period (1926-1989) culture is being wiped out, as Japan

PerformanceAug. 1, 2016