Dynamic Duo, Primary, Boi B and Crush to release collaborative single

Four Korean hip-hop groups are coming together for a collaborative summer project. Dynamic Duo, Primary, Boi B, and Crush will be releasing a new single “HighfiVe” this week, announced the artistes’ management agency Amoeba Culture on Monday. Produced by Choi Dong-hoon, who is better known by his stage name Primary, the single encompasses each group’s unique sound and charisma, according to the entertainment company.  “This single is the start of Amoeba Culture’s 2016 summer project,” said the c

PerformanceJuly 18, 2016

Horseback library serves Indonesia's remote readers

SERANG, Indonesia (AFP) - Astride his white mare, a wide-brimmed hat shielding his eyes, Ridwan Sururi looks more cowboy than librarian as he winds towards the hilltop village, his horse Luna saddled with books.Their arrival sends ripples of excitement through Serang, a quiet hamlet fringed by rice fields and a volcano on Indonesia's main island of Java.“The horse library!” children shriek, sprinting towards the mosque where Luna is tethered. Slung over her saddle are two handmade wooden boxes f

CultureJuly 18, 2016

Tongyeong to throw music fest in autumn

Tongyeong, one of the country's leading music cities, has prepared a series of colorful concerts for the autumn, the Tongyeong International Music Foundation said Monday. "We'll provide nine concerts at the Tongyeong Concert Hall from Sept. 4 to the end of October," a foundation official said.  (Tongyeong International Music Foundation)On Sept. 4, Korea's Novous Quartet and Son Yeol-eum, who won the silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition 2011, will perform Shostakovitch's Stri

PerformanceJuly 18, 2016

Coldplay kicks off stadium tour with colorful show

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- Coldplay kicked off its U.S. stadium tour with a colorful show that included fireworks, confetti and balloons, mixed with American pride, sympathy for France, moving words from Muhammad Ali and audio from President Barack Obama.The British foursome led by Chris Martin performed for feverish fans Saturday at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They started their two-hour show on a bright, high note -- jamming onstage as fireworks burst to the sk

PerformanceJuly 18, 2016

Brazil graffiti artist paints massive Olympic mural

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Perched atop a cherry picker truck several stories high, Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Kobra sprays puffs of paint on a sprawling mural in the colors of the Olympic rings.With three weeks to go to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Kobra and his assistants are racing to put the finishing touches on the 3,000-square-meter painting that graces a wall in the city's newly overhauled port district.The mural depicts five indigenous faces representing the continents of the w

PerformanceJuly 18, 2016

30 years of Korean modern photography at a glance

Photographs depicting the modern days of Korea have long served as lens for many to get a glimpse of the country’s turbulent modern history. 　It has not been long since Korean modern photography began to function as more than documentation. Korean photographers started experimenting with various aspects of the media in the late 1980s. 　The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea highlights the nearly 30 years of Korean modern photography since then in the ongoing exhibition “Public

PerformanceJuly 17, 2016

GFriend dominates Gaon Chart in first half of 2016

K-pop group GFriend (Source Music)Rookie group GFriend, one of the hottest trending K-pop acts these days, has performed well on the local music chart Gaon Chart in the first half of the year. 　GFriend’s single “Rough” ranked No. 1 on its National Digital Singles, Online Downloads and Online Streaming charts. The single was released in January as part of the group’s third EP “Snowflake.”  　Another single “Me gustas tu,” which was part of its second EP “Flowers,” hit the No. 15 spot on the Online

July 17, 2016

NCT’s Taeyong sheds tears over past wrongdoings

NCT’s Taeyong (SM Entertainment)Taeyong, a member of SM Entertainment’s newest boy band NCT, broke down in tears in an episode of “NCT Life,” apologizing for indiscretions he made before his K-pop debut. 　It was recently revealed that Taeyong was prone to scamming buyers on a local auction website before his official debut as a member of NCT. 　The K-pop idol reportedly auctioned off items under various user IDs, duping customers by not shipping off purchased items or sending defective products.

July 17, 2016

Indonesia’s hidden destinations beckon to the world

At a glance, Indonesia’s bustling capital Jakarta seems like many other metropolitan cities in Southeast Asia. Its streets are lined with cutting-edge skyscrapers and packed with cars and motorbikes that cause heavy congestion. Highrise buildings at the center of Jakarta, Indonesia. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)But only a few hours away, the tropical country, composed of more than 17,500 islands, boasts natural beauty in every corner -- from white sandy beaches and colorful marine treasures to

TravelJuly 15, 2016

New JFK Jr. documentary looks back at 'America’s prince'

BOSTON (AP) -- “America’s prince” is getting a new documentary.“I Am JFK Jr. -- A Tribute to a Good Man,” which hits select theaters on July 22, captures the fascination with John F. Kennedy Jr., from his early days toddling around the White House to his death in a plane crash in 1999.Network Entertainment’s Derik Murray made the film in the mold of his other “I Am” movies, including “I Am Bruce Lee,” “I Am Chris Farley” and “I Am Evel Knievel.” It also airs on Spike TV at 9 p.m. EDT on Aug. 1,

FilmJuly 15, 2016

[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Exhibitions “Treasures from Afghanistan”: The National Museum of Korea is holding an exhibition that showcases more than 230 rare Afghan artifacts. The exhibition, started in Paris in 2006, has been hosted by 18 museums in 11 countries around the world, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and British Museum in London before arriving in Seoul. The featured artifacts, dating from the Bronze Age to the third century, offers a comprehe

PerformanceJuly 15, 2016

Pared down, French-style fare draws crowds to L’enfance

Owner-chef Kim Tae-min translates the name of his restaurant, L’Enfance, as “Childhood.”“I called it that because it is my first restaurant,” Kim, 32, said as he explained how it signified he was new to the owner-chef side of the business. Kim may not be experienced at running his own show, but he is a veteran chef, having spent over 10 years working at restaurants in Korea, America and Australia. After clocking in long hours at two high profile French restaurants in Seoul, he struck out on his

FoodJuly 15, 2016

Park Yoo-chun faces sex trade, fraud charges

Police on Friday charged actor-singer Park Yoo-chun with solicitation of prostitution and fraud, while clearing him of sexual assault allegations.Police said it is “difficult to prove there was use of force” in the four sexual assault complaints brought against Park last month. However, Park will be charged with solicitation of prostitution and fraud concerning one of the four women who filed charges against him. The woman will also be charged with prostitution.Meanwhile, the second of the four

PerformanceJuly 15, 2016

[Album Review] New voice in country leans into the moment

Sean McConnell“Sean McConnell” (Rounder Records)One of the freshest new voices coming out of Nashville has actually been around for a while.His name is Sean McConnell, and though he’s barely on the senior side of 30, he’s been putting out indie records since he was 15. He's also made a mark as a songwriter, covered by the likes of Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Christina Aguilera. But his earlier material never touched down with this much force. With his new self-titled album, McConnell unleashes

PerformanceJuly 15, 2016

[Album Review] Steven Tyler's country album shines

Steven Tyler“We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”(Dot/Big Machine)The opening stanza of Steven Tyler’s move into country music includes references to Jesus, mama, bullets and whiskey. On paper, those clicheuros feed those who see the Aerosmith veteran’s Nashville embrace as a desperate attempt to stay relevant by finding a musical genre that will accept him.  Those naysayers would be wrong. “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere” -– Tyler’s first solo album -- plays to his strengths: inventive melodie

PerformanceJuly 15, 2016

[Album Review] Aaron Neville shakes a funk feather on ‘Apache’

Aaron Neville“Apache” (Tell It Records/Kobalt)Aaron Neville picks up the pace and delves into songwriting on “Apache,” a lively album meshing New Orleans R&B with Brooklyn funk. Ably guided by Soulive’s Eric Krasno and backed by members of Lettuce and session aces like keyboardist Pete Levin and sax player Cochemea Gastelum, Neville’s famous falsetto and vocal quivers shine brightest on the ballads while also raising some of the brisker tunes above where they belong.Evoking a childhood nickname,

PerformanceJuly 15, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Trick(Korea)Opened July 13Drama, Thriller. Directed by Lee Chang-yeolSeok-jin (Lee Jung-jin), a workaholic television producer obsessed with ratings, propels a terminally ill man and his wife to national fame through his sensational show. When the man refuses to be filmed further, Seok-jin pushes through in an attempt to capture his death on camera. Now You See Me(U.S.)Opened July 13Crime, Action. Directed by Jon M. ChuA team of illusionists known as the Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Har

FilmJuly 15, 2016

‘Tunnel’ invited to Locarno International Film Festival

Upcoming summer film “Tunnel” will be representing the Korean film industry at the annual Locarno International Film Festival.The story of a man’s fight for survival as the lone victim of a tunnel collapse, the thriller-drama will be screened in the non-competitive Piazza Grande program, according to the event’s official website.Also included in the section are Paul Greengrass’ much anticipated “Jason Bourne,” Colm McCarthy’s adaptation of M.R. Carey’s award-winning novel “The Girl with All the

FilmJuly 15, 2016