Taeyeon of Korean girl group Girls' Generation enjoyed robust preorders of her second solo EP, the singer's management agency said Monday.As of Monday morning, the number of preordered copies of "Why" broke the 100,000 mark, S.M. Entertainment said in a press release. The EP will be released at midnight on online music streaming services. The music video of the album's title song, "Why," will be released at the same hour on the global video-sharing network YouTube. Taeyeon's new album also featu

PerformanceJune 27, 2016

LAAS GEEL, Somalia (AFP) - Centuries have passed since Neolithic artists swirled red and white color on the cliffs of northern Somalia, painting antelopes, cattle, giraffes and hunters carrying bows and arrows.Today, the paintings at Laas Geel in the self-declared state of Somaliland retain their fresh brilliance, providing vivid depictions of a pastoralist history dating back some 5,000 years or more.“These paintings are unique. This style cannot be found anywhere in Africa,” said Abdisalam Sha

CultureJune 27, 2016

Four-member indie rock band Hyukoh made a quiet debut in the Korean music scene in September of 2014, dropping the EP “20.” 　Soon, however, word of the band’s moody, hip tunes began spreading via social media and the band began selling out at small clubs. And when Hyukoh appeared on popular variety program “Infinite Challenge” in 2015 and rose to even wider acclaim, it grabbed the attention of YG Entertainment, which was seeking to extend its musical reach. In July that year, Hyukoh became the f

PerformanceJune 26, 2016

Actor Kim Seong-min, who was found unconscious after a suicide attempt following a fight with his wife early Friday, was declared brain-dead on Sunday.　The Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital’s medical team in charge of Kim’s case pronounced him brain-dead around 8:45 a.m., the hospital said in a press conference Sunday afternoon.　Kim had said before that he would kill himself when under the influence of alcohol, local media reported, quoting his wife. Actor Kim Seong-min (Yonhap)　Surgery was scheduled fo

TelevisionJune 26, 2016

PARIS (AP) -- Actor Robert Pattinson took center stage at Dior Homme's menswear show in Paris that celebrated the styles of Britain’s iconic retro club, The Haeuroienda -- against a theatrical fairground backdrop that had celebrity attendees gawping. Kenzo, too, paid homage to legendary retro clubs in a show dedicated to the flamboyant styles once worn at New York music venues.Here are some of the highlights of the spring-summer 2017 collections.Rise of Robert PattinsonPattinson, who has success

Arts & DesignJune 26, 2016

Award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” has attracted more than 4 million viewers so far.　The film, which opened in local theaters on June 1, had attracted 4,005,806 moviegoers by Saturday, according to the Korean Film Council on Sunday.　It is currently the best performing 19-rated film this year, having surpassed the mark set by “Deadpool,” an American superhero film that opened in February and attracted more than 3.2 million moviegoers. Actress Kim Min-hee (right) and actor Ha

FilmJune 26, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) – “Star Wars” creator George Lucas announced Friday that he has abandoned plans to build his art museum in Chicago, blaming delays over a lawsuit from a parks group opposed to development along the city’s prized lakefront. 　The filmmaker said in a statement he would take his Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to his home state of California, but he did not name a specific location. He blamed Chicago’s Friends of the Parks group for suing to stop construction on what is currently a parkin

PerformanceJune 26, 2016

　As the hot and humid days of summer lie ahead for the next three months, finding ways to cool off has one yearning for more comfortable environs and seeking foods to comfort one’s stomach and weary soul. The Korean palate is often dictated by purpose and seasonality, so for that reason chicken, glutinous rice, cold noodle soups, and high protein ingredients such as sea abalone are highly coveted during the summer months.   Icy Pyongyang chogyetang (Christine Cho)　Chogyetang is a delectable chic

FoodJune 24, 2016

Midsummer night’s getaway at W Seoul-Walkerhill 　W Seoul-Walkerhill is offering a signature summer cocktail promotion 2016 W Tiki Night, featuring Polynesian cocktails and an exotic atmosphere at WooBar.　During the promotion, WooBar -- decorated Polynesian style -- will serve Tiki cocktails that have been modified from the popular 1940s and 1950s drinks. The cocktails are served in Tiki-shaped ceramic glasses representing New Zealand’s Maori tribe, or in tropical fruit such as coconuts.　The drin

TravelJune 24, 2016

Buyeo Seodong Lotus FestivalThe annual Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is a celebration of all thing lotus flowers, while highlighting the importance of preserving wild flowers. As part of the festival celebrations, the event features a variety of lotus flower experience programs such as lotus paper origami and flower soapmaking. This year’s festivities will run from July 8 to 17 at Buyeo’s Seodong Park. 　Although nowhere near as popular with tourists as Seoul and Busan, Buyeo continues to strength

TravelJune 24, 2016

The Truth Beneath　(Korea)　Opened June 23　Thriller. Directed by Lee Kyoung-mi　A power-hungry politician (Kim Joo-hyuk) and his strong-willed wife (Son Ye-jin) discover their daughter (Shin Ji-hoon) has gone missing just days before election day. The two struggle over what to prioritize –- family or ambition.　Independence Day: Resurgence　(U.S.)　Opened June 22　Fantasy, Science fiction. Directed by Ronald Emmerich　Nations join hands to devise a gargantuan defense program to protect themselves from a

FilmJune 24, 2016

Theater Scene from the musical, “The Three Musketeers” (Showholic)“The Three Musketeers”: Based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel, “The Three Musketeers,” the musical rendition of the classic tale has returned to the Seoul stage. Revolving around the adventures of D’Artagnan and the three courageous musketeers ― Athos, Porthos and Aramis, the musical stars Kai, B1A4’s CNU and Sandeul, Kang Tae-eul and Park Sung-Hwan. The production will be staged until Sunday at the D Cube Arts Center in Seoul. Tickets

PerformanceJune 24, 2016

Actor Kim Seong-min was found unconscious after a suicide attempt following a fight with his wife in the small hours of Friday, according to the police. (Yonhap)The Seocho police said they first visited Kim’s house past midnight on Thursday night leading to Friday morning when his 18-year-old son reported a domestic violence case at 1:15 a.m., claiming Kim was hitting his wife. Kim’s wife, however, said the fight was “only a minor conflict” between the couple.Instead of pursuing the case, she de

June 24, 2016