Summer exhibitions highlight 20th century masters

Seoul abounds each summer in exhibitions of work by Western art masters, which often become crowded with not only the usual art lovers but families with children visiting museums and galleries as part of school assignments. This year, key figures of 20th century are highlights of the city’s art calendar.　Starting with the ongoing show of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Seoul Arts Center, big names that represent major 20th art movements such as Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Bernard Buffet and

PerformanceJune 12, 2016

JYJ's Junsu vows uncompromising album

Junsu of Korean pop trio JYJ said Saturday he is not afraid of going against the seasonal trends of the K-pop market, since making a unique album is the only way he can match his fans’ support.“Every time I release an album, I try to differentiate it from my previous albums, and stay away from putting up similar work with slightly different songs,” he said during a news conference for his fourth and latest full-length album “XIGNATURE.”“Showing different performances in different work is my way

PerformanceJune 12, 2016

iKON wraps up tour in China

 K-pop boy band iKON finished the Chinese leg of its Asia tour with a concert in Shanghai on Saturday.　The group kicked off its Asia tour with a concert in Taiwan on April 22, followed by concerts in Hong Kong on May 7, Cheongdu on May 14, Nanjing on May 21, and Shenzhen on June 3.　At “iKONCERT 2016 ‘Showtime Tour’ in Shanghai” held at the Grand Stage in Shanghai, the group presented their hit songs, including “Rhythm Ta” and “Dumb&Dumber,” as well as performing “My Type,” “Apology” and “Airplan

PerformanceJune 12, 2016

Yangyang traditional market is life of the region

Yangyang County in Gangwon Province is on the northeastern coastline of Korea and at the foot of the famed Seoraksan National Park. There you will find one of the oldest traditional markets in Korea commonly known as “five-day markets.” At Yangyang, the traditional open air market is convened on days ending with a “4” or “9” each month. Most rural provinces throughout Korea are proud of their local markets and produce, which are a beautiful representations of the soil, land, climate and tastes o

FoodJune 10, 2016

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

Fabulous summer getaway at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul　JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul will present its Summer Breeze package from June 20 to Sept. 4 for those seeking a perfect summer getaway at the center of the city.　The package includes one night’s stay in a Deluxe Room, breakfast for two at the hotel’s buffet restaurant Tavolo 24 and a choice of seasonal fruit bingsu or classic red bean bingsu at The Lounge. Guests will be also given the vervain outdoor body spray from L’OCCITAN

FoodJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] No better way to spend summer in Seoul

Festival culture in Korea is quickly evolving, with creative ideas taking shape in the hands of the young and wild. With the Korean summer bringing sweltering heat, many are opting for water-based outdoor events, among many others.One of the prime locations for such festivals is Sinchon, the area next to Yonsei University, Sogang University, Ewha Womans University and Hongik University. Sinchon stands out among popular cultural venues because of the high number of young people and because vehicl

CultureJune 10, 2016

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

 American Airlines to reward based on dollars, not miles　American Airlines announced it will no longer reward its airlines members with perks based on how many miles they fly, rather with how much passengers spend on tickets. The change, which matches those at Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, starts with flights on Aug. 1 and rewards the airline’s highest-paying passengers.　Elite-status members of American’s AAdvantage frequent-flier program will earn bonus miles for every dollar they spend.

TravelJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] Korean music lovers take concert experience to new heights

Explosive sing-alongs by Korean fans at concert arenas are nothing new to global pop musicians, as they have begun evolving into more articulately planned events.A slew of world-famous musicians have been elevated by the sight of Korean fans singing along to their hooks, songs and, at times, their signature guitar riffs. “They were singing all of it (‘Live Forever’), word for word, for their own amusement,” British singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher said in an interview with CBC Radio’s talk show

CultureJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] Fun in the sun: Events to brighten up your vacation

Looking for places to go during summer vacation? The Korea Herald has compiled a list of interesting festivals across the peninsula for visitors to see, taste and enjoy the summer fun. Boryeong Mud FestivalBoryeong Mud FestivalSince it began in 1998, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival has been perhaps the premiere event for those from abroad, attracting around 300,000 foreign visitors each year to the country’s western coast for a week filled with muddy fun. The upcoming 19th festival kicks off on

TravelJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] Korean festivals appeal to more foreigners, but kinks remain

Korea’s festivals have evolved in both variety and scale over the years, attracting tourists and expats to join in the fun. According to data released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the number of tourists revisiting Korea jumped to 46.1 percent in 2015, compared to 34.9 percent in 2014. The government and local festival committees are doing everything in their capacity to maintain the increase. The Seoul Tourism Association even recently launched mobile education centers for tou

CultureJune 10, 2016

Producer Yoo lauds Lee Jin-ah’s ‘genius’

When Lee Jin-ah came on singing audition program “K-pop Star” two years ago, the panel, consisting of famed music producers Yang Hyun-seok, Park Jin-young and Yoo Hee-yeol, unanimously praised the squeaky-voiced, piano-playing contestant as a “genius” so far not seen in the K-pop world.　While many viewers agreed, others were baffled: What was so special about the then-23-year-old girl whose self-written tunes resembled children’s songs and whose vocals sounded infantile?　Producer Yoo, who heads

PerformanceJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] Festival fever

The summer has already begun, and the festival season is just around the corner.A host of summer-getaway activities await to help you soak in the sun and cool off from the heat. The festivities range from shooting water guns and throwing mud to enjoying a diverse selection of food or taking part in explosive sing-along music parties.Water festivals Water fights have recently become popular summer festivities in Korea, but those looking for more diverse activities can muddy the waters in Boryeong

PerformanceJune 10, 2016

[Weekender] Festivals fill summer 2016 with music

The season of festivities has come around once again, with a host of festivals lined up for music lovers. The summer lineup brims with choices, ranging from electronic dance music to rock.Heating up the summer with EDMThe night sky lights up with fireworks as the highlight of Ultra Korea. (Ultra Music Festival Korea)The Ultra Music Festival -- one of the leading EDM festivals worldwide -- has landed in Korea once again, celebrating its fifth anniversary with an exclusive three-day concert instea

PerformanceJune 10, 2016

[Eye Interview] Canadian scholar says there’s no such thing as ‘perfect’ translation

For Theresa Hyun -- a Canadian professor of Korean studies and a Korean-language poet -- straddling cultures and translating languages have come to be essential parts of her life.　For her poems, Hyun undertakes a creative process that is doubly atypical: Not only does she both write and translate her own work, she writes her poems in Korean -- the language that she learned latest in life and that is most unfamiliar to her -- and then translates them into English, her mother tongue. 　Despite, or

BooksJune 10, 2016

Korean craft beer festival Everland this weekend　

The Great Korean Beer Festival will once again run this Friday to Sunday at Rose Garden at Everland amusement park, located south of Seoul. The event will be held between 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. A total of eight breweries -- B&W Liquor, Goose Island, Muse International, Sun International, Shinhan F&B, Czech Beer International, Jejusien and Sewon International -- and three restaurants -- Pizza Hut, France Gourmet and High Street Market -- will participate. The festival will feature some of the worl

CultureJune 10, 2016

[Herald Interview] Jambinai instills 'gugak' with new life

Breaking barriers between the old and new, Jambinai presents innovative sounds with traditional Korean musical instruments piri, haegum and geomungo.　Jambinai, an award-winning band inspired by Korean traditional music, or “gugak,” was formed in 2009 by the three members -- Lee Il-woo, Kim Bo-mi, and Sim Eun-yong -- who met as gugak students at Korea National University of Arts. Lee plays the piri, a reed flute, Kim plays the haegum, a bowed instrument with two strings and a hollow wooden sound

PerformanceJune 9, 2016