When Korea’s rap competition series “Show Me the Money” aired in 2012, it was the first and only television program here which showcased Korean rappers to the public. 　The program uncovered not only underground rappers like Loco, but also introduced major rappers from the mainstream hip-hop scene, such as Swings and Basick, to a wider audience. 　Hip-hop is now an integral part of Korean pop music, which has long been dominated by idol dance music and ballads.   Producer Han Dong-chul speaks at a

TelevisionApril 12, 2016

Under the theme of “Smart Design; Interactive and Visual,” Herald Corp., in collaboration with Seoul Design Foundation, will host the Herald Design Tech 2016 workshop starting in June.　The workshop is intended to help foster young, up-and-coming talent in technology and design. During the six-session workshop program, which will take place June through August, participants will be placed into teams where they are given free rein to develop a plan for a marketable product while receiving valuable

Arts & DesignApril 12, 2016

PARIS (AFP) -- It is the literary sensation of the year in France. A first novel by a dyslexic author that has had readers crying -- and laughing out loud -- on the Paris metro.　Before he wrote “Waiting for Bojangles” in seven weeks at his parents' home, 35-year-old Olivier Bourdeaut had “failed at just about everything else in my life,” he told AFP.　“I wish I was joking,” said the failed estate agent whose last job was a switchboard operator for an educational publishing company, “surrounded by

BooksApril 12, 2016

Lotte Super, a major local retailer, will refund all fruit that customers found unsatisfactory in celebration of the 16th anniversary of its foundation.CEO Choi Choon-seok on Tuesday said, “Neither the price nor the size of a fruit has any effect on customers if it is not delicious. We promise to refund or exchange all fruits that fell short of our customers’ expectations.” (Lotte Super)This new policy will be put into practice from Wednesday’s 16th anniversary sales event. Lotte Super will also

FoodApril 12, 2016

Singer-songwriter Sam Kim’s debut album features six self-written, folksy tunes that tell personal stories of his family, hometown and boyish energy. The songs are honest and without pretense, much like the 18-year-old himself.　“I feel shy and nervous, but excited. Everything’s unfamiliar. My Korean has improved a lot though, hasn’t it?” said Korean-American Kim on his newfound spotlight at a showcase for his album at Itaewon on Monday. 　It has been three years since Kim ventured to Korea alone

PerformanceApril 12, 2016

Actress Song Hye-kyo has turned down an offer from Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors to be a model in its advertisements, public relations company Shall We Talk said Monday.　Song rejected the offer to endorse the company in China about a month ago, added the PR Company.　The actress is reported to have said that she rejected the offer as Mitsubishi Group is involved in lawsuits over the alleged use of Korean forced labor during Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. Actress Song Hye-kyo stars in the KBS2 hit

TelevisionApril 12, 2016

Top star Song Joong-ki has been selected as the new model for local cosmetics brand “Forencos,” the actor’s agency Blossom Entertainment announced Tuesday.　“Forencos,” an eco-friendly cosmetics brand established in 1988, uses natural ingredients in skin care and makeup products, with herbs and flower extracts.　The cosmetics brand picked Song for his image of innocence and honesty, and the flawless image built through his KBS2 hit TV drama series “Descendants of the Sun,” which perfectly suits th

TelevisionApril 12, 2016

BERLIN (AP) -- Sculptures celebrating the human body, precious jewelry, animals from frogs to jaguars and depictions of deities are going on show in Berlin in an exhibition that offers a glimpse of centuries of Mayan art.　The exhibition, “The Maya - Language of Beauty,” features some 300 artworks spanning around a millennium up to the arrival of Spanish colonial rulers after 1500. The presidents of Mexico and Germany are opening the show at the German capital's Martin-Gropius-Bau museum on Monda

CultureApril 12, 2016

VIENNA (AFP) -- Austria said Saturday it wants to seize Adolf Hitler’s birthplace from its private owner in a bid to end a bitter legal battle and stop the house from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine.　“We are currently examining the creation of a law, which would force a change of ownership and pass the property to the Republic of Austria,” Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck told AFP.　“We have come to the conclusion over the past few years that expropriation is the only way to avoid the

CultureApril 11, 2016

SWEET DESSERTS -- President Park Geun-hye (right) and actor Song Joong-ki -- Korea‘s tourism ambassador -- make a traditional Korean dessert during the opening ceremony of the K-Style Hub, located at Korea Tourism Organization’s headquarters in central Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)

PeopleApril 11, 2016

Park Jin-young, singer and CEO of JYP Entertainment, released “Still Alive,” a digital single Sunday.　The single includes “Still Alive” and “Fire” -- which has garnered attention with its music video starring American comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien.　“Fire,” which is set to be released Wednesday, is an uplifting ’80s funky rock tune. Korean-American singer and actor Steven Yeun (left) and American comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien star in JYP’s “Fire” music video (JYP Entertain

PerformanceApril 11, 2016