Palmyra ruins generally 'in good shape': Syria antiquities chief

DAMASCUS (AFP) -- Ancient artifacts in the city of Palmyra are in much better shape than expected, Syria's antiquities chief said Sunday after regime forces recaptured the desert oasis from the Islamic State group. 　Antiquities director Maamoun Abdulkarim said much of Palmyra’s old city was intact and his department would try to restore relics destroyed during the jihadists' nearly year-long rule over the city. A general view shows the remains of the entrance to the iconic Temple of Bel that was

CultureMarch 28, 2016

SNSD’s Taeyeon to hold first solo concert

Taeyeon (SM Entertainment)Taeyeon of K-pop group Girl’s Generation is to hold her first ever solo concerts, according to her agency SM Entertainment on Saturday.The concerts, titled “Taeyeon, Butterfly Kiss,” will take place at the Olympic Gymnastic Stadium on April 23 and 24.Reportedly, Taeyeon made her decision to hold solo concerts after performing at SM’s concert series, “The Agit,” last October. Expectations are high, as Taeyeon has been considered as a strong soloist, besides from her orig

EntertainmentMarch 27, 2016

Discover contemporary Asian culture in Eastern Trends

Multilingual international lifestyle magazine Eastern Trends is emerging as the go-to source for in-depth, culture-related reporting on major cities in Asia. In its April edition, the magazine features perspectives on Korean television programs and their dynamic production process.The cover of the Eastern Trends April edition, featuring Korean actor Hong Jong-hyun (Eastern Trends)　Titled “Television, A Spectacular Frame,” the cover story peers behind the scenes of Korean TV production, with anec

BooksMarch 27, 2016

Sam Kim starts off music career with ‘My Name Is Sam’　

Singer-songwriter Sam Kim, the runner-up in the third season of SBS competition program “K-pop Star” in 2014, will release the first part of his debut album Monday.The album, titled “My Name Is Sam,” contains three tracks, “Mama Don’t Worry,” “Seattle” and “Your Song.”Singer-song writer Sam Kim in a screenshot of the clip (Antenna Music)All the three songs were composed and written by Kim, and feature lyrical melodies along with his stories, according to his management agency Antenna Music.The f

PerformanceMarch 27, 2016

‘Youth Over Flowers’ cast wrap up Namibia trip

The four cast members of “Youth Over Flowers - Africa” ended their nine-day trip from Namibia to the Zambia-Zimbabwe border in the last episode of the star reality travel program Friday. 　The four cast members from the tvN drama “Reply 1988” -- Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, Ahn Jae-hong and Go Kyung-pyo -- marked the end of their 3,800-kilometer cross-border trip by bungee jumping from the 111-meter tall Victoria Falls Bridge. The trip began in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and stopped at major

TelevisionMarch 27, 2016

[Herald Interview] Korea's first female chief conductor leads Gyeonggi Philharmonic at TIMF

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- This year’s annual Tongyeong International Music Festival opened its curtains Friday, celebrating its new theme, “Sounds of Tomorrow” with a performance by Korea’s first female-led orchestra.　Looking to showcase a mix of classic and modern compositions that are rarely heard nowadays, TIMF is holding performances daily until Thursday at the Tongyeong Concert Hall in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province.　Opening this year’s international festivities was the

PerformanceMarch 27, 2016

[Weekender] Space films score big on Koreans’ curiosity, fantasy

Space has become a new theme powering ticket sales in Korean theaters of late, thanks to the growing interest in science as well as evolving visual technology.The past three years at the Korean box office have seen a string of successful Hollywood movies set in space. Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Gravity” set the spark in October 2013, followed by the blockbuster hit “Interstellar” by Christopher Nolan in November 2014, and “The Martian” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” just two months apart in late 2015

FilmMarch 25, 2016

Big Bang and CL nominated for ‘Time 100’

K-pop boy band Big Bang and CL of girl group 2NE1 are included in Time magazine’s online reader poll for this year’s 100 most influential people, Time announced Wednesday.　Big Bang and CL are the only Koreans among 127 candidates in the online poll that features U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. K-pop boy band Big Bang (YG Entertainment)　World-famous musicians including Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Adele and Ariana Grande

PeopleMarch 25, 2016

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

Sheraton Ladies Night Out Package　Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel presents “Ladies Night Out Package” through Dec. 31 for those planning the perfect girls’ night.　The package features a one-night stay at Executive Suite or Honeymoon Suite with one bottle of sparkling wine, finger foods and desserts. Guests will also be provided with complimentary aroma therapy bath amenity and access to Sheraton Fitness and swimming pool.　The package is priced at 345,000 won and 410,000 won, respectively, for t

TravelMarch 25, 2016

Fish cake recipe boasts spicy island heat

Middle of nowhere is a long haul for a fish cake. But apparently that’s the best spot.　I learned so from my husband’s cousin’s wife, who confided she’s from St. Helena. I squinted: Where? Her lush accent didn’t sound like St. Helena, California. Nor St. Helena, South Carolina.　St. Helena Island, I learned, is a volcanic speck in the South Atlantic, a place so remote it served as Napoleon’s prison. Ships navigating the trade winds drop by, which explains the cuisine: ocean bounty, exotic spices a

FoodMarch 25, 2016

[The palate] Hong Shin-ae, culinary authority and celebrity chef

A well-known culinary personality with an illustrious career, Hong Shin-ae is a refreshing and warm presence in the celebrity food community whose opinion and food knowledge has made her stand out amongst her peers.　Seoul-born Hong first came to recognition as a blogger, food stylist, restauranteur and food researcher which led to many cookbooks and TV shows. Educated at the New School in New York City and Yonsei University where she earned a graduate degree in business administration, Hong shar

FoodMarch 25, 2016

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

Korail-KTX joint railway package to Pohang, Ulleungdo Island　Korail and KTX are launching a joint railway package on March 28 which will operate between Seoul, Pohang and Ulleungdo Island. A train will depart from Seoul Station at 6:50 a.m. daily and arrive at Pohang at 9:26 a.m. A clipper will depart from the Pohang harbor at 10:50 a.m., arriving on Ulleungdo Island at 2:10 p.m. A boat returning to Pohang leaves the island at 3:40 p.m. 　The package will be available at 171,800 won on weekdays a

TravelMarch 25, 2016

New Zealand’s hiking trails offer one spectacle after another

The hike had been invigorating — invigorating, as in just this side of grueling. A 6-mile ascent into Mount Aspiring National Park had brought us to an overlook of Routeburn Falls, a thundering multilevel cascade of crystalline water (standard for New Zealand) jumping from the rock face above our heads and rushing into the deep valley below us. There we could see the Routeburn River winding through the high-shouldered Humboldt Mountains on its way to Lake Wakatipu.　　We were breathless not only b

TravelMarch 25, 2016

Reach Korea’s regional cities via bus

An exclusive bus tour program connecting the capital city of Seoul with six regional destinations was launched Friday, as part of governmental efforts to offer unique travel experiences to foreign visitors.Named K-Travel Bus, the program offers overnight travel to various regions in Korea via bus. The list of destinations includes Daegu, Gangwon Province, South Jeolla and North Gyeongsang Provinces as well as Busan and Ulsan in southeastern region. The program also carries tourists to Tongyeong,

TravelMarch 25, 2016