The Korea Herald

Uninspired tour programs discourage return visits to Korea: survey 　

Substandard tours and a dearth of activities are the top reasons why foreign visitors do not want to return to Korea, according to a survey released Thursday.　The online survey of 206 local opinion leaders and 203 foreigners who have been to Korea was conducted by the cultural and tourism promotion body 5.4 Club. 　The organization was founded by Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha and Didier Beltoise, president of Cs, a hospitality consulting firm. 5.4 Club members pose a

CultureMarch 17, 2016

Uninspired tour programs discourage return visits to Korea: survey

Viewers to choose ending in new Web drama ‘Click Your Heart’

In the new Web drama series “Click Your Heart,” released Thursday, viewers will be given a chance to choose the ending they want. The Web drama, featuring Kwon Mina of AOA and nine rookies of FNC Entertainment, will allow viewers to select from two stories of different casts and endings, a novel approach in the Web drama format. "It’s my first time acting in a Web drama with two different endings. I had a great time shooting with the actors and director Min Doo-sik,” said Kwon at a press confere

March 17, 2016

Viewers to choose ending in new Web drama ‘Click Your Heart’

[Herald interview] Pianist Aviram Reichert, witness of sea change in Seoul’s classical scene

Following a landmark win at Seoul’s inaugural international piano competition two decades ago, Israeli-native and longtime Seoul National University music professor Aviram Reichert continues to leave his mark in the local classical music scene. 　“I moved to Korea in 2009 to assume the position as a professor at Seoul National University, but what first brought me here, it all started in 1996,” Reichert told The Korea Herald on Thursday.　“That was the year they had Seoul’s first international pia

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016

[Herald interview] Pianist Aviram Reichert, witness of sea change in Seoul’s classical scene

Spotlight’ company settles complaint over made-up dialogue

BOSTON (AP) -- The distributor of the Oscar-winning film “Spotlight” has acknowledged that filmmakers fabricated dialogue that made it appear as if a Boston College spokesman downplayed the extent of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal.　Jack Dunn, director of the news and public affairs office at the Jesuit university, said Wednesday he became physically ill when he saw the film the day it opened in Boston. He retained a lawyer to demand that the scene be removed, although no lawsuit was ever

FilmMarch 17, 2016

[Herald Interview] Defining and redefining Sohn Jie-ae

Sohn Jie-ae, who has spent 30 years in the English-language media, has written a memoir chronicling her journey. 　Published last month, “Sohn Jie-ae. CNN. Seoul” resembles its writer: It is ambitious and expansive, touching on everything from career advice to journalism, government work, North Korea, feminism and family life.　“So many people seem to think to themselves, ‘This is it for me. This is the end of my capacity,’” Sohn told The Korea Herald in an interview in Seoul on Tuesday. 　“I hope

BooksMarch 17, 2016

[Herald Interview] Defining and redefining Sohn Jie-ae

Sales of Han Kang's novel soar after Man Booker nomination

Sales of "The Vegetarian," a novel by South Korean author Han Kang, have soared since it was nominated for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, an online bookseller said Wednesday.According to the Internet-based bookstore Aladin, the book was sold 12 times more from Thursday to Tuesday compared to a month ago. The prize's organizer announced on its website on Thursday that Han's "Vegetarian," translated by Deborah Smith, was among the 13 books contending for the 2016 prize. She has become th

BooksMarch 17, 2016

2016 Paris book fair opens with Korea as guest of honor

PARIS (Yonhap) -- An international book fair kicked off in Paris on Wednesday, highlighting Korean books and authors.　Launched in 1981, the Paris Book Fair is considered one of the biggest publishing trade fairs in Europe. More than 250,000 publishers, booksellers, authors, literary agents, librarians, and media and industry suppliers attended the fair last year. 　Korea is taking part in the event as the guest of honor for the first time as it celebrates the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties

BooksMarch 17, 2016

2016 Paris book fair opens with Korea as guest of honor

Madonna angers Australian fans with 2-hour concert delay

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Madonna has angered fans by starting a concert in the Australian city of Brisbane more than two hours late and finishing the show early Thursday morning after the last train had left the venue.　The pop star had been due to start at 9 p.m. local time but did not take the stage at the Brisbane Entertainment Center until 11:22 p.m.　Hundreds of angry fans had left the venue by then and demanded refunds at the ticket office after a public announcement that the "Rebel Hear

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016

Jung Woo-sung duped into financial scam

Actor Jung Woo-sung was talked into an investment fraud by a television scriptwriter, local media reported on Wednesday. 　The 46-year-old scriptwriter, surnamed Park, was arrested Wednesday on charges of fraud, after a group of investors filed a lawsuit against the writer, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.　The writer is accused of having defrauded 2.3 billion won ($1.96 million) from acquaintances, claiming the money would be invested in a private equity fund used by m

March 17, 2016

Sam Kim debuts two years after ‘K-pop Star’

Korean-American musician Sam Kim will release the first part of his debut album “My Name is SAM” on March 28, the singer’s agency Antenna Music announced Wednesday. 　Kim was the runner-up in the third season of the SBS music competition program “K-pop Star.” In 2014, Kim signed with Antenna Music, which is run by Yoo Hee-yeol, one of the judges of the television program. 　Kim, a self-taught singer and songwriter, will present his debut album, which is written entirely by himself. Singer-songwri

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016

Sam Kim debuts two years after ‘K-pop Star’

Dongdaemun global center to hold Sunday advice session

Seoul Global Center will offer an onsite counseling session to advise expats in Dongdaemun on Sunday.The Dongdaemun Global Village Center will open its doors to offer consultations on legal, labor and immigration issues, among others. Advice will be available in English, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz. The area is known for its Russian and Central Asian community.The session will run from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact (02) 2075-4136.(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)

Expat LivingMarch 17, 2016

Written driving test classes offered in Seoul

Jongno Police Station and Seoul Global Center will run road safety and written driving test classes every month starting March 28.The two-day course will run once a month. It will cover the written exam for the driver’s license and know-how related to driving. The classes are given in Korean, though special interpreted classes may be offered for foreign community groups if requested.There is no charge for the course and those who attend will get a free textbook on the driving exam. Applications

Expat LivingMarch 17, 2016

Expat art tour to stop in Daegu

“Look But Don’t Touch,” a nationwide art tour showcasing the work of artists from across Korea, will be holding its second last stop in Daegu on Saturday.Artwork by nine artists, including Christopher Cote, Sebastian Montes and Sybille Cavasin, will be on display. The venue will also host performances from spoken word artists Sean O’Gorman and Carlos Williams, artist and poet Ben Miller, and music from Andrew Blad, among others.“Look But Don’t Touch,” is touring four cities around Korea, with it

Expat LivingMarch 17, 2016

Super Junior's Ryeowook to join military in June

Ryeowook of K-pop boy band Super Junior will be enlisted in the Army for his mandatory military service in June, a South Korean talent agency said on Thursday. The singer, 29, will join the South Korean army on June 14, according to his star label S.M. Entertainment. He will join basic military camp for the first five weeks and then be dispatched to a regional military base for his 21-month service. The South Korean heartthrob did not disclose the hour or venue for his military entrance, hoping

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016

'Descendants of the Sun' to premiere in Japan

South Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun" will come to Japan in June, its production company said Thursday.The KBS 2TV series, which has been broadcast simultaneously in China on the local video platform iQiyi, will start airing on the Japanese cable channel Eisei Gekijou, NEW said. Actor Song Joong-ki stars in KBS2 TV drama series “Descendants of the Sun.” (KBS2)Media reports have said broadcasting rights for show the starring actor Song Joong-ki and actress Song Hye-kyo fetched $100,000 per

TelevisionMarch 17, 2016

'Descendants of the Sun' to premiere in Japan

'Descendants of the Sun' maintains strong viewership

The drama "Descendants of the Sun" has maintained a strong following for its seventh episode, with viewership in and around Seoul breaking 30 percent for the first time, data showed Thursday.The KBS 2TV series, starring actor Song Joong-ki and actress Song Hye-kyo, was watched by 30.1 percent of the Seoul metropolitan area on Wednesday, data by Nielsen Korea showed.In Seoul, the show set a fresh record of 31.8 percent, but nationwide viewership inched down 0.2 percentage points to 28.5 percent.I

TelevisionMarch 17, 2016

Actor-singer Lee Seung-gi to be assigned to special forces command

Actor-singer Lee Seung-gi, who is undergoing basic training for military service, will be assigned to the Special Warfare Command next week, a military official said Thursday."Lee Seung-gi has been classified into the intelligence specialty group and will join the Special Warfare Command on March 21," the Army official said. Lee joined the Army in early February and has been undergoing boot camp like all other recruits.Lee's duty with the special forces command will be in administrative affairs,

TelevisionMarch 17, 2016

‘Holy grail’ set of Shakespeare folios for sale

LONDON (AP) -- William Shakespeare died 400 years ago, but his stock has never been higher.　To coincide with the anniversary of the Bard’s death, Christie’s is selling copies of the first four editions of his plays -- a collection the auctioneer’s head of books, Margaret Ford, calls “the holy grail of publishing.”　The four folios are going on display in New York April 1-8 and London April 20-28 before being sold in London on May 25. A Christie`s staff displays an unrecorded copy of the First Fo

BooksMarch 17, 2016

‘Holy grail’ set of Shakespeare folios for sale

13 arrested in Verona art heist, paintings still missing

MILAN (AP) -- Wiretapped phone calls and video surveillance were key to the arrest of 13 suspects in Italy and Moldova for the brazen armed robbery of 17 paintings, including works by Tintoretto, Rubens and Mantegna, from Verona's main art museum in November, authorities said Wednesday. 　　　One of the suspects was identified as the guard on duty when three armed robbers entered the Castelvecchio Museum at closing time, just before the alarm system was activated. Eight of the suspects, including

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016

Hidden treasures of ancient Rome to get first showing

ROME (AFP) - Hidden for decades, one of the world's greatest collections of ancient Roman statues and sculptures is reputedly so dazzling that a prominent archaeologist once disguised himself as a garbage man to grab a sneak glimpse.　Now a selection of the priceless works held by the Torlonia family, one of Rome’s oldest dynasties, is finally to go on public view following an agreement this week between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the family foundation.　Under the deal, between 60 and 90

PerformanceMarch 17, 2016