Kwon Sang-woo to lead Chinese drama

Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo will play the main character on Chinese TV drama “Returning Love,” the actor’s agency SU Company announced Friday. Actor Kwon Sang-woo (SU Company)　The drama series will depict the story of a man who suffers from amnesia following an earthquake. The man, played by Kwon, struggles in his relationships with two women -- his wife and a woman who took care of him as he suffered from amnesia -- while gradually regaining his memory.　Kwon will leave for Beijing this month to

TelevisionMarch 11, 2016

Ku Hye-sun, Ahn Jae-hyun latest celeb couple

Actress and film director Ku Hye-sun, 32, and actor and model Ahn Jae-hyun, 29, are the latest celebrity couple in the news. 　The former costars in “Blood” started dating soon after the 20-episode KBS TV drama ended in April 2015, according to Ahn’s agency HB Entertainment.　Ahn and Ku played the roles of a vampire surgeon and a niece to the chairman who owns the hospital, respectively, in the drama series. Actress and film director Ku Hye-sun (YG Entertainment) and model and actor Ahn Jae-hyun (

TelevisionMarch 11, 2016

[Home cooking] Galbi Taco

Korean-style tacos were made famous by a food truck in Los Angeles several years ago. Since then, food trucks selling Korean tacos have become a nation-wide trend in America. The idea is to place Korean barbecue meat on a Mexican corn tortilla topped with a mix of Korean and Mexican flavors. Here, I turned the traditionally marinated galbi (short ribs) into my version of a popular Korean-Mexican fusion dish. I paired the meat with a refreshing salsa made with kimchi, Korean pear and other crunch

FoodMarch 11, 2016

[The palate] Catalan flavors reinterpreted in historic Seochon

In Seochon, a quaint neighborhood west of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, there has always been a focus on old world charm and the area’s past as an artists’ enclave.  　Today, Seochon is an unassumingly stylish neighborhood sprinkled with galleries and cafes in a quiet ambience quite different to that found on the other side of the palace in the tourist-laden Samcheong-dong and Bukchon. Still budding as a destination neighborhood, Seochon offers a colorful mix of modern sensibility and old hanok build

FoodMarch 11, 2016

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

Romantic dining at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City　The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a romantic dining experience for couples in celebration of “White Day” on March 14 when men give gifts and sweets to their love interests. The hotel’s Lobby Lounge Bar on the 41st floor will be presenting the “White Day Romantic Set” from March 12-14 at 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for the occasion. 　The set will include a special menu of scallop, mussel, abalone, clam, king crab, roasted salmon, chop steak wi

TravelMarch 11, 2016

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

Seogwipo Yuchae Flower International Walking Festival　Seogwipo Yuchae (Canola) Flower International Walking Festival will take place at Jungmun Resort on Jejudo Island on March 19-20, at the northern park of the International Convention Center Jeju and the surrounding areas of the Seogwipo region. 　During the festival, participants will be able to enjoy the picturesque springtime views of Korea’s southernmost island by walking along the Seogwipo coastline and through seas of yellow canola flower

TravelMarch 11, 2016

‘Knight of Cups’ is half-empty

Is there a filmmaker more focused on creating eccentric personal tone poems than Terrence Malick? Since his 1970s masterworks “Badlands” and “Days of Heaven,” his focus has been painful paradoxes as faith attempts to adapt itself to the latest challenges of an ever-evolving culture.　“Knight of Cups,” his melancholy, minimalist, perplexing seventh film is, like his recent creations, another case of ethereal navel gazing at the expense of a wider view.　Drawing its title from a tarot card, the film

FilmMarch 11, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Joy　(U.S.)　Opened March 10　Comedy-drama. Directed by David O. Russell　Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) is a divorced mother of two and clerk for an airline company. Her mother spends all day in bed watching TV while Joy runs the household. One day, Joy decides to pursue her inventing ambitions to become a successful entrepreneur. “Joy” follows her tumultuous journey.　London Has Fallen　(U.S.)　Opened March 10　Action-thriller. Directed by Babak Najafi　Top agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is contem

FilmMarch 11, 2016

[Album review] Nada Surf’s ‘You Know Who You Are’ refines power pop

Nada Surf　“You Know Who You Are” 　(Barsuk Records)　Expanded to a full-time quartet, New York’s Nada Surf continues to refine its glorious power pop on “You Know Who You Are.” 　There’s a tinge of melancholy across much of the album, albeit with an optimistic if guarded outlook. The glass may be half full, but it’s a thimble, not a tankard -- “One day, I’ll love somebody else, one day, I’ll be good to myself,” Matthew Caws sings on “Believe You’re Mine.”　The bandleader co-wrote two songs with form

PerformanceMarch 11, 2016

[Album review] Violent Femmes sound like old selves on new album

Violent Femmes　“We Can Do Anything”　(Pias America)The Violent Femmes often sound like their old selves on “We Can Do Anything,” their ninth studio album and first since 2000.　 Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano and acoustic bass guitarist Brian Ritchie got back together in 2013 for a Coachella performance of their first album on the 30th anniversary of its release and later toured with Barenaked Ladies. 　All that came after a long feud fueled by Gano‘s decision to allow the use of “Blister In the Sun”

PerformanceMarch 11, 2016

[Album review] Assassin shows versatility on 1st album in years

Assassin　“Theory of Reggaetivity” 　(Sound Age Entertainment)　 One of Jamaica‘s most underrated yet diverse and creative lyricists, Assassin A.K.A. Agent Sasco releases his first studio album in almost a decade.　In a transition from dancehall, the artist turns his multi-talented hand to releasing a completely reggae album called “Theory of Reggaetivity.” With guest appearances from Chronixx and Australian singer Elesia Iimura, Assassin -- born Jeffrey Campbell -- takes on topics such as achieveme

PerformanceMarch 11, 2016

[Eye] Melodious comeback of musical star

Even as a youngster, Jeon Soo-kyung, one of the most successful musical actresses today, craved fame.  　“Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be famous,” said Jeon, 49, during an interview with The Korea Herald at the Millennium Hilton Seoul hotel. 　“Growing up I would see all these beautiful and admired celebrities on TV and I just knew that I wanted to be in the public eye,” she added.  Musical actress Jeon Soo-kyeong poses during an interview with The Korea Herald at the Millennium Seou

PerformanceMarch 11, 2016

Han Kang on list for Man Booker International Prize

Novelist Han Kang, 46, has become the first Korean writer to be on the long list for the Man Booker International Prize.　　The prestigious award body announced Thursday on its website 13 contenders for the 2016 prize, including Han’s 2004 novel “The Vegetarian,” translated by Deborah Smith.　　“The Vegetarian” was published in the U.K. in January 2015 and in the U.S. last month to both critical and popular acclaim.  　Novelist Han Kang (Literature Translation Institute of Korea)　Nobel laureate Orhan

BooksMarch 10, 2016