[Album Review] Bumkey shows experience on ‘U-Turn’

　Bumkey“U-Turn”(Loen Entertainment)　R&B singer Bumkey is one of those artists who can rack up impressive chart rankings and music sales without going through the hamster wheel of radio and TV promotions that are obligatory for most artists to gain some traction. On “U-Turn,” his first studio-length album coming 11 years after his debut, Bumkey demonstrates why he has been able to survive with his music alone with eight tracks he wrote himself, as well as a new version of the hymn “Amazing Grace.

PerformanceFeb. 5, 2016

Weekend Box Office Guide: Feb. 6-7

Heading to the theaters this weekend? Whether you're looking for an artistic film to add class to your holiday, something to watch with your kids, or something to make you cry, the silver screen's got you covered.The Korea Herald offers a guide to the top movies playing this weekend.Carol (U.K., U.S.)Drama. Directed by Todd HaynesOpened Feb. 4　Set in the conservative 1950s Manhattan, “Carol” follows the dangerous romance that buds between Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett). The two

FilmFeb. 5, 2016

Hidden gem restaurant

Over Lunar New Year, Seollal, there are some traditional foods that herald in the festivities. One of them is Tteokguk, or rice cake soup. It is the first meal one should eat in the new year, as it represents hope and is symbolic of another year lived, or as it is properly known here, the Korean age of reckoning. After finishing the bowl of soup, a person’s age goes up by a year. Manduguk, or dumpling soup, is a North Korean variation of the traditional soup eaten during Seollal, and often both

FoodFeb. 5, 2016

Studying is the key to owning your life

Kim Chung-woon, formerly a psychology professor and who now calls himself a “creator,” is perfectly at home in his basement office in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul. It is an entirely appropriate title, he claims, as he now writes and paints. Kim’s office is a veritable man cave, that any man -- or woman, for that matter -- would dream of having: Walls lined with massive bookshelves holding volumes and volumes of books; a long desk from Japan that is crafted out of a very old tree trunk; a little nook wit

PeopleFeb. 5, 2016

Celebrate Lunar New Year with tradition

The Lunar New Year holiday is a chance for Koreans, expats and tourists to enjoy a variety of traditional Korean activities. The five-day holiday will be full of cultural programs and hands-on experiences, offered at public museums and royal palaces. Here is a guide to various holiday programs in major cities. Palaces and folk games  Visitors participate in the kite-making session at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul. (The National Folk Museum of Korea)Major royal palaces in Seoul, incl

CultureFeb. 5, 2016

Changing face of Lunar New Year holiday in Korea

A mass migration is underway this weekend as tens of thousands of Koreans travel home for the Lunar New Year, Seollal. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimates that a total of 36 million will be on the move, about 70 percent of the total population. Early in the morning on Monday, Lunar New Year’s Day, families will dress in traditional hanbok for the ancestral rite, charye, during which they will pay respect to their late ancestors. Dozens of dishes will be laid out on the c

CultureFeb. 5, 2016

[Herald Interview] ‘Reply 1988’ leaves mark on Park Bo-gum

Actor Park Bo-gum poses for a picture before an interview at a Seoul cafe on Thursday. (Yoon Byung-chan/The Korea Herald)Park Bo-gum spoke slowly, his words interspersed with child-like smiles. It was as if Park’s “Reply 1988” character Choi Taek had jumped off screen into real life. “I realized that I’m similar to my ‘Reply 1988’ character in real life. I’m like an iron fist in a velvet glove, just like Choi Taek in the TV series,” the 22-year-old told The Korea Herald in Seoul last Thursday.“I

TelevisionFeb. 5, 2016

Around the hotels

Ritz-Carlton offers Spring Festival packageThe Ritz-Carlton, Seoul is presenting the “New Year’s Prestige Getaway” package in celebration of the Spring Festival, China’s most important public holiday. The package is available from Feb. 1-18.Available to guests staying for two or more nights during the promotion period, the package includes buffet breakfast at The Garden and dinner at Oksan Buffet for two, for the duration of each stay. The price of the package starts from 300,000 won per night.

FoodFeb. 5, 2016

Travel bits

The Crane tour in CheorwonKorea Tourism Organization provides tourists with a special opportunity to explore cranes in Cherwon, Gangwon Province, from Jan.18 to Feb.29. Crane, designated as Natural Monument No. 202, is an endangered species having a worldwide population of only about 2,000-3,000. Cranes fly toward the DMZ in Cheorwon which has not been inhabited by human beings for more than six decades.The crane tour will be a day-trip departing from Seoul by DMZ train and exploring red-crowned

TravelFeb. 5, 2016

More eateries appearing in Korea’s train stations 　

With Lunar New Year upon us, there is no escaping the elbow-to-elbow crowds that flood the nation’s train stations as millions of locals travel out of the cities to reunite with their loved ones. While long lines at ticket booths are not surprising, over the past few years, a new food culture of has also developed there, with long lines at food places have also started appearing in train stations.  Interior look at Daejeon Station‘s bakery Sung Sim Dang. (Julie Jackson/The Korea Herald)Rather th

FoodFeb. 5, 2016

Spend time away at hotels during Lunar New Year

INCHEON -- On the 12th floor of Grand Hyatt Incheon, guests can get a panoramic view of Incheon International Airport from the lounge and a line of airplanes taking off and landing down on its runway.It is somewhat hard to resist peeking out the window at the Boeing 777s or Airbus A350s coming and going every 5-10 minutes against the beautiful skyline in the background in this quiet and tranquil hotel. It makes you want to disconnect your mobile phone, laptop, and drop everything and just hop on

CultureFeb. 5, 2016

Hong named Sentinel advisor

Sentinel has appointed Hong Jung-gi, professor at Kookmin University’s College of Physical Education, as its health advisor, the provider of high-functional and intensive crossfit and boot camp training services said. Hong Jung-gi (Emerson K)Hong, who used to be a professional weight lifter, will be providing his expertise in three areas -- educate Sentinel’s crossfit and boot camp coaches; develop and implement new training programs; and offer regular health seminars to members.“My goal is to i

PeopleFeb. 5, 2016

CNBLUE to pay compensation to Crying Nut

The Seoul Central District Court ordered K-pop rock band CNBLUE to pay 15 million won ($12,500) in compensation to indie punk band Crying Nut for copyright infringement.　Crying Nut had sued CNBLUE and its agency FNC Entertainment for unauthorized use of its song “Deathblow Off-Side,” which was written by its member Lee Sang-hyuk to mark the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was released by the band. Crying Nut claimed that CNBLUE used the music on Mnet’s “M Countdown” in 2010 without authorization. CNBLUE

PerformanceFeb. 4, 2016

Big Bang tops Oricon chart with ‘MADE Series'

K-pop idol group Big Bang topped the Oricon Daily Albums chart and Japanese iTunes chart with its new album “MADE Series,” the group’s agency YG Entertainment said Thursday.　Big Bang’s new album sold 80,262 copies Wednesday, the day of its release, the agency added.　The album is a compilation of a monthly series from last year that started with “M” in May and continued to August when “E” was released in August. It was released only in Korea. Big Bang (YG Entertainment)　The new album for the Japa

PerformanceFeb. 4, 2016

Art house theaters face identity crisis

CGV Arthouse, which is run by theater chain CGV, will be presenting 20 top Academy Award-nominated films in a special five-week program set to begin Feb. 11. 　The lineup for the “Academy Award Special Program” includes films nominated for the award’s top honors, such as “The Revenant” and “The Martian.” Also included will be ten films that have not been released in Korea yet, including “The Danish Girl,” “Room,” “Brooklyn” and “45 Years.” 　The program will also have special events, such as a liv

FilmFeb. 4, 2016

Los Angeles is new icon of menswear cool

NEW YORK (AFP) - Long derided for flashiness or faded grunge, Los Angeles and a new generation of designers are bringing a new brand of chic to American menswear.　It's only the second edition of New York Men’s Fashion Week, which kicked off Monday and ends Thursday. But already the capital of American fashion is recognizing that innovations on its runways often come from the West Coast. Models present creations during the Duckie Brown show at the Fall/Winter 2016 New York Men‘s Fashion Week, in

Arts & DesignFeb. 4, 2016