‘Come to See Me’ play relives nation’s most infamous serial killings

A scene from the Korean play “Come to See Me,” which is on an open-run at the Myeongdong Theater until Feb. 21. (Pro’s LAB)In 1986, the quiet rural town of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, was left in horror when a young local woman was found bound, raped and murdered in a ditch near a grassy field. At the time, no one could have predicted that the victim was only the first of what is estimated to be 10 woman killed over a five-year period at the hands of Korea’s most notorious serial killer -- who

PerformanceJan. 31, 2016

'Dong-ju' tells strong classic story of two opposite characters

Set in 1930s and 40s Korea, two young writers in their 20s seek to change the world in their own way in director Lee Joon-ik’s new biographic film “Dong-ju.” The period was one of despair and turmoil in Korea, whose spirit and culture had been suppressed by Japan.A scene from “Dong-ju,” starring Kang Ha-neul as poet Yun Dong-ju. (Megabox PlusM)Warm-hearted, passive but logical Yun Dong-ju wanted to write poetry despite objections from his father, who wanted his son to become a doctor. Song Mong-

FilmJan. 31, 2016

[Album Review] Ryeowook presents well-made solo ballad EP

Ryeowook “The Little Prince” (KT Music)Vocalist Ryeowook is the latest boy band Super Junior member to release a solo album, and his years of training and performing onstage shine through on his solo debut EP “The Little Prince.”　Ryeowook has already showcased his pure, sweet style of singing through Super Junior, the vocal unit group Super Junior-K.R.Y, drama soundtracks, and musicals, and the six tracks on “The Little Prince” are custom-made for his voice. 　The record kicks off with “Like a St

PerformanceJan. 29, 2016

[Album Review] Yezi goes hard on solo debut

Yezi “Foresight Dream” (Loen Entertainment)It’s been a long time coming. Yezi of obscure girl group Fiestar made a splash on Mnet’s female rapper competition “Unpretty Rapstar 2” last year, instantly becoming one of the most interesting figures to watch in the Korean hip-hop scene. She carries that momentum throughout her EP “Foresight Dream,” filling each track with the coarse, hard-hitting lyrics that kept her alive on “Unpretty Rapstar.”　Produced overall by hip-hop powerhouse Brand New Music’

PerformanceJan. 29, 2016

[Album Review] Gfriend carries classic girl group torch

Gfriend “Snowflake” (Loen Entertainment)The K-pop market is shifting away from the classic idol group formula of the late 1990s and 2000s both in music and the personalities of the musicians themselves, yet there are still fans who want that old-style feel -- and they can get plenty of it with Gfriend’s EP “Snowflake.”　The intro track “Snowflake” and the lead track “Rough” are a perfect combination entering the album, with dramatic beats and melody shifts that are slightly overdone considering t

PerformanceJan. 29, 2016

Not exactly smooth sailing for ‘The Finest Hours’

‘The Finest Hours,” based on the true story of the valiant 1952 Coast Guard rescue of a sinking oil tanker off the coast of Massachusetts, splits in two much like the wounded vessel at its heart.　There’s the film that’s set on the sea and much of that is pretty terrific, even if it brings to mind “A Perfect Storm.” And then there’s film set on land, and that one runs aground. Casey Affleck and Josh Stewart in “The Finest Hours.” (Walt Disney Studios)　Chris Pine is Bernie Webber, a young Coast Gu

FilmJan. 29, 2016

New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay is prime dining, drinking destination

(TNS)　When you walk down the street in the center of Napier, a coastal town in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay, a wine-producing region, you nearly expect to spot Greta Garbo, in full flapper regalia, crossing the street. The town, a perfectly preserved Art Deco masterpiece, would make a fine set for one of her films.　In most cities, Art Deco buildings were built amid the architecture already standing, but in February 1931, an earthquake decimated Napier. The city was almost entirely rebuilt in the th

TravelJan. 29, 2016

Gourmet panini for the thrifty foodie

Crescent-shaped housemade loaves of bread form the foundation for Bistro Piuzza’s panini.  Bistro Piuzza’s porchetta panino is crafted with fennel seed-spiced pork belly that has been slow roasted for over three hours. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)　Smoky from a stint in a wood-fired oven, the bread boasts a crisp crust and an airy, hollowed out center ideal for sandwiches. 　“We bake our panini bread to order,” said Bistro Piuzza chef Hwang Dong-hui, gesturing to the oven in the open kitchen.

FoodJan. 29, 2016

Home Cooking: Tteok sanjeok (skewered rice cake with beef and vegetables)

Sanjeok is a traditional holiday dish that is a variety of jeok -- skewered meat and vegetables. Unlike some other jeok varieties, sanjeok is not egg- or flour-battered. The ingredients are skewered and then grilled or pan-fried. Depending on the main ingredients used, they are called gogi (beef) sanjeok, songi (mushrooms) sanjeok, pa (scallions) sanjeok, etc. Tteok (rice cake) sanjeok is made with garaetteok, which is unsweetened rice cake that’s shaped like a long cylinder. 　Garaetteok is abun

FoodJan. 29, 2016

[Around the hotels]

Romantic getaway at Hyatt Regency Jeju　Hyatt Regency Jeju is launching the “Romance Package, Love in Paris” event for couples looking to get visit Jeju-do Island to celebrate Valentine’s Day. 　Available from Feb. 13 to March 14, the event features additional benefits alongside those included in the hotel’s “Romance” package. The additional benefits include a free upgrade to an Ocean View room and a complimentary box of chocolates from La Maison Du Chocolat, a French luxury chocolate brand.　The s

TravelJan. 29, 2016

[Travel bits]

The 2016 World Eco-Friendly Design Exhibition 　South Jeolla Province will host the 2016 World Eco-Friendly Design Exhibition at Naju Agricultural Research Center on May 5-29. The exhibition is expected to add design value to the province’s agro-fisheries farmland image. The exhibition, defining vague concept of “Eco-Friendly Design” as “All actions planned and done thinking of humans and nature,” will present seven exhibitions related to eco-friendly design including “Natural Dyeing Exhibition,”

TravelJan. 29, 2016

Tiffany denies rumors of romantic involvement with Gray

Girls’ Generation member Tiffany denied rumors reported Friday of romantic involvement with rapper Gray.　A local daily reported that Tiffany and Gray had been dating for about three months after the two met to discuss Tiffany’s solo album. Quoting an industry insider, the report said that the romance between the two was widely known.  Girls’ Generation member Tiffany (SM Entertainment)and Rapper Gray (AOMG Official Facebook)　Later Friday, Tiffany’s agency SM Entertainment dismissed the rumors by

PerformanceJan. 29, 2016

YB Band returns with ’70s sound

Korea’s iconic rock band YB Band will return with a ’70s-inspired new single “Flower Rain” in February, its agency Dee Company said. 　In the teaser image, released on the band’s official Facebook and Instagram, five rockers, wearing ’70s vintage bold print shirts and flare pants, are cheering in joy holding a golden trophy from winning an imaginary Group Sounds competition under the placard that reads “The 20th New-Star Group Sounds Contest.” YB Band poses as ’70s rockers for a teaser image rele

PerformanceJan. 29, 2016

The Barberettes to kick off nationwide tour

The Barberettes, the retro female trio composed of An Shin-ae, Gyeong Seon and Park So-hee, will kick off its nationwide tour in February, the group’s agency EggPlant said.　The group is referred to as a “time slip” girl group, traveling back to the days of barbershop music. The Barberettes (EggPlant)　The group’s nationwide tour “It’s Showtime!” will cover seven cities -- Seoul, Jeonju, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan and Chuncheon -- from Feb. 19 to April 2, the agency said. 　The group will unvei

PerformanceJan. 28, 2016

‘The Ex’ is compelling legal thriller

An attorney represents a man accused of committing multiple homicides and who also happens to be her ex-fiance in Alafair Burke’s latest page-turner, “The Ex.”　Olivia Randall, a criminal defense attorney in New York, receives an urgent phone call from a teenage girl who says she needs her help. She‘s the daughter of Olivia’s ex-fiance, Jack Harris.   "The Ex" By Alafair Burke (Harper)　Harris is an acclaimed writer who lost his wife in a public shooting three years earlier and is now raising his

BooksJan. 28, 2016

Coleman introduces superb detective novel

Gus Murphy was looking forward to retirement after a distinguished career as a Long Island policeman, but when his son dropped dead of an undiagnosed heart defect during a pickup basketball game, Gus’s life all but ended, too.　That‘s when Tommy Delcamino, a small-time crook Gus used to arrest, shows up looking for help. Tommy’s son is dead, too, gunned down in a mysterious murder the Suffolk County police show little interest in solving. "Where It Hurts" By Reed Farrel Coleman (G.P. Putnam‘s Son

BooksJan. 28, 2016