[Herald Review] ‘The Force Awakens’ an ode to original ‘Star Wars’

The seventh episode of Star Wars -- “The Force Awakens” -- will certainly appeal to audiences who have never seen, but only heard or watched bits and pieces of, the previous space movie series on TV or on video-sharing sites such as YouTube. For those who grew up watching the sci-fi epic on the big screen or reading books of the Star Wars expanded universe, “The Force Awakens” will bring back childhood memories. But it could fall short of the pent-up hype following Disney's takeover of Lucasfilm

FilmDec. 17, 2015

Lucid Fall shares his life on 7th album

Singer-songwriter Lucid Fall, known for his beautiful melodies and simple yet stirring lyrics, says that he long ago made a promise with himself that he would release one studio-length album at least once every two years.“For me, an album is not only a chance to release new music, but a personal history,” he said in a press conference at the office of his label Antenna Music on Tuesday. “What have I done over the last two years? What experiences have I had? Which artists have influenced my music

PerformanceDec. 17, 2015

[HERALD INTERVIEW] Korea’s tumultuous years in photos

Japanese photojournalist Shisei Kuwabara, 79, has documented postwar Korea since the 1960s, capturing major historical moments such as massive pro-democracy protests, the dispatch of soldiers to the Vietnam War and Seoul’s urban redevelopment projects. Born in Shimane prefecture, the part of Japan nearest to the Korean Peninsula, Kuwabara has traveled to Korea more than 100 times. His photos have been an honest window into the turbulent time of Korea’s modern history -- major social, political a

PerformanceDec. 17, 2015

Psy, ‘Non-summit’ members recognized for promoting Korean culture

Rapper Psy, members of the multicultural talk show “Non-summit” and violinist Clara Jumi Kang have been chosen as winners of the Corea Image Communication Institute awards, CICI announced Wednesday. The awards recognize their contribution toward promoting Korea’s image.Psy, who achieved global fame with 2012 dance track “Gangnam Style” and recently released his seventh album, “Chiljip Psy-da,” will be awarded the Stepping Stone Award for showing the “vibrant, dynamic creativity” of hallyu and pr

Dec. 17, 2015

Seoul book club hosts four Korean writers

The Seoul Book and Culture Club will be hosting an event with four writers who will be introducing their newly released bilingual novellas to English-speaking readers. At the event, Korean literature blogger and translation professor Charles Montgomery will be talking with the authors, whose books are part of Asia Publishers’ K-Literature series.The best-known of the four is Lee Ki-ho, author of “At Least We Can Apologize“ and “So Far and Yet So Near,” both of which are also available in English

Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015

Multicultural theater releases album based on in-house musical

Multicultural theater Salad released Friday an album of songs from a musical it produced.The album, “Ara & Jjimin,” features songs from the musical of the same name, about a second-generation Mongolian girl, a Vietnamese immigrant and their experiences with Korean teachers and students in preparing for a national music competition.The songs were composed by Gil Hizon, musical director and conductor for the Philippine Hyehwa-dong Catholic Church, with the scripts and lyrics penned by Korean write

Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015

Romantic year-end dates, without the crowds

During the holidays, the hustle and bustle of Seoul make the city far from a winter wonderland. People shuffle down Gangnam sidewalks in single file, get swept into the swarms of people in Myeong-dong, or squeeze into cable cars on the way up to Namsan Tower. In restaurants, couples are likely to bump elbows with those dining at the next table. For those looking for a way to stay in Seoul yet get away from the maddening crowds for a romantic night out, The Korea Herald offers some ideas. Cine de

CultureDec. 16, 2015

In new show, stars look after unusual pets

Eight male celebrities of varying age, background, and experience with animals are rolling up their sleeves to take care of other people’s pets in the new JTBC entertainment show “Mari & I.”“It’s a story about communication between animals and people,” producer Kim No-eun told press at the Stanford Hotel Seoul on Tuesday. “Since they can’t speak to each other, they have to express themselves with their bodies and hearts. I think our viewers will get to see a very different side to our cast membe

TelevisionDec. 16, 2015

BIFF denies illegal commission charges

Protesters in front of the Busan Metropolitan City Hall hold up a banner urging the city government to drop charges of illegal commission fees against the Busan International Film Festival’s executive committee on Wednesday. (Yonhap) The Busan International Film Festival disputed allegations that it paid commissions illegally, saying in a statement released Tuesday that it is responsible for only minor administrative omissions. 　The festival organizers claimed the complaints filed against them a

FilmDec. 16, 2015

Kumho classical stars dominate competitions

Following this year’s Kumho Art Hall Rising Star series participant Christel Lee’s victory at the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition earlier this month, the series’ musicians are continuing to snag international accolades. Supported by the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, the “Kumho musicians” dominated this year’s 9th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Novosibirsk, Russia, Tuesday, taking home first place for both violin and piano.  Violinist Kim Dong-hyun

PerformanceDec. 16, 2015

[Herald Interview] After 8 months, Laboum returns more mature

Six-member girl group Laboum has returned to the stage with a retro pop song called “Aalow Aalow.” Their new two-track single comes eight months after “Sugar Sugar,” a long hiatus considering that they had promoted three tracks -- “Pit a Pat,” “What About You” and “Sugar Sugar” -- between their debut in November 2014 and March.“During the break, we really felt how precious each performance was,” member Yulhee told The Korea Herald on Monday at the offices of NH EMG, the group’s label.The long br

PerformanceDec. 15, 2015

Stars promote Seoul

Hallyu celebrities, with their pan-Asian appeal and growing worldwide fan base, are increasingly taking an active part in promoting Korea’s national brand.One in-demand actor participating in such efforts is Kim Soo-hyun, who shot a promotional video for Seoul that will air throughout Asia, his agency Keyeast announced Tuesday. The clip will air on various network channels in the region, including China’s state-run CCTV.The 30-second video shows some Seoul landmarks, including a field of electro

Dec. 15, 2015

National Geographic photos open up ‘World of Mystery’

Since publishing its first issue in 1888, National Geographic has captured the hearts of millions, making it one of today’s oldest continuous publications.With its dedication to showcasing the stories of the world, it has earned a reputation for having some of the most iconic and recognizable photographs that define the times. The National Geographic archive is in a league of its own, inspiring generations of photographers, both professional and amateur. A photograph of the Gomateshwara Bahubali

PerformanceDec. 15, 2015

'Media must catch up with consumption trends'

Media technology -- whether hardware or software -- has further boosted the value of content, not made it worthless or led to the disappearance of conventional broadcasting networks.  Mickey Kim, head of Asia-Pacific for Google’s Chromecast & TV (Media & Future Institute)However, the media industry must be able to quickly “catch and read” the latest technology and consumption trends in order to stay ahead of the game, according to Mickey Kim, head of Asia-Pacific for Google’s Chromecast & TV. Th

TelevisionDec. 15, 2015

Lezhin to offer alternative to U.S. superhero comics

Following its recent forays into Japan, the world’s second-largest comics market, Korean webtoon platform operator Lezhin Entertainment is about to take on a new venture in the U.S.Lezhin Entertainment’s U.S. team members – (from left) Grace Chong, Jeon Jae-heung, James Kim and Bae Soon-yong -- pose for a photo at the webtoon platform’s headquarters in southern Seoul. Lezhin plans to launch its U.S. service early next year. (Lezhin)A team of four young entrepreneurs -- “a start-up within a start

TelevisionDec. 15, 2015

Korean celebrities pose with babies to raise adoption awareness

Top Korean celebrities posed with babies awaiting adoption for an annual charity photo exhibition aimed at raising adoption awareness. The 13th annual photo exhibition “Letters from Angels” features black-and-white portraits of 24 celebrities holding babies and children awaiting adoption. Participating celebrities include singer Roy Kim, Kangin of Super Junior, Lee Moon-se, four-member vocal group Noel, actors, actresses and star athlete Park Chan-ho. Celebrity photographer Cho Sei-hon, well kno

PerformanceDec. 15, 2015