Entrepreneurs raise awareness of elderly poverty in Korea

A group of entrepreneurs in Seoul aims to repay the sacrifices of their grandparents’ generation by raising funds and awareness for elderly Koreans in poverty.Korea is confronting a demographic crisis as it struggles to support its rapidly aging population. Nearly half of Korean over-65s are living in poverty, while data this week showed that more Koreans over 50 are delaying retirement than ever before as they bear financial responsibilities to support both their parents and children. The elder

Expat LivingDec. 2, 2015

False decorum creates farce in ‘Rumors’

If attempts to save face at your workplace can sometimes seem extreme, they are nothing compared to the lengths that the characters go to in order to keep up appearances in a play to hit the stage in Ulsan this weekend.In Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” to be put on by the Industrial Theatre Troupe, the first guests arrive for an anniversary dinner, only to find the host has been shot dead. But in their desperation to look decent they do the unthinkable ― hiding the body and hosting the party themselves.

Expat LivingDec. 2, 2015

College tie-up opens doors for CLASH charity shows

Charity concert series CLASH has linked up with Seoul’s Hoseo Art College to host a hip-hop show in aid of Korean Unwed Mothers Families Association on Saturday.Headlining show is “Show Me the Money” season two winner Soul Dive, which has since collaborated with actor So Ji-sub on his EP “18 Years.” Other acts include Rhyme-A-, Born Kim, Ignito, Suda Jaengi and Insane Deegie. CLASH is held regularly in aid of four charities on a rotational basis, with this show in aid of KUMFA, an organization s

Expat LivingDec. 2, 2015

Controversial figure appointed to lead public art museum in Korea

Bartomeu Mari, former director of the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, has been appointed to lead the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. Mari is the first foreign director to lead the state-run public art museum in Korea. He is currently president of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art.  Bartomeu Mari (MMCA)“We expect Mari to help the MMCA to gain a concrete foundation to upgrad

PerformanceDec. 2, 2015

Hwayo soju heads to Hong Kong

Hwayo range of premium soju by KwangJuYo (KwangJuYo)Premier Korean liquor brand Hwayo is now available in Hong Kong at celebrity chef Judy Joo’s newly opened contemporary Korean restaurant, Jinjuu.The Korean-American “Iron Chef” winner Joo celebrated the grand opening of her restaurant on Tuesday in Central Hong Kong’s California Tower, where she will be serving up Korea’s top-shelf Hwayo soju. Offering a modern twist on traditional and modern Korean food, the chef opened up her flagship Jinjuu

FoodDec. 2, 2015

[Design Forum] Experts explore emotion in tech, beauty

Understanding the emotional reaction of the consumer is crucial in both the beauty and tech industries, experts said at the Seoul Design Forum on Wednesday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.　Speaking on the globalization of Korean beauty products and the distinctive characteristics of different foreign markets, makeup artist Seo Su-jin, CEO of cosmetics brand S2J, asserted that “simply imposing what we like about Korean beauty is not globalization.”　“Here, we prefer dewy, pale skin. But Western women p

Arts & DesignDec. 2, 2015

Iconic directors’ works brought to museums

Two legendary filmmakers -- Stanley Kubrick and Philippe Garrel -- are the subjects of museum exhibitions, exploring the film genre as a complex form of art.The Seoul Museum of Art, in partnership with Hyundai Card, is holding a retrospective of American film director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999), a touring exhibition that began in Frankfurt in 2004. Drawing on the extensive archives from Kubrick’s home and workplace, the exhibition features some 1,000 photographs, shooting schedules, scripts, le

PerformanceDec. 2, 2015

Seoul Design Week kicks off

The country’s largest public design festival kicked off Wednesday in Seoul with a variety of events to highlight innovative ideas and boost the design industry. Under the slogan “Seoul’s Design Wizard,” Seoul Design Week 2015 launched 16 diverse programs ranging from design markets, fairs and seminars to a networking party for designers and public. Some 230 local companies are expected to participate in the five-day festival. The second annual design event, run by Seoul Metropolitan Government’s

Arts & DesignDec. 2, 2015

‘Korea can create 2nd Pucca’

Pucca, an animated character created by Korea’s Vooz in 2000, has shown that Korea’s characters can reach the global audience through international partnerships and merchandising deals.The wacky Chinese character earns over 300 billion won ($257.7 million) per year on average globally, thanks in part to the Disney Channel, which has been broadcasting “Pucca” short animated TV series in more than 100 countries.LIMA Korea chief Kwak Kyeong-won (LIMA)Kwak Kyeong-won, the Korean representative of th

CultureDec. 2, 2015

[Design Forum] Seoul promotes itself as hotbed of creativity, innovation

Seoul Design Week 2015, the biggest celebration of creativity and innovation in design, kicks off Wednesday at various spots in Seoul. The second edition of the annual design festival presents more than 10 programs highlighting the unique ideas and products of young designers and entrepreneurs. Programs ranging from exhibitions, sales of design products and lectures by leading designers and entrepreneurs to a late-night networking party for designers and citizens will take place at Dongdaemun De

Arts & DesignDec. 1, 2015

Metal piece found at Seoul-Pyongyang joint excavation site

South and North Korea have unearthed a piece of metal type at an ancient palace in the North‘s border city of Gaeseong as they wrapped up a joint excavation project, a group of historians said Monday.The block of movable metal type was one of about 3,500 relics that have been excavated at the site of Manwoldae, a Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) palace in Gaeseong, in the six-month project, according to the group of the two Koreas’ historians. A piece of metal type believed to date back to the Goryeo D

CultureDec. 1, 2015

A season of family-friendly winter performances

As the year comes to a close, many people may be scrambling to figure out how to spend their free time during the cold winter while getting a bit of artistic indulgence. For those looking to kick the winter blues, there’s nothing like a night at the theater to add a little enchantment to one’s evening.  A scene from the Universal Ballet Korea‘s production of “The Nutcracker,” which will be staged at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul from Dec. 18 to 31. (Universal Ballet Korea)Inarguably one of

CultureDec. 1, 2015

TTS don alluring red for ‘Dear Santa’ teaser video

K-pop group Girls’ Generation subunit TTS dressed in regal crimson red ball gowns for a Christmas carol teaser video, published to YouTube on Monday. (YouTube)Taeyeon styled voluptuous blonde curls against her halter bodice, while Tiffany chose a dress with a plummeting neckline and frilly train. Seohyun, sitting at a piano, opted for a strapless dress matched with a glittering crystal statement necklace. (Seohyun's Instagram)Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun’s first carol album “Dear Santa” will be

Dec. 1, 2015

Long-awaited Psy album sweeps local music charts

Singer Psy once again swept local online music charts with double lead tracks “Napal Baji” and “Daddy” from his seventh full-length album Tuesday. Other tracks from the album ranked highly as well. (OSEN)His new nine-track album “Chiljip Psy-da” dropped Tuesday along with music videos for the two lead tracks, breaking a hiatus of three years and five months since his sixth album “Psy 6-gap,” which contained worldwide hit “Gangnam Style.” In the “Napal Baji” music video, the singer appears enthus

PerformanceDec. 1, 2015

Psy releases long-awaited 7th album

Psy‘s seventh studio-length album “Chiljip Psy-da” (known simply in English as Psy 7th Album) comes three years and five months after his sixth album, “Psy 6-gap,” which included the global sensation “Gangnam Style.”“It’s been too long,” he began at a press conference at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul on Monday.“Maybe it was pressure, maybe it was stress,” he said about the wait. “I kept thinking, ‘This won’t do as well as “Gangnam (Style)”’ ... or if I changed it, ‘Overseas fans wouldn’t understand

PerformanceNov. 30, 2015

Three big Korean movies for December

The Korean box office is wrapping up a dynamic year of hugely successful films like “Assassination” and “Veteran“ as well as acclaimed smaller art-house films like “Alice in Earnestland,“ but there is little progress to show for mid-sized commercial films. The last month of 2015 looks to be a continuation of that pattern. Three of Korea’s largest distributors -- CJ Entertainment, Next Entertainment World and Lotte Entertainment -- will be facing off in theaters for the holiday rush.The Himalayas

FilmNov. 30, 2015

Psy’s new MV is 100% going to go viral

A captured image from Psy's "Daddy" music video. (The Korea Herald)Psy released music videos for his long-waited seventh album “Chiljip Psy-da,” and we think this is going to go viral worldwide, and live up to the “Gangnam Style” fame. During a press conference held in Seoul on Monday, Psy unveiled music videos to “Napal Baji” and “Daddy,” both of which have a bouncy techno beat and a wacky mix of Korean and English lyrics. The album title plays on the name of a popular beverage in South Korea,

PerformanceNov. 30, 2015

[Photo News] Millennium Seoul Hilton's Christmas train

(Millennium Seoul Hilton)Children joined Santa Claus, the Millennium Seoul Hilton mascot and hotel employees to see a Christmas train, now in its 20th year of operation, in the hotel’s lobby on Sunday. Over 80 local and international businesses sponsored the Christmas train this year, and all proceeds have been donated to local orphanages and charities. The Christmas tree and train display will be available for viewing until Jan. 17.   　

CultureNov. 29, 2015