[Best Brand] JW Marriott Dongdaemun aims to become green hotel

The JW Marriott Dongdaemun overlooks Heunginjimun, one of Seoul’s historic and cultural landmarks.Hotel luxury (downtown) - JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square SeoulThe JW Marriott Dongdaemun is going green by implementing practices that reduce energy consumption, save unnecessary costs and improve air quality. The hotel’s pursuit of green strategies has earned it the LEED certification, an international recognition of the environmental-friendliness of a building. Opened in February, the hotel seeks

June 25, 2014

[Best Brand] Somerset boasts luxury, location

View of the rooftop swimming pool at the Somerset Palace Seoul hotel in Gwanghwamun, central SeoulServiced residence (International Luxury Premier)- Somerset Palace SeoulLooking for more than just a standard hotel, but also an establishment that offers the comforts of home? Then the premier apartment suites of Somerset Palace Seoul may be just the answer. The hotel is managed by The Ascott Limited, a Singapore-based company that has grown to become the world’s largest internationally serviced re

June 25, 2014

Diversity highlights musical festival

This year’s Daegu International Musical Festival is bringing shows from countries like Slovakia, Russia and China, reflecting the Korean audience’s growing taste for diversity. Opening this coming Saturday for a 17-day run, the festival will feature a total of 17 musicals, including four foreign works and two multinational (including Korea) ones. Four original Korean shows will get their premieres during the fair, which includes “Wedding Shoes,” a musical about comfort women, Korean women who we

June 25, 2014

Priests right to speak out on political issues, Vatican bishop says

Catholic churches are entitled to speak out on political and social injustices, a high-ranking bishop from the Vatican said Monday. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Bishop Mario Toso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, stressed that churchmen are obliged to work for the redemption of all mankind, with this redemption including relief from social and political injustices. “The more you love Christ, the harder you work for justice and peace in this world,” he added.

June 23, 2014

Namhansanseong becomes Korea’s newest UNESCO treasure

The Western Gate. In 1636, after 47 days under siege, King Injo of Joseon walked through this gate to surrender to the Manchu invaders.For a long time, Namhansanseong has been one of Koreans’ favorite spots for hiking, driving and eating out. Nestled in scenic surroundings on the southern outskirts of Seoul and easily accessible by subway, the fortress has been a place to head to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Lesser known to its visitors, however, is that the large circular

June 22, 2014

Korean fortress obtains World Heritage status

Namhansanseong is a mountain fortress on the southern outskirts of Seoul. (Yonhap News)Namhansanseong, a mountain fortress on the southern outskirts of Seoul, has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, joining the ranks of such natural and cultural wonders as Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, currently meeting in Qatar, voted Sunday to inscribe the Korean fortress on the much-coveted list for its “outstanding universal value

June 22, 2014

[Weekender] Haenyeo up close and personal

Larger-than-life photographs of Jejudo Island’s iconic female divers in wetsuits hang on the walls of the second and basement floor spaces of POSCO Art Museum on Tehran-ro in southern Seoul, the women’s weathered faces bearing witness to a lifetime of struggles with the sea. The photographs are part of “Mother in the Sea, Haenyeo,” an exhibition of 165 works by celebrated photographer Joon Choi, running through July 3.Choi captures the faraway look in the eyes of an aged diver just out of the wa

June 20, 2014

Lotte Hall to open in 2015 with Seoul Phil concert

Lotte Hall, a classical music hall currently under construction in Jamsil-dong, southern Seoul, will open on Sept. 3, 2015, with a concert by maestro Chung Myung-whun and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the chief executive of the hall said Wednesday.The opening will be followed by a four-month music festival, during which the hall will make some necessary adjustments in acoustics and other installations.“From March onward, the hall will be made available to rent for concerts,” Kim Eui-joon sai

June 18, 2014

A musical treat in store this summer

Musicals of diverse genres, themes and origins await fans this summer, taking the stages of almost all major performing arts venues in Seoul. From a Broadway classic and an Australian drag show getting a Korean premiere to a suspensful thriller and a jukebox show, this season’s musical lineup has something for everyone. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated shows this season. Broadway classics Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical “Cats” is back, with an international cast. As in many

June 17, 2014

Inca trails, French cave vie for World Heritage status

DOHA (AFP) ― Inca trails spanning six countries and a French cave with some of the earliest known paintings are among the sites expected to get World Heritage status at a UNESCO meeting that started Sunday in Doha.Altogether at least 30 natural and cultural sites, including the Arbil Citadel in Iraq’s Kurdistan, are vying to get the United Nations cultural body’s prestigious distinction and add their names to an already 981-strong list.The June 15-25 World Heritage Committee gathering will also

June 16, 2014

[Weekender] An unlikely love affair with Korean music

When time allows, Hilary Finchum-Sung travels to rural villages on Jindo Island, South Jeolla Province, interviewing elderly people and recording songs that they used to sing in kitchens, on farms or during special occasions like funerals. She is on a self-imposed mission to study and preserve a disappearing musical tradition in Korea which its people don’t seem to care much about. “It (the music) is real. It’s not something performed on stage for an audience,” she said, as she sat down for an i

June 13, 2014

Calendar

Pop musicUltra Music Festival Korea: The annual Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s largest outdoor electronica music fests, will be in full swing in Seoul once again. Last summer’s event drew more than 80,000 EDM fans. Like last year, this year’s lineup will include a handful of world famous DJ acts including Steve Aoki, Above & Beyond, Steve Angello and Paul van Dyk. The festival will host its final event as part of its two-day show on June 14 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Stadium Compl

June 13, 2014

Big Bang’s Taeyang 112th on Billboard 200 with album “Rise”

Taeyang, a member of K-pop band Big Bang, landed on the Billboard 200 chart on Friday with his new album “Rise.” (YG Entertainment)“Rise” placed No. 112 on the chart, surpassing all the Korean male singers who have made it to the chart before him. Earlier, “Overdose” by the subunit of idol group EXO, EXO-K, was No. 129, the previous highest ranking for a Korean singer.Taeyang also placed first on both the Billboard World Albums Chart, which ranks albums in terms of sales in non-English speaking

June 13, 2014

Culture Ministry seeks to revitalize arts scene after Sewol disaster

Korea’s performing arts scene suffered a major blow when the ferry Sewol sank in April with over 300 people trapped inside. Concerts, musicals and various other stage performances were canceled, postponed or scaled down, as the nation mourned. Even those who avoided such a fate struggled with low ticket sales. About two months after the disaster, the country is slowly returning to pre-Sewol normalcy, but many artists are still grappling with financial hardship and a bitter taste of the reality o

June 12, 2014

[Herald Interview] Kicking an old habit

On March 23, the Cultural Heritage Administration held a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of its foundation. Instead of festive celebrations, the state-run body marked the occasion with a solemn oath that it would change the way it has been working. For Rha Sun-hwa, the CHA’s chief since January, it felt like the end of a chapter ― one that has been brutally tough on her and her staff ― and the beginning of a new one. “The past five months (leading up to the anniversary) was like a ceaseles

June 10, 2014

[Art of Diplomacy] Envoy puts Indonesia on art world map

This is the second in a series of articles in which foreign envoys to South Korea show the art of their countries displayed in their homes. ― Ed.It is no accident that guests visiting the residence of the Indonesian ambassador here are greeted by art works from some the most sought-after East Asian artists.Signature works by South Korea’s Park Sae-bo, Indonesia’s Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo ― who was one of the hottest artists last year in April at a Sothby’s auction in Hong Kong ― and Yue Minjun o

June 4, 2014

Forum to discuss women’s leadership

Women leaders in media, fashion and culture will talk about women’s leadership and style at the Beautiful Women Conference, scheduled for June 13-14 in Seoul. The conference, in its second year, will bring seven figures from media, fashion, makeup, interior design and classical music, who will give tips on enriching life as well as leadership among women. The conference will be held at Auditorium at Coex, Samseong-dong, Seoul. The invited speakers are Sohn Ji-ae, former president and CEO of Arir

June 2, 2014