Universal Ballet celebrates 35th anniversary with signature reinventions of classical tales

The Universal Ballet Company will reintroduce its popular Korean classics, “Shim Chung” and “The Love of Chunhyang,” in October in celebration of the company’s 35th anniversary.“The Love of Chunhyang” runs Oct. 4-6, followed by “Shim Chung” Oct. 11-13, both at the Seoul Arts Center. “I am very happy to reintroduce ‘Shim Chung’ and ‘The Love of Chunhyang,’ which have played important roles in promoting Korea&rsquo

Aug. 18, 2019

Actress Ku Hye-sun, actor Ahn Jae-hyun may divorce

Actress Ku Hye-sun and actor Ahn Jae-hyun could become yet another high-profile Korean couple whose marriage ends in divorce.On Sunday, the actress shared a post that hinted at the end of her marriage with Ahn. In the post that included a private message with Ahn, Ku wrote that she had lost faith in her husband. HB Entertainment, which represents both Ku and Ahn, announced Sunday that the two have agreed to start divorce proceedings.However, Ku has refuted the statement, saying she has not come

Aug. 18, 2019

Serial version of latest BTS doc, 'Bring the Soul,' to hit mobile app

"Bring the Soul: The Movie," the latest documentary film featuring global band BTS, will be released in a new mobile version this month on an application for BTS fans, the band's management agency said Friday.The first of the six episodes of the mobile version, "Bring the Soul: Docu-Series," will hit the Weverse mobile application's BTS category for paid service on Aug. 27, Big Hit Entertainment said. The remaining five episodes will be released every Tuesday one by one till

Aug. 16, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw(US)Opened Aug.14Action, Adventure Directed by David Leitch Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever, these two sworn enemies

Aug. 16, 2019

Chinese-speaking K-pop stars side with mainland China against protesters

As Hong Kong citizens intensify their protests against a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, Chinese-speaking K-pop stars are showing their support for the “One China” policy via social media.Lay of EXO ended a modeling contract with Samsung Electronics because, according to the agency representing him in China, the company’s global website does not adhere to the policy, which holds that the territories of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao belong to the state of Chi

Aug. 15, 2019

Nation-led dance company’s Swing-styled contemporary dance to rerun

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will stage its production “Swing” between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at Seoul Arts Center.“Swing” is a contemporary dance piece of the state-run dance company’s Director Ahn Sung-soo. It had its premiere in April last year and received a positive response.  “Swing,” an hourlong performance, features Ahn’s swing-styled choreography in which he has also combined different types of movements, like the ones y

Aug. 15, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Jesters: The Game Changers’ yield disappointing results, despite intriguing setup

In the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, defending champion Josh Smith put down tape well-beyond the free-throw line to indicate that he would jump from there. Had he succeeded in doing so, the leap would have been an unimaginable feat. His jump, however, was well inside the tape, to the dismay and confusion of the frenzied crowd. To me, the disappointment brought by director Kim Ju-ho’s “Jesters: The Game Changers” was like Smith’s weird bluff. The period piece had pumped up e

Aug. 15, 2019

[Herald Interview] Percussion is more than beats and rhythms

To be a solo percussionist is an unusual career choice, as percussionists are usually a part of a larger team such as an orchestra or band. But Lee Hyun-gi is carving out a successful career as a solo percussionist based in London, and she plays a variety of instruments -- not just the drums but also the vibraphone and her specialty, the marimba, an instrument featuring a set of wooden bars that the player strikes with a pair of rubber mallets.“People are unfamiliar with percussion instrum

Aug. 13, 2019

Mouthy ‘nightlife expert’ sniffs out drug scandal ‘By Quantum Physics’

“By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture,” a story about an enormous drug scandal at a nightclub that involves big names, was not actually inspired by the “Burning Sun” drug scandal.“The first draft was written in 2016, and we learned of the (Burning Sun) incident while we were editing the film,” said director Lee Sung-tae, on his upcoming crime movie. “I actually thought I should change that part (about doing drugs in clubs) after one of our young staff

Aug. 13, 2019

Song Kang-ho honored with Excellence Award from Swiss film fest

South Korean actor Song Kang-ho has been awarded the Excellence Award at this year's Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, the organizers said Tuesday.Song became the first Asian actor to earn the Swiss film fest's special award that goes to actors or actresses whose work and talent have contributed to enriching the cinema industry.Internationally acclaimed silver-screen stars like Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Edward Norton, Bill Pullman and Ethan Hawke are among the past laurea

Aug. 13, 2019

Rain fails to put out the heat at Pentaport Rock Festival

Wrapping up three days of festivities, Weezer took the stage at Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2019 on Sunday at around 10 p.m. As the crowd rocked on to the US band’s “Perfect Situation,” the downpour blew out the generator and the music stopped.The 10-minute delay did not put out the fire for the frenzied crowd, and many continued to rock on as the band played songs including “Africa,” “Happy Together” and “Island in the Sun.”Nasty weather

Aug. 12, 2019

YouTuber fined W5m for ‘misleading advertising’ of diet products

A YouTuber with millions of followers was fined 5 million won ($4,100) Monday for false advertising of food products. Food content YouTuber Jung Man-su, who goes by the name Banzz online, was fined for falsely promoting the weight-loss effects of his products, according to Daejeon District Court. Eat4U, a health food company Jeong launched in March 2017, marketed its products as diet aids in a misleading ad, according to prosecutors.Judges said the ad, which ran for about three months on social

Aug. 12, 2019

BTS announces long-term break from music scene after back-to-back album releases

K-pop super stars BTS went on a long-term break to recharge themselves following the band's Billboard-topping back-to-back album releases, its management agency said Monday. "Group BTS will have its first official long-term vacation since its debut," Bit Hit Entertainment said on the band's Twitter account and mobile fan application late Sunday.The break kicked off the same day following the band's performance at the 2019 Lotte Duty Free Family Concert earlier in the day.  "T

Aug. 12, 2019

BTS' 'Boy With Luv' hits 500m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' "Boy With Luv" surpassed 500 million YouTube views Sunday, its management agency said. The video of the band's main song on the "Map of the Soul: Persona" album released in April, eclipsed the mark earlier in the day, some four months after it went on sale, according to Big Hit Entertainment.  That makes BTS the first South Korean singers with over 5 million YouTube hits for each of its seven music videos, including those of "

Aug. 11, 2019

Music in PyeongChang wraps up 11-day run

The 16th Music in PyeongChang event, also known as the Great Mountains Music Festival, finished its 11-day run Saturday.The finale concert, “Happily Ever After,” took place in the Alpensia Music Tent, with the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra taking the stage under the baton of conductor Pablo Gonzalez. The summer music festival, titled “A Different Story,” kicked off July 31 in the Olympic city of PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. The presentation marked the 210th annive

Aug. 11, 2019

Wesley Snipes to visit Korea for action film festival

The ’90s action film icon Wesley Snipes will visit South Korea on Aug. 26 to attend the opening ceremony for the Chungbuk International Martial Arts and Action Film Festival, according to the organizers.Snipes will be accompanied by stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Chuck Jeffreys, with whom he has worked previously. The two will attend a press conference in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Aug. 29, and will attend the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. the same day. The actor will als

Aug. 11, 2019

BTS' V releases solo song in English

V, a member of the globally celebrated K-pop boy band BTS, released his English solo song "Winter Bear" on Saturday. The new song was put up on BTS' official social media for free download, along with a music video.V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, composed the song with producers of his agency Big Hit Entertainment and wrote the lyrics for the new release.It is V's first English-written song following his first self-created Korean song, "Scenery," in Jan.RM, the leader of

Aug. 11, 2019

BTS' 'DNA' music video hits 800m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop super band BTS' hit song "DNA" surpassed 800 million YouTube views Saturday, the band's first music video to accomplish the feat.The video of "DNA," the main track off the boy group's EP "Love Yourself:Her" released in September 2017, passed the threshold at 6:29 a.m., according to Big Hit Entertainment. It is the septet's first music video with 800 million views, following five videos with 500 million clicks, including "Fire" and

Aug. 11, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Exit(Korea)Opened July 31Action, ComedyDirected by Lee Sang-geunYong-nam (Jo Jung-suk) is a young man struggling in the job market with no real marketable skills. At his mother’s 70th birthday party, he runs into Ui-ju (Im Yoon-ah), an old crush from his college rock-climbing club. Then, a terrorist attack in a nearby building forces Yong-nam to act so he can get the family to safety.The Battle: Roar to Victory(Korea)Opened Aug. 7Action, Drama, HistoryDirected by Won Sin-yeonIn Manchuria,

Aug. 8, 2019

‘Tazza: One Eyed Jack’ to cap off gambling trilogy with poker

The “Tazza” trilogy, a movie adaptation of the popular gambling comic book series of the same name, will conclude next month with the opening of its third film, “Tazza: One Eyed Jack.”Director Kwon Oh-Kwang and the cast took part in a press conference to promote the film in Seoul on Thursday. Unlike the first two films, which dabbled in the Asian card game hwatu, the third is about poker. The “one-eyed jack” in the title can refer either to the jack of spades

Aug. 8, 2019