Artday app adds culture to smartphones

English version of popular application to be released by the end of FebruaryThe mobile art application artday is increasingly popular among both Android and Apple smartphone users, on the back of its provision of extensive information about local art exhibitions, discount coupons for art cafes and products, and objective user reviews.A screen shot of exhibition information from “artday” app on an

Jan. 6, 2011

Far East Movement breaks new ground for Asian-American rap

SEATTLE ― You can’t escape the song.“Like a G6” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is still riding high at No. 14. The song is by the Far East Movement, reportedly the first Asian-American group to reach the No. 1 spot.“We don’t feel like we deserve (to top) any type of list,” said Kevin Nishimura, aka Kev Nish. “So many people have come before us and broken down the door. We are just honored

Jan. 5, 2011

Sheriff wants Lohan charged with battery

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Sheriff’s investigators want Lindsay Lohan charged with battery for last month’s skirmish with a Betty Ford Center rehabilitation technician.A two-week investigation shows the 24-year-old actress violated her probation during the altercation and details will be sent to the Los Angeles County Probation Department this week, Riverside sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Borja said. Lindsay Lohan.

Jan. 5, 2011

Perez Hilton calls TVXQ music video “too hot to handle”

Gossip blogger Perez Hilton called TVXQ’s newly released music video “too hot to handle” on his blog (Perezhilton.com) on Monday.Hilton has been following new K-Pop songs on his blog, each titled “K-Pop Fierceness,” “K-Pop Deliciousness” and “New 2NE1.” (perezhilton.com)Perezhilton.com has been selected by Billboard as one of the best ways for an artist’s music to get attention. The blog was ranke

Jan. 5, 2011

English book chronicles Korea’s court dances

Korea Foundation translates book by master Lee Heung-guAmong many intangible cultural assets of Korea, traditional court dance “Jeongjae” has a long history. From the Three Kingdoms period (37 B.C. 668 AD) to Goryeo (918 1392) and Joseon (1392 1910) dynasties, the dance moves carried traditions and values of the Korean royal culture.Korea Foundation’s newly released book, “Korean Court Dance: As S

Jan. 4, 2011

Oscar-nominated star Postlethwaite dies at 64

LONDON (AP) ― He could have stayed in teaching. That’s what his parents wanted: it was the safe, secure route for a young man with working-class roots and a face few would describe as handsome.But Pete Postlethwaite wanted more. He wanted to pursue his passion for acting and, at 24, he left teaching to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theater. His parents remained skeptical, but when he was introduced

Jan. 4, 2011

Yun to head LG Arts Center

LG Arts Center said Tuesday Yun Yuh-soon, senior vice president of LG Academy in Incheon, has been appointed new CEO of LG Arts Center in southern Seoul, as of Jan. 1.Yu is known to Koreans as the first woman to become an executive in LG in 2000. She contributed to the development of “e-learning system” LG Cyber Academy in 1998, according to LG Arts Center. Yun Yuh-woon, CEO of LG Arts CenterShe h

Jan. 4, 2011

Hallyu stars take first stab at rom-com

Hallyu stars Kim Tae-hee and Song Seung-heon have teamed up for the first time to bring television audiences a powder puff-romance about a college girl-turned-princess and her tutor. 　Titled “My Princess,” the new Wednesday and Thursday night miniseries is slated to air on MBC starting Jan. 5. 　For viewers, the upcoming drama may be just another romantic comedy; but for Kim and Song, “My Princess”

Jan. 4, 2011

Concerts to blast away the cobwebs

Ruichi Sakamoto, Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra to stage unusual performancesArdent classical concertgoers may find it easy to keep awake during a classical concert in the evening, even after a long day of hard work and a series of self-reminders not to make any noise louder than breathing.However, those less schooled in concert etiquette might secretly admit that they have at one time unintent

Jan. 3, 2011

Pin-point treatment casts a wider net with group acupuncture

Constant headaches and migraines had Diana Schulin considering acupuncture, but she found herself tensing at the thought of sitting alone in a room while being poked by a dozen needles.She finally took the plunge, and she’s glad she did. The needles remain. But at least now she has company.The health care information worker is among a small but growing number of people experiencing the ancient Asi

Jan. 3, 2011

Kids’ crafts: Chill out indoors with cute penguin

I admit that I am confused.For years I’ve read about the effects of global warming. If the Earth is warming, why are we experiencing frigid arctic blasts even before winter’s official starting date this year?Winter weather has gripped most of the United States in the last couple of weeks. To blame the unusual weather on global warming seems like a contradiction, but that is what scientists think i

Jan. 3, 2011

Actor Jeoung Jun-ho in relationship with MBC anchorwoman

Korean actor Jeoung Jun-ho was reported to be in a relationship with MBC anchorwoman Lee Ha-jung, MBC entertainment news program “Section TV Entertainment News” reported Sunday. The focus was whether the 42-year-old actor would tie the knot this year. MBC anchorwoman Lee, 33, said in the interview that she and Jung get along well but at the moment there is nothing to say about the relationship. Sh

Jan. 3, 2011

A critic fumes online as ‘The Last Godfather’ reigns

Well-known cultural critic Chin Jung-kwon does not hesitate to speak out on sensitive issues. His aggressive style is now clashing with moviegoers over the new comedy “The Last Godfather,” directed by comedian Shim Hyung-rae. The dispute is currently raging throughout blogs, Twitter accounts and news outlets, but the heart of the matter is rather simple. (Yonhap News)Chin stated via Twitter that h

Jan. 3, 2011

Soompi.com shows Hallyu where to go

Soompi.com is the world’s biggest English-language online community dedicated to Korean pop culture. It boasts some 1.4 million visitors daily. More importantly, 90 percent of its members are non-Koreans. The website is widely regarded as a promising social network venture that has secured a solid user base on the strength of Korean cultural content. Softbank of Japan has already invested in Soomp

Jan. 3, 2011

Rabbits hop into 2011 art scenes

Cautiously yet wisely, rabbits are hopping into Korea’s art scenes to celebrate the beginning of 2011, the Year of Rabbit on the Chinese Zodiac. For art insiders, though, the appearance of the fuzzy and adorable animal is timely for another reason: It has been one of the most distinguished symbols of contemporary art since German artist Joseph Beuys showcased a performance titled “How to Explain P

Jan. 2, 2011

From farmland to new center of Seoul

Exhibition looks back at 40 years of Gangnam developmentPacked with high-priced apartments, prestigious schools, corporate banks, nightclubs and plastic surgery clinics, Gangnam was nothing more than farmland just 40 years ago.The Seoul Museum of History’s newly launched exhibition, “40 Years of Gangnam, Exponential Growth,” follows the dramatic developmental change of the present-day metropolitan

Jan. 2, 2011

Korean actress Lee Na-young and Daniel Henney rumored to be dating

From left are Rain, Lee Na-young and Daniel Henney, shown at a press conference for the KBS drama “Fugitive Plan B” at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Sogong-dong. (Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald)Korean actress Lee Na-Young and actor Daniel Henney, who recently starred together in the KBS 2TV drama “Fugitive Plan B,” are rumored to be dating.　The recent rumor was sparked by a news article from Sports Seoul,

Jan. 2, 2011