Most Popular
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Torrential rainfall forces 1,500 to evacuate, causes widespread damage to homes, roads
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Over 82,000 Korean young people unemployed, not searching for job long-term
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40% of Korea's workers who reported bullying faced retaliation: survey
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[KH Explains] Can smart chargers ease tensions over EV fires?
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600 evacuated as heavy rain floods roads, homes in southern regions
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1 in 5 households to have breadwinner over 80 in 30 years
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New Fifty Fifty off to strong start
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[Weekender] Young Koreans more open to Japanese cultural products
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Evicted guest burns down inn; 3 killed
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Assembly to review disputed appointment of national soccer team coach
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Park Bo-ram on way to being ‘Celepretty’
Singer Park Bo-ram dropped her first EP “Celepretty” on Thursday.After making a splash on the star discovery program “Superstar K2,” 21-year-old Park made her official debut last August with the single “Beautiful” featuring Zico of Block B.The song made waves for its autobiographical story of a girl who became beautiful through a hard diet ― Park herself lost 32 kilograms while preparing her first release. Her new medium-tempo title track “Celepretty” continues the true-story theme. The lyrics a
April 24, 2015
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Barbed wires become canvas for art
PAJU, Gyeonggi Province ― Just a few kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone runs a long line of barbed wire fences, separating the rice fields in the south and no-man’s land in the north. Imjingang River also crosses the world’s most fortified border between South and North Korea. It is a tense and hostile area, with a man shot to death trying to cross to the Nouth in September 2013. In this area, a white signpost reads “Hello” in Korean on both sides. Looking alien in its surroundings, the
April 23, 2015
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Namolla Family bringing more than just laughter with ‘Hot Show 2’
The saying “laughter is the best medicine” may just be an old adage to some, but to entertainers Kim Kyoung-wook, Kim Tae-hwan and Ko Jang-whan of comedy trio Namolla Family, it’s a line that sums up their philosophy of life. In fact, they go even further to say that “a world without laughter is a world not worth living.”Following the success of “Namolla Family Hot Show 1,” a live variety show held in the trendy performance hot spot of Seoul’s Daehangno last year, the comedians are back with the
April 23, 2015
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Soprano Hong Hei-kyung to return to local opera stage
Having enjoyed more than three decades at the top of the international opera scene, New York Metropolitan Opera veteran and local soprano icon Hong Hei-kyung has her eyes set on Mozart, rather than retirement. After debuting with Mozart’s “The Clemency of Titus” at the Met in 1984, Hong is making her return to the Korean operatic stage for the first time in a decade, tackling another Mozart classic, “The Marriage of Figaro,” as the Countess Rosina Almaviva. “Unlike performing a recital, an opera
April 21, 2015
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[Herald Interview] U.K. piano prodigy Grosvenor to hold first concert in Korea
Benjamin Grosvenor is one of the rising stars in today’s international piano scene, but his playing is not like that of any of his contemporary competitors. Called by some the “Golden Age” pianist for his admiration of the 20th-century piano greats, the British musician has publicly displayed his disillusionment with how today’s piano virtuosi play. Benjamin Grosvenor (Decca/Sophie Wright)“The wonderful thing about that (Golden Age) era of pianists is their individuality,” Grosvenor, 22, told Th
April 21, 2015
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Ivan Fischer conducts RCO in homage to Beethoven
Pianist-turned-renowned conductor Ivan Fischer has retaken the helm of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, returning to Seoul to showcase his four-day homage to the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. Noted as one of the most prominent Hungarian conductors of his generation, Fischer is guest conducting the historic RCO, now in its 127th year, for four consecutive nights in Seoul starting Monday at the Seoul Arts Center. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (Simon Van Boxtel/Vincero)“It’s bee
April 20, 2015
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Jo to make West End debut
Musical actor Jo Sang-woong has been cast for the part of Thuy in the West End musical “Miss Saigon.”According to Cameron Mackintosh, the production company behind the musical’s London revival, Jo will be replacing Korean actor Hong Kwang-ho for the part starting May 11. He will be a member of the new cast for the production’s second year at the Prince Edward Theatre in West End. Jo Sang-woong. (Project H)“Miss Saigon” is one of the world’s most successful musicals. It is an adaptation of Puccin
April 20, 2015
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With or without Jobs, Mark Rothko strikes a chord with Koreans
At the Mark Rothko retrospective currently underway in Seoul, Steve Jobs shares the spotlight with the American abstract painter. The introduction wall to the exhibition displays a photo of Rothko (1903-1970) alongside that of the Apple founder (1955-2011), each supplemented by quotes apparently selected to serve a purpose ― linking the spiritual worlds of the two whose life had never crossed. In advertisements and leaflets, Rothko’s paintings are billed as “the paintings that Steve Jobs loved.”
April 19, 2015
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BigBang's 'Fantastic Baby' in Hollywood trailer
A song by the South Korean boy band BigBang has been used in the trailer of the Hollywood comedy film "Pitch Perfect 2," the band's agency said Sunday.Citing a Billboard article published two days ago, YG Entertainment said the featuring of BigBang's 2012 hit "Fantastic Baby," with its Korean verses intact, is a "remarkable" feat.K-pop music has been commonly mentioned or used in U.S. magazines, TV shows, commercials and radio, Billboard reports. But the use of a K-pop act in a film is "yet anot
April 19, 2015
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Singer Rain: no immediate plan to marry
South Korean singer and actor Rain denied a news report on Friday that his marriage with actress Kim Tae-hee is imminent."Unlike what was reported, he has never had a meeting attended by the parents of the two sides and has no detailed plan to marry yet," the singer's agency Cube Entertainment said in a release.Earlier on Friday, an Internet-based daily said, citing close aides to Rain and Kim, that they are preparing to wed within this year as both families approved the marriage.The two admitte
April 17, 2015
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[Weekender] LP designer puts new spin on analog music
The vinyl market in South Korea died out long ago with the emergence of compact discs in the mid-1980s and digital music in the 1990s. Now, music listeners can simply download any song in 10 seconds for a dollar. Still, avid LP record collectors can find jazz greats such as Us3, Herbie Hancock and The John Scofield Band with the phrases “Printed in Korea.” They are designed by a little-known local firm called Khiov Music, headed by an LP addict, Sur Bo-ik, 41.“I felt sad that many good albums ha
April 17, 2015
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Eyelike: Reba McEntire, Randy Bachman, Halestorm
Reba McEntire shines on ‘Love Somebody’Reba McEntire“Love Somebody” (Starstruck/Nash Icon/Big Machine)“Love Somebody” is Reba McEntire’s best album of the 21st century because it draws on her strengths: That is, subtly and powerfully interpreting substantial story songs about adult relationships set to contemporary country music.At 60, the performer remains a remarkable vocalist, capable of stunning ferocity and dramatic nuance. She’s one of the great traditional country singers of her time, but
April 17, 2015
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Venice features emerging Korean artists
The 56th Venice Biennale will begin its seven-month run next month, bringing some of the world’s greatest artists and emerging names to the floating city. More than ever before, this year’s biennale will see a large number of Korean artists displaying their works. In the main exhibition, to be curated by Nigerian biennale director Okwui Enwezor, works by three emerging Korean artists will be included ― the first Korean representation in six years. Artist Moon Kyung-won (left) and Jeon Joon-ho.
April 15, 2015
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KARA to come back next month with new album
South Korean girl group KARA will release their first album in nine months in May, the group's agency said Tuesday.The group will release their seventh EP, the latest album by the group since August when their sixth EP "Mama Mia" hit the market, DSP Media said. The title of the new album and the date of release have yet to be decided, it added."The album will be filled with songs that will best show the more mature aspects of KARA members," the agency said in a release. After the departure of tw
April 14, 2015
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Lim Hun-joung’s new challenge
“Things that do not change are dead.” Conductor Lim Hun-joung said this in passing during a rehearsal last Friday, but it may well be a line that best summarizes his life as a musician and approach to music. The celebrated maestro is known for trying rigorous, forward-looking repertories, including a complete cycle of Mahler symphonies back in 1999, an unprecedented achievement at that time. Now at 61, Lim, who has been trained in Western music composition and conducted orchestras for nearly thr
April 13, 2015
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'Gangnam Style' tops 2.3 bln YouTube views
"Gangnam Style," the mega-hit single by South Korean rapper Psy, has surpassed the 2.3 billion mark in YouTube views nearly three years after it was released, his management agency said Monday.The video hit the 2.3 billion milestone Sunday afternoon, YG Entertainment said.Uploaded on July 15, 2012, "Gangnam Style" topped 100 million views on the 52nd day of its release and 1 billion views on the 161st day. In May last year, it became the first YouTube video to garner 2 billion views.It then hit
April 13, 2015
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[Herald Interview] Exploring humanity through raw, nude ‘Tragedie’
Devoid of clothing, bare, au naturel ― this seems to be the sole cloud hovering in everyone’s mind following French director and choreography Olivier Dubois’ latest contemporary dance production, “Tragedie,” making its Asian premiere over the weekend in Korea. After debuting in France in 2012, the show has now been performed more than 80 times worldwide. The 19-and-older, nonverbal show ― minus the occasional screams and grunts ― held two shows at the Seongnam Arts Center on Friday and Saturday,
April 12, 2015
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Bringing Korean sounds to SXSW
K-pop is no longer limited to idol groups and their synchronized dance moves to upbeat music: The term has broadened to encompass all genres of music from Korea. “You will be surprised to know that Korean rock is very popular in the U.S.,” said Bernie Cho, president of DFSB Kollective, a pioneer in introducing Korean indie music to the United States, during an interview with The Korea Herald on April 6.Having just returned from the U.S. where he had introduced a team of Korean musicians to SXSW
April 10, 2015
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Eye Like: Darius Rucker, Mark Knopfler, Marcus Miller
Rucker shines on 4th country albumDarius Rucker / “Southern Style” / (Capitol Nashville)Darius Rucker’s second career as a country singer shows no signs of slowing down on his new album, “Southern Style.” The lead singer of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has scored three chart-topping solo country albums, spawning six No.1 hits, including the Grammy-winning “Wagon Wheel,” one of the most popular country hits of recent years. “Southern Style” continues to emphasize upbeat, pop-influe
April 10, 2015
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Korean abstract art, past and present
When 27-year-old young art dealer Park Myeong-ja opened her gallery in April 1970, the first response she received from people was how fast she would give up and close the shop. It was a time when even the word “gallery” was unfamiliar to most Koreans. Exhibition view of the Korean abstract painting exhibition that marks the 45th annniversary of Gallery Hyundai. (Gallery Hyundai)“People didn’t know there was such a place where you could view and buy paintings,” Park recalled at a press viewing
April 9, 2015