Travis returning to Korea for Seoul concert

Scottish rock band Travis is making its return to Korea, putting on its first solo concert in Seoul in five years with a live performance at the Olympic Hall in March. Led by Fran Healy on vocals, Travis formed in the early 1990s in Glasgow, and made a name for itself as one of the most well-respected rock bands from the U.K. Although Travis has always seemed to skirt away from the main spotlight, the rockers are still often credited for having influenced iconic British bands such as Coldplay an

Jan. 5, 2014

Uncovering the meaning of art and beauty

The office floor of Kim Chang-il, chairman of Arario Group, is strewn with artworks like a statement of his life as an art lover. Four stuffed deer studded with glass balls, an artwork of Japanese artist Kohei Nawa, greet visitors. Then the onlooker’s gaze is naturally drawn to a large photograph hanging in the reception room, and then to more photographs and paintings in other rooms, all of them seen through glass walls. Kim, 63, who boasts a number of occupations ― a businessman, an art collec

Jan. 3, 2014

Eyelike: Bieber looks to shed his ‘Baby’ image

 Bieber looks to shed his ‘Baby’ imageJustin Bieber“Journals”Island Def Jam/UniversalThe Canadian teen pop sensation has dropped his latest studio album, looking to put his “Baby” days behind him by upping the sexual innuendo in his new 15-track album “Journals.” The 19-year-old pop star is shying away from the cutesy pop songs of his first album and energetic electro beats of his previous album “Believe” and is showing a bit of maturity in his move to more R&B-inspired tunes. His new album has

Jan. 3, 2014

From Judas to Clyde to Ken: Han Ji-sang evolves

Those who have seen actor Han Ji-sang on stage, especially as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” or the wacky hero in “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” would be surprised to discover that Han calls himself an “extreme introvert.”“One of the things that I hated the most while attending a theater school was having to give a speech about myself,” Han said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, Friday. “I simply did not know what to say. It would be just really awkward. I find it very challenging to

Jan. 2, 2014

Traditional dance troupe goes experimental

The National Dance Company of Korea is keeping up its efforts to reinvent its performances by making them more approachable and new.Following last year’s “Scent of Ink,” its collaboration with celebrated fashion designer Jung Ku-ho, the troupe ― known for specializing in traditional Korean dance ― is showcasing three experimental projects this month.“Scent of Ink” was a tasteful, modern interpretation of traditional dance, featuring the “four noble ones,” the four plants believed to epitomize Ko

Jan. 2, 2014

Brave Brothers to celebrate decade anniversary with 10 monthly releases

Rapper and record producer Kang Dong-chul ― best known by his stage name Brave Brothers ― has announced that he will be releasing a special collaborative album in commemoration of his 10th anniversary of his debut. As one of the country’s most famed producers, Brave Brothers has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and is behind some of K-pop’s biggest hits including Lexy’s “Wipe My Tears And Put On Make Up;” Big Bang’s “Last Farwell;” Son Dam-bi’s “Crazy” and “Saturday Night;”

Jan. 2, 2014

Rain says his girlfriend Kim tae-hee is rock

Actor and singer Rain expressed his fondness toward his girlfriend, actress Kim Tae-hee, in a recent interview. “My girlfriend is someone I can rely on and trust when I am down,” said the 32-year-old star, who just released his 6th album, titled “Rain Effect,” on Thursday.“We are on good terms, but we cannot go on dates frequently as both of us are too busy. We are keeping in contact by phone.”He drew a clear line between love and work, however. “I don’t want love to be mixed with work. I don’t

Jan. 2, 2014

Despite lackluster results, K-pop continues collaborations

With news earlier in the year of Psy’s collaboration with American rock legend Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as well as local rap star G-Dragon’s announcement that he had indeed recorded a track with international pop superstar Justin Bieber, it appears as though K-pop artists are looking to expand their presence in the international music realm and continue to snatch any collaborative opportunities that come their way. In August, Big Bang leader G-Dragon released his second solo album, “Coup d’etat

Dec. 30, 2013

Carly Rae Jepsen heads to Broadway next year

NEW YORK (AP) ― “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen has had her calls returned by Broadway.Producers of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” said Sunday that the Canadian singer-songwriter will take over the role of Cinderella starting Feb. 4 for 12 weeks. She’ll take over from Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes.The Grammy Award nominee began performing in musical theater in high school. She starred in “Annie,” “The Wiz” and “Grease” before attending the Canadian College of Performing Arts.She’l

Dec. 30, 2013

Stars and families in Annie Leibovitz’s viewfinder

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is one of the rare photographers who can capture an ordinary moment in the middle of a dramatic setting, or the other way around. The photograph of the naked John Lennon cuddling with his wife Yoko Ono, taken three hours before he was assassinated in 1980, was printed on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and became an instant sensation because of its unusual composition and striking message. Thirty-three years later, Leibovitz has became the queen of portrait photo

Dec. 29, 2013

New York stage actor makes Met debut

NEW YORK (AP) ― For longtime Broadway actor Danny Burstein, the big challenge in preparing for his Metropolitan Opera debut has been “trying to find the funny.”Burstein will play the non-singing role of the drunken jailer Frosch in the Met’s new production of Johann Strauss’s operetta “Die Fledermaus,” which opens on New Year’s Eve and runs through Feb. 22.Some might consider it an unenviable assignment. Frosch doesn’t appear until Act 3 and then has to hold the stage alone while delivering a mo

Dec. 29, 2013

Untouchable calls return to hip-hop ‘a long trip’

This is the 21st and last article in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. ― Ed. Sleepy, 29, and D-Action, 28, of hip-hop duo Untouchable said they feel like they’ve been on a long trip. Upon completing their mandatory military service in May, they went straight to work on their latest EP, “Trip,” released on Nov. 11.“After serving in the military, we were back to square one on making new music and continuing with our career. It made us thin

Dec. 29, 2013

EXO album sells 1m copies, 1st in 12 years

The monster newbies of EXO are continuing to pile on to the group’s endless list of accomplishments as one of the nation’s most popular boy bands and have become the first in 12 years to enter into the elite “1 million club,” selling more than a million copies of “XOXO (Kiss & Hug),” its debut album.According to a statement released by SM Entertainment, as of Friday EXO had sold approximately 471,570 copies of “XOXO (Kiss & Hug),” which was released in June, and around 536,007 copies of the grou

Dec. 27, 2013

TVXQ celebrates 10th anniversary

Thursday marked 10 years since the then five-member group TVXQ made its official entrance into the K-pop scene, performing the single “Hug” on a TV showcase for BoA and Britney Spears. The two remaining members of TVXQ reminisced about their most memorable moments during a press conference held at the Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, hours before taking the stage for an anniversary concert. “In the 10 years that we have been holding concerts in Korea and Japan, we have been told tha

Dec. 27, 2013

Record-breaking work displayed at Portland museum

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) ― The most expensive artwork ever sold at auction is on display at the Portland Art Museum.In New York last month, an anonymous collector paid more than $142 million for the “Three Studies of Lucian Freud,” a 1969 triptych by Francis Bacon. The museum is exhibiting the work for three months before it heads to the owner’s private collection.Two drivers transported the panels across the country, ensuring the climate-controlled truck was always on the move and never left alone

Dec. 26, 2013

Deulgukhwa to split after drummer’s death

The legendary rock group Deulgukhwa, dubbed the Beatles of Korea, has reportedly decided to disband, just one year after reuniting with a sold-out concert series.The death of drummer Joo Chan-gwon earlier this year is seen to have played a major role in the band breaking up, insiders said. According to sources, the band, originally with three members but now consisting of lead vocalist Jun In-kwon and bassist Choi Sung-won, has been under great stress since Joo’s sudden death in October. Joo, co

Dec. 26, 2013

Korean galleries bet again on Chinese art market

It was ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics when the Korean galleries’ ambitions for entering the Chinese art market were at their highest. From 2005, major Korean galleries flocked to China in search of big spenders and potential buyers in the booming art market. The reality was different. Galleries struggled to make ends meet with skyrocketing rent, complex shipping processes and different art-market dynamics. Now Pyo Gallery 798 remains the sole Korean gallery in Beijing, once a hopeful place f

Dec. 25, 2013

Debbie Allen’s twist on ‘The Nutcracker’ wins

NEW YORK (AP) ― It’s not yet Christmas, but Debbie Allen has already gotten a nice present ― the Goldstar National Nutcracker Award.The ticket discounter has declared the award-winning director and choreographer’s school the winner of the 7th annual contest that crowns the best version of “The Nutcracker” in the land. The Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s show, “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” that was mounted earlier this month in Los Angeles, beat out nearly 60 other productions of “The Nutcracker.”

Dec. 25, 2013