Ha Jung-woo puts new painting up for auction

Actor and film director Ha Jung-woo has put up his painting “Keep Silence” for auction, art auctioneer I Auction announced Wednesday.　The auctioneer described Ha’s works as an outlandish and humorous depiction of the conflict between oneself and the character he or she plays, adding that it evokes pop art and expressionism.　The auctioneer estimated the value of Ha’s work to range from 13 million won ($ 10,647) to 25 million won.  Actor Ha Jung-woo‘s painting “Keep Silence” (I Auction)　Ha’s paint

March 3, 2016

Lee Seung-gi releases digital single in Army

Lee Seung-gi, an actor and K-pop singer currently serving his compulsory military service, released digital single “Meet Someone Like Me” at noon on Thursday.　The new single is the last song that Lee recorded before joining the Army, and was produced by Psy, Lee’s agency Hook Entertainment said Wednesday. Psy presented the song to Lee in appreciation for his surprise guest appearance at his solo concert in December, the agency added.　Lee and Psy have known each other for 12 years, since they fir

March 3, 2016

[Herald Review] Choi shines as Korean-American adoptee in ‘Airport Baby’ musical

A young Korean-American adoptee returns home for the first time in desperate search for his birth mother. 　For musical director, conductor and actress Kolleen Park, the plot of her latest musical production “Airport Baby” may seem like an all-too-familiar tale. But add local musical actor Choi Jae-rim to the mix and the result is an unexpectedly moving portrayal of a troubled young soul. A scene from director Kolleen Park’s lastest musical production, “Airport Baby,” which is being staged until

March 3, 2016

Roberto Alagna steps in to rescue Puccini's 'Manon Lescaut'

NEW YORK (AP) -- Roberto Alagna says he always makes a point of stepping forward after a performance to shake hands with the prompter. Never has he had more reason than in his current run of "Manon Lescaut" at the Metropolitan Opera.　When tenor Jonas Kaufmann announced he was canceling because of illness less than three weeks before opening night, the Met turned to Alagna to star in Puccini's opera as the Chevalier des Grieux, a student who falls hopelessly in love with the flirtatious Manon.　On

March 2, 2016

TIMF 2016 all about ‘Sounds of Tomorrow’

Following last year’s Tongyeong International Music Festival, which paid homage to the 20th anniversary of late composer Isang Yun’s death through the theme of “Voyage,” this year’s theme of “Sounds of Tomorrow” is all about looking forward. “The meaning behind this year’s theme is that it is all about new music, new compositions, pieces that have never been or are rarely heard these days,” said TIMF CEO Florian Riem, in a phone interview with The Korea Herald on Tuesday. The Tongyeong Internati

March 1, 2016

Hip-hop, rap take top trophies at KMAs

Hip-hop and rap showed their strength at the 13th Korean Music Awards held Monday at the Guro Arts Valley Theatre in Seoul.Rapper E Sens was the most surprising win of the night, grabbing album of the year for last year‘s “The Anecdote.” The largely autobiographical 10-track album was received with enthusiasm by both rap fans and critics alike, despite the artist being imprisoned for illegal drug use. E Sens is due to be released in October. “The Anecdote” also won best rap and hip-hop album hon

March 1, 2016

NY dance company claims China pressure behind canceled show

Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based Chinese dance company that was scheduled to perform at Seoul‘s KBS Hall from May 6-8, claims that the Chinese government had a hand in the cancellation of its upcoming Seoul show.  “KBS canceled the rental contract (with us), citing an illogical reason, and we soon found out it was not its voluntary decision, but because of pressure from the Chinese Embassy,” said Lee Chang-sik, head of New Cosmos Media, in charge of promoting and marketing Shen Yun Per

March 1, 2016

The Korea Galleries Art Fair attempts greater accessibility

The Korea Galleries Art Fair, an annual local art fair is set to begin Wednesday, bringing together major art galleries in Korea.　The 34th art fair will start Wednesday with a VIP preview event open exclusively to selected clients of participating galleries. It will be open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, showcasing some 2,500 works of art by 500 local and international artists represented by 89 major Korean galleries, including Kukje Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Hakgojae and Arario Gallery.

Feb. 29, 2016

AOA’s Jimin to release single with EXO’s Xiumin

Rapper Jimin of girl group AOA will reveal her first joint single with EXO’s Xiumin on Thursday.Her agency FNC Entertainment confirmed that Xiumin participated in featuring the song, titled “#OOTD,” named after a widely used hashtag on social media that stands for “outfit of the day.”(FNC Entertainment)The song portrays the emotions of lovers in their teens and 20s and has an upbeat tempo.Moreover, her high pitched rapping is in perfect harmony with Xiumin’s captivating singing.The 25-year-old r

Feb. 28, 2016

Rare Giotto copy emerges from Transylvanian church ruins

A jewel among the wild grass? A Hungarian historian is convinced that patches of fresco in a Transylvanian church ruin are a rare medieval copy of a legendary masterpiece by Italian maestro Giotto.The fragments found deep in the Romanian region are part of a 14th-century fresco reproduction of Giotto’s “Navicella” mosaic that used to adorn St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Szilard Papp told AFP in Budapest last week.Only three other 14th-century copies of the work, depicting Christ walking on water

Feb. 28, 2016

NYC museum to ‘suggest’ $25 ticket, rather than ‘recommend’

The pay-what-you-like policy at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be spelled out more clearly under a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that challenged the museum’s $25 “recommended” admission.Under the settlement reached Friday, the $25 ticket price will be “suggested” instead of “recommended.” In addition, signs will advise visitors that, “The amount you pay is up to you.”Andrew Celli Jr., a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said Saturday that the new signage “really opens up the museum t

Feb. 28, 2016

Yoon Mi-rae releases ‘Because of You’

Singer and rapper Yoon Mi-rae released at midnight Thursday, a digital single “Because of You” as the third artiste to participate in S.M. Entertainment’s Station project, announced S.M. Entertainment.　In a gentle and soulful voice, Yoon sings “Because of You,” a ballad featuring a love story between family members, friends, and romantic partners. The song is produced by Kenzie and Matthew Tishler who also composed Taeyeon’s “Rain” and EXO’s “Sing For You.” Promotional image of Yoon Mi-rae’s dig

Feb. 26, 2016