[Herald Interview] Sociopolitical system observed from a breakfast meal

Artist Lee Wan discovered one day that the ingredients of the bread and carrot juice he had for breakfast came from more than 10 countries. The bread was made with flour from the U.S. and cooking oil from Malaysia, baked in China and sent to Korea. For him, the process was incomprehensible and even seemed inefficient. To understand the complex system behind his breakfast, he thought he had to become part of the process. “I decided to become a producer,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea He

May 22, 2014

Sherlock Holmes is focus of London museum show

LONDON (AP) ― The Museum of London is turning its magnifying glass on the most famous Londoner who never lived ― Sherlock Holmes. The museum on Tuesday announced an exhibition devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian detective, featuring everything from handwritten manuscripts to the coat worn by Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC series “Sherlock.” It’s the first time the history museum has built a show around a fictional character. But Holmes is one of those rare creations who has long outlived

May 22, 2014

Caleb Johnson wins American Idol

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Big-voiced rocker Caleb Johnson is the season 13 “American Idol,” winning the title over teenage pop singer Jena Irene. “This is crazy,” Johnson said after host Ryan Seacrest announced the TV audience’s decision on Wednesday’s season finale of the Fox contest. Johnson, 23, of Asheville, North Carolina, and Irene, 17, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, told each other “you da bomb” before the result was revealed. Runner-up Irene is getting a consolation prize: The two competitors a

May 22, 2014

Ivry Gitlis still perfecting his craft at 91

At 91 years of age, legendary Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis shows no signs of retiring his bow as he has returned to Korea after two decades to perform a special solo concert in Seoul and to conduct two master violin classes. “I don’t remember exactly when it was (when I was last in Korea), but it was anyways the last century,” said Gitlis during a press conference held in Jung-gu on Wednesday. In his nearly nine-decade-long affair with the violin, Gitlis has become one of the most highly decora

May 21, 2014

Chung Kyung-wha is back ― 100%

Violinist Chung Kyung-wha has never felt so good in recent years. With her fingers fully recovered from what was once thought a career-killing injury, she practices for hours a day again, plans concerts around the world and, most importantly, is dreaming again. “It feels so good. My fingers have never been in such good condition before,” Chung said at her home at the foot of Mount Bukhansan, northern Seoul, on Wednesday. A world-acclaimed violinist and sister of conductor Chung Myung-whun and ce

May 21, 2014

Bowie returns to Berlin ― if just for a retrospective

Berlin (AFP) ― David Bowie’s richly creative years in gritty 1970s Berlin, where he made his iconic “Heroes” album, are explored in a new exhibition expanding on last year’s hit London show. Handwritten lyrics with words crossed out for the title track about a couple meeting at the Berlin Wall, a letter he wrote to Marlene Dietrich, and the painting he did that helped him kick a drug habit ― are among some 60 additional items in the Berlin show that reveal the seminal period Bowie spent in the d

May 21, 2014

McCartney cancels Seoul concert

Former bass player of the Beatles Paul McCartney’s first concert in Korea has been canceled due to his health problems, the concert organizer Hyundai Card announced on Wednesday.“Paul McCartney will regrettably have to postpone his forthcoming concert in Seoul, South Korea. After coming down with a virus in Japan, doctors have ordered Paul complete rest. Paul is still not feeling better and this cancellation is unavoidable,” said a spokesperson for Paul McCartney. “All possibilities to reschedul

May 21, 2014

U.S. rapper in ‘tempest in a teapot’ Jewish row

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Grammy-winning U.S. rapper Macklemore has apologized to anyone offended by a stage costume which critics claimed was anti-Semitic.One Jewish group called the row a “tempest in a teacup,” but hailed the apology by the rapper known for his liberal stances on issues including gay marriage.Comedian Seth Rogen took to Twitter to denounce the costume, including a beard and a large hooked nose, worn by the musician at a concert last week.“First you trick people into thinking you’re

May 21, 2014

Paul McCartney‘s Seoul concert likely to be canceled

 Pop legend Paul McCartney’s first concert in Korea may be called off due to health problems, according to news reports Wednesday.(Yonhap)“McCartney’s condition is not getting better as was expected. The concert may be canceled,” Yonhap quoted an unnamed concert management company’s official as saying. The 71-year-old Beatles guitarist had been schedule to perform next Wednesday at the 20th Hyundai Card Super Concert in Seoul. The company will make a decision later in the day whether to change t

May 21, 2014

[Newsmaker] K-pop legend Seo Taiji to return

K-pop legend Seo Taiji will be making a comeback to the local music scene with a new album and a series of concerts after signing with concert organizer Show21, an affiliate of entertainment agency Wellmade Yedang.Seo is slated to release his ninth studio album this fall and team up with Wellmade Yedang to organize a nationwide concert tour, beginning with a performance in Seoul, the entertainment agency said Monday. Seo Taiji Company ― known for successfully launching large-scale music events i

May 20, 2014

‘Madam Ong’ recast as active independent woman

The National Changguek Theater of Korea is presenting “Madame Ong” next month as the third performance of its seven-part changgeuk series in an effort to bring the beauty and uniqueness of traditional Korean performance to the public. Changgeuk is a form of Korean traditional opera, performed as a play in pansori (Korean folk narrative) style. While pansori is performed by a solo singer, changgeuk involves many actors and vocalists, percussion music, and engaging plotlines to fit large theaters

May 20, 2014

[Herald Review] Spring jazz and live music at Seoul Jazz Festival 2014

Under the warm sun, soothing breeze and fresh air, tens of thousands of jazz lovers and music fans enjoyed a diverse range of jazz music and live performances at this year’s Seoul Jazz Festival, held at Olympic Park on Saturday and Sunday.SJF, one of the largest outdoor music festivals of the year, took place at three stages set up throughout the park where big names in the world of jazz, internationally famous musicians and popular local acts performed.The largest and most popular spot at the f

May 19, 2014

Michael Jackson hologram debuts at Billboard Awards

Singer Jason Derulo (bottom center) performs onstage during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)A hologram of Michael Jackson made its debut Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards, mirroring the late King of Pop’s signature slick dance moves as some members of the audience became emotional. The hologram performed “Slave to the Rhythm,” a song from Jackson’s new posthumous album “Xscape,” along with a plethora of background dancers

May 19, 2014

Pop singer Seo Tai-ji to make comeback in fall

Popular veteran singer Seo Tai-ji will return to his fans with a new album in the fall, an entertainment agency said Monday.Wellmade Starm Inc. said Seo has recently signed a contract with its performance planning subsidiary, Show21, for a nationwide concert tour to mark the planned release of his ninth full-length album.The tour is set to begin in Seoul but the exact timing and venues of the shows were not fixed, the company said.The shows are expected to sell more than 10 billion won (US$9.77

May 19, 2014

[Herald Interview] Artistic endeavor to bridge gap on thorny issues

Paintings inspired by the beauty of Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo will be on exhibit at the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza area in August. Given the tension between Korea and Japan over the sovereignty of the rocky islets, the exhibition seems a rather bold move. The artist behind the daring attempt is Jeong Jai-young, 50, who has been painting abstract images of the islets for the last decade. Through his representative Lee Il-young, director of the Korea Art Center, a private gallery in Seoul, t

May 18, 2014

10.5-meter sugar sculpture honors black workers

“A Subtlety or the Marvelous Sugar Baby,” by artist Kara Walker, is on display inside the former Domino Sugar Refinery, located in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)NEW YORK (AP) ― A 10.5-meter-tall sphinxlike sculpture made of sugar is on display at an old New York City factory as a tribute to black workers. Artist Kara Walker’s monumental installation occupies much of the cavernous interior of the former Domino Sugar Refinery in the Williamsburg section

May 18, 2014