A scene from the Stuttgart Ballet company‘s performance of “Bite” (K-Ballet World)Inviting 32 dance teams from eight countries, this year’s K-Ballet World festival is gearing up to take center stage Aug. 15-28, highlighting both contemporary and classic dance movements. “The theme that we try to uphold every year with the K-Ballet World is to introduce Korean ballet to the world and world ballet to Korea,” said Kim In-sook, head of the Korea Ballet Association, during a press conference held i

Performance July 30, 2015

Exterior view of the Kensington Jeju Hotel in Seogwipo, Jejudo Island. (Kensington Jeju Hotel)Nestled right in the mix of Jejudo Island’s most luxurious resorts -- Lotte, Shilla and the Hyatt -- is the newly established Kensington Jeju Hotel on the picturesque coast of Seogwipo. The nautical themed resort meets all the standards and quality services of its neighboring brands, however, with the property being relatively smaller, Kensington guests can bask in all its 4-star bliss in a more intimat

Travel July 29, 2015

A scene from this year‘s Ansan M Valley Rock Festival, held from July 24 - 26 at the Daebu Sea Breeze Theme Park in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. (CJ E&M)Despite hordes of unrelenting mosquitoes descending on a crowd sweating bullets in the steaming humidity and losing shoes traipsing through the damp mud, this year’s Ansan M Rock Festival concluded its festivities on a high note, inviting American rock gods, the Foo Fighters. With more than two decades as rock and roll music icons, the Foo Fighters

Performance July 27, 2015

A scene from the new musical “Arirang,” an adaptation of Korean novelist Jo Jung-rae’s eponymous 12-volume novel, which is at the LG Arts Center in Seoul until Sept. 5. (Seensee Company)Beyond the tale of budding young love and the painstaking struggles of a village and its people, the musical “Arirang” is an emotional roller-coaster of artistic beauty, unrelenting sorrow and the glimmering of hope. From the painful-to-watch scenes depicting the rape of women by Japanese soldiers, to the brutal

Performance July 23, 2015

President Park Geun-hye nominated Lee Seong-ho, chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court, as new head of the nation’s human rights watchdog, her office said Monday.Lee Seong-ho (Yonhap)Lee, 57, replaces Hyun Byeong-chul whose term ends next month. The nominee is required to go through a parliamentary hearing, but does not require the legislature’s approval. A native of Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province, Lee served as a judge for about 30 years, handling high-profile trials including t

Politics July 20, 2015

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has the chance to become to his country what South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were to theirs: a man of the left who moves toward fiscal responsibility and freer markets. Like Tsipras, both were elected in the midst of an economic crisis. Both immediately confronted the international financial constraints that opposition politicians can afford to ignore.On assuming power, Kim and Lula were able to adjust, pol

Viewpoints July 20, 2015

The accord struck in Vienna to rein in Iran’s nuclear activities has warmongers fulminating. Citizens worldwide should support U.S. President Barack Obama’s brave effort to outmaneuver them, taking heart from the fact that the signatories include not just the United States, but all five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany.Many of the warmongers are to be found in Obama’s own government agencies. Most Americans struggle to recognize or understand their country’s permanent

Viewpoints July 20, 2015

Super Junior is all style and sophistication in its new album “Devil,” a special release celebrating 10 years since the group’s debut. Featuring bouncy, stylized beats and collaborating with an eclectic bunch of musicians, the new album sees the band branching out musically and appealing to a wider audience.In more than a few ways, Super Junior has arguably been a group atypical to SM Entertainment. At a label known for producing ultramodern pop beats and veiling its artists in a pristine public

Performance July 20, 2015

The Ascott Limited is gearing up to open the Citadines Haeundae Busan next month, marking not only the first Citadines in Korea, but also the largest Citadines-branded “apart’ hotel” in its vast stable of global properties.The soon-to-be opened 468-room, fully serviced residence Citadines Haeundae Busan will officially open its doors on Aug. 15 and will become the property of its kind in the port city. “We will be the first international serviced residence brand in Busan,” said Max Phillips, are

Culture July 20, 2015