Rookie director Kim Joong-hyun has been invited to two international film festivals for his feature debut “Choked,” according to the film’s production house. The work will be featured at the Miami International Film Festival and the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival. The film was featured at last year’s BIFF and this year’s Berlinale. It tells the story of a young man whose mother suddenly disappears and leaves him a trail of debts.“Late Autumn” director Kim Tae-yong worked with Kim Joo

Film March 5, 2012

Scott Wightman, British Ambassador to Korea, made his first visit to South Gyeongsang Province on Monday to promote the upcoming London Olympics and express his interest in South Gyeongsang-based corporations.During his visit to the province, Wightman had a meeting with the province governor, Kim Doo-gwan, in the provincial government building in Changwon. He reportedly said British corporations have a lot to learn from Korean ones during the meeting.  He promoted the upcoming London Olympics Ga

Performance March 5, 2012

Amid growing public criticism of Beijing for forcibly deporting North Korean defectors to their home country, about 30 Korean celebrities were to hold a concert Sunday evening to urge China to stop the repatriations.The concert at Yonsei University’s 100th Memorial Hall in Seoul was to be hosted by “Cry with Us,” an organization recently formed by celebrities including actor Cha In-pyo, his actress wife Shin Ae-ra, veteran singer Yoon Bok-hee, comedian Park Mi-sun and pop singer Ivy. Some 30 tee

Performance March 4, 2012

Aside from pop culture, sharing of academic and artistic content also important: Director MichigamiThis is the fifth of the series introducing cultural centers of different countries in Seoul. ― Ed. As is evident from the popularity of Girls’ Generation and Jang Geun-suk, Japan has continued to be charmed by Korea’s popular culture ever since the mega hit TV series “Winter Sonata” captured Japanese hearts. In Seoul, on the other hand, it’s not hard to spot a number of shelves dedicated to Japane

Performance March 4, 2012

Howling (Korea) Opened Feb. 16Crime. Thriller. Directed by Yoo Ha. Detective Sang-gil (Song Kang-ho), who is desperate for promotion, gets annoyed when he is assigned to work with an inexperienced junior Eun-young (Lee Na-young) for what looks like a suicide case. Eun-young finds out that it is a murder case involving a giant wolf-dog. Being the only female detective in her team, socially inept Eun-young endures low expectations, lewd jokes and even sexual harassment by her macho team members. W

Film March 2, 2012

As an actress, Lea Thompson considers herself a “long-distance runner” ― someone who keeps up a steady pace instead of a sprint.“I always felt like my best years would be from 50 to 65 years old,” Thompson said. “I don’t know why. It was a feeling I had even when I was really young. My kids are kind of all grown up now and I can be in a difference space where I can put everything into it.”Just a few months shy of her 51st birthday, the gamin former ballerina could easily pass as a 30-something.

Film March 2, 2012

The Moon of the Mind Rises in Empty SpaceBy Prime Dharma Master Kyongsan(Seoul Selection) Many foreigners will find Won Buddhism unfamiliar compared to other forms of Korean Buddhism. It was in fact founded in the 20th century, and is claimed to be a “reformed and modernized Buddhism” which combines Buddhism with Confucianism and Daoism.By picking up this English-language book written by the Ven. Kyongsan, who is the fifth Prime Darma Master of Won Buddhism, one can learn about the key ideas of

Books March 2, 2012

In the world of legacies, Oak Park, Illinois, has a couple of biggies.The brilliant, scandalous architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first 20 years of his career there, leaving the western suburb with the world’s largest collection of buildings he designed.Then there’s the brilliant, scandalous writer Ernest Hemingway, who was born in Oak Park and spent nearly his first 20 years there, writing his earliest pieces, gaining an appreciation for nature and dreaming of worldly adventures.Frank Lloy

Books March 2, 2012

The Korea Herald Youth English Choir launched in ceremonySixth-grader Kwak Se-mi always wanted to sing, but she was always too busy for it.“There are certain things that you have to learn as a young student, like English,” Kwak told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. “So I’ve been doing that and it’s been fun. But being a part of this choir is super fun because I get to perform while I sing in English as well.”Kwak is one of the 30 members of The Korea Herald Youth English Choir, which officially la

Performance March 1, 2012

IDFA-winning documentary delves into human connection to the universeOf all our senses, the sense of touch arguably is the most intimate. It develops before all the other senses, and it’s one of the first ways in which children learn about their environment and bond with others. It brings pleasure, protection and emotional support. Even after our sight weakens and hearing fades, this sense usually stays with us. Director Yi Seung-jun’s award-winning documentary, “Planet of Snail,” is an exquisit

Film March 1, 2012

Six Indian films will be screened for free in Seoul between Thursday and Monday, according to the Embassy of India and CJ CGV.The Indian Film Festival at CGV Apgujeong features acclaimed Indian films with Korean subtitles. All of the movies to be shown have won awards at national and international film festivals, according to the Embassy of India.“India is the biggest producer of feature films in the world and over 1,000 feature films are produced annually in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and other c

Film Feb. 28, 2012

Popular actor Lee Byunghun this month started shooting a historical epic based on the life of Gwanghaegun — a 17th century Joseon ruler who was dethroned in a coup — the movie’s producer CJ Entertainment announced on Monday.The movie, whose working title is “King of Joseon,” is written by “Oldboy” screenwriter Hwang Jo-yoon and directed by “Mapado” and “Late Blossom” auteur Choo Chang-min. The fictional plot of the film develops as the eccentric king runs into Ha-seon, a man from the lowest clas

Social Affairs Feb. 27, 2012

Architecture 101 (Korea)Opening March 22Drama. Directed by Lee Yong-joo. Seung-min (Kim Soo-hyeon and Uhm Tae-woong), a 20-year-old university student, meets Seo-yeon (Suji and Han Ga-in) while attending his introduction to architecture class. Though he falls for his female colleague, Seung-min does not know how to express his feelings, and ends up not talking to her due to a trivial misunderstanding. Fifteen years later, Seung-min, who now works as an architect, receives a sudden visit from Seo

Film Feb. 24, 2012

Leonardo DiCaprio likes his coffee smooth ― a light roast, nectar-like, no bitterness.Just ask Todd Carmichael and Jean-Philippe Iberti, who spent more than a year perfecting a blend to suit the palate of the Hollywood star.The founding partners of La Colombe, a Philadelphia-based roastery with cafes here and in New York and Chicago, paid repeated visits to DiCaprio’s West Hollywood abode to brew him single-batch roasts and to test blends, working to come up with a new La Colombe label that woul

Film Feb. 24, 2012