Yang Hyun-suk, the former head and chief producer of YG Entertainment, may face a police investigation over drug allegations involving the agency’s high-profile artists, amid a series of scandals that have damaged the reputation of the leading agency behind the rapid growth of the K-pop industry.On Saturday, police told local media that Yang may face criminal charges if the allegation that he threatened a whistleblower turns out to be true. Yang could be summoned for questioning if the whi

Performance June 16, 2019

Going vegan at Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Hyatt Seoul introduces the how, new vegan burger at its poolside barbecue station.The Beyond Burger vegan patty that is nearly indistinguishable from meat comes with vegan cheddar cheese, vegan mayo and a variety of fresh vegetables. It is made from 100 percent plant-based ingredients.Listed on the Grab & Go menu offered at the poolside barbecue station, the burger can be ordered alongside other salads, sandwiches and low-calorie options. There are also

Food June 14, 2019

For composer-conductor Choi Jae-hyuck, this June is a time of anticipation. The winner of the 72nd Concours de Geneve Composition Prize, Choi grabbed the attention of the classical music scene for conducting Stockhausen’s “Gruppen” at the 2018 Lucerne Festival with maestros Simon Rattle and Ducan Ward. June 28 will be a big day for the 24-year-old musician. His works will be put onstage across continents, in Paris and Seoul. Ensemble InterContemporain, a renowned cont

Performance June 13, 2019

Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. -- Ed.Going out for grilled meat is always a treat, especially if you can sit outside in the nice early summer weather.Seongsu-dong Galbi Alley, situated near Seoul Forest in eastern Seoul, allows diners to grill meat outside. Tables and chairs

Food June 13, 2019

While the Seoul International Book Fair is set to open next week, the Korean Literature Showcase will take place from June 18 to 22 at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center.Organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service, the event, launched last year, aims to introduce and promote Korean literature to other parts of the world.  This year, 10 overseas publishers from 10 countries who are interested in publishing translations of Korean literature are participating. Around 30 loca

Culture June 11, 2019

With an award recognizing an imprisoned Egyptian publisher’s struggle for freedom of the press, Seoul International Book Fair 2019 is set to open next week.The annual fair will take place June 19-23 at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Gangnam, southern Seoul.　This year, the festival will highlight the importance of the freedom of the press, organizers said during a press conference Monday in central Seoul. On June 21, the International Publishers Association will award the

Culture June 10, 2019

Relaxing spa at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul’s The Spa presents special spa treatment programs for the summer. The Vitamin Pulse Facial program includes a 30-minute back massage and one-hour anti-aging massage. The Green & Citrus treatment consists of a 90-minute body massage along with a bottle of organic cleanse juice. The Spa allows customers to choose the type of music to be played during its treatments. Treatments cost 220,000 won each. For more information or reservations,

Food June 7, 2019

News last month that Fenty, a luxury fashion house Rihanna launched with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, chose 67-year-old model JoAni Johnson to represent its new collection created much buzz in the fashion world. With long, graceful silver hair, she is a model in every aspect, and the epitome of what’s been called a fashion “graynaissance”: the rise of gray-haired models to the forefront of fashion. Choi Soon-hwa may be Korea’s Johnson. At 77 years old, she strut

Arts & Design June 7, 2019

In all its retro glory, an alley in Seoul -- serving grilled “seagull meat” -- has risen as a popular dining spot. Though the name may indicate its location to be near a port city, “seagull meat alley” is actually situated at the heart of central Seoul, near Jongno 3-ga Station.(Video shot and edited by Lee Sun-hye /The Korea Herald) Don’ let the name galmaegisal, which could mean seagull meat in Korean, mislead you. The name refers to skirt steak, the cut

Food June 5, 2019

Celebrated science-fiction writer Bernard Werber is currently visiting Korea to promote his new book, the Korean title of which translates to “Death.” The best-selling author is known for his unique style of writing that looks at society through the eyes of nonhuman entities. His novels have been successful in France, Korea and other parts of the world, including “The Ants” trilogy, “Les Micro-Humains (The Third Humanity)” and “Le Papillon des Etoiles (B

People June 5, 2019

The Hungarian police recovered one more body believed to be a Korean after divers found two victims from the Danube River boat collision last week, said an official from Korea's emergency team dispatched to the accident site on Tuesday. The body was pulled from underwater, 55 kilometers south from the site of the accident, according to the officials.The death toll of the tragic incident increased to 10 among 33 Korean tourists who were on the boa

Foreign Affairs June 4, 2019

While Hallyu, or the Korean wave, has proven to be a major force, with South Korean music and entertainment content making a buzz around the world, music travels in the opposite direction too.American singer-songwriter Jim Wolf, 39, is one example. He has found musical success in a place he never would have expected.  “I didn’t actually have a distributor to get the song here. The more I look into it, the more I don’t know how it really began,” Wolf told The Korea He

Performance June 4, 2019

As the mercury rises, outdoor festivals offer a way to cool down with music. This year’s festival list is long and broad, encompassing diverse genres of music. The second edition of DMZ Peace Train Music Festival 2019 takes place Friday to Sunday. The festival, promoting peace, features local and foreign musicians performing near the Demilitarized Zone.  Pivoting around the border city of Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, stages will be set up at iconic locations such as the Goseokjeong Pav

Performance June 3, 2019

Two piano virtuosos, one young and the other more mature, struck a chord with Seoul audiences over the weekend. Yuhki Kuramoto and Sunwoo Yekwon wrapped up their nationwide tour of Korea, presenting the last edition of their tours in Seoul on Friday and Saturday, respectively. On Saturday at the Seoul Arts Center, Sunwoo, 30, stirred the audience with five encores: Robert Schumann’s “Traumerei” (Dreaming), Johannes Brahms’ Intermezzo in A Major, Schumann’s “Wi

Performance June 2, 2019