City barbeque at Grand Hyatt SeoulPoolside Barbeque, an outdoor buffet restaurant at Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel, recently reopened. The restaurant will present a unique gourmet experience, only on summer nights. On the side of the emerald-colored outdoor pool, buffet stations are prepared, filled with varieties of fresh salad, grilled dishes and desserts. Grilled dishes -- from meat, vegetable to seafood -- are immediately cooked upon order over charcoal. An unlimited beverage package, including be

Food May 11, 2018

Seonjitguk, literally translated, means soup made with cow blood. But no worries, the soup is not as intimidating as its name. At first glance, seonjitguk is far from bloody red and looks rather mild. The visual is as ordinary as any other Korean soup, as the broth is made by simmering ox bones with shreds of Napa cabbage. The soup’s name originates from chunks of congealed blood called seonji.  Seonjitguk (By Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)Making seonji is simpler than it seems. Scoop cow’s blo

Food May 10, 2018

Cable channel tvN’s new courtroom drama series “Lawless Lawyer” aims to set itself apart from other works of the genre, with its lawyers winning not just lawsuits, but also fights. The new Saturday-Sunday series features actors Lee Joon-gi and Seo Ye-ji as the main leads. Lee is to play a gangster-turned-lawyer who seeks revenge against the powerful. The story takes place in the fictional city of Kisung, where corruption is rampant.  Lee Joon-gi and Seo Ye-ji pose for photos at a media briefing

Television May 8, 2018

Actress Park Shin-hye will star in tvN’s new drama series “Memories of the Alhambra.”Park is to take the role of a character named Jung Hee-ju, who owns an old hostel in Granada, Spain. Hyun Bin is the other protagonist in the series, playing a mysterious man who visits the hostel on a business trip.  Park Shin-hye (SALT Entertainment)Alhambra, which means “red palace” in Arabic, is a palace located in the city of Granada, a popular tourist destination. The actress is currently traveling in Spai

Television May 8, 2018

It is hard to keep up with fast-changing lifestyle trends just by reading books, magazines and posts on social media. Therefore, local entertainment media company CJ E&M hopes to serve as a lifestyle curator for locals by hosting the 2018 Olive Con, a lifestyle shopping convention.  Visitors look around a convention hall filled with lifestyle booths. (CJ E&M)The convention started Wednesday and will end Sunday at the Coex Convention &Exhibition Center in southern Seoul. It features cooking class

Food May 4, 2018

Krishjun Banavali, 11, has faced racial discrimination here just because his skin is darker than others. His mother Lee Sang-hee is a Korean who married an Indian national. Their son speaks both Korean and English fluently and attends a local elementary school. “There are so many prejudices against multicultural families that we must be helped and cared for. The word ‘multicultural’ itself may be full of prejudices,” said Lee. The hurtful words about his skin color affected Krishjun, but after 2

Social Affairs May 4, 2018

French-styled boutique hotel to open Shinsegae Chosun Hotel will be launching a new boutique hotel named L’Escape in central Seoul, with a stylish French concept.French architect Jacques Garcia designed the hotel, inspired by the 19th century aristocracy in Paris. The interior of the hotel aims to re-create the atmosphere of the city. As its name suggests, the hotel hopes to serve as a place where people can “escape.” The 25-story building will hold 204 rooms, along with a modern Chinese restaur

Food May 4, 2018

The 54th Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony was held Thursday, honoring outstanding local entertainment productions. The awards ceremony has been held annually since 1965 to recognize achievements in the TV and film industry. This year’s event took place at the Coex Convention & Exhibition Center in southern Seoul. It was hosted by comedian Shin Dong-yup, singer-actress Suzy and actor Park Bo-gum.  Winners of the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards (Yonhap)TvN’s mystery-thriller drama “Stanger” and the period

Television May 4, 2018

Succeeding the hit entertainment show “Infinite Challenge,” MBC’s new quiz show “Quiz Q” begins with a great burden.Beloved TV series “Infinite Challenge” aired its last episode on April 21, after a 13-year run. The series earned the nickname “national entertainment show,” gaining popularity across all age groups. Producer Kim Tae-ho of the show announced a sudden halt last March, citing the need for a break. He explained, “It has been hard to keep the show’s original color while maintaining fre

Television May 4, 2018

Walking down the streets of traditional markets, some might be shocked by the graphic scene of pig’s trotters hanging upside down. Upon closer look, you will find that the trotters display their fat toes too. Many Koreans actually enjoy eating these trotters. Called “jokbal,” the dish is go-to late-night soul food. It is also representative of Korea’s delivery service culture, as it arrives at your doorstep even in the middle of the night, typically 30 minutes after ordering. (Video shot and pro

Food May 3, 2018

Popular animation character Pucca is to off to a new start, partnering with media mogul CJ E&M. Pucca, created by Korean company VOOZ, is an internationally known animation character. Designed with an image of an Asian girl, the red-and-black character is active, energetic and bold, not hesitating to express her affection for ninja Garu. Pucca (VOOZ)Pucca, as a brand, marked $90 million in royalty profit over the past 10 years. More than 90 percent of the profit was generated overseas. According

Television May 2, 2018

Cosmetics tycoon Elizabeth Arden once said, “To be beautiful is the birthright of every woman,” rewriting the mantra of the beauty industry in the early 20th century.Half a century later, not every woman is yet able to enjoy the right to be beautiful, restricted by personal and social boundaries. Take for example Muslim women in Korea. Their choices of cosmetics, limited by their religious faith, are further narrowed by an unchanging, conservative Korean market.  Korean cosmetics stores line the

Culture May 1, 2018

Remakes of popular foreign TV drama series are hitting the local small screen, possibly as they are considered a “safe choice” in the near-saturated current market.  (KBS2) (KBS2)KBS2 recently started to air “Suits,” a remake of the popular US series. The Korean adaptation has marked a favorable start, noting an average viewership rating of 7.4 percent for its two episodes. OCN’s remake of BBC hit series “Mistresses” captured the public’s attention over the weekend. As the original British produ

Television April 29, 2018

Some of the dishes served at the summit banquet pay homage to the people who strived for the peace and reunification of two Koreas, such as chilled salad made with octopus from Tongyeong, the hometown of internationally acclaimed composer Yun I-sang. Dumplings and bibimbap, prepared with ingredients from the birth towns of the two late presidents -- President Kim Dae-jung and President Roh Moo-hyun -- who visited Pyongyang for previous summits, were served.Swiss-inspired dishes were presented as

Food April 27, 2018

Considering culinary experience as part of the daily practices of Buddhism, nun-chef Wookwan strives to introduce Korean temple food to a global audience. Temple food refers to cuisine prepared in a religious manner for Buddhism practitioners. Today, in an age of abundance for many, the moderate food style has gained popularity, taking center stage in the global culinary scene. Wookwan speaks during an interview with The Korea Herald. (Photo by Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)As a Buddhist nun,

Food April 27, 2018