Star musicians add own touches to films as music directors

Well-known musicians are joining hands with renowned and rookie filmmakers who want to create a unique atmosphere and maximize the dramatic elements in their films through sound. Rapper-composer Gray recently took part in the production of "Ballerina" as the Netflix original film's music director. It was Gray's first time composing music for a film. Soon after the movie’s release on Oct. 6, the film garnered global attention for protagonist Ok-joo's (Jun Jong-seo)

FilmOct. 18, 2023

Second Blue House Concert to celebrate 70th anniversary of S. Korea-US alliance

The second installment of the Blue House Concert series will take place Nov. 5 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance at Chunchugwan. Chunchugwan served as the media center for the former presidential house Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul. The free concert will begin at 3 p.m. with American violinist Gil Shaham taking the stage with Korean pianist Shin Chang-yong to perform Mozart's Rondo in C major and Faure’s Violin Sonata No.1. Shin will also perfo

CultureOct. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Director Lee Chung-hyeon has many more female narratives to convey

Director Lee Chung-hyeon, who rapidly rose to stardom when his feature film debut “The Call” was released on Netflix in 2020, returned with “Ballerina” on the same platform on Oct. 5. With another female-led story starring his girlfriend and actor Jun Jong-seo, Lee said that women have always been at the center of his storytelling. “I made short films since I was in high school and women have always been at the core, leading the storyline. For me, when I think of a

FilmOct. 18, 2023

'2023 Box Gallery Exhibition' by Youth Impact shows art made of discarded paper

Amid the heightened public interest in up-cycling, several young artists gathered to show works created with waste paper at the exhibition “2023 Box Gallery Exhibition: A Resounding Success in Art and Social Impact” held at the Gangnam Foundation for Arts & Culture Exhibition Hall in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. The exhibition, which ran from July 27 to Aug. 10, was joined by 13 artists -- Kim Gyu-rin, Kim Su-hyun, Kim Si-yeon, Kim hye-jeong, Catherine Ryu, Park Bo-min, Park Ji-

Arts & DesignOct. 17, 2023

NY Met exhibition to mark 25th anniversary of Korean gallery

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present the exhibition “Lineages: Korean Art at The Met” in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the museum’s Korean gallery, presenting 30 works of art and artifacts from the 12th century to the present. “(The exhibition) is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of presenting Korean art for The Met’s international audiences. By pairing historical with modern and contemporary artwork, the show also poses the question of

Arts & DesignOct. 17, 2023

[Herald Interview] Netflix's ‘Devil’s Plan’ expands realm of survival game shows

“Devil’s Plan,” a Netflix Korea survival game show that premiered on Sept. 26, became a global hit soon after its release. The 12-episode show became the most-watched show in Korea as well as ranked third in the global top 10 non-English TV show list on Netflix. Twelve contestants with different occupations, including a lawyer, actor, doctor, YouTube creators, Go player and university student, face off in games of intelligence, wit and strategy. “It was kind of stressful

TelevisionOct. 17, 2023

New government initiative offers W3b reward to combat digital piracy

In a move to counter escalating copyright infringement issues, the South Korean government announced on Tuesday a reward initiative for whistleblowers of pirate websites, offering up to 3 billion won ($2.2 million) in compensation. The initiative, jointly led by the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, seeks to bolster efforts against illegal streaming and sharing that undermines the country's thriving digital content industry. Indiv

CultureOct. 17, 2023

[Our Museums] Discover wisdom of hanok at Eunpyeong History Hanok Museum

While exploring Seoul, travelers often encounter the well-known Bukchon Hanok Village, situated in the heart of the metropolis. Tucked away in the northwestern part of Seoul is another enclave of hanok, Eunpyeong Hanok Village, a hidden gem less frequented by tourists. Nestled at the foot of Bukhansan, the village has close to 100 hanok, each showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean architecture. Established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2013, Eunpyeong Hanok Village quickly evolved

CultureOct. 17, 2023

CGV, tvN Sports to screen Bundesliga’s first ‘Korean derby’

Cable channel tvN Sports and South Korean cinema operator CJ CGV announced the livestreaming of an upcoming Bundesliga match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munchen at CGV Gangnam in southern Seoul on Sunday. The game is dubbed a “Korean derby” here as Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung of Mainz plays against defender Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munchen for the first time this year. While Bayern Munchen vies for the top slot with Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and VfB Sttuttgart with a

TelevisionOct. 17, 2023

Cast of ‘Norma’ says opera difficult to sing but easy to enjoy

Director Alex Olle's production of “Norma,” which premiered to open the 2016 season at the Royal Opera House in London, is set to be staged at the Seoul Arts Center from Oct. 26-29. “I am happy to conduct one of the true masterpieces of Italian operas. Bellini’s (composition) is very demanding technically. ... It is a difficult piece to cast. Without exceptional singers, it's better not to perform," said conductor Roberto Abbado during a press conference Mo

PerformanceOct. 16, 2023

Welcome Daehakro Festival lights up Seoul's stage hub

Seoul's Daehangno district was brimming with visitors on Sunday for the opening of "2023 Welcome Daehakro," the largest domestic performance tourism festival in the country. The festivities began with a vibrant opening show on the main street, which was closed to traffic for the event. The opening show featured a festive parade of performances from musicals, dance, taekwondo demonstrations and marching bands. As part of the festival, fringe performances will continue throughout Oc

PerformanceOct. 16, 2023

Returning minister Yu In-chon vows to further strengthen IP rights

SEJONG-- Yu In-chon's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue the legacy of strengthening copyrights he started in his first tenure as culture minister during the Lee Myung-bak administration. Yu, 72, made the remarks at his first address to hundreds of ministry employees during his inauguration ceremony that took place at Government Complex Sejong on Monday. “With the continually evolving landscape, there is a need to amend the copyright law related to adapting to n

CultureOct. 16, 2023

Unwind with Korea food, lifestyle docs on Netflix

For those looking for a change of pace from Netflix's action-packed Korean originals, the streaming platform offers a range of Korean food, travel and lifestyle documentaries that are perfect for relaxing and learning something new. “Rhapsody” (2020-2021) and “A Nation” (2022-2023) by ELTV are two such documentary series that are available for viewing on Netflix. “Korean Pork Belly Rhapsody,” the first project to open the six-part “Rhapsody”

TelevisionOct. 16, 2023

[New on the Scene] Hong Xa-bin sees hope through ‘Hopeless’

In rookie director Kim Chang-hoon’s feature debut film “Hopeless” which opened in theaters last week, Hong Xa-bin plays Yeon-kyu, an 18-year-old high school student who lives with an abusive stepfather and an enervated mother. He is even asked to leave the Chinese restaurant where he works part time. Then, he meets Chi-gun (Song Joong-ki), the right-hand man of a gang boss, who seems to be a haven for Yeon-kyu. Before "Hopeless," which was invited to the Cannes Film F

FilmOct. 16, 2023

'Scent of Ink' to be performed at Kennedy Center in Washington

The National Dance Company of Korea is set to perform “Scent of Ink” at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in Washington on Wednesday as part of its tour in North America, which kicked off on Oct. 10 in Ottawa, Ontario. Directed by Jung Ku-ho and choreographed by Yun Sung-joo, the dance performance has been praised for its meticulous mise-en-scene. The stage and choreography for "Scent of Ink" highlights the beauty of traditional Korean dance through strong yet e

PerformanceOct. 16, 2023

New book sheds light on ongoing debate and legacy of comfort women issues

The issue of women forced into Japanese military sex slavery during World War II, known euphemistically as comfort women, has become a much politicized issue in Korea. The passing of a comfort woman, 91, in May, whose identity is being kept confidential at the request of her bereaved family, leaves only nine registered survivors of Japanese military sex slavery registered with the government. A new book titled "New Ways of Solidarity with Korean Comfort Women: Comfort Women and What Remains

BooksOct. 16, 2023

[Obituary] Park Seo-bo's legacy in Korean contemporary art remembered

The news of the death of artist Park Seo-bo at 92 years old on Saturday was met with an outpouring of condolences from around the world, as people remembered Park's legacy and his contributions to the development of dansaekhwa movement. Earlier this year, Park revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. He chose not to receive treatment so that he could keep working. To continue his art, the artist said, he had decided to regard the cancer as a friend that he would live

Arts & DesignOct. 15, 2023

Gyeongbokgung entrance platform, new signboard unveiled

A grand platform, called "woldae," in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, opened to the public Sunday with a series of events, marking the restoration of the space that had been covered over to form a major traffic artery for about a century. The event, marking the restoration of woldae and the new signboard on Gwanghwamun, took place at Gwanghwamun Square Sunday evening, attended by Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, Cultural Heritage Administration Head Choi Eun

CultureOct. 15, 2023

Try on traditional Korean costume during Hanbok Culture Week

A display of hanbok from the late 19th century to early 20th century will be shown at the National Folk Museum of Korea, located at the main palace Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul, during the annual Hanbok Culture Week that kicks off Monday. The period from 1876 to 1910 marked the introduction of Western culture to Korea. The museum will also offer a variety of interactive events, from hanbok wearing, hanbok quizzes and a traditional tea ceremony, or dado, to traditional shoe crafting. At Cheo

CultureOct. 15, 2023

[New in Korean] Witches, ecofeminism, climate crisis: Tale of resilience and nature’s power

"And the Witch Went into the Forest" By Sanho Goble/Dulnyouk In Sanho’s latest graphic novel, readers are transported into a world where witches grapple with the looming threats of an environmental crisis and climate change. Once known as shamans or mystics, these witches wield powers that resonate with nature and wild animals. They can make plants grow on barren lands or even sleep underwater. But with a loss of natural habitats and dying species, the witches are also sufferin

BooksOct. 15, 2023