Among the foreign luxury brands filling the eyewear section at local duty-free shops and department stores, the Korean-based brand Gentle Monster stands out.Getting its initial fame among the Korean public as “Jun Ji-hyun sunglasses” after the actress wore a Gentle Monster product in hit TV series “My Love From the Star” in 2014, the brand is solidifying its place in a market heavily dominated by foreign luxury brands.　 Photo 1/ Gentle Monster is to launch the capsule collection “Once Upon a Fut

Arts & Design June 10, 2018

Cozy night with children at Conrad Seoul Welcoming family guests with children, Conrad Seoul presents a new children-friendly package. The kid-oriented package includes a night stay and a breakfast at the hotel’s buffet dining restaurant Zest. A Conrad Junior kit, comprising of a playbook and a coloring pencil set, is offered. Also a kids’ tent provides children guests a unique indoor space in the hotel rooms. Guests are also allowed free admission to the indoor swimming pool. The package is ava

Food June 8, 2018

In the sweltering heat of summer, patbingsu, or shaved iced with red beans, is a popular treat.The most classic type of bingsu, which refers to desserts made of shaved ice and condensed milk completed with various toppings, patbingsu looks like a white mountain with burgundy lava. Patbingsu’s overall taste is sweet, as the red beans have been simmered with sugar for hours and milk is used to make the shaved milk. The pleasure comes from the unexpected clash of textures. While the red beans are m

Food June 7, 2018

Newly-opened boutique hotel Ryse hopes to offer a trendy and artistic hospitality experience to guests, embracing the “Hongdae culture.” Hongdae area in western Seoul refers to the neighborhood near Hongik University, known for its art school, and the neighborhood‘s young and artistic crowd fill the area with a cool vibe and energy. RYSE from rooftop bar Side Note Club (RYSE)Ryse, part of Mariott’s Autograph Collection, officially opened its doors to guests and non-guests on May 24, hoping to re

Culture June 7, 2018

While K-pop act Big Bang is on a hiatus with four of its members serving their military service, Seungri is pursuing a solo career on and offstage.Seungri has become the CEO of a hip-hop label under YG Entertainment, according to Yang Hyun-suk, the head of the agency, who made the announcement Tuesday through his social media account, dropping an image of Seungri’s business card.As the CEO of YGX Entertainment, Seungri will work on recruiting talented hip-hop rookies and running entertainment bu

Performance June 6, 2018

Another drama series featuring a time-traveling detective is on its way, but its producers claim it does not rely too much on the instrument of going back in time, describing it as a “journey of finding one’s identity between dream and reality.” Perhaps buoyed by past successes in the genre -- “Signal” and “Tunnel,” for example -- CJ E&M’s OCN network is to air yet another time travel series in “Life on Mars,” a remake of the popular British BBC production of the same name that aired 2006-2007. 

Television June 6, 2018

Arthouse filmmaker Kim Ki-duk has sued three actresses and a TV show for falsely accusing him of sexual assault and sexual harassment.According to industry sources, Kim recently filed a suit with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office against an actress for falsely accusing him of sexual harassment. He also sued two more actresses, one of whom accused him of rape and the other of sexual harassment, and the MBC show “PD’s Notepad” for defamation. Director Kim Ki-duk attends the red carpet

Film June 4, 2018

Local animal rights groups issued Friday a joint statement that called for the cancellation of the new variety show “Food Dairy,” saying that the tvN show’s take on chicken breeding distorts the reality of factory farming. In the first episode that aired Wednesday, cast members were given the task of hatching eggs. The bred chickens would later be used to make dakbokkeumtang, a spicy braised chicken dish.  Stillcut from "Food Diary" (tvN)According to the production staff, the program aims to sho

Television June 1, 2018

Black Pink is set to release a new EP titled “Square Up” on June 15, ending the band’s yearlong hiatus.According to YG Entertainment, “Square Up” will be the third part of Black Pink’s “Square” series, following the singles “Square One” and “Square Two.” While the previous works were a single or a double-single, “Square Up” will be the band’s first EP, consisting of multiple tracks.  Black Pink (YG Entertainment)The release has been highly awaited, as agency’s head Yang Hyun-suk previously revel

Performance June 1, 2018

Taste of Singapore at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s all-day-dining buffet restaurant Cafe 395, will introduce Singaporean cuisine from June 12-19. The restaurant has invited two guest chefs from Singapore, including Chef Bryce Li from M Social Hotel. He and his assistant chef will introduce a “kopitiam” style Singapore food to the buffet, presenting foods of various cultures and styles. The hotel hopes the promotion will serve as a chance to show why Singapore is known as the

Food June 1, 2018

Goni is a 15-year-old poodle. In human age, this is equivalent to 83 years old. She used to be camel brown, but not anymore. She has lost a lot of hair and her coat is now closer to ivory in color. But that’s the least of worries for Goni’s human family. Goni is suffering from a habitual kneecap dislocation, which means that the left hind leg can’t function properly. She limps almost every time she walks. It’s a common symptom for aging pets in Korea, as they live in apartments with slippery flo

Technology June 1, 2018

Porridge made with abalone (jeonbokjuk) is one of the most iconic dishes of Jeju island. It’s deliciously briny, with a distinct greenish hue and chunky abalone pieces.The Jeju-style jeonbokjuk is made simply with rice and abalone. It captures all the flavor the abalone has to give by also using the internal organs (viscera), hence the greenish hue. The dark green sac of guts may not look all that appetizing, but it really enriches the porridge. The color of the porridge depends on the number an

Food June 1, 2018

A good-looking artificial intelligence robot is to debut on the small screen in Korea, asking what it really means to be a human. KBS2’s new drama series “Are You Human?” takes a step into the future, featuring an AI robot as a main character. The robot -- who looks like a human -- thinks and feels emotions like a human. Actor Seo Kang-joon will play two characters in the series: a young and rich troublemaker and an identical-looking AI robot. The robot is a stand-in for a comatose man and falls

Television May 31, 2018

Cows are very giving creatures, producing milk, butter, cheese, beef and more. But in Korea, they are extra-giving, as the cartilage from the bones and knees are also eaten. Adding more to the list, even cows’ internal organs are served as great delicacies, for example, yangdaechang. Yangdaechang is a mix of yang and daechang, tripe and large intestine, respectively. Though the two are separate parts, they are often enjoyed together as they make a great pair. The excessive fat of daechang gives

Food May 31, 2018

TvN’s new drama series “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” turns the relationship between a boss and a secretary upside down, depicting a sweet romance tale that stars Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young. The two actors play the lead couple in the upcoming romantic-comedy production. Park Seo-joon plays the role of a narcissistic boss, while Park Min-young takes on the secretary character.  Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young pose for photos at a press event Wednesday at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungp

Television May 30, 2018