[Video] Sound is universal language: ASMR creator Miniyu

Yu Min-jung, a YouTuber specializing in spine-tingling ASMR videos, changes her role once or twice a week. From a late-night barber to a dermatologist, then from a scalp therapist to a caring friend removing makeup from a roommate’s face -- Yu becomes a “healer” for those craving sounds of comfort. Believed to be the first to make a Korean ASMR channel, Yu has been working as a full-time creator for almost five years now. Her channel -- Miniyu -- has 500,000 subscribers and her most watched vide

April 19, 2019

BTS ranked among Time's 100 Most Influential of 2019

South Korean K-pop group BTS has been ranked among Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2019.The seven-member band, whose albums have topped Billboard music charts, appeared on the annual list unveiled Wednesday on the magazine’s website.By category, BTS was among the 17 artists of 2019. The other four groups were called pioneers, leaders, titans and icons.(Time Megazine)“Over the past few years, the K-pop group has taken the music industry by storm -- shattering sales records, gatheri

April 18, 2019

S. Korean photographer wins Pulitzer Prize

Reuters' South Korean photographer Kim Kyung-hoon won a Pulitzer Prize on Tuesday for his work on Central American migrants.According to the website of the Pulitzer Prizes, photography staff of Reuters, including Kim, Loren Elliott and Lucy Nicholson were named the winner of the breaking news photography award.(Yonhap)They took images of a caravan of Central American migrants heading to the US border in November last year."For a vivid and startling visual narrative of the urgency, desperation an

April 16, 2019

Grey Youth Choir to perform on Carnegie Hall main stage

The Grey Youth Choir, a leading senior choir from South Korea, will perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall on May 6 at the invitation of the Korea-US Choir Festival for the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement. Grey Youth ChoirThe Grey Youth Choir, headed by Hunet Chairman Kwon Dae-wook, will stand on the Isaac Stern Auditorium, the main stage of Carnegie Hall with 2,804 seats, presenting Korean traditional folk songs such as “Arirang,” “Milyang Arirang” and “Saeya Saeya Parang

April 15, 2019

[Herald Interview] The agent behind Korea's global literary growth

If you are living outside Korea and happened to have just finished your first volume of Korean fiction, the chances are that the book you’ve read was brought to you by literary agent Joseph Lee and his partners around the world. Specializing in foreign rights of Korean titles, both fiction and nonfiction, Lee, 54, has a pretty impressive list of clients, including Shin Kyung-sook, the author of the 2011 New York Times best-seller “Please Look After Mom,” and Han Kang, the author of the 2016 Man

April 12, 2019

Tracing Korean diaspora through unsung hero

In 2015, young Korean-American lawyer Joseph Juhn went backpacking in Cuba for a well-earned break, indulging in the beach, mojitos, salsa and, of course, Cuban cigars. What he found instead were traces of a man who had fought to keep the Korean identity alive among descendants of those forced to leave the country nearly a century ago -- Jeronimo Lim.“The first person I met at the Havana Airport was someone who was supposed to pick me up, this Korean lady who didn’t look anything like Cuban. ...

April 3, 2019

France shares ‘Provencal cuisine,’ promotes sustainable dining

The French Embassy in Korea will look to promote French gastronomy through the works of two chefs from its Provencal region, to be demonstrated at the annual Gout de France/Good France celebration Thursday.Since 2014, French Embassies across the globe have been organizing the event in their respective residing nations under the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.  From left: French Ambassador to Korea Fabien Penone and chefs Fanny Rey and Guillaume Sourrieu speak at

March 20, 2019

Le Cordon Bleu-Sookmyung Academy invites high school students to mark Gout de France

On March 21, chefs from around the world will work to create a French-style dinner for the Gout de France/Good France celebration. The event, now in its fifth edition, aims to promote French gastronomy to the world. Launched in 2015 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, French Embassies all over the world organize the event in their respective residing nations.  High school students sit down to a traditional French dinner at Le Cordon Bleu-Sookmyung Academy. (L

March 13, 2019

[Herald Interview] Cultivating hope through ‘Boccia’

Indonesian moviemaker Natalie Tjahja hopes to promote the para-sport through nonprofit documentary filmUnlike Cristiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather and Lebron James of the sports world, boccia players are not buried in fame and riches, nor do they have the ability to leap off the ground and perform near-superhuman feats. On the contrary, hurdles often loom large for them, even more so than for most people.What they do have, however, is an unconquerable spirit that transcends their wheelchair-bound

March 6, 2019

YouTubers go global with CJ ENM’s DIA TV

Korean YouTubers are making their way into the global market in partnership with DIA TV, a multichannel network for online content creators affiliated with local entertainment mogul CJ ENM.According to DIA TV’s announcement Wednesday, its partner creators are carving out successful careers overseas, promoting Korea’s entertainment culture.  Korean YouTuber Banzz with Chinese internet celebrity Mizijun (DIA TV)The firm partners with creator Banzz, a major “meokbang,” or eating broadcasts, creator

Feb. 20, 2019

OCA director-general receives honorary degree from Kookmin University

Husain Ali Al Musallam, director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia and the first vice president of the Federation Internationale de Natation, which administers international competitions in water sports, was presented with an honorary Ph.D. in sports science by Kookmin University on Monday.At the 11 a.m. ceremony, the former swimmer received the degree from university President Yu Ji-soo and Park Chan-ryang, the dean of its graduate school. Husain Ali al-Musallam (center), director-general

Feb. 20, 2019

Handwriting style released in homage to late Cardinal Stephen Kim

In memory of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, publisher Catholic Book has released a handwriting style modeled after his penmanship.Based on the handwritten scripts of the cardinal who passed away a decade ago on Feb. 16, 2009, the publisher re-created his handwritten font, also minding the texture of his pen.  A new handwritten font is modeled after the style of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. (Catholic BookThe late cardinal still stands as an emblematic figure in the Catholic sc

Feb. 15, 2019

YouTube becomes platform for diversity

As YouTube has grown to a major communication platform, there are all kinds of YouTube channels today: from vlogs, beauty, travel, cooking, sports to even farming. With varied topics, YouTube also functions as a platform for people with “differences” to be heard. On Tuesday, the video-streaming business invited YouTubers from three channels -- Studio Guru, Soo Not Sue and Dotface -- to a press event at Google Campus Seoul. YouTube categorized them as “diversity YouTubers” who discuss differences

Jan. 22, 2019

[Herald Interview] Englishmen in Seoul, London and all over YouTube

Here are two Englishmen who are even more famous in Korea than they are back home. To define them, one needs to add one more word to their nationality and get rid of the plural. They are not just Englishmen, they are “Korean Englishman.” YouTubers Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal -- Josh & Ollie -- are better known as “Korean Englishman” on the global streaming platform. With more than 3 million subscribers on YouTube, they are definitely big players in the new entertainment industry. The duo intro

Jan. 17, 2019

CICI honors YouTubers, ballerina for promoting Korea’s image

The Corea Image Communication Institute handed down CICI Korea Image Awards to YouTubers Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal, ballet dancer Park Sae-eun, and the Korean language.Since 2005, CICI -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Korea’s image abroad -- has annually honored individuals, organizations and objects that have helped to spread a positive image of Korea. This year’s award ceremony took place at the InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul on Thursday. Participants pose

Jan. 10, 2019

[Herald Interview] Life beyond the lens

Lights, camera, action! There is always a sense of glamour in the fashion industry. Pricey labels, niche perfumes and expensive Champagne exude a certain “wow” factor. Here is fashion photographer Hong Jang-hyun, a man who must be living a life full of glamour. He is the first man you search for when planning a luxury photo shoot here. He is invited to every posh party and event, where he mingles with high-profile figures. Working with top celebrities and high-end fashion houses, those who do no

Jan. 10, 2019

Henry appointed Goodwill Ambassador for International Vaccine Institute

Singer-actor Henry Lau, better known as Henry, was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the International Vaccine Institute at a ceremony at the IVI’s headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday. Founded by the UN Development Programme in 1997, IVI is an independent international organization that works on vaccine development, with a focus on creating awareness about the importance of vaccines among the general public, especially in low-income developing countries.  IVI Goodwill Ambassador Henry Lau tries out e

Jan. 9, 2019

Novel about love for all living creatures wins Yi Sang award

Writer Yoon Yi-hyung’s novel “Their First and Second Cat” (unofficial translation) was announced the winner of the 43rd Yi Sang Literary Award, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Korea, at a press event held in central Seoul on Monday.The story, inspired by Yoon’s experience after the death of her cat early last year, was published in the November and December issues of local literary magazine Munhaksasang.   (Munhaksasang) Writer Yoon Yi-hyung, winner of the 2019 Yi Sang Literary Aw

Jan. 7, 2019

Lotte Foundation for Arts appoints new chief

The Lotte Foundation for Arts has appointed Kim Sun-kwang as its new head, according to the foundation on Wednesday.Kim, 60, formerly managed the retail business of Mario Outlet before being appointed at the foundation. Kim Sun-kwang (Lotte Foundation for Arts)Kim has been working for Lotte Group since 1986, when he first joined Lotte Shopping. Since then, he has mainly worked for Lotte Department Store’s retail business. He reportedly does not have professional experience in the culture industr

Jan. 3, 2019

Korea Joongang Daily chief re-elected foreign language newspaper group head

Ryu Kwon-ha, the Korea JoongAng daily executive editor and current chairman of the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea, has been reappointed as the FNA chief.The association announced that Ryu was elected for a second term during a board meeting of the FNA held Wednesday.Ryu has been the leader of Korea Joongang Daily since 2013, prior to which he was the paper’s German correspondent between 2003 and 2007. Ryu Kwon-haThe association was founded in July 2015 for the cooperation and d

Dec. 27, 2018