Telling stories of ‘incomplete lives’

Webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho says he barely enjoys his work. But it is his everything. “I never really got to do anything for pure enjoyment or for myself,” he said in an interview with The Korea Herald in his office in Seoul. “I’ve never played StarCraft. I’ve never played billiards. I don’t enjoy work, either. What I want to do is to do it well, do better.”The 44-year-old is best known for his webtoon “Misaeng,” which means “an incomplete life.” The iconic series, which ran from 2012 to 2013 onl

BooksMarch 28, 2014

Calendar

Classical Music“Bang on a Can All-Stars”: Renowned for its ultra-dynamic live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music, the Bang on a Can All-Stars will hold their first performance here. Consisting of clarinet, cello, electric guitar, piano-keyboard, percussion and double bass, the New York-based ensemble will perform on March 29-30 at the Tongyeong International Music Festival in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and on April 2 at LG Arts Center in Seoul. Its repertoire

CultureMarch 28, 2014

In the fields of UFW’s birth, farm workers see Chavez film

The audience members stepped off buses waving red UFW flags. Some came straight from the fields. Those from Salinas and Madera and farther away had given up a day’s wages to attend.The first feature film about Cesar Chavez had been screened in Los Angeles and at the White House. On Tuesday evening, “Cesar Chavez” played outdoors and in Spanish for the farm workers Chavez represented.“From the beginning, we said we have to go back and give it to the people,” director Diego Luna said. “I’ve been w

FilmMarch 28, 2014

Eyelike: Lee Sun-hee makes strong return with 'Serendipity'

Lee Sun-hee makes strong return with “Serendipity” Lee Sun-hee'Serendipity'(LOEN Entertainment)Lee Sun-hee, one of South Korea’s iconic veteran singer-songwriters, has released her 15th studio album in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her debut.The 11-track album titled “Serendipity” features Lee’s mature and distinct vocals which have raised her to the peerage of local ballad legends since her debut in 1984. The album covers diverse genres from pop, rock, orchestral and acoustic to gypsy

PerformanceMarch 28, 2014

Box Office

August: Osage County (the U.S.)Opening April 3Drama. Comedy. Directed by John Wells. Violet (Meryl Streep) lives in a rural area outside Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with her husband, Beverly (Sam Shepard), an alcoholic but kindhearted poet. Extremely contentious and bitter, she suffers from oral cancer and struggles with drug addiction. One day, out of the blue, Beverly hires a young Native American woman as a live-in cook and caregiver for Violet, and then disappears from the house. Devastated, Violet

FilmMarch 28, 2014

Incense on a spring breeze

Daegu, Korea’s “City of Apples,” is not generally known for its hiking, and yet a street in the northern outskirts of the city shows that the pastime has taken root, blossomed and begun to bear fruit. Both sides of Palgong-ro are lined with outdoor apparel stores, from foreign brands like Northface, Merrell and Mammut to local companies like Centerpole, Kolping and K2.The commercial enclave is a testament to the popularity of Mount Palgongsan. Like many of Korea’s cities and natural features, th

TravelMarch 28, 2014

Charcuterie pioneer

Last September, a company called Korea Metzgerei Cooperation Institute, or KMCI, launched a brand called Urban Knife to help pioneer the nation’s fledgling deli market. Urban Knife’s first brick-and-mortar space opened near Seoul’s Gangbyeon Station as a restaurant. The restaurant, according to KMCI food and beverages manager Jung Woo-sung, would serve as a launchpad for Urban Knife’s ultimate goal of opening a string of bona fide butcher shop-delis. Later that year, that became a reality, when

FoodMarch 28, 2014

Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork)

Tangsuyuk is a Chinese sweet and sour pork dish adapted for Korean taste. It can also be made with beef. It is a beloved Korean-Chinese dish that’s often enjoyed along with jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce) or jjambbong (spicy noodle soup).The potato starch used to make the batter is pre-soaked for several hours. This is a traditional method used to create a slightly chewy yet crispy crust. It is important to deep fry the meat twice for extra crispiness. The key to a successful sauce is

FoodMarch 28, 2014

Around the Hotels

Thai cuisine at JW Marriott Hotel SeoulJW Marriott Hotel Seoul’s all-day dining restaurant The Cafe is offering authentic Thai cuisine made by guest chef Somkiat Dongprateep from JW Marriott Bangkok from March 28 to April 13. Throughout the promotion period, Chef Somkiat will present a range of popular Thai dishes including hot chili and Thai herb salad, yellow curry chicken, traditional satay kebabs, tom-yum goong and pad thai. The special dishes will be available at the restaurant’s dinner buf

CultureMarch 28, 2014

Korean Air wins copyright suit

The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Thursday that the photo Korean Air used for its TV commercial did not infringe on American photographer Michael Kenna’s copyright of the well-known photograph “Pine Trees.” The court admitted similarities but dismissed Kenna’s copyright claim. “Kenna’s photo and the carrier’s commercial photo look similar to each other because both depict the same pine tree island and its reflection on the water, featuring the same natural elements of water, sky and tree

PerformanceMarch 28, 2014

SM defends property deal

The nation’s largest entertainment agency, SM Entertainment, has officially denied allegations that company CEO Lee Soo-man illegally acquired a lavish mansion in Malibu, California, through a joint purchase with a “paper company” in Hong Kong.KBS 1TV’s “News9” on Tuesday reported that the CEO had purchased the mansion in L.A. County for $4.8 million, which surpasses $3 million, the most that an individual could invest in overseas real state at the time. The report claimed that Lee evaded such r

PerformanceMarch 28, 2014

Imperial Palace names new chief

Imperial Palace Seoul has appointed veteran Korean hotelier Kim Jung-suk as its new general manager, the hotel said on Friday. Prior to joining the hotel, Kim held various managerial positions at The Westin Chosun in guestrooms, food and beverages, marketing and promotions. He has also served in marketing, communication and planning positions at major international companies such as Coca Cola and AIG. “We hope Kim will deliver a new energy to the Imperial Palace hotel chain, which is expanding a

PeopleMarch 28, 2014

Korean pop singers Rain, G-Dragon win Chinese music awards

Two K-pop artists have won prizes at a music awards ceremony hosted by a Chinese online music service, their management agencies said Friday.Pop singer and actor Rain and G-Dragon, leader of the boy band BigBang, won awards for most influential overseas artist and for most popular artist from South Korea or Japan, respectively, at China's "QQ Music Awards," Cube Entertainment and YG Entertainment said. Rain performed some of his latest hit songs during the awards show held in the southern Chines

Latest NewsMarch 28, 2014

Hallyu buoys Korean fashion

Hundreds of Chinese fans were in a frenzy at the opening of Seoul Fashion Week last Friday, when K-pop boy group EXO took the catwalk presenting the creations of young Korean designers. The popularity of K-pop has put a spotlight on the Korean fashion industry event, launched in 2000, and designers as well. Now, Seoul Fashion Week is one of the most anticipated fashion shows in Asia.“K-pop and Korean TV dramas play an important role in attracting attention to Korean fashion,” said Griffin Chan,

Arts & DesignMarch 27, 2014

‘Twitter President’ publishes latest collection of short stories

Lee Oi-soo is one of the most active writers online, dubbed “Twitter President” with more than 1.7 million followers. And it is not surprising to hear “Wanjeon Byeontae (Complete Metamorphosis),” his latest collection of short stories, is a result of his “writing exercises” on Twitter.“People often said to me, ‘You are spending so much time online. When do you actually write your novels?” the 68-year-old author told reporters during a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. “But I actually thought

BooksMarch 27, 2014