Managing expectations

Kim Myung-min knows how to act. He has managed to captivate viewers on screens big and small, perfectly morphing into whichever characters he was given. The star of two MBC dramas, “Great White Tower” (2007) and “Beethoven Virus” (2008), is now tackling the role of a cold-hearted hotshot lawyer who, after suffering from amnesia, turns into an opponent of social ills in a new MBC drama that went on air Wednesday.In “A New Leaf,” he plays Kim Suk-joo, a high-flying attorney at a major law firm who

April 30, 2014

Lena Park’s EP reduced to single as nation mourns

The 38-year-old Korean-American gospel-singer-turned-K-pop-star Lena Park (also known as Park Jung-hyun) has finally made a belated return with “Syncrofusion.” However, instead of releasing an EP album as originally intended, she decided to release only one single. Park was initially going to release “Syncrofusion” as a three-track EP on April 18. However, considering the tragic ferry sinking that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of young high school students, the singer’s agency announced tha

April 30, 2014

Hooni Kim, deconstructed

Danji and Hanjan owner-chef Hooni Kim is in town to star as a judge on cable channel Olive’s third season of “Master Chef Korea,” in which aspiring chefs from around the nation compete to make it to the top. Already knee-deep into filming, the famous New York City-based Korean-American chef looks comfortable in his role as mentor-judge, ready to dish out constructive criticism and help contestants grow with some tough love. “I think I am very highly critical about food and cooking,” Kim, 41, con

FoodApril 30, 2014

“Triangle” may be Kim Jae-joong’s last acting before military enlistment

JYJ member and actor Kim Jae-joong admitted on Wednesday that MBC TV show “Triangle” most likely would be his last show before military enlistment. “(Triangle) probably will be my last appearance in a TV show before leaving for military conscription,” the K-pop star said in a press conference for the drama held in southwest Seoul on Wednesday. “I do not have the exact date at hand, but I think we will release the next JYJ album in the second half of this year and finish the related activities be

April 30, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun earned $17.5mil within 2 months in China

(OSEN)South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has earned 110 million yuan ($17.5 million) in China in the past two months, a magazine reported on Wednesday.Since “My Love from the Star” became a sensation in Asia, Kim, who starred in the drama as lead character Do Min-jun, his income has skyrocketed. Kim’s value is measured by the second, quipped China’s weekly magazine South Entertainment Weekly.The advertisement market reflected Kim’s soaring fandom in China as the actor recently inked a deal with Sam

April 30, 2014

4Minute HyunA picks vivid lip makeup as her beauty secret

HyunA of Korean girl group 4Minute said vivid-colored lip makeup is one of her top beauty tips.“I give emphasis to the lips,” the K-pop star said when was asked to share her makeup know-how in an interview with fashion magazine Elle. The interview accompanied HyunA’s photo shoot for Elle, where she flaunted her sexy curves and slim waist. She also identified her strong self-esteem as her source of sexiness. 　By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)

April 30, 2014

Tabloids eye Jin Yi-han’s past self-acclamation on his “sexy collarbones”

Local tabloids on Wednesday were filled with reports about the rising actor Jin Yi-han’s past comment about his “sexy collarbones.”During an interview on weekly celebrity news show “Section TV,” aired on April 6, Jin Yi-han jovially regretted that his armored costume hides his “sexy collarbones.”The comment originally came as a response to a question about his sexy six packs, one of the early sources of his popularity. The blushing actor then jovially replied, “They (my six pack) are gone now …

April 30, 2014

2 Korean movies among top 12 female vengeance movies: Time

Two Korean movies, “Lady Vengeance (2005)” and “The Housemaid (2010),” are among the top 12 female vengeance films selected by the online edition of Time. “We present a dozen movies, from Hollywood, France and South Korea, that treat the vengeful-woman theme with fondness or dread, as comedy, melodrama or stark tragedy,” the U.S. weekly magazine wrote on Tuesday.In contrast to the magazine’s criticisms on Korean melodramas -– “classic Hollywood fare gone totally nuts” -– it gave Korean crime mov

April 30, 2014

Fortress likely to get UNESCO listing

A mountain fortress southeast of Seoul is highly likely to make it onto UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, the government said Tuesday. An experts’ panel under the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that deliberates on new additions to the list has recommended Namhansanseong Fortress for inscription in its recent report, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. A final decision is due in June when the committee meets in Qatar, but it seldom overturns recommendations from the Internati

CultureApril 29, 2014

Korea Toastmasters’ spring conference marks group’s first year as district

Korea Toastmasters held its national conference on Saturday and Sunday, with key speeches from International Toastmasters president George Yen and former Toastmasters world public speaking champion Lance Miller.The group is the local branch of Toastmasters, an international nonprofit organization with nearly 300,000 members that focuses on adult education in communication and leadership.Almost 300 people attended the conference, up from 220 last year, according to conference chairperson Minju Le

Expat LivingApril 29, 2014

Korean slang guide gets revision

After nearly selling out of the first edition of Korean slang guide “As Much as a Rat’s Tail,” authors Peter Liptak and Lee Si-woo are working on an update. The revision has ended up being more involved than planned, with 30 pages of new content, a set of new flashcards and revisions of the existing design and content.They also held a contest for the design of the new cover. Replacing the timid rodent on the first edition is a sunglass-donning street rat, dancing “Gangnam Style.”  “It just spoke

Expat LivingApril 29, 2014

‘Fairytales for adults’

Artist Park Hyun-woong’s paintings look more appropriate for a child’s room than a museum. His paintings are pretty. They depict candy, cute elephants and bears, and European castles that little girls dream about. This is why children’s hospitals and Save the Children are among the major collectors of his works. “Actually my paintings are intended for adults. Every adult has bits of their childhood memories, like elephants they saw at a zoo or travels with parents,” Park said. “My paintings are

PerformanceApril 29, 2014

Jeon Do-yeon first Korean actress to be Cannes jury member

Jeon Do-yeon has become the first Korean actress to be a jury member at Cannes International Film Festival in its upcoming edition.The actress has been announced as one of nine panel members who will join jury president Jane Campion. Jeon won the Best Actress prize at the renowned film festival in 2007 for playing the emotionally distraught mother in Lee Chang-dong’s drama “Secret Sunshine.” Joining Jeon and Campion as the main competition jury members are Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, American

April 29, 2014

American mothers publish book on traditional Korean handicrafts

After adopting children from Korea more than 20 years ago, two American mothers and longtime friends, Debbi Kent and Joan Suwalsky, were both determined to raise their children in an environment that would expose their families to their kids’ native culture as much as possible. Making regular visits to the country over the past two decades, the two mothers fell in love with all things Korean culture, and more specifically, were fascinated by the tradition and history of Korean arts and crafts. “

BooksApril 29, 2014

Garfield-Stone chemistry saves Spider-Man 2

Deep into “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” my 11-year-old companion was confused about a certain plot point ― justifiably, I’d say ― and demanded an immediate and thorough explanation. “Shh, not now. Later!” I hissed. Because, though I didn’t admit it, I really didn’t want to miss an Andrew Garfield-Emma Stone kiss. And who knew when the next one was coming? With great chemistry, you see, comes great kissing. Let’s just say this unequivocally: Whether or not my young Spidey fan would agree, the best

FilmApril 29, 2014

Clooney gives up litany of loves for engagement

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Looks like George Clooney owes Michelle Pfeiffer lots of money. The 52-year-old actor ― Hollywood’s most determined bachelor, famous for a litany of fleeting loves ― has taken himself off the romantic market, even though he once bet Pfeiffer $100,000 that he’d never marry again. After dating a string of actresses, models, a cocktail waitress and a former professional wrestler, Clooney recently proposed to 36-year-old international law attorney Amal Alamuddin ― despite repeated

FilmApril 29, 2014

Outkast returns to home state for CounterPoint

ROME, Georgia (AP) ― Despite the wet and muddy conditions, the energy was high for Outkast’s performance in their home state at the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival. Organizers suspended the festival due to heavy rain and inclement weather, pushing Outkast’s set back more than an hour Sunday night. But the Grammy-winning rap duo still put on an energetic show that kept the crowd jamming in the late hours. Outkast was one of the final acts to close out the three-day festival in Rome, Georgia, w

PerformanceApril 29, 2014

Jazz pianist Giovanni Mirabassi to stage concert in Seoul Cathedral

This spring, jazz music will fill the air of an unusual concert venue ― a grand cathedral.Giovanni Mirabassi, a renowned Italian jazz pianist, will stage a concert titled “Jazz Standards in the Church” at the Seoul Cathedral Anglican Church of Korea on May 21. Considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Korea, the building is particularly known for its excellent acoustics.The upcoming concert is scheduled to feature a string of familiar jazz tunes from Giovanni’s new album which was recor

PerformanceApril 29, 2014