Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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Three shades of ‘Carmen’
It is no wonder that a tale of fiery yet innocent romance between a young, naive soldier and a sultry gypsy touches the hearts of many Koreans. “Carmen,” the tragic love story of exotic dancer Carmen and Don Jose by Prosper Merimee, was named the most-loved opera in a National Opera survey in 2012. From November through December, the story and music will be reinterpreted on three very different stages in opera and musical forms.KNO ― Original French styleThe Korea National Opera will feature “Ca
CultureNov. 17, 2013
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Colombia restores Botero works in artist’s hometown
MEDELLIN, Colombia (AFP) ― More than two dozen sculptures by Fernando Botero are being restored in the Colombian city of Medellin, the renowned artist’s hometown.Situated in parks or along streets, the 27 works of amply proportioned people and animals are showing signs of weather damage and vandalism.Chewing gum, graffiti, dents and scratches mar the lustrous patinas of the Colombian master’s giant bronzes.But Maria Adelaida Bohorquez, a restorer at the Museo de Antioquia, the institution that o
PerformanceNov. 17, 2013
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France’s Pleyel piano maker plays final note
PARIS (AP) ― Gone are its glory days, when Chopin composed concertos on its pianos. France’s Pleyel piano maker is shutting its doors, unable to keep up with cheaper and more agile competition.Down to just 14 employees after a 206-year history that produced more than 250,000 pianos, the Pleyel piano factory in Saint Denis, north of Paris, announced this week that it’s closing “because of recurrent losses and a very low level of activity.”Like so many industries that Europe once dominated, today
CultureNov. 17, 2013
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Rapper searches for the perfect sound
This is the 15th in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. ― Ed.Thomson Gazelle found hip-hop in junior high when he discovered American rapper Eminem and then old school hip-hop. But from a young age, he’s been all about freestyle.“I love freestyle. I’m really confident in my freestyle,” the 29-year-old rapper said. He got his start in freestyle and often competed in contests and rap battles, making it to the top eight in the Mnet Miller Rap
PerformanceNov. 17, 2013
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Jolie, Lansbury, Martin, Tosi accept Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Brad Pitt kissed Angelina Jolie after her grand entrance at the film academy’s Governors Awards Saturday night.Steve Martin pretended to take a seat at the wrong table a few times before finding the right one, while Angela Lansbury beamed as she entered the room. The honorary Oscar winners, along with Italian costume designer Piero Tosi, were honored at a private dinner at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Tosi wasn’t able to attend, but scores of A-listers did, including Tom H
FilmNov. 17, 2013
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Around the hotels
Thanksgiving feast at JW Marriott Hotel SeoulJW’s Grill and The Caf will offer a holiday feast on Nov. 28. Priced at 110,000 won, JW’s Grill’s dinner course menu will include smoked salmon with potato and asparagus, foie gras terrine, butter-roasted turkey and more. Priced at 260,000 won, a family set for six people will include a whole roast turkey carved and served table-side. For reservations, call (02) 6268-6759. Buffet restaurant The Caf will serve roast turkey complete with side dishes su
FoodNov. 15, 2013
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The dichotomy of violinist Chung Kyung-wha
Scooping up her dogs into her arms, Chung Kyung-wha coos “Mi amore, oohhh, mi amore.” Clara and Johannes ― named after Clara Schuman and Johannes Brahms ― respond in kind, lovingly gazing into Chung’s eyes, nuzzling against her neck.In her sun-filled living room in Seoul, the world-acclaimed violinist is a doting mother of two dogs, delighting even at the sound of Johannes eating a piece of thin wafer. “Do you hear that? The sound is so beautiful,” she exclaims, unable to resist giving him anoth
PerformanceNov. 15, 2013
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Chung calls for world-class cultural venue in Korea
Performing in China more than a decade ago, violinist Chung Kyung-wha had predicted that there would be phenomenal change in the country in 10 years. It has been 12 years now and the Chinese have expanded into every field of Western culture, Chung notes. “This trip was an eye opener. It was very impressive how they are systematically planting, building cultural centers everywhere,” Chung notes of the China leg of her Asia tour.“My performance venues had fantastic acoustics which means they have
PerformanceNov. 15, 2013
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Calendar
Theater“Danton’s Death”: Seoul Arts Center is presenting “Danton’s Death,” the first play written by German dramatist Georg Buchner (1813-1837), set during the French Revolution. The play presents the last few days of the French revolutionary leader, Danton. Korean artist Lee Ja-ram, who is known for her pansori works, will make her theater acting debut as a street performer. The show is directed by Romanian theater director and teacher Gabor Tompa. “Danton’s Death” runs from Nov. 3 to 17 at Seo
PerformanceNov. 15, 2013
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Box office: The Counselor, Friend 2, Thor: The Dark World
The CounselorOpened Nov. 14Thriller. Crime. Drama. Directed by Ridley Scott. In Juarez, Mexico a young and talented lawyer known by the name The Counselor (Michael Fassbender) buys a luxurious diamond ring to propose to his fiance Laura (Penelope Cruz). He attends a party hosted by the rich and corrupt businessman Reiner (Javier Bardem) and his girlfriend Malkina (Cameron Diaz). Short on money, the Counselor is convinced by Reiner to enter into the illegal drug trade for a fast profit. He meets
FilmNov. 15, 2013
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‘Holiday’ revives good feelings ‘The Best Man’ gave us years ago
“The Best Man Holiday” is a most welcome sequel to the 1999 sleeper hit, “The Best Man,” about a tight-knit circle of black friends who gathered then for a wedding, now to spend Christmas together.Yes, it’s occasionally maudlin and melodramatic, and it’s entirely too long. But it’s also heartfelt and often downright hilarious, and shows off just how canny Malcolm D. Lee’s casting was all those years ago.Everybody’s paired up, now. Pretty much everybody, anyway. And everybody seems successful, wi
FilmNov. 15, 2013
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Eyelike: Lee Juck shines on ‘Meaning of Silence’
Lee Juck shines on ‘Meaning of Silence’Lee Juck “The Meaning of Silence” (LOEN Entertainment)Lee Juck has once against demonstrated his prowess as a skillful singer-songwriter on “The Meaning of Silence” at a time when the majority of Billboard chart tracks are made by a small handful of composers. The 10-track album starts out with “Lies Lies Lies,” a simple song about a man in grief over being left by a lover. Lee’s voice is heavy and accompanied with a melancholy piano melody. “Sarangi Mwogil
PerformanceNov. 15, 2013
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Contrasting Cabos
LOS CABOS, Mexico ― Much of what you need to know about Cabo San Lucas happens during the first weekend of October.It’s Sammy Hagar’s birthday.Yes, that Sammy Hagar, the second-best singer Van Halen ever had and the rock ’n’ roll wordsmith responsible for sentiments such as “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy” and “I Can’t Drive 55.” When Sammy ages another year ― he recently turned 66 ― Cabo San Lucas celebrates. More accurately, Sammy Hagar celebrates with a concert at Cabo Wabo, his sprawling bar-
TravelNov. 15, 2013
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Hawaii town to state: Stop sending tourists
KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) ― People from across the world are drawn to the coastal town of Kailua. Its white sand beaches are among the nation’s best. Some recommend the Honolulu suburb for its laid-back vibe. And President Barack Obama vacations there with his family each Christmas.But now, the neighborhood board is asking a state tourism agency to stop encouraging visitors to stay overnight in their town.It’s the latest salvo in a long-running battle over how much tourism Kailua wants and should allo
TravelNov. 15, 2013
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Malaysia launches year-end sale
A year-end sale will be held in Malaysia from Saturday to Jan. 5, 2014, offering discounts, bargains and promotions at major shopping malls. The annual shopping event will be centered in Kuala Lumpur, home to popular shopping malls such as Suria KLCC, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Bintang. CNN Travel has listed Malaysia as the fourth-biggest shopping destination, followed by New York, Tokyo and London. The Malaysian tourism office said luxury items will be offered at 20 percent off on average
TravelNov. 15, 2013
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Vivaldi Park opens for 2013-14 winter ski season
Vivaldi Park opens for the 2013-14 winter season on Nov. 22. The ski resort said it has increased its ski and snowboard inventory available for rent to 7,000 ski sets, 4,000 snowboards and 7,000 snowboard boots for the new season. They also installed more depository posts capable of accommodating more than 6,700 skis and snowboards. For safety, the resort expanded the width of two slopes to prevent the bottleneck that usually occurs in the middle. The price for the all-day seasonal pass is 410,0
TravelNov. 15, 2013
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KTO picks three regions as food hot spots
The Korea Tourism Organization has started promoting new culinary destinations in Korea: Yeongdeok for snow crab, Chuncheon for stir-fried marinated chicken dakgalbi, and Damyang for bamboo sprouts. The three food destinations have been added to the KTO’s list of famous food spots in Korea that include the popular tteokbokki street in Sindang-dong, Seoul, Chodang tofu village in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, and the mudfish soup street in Namwon, North Jeolla Province. The food streets selected b
TravelNov. 15, 2013
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Pogi kimchi, (Napa cabbage kimchi)
It’s kimchi-making season! There are hundreds of kimchi varieties in Korea. Pogi kimchi is the most common variety. The taste of kimchi varies widely, depending on the seasoning ingredients. Every household has its own version. Various kinds of jeotgal (salted seafood) are used to give kimchi its distinct pungency and to aid the fermentation process. Saeujeot (salted shrimp) and myeolchiaekjeot (fish sauce made with anchovies) are the two that are most commonly used. I almost always use both of
FoodNov. 15, 2013
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Wholesome rice
Rice is the star ingredient of celebrity food stylist Hong Shin-ae’s new restaurant, Ssalgage, which translates to “rice store” in English. At the food show star’s brick-and-mortar spot in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong, freshly milled rice is served up daily with numerous side dishes as part of a set menu. “We mill the rice ourselves,” said sous chef Kim Jin-woong. The milling is done at the restaurant because the rice ― a mixture of white and brown rice called “obundomi” ― should ideally be consumed withi
FoodNov. 15, 2013
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SHINee snags ‘Artist of the Year’ at MelOn Music Awards
The 2013 MelOn Music Awards on Thursday recognized the biggest acts in Korean music including SHINee, Busker Busker and EXO, who walked away with “Artist of the Year,” “Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year,” respectively. The MelOn Music Awards are among the biggest in the country and hand out prizes based on digital sales and online votes. SHINee’s award marked the first time they were crowned artist of the year at the annual awards ceremony, beating out rival boy band Beast, who had taken
PerformanceNov. 15, 2013