Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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‘Leonardo and The Last Supper,’ the times behind Da Vinci
Inventor, painter, designer ― Leonardo Da Vinci was a brilliant man. This undeniable fact is borne out by his drawings, his notebooks, his paintings, and one fresco in particular ― The Last Supper in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.But, according to Ross King, it wasn’t a job Da Vinci wanted.In “Leonardo and The Last Supper,” King gives you a portrait of the times behind Da Vinci, and the politics and decisions that went into the creation of the painting.Renais
BooksNov. 29, 2012
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Writer’s belief in promise of Kenya flows through memoir
“In the House of the Interpreter,” the new memoir by the celebrated African writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o, takes us to the hopeful and turbulent world of 1950s Kenya. And it begins with a startling image.Ngugi is a teenager, returning home from his prestigious boarding school. He’s finished his first term at the top of his class and is still wearing his khaki school uniform and blue tie. Carrying his belongings in a wooden box, he reaches the ridge where his village should come into view. But it’s n
BooksNov. 29, 2012
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‘New TV channels are niche, not gold mine’
Koreans have appeared indifferent toward the four new general programming channels launched on cable last year, with overall viewer ratings marking less than 0.5 percent, far behind terrestrial TV broadcaster MBC’s 4 percent.Also notable is the viewing trend. According to AGB Nielsen Media Research’s study on paid-TV subscribers from Dec. 1 last year to Nov. 18, the two most watched programs among the four channels were matches by the Korean national soccer team that were exclusively aired on JT
CultureNov. 29, 2012
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New cable channels far below expectations
When four new cable channels launched on Dec. 1 last year, licensed to broadcast all types of programs ranging from news to entertainment, sports and dramas, expectations were high that it would pave the way for the birth of global media here. But just one year later, the majority of the channels, referred to as “general programming channels” here, are suffering dismal viewership ratings. Low-quality program content and the channels’ conservative image contributed to the weak start, insiders say
CultureNov. 29, 2012
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Mikhail Pletnev to lead new KBS orchestra today
Friday evening will be a historical moment for the 56-year-old KBS Symphony Orchestra as it will stage its very first performance as an incorporated foundation at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. The transition was made in September. Russian conductor, Mikhail Pletnev, has a heavy load on his shoulders as he is expected to lead the orchestra, which suffered an internal dispute over the former chief conductor Hahm Shin-ik and other members for nearly a year. The orchestra management hinted th
FilmNov. 29, 2012
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In elf ears and wizard hats, ‘Hobbit’ fans rejoice
WELLINGTON (AP) ― Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, sitting atop their dad’s shoulders or peering from balconies, tens of thousands of New Zealanders watched their favorite “Hobbit’’ actors walk the red carpet at the film trilogy’s hometown premiere.An Air New Zealand plane freshly painted with “Hobbit’’ characters flew low over Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, eliciting roars of approval from the crowd.Sam Rashidmardani, 12, said he came to see Gollum actor Andy Serkis walk the red carpet ― and he
FilmNov. 29, 2012
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Fifth ‘School’ series too close for comfort?
Whenever high school becomes central to a movie or TV series, the work almost certainly features a truckload of angst, puppy love and educational issues. KBS’ new teen drama, “School 2013” (working title), is no exception. In “School 2013,” leading lady and rom-com queen Jang Na-ra breaks out of her mold, playing an instructor who struggles to connect with her unruly students. The teaser unveiled at the drama’s press conference on Wednesday showed Jang shedding the bubbly persona of her previous
TelevisionNov. 29, 2012
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Lunafly wants listeners to feel over the moon
Standing apart from the K-pop music scene is a group of young guys who can not only sing, but play their instruments and compose their own music. They are the acoustic-pop trio Lunafly, comprised of Sam Carter, leader, guitarist and singer; Shin Tae-ho, who goes by the stage name Teo, on vocals, percussion and piano; and singer and guitarist Han Seung-yoon, who goes by the stage name Yoon. “When people look at the moon, they receive a lot of different emotions,” Teo says, explaining the meaning
PerformanceNov. 29, 2012
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Carla Bruni hit by Twitter backlash over feminism quip
PARIS (AFP) ― Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was caught in the eye of a Twitter storm on Wednesday after telling French Vogue that her generation had no need for feminism.“In my generation we don’t need to be feminist,” said the former first lady, who is making a public comeback after her husband Nicolas Sarkozy’s ouster from power and who guest edited the Christmas issue of the style magazine.“There are pioneers who paved the way for us. I am not a feminist activist at all. On the contrary I am a true bou
PeopleNov. 29, 2012
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Psy wants Tom Cruise’s ‘Gangnam Style’
BANGKOK (AP) ― The South Korean rapper behind YouTube’s most-viewed video ever has set what might be a “Mission: Impossible”’ for himself. Asked which celebrity he would like to see go “Gangnam Style,’’ the singer Psy told The Associated Press: “Tom Cruise!” Surrounded by screaming fans, he then chuckled at the idea of the American movie star doing his now famous horse-riding dance. Psy’s comments Wednesday in Bangkok were his first public remarks since his viral smash video ― with 842 million v
PeopleNov. 29, 2012
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Bobbi Kristina breaks engagement
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon, who confirmed their engagement last month on a U.S. reality show, have broken up, UsMagazine.com said Wednesday.Brown, the 19-year-old daughter of late singer Whitney Houston and R&B artist Bobby Brown, appears with her family on Lifetime‘s “The Houstons: On Our Own.”Gordon, 22, lived at Whitney Houston’s house for years before she died last February.“They did split. It will come out in the show,” one insider told UsMagazine.com.“I think it has to do a lot w
PeopleNov. 29, 2012
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The presidential politics of film
On the night of Nov. 12, Megabox COEX in southern Seoul was filled with flashing lights and celebrities walking the red carpet. It was the VIP premiere of director Jeong Ji-young’s latest film “National Security.”Among the big-name figures were top actors Park Joong-hoon and Seol Kyung-koo, and celebrated filmmakers Kang Je-kyu and Ryu Seung-wan. Then the unexpected guests showed up; four presidential candidates from the opposition bloc, including the Democratic United Party’s Moon Jae-in and th
FilmNov. 28, 2012
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JYJ ends legal dispute with S.M., formally separates from TVXQ
South Korean pop group JYJ ended more than three years of legal dispute with its former management agency, S.M. Entertainment, bringing to an end an "unjust" contract between them, court officials said Wednesday, marking its members' official departure from their original group.The members of JYJ -- Kim Jae-joong, Park Yu-chun and Kim Jun-su -- and S.M. Entertainment, one of the country's top entertainment agencies, agreed under court mediation that their contracts ceased as of July 31, 2009, th
PerformanceNov. 28, 2012
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Tiny foliage accompanies miniature train village
NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia ― It’s fall foliage time in the tiny town of Sugarland.As the weather turns cool and crisp, life chugs on ― the dairy farm supplies milk to the sugar refinery so the bakery and candy shop can provide lots of sweets for Candy Cane Village residents. The town, served by the Southern R&R railroad, is also home to the Donut Police Station, Red Hot Fire Department, Ginger Snap Park and Rollo Golf Course. Kids attend the M&M Elementary and Sugar High School; Graham Cracker Farm
CultureNov. 28, 2012
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Mercure’s Sky lounge ‘Kloud’ sets new standard for Gangnam bars
Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed. Though Korea is known to have some of the best night life in Asia, very few bars provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy a drink with a view of night sky and the fresh air. Though many would like to enjoy their drink with a nice breeze and a view of Seoul, they are usually trapped in dark bars and clubs, bombarded with neon lights and the obnoxious smell of smoke. It might be the weather; unlike tropical cities with many
TravelNov. 28, 2012
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Charcuterie meat products for holiday feasts
When Belgian charcutier Benito Plasschaert visited Korea 20 years ago to train staff at a major hotel in Seoul, perhaps no one had ever heard of charcuterie or tasted meat products other than ham. But when he returned last year and again this year for the promotion of prepared meat products at Grand Hyatt Seoul, he was surprised to see people waiting for him and his products ranging from sausages and hams to more unfamiliar products such as pates, terrines, rilletes and meatloaf. Plasschaert pre
FoodNov. 28, 2012
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Korea Foundation examines cross-cultural challenges in multicultural world
The Korea Foundation is holding a seminar that examines challenges in the multicultural world and explores ways to foster intercultural understandings and mutual respect. The state organization affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade kicks off the five-day seminar Thursday at Mayfield Hotel in Seoul that brings together world-renowned scholars and experts in the field of multiculturalism. About 50 experts from academia, international organizations, nonprofit organizations and g
CultureNov. 28, 2012
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Exhibition tracks down 3,000-year history of glass
Glass has always been one of the most used materials for arts. Over 7,000 years, its ingredients, production methods and style may have changed, but glass has managed to attract people from around the world with its fragile but transparent beauty. Chinese writer Wang Wei once said, “You embrace the light but has nowhere to hide it. You hold the cleanness but seem empty,” praising the abstruseness of the material. The National Museum of Korea’s new exhibition, “History in Glass: 3,000 years of gl
CultureNov. 28, 2012
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‘Moonrise Kingdom,’ ‘Silver Linings’ lead Spirit Awards
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The oddball romances “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Silver Linings Playbook” picked up five nominations each Tuesday to lead the Spirit Awards honoring independent film.Both films are competing for the best-picture prize at the Spirit Awards, one of Hollywood’s first big announcements on the long road to the Oscars.Also competing for best picture are the father-daughter tale “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; the black comedy “Bernie”; and the gay drama “Keep the Lights On.”“Silver Linin
FilmNov. 28, 2012
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Yo-seob of Beast makes debut solo album
Yang Yo-seob, musical actor and main vocalist of K-pop group Beast, has released his first solo EP album, titled “The First Collage,” on Monday.The album, which includes five tracks, was partly produced by rapper, composer and fellow Beast member Yong Jun-hyung, who co-wrote, produced and is featured in one of the tracks, “Caffeine.” “You’re bad to me, so bad to me, oh girl, you’re like caffeine,” is the main chorus line to the title track, which is an upbeat ballad comparing the trials of love
PerformanceNov. 28, 2012