Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
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Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
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[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
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S. Korea calls on Japan to confront history amid Yasukuni Shrine visit
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Yoon’s jailed mother-in-law excluded from latest parole list
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Hybe and Min Hee-jin, CEO of Hybe sublabel Ador, lock horns
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[Pressure points] Leggings in public: Fashion statement or social faux pas?
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Yoo Jae-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok team up in 'Whenever Possible'
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Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
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Aging population to drive down Korea's housing prices from 2040: experts
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National Gugak Center to launch weekly concert series
Music is nothing without its deep rich history, and in an effort to continue to keep the spirit of gugak ― traditional Korean music ― alive, the National Gugak Center will be launching a 40-week concert series to make the genre more accessible to the public. Every Wednesday through Saturday starting March 4, the NGC will be hosting the gugak performance concert series in the center’s traditional “Pungnyu Sarangbang” theater until December.Roughly translated to “room for the love of the arts,” Pu
Feb. 25, 2015
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Korea National Opera head resigns amid ongoing outcry
Han Ye-jin, the newly appointed Korea National Opera director, offered to resign less than two months after her controversy-laden appointment for directorship caused an uproar in the opera community.“As a result of the many frustrations and challenges that I have been facing, I have decided not to continue (as director),” Han, 44, wrote in her public resignation letter released to the press late Tuesday. Han, who was appointed by the ministry late last year, has faced vehement opposition from fe
Feb. 25, 2015
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Seongnam Arts Center to present more operas
Gounod’s opera “Faust,” American choreographer William Forsythe’s dance performance “Heterotopia,” “Les Miserables” author Victor Hugo’s less-known play “Mille Francs de recompense,” and an annual classical music festival helmed by cellist-conductor Chang Han-na have been among the stellar lineup of performances staged at the Seongnam Arts Center for the past 10 years. Now, looking forward to the next decade, the Seongnam City-run venue hopes to cater to both local performance aficionados and ci
Feb. 24, 2015
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Pondering the big questions
A huge banner reading “Shooting the Elephant/Thinking the Elephant” greets visitors to artist Yang Haegue’s solo exhibition at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Inside, however, there is nothing even remotely resembling the mammal. The elephant is the artist’s metaphor for a typical, yet profound question about men and nature. In her semi retrospective and third solo exhibit in Korea, Yang explores the relationship between the two. Exhibition view of Yang Haegue’s solo exhibit at Leeum (Leeum)The a
Feb. 24, 2015
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[Herald Interview] ‘Thinking out loud’ with Ed Sheeran
Three-time Grammy nominee and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is becoming one of the decade’s most notable breakthrough artists. The 24-year-old musician, who went quintuple platinum in the U.K. with his 2011 debut album “+,” will be making his way to Korea to hold his first concert here. Sheeran’s debut album, featuring hit singles “The A Team” and “Lego House,” earned him the Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act awards at the 2012 Brit Awards. His second album
Feb. 24, 2015
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A sparkle from Bohemia
From the classic Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the boho-chic fashion statement, references to the Czech region of Bohemia have been thrown around in a variety of different contexts throughout modern culture.However, it is a relatively lesser known fact that the area has for centuries been celebrated for its intricate, high-quality glass craftsmanship. Even Swarovski, the internationally renowned crystal glass brand, was founded by a man from the northern parts of Bohemia. An exhibition that
Feb. 17, 2015
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Classical music stars line up for Seoul concerts in March
As March quickly approaches, there’s no better time to celebrate the thawing of winter and the arrival of spring than a night filled with the soul-soothing classical bliss of Rachmaninoff and Chopin.Next month promises a wide range of noteworthy classical performances, including a concert by one of the country’s most beloved pianists, Steve Barakatt. The Canadian piano prodigy is making his way back to Seoul on March 8 for his largest symphony production ― “Ad Vitam Aeternam.” The symphony, con
Feb. 16, 2015
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Hong Kwang-ho wins British musical award
Korean musical actor Hong Kwang-ho won a British musical award for his West End debut role, Thuy, in “Miss Saigon.”Hong was named Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards in a ceremony that took place Sunday, his Korean agency said Monday. Run by the U.K.’s biggest theater website WhatsOnStage, the annual awards honor musical actors and actresses based on the popular vote of the audience. “Miss Saigon” was the star of the show this year, reaping a record nine awa
Feb. 16, 2015
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Eyelike: The Last Five Years, Love You, Honeybear, 'Fifty Shades of Grey’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Songs tell story of emotions in a relationship“The Last Five Years”Various Artists(Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight)Hollywood went to two actors with Broadway backgrounds to star in the film version of the musical “The Last Five Years” -- and it paid off.Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan star as a young New York couple who fall in, and then out, of love. She’s a struggling actress. He’s a writer who finds success. Both Kendrick and Jordan have Tony Award nominations on their resumes, and they have perfect voi
Feb. 13, 2015
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Amber unveils first solo album
Amber, a member of K-pop girl group f(x), released her debut solo album on Friday.The album “Beautiful” was revealed at midnight online before its physical release on Feb. 16, along with the music video for her title track “Shake That Brass,” featuring fellow singers including Taeyeon and Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation, Joon Park of g.o.d, Jackson of GOT7 and comedian Ahn Young-mi. A scene from the music video “Shake That Brass” for Amber’s title track. (SM Entertainment)Her debut song, featuri
Feb. 13, 2015
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‘Discordant harmony’ of Asian art
Contemporary art has become borderless, with visual presentations coming to focus less on national identity and more on individuality. In what appears to be an attempt to go against this trend, Art Sonje Center is seeking to explore the national identities of Asian artists whose works deal with historical, social or ideological issues of their countries. The broad theme of national identity is explored in the exhibition of 12 artists from China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Put together by curators
Feb. 11, 2015
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Ready to rock
When people around the world think about music and Korea, one word immediately springs from their lips: “K-pop!” What’s known to some in Korea, but very few outside, is that there is a rich stream of creative talent that bubbles below the surface of mainstream music. Several of such musicians will be making a pilgrimage to the U.S. to play at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas, one of the few events in the world that properly celebrates the indie underside of the gl
Feb. 11, 2015
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[Up & Coming] Novus Quartet: A jolly foursome in music
The four young lads, waiting for an interview with this reporter in the lobby of Seoul Arts Center one recent afternoon, might have been mistaken by passersby as classmates. The jolly foursome emits such energy and warmth, and a shared and inexhaustible sense of humor. What binds them, however, is much more than friendship. From left: Kim Jae-young (violin), Lee Seung-won (viola), Kim Young-uk (violin) and Moon Woong-whee (cello).They are Novus Quartet, Korea’s only string quartet that has won i
Feb. 9, 2015
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Sam Smith dominates Grammys, but Beck with surprise win
Sam Smith, the British soul singer who was virtually unknown a year ago, dominated the Grammys Sunday with four awards, although adventurous rocker Beck was the surprise winner of Album of the Year honors.Superstar Beyonce and "Happy" creator Pharrell Williams also took home top prizes on the music industry's biggest night, which was marked by displays of artist activism against domestic violence and police brutality.The 22-year-old Smith took home three of the night's most prestigious trophies
Feb. 9, 2015
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Foo Fighters, Idina Menzel hit Korea this summer
This summer already has all the makings of an epic concert season as two more big-name acts have announced their plans to perform in Korea. As part of its first-string lineups, CJ Entertainment announced the Foo Fighters as one of the Ansan M Valley Rock Festival’s headlining acts, with the news of more big-time headliners to be revealed soon. Iconic American rock band Foo Fighters will be hitting the stage at the upcoming three-day festival, which is scheduled to be held from July 24-26 in Ansa
Feb. 8, 2015
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Eyelike: Johnny Marr, Bob Dylan, Ne-Yo
Johnny Marr is on his game with ‘Playland’Johnny Marr“Playland”(Warner)When Johnny Marr completed his first solo album, “The Messenger,” in 2013, the man behind the beautifully maudlin rhythms of The Smiths didn’t rest on his laurels. He continued to write, and his sophomore effort, “Playland,” is the pleasant result of that work ethic.“Playland” is strong with guitar certainly, but is also rich with hooks and a decidedly energetic pace. If you’re waiting for sad Smith-ian sand kickers, you won’
Feb. 6, 2015
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Sam Smith looks for Grammy glory
Fresh-faced British singer Sam Smith stands to make history Sunday at the Grammys with a chance to sweep all top categories, but he faces stiff competition from Beyonce and Pharrell Williams. A bartender until a few years ago, the 22-year-old Smith has enjoyed a phenomenal rise as "Stay With Me" -- a ballad about a one-night stand marked by his rich, soulful tenor voice -- became a breakaway hit. Smith is up Sunday for Grammys in the four most closely watched categories -- Album of the Year; R
Feb. 6, 2015
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Foreign views of Korea in early 1900s
A woman carrying a baby on her back and balancing a huge bucket on her head must have left a strong impression on American artist Lilian May Miller, who was born in Tokyo and briefly lived in Seoul after her father was appointed consul in 1918. She made a woodprint of the woman and titled it “A Strange Scene in Korea.” “Korean Farm House under the Moonlight” by Lilian May Miller (Gana Foundation for Arts and Culture)Korea had remained an unknown land to most of the world until the early 1900s w
Feb. 5, 2015
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Art means money
A Venetian waterscape by Claude Monet has sold for more than $35 million at a London auction as the high-end art market shows resilience in a bumpy global economy. “Le Grand Canal” by Claude Monet. (AP-Yonhap) “Vue sur L’Estaque et Le Chateau d’If” by Paul Cezanne. (www.paul-cezanne.org)“Le Grand Canal,” fetched 23.7 million pounds ($35.6 million) at Sotheby’s, though it didn’t reach the top of its pre-sale estimate of 20 million pounds to 30 million pounds.Monet’s “Poplars at Giverny,” sold by
Feb. 5, 2015
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[Herald Review] Buble sexy, suave in first Seoul concert
As this generation’s Sinatra, the devilishly charismatic vocal sensation Michael Buble swayed and charmed his way into the hearts of his Korean fans during his first concert in Korea. Michael Buble performs his first concert in Korea at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday. (CJ E&M)Sexy, suave and debonair, Buble took to the stage Wednesday at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in a chic black suit and bowtie, surrounded by flames for his opening numbers, “Fever” and “Just Haven’t Met You Yet.
Feb. 5, 2015