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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Artist in a turbulent time
Artist Po Kim was a victim of political upheavals in Korea. He was accused of being a communist and tortured by the South Korean authorities in 1950, right after he returned from a drawing trip with his students to an island in the West Sea.When the Korean War broke out shortly after, he was cleared of charges, but then arrested again, this time by the North Korean People’s Army for being a pro-American activist. “As soon as I was cleared of charges and freed from prison I walked to Gwangju. But
Dec. 9, 2014
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Is Mona Lisa Chinese? Italian’s theory raises eyebrows
BEIJING (AFP) ― An Italian historian’s theory that Mona Lisa might be a Chinese slave and Leonardo da Vinci’s mother ― making the 15th-century polymath half-Chinese ― sent online commentators into a frenzy Wednesday.Angelo Paratico, a Hong Kong-based historian and novelist from Italy, told the South China Morning Post: “On the back of Mona Lisa, there is a Chinese landscape and even her face looks Chinese.”Chinese Web users expressed astonishment and disbelief Wednesday, posting dozens of parodi
Dec. 9, 2014
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[Herald Interview] French native looks to pave the way for blues music
After moving to New York from Paris with wide-eyed dreams of moving to Harlem to pursue a life with jazz, David Naze instead found himself unexpectedly enthralled with Korean culture. Living in Big Apple for two years and being exposed to the city’s large Korean community, Naze said that he was so eager to discover Korean culture that he decided to pack his things and do away with his American dreams to move here despite having no concrete plans. Now in his third year in Korea, Naze has founded
Dec. 9, 2014
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‘Happy,’ ‘Frozen’ top iTunes end of year list
A scene from FrozenNEW YORK (AP) ― The soundtrack for “Frozen” and Pharrell’s viral “Happy” are the year’s top-selling album and song on iTunes. Apple announced Monday that Taylor Swift’s “1989,” just released in October, is behind “Frozen.” Coldplay’s “Ghost Stories,” Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour” and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack round out the Top 5 albums. John Legend’s “All of Me,” Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse,” “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” follow “Happy”
Dec. 9, 2014
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Barenboim bids La Scala farewell with ‘Fidelio’
MILAN (AP) ― Daniel Barenboim emerged triumphant from his last gala season opener as music director of La Scala on Sunday, bringing the entire orchestra onstage to bask in a standing ovation. “I am deeply happy for this evening and for all of these years. An evening like this doesn’t come out of nowhere,” Barenboim said backstage. “I feel that all we have done since 2005 had a guiding line and arrived at the point where we are today. Everyone ― the singers, the soloists, the chorus, the orchestr
Dec. 8, 2014
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Beyonce, Pharrell, Sam Smith lead in Grammy nods
NEW YORK (AP) ― The year’s brightest newcomer, Sam Smith; the most nominated female in Grammy history, Beyonce; and mega-producer Pharrell led the Grammy Award nominations announced Friday, with six nominations apiece. Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour,” Beyonce’ surprise self-titled release and Pharrell’s “G I R L” will compete for the coveted album of the year, along with Beck’s “Morning Phase” and Ed Sheeran’s “X,” the most streamed album on Spotify this year. Beyonce Knowles (AP/Evan Agostini), Sa
Dec. 7, 2014
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[Herald Review] Black full of gut-busting humor in Tenacious D concert
Rejoice for the return of the kings of rock and roll comedy. Hollywood actor and notoriously foul-mouthed comedic icon Jack Black and his rock and roll partner in crime, Kyle Gass, delivered a non-stop barrel of laughs during Tenacious D’s first concert in Korea at the Seoul Olympic Park on Friday night. A band that’s all about racy humor and politically incorrect lyrics, Tenacious D ― with Black on lead vocals and guitar and long-time friend Gass on guitar ― performed two live shows at the Olym
Dec. 7, 2014
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Paving the way for artists
On display in the private office of Lee Hyun-sook on the top floor of her gallery in Seoul are items from some of the most significant contemporary exhibitions in Korea over the last couple of years. The small space overlooking Gyeongbokgung Palace is ultramodern, with a sculpture by Anish Kapoor, a painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat and a glass sculpture by Roni Horn alongside her selection of contemporary designers’ furniture. Lee’s Kukje Gallery, opened in 1982, has been the first in Korea to s
Dec. 5, 2014
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Calendar
Pop music“Tenacious D”: Rock musician and Hollywood actor Jack Black, best known for his role as Dewey Finn in the blockbuster hit “School of Rock,” will be coming to Seoul along with bandmate Kyle Gass for the comedy rock duo Tenacious D’s first concert in Korea. The band is known for Black’s thespian-like vocals and the quick-witted crude humor that people have come to expect from the rocker-comedian. In 2012, Tenacious D released its most recent album, “Rize of the Fenix,” which received a Gr
Dec. 5, 2014
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Eyelike: Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ romantic, relaxed
Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ romantic, relaxedSam Hunt“Montevallo”MCA NashvilleA former college football quarterback, Sam Hunt might be expected to huddle up with all the macho, in-your-face male country singers currently filling the radio airwaves. But the Georgia native takes a more relaxed, romantic stance on “Montevallo,’’ his R&B-influenced country music debut. While most contemporary country stars lean on hyper hip-hop beats and fast-moving raps to accent their dirt-road sound, Hunt turns to R&
Dec. 5, 2014
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U2 to return to road four years after record tour
NEW YORK (AFP) ― U2, whose last tour in 2009-2011 was the highest-grossing ever, on Wednesday announced concerts in 2015 across North America and Europe and promised variety in its sets.The tour plans indicate that front man Bono expects a full recovery after a bicycle accident last month. He was replaced by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay’s Chris Martin during a surprise show for AIDS relief Monday in New York.The Irish superstars announced shows in 19 cities starting with Vancouver’s Rogers Are
Dec. 4, 2014
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‘Gangnam Style’ gallops beyond YouTube counter
NEW YORK (AFP) ― Just how big a hit was “Gangnam Style”? So mammoth that the Internet literally wasn’t ready to handle it.YouTube said that the 2012 song by South Korea’s Psy ― accompanied by a horse-riding-like dance that became a global sensation ― this week reached the maximum number of views that its counter had imagined to be conceivable.The video-sharing site shows that the official version of the video has had more than 2.15 billion views ― the equivalent of one-third of the world’s popul
Dec. 4, 2014
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Yeongdeungpo Common Center: Unlikely place to exhibit art
The area around Yeongdeungpo Station is an odd mix of old and new. The main street is lined with major department stores and shops. But just behind the street stretches an overlooked side of Seoul. One of the city’s few remaining red-light districts and a cluster of shanty houses known as “jjokbangchon” in Korean appear just a few meters from the crowded Shinsegae Department Store. The street toward Moonrae-dong west of Yeongdeungpo is lined with drab little ironworks and unfrequented stores, tr
Dec. 3, 2014
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BigBang offshoot tops Billboard World Digital Songs’ Chart
“Good Boy” by “GD x Taeyang,” a subunit of the popular South Korean boy band BigBang, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard’s World Digital Songs’ Chart early this week, according to the U.S. music news service.Released on Nov. 21, “Good Boy” started atop the chart with just three days of sales, moving 5,000 copies, Billboard.com said in an article on Monday, citing figures from Nielsen SoundScan.The duo became the third K-pop act to top the chart.“Not only has the one-two punch of G-Dragon and Taey
Dec. 3, 2014
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First boyfriend for singing star Susan Boyle at 53
LONDON (AP) ― The magnificent and shy singer Susan Boyle has her first boyfriend at age 53 ― a Connecticut doctor she met on her recent U.S. tour who may soon visit her in Scotland.“That’s the plan,” Boyle’s spokeswoman, Nicola Phillips, said Monday. “She met someone when she was in America and the idea is that he can come here.” Boyle and the doctor met at a hotel in Clearwater, Florida, Phillips said, adding that Boyle is “definitely” happy to have met someone. The church volunteer from a sma
Dec. 2, 2014
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Hard rock meets soul as YB, Bobby Kim team up
Members of the rock band YB, led by Yoon Do-hyun on vocals, are dipping their toes into a unique collaboration project with one of the nation’s leading R&B and ballad front men, Bobby Kim. In an effort to end the year on a high note, the musicians of YB and Kim have decided to host a special series of collaborative concerts at the end of the month to give fans a taste of music that they would otherwise not be able to hear from either of the artists. “We decided to come together because we wanted
Dec. 2, 2014
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Stars of Broadway’s ‘Doctor Zhivago’ revealed
NEW YORK (AP) ― The upcoming Broadway musical “Doctor Zhivago” will star a Broadway newbie, two Broadway veterans who were in “Jesus Christ Superstar” together and an actress from “Wicked” who just got married. Producers said Monday that Tam Mutu will make his Broadway debut as the passionate doctor and poet, Yurii Zhivago, played in the classic movie by Omar Sharif. Mutu’s theater credits in London include Javert in “Les Miserables” and “Love Never Dies.” Kelli Barrett will play his paramour, L
Dec. 2, 2014
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AC/DC’s Young says brother’s dementia evident 6 years ago
SYDNEY (AFP) ― AC/DC guitarist Angus Young says he first noticed something amiss with brother Malcolm six years ago, and his dementia worsened until he could no longer remember his own songs. Malcolm Young, 61, who cofounded the veteran Australian band that went to become one of the biggest grossing groups of all time, retired this year and is now believed to be in a Sydney care facility.Angus Young said he first noticed something was wrong when they were recording their last album, “Black Ice,”
Dec. 2, 2014
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Nostalgia-infused brushstrokes
The Korean woman in a traditional white dress with delicately pulled-back hair is seen through a long ramie veil with ripples created by wooden sticks. Viewers can’t get a firm grasp of the mysterious figure behind the veil, but those familiar with traditional Korean life would start to feel the nostalgia of the old lifestyle through simple objects such as a laundry paddle used to wash clothes and fabrics made at home. This painting symbolizing traditional rural life in Korea was made by artist
Dec. 1, 2014
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Five nights, five bands, one rock-filled week
For the 17th edition of Hyundai Card’s ongoing Culture Project series, the New Year will be kicking off with a bang with “5 Nights,” a week of live music starting Jan. 12.Avenged Sevenfold, Bastille, Starsailor, Rudimental and Asgeir will be making their way to Korea to electrify Seoul in the large-scale music festival featuring five solo concerts over five days. American rock band Avenged Sevenfold will kick off the festival. Formed in the late ’90s, the band released its official debut album,
Nov. 30, 2014