Most Popular
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Medical profs at top hospitals suspend surgeries, clinics
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Samsung chip business back on track, logs W1.9tr operating profit in Q1
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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Shinsegae faces showdown with investors over SSG.com's delayed IPO
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Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
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Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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S. Korea to issue travel ban on Haiti amid intensifying gang violence
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Leaders of S. Korea, Angola agree to boost economic, trade cooperation
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Singing nun wins Italian TV talent show
MILAN (AFP) ― A singing nun clinched the final of The Voice of Italy television talent show contest on Friday after winning millions of followers with her lively dance act and soulful renditions of lusty pop classics.Wearing her black habit and a crucifix around her neck, Suor Cristina punched the air and thanked God for her victory, reciting an “Our Father” prayer to the puzzlement of organizers and audience.“I want Jesus to come in here!” said the wholesome 25-year-old with a self-effacing man
June 8, 2014
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Tony Awards to be a knockout ― literally
NEW YORK (AP) ― The competition at the Tony Awards is fierce every year, but this time promises to be positively brutal: A fight will actually break out onstage. Sunday’s telecast will feature the usual black ties, soaring songs and gentle jokes ― and an eye-popping boxing match between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed in a regulation-size ring on the Radio City Music Hall stage. It’s part of an attempt to highlight as many Broadway musicals as possible and promises to be a boon to the backers of t
June 8, 2014
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Oscar winner Nyong’o bags MTV Africa personality award
DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) ― Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o won the personality of the year award at the 2014 MTV African Music Awards held in South Africa’s southeastern city of Durban on Saturday. The 31-year-old, who won the best supporting actress Academy Award in March for her role in historical drama “12 Years a Slave,” was not present to receive her award. She became the first winner of the newly introduced lifestyle non-music personality of the year award. Actress Lupita Ny
June 8, 2014
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Teaser of Psy’s new song ‘Hangover’ tops 1m views on YouTube
A snippet of Psy’s new music video “Hangover.” (Yonhap)A snippet of the music video for Psy’s new song “Hangover” surpassed 1 million views on YouTube on Sunday, just two days after its release, his agency said.The new hip-pop song had a 10-second preview on U.S. network ABC’s talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night,” where Psy and American hip-hop star Snoop Dogg were to appear, inviting 1.18 million views on YouTube, according to YG Entertainment.The full music video will be released Sunday (
June 8, 2014
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Art confronts ‘information overload’
With the click of a mouse, one can access a sea of information that was unimaginable before the advent of the World Wide Web. But more often than not a flood of information causes frustration when one is searching for a single piece of information. In this era when one can access information instantly, choosing the right information can be a daunting challenge. The confusion and irritation caused by what futurologist Alvin Toffler calls “information overload” in his 1970 bestselling book “Future
June 5, 2014
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[Herald Interview] A feline state of mind
Even if you never saw “Cats,” you would probably recognize the musical if you saw the actors, with their facial paint, furry tails and unitards, or heard “Memory,” one of the most popular songs from any musical. Staged numerous times in numerous cities, including Seoul, for more than 30 years since its London premiere, the Andrew Lloyd Webber show has become something of a musical milestone.The original production first came to Korea in 1994, and returned in 2003, 2007 and 2008, drawing some 1.2
June 4, 2014
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[Herald Review] Exemplifying poetry in motion, ‘Scent of Ink’ explores harmony, heritage
Inspired by the works of celebrated choreographer Choi Hyeon, “The Scent of Ink,” in which stunningly lavish Korean costuming clashes with chic and contemporary choreography in a modernized dance production, is a much-needed homage to time-honored traditions. In an hour-long performance that is as aesthetically pleasing as is it moving, the National Dance Company of Korea’s latest rendition of “The Scent of Ink” attempts to approach the framework of Korean philosophy via nonverbal yet expressive
June 4, 2014
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Three decades at the top
Soprano Hong Hei-kyung vividly remembers the night she debuted at the New York Metropolitan Opera. It was ten years after she flew to the U.S. all by herself at the tender age of 15 to study at the Juilliard School. “It was December of 1984. My (first) daughter was just a little baby,” she recalled. “I remember the dress, the hair and everything of that evening. I remember the stage ... how I sang an aria at one corner, moved to another and did the recitative there.” Playing the role of Servilia
June 3, 2014
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Girls’ Generation makes TIME’s Best 25 Songs of 2014
“Mr. Mr.,” the latest single by K-pop group Girls’ Generation, has been chosen as one of TIME’s best 25 songs of this year, according to the U.S. weekly news magazine.Girls’ Generation was the only Asian artist on the list released by the magazine on Monday in New York.TIME described “Mr. Mr.” as a “dance-friendly” track with “a scratchy electronic base line” and “a hint of darkness.” Girls’ Generation“Fans of K-pop juggernaut Girls’ Generation won’t be disappointed by their latest dance-friendl
June 3, 2014
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Papercraft workshops for children
Poster for “Paper Playground,” a paper craft workshop for kids to be held at Topgol Museum. (Topgol Museum)Used paper boxes will be recycled into playthings in a papercraft workshop for kids at Topgol Museum in Seoul. The museum holds the workshop entitled “Paper Playground” from June 10-July 13. The museum is located on the first floor of Seoul Senior Welfare Center in Jongno. Children will make lamps, frames, chairs and other pieces of furniture with used paper boxes in different classes. Othe
June 3, 2014
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Jazz pianist Corea, vibraphonist Burton to stage live concerts
Legendary American jazz pianist Chick Corea and renowned vibraphonist Gary Burton will together make their way to Korea to stage two live concerts next week. The jazz musicians will perform at the Suseong Artpia Yongji Hall in Daegu on June 13 and at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul on June 14. The upcoming concerts will mark the duo’s first visit to Korea since 2007.Chick Corea, 73, is considered one of the greatest living jazz pianists, alongside some of the biggest names in the fiel
June 3, 2014
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Universal Ballet celebrates 30th anniversary with ‘Giselle’
One of the most dramatic and classic tales of passion, betrayal and heartbreak is returning to the stage as Korea’s Universal Ballet celebrates 30 years with its adapted rendition of “Giselle.” Regarded as one of the most well-known and widely performed ballet works of the Romantic era, “Giselle” is the tale of a young peasant girl. After learning that the man she loves has betrayed her, Giselle is hit with a sudden jolt of heart-wrenching grief and dies; yet instead of exacting revenge from the
June 2, 2014
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Charles Aznavour dazzles London at 90
LONDON (AFP) ― Legendary French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, who celebrated his 90th birthday on stage in Berlin last month, defied the years to charm 5,500 spectators at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.Taking the limelight to a standing ovation, the activist-singer promised the audience: “I’ll sing half in English, half in French ... tonight is about Entente cordiale.”Surrounded by seven musicians and two singers, the giant of French song began his set with “Les emigrants,
June 2, 2014
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[Herald Review] Musical picnic on the green
Over the sunny weekend, thousands of people gathered at a riverside park along the Hangang River for an urban musical getaway.Under the theme of “a musical picnic in the spring, the happiest music festival,” this year’s Greenplugged Seoul took place at Seoul Nanji Hangang Park, featuring 97 local acts in various genres including acoustic, soft rock, alternative rock, heavy metal and hip-hop.Many festival attendees arrived via shuttle buses that circulated between Nanji and Hapjeong Station. Musi
June 2, 2014
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2 billion YouTube views and counting for ‘Gangnam Style’
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) ― The wildly popular “Gangnam Style” music video cemented its place Saturday as one of the defining soundtracks of the digital age, smashing through the 2 billion barrier on YouTube.The infectious and satirical mega-hit by South Korean pop star Psy became a worldwide sensation, fueling a South Korean “K-pop” trend after it was first uploaded to the popular video sharing platform in July 2012.It continues to garner thousands of looks daily and already was hundreds of thousands
June 1, 2014
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Music industry optimistic on Apple-Beats deal
When Cortez Bryant decided to negotiate a headphones marketing deal for his clients Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj a few years ago, he turned down more money from other more established companies to sign with Beats By Dre for a simple reason.“There was a bunch of history there, so at the end of the day I took less upfront money to be part of this deal with people who understood pop culture,” Bryant said. “I try to stick to that because if I lose touch with pop culture, then I’m out of the music busin
June 1, 2014
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Confident Susan Boyle readies first U.S. tour
NEW YORK (AP) ― Five years after her musical breakthrough, Susan Boyle says she’s feeling confident and comfortable ― and ready to launch her first U.S. tour. The 53-year-old will hit the road in October on a 21-date trek. Boyle said she hadn’t been ready to take on the tour after her pop culture moment in 2009, but now she’s more relaxed and ready to perform. “I didn’t have the confidence. I didn’t have the right experience, but I feel more ready now, and I really can’t wait,” she said in a pho
June 1, 2014
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Depth that comics can achieve
In the age of digital content available at your fingertips, comics have fallen as mere entertainment for killing time during commuting hours. But cartoonist Park Heung-yong’s works have been more than a flip-through. In fact, they have been highlighted with unconventional subjects and depth usually found in novels. Park has created works that are grounded in Korean sentiment and the lives of average people and the underprivileged. Instead of conforming to publishers’ tastes, he has set his own p
June 1, 2014
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Psy's 'Gangnam Style' hits 2 billion YouTube views
It's 2 billion and counting for Psy and his irrepressible ``Gangnam Style.''The South Korean pop star's surprise hit has become the first YouTube video to surpass 2 billion views, crossing the mark around shortly before midnight EDT Friday.The unlikely viral star holds the record for most overall views and most views in a day with 38 million for his ``Gangnam Style'' followup ``Gentleman.''No other video comes close to ``Gangnam'' on the streaming service's list of top videos. Justin Bieber's ``
May 31, 2014
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Calendar
Pop MusicUltra Korea Music Festival: The annual Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s largest outdoor electronica music fests, will be in full swing in Seoul once again. Last summer’s event drew more than 80,000 EDM fans. Like last year, this year’s lineup will include a handful of world famous DJ acts including Steve Aoki, Above & Beyond, Steve Angello and Paul Vanduk. The festival will be held on June 13 and 14 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Stadium Complex. Tickets are listed at 130,000
May 30, 2014