Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
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‘Kim desperately wanted to denuclearize,’ Moon writes in memoirs
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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Korea set to finalize medical school expansion plans
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How VOD grosses of ‘The Interview’ could change the game
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Sony appears to have a win-win with “The Interview.” Not only did the studio score a moral victory by releasing the film in the face of hacker threats, the movie made at least $15 million from more than 2 million digital rentals and purchases in its first four days. On Friday, it seemed unlikely we’d ever know if the simultaneous ― or “day and date” ― strategy paid off. Now, it’s tempting to suggest this may be the start of a brave new world of distribution. Add in the $2.8 mi
FilmDec. 31, 2014
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Novelist Gong Ji-young accuses netizens of libel
Best-selling novelist Gong Ji-young sued seven netizens for libel, claiming they circulated a false rumor about her private life and posted malicious comments online. Gong filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office against the netizens, who are accused of posting sexually insulting comments on major newspaper websites, Facebook and Twitter between December 2012 and November 2014, according to Yonhap. The nature of the rumor was not specified.“Gong is well aware that as
BooksDec. 31, 2014
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Baby, it’s gold inside
PHILADELPHIA ― Gold has moved beyond deck-the-halls festive into the glitzy realm of must-have fashion.It’s the season for gleaming flecks to sparkle on fluttering eyelids and glisten on mistletoe-ready lips. A bronzy link chain, instead of a ribbon, on tuxedo-style trousers is happy-hour sultry. And shimmering, silky pantsuits are both retro and relevant.Once civilization’s most sought-after metal, gold shines brightest this year in classic yellow. But copper and rose blends, especially on sequ
Arts & DesignDec. 29, 2014
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‘Hobbit’ wins, ‘Interview’ has strong VOD sales
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Audiences had their pick of genres during the Christmas weekend, but despite a host of fresh arrivals, splashy holiday fare like “Unbroken” and “Into the Woods” proved no match for “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” “The Interview,” meanwhile, wowed with $15 million from its over 2 million online rentals and purchases. The final installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy marched to the top spot once again with an estimated $41.4 million take across the weekend ($54.5 inc
FilmDec. 29, 2014
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Korea becomes third most popular destination for Chinese tourists
South Korea has become the third most popular destination for mainland Chinese tourists after Hong Kong and Macau. The number of Chinese tourists to Korea has seen double-digit growth over the past couple of years. The figure is expected to reach 6.1 million by the end of this year, up about 40.9 percent from 2013. The number grew 51.5 percent from 2012 to 2013. Korea benefits from the growing number of mainland Chinese travelers, which is expected to exceed 100 million by the end of this year.
TravelDec. 29, 2014
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[Herald Interview] The mind behind ‘Pop Danthology’
From the humorously trend-setting era of hammer pants to the present day hip-hop infused electro-psychedelic pop, the music world is certainly no stranger to the constantly changing and ever-so-inventive modern fads and phases. Much thanks to YouTube, technological innovation and sheer musical genius, the art of mash-ups is becoming one of the hottest trends in the music industry today. The 2012 Hollywood blockbuster “Pitch Perfect” helped rocket song mashing into the global, mainstream limeligh
PerformanceDec. 29, 2014
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35,000 fans hail FNC’s family concerts in Japan
K-pop artists under FNC Entertainment’s banner, including FT ISLAND and CNBLUE, staged a series of family concerts in Japan, attracting about 35,000 fans in total.The singers wrapped up the final concert in Osaka on Saturday, nine days after the first concert in Tokyo on Dec. 20.K-pop boy band FT ISLAND was up first on “Emerald” stage, which was installed for the matinee performances. As the concert scene heated up, the boy band’s main vocalist Lee Hong-gi jumped down the stage and boasted power
PerformanceDec. 29, 2014
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Seoul’s multicultural values master plan for foreign residents
The number of foreign residents in Seoul has now reached about 410,000, accounting for about one in every twenty-five people. This changing demographic of Seoul has motivated the city administration to develop policies to support the foreign residents of the city. As a result, the city is currently carrying out a variety of initiatives to create an advanced, multi-cultural cosmopolitan community built on the basis of cultural diversity, thereby improving the quality of life of its foreign reside
Life&CultureDec. 29, 2014
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Let’s talk about men
Korea has seen brisk discussion of feminism and improvement in the status of women over the past decades. In Korea’s patriarchal society, securing women’s rights was a victory and promised a balanced development of society. For several years, though, men have been complaining about their weakening rights and positions in family and society. The shrinking dominance of males has been ridiculed and satirized on a comedy show that created the so-called “Committee for the Restoration of Male Human Ri
CultureDec. 28, 2014
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Egypt axes ‘Exodus’ film, citing historical mistakes
CAIRO (AFP) ― Egypt has banned the Hollywood biblical epic movie “Exodus: Gods and Kings” citing historical inaccuracies, the culture minister said Friday, a day after a similar move by Morocco.The film relates how Moses helped Israelite slaves flee persecution in Egypt under the Pharaoh Ramses by parting the Red Sea to let them cross safely.Culture Minister Gaber Asfour told AFP Ridley Scott’s blockbuster was rife with mistakes, including an apparent claim that “Moses and the Jews built the pyr
FilmDec. 28, 2014
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Guitarist doesn’t miss day of Vegas Cirque work
LAS VEGAS (AP) ― It’s easy to miss Bruce Rickerd during the “Mystere” show at Treasure Island especially when there’s a man balancing upside-down on the foot of another, or a giant inflatable snail emerging from the massive moving stage or the gasp-inducing drops from acrobats above. But he’s there ― up high on the right or rather, stage left ― playing guitar in just about the same place he’s been for every one of the 10,000 shows come Saturday in the 21-year history of “Mystere” as he and the r
PerformanceDec. 28, 2014
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[Herald Review] Reliving adolescent bliss with ‘The Nutcracker’
While for some, the holiday season is about bundling up by a crackling fire, bellowing out some of Irving Berlin’s most cherished carols or guzzling down a cold cup of hard eggnog, for others it’s not quite complete without the sounds of whimsical percussion bells and the air of innocence in one of the ballet world’s most beloved holiday tales ― “The Nutcracker.”Saturated in festive tradition and Christmas nostalgia, the century-old production continues to spread cheer all around and remains a m
PerformanceDec. 28, 2014
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‘The Interview’ makes $1 million theater debut
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― “The Interview” was never supposed to be a paradigm shifting film. But unusual doesn’t even begin to describe the series of events that transpired over the past few weeks, culminating in the truly unprecedented move by a major studio to release a film in theaters and on digital platforms simultaneously. Sony is in uncharted waters now with the film which earned $1.04 million from 331 locations on Thursday, according to studio estimates, in addition to the untold VOD grosses. “
FilmDec. 28, 2014
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Jazz great Buddy DeFranco dies at 91
PANAMA CITY, Florida (AP) ― Renowned jazz clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, who led the way on his instrument in the transition between the swing and bebop eras, has died at the age of 91, his family said Friday. DeFranco’s family told The Associated Press that the famed musician died Wednesday evening at a Panama City hospital. His wife, Joyce, said he had been in declining health in recent years. The couple lived in Panama City. DeFranco, who began his professional career as a teenager in the late 1
PerformanceDec. 28, 2014
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Cyndi Lauper cancels Korea concerts
Cyndi Lauper, an American pop star of the 1980s, has canceled her planned concerts in South Korea to mark the 30th anniversary of her debut solo album, a local organizer said Sunday.Lauper planned to hold two concerts at Seoul’s Olympic Park on Jan. 23-24 as part of the “She’s So Unusual: 30th Anniversary Tour” that began in June 2013 and has taken her to 56 cities around the world.“The decision has been made in consultation with the artist,”YESCOM Entertainment said, without giving a specific r
PerformanceDec. 28, 2014
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'The Interview' grosses US$1 million at box office
"The Interview," the Sony Pictures movie made popular by North Korea's attempts to stop its release, earned about US$1 million in ticket sales on the first day of its theater release, U.S. media reported Friday.The comedy involving a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hit more than 300 independent theaters across the United States on Christmas Day Thursday after Sony reversed a much-denounced decision to cancel its release under threats from hackers.A day earlier, it was release
FilmDec. 27, 2014
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[Weekender] Rollercoaster year for economy, culture
[Conglomerates] Conglomerates face changesThe hottest topic in Korean big business circles this year was no doubt a generation shift that was brought to surface by the poor health of Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, who suffered a heart attack in May. Lee is said to be recovering, but is still unable to return to the company. As the 72-year-old business magnate’s hospitalization dragged on, the nation’s largest conglomerate was taking steps for handing the chairman’s managerial autho CultureDec. 26, 2014
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A force to reckon with
Three out of all American luxury handbags that hang on women’s arms today are made by Simone, a Korean company.When Kenny Park started the company in 1987, naming it after a nickname he had given his wife, luxury handbags made in Asia were unheard of. “It was an unspoken rule that for bags over $1,000, customers wanted a ‘Made in Italy,’” Park said at his corner office, filled with rocks, flowers and handbags, on Dec. 16. Yet, armed with seven years of experience and a proven track record at a b
Arts & DesignDec. 26, 2014
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Calendar
FestivalPyeongchang Trout Festival: The festival, named one of the top 20 winter festivals in Korea by the Korea Tourism Organization, is being held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics until Feb. 8. The festival is underway along the Odaecheon Stream known for its abundant trout population. Visitors can ice fish and eat trout raw for sashimi or roast it on the spot. More winter activities are available such as catching trouts with bare hands, ice skating,
CultureDec. 26, 2014
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‘The Interview’ dives into geopolitics
Huzzah! Our right to see James Franco blast Katy Perry with Kim Jong-un has been successfully defended. With Sony Pictures Entertainment’s releasing of “The Interview” in limited theaters on Christmas, here follows an updated review of the film: “The Interview” will go down as the satire that provoked an authoritarian dictatorship, roiled Sony Pictures in a massive hacking attack and prompted new questions of cyberwarfare, corporate self-censorship and comedic audacity. The movie is already assu
FilmDec. 26, 2014