Reunited K-pop legend g.o.d. tops the charts

The latest album of veteran K-pop group g.o.d. dominated local charts just hours after its release online Tuesday, proving its steadfast popularity despite a nine-year-long hiatus. Shortly after the release at midnight, the song “Stories We’ve Lived” from the band’s long-awaited eighth studio album “Chapter 8” topped local music streaming charts, including Melon, Olleh Music, Mnet, Naver Music and Daum Music.Other tracks such as “Sky Blue Promise” and “5+4+1+5=15” were also ranked No. 1 on Monke

July 8, 2014

Akdong Musician talks about tough childhood

South Korean brother-sister duo Akdong Musician talked about their impoverished upbringing in Mongolia in a television program on Monday.  (SBS) “After my parents said that they couldn’t afford to send us to school, we gave up on school and started homeschooling,” the duo said on SBS show “Healing Camp.”  “We don’t have friends and we have never worn school uniforms because we didn’t go to school.”  Bot

July 8, 2014

Tang Wei and Kim Tae-yong spotted on summer night date

World-famous Chinese actress Tang Wei and her fiance Kim Tae-yong, South Korean film director, were sighted together in front of an apartment building in Beijing, Chinese media outlets reported Tuesday. Tang and Kim have stayed in the Chinese capital since the two announced they would wed this fall on July 2. They allegedly met with Tang’s parents to pay their respects. The Asian celebrity couple stepped out of an apartment building near Beijing Chaoyang Park late Monday night. They were holding

July 8, 2014

Eunhyuk: f(x) are breathtakingly pretty

Super Junior member Eunhyuk has revealed a photo taken with K-pop girl band f(x).“Wow, I saw f(x)! (They) even took a photo with me! So nice. So pretty. Can’t breathe. Oh, oh” Eunhyuk wrote on his Twitter as the photo showed five members of f(x) in sparkly stage outfits and Eunhyuk posing.Following the photo of the group and Eunhyuk, he went on to take pictures with individual members, showing his tight bond with f(x), which is under the same management company as Super Junior.Eunhyuk visited th

July 8, 2014

IU gave up college because of bad grades

Korean singer IU gave up on college because her high school grades were below average, she said Monday on television program Healing Camp. “My mentor told me that it is very easy to get into Seoul National University but there were no colleges available with my grades,” she said. “I don’t think I liked school that much. I was just waiting for freedom from school.” IU began working as a singer during high school, she added as another factor. The program hosts good-naturedly told her that it was a

July 8, 2014

Not an ordinary chair

Along the “design promenade,” the curved, flowing passageway inside the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, visitors pass by stylish, unique chairs. Some take a look, while others hardly notice them and go straight into the exhibition space. The DDP staff recommends visitors pay attention to the chairs, designed by 112 furniture designers from 30 countries around the world. “Visitors are not sure whether the chairs are just decor objects or real chairs that they can sit on. The chairs displayed he

Arts & DesignJuly 7, 2014

Catholic celebrities sing for the pope

More than 20 A-list celebrities gathered at Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral last month sing in a music video for Pope Francis, who’s due to visit here next month. The video was released Monday. The single “Koinonia” celebrates the Holy Father’s Aug. 14-18 visit to Korea. The title is the Greek word for fellowship, sharing in common and communion. “So many people live just for themselves. If more people prayed for others, the world would be a better place to live,” Noh Young-sim, the song’s composer

PerformanceJuly 7, 2014

Historical films set to cool off summer

Joseon era (1392-1910), $17 million, star-studded casts and historical films are some of the defining words of the Korean film industry for the summer of 2014.It is no coincidence that three large-scale period movies will open in theaters in July and August, only weeks apart from each other. “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” will be the first to open on July 23, followed by “Roaring Currents” on July 30 and then “The Pirates” on Aug. 6. These films are part of the box-office trend in which historical

July 7, 2014

Paris Hilton to DJ at SuperX Summer Festival

The international fashion icon and notorious socialite Paris Hilton will be packing her bikini and DJ set and performing live at the upcoming SuperX Summer Festival in Seoul next month. The SuperX Summer Festival is the first all-day poolside party to hit South Korea and will be held at the Walkerhill River Park from Aug. 15-16. Although the starlet is best known as the heiress of the Hilton Hotel franchise, her frequent appearances on reality TV shows launched her into superstardom and made her

PerformanceJuly 7, 2014

f(x) releases new studio album

K-pop girl group f(x) has made a long-awaited return to the local music scene, equipped with fresh electro-pop sounds and eclectic musical styles.The five girls of f(x) ― Victoria, Krystal, Amber, Sulli and Luna ― officially released their new 11-track studio album “Red Light” on Monday, with the eponymous title track “Red Light” immediately climbing up to the top of local music charts.f(x). (SM Entertainment)The lead single “Red Light” is a funky electro-pop tune that opens with a rap-like chan

July 7, 2014

YG’s hip-hop boy band Winner to debut Aug. 1

YG Entertainment will debut Winner, a new five-member hip-hop boy band, on Aug. 1. This will be the first time in eight years that YG has debuted a male idol group. The agency has completed a three-week promotional campaign for the group that began on June 16. Winner. (YG Entertainment)In the three weeks, dubbed “Test Week,” “New York Week” and “Winner Week,” it released new individual and group teasers every day. “Winner Week” featured a total of six movie clip teasers, with the last one releas

July 7, 2014

EXO’s Chen to sing on drama soundtrack

K-pop sensation EXO’s Chen will contribute a song to the soundtrack for the drama “It’s Okay, That’s Love” in his first solo activity since his debut in 2012.  (EXO's Chen)The news about Chen’s participation on the album has excited EXO fans who viewed it as a move to back fellow member D.O., who has a role in the TV series. D.O is to play an innocent high school student who dreams of becoming a best-selling author to make his mother happy.  (EXO's D.O)The SBS-TV drama will also feature top-clas

July 7, 2014

Shinhwa’s Kim Dong-wan to star in 10th anniversary of ‘Hedwig’

Kim Dong-wan during Shinhwa's 16th anniversary concert (OSEN)K-pop singer and actor Kim Dong-wan is to play the role of transgender rocker “Hedwig” from mid-August, officials in the local musical industry said.The musical team selected Kim for the lead role to mark its 10th anniversary in Korea as he is able to bring out the unique character of Hedwig while performing steady yet powerful vocals.“Kim Dong-wan is full of merits. On the outside he is manly and masculine but on the inside he is sens

July 7, 2014

Top 5 tattoo-loving hallyu stars

Tattoos are no longer a symbol of gangsters on the backstreets in Korea. They have rather become fashion items to represent one’s identity and philosophy. With such a trend, more and more Korean celebrities are getting inked with their own unique designs. The Korea Herald listed the top five hallyu stars who have tattoos. 1. Lee Hyori (OSEN)K-pop diva Lee Hyori has multiple tattoos on her neck, right wrist and right arm. (OSEN)(OSEN)While Lee tattooed the simple word “love” on the back of her ne

July 7, 2014

Joo Won to appear as guest on ‘Running Man’

South Korean actor Joo Won will appear as a guest on the hit SBS-TV variety show “Running Man.” The 26-year-old heartthrob will participate in the filming of the program in Seoul on Tuesday, eight months after he stepped down from the KBS-TV reality show “1 Night, 2 Days.” Joo’s appearance on the show comes following months-long efforts by the production team. Having wrapped up his work in the musical “Ghost,” the actor is gearing up for his upcoming drama “Nodame Cantabile,” in which he will pl

July 7, 2014

SNSD’s Yoona to play lead in ‘Nodame Cantabile’

Yoona, actress and member of K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, confirmed Monday that she would play the female lead in the drama “Nodame Cantabile.”  (OSEN)The idol will play Nodame, a talented yet eccentric piano student, a counterpart to Korean actor Joo Won who will play her boyfriend and conductor. Veteran actor Baek Yoon-sik and Dohee of K-pop girl group Tiny-G have also joined the cast, playing Nodame’s teacher and a music student named Sakura, respectively. Nodame Cantabile was original

July 7, 2014

KARA’s Han Seung-yeon in orange makeup

K-pop girl group KARA’s Han Seung-yeon is seen with orange makeup in the fashion magazine High Cut. This summer issue shows the K-pop star in pure white outfits with various orange shades of makeup. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: High Cut)

July 7, 2014

YG to debut K-pop rookie band WINNER in August

South Korean entertainment powerhouse YG Entertainment is to debut its long-awaited rookie idol band WINNER in August. WINNER, the five-member boy group unveiled by the agency in 2013, wrapped up its “WINNER WEEK” last Sunday with a sixth teaser video on the YG official blog that heralded the group’s debut on Aug. 1. The fledgling band has broadened its presence for the last three promotional weeks -- “TEST WEEK,” “NEW YORK WEEK” and “WINNER WEEK” -- while disclosing photo shoots taken in Korea

July 7, 2014