‘Star Wars’ creator selects Chicago for museum

CHICAGO (AP) ― “Star Wars” creator George Lucas announced Tuesday that he has picked Chicago to host his much-anticipated museum of art and movie memorabilia, in a major victory for the nation’s third-largest city. San Francisco and Los Angeles also had sought the museum. Lucas said in a written statement that he hopes to open the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in 2018. “I am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the museum in a city that has a long tradi

FilmJune 25, 2014

Zany adventures of centenarian draw moviegoers, readers

The book “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” by Swedish journalist-turned-writer Jonas Jonasson and its eponymous film adaptation are enjoying success both in Korean bookstores and at the box office.The book ranked No. 7 on the bestseller list for the third week of June, according to the Korea Publishers Society. The ranking was compiled from eight major offline and online bookstores. The movie premiered at No. 5 in the local box office last weekend with 82,745

FilmJune 25, 2014

Diversity highlights musical festival

This year’s Daegu International Musical Festival is bringing shows from countries like Slovakia, Russia and China, reflecting the Korean audience’s growing taste for diversity. Opening this coming Saturday for a 17-day run, the festival will feature a total of 17 musicals, including four foreign works and two multinational (including Korea) ones. Four original Korean shows will get their premieres during the fair, which includes “Wedding Shoes,” a musical about comfort women, Korean women who we

CultureJune 25, 2014

Seo Taiji won’t press charges against fan intruder

Seo Taiji and his wife Lee Eun-seong. (Seo Taiji Co.)Singer Seo Taiji has announced that he will not press charges against a fan who was arrested for breaking into his residence in Pyeongchang-dong, northern Seoul, on Monday.The intruder, identified as a 31-year-old female fan, was arrested on Monday evening by the Jongno-gu police for unlawful entry into a private property. A related law stipulates that the woman could face up to three years in jail or a 5 million won ($4,900) fine.Seo decided

June 25, 2014

YG artists to stage joint concert in China

Psy. (YG Entertainment)Rapper Psy and several other artists managed by YG Entertainment, a leading entertainment agency in South Korea, will hold a joint concert in China in August, the agency said Wednesday.The concert titled “YG Family 2014 Galaxy Tour: Power in Shanghai” will kick off on Aug. 30 in Shanghai, the company said in a statement.The agency said Shanghai would be the first stop of the artists’ concert tour to other Chinese cities and Southeast Asian countries but that schedule for t

PerformanceJune 25, 2014

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City appoints new general manager

Matthias Sutter, general manager of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel. (Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel)Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel has appointed a Swiss veteran hotelier as its new general manager. Matthias Sutter has built up a career in the hospitality business for 15 years, mainly in Asia and North America. Prior to joining the Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, Sutter served as a hotel manager at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok. Sutter also worked in Korea at Park Hyatt Seoul and H

PeopleJune 25, 2014

Nichkhun seizes the day in China as an actor

Nichkhun, the America-born Thai member of K-pop boy group 2PM, is having his heyday in China.Nichkhun’s first-ever drama series, “One And a Half Summer,” began to air on the same day that filming began for “Bucket List,” his second drama series in China.“One And a Half Summer” set a record with 1.5 million online viewers shortly after the first episode was aired at 7:30 p.m. The singer-actor also managed to rank third on a local Internet chart of popular people.With Nichkhun’s rapid rise to star

June 25, 2014

HyunA says there are ‘more victims of fabricated nude photos’

4minute’s HyunA is just one of many victims of fabricated nude photos, according to her management agency.She is “not the only celebrity (who’s been victimized). On the relevant site (where HyunA’s altered photos were produced), there is a section called ‘Nude Celebrity Composition’ and fabricated pictures of popular celebrities are uploaded there,” an official of Cube Entertainment told Enews24, a Korean entertainment news outlet, on Monday. (Instagram)According to the news report, there are nu

June 25, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun to proceed with controversial Chinese ad

Actor Kim Soo-hyun announced his decision to proceed with the disputed Chinese bottled water advertisement on Wednesday.Kim’s management company, Keyeast Entertainment, explained that Hengda Group and Kim have come to a settlement in a press release.“After rounds of discussion, China’s Hengda Group and Keyeast came to the agreement to fulfill the responsibility bound by the trust of two companies rather than resorting to extreme measures,” the management agency said.Keyeast Entertainment continu

June 25, 2014

Soo-hyun of ‘Avengers 2’ reveals beauty secret that even Scarlet Johansson is curious about

 “Avengers 2” cast member Soo-hyun revealed her beauty secret. The actress said that even the Hollywood star Scarlet Johansson was curious about her glowing skin. Soo-hyun said that having moist skin is very important, especially on board a plane, where it is at its driest. To moisten her skin she uses cosmetics samples.The actress also revealed that on the “Avengers” set detox juice is always provided for the cast. As a result, no one looks tired or has skin problems, she added. By Cho Han-na,

June 25, 2014

What are 5 songs that IU enjoys?

What songs is the singer IU listening to these days?Singer IU (OSEN]On Tuesday, IU revealed five songs that she enjoys listening to through “Artist Playlist.”On the list were g.o.d.’s “Return to Me,“ Yoon Jong-Shin’s “Red-Bean Sherbet,” Lee So-Ra’s “Track 9,” 15&’s “Suger” and History’s “Psycho.” Each song is from a different genre and by an artist from a different age group. About g.o.d.’s song, IU said, “I listen to their song a lot. I love their music.”About Yoon’s song “Red-Bean Sherbet,” sh

June 25, 2014

Lee Hyori reveals her workspace in Jejudo Island

The K-pop queen Lee Hyori revealed on Wednesday her workspace on her blog. “This is my workspace in the living room. I spend most of my time here,” she said on the blog. In the photos, Lee concentrates on doing needlework right next to objects she has made such as cushions and dolls.  Lee Hyori's blogLee has been living on Jejudo Island since she married the musician Lee Sang-soon last year.She started blogging earlier this month to share her life with fans. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

June 25, 2014

YG Entertainment to showcase joint concert in China

Rapper Psy and several other K-pop artists managed by YG Entertainment will hold a joint concert in Shanghai in August, the agency announced on Wednesday.Dubbed “YG Family 2014 Galaxy Tour: Power in Shanghai,” the joint concert will kick off on Aug. 30 in the Chinese city, the country’s second-largest entertainment firm by sales said in a statement. The agency said Shanghai would be the base of its future overseas operations, engaging other Chinese cities and Southeast Asian countries. The agenc

June 25, 2014

Ji-yeon surprises Si-wan with a kiss

 Park Ji-yeon, a female character in MBC drama “Triangle,” surprised Yim Si-wan with a kiss, further attracting viewers’ attention to the love triangle in the soap opera.  The kiss was aired Tuesday on episode 16 of “Triangle,” MBC’s Monday-Tuesday drama. After Kim Jae-joong was newly appointed casino director, Kim’s rival Yim Si-wan went to a club with Park Ji-yeon to relieve stress.But Yim only drank, so Park said, “You terribly hate meeting me, right?” Yim answered, “Not that much. It’s just

June 25, 2014

Super Junior Kangin tries flying yoga

Super Junior member Kangin tried out flying yoga but failed on a television program.  (MBC every1)On MBC every1’s TV program “A Celebrity Lives in My House 2,” Kangin only showed off his lack of flexibility while trying out flying yoga. (MBC every1)The program shows a celebrity living with a new family. In the episode, Kangin lives with a young couple who just delivered a baby. (MBC every1)All footage of him doing yoga will be aired on Thursday at 11 p.m. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

June 25, 2014

B1A4 starts ‘Road Trip’

B1A4 will begin their first overseas concert tour in Taipei and Shanghai this August.On Wednesday, WM Entertainment said, “B1A4 will start their overseas concert tour ‘2014 B1A4 Road Trip READY?’ in August.” B1A4 (W Ent.)B1A4’s concerts have sold out several times and their songs “Lonely” and “What’s Happening” have topped the charts.After with their fifth EP release in July, they will start their world tour in August in Taipei and Shanghai and move on to Manila in September. WM Entertainment sa

June 25, 2014

K-pop boy group Boyfriend’s summer editorial

K-pop boy group Boyfriend’s summer editorial has been released. The concept for the shoot, in which the members showed off their manly charisma, was “Summer Boyfriend.”By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo Credit: 10+Star)

June 25, 2014

Film stills of Ha Jung-woo in “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” revealed

Film stills of actor Ha Jung-woo in the historical blockbuster “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” were revealed on Wednesday. Film stills of actor Ha Jung-woo in “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (Showbox)The photo on the left shows the actor playing Dolmuchi, an obedient and humble butcher, before facing the brutality of the yangban elite class. The photo on the right, on the other hand, depicts the butcher turned into the rebellious head of Kundo, a civil resistance movement, determined to fight against th

June 25, 2014

Block B set to steal America’s heart

Idol group Block B is on a trip to the United States to hold showcases in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Florida.Block B successfully finished its first showcase in New York at Theatre at Westbury on June 22. More than 1,000 fans attended the concert and enjoyed Block B’s passionate performance.There were few Asians in attendance, and about 95 percent were New Yorkers, according to local news reports.“We recently had our first solo concert in Korea, too. We never expected to receive such a heat

June 25, 2014