Song Seung-heon throws surprise Twitter event for “Obsessed” fans

Actor Song Seung-heon on Monday hosted a surprise question-and-answer event to celebrate the successful release of the film “Obsessed,” in which he costarred with actress Im Ji-yeon.Song wrote on his Twitter page, “Box office No.1! Please put #인간중독 (‘Obsessed’) and feel free to ask questions to Kim Jin-pyeong of ‘Obsessed.’”The actor said he will select 20 questions and put up responses, starting 7 p.m. (Korea time) on May 21.  "Obsessed (2014)" official poster (left), actor Song Seung-heon (rig

May 20, 2014

Gyeongju museum chief puts tomb relics in the limelight

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province ― Yi Young-hoon, director of Gyeongju National Museum, is one of the few who breathe fresh air into the otherwise dull local museum scene. Through a series of exhibits on royal tombs of the ancient kingdom of Silla, he brought to the spotlight a slew of long-forgotten relics from the backroom of the museum. “Rediscovery of relics from our own storage rooms is what I emphasize to most to my staff here,” Yi said at his office in the museum last week. “The concep

CultureMay 19, 2014

Jones brings ‘women’s Western’ to Cannes

Cannes, France (AFP) ― Tommy Lee Jones on Sunday premiered his Cannes contender “The Homesman,” a women-driven Western starring fellow Oscar winners Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep that turns the genre on its head. The film, which drew warm applause and largely positive reviews after a press preview, marked Jones’ second directorial outing at the world’s top film festival, following 2005’s “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” Like that film, “The Homesman” takes a critical look at the defini

FilmMay 19, 2014

Museum’s unsung heroes

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province ― Looking through a microscope, a researcher in a blue gown is poised to tackle a thumb-size, heavily corroded metal object with what appears to be a medical scalpel. After a deep breath, he starts scraping off the rust in a slow and controlled movement. Welcome to the conservation lab of Gyeongju National Museum, where ancient treasures are reborn with the help of the latest technology. “Patience is the greatest virtue around here,” says Shin Yong-bi, one of

CultureMay 19, 2014

[Herald Review] Spring jazz and live music at Seoul Jazz Festival 2014

Under the warm sun, soothing breeze and fresh air, tens of thousands of jazz lovers and music fans enjoyed a diverse range of jazz music and live performances at this year’s Seoul Jazz Festival, held at Olympic Park on Saturday and Sunday.SJF, one of the largest outdoor music festivals of the year, took place at three stages set up throughout the park where big names in the world of jazz, internationally famous musicians and popular local acts performed.The largest and most popular spot at the f

PerformanceMay 19, 2014

Big Bang’s Taeyang plans new solo release in June

Taeyang of Big Bang. (YG Entertainment)After a plethora of teaser images by YG Entertainment asking “Who Is Next?” fans finally got their answer as the agency revealed on Sunday that Big Bang’s Taeyang is the next YG artist who will be making his return. However, despite confirming Taeyang’s upcoming release, the announcement, which included an image that said “Taeyang Rise,” still teases fans with lingering questions, tauntingly asking “Is Rise the name of the album?” and “Will this be a full s

May 19, 2014

Michael Jackson hologram debuts at Billboard Awards

Singer Jason Derulo (bottom center) performs onstage during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)A hologram of Michael Jackson made its debut Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards, mirroring the late King of Pop’s signature slick dance moves as some members of the audience became emotional. The hologram performed “Slave to the Rhythm,” a song from Jackson’s new posthumous album “Xscape,” along with a plethora of background dancers

PerformanceMay 19, 2014

EXO’s Kris expresses his feelings in a written letter

Kris, the embattled leader of EXO-M, posted a picture of his handwritten letter on Weibo to express his feelings about filing a lawsuit against S.M. Entertainment.“螳螂拒轍 (It is like a fly trying to bite a tortoise). I am doing better, thanks to all your blessings. I would like to thank you for supporting me. I appreciate every voice you make. Wu yifan is always here,” Kris wrote in the autographed letter posted on Weibo on Friday. Wu yifan is Kris’ Chinese name. The post has gained more than 80,0

May 19, 2014

Kim Soo-hyun: I’ve never been kissed

Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun surprised his fans in Japan when he revealed that he had never kissed a woman besides his partners in movies and television dramas.On a fan meeting named “Kim Soo-hyun Asia Tour 1st Memories” in Japan on Sunday, the 26-year-old was asked about his secret to being a good on-screen kisser, according to OSEN’s reports.“Actually, I have never been kissed besides acting,” Kim was quoted as saying. About 4,000 fans, who packed the meeting, greeted him with shouts and enthusia

May 19, 2014

AOA’s Jimin and Park Hyung-sik in sweet mood

Girl group AOA leader Jimin and actor Park Hyung-sik signaled that they were in a sweet mood on a variety show. In “Real Men,” an MBC reality show in which celebrities experience life in a military barracks, which was aired Sunday, the surprise guest AOA melted the hearts of the military unit that was joined by Park Hyung-sik and other celebrities. In a quiz competition which offered a holiday for the soldier who won the final round, Park and Jimin teamed up together. The partner was chosen by J

May 19, 2014

EXO-K hopes controversy over Kris will settle

(SBS)EXO-K members expressed Sunday their hopes that the growing controversy surrounding the group‘s Chinese unit leader Kris would be settled soon.“I would like to share this honor with EXO-M’s members,” EXO-K leader Suho said after the group won the top prize Sunday on “Inkigayo,” a weekly SBS music program. “I hope you can feel my heart and know what‘s on my mind. Thank you, our fans,” he said in the acceptance speech on behalf of the K-pop boy band. But he did not elaborate on what was on hi

May 19, 2014

Huang Xiaoming reveals intimate selfies with Song Hye-kyo

Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming took and revealed two selfies of Korean actress Song Hye Kyo and himself having a good time in Cannes, France.In the selfies, Huang, wearing a black suit and black tuxedo, poses with the star hallyu actress in white, beaming. Huang posted the photos on his Instagram page on Friday local time.  (Huang Xiaoming`s Instagram) (Huang Xiaoming`s Instagram)The two Asian celebrities made an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival to promote the film “The Crossing,” along with

May 19, 2014

Pop singer Seo Tai-ji to make comeback in fall

Popular veteran singer Seo Tai-ji will return to his fans with a new album in the fall, an entertainment agency said Monday.Wellmade Starm Inc. said Seo has recently signed a contract with its performance planning subsidiary, Show21, for a nationwide concert tour to mark the planned release of his ninth full-length album.The tour is set to begin in Seoul but the exact timing and venues of the shows were not fixed, the company said.The shows are expected to sell more than 10 billion won (US$9.77

PerformanceMay 19, 2014

[Herald Interview] Artistic endeavor to bridge gap on thorny issues

Paintings inspired by the beauty of Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo will be on exhibit at the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza area in August. Given the tension between Korea and Japan over the sovereignty of the rocky islets, the exhibition seems a rather bold move. The artist behind the daring attempt is Jeong Jai-young, 50, who has been painting abstract images of the islets for the last decade. Through his representative Lee Il-young, director of the Korea Art Center, a private gallery in Seoul, t

PerformanceMay 18, 2014

Cannes biopic probes Saint Laurent’s dark side

Belgian actor Jeremie Renier poses during a photo call for the film “Saint-Laurent” at the 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, Saturday. (AFP-Yonhap)CANNES, France (AFP) ― Yves Saint Laurent, France’s shy fashion genius of fashion, came to the big screen at Cannes today with a biopic delving into the darker side of the celebrated designer and his struggles with depression, drinking and drugs. The high priest of fashion who pioneered tuxedos for women and ready-to

FilmMay 18, 2014

10.5-meter sugar sculpture honors black workers

“A Subtlety or the Marvelous Sugar Baby,” by artist Kara Walker, is on display inside the former Domino Sugar Refinery, located in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap)NEW YORK (AP) ― A 10.5-meter-tall sphinxlike sculpture made of sugar is on display at an old New York City factory as a tribute to black workers. Artist Kara Walker’s monumental installation occupies much of the cavernous interior of the former Domino Sugar Refinery in the Williamsburg section

PerformanceMay 18, 2014

Powerful ‘Winter Sleep’ wows Cannes

CANNES, France (AP) ― “Winter Sleep,” the bookies’ early front-runner for the Palme d’Or, the slow-burning but powerful Turkish family drama, is unafraid to tackle Sartrian questions of personal responsibility ― and the hate that lurks beneath a seemingly peaceful family. Its director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, is a Cannes Film Festival darling, having won the Jury Prize in 2011 for the acclaimed “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia.” His film explores the silent life of the easygoing Aydin, played majestical

FilmMay 18, 2014

[Band Uprising] HarryBigButton unleashes ‘Perfect Storm’ with coffee, cigarettes, rock ’n’ roll

As the Korean music market begins to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the 12th installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed.While its name may imply to some a man named Harry who likes to wear large, tacky buttons, the hard-rockers of HarryBigButton are anything but buttoned-down John Q. Public types. Lead vocalist and guitarist Lee Sung-soo

May 18, 2014

‘Inkigayo’ returns, EXO-K tops music chart

 EXO-K, one of the most popular K-pop boy groups, won the first prize on “Inkigayo,” an SBS music program that aired on Sunday.The program started up again after a five-week suspension in memory of the deaths of passengers aboard the ill-fated Sewol ferry, which sunk last month off the nation’s southwest coast.The other competitors for the first prize were g.o.d with “The Lone Duckling” and Jung Gi-go with “Want U.”“I would like to share the joy of winning this prize will our members. We especia

May 18, 2014