Vegas hypnotist will bring out your inner Strip dweller

LAS VEGAS ― Sure, Anthony Cools is a hypnotist, but this slick pompadour-sporting showman won’t help you quit smoking.He drives a Lamborghini and dresses in form-fitting suits with a bow tie, skull ring and pointy-toed, black-and-white Giorgio Brutini wingtips. Under his calculated spell, in fact, you might even start chain-smoking, or engage in other nefarious activities you wouldn’t be caught dead doing in your right mind.Maybe you’ll move your bra outside your blouse, dirty-flirt with a stran

CultureJan. 1, 2014

World’s hottest pepper is grown in U.S.

FORT MILL, South Carolina (AP) ― Ed Currie holds one of his world-record Carolina Reaper peppers by the stem, which looks like the tail of a scorpion. On the other end is red fruit with a punch of heat nearly as potent as most pepper sprays used by police. Last month, The Guinness Book of World Records decided Currie’s peppers were the hottest on Earth, ending a more than four-year drive to prove no one grows a more scorching chili. The heat of Currie’s peppers was certified by students at Winth

FoodJan. 1, 2014

Japan’s ‘Tree Town’ sculptors make living art

SOSA, Japan (AFP) ― With a deft clip here and a gentle tug there, Makoto Ishibashi sculpts trees with the skill of an artisan whose work is far more than just a job.The heir to a centuries-old family business, he creates masterpieces that can turn a pine tree into a work of art that could fetch $40,000. “This tree is a woman ― the leaves are soft,” the arborist says of the pine into a triangle at his farm in the city of Sosa.“Trees are my family ― they don’t say what they want but they are sendi

PeopleJan. 1, 2014

[Photo News] Actress Hwang Jung-eum gives tearful speech

Singer and actress Hwang Jung-eum gives a tearful speech during her acceptance address after winning the best actress award in the 2013 KBS Drama Awards on Tuesday night, New Year’s Eve. In her speech, she expressed affection toward her long-term boyfriend Kim Yong-joon, a member of vocal group SG Wannabe, by saying, “Thanks to my other half for always being by my side. Love you.”By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

TelevisionJan. 1, 2014

[Rookies of 2014] Clara Jumi Kang, latest darling of classical music

Twenty-six-year-old Clara Jumi Kang was 5 when she was admitted to the Mannheim Musikhochschule as the youngest student ever accepted to study under Valery Gradov. Brought up in a music-filled environment ― her father is the famed Wagnerian bass singer Philp Kang and her mother is the equally noted soprano Han Min-hee ― the violinist climbed steadily to the top. At five, she made her debut with the Hamburg Symphony and at seven she was accepted at the Juilliard School to study under Dorothy Dela

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

[Rookies of 2014] Media artist Yang Min-ha draws on latest technologies

Media artist Yang Min-ha’s interactive media work was one of the well-received artworks at the inaugural exhibition of the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. His “Intervention, Misalignment,” on exhibit until Feb. 28 in Seoul, has been hailed as a fresh take on the existing media art form. His media installation, based on advanced technologies, not filmed images, set an example of the latest innovations in media art. “Yang is emerging in the international

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

[Rookies of 2014] Boys Republic looking to make a statement in 2014

In June 2013, Universal Music Korea launched the global music conglomerate’s first K-pop group. The five-member boy band of Boys Republic, consisting of members Won-jun, Da-bin, Soo-wong, Sung-joon and Min-soo, is the first K-pop group organized directly by Universal Music.After two years of training in singing and dancing, as well as learning many different customs in order to become a global idol group, the boys made their official debut with “Party Rock” on June 6.In August, the boys released

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

[Rookies of 2014] Shim Eun-kyeong steps forward with ‘Miss Granny’

One of the most anticipated films in the first half of this year is “Miss Granny,” a fantasy film and a comedy about an old woman in her 70s who somehow regains her physical appearance from when she was 20 years old. Playing the role is former child actress Shim Eun-kyeong, whose acting career in the past couple of years saw some dramatic highs, including roles in some of the most successful Korean films. In 2011, the 19-year-old actress played Na-mi, a wacky teenager living in 1980s Korea in di

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

[Rookie of 2014] Musical actress Park Ji-yeon evolves with ‘Ghost the Musical’

Though “Ghost the Musical,” one of the most anticipated musicals of last year, has been grabbing attention for its star-studded cast ― including TV actor Joo Won and pop-singer Ivy ― it is in fact actress Park Ji-yeon who is making huge strides in her career with the show.The 25-year-old actress is sharing the lead role with Ivy in the musical which opened in November, an adaptation of the 1990 hit romance movie “Ghost.” She won her first musical role ― in “Mamma Mia!” ― through an audition with

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

Unknown donor leaves cash for charity again this year

An unidentified person has made another cash donation this year in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, without being noticed at all.The mysterious donor has left a huge sum of cash in front of a community center of the city office each year for 14 years in a row.According to the Nosong-dong Community Center in Jeonju on Monday, a man presumed to be in his 50s called at around 11:15 a.m. Monday, and let them know he had left money there.The man said over the phone, “I put the money beside the statue o

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

Former F1 driver Schumacher ‘critical’ after skiing accident

PARIS (AP) ― Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, doctors said. The Grenoble University Hospital Center said the retired racing driver arrived at the clinic in a coma and underwent immediate surgery for a serious head trauma. It was not clear whether the 44-year-old Schumacher was still in a coma but the hospital statement, which was signed by a neurosurgeon, an anesth

PeopleDec. 30, 2013

What to expect in 2014

With the New Year upon us, it’s time to schedule in various cultural activities for our weekends and evenings. Here are some of the notable events to be held in 2014. ---Ed. 1. Beyond Impressionism: the Birth of Modern Art: The National Museum of Korea will feature more than 70 drawings and sculptures on loan from the Musee d’Orsay from May 3 through Aug. 31. The exhibition is expected to present some of the world’s most revered works of late impressionism and postimpressionism, illustrating the

CultureDec. 30, 2013

Despite lackluster results, K-pop continues collaborations

With news earlier in the year of Psy’s collaboration with American rock legend Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as well as local rap star G-Dragon’s announcement that he had indeed recorded a track with international pop superstar Justin Bieber, it appears as though K-pop artists are looking to expand their presence in the international music realm and continue to snatch any collaborative opportunities that come their way. In August, Big Bang leader G-Dragon released his second solo album, “Coup d’etat

PerformanceDec. 30, 2013

Carly Rae Jepsen heads to Broadway next year

NEW YORK (AP) ― “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen has had her calls returned by Broadway.Producers of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” said Sunday that the Canadian singer-songwriter will take over the role of Cinderella starting Feb. 4 for 12 weeks. She’ll take over from Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes.The Grammy Award nominee began performing in musical theater in high school. She starred in “Annie,” “The Wiz” and “Grease” before attending the Canadian College of Performing Arts.She’l

PerformanceDec. 30, 2013

[Photo News] K-pop divas Lee hyo-ri and 2NE1’s CL present joint performance

Two powerful K-pop divas, singer Lee Hyo-ri and 2NE1's CL showcased a collaboration performance on SBS’ year-end music festival, aired live on Sunday. 　The duo appeared on stage in coordinating black and white outfits, singing a mashup of Lee's "Bad Girls" and CL's "Baddest Female," exclusively remixed for the collaborative stage by YG’s main composer Teddy Park.　Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

TelevisionDec. 30, 2013

Stars and families in Annie Leibovitz’s viewfinder

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is one of the rare photographers who can capture an ordinary moment in the middle of a dramatic setting, or the other way around. The photograph of the naked John Lennon cuddling with his wife Yoko Ono, taken three hours before he was assassinated in 1980, was printed on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and became an instant sensation because of its unusual composition and striking message. Thirty-three years later, Leibovitz has became the queen of portrait photo

PerformanceDec. 29, 2013