Filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk’s latest protagonist Oh Mal-soon (played by veteran actress Na Moon-hee) is the kind of old woman whom you don’t want to have as your mother-in-law.She is shameless and controlling, complains about your food, and is not afraid to belittle you in front of your children. Mal-soon’s biggest pride is her son, who is a university professor, and that she managed to raise him by herself, against all odds. The real story of the film, “Miss Granny,” begins with Mal-soon suddenly

FilmJan. 7, 2014

Korea has seen the number of local festivals increase for the past couple of years, led by provincial governments’ push for tourism revenue. Some attracted thousands of visitors including foreign tourists and expat residents, establishing themselves as the most popular events in Korea. However, others still flounder with disappointing programs which make visitors feel deceived by flash promotions. For those looking for credible festival information, the Culture Ministry and the Korea Tourism Org

TravelJan. 7, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― Antoine de Saint-Exupery crafted “The Little Prince” in New York City, mentioning Rockefeller Center and Long Island in one draft of the beloved children’s tale ― references he ultimately deleted. That page is contained in the French author’s original handwritten manuscript, which is the subject of a major exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum on the 70th anniversary of the book’s French publication ― a year after its U.S. debut.“The Little Prince: A New York Story,” which

CultureJan. 7, 2014

PeopleJan. 7, 2014

Leeteuk’s previous mentions of his childhood on television and comments made by acquaintances with the star’s father are shedding new light on the family’s affairs after news of the tragedy broke out on Monday.“I was often beaten up and my parents would argue often. Father was just a scary figure to me at the time,” the Super Junior member confessed on a TV program in 2012, describing his deprived childhood.Acquaintances who went to pay their respects to the family commented that Leeteuk’s fathe

TelevisionJan. 7, 2014

JYP Entertainment, run by one of the nation’s most successful music producers Park Jin-young, will be launching its new boy band “GOT7” next week. Coming a year after the debut of duo JJ Project, who since its launch has released only two singles to little success, officials at JYPE announced plans to do away with the group and move the two members into the seven-member K-pop idol boy group. The public has already glimpsed a number of the members in action during the airing of YG Entertainment’s

PerformanceJan. 7, 2014

Korea‘s rising sex symbol Clara posted a video of her at dance practice on Twitter on Tuesday, drawing much attention from her fans. She wrote, “Clara is practicing SNSD’s dance for ‘I Got a Boy.’” She was practicing the dance to participate in MBC TV’s annual music festival’s opening stage that was aired at the end of last year. 　 By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

TelevisionJan. 7, 2014

Seo Kyung-duk, a PR expert in promoting Korean culture, said he posted a new ad for makgeolli (a traditional rice-based alcoholic drink) in the Wall Street Journal’s Jan. 5 edition. The ad posted in the European Wall Street Journal read, “Makgeolli is Korea’s favorite rice brew. Pair it with kimchi to really bring out the flavors. It’s a healthy way to drink. Visit the nearest Koreatown and enjoy!” The professor of Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul partnered up with Song Il-kook, who gained p

CultureJan. 7, 2014

Musical actress Park Ji-yeon grew up listening to music, always wearing her earphones. As a teen, her first crush was a guitarist in a school rock band. Her favorite singer? Michael Bolton.“When my teacher told me to study at the back of the classroom, I would listen to Michael Bolton instead,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “And I remember breaking down in tears after listening to his song, ‘How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.’ I was 18 at the time, and the lyrics just got

PerformanceJan. 6, 2014

A number of museums have unveiled ambitious New Year plans to hold blockbuster exhibitions featuring big-name artists or select masterpieces that they tout can be encountered just once in a lifetime.But, some will attempt to go beyond such popular showcases of art to offer fresh insights into the latest art trends.Scheduled art exhibitions are focused on giving new perspectives of art and engaging with spectators.The first exhibition at Art Sonje Center defies stereotyped perceptions of opening

PerformanceJan. 6, 2014

Park Hye-yoon, a 21-year-old violinist with a budding performance career in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, is preparing to dazzle audiences here. Having been named the 2014 artist-in-residence by Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, Park is preparing five concerts with the foundation, scheduled throughout the year, which she and officials at the foundation hope will grab the attention of Korean concertgoers in a year packed with big-name concerts.“Although I performed quite often in Europe, I’ve

CultureJan. 6, 2014

One of the nation’s iconic veteran solo artists, Lee Sun-hee, will make a comeback next month with the release of her 15th studio album, her first in five years, in commemoration of her 30th year in the music industry. “This year marks the 30th anniversary so it’s very meaningful,” stated a representative from the singer’s agency Hook Entertainment. “She is currently working on the upcoming album, which will feature all new songs. The album will pay tribute to her music from the past 30 years.”

PerformanceJan. 6, 2014

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Bruce Springsteen’s 18th studio album “High Hopes” went online in the United States Sunday, 10 days before its general release ― and on the 41st anniversary of The Boss’s debut outing.Television network CBS had announced it would host the Internet-only pre-release after the conclusion of this week’s episode of “The Good Wife” at around 10 p.m. in a unique tie-in with the top-rated legal drama.But American fans of the New Jersey-born rock ’n’ roll voice of blue-collar America w

PerformanceJan. 6, 2014

Actor Eom Ki-joon posted a photo with Suzy of Miss A, who had come to watch the musical “Werther” on Twitter Sunday. The 39-year-old actor and the K-pop girl group member starred together on the KBS drama “Dream High” in 2011 as a teacher and student. Eom said he would perform on stage four more times before “Werther” end its run on Jan. 12. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Jan. 6, 2014

Actress Kim Yoon-jin graced a special section in the Friday edition of the New York Times, with a detailed interview covering her acting career and life story, including her childhood as an immigrant and her New Year resolutions. The NYT introduced Kim as a “game-changing” actress and previewed her comeback to the small screen on ABC TV show “Mistresses.” 　　Kim’s acting career began in the film “Shiri” in 1999, breaking box-office records in Korea. The star is now looking to take off to the U.S.

TelevisionJan. 6, 2014