Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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Woman falls to death from acquaintance's home after exhibiting ‘unexplained' behaviors
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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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N. Korea slams planned S. Korea-US military drills, warns of 'catastrophic aftermath'
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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Korean firms target EV charging market in US
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Seoul sees further jump in cost of dining out
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The abs strike back in ‘300’ sequel
The glistening abs are back in “300: Rise of an Empire,” and they’ve been doing crunches. Like its forerunner, the 2007 hit “300,” “Rise of an Empire” again plunges us into bloody, hyper-stylized Greek history: mythology with muscles. The computer-generated warfare franchise is now a third of the way to a six-pack. Made clearly to capitalize on the popularity of “300,” “Rise of an Empire” is something like collected behind-the-scenes from the Persian invasion featured in “300.” Whereas the first
March 6, 2014
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‘Stories We Tell’ reveals family secrets
Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley is mostly known in Korea for her 2011 drama “Take This Waltz,” a tale about a freelance writer who becomes bored of her stable marriage and falls for an artist who lives across the street.The emotional struggle of Margot, the protagonist of “Take This Waltz,” may make more sense after watching Polley’s personal documentary “Stories We Tell,” which deals with her late mother’s extramarital affairs.The documentary premiered in 2012 at the Venice International Film F
March 6, 2014
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Paul Potts talks about his ‘One Chance’
British tenor Paul Potts paid his 11th visit to Korea on Saturday, but this time he was not here to perform. The “Britain’s Got Talent” winner attended a Seoul press screening of James Corden’s film “One Chance” on Tuesday, which depicts his dramatic rise to operatic fame based on his 2013 autobiography of the same title.“The book and the movie are separate but they have the same theme and they have the same message, and that is achieving your goals,” Potts told reporters after the screening of
March 5, 2014
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An opera producer’s ambition
Sol’Opera, an opera company that started in Busan eight years ago, is set to stage a series of large-scale outdoor productions next year. “We’re planning an outdoor opera festival in Busan jointly with Italy’s Arena di Verona,” Lee So-young, founder and president of the company, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “It’s going to be a festival with three or so programs on offer ― a gala and two operas, probably.” It has signed a co-production agreement with the Arena di Verona, the world
March 5, 2014
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Cold, gray day doesn’t stop Mardi Gras revelers
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― Revelers endured winter temperatures and a chilling rain along parade routes Tuesday as New Orleans’ 2014 Carnival season neared a close. Die-hards, some in Mardi Gras costumes, braved the weather along the traditional St. Charles Avenue parade route and in the French Quarter. “We’ll drink, drink, drink until it gets drier,” said Dean Cook of New Orleans as he walked Bourbon Street dressed as a pirate with vampire fangs. “Mermaids love the water,” he said of his wife, Terrina
March 5, 2014
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Turkey bans movie ‘Nymphomaniac’ for sex scenes
ANKARA (AFP) ― Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government has banned Danish director Lars Von Trier’s controversial movie “Nymphomaniac” from theaters for its extensive nudity and no-holds-barred sex scenes, drawing accusations of censorship.The film, which premiered to cheers at the Berlin film festival last month, was due to premiere in Turkey on March 14 with a warning against children under age 18 watching it.But Turkey’s cinema board, which includes representatives from the culture, interior and ed
March 5, 2014
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Universal Music seeks merchandising deal in Korea
In a music market solidly dominated by K-pop and other local music trends, the international music scene is still looking to make its artists known in Korea. Universal Music Group, one of the world’s leading music recording companies, along with its subsidiary merchandising company Bravado, is planning to expand and incorporate its products by adding a touch of local flavor. In the past, Bravado made its first real mark in Korea when introducing its popular smartphone cases featuring the images
March 5, 2014
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Gugak classes for foreigners
The National Gugak Center is offering a 12-week course on Korean traditional music for expats, starting March 8. Four different classes are available: gayageum for beginners, gayageum for intermediates, janggu and haegeum. All classes will be conducted in both English and Korean. Instruments can be leased from the center. Applications will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis. To register, email gugakwon@gmail.com or call (02) 580-3054.(milaya@heraldcorp.com)
March 4, 2014
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Jimmy Fallon, Chicago mayor take chilly dip
CHICAGO (AP) ― Comedian Jimmy Fallon took a quick but icy dip in Lake Michigan ― dressed in a full suit and tie ― eyes bulging as he darted out of the slushy water and headed straight for a pile of dry towels. “The Tonight Show” host made good on his promise to make Sunday morning’s “Polar Plunge” with Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a condition for the mayor appearing on Fallon’s show in New York, following an exchange of tweets and challenges. “If you hear a scream like a little girl’s ... know that Jim
March 4, 2014
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A feast of classical music
March looks set to be another memorable month for classical music fans in Korea, with big-name musicians such as legendary pianist Evgeny Kissin set to return. Kicking off this spring feast of music is the London Symphony Orchestra, which will perform March 10-11 at Seoul Arts Center. Although the orchestra itself is familiar to local fans ― it has performed eight times here in total, and every year since 2011 ― the upcoming concerts are still among the most anticipated of the season. Holding th
March 4, 2014
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Oscars draw 43 million viewers
NEW YORK (AP) ― An estimated 43 million people watched the Academy Awards, the most-watched audience for the show in a decade and most popular entertainment event on television since the “Friends” finale in 2004. The Nielsen company said Monday that Oscar viewership was up for the third straight year and is considered yet another example of how social media is helping to drive up the ratings for big television events. The Oscars last year were seen by 40.4 million people. Ellen DeGeneres was hos
March 4, 2014
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Post-Oscar sales jump for ‘12 Years a Slave’ book
NEW YORK (AP) ― “12 Years a Slave” is getting a post-Oscar bump ― for the book it was based on. The 19th-century memoir by ex-slave Solomon Northup jumped from No. 326 on Amazon.com before Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony to No. 19 on Monday afternoon. The film was directed by Steve McQueen and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor. It was among last year’s most highly praised releases and won the Oscar for best picture. It was the first film directed by a black person to win for best picture.The book an
March 4, 2014
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Handler’s tweets draw accusations of racism
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Comedian Chelsea Handler drew accusations of racism after she was invited to take over The Huffington Post’s Twitter account during Sunday night’s Oscars and repeatedly touted her upcoming book, “Uganda Be Kidding Me,” whenever “12 Years A Slave” received an award. In one, she tweeted, “Congratulations (hash)12yearsaslave Go to Africa or buy (hash)ugandabekiddingme http://amzn.to/1de1ka9 (hash)aheadofthecurve (hash)Oscars.” People responded via Twitter with words like “disgrac
March 4, 2014
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Rock band Monni to release 4th studio album
Korean modern rock band Monni has announced that it will release its fourth studio album “Follow My Voice” on March 18.Monni’s upcoming release is expected to showcase various emotions such as strength, tenderness, coldness, sweetness and yearning, according to the band’s management agency Modern Rock Record.The agency said the album was titled “Follow My Voice” in hopes that people will naturally be attracted to the music and “come over when hearing Monni’s sounds.” The title track “In the Mome
March 4, 2014
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Lim Chang-jung to release 12th studio album
Veteran singer-actor Lim Chang-jung is scheduled to unveil his 12th studio album later this month, according to his management agency NH Media on Monday.The upcoming release will be Lim’s first studio album in five years. Though Lim released the EP “A Guy Like Me” last September, his most recent studio album, “Return To My World,” was released in 2009.Lim’s 12th album features songs he wrote himself as well as works by singer Wheesung and renowned ballad composers such as Baek Min-hyuk, Ahn Youn
March 4, 2014
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With new album, So Chan-whee returns in neo-rockabilly fashion
Longtime veteran singer So Chan-whee, best known for her hit single “Tears,” has returned to the music scene, only this time around she has shed her dance-ballad image and is paying tribute to the legendary Elvis Presley and the tremendous influence he had on the rockabilly movement. “Although I did make my debut performing dance music, the truth is I have always had the desire to pursue rock music,” said So during a press conference held at Rolling Hall in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on Monday. “I thou
March 4, 2014
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Rain to debut in Chinese film
South Korean singer and actor Rain has been cast in a Chinese film for the first time, his management agency said Tuesday.Rain will play a talented young painter who falls in love with a woman in a melodrama directed by Gao Xixi, one of China’s most famous movie directors, Cube DC said.Rain is one of the most popular male celebrities in South Korea and a well-known star in other Asian countries, and has appeared in several TV series and films, including two American action flicks: “Speed Racer”
March 4, 2014
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‘Snow Queen’ syndrome grips Korea
This weekend, Disney’s animated film “Frozen” broke the 10-million viewer mark in local theaters, becoming the second film to reach the milestone this year after “The Attorney.” It is no exaggeration to say the country is almost obsessed with the film. Not only is “Frozen” the highest-grossing animated film ever in Korea but it is also one of only two foreign movies among the nation’s 10 highest grossing films of all time ― the other is James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Local costume players like to dre
March 3, 2014
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Remainder of Chun’s seized art trove to be auctioned next week
With about 90 percent of former President Chun Doo-hwan’s confiscated art collection sold, the remaining 97 artworks will come under the hammer at K Auction on March 12. K Auction is the second biggest art auction house in Korea and was commissioned by the government to sell the former leader’s seized artworks to collect his unpaid fines. Some 600 artworks owned by Chun were confiscated by prosecutors last year as he had long refused to pay a fine imposed in 1997 for a number of crimes includin
March 3, 2014
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‘12 Years a Slave’ wins best picture at Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Perhaps atoning for past sins, Hollywood named the brutal, unshrinking historical drama “12 Years a Slave” best picture at the 86th annual Academy Awards. Steve McQueen’s slavery odyssey, based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir, has been hailed as a landmark corrective to the movie industry’s long omission of slavery stories, following years of whiter tales like 1940 best-picture winner “Gone With the Wind.” The British director dedicated the honor to those past sufferers of sl
March 3, 2014