Global brand designer Bob van der Lee said South Korea’s public and private sectors have made tremendous progress in design over the years, but not yet in branding. By Park Hyong-ki ( hkp@heraldcorp.com )

In this digital world, information is becoming increasingly easier to access. But not for all. Such accessibility still falls far short for people with disabilities. Young entrepreneur Kim Ju-yoon has turned to the issue of discrimination in information accessibility and decided to tackle it with the power of technology and design. His belief in the fair distribution of digital benefits led him ...

Heading to the movies this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide of what's playing on the big screen. Thrill abounds at this weekend's box office in Korea. Crime thriller "The Phone" draws fans in with its fast-paced plot, while "The Fatal Intutition" is riding strong, with Asian heartthrob Joo Won as the main character. New openers include Steven Spielberg's thriller "Bridge of Spies" starri...

Ride train, hike up Yeongnam Alps With the autumn season almost over, KORAIL is recommending tourists to visit Ulsan by train and hike through the beautiful scenery of Yeongnam Alps. Yeongnam Alps, which takes its name after the European Alps, consists of several mountains at over 1,000 meters above sea level stretching over 255 square kilometers. The mountainous region with many peaks reaches...

Hotel Cappuccino opens in Seoul Hotel Cappuccino in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, said it has officially opened for business this month. Occupying 18 floors above ground and three below, Hotel Cappuccino is an all-new urban lifestyle destination boasting 141 guest rooms and aspiring to become Korea’s first hotel to embody the concept of “Creating Shared Value.” Based on a simple, modern design conce...

Cho Seong-jin, the winner of the Chopin piano competition, is a new classical music icon in Korea, setting recording history even before the release of his first solo album. The 21-year-old pianist’s upcoming album – a live recording of his performances at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Poland – was the top seller across all music genres at Kyobo Bookstore, the count...

In Korea’s turbulent path toward independence and nation building, there were foreign nationals who stood steadfastly by the Korean people, although their contributions have been largely overshadowed by those of Korean patriots. The Korea Herald, in partnership with the Independence Hall of Korea, is publishing a series of articles shedding light on these foreigners, their life and legacies here....

If you’re reading a novel from Korea’s best-seller lists now, chances are that it’s not written by a local author. In this country, with a rising global cultural profile and an ambition to rise even further, fiction, the ultimate art of storytelling, is fading. Or more precisely, the serious, high-caliber, literary fiction that Koreans refer to as “pure” literature is fading. Local readers’ app...

Spa Package at Grand Ambassador Grand Ambassador Seoul is offering the “My Spa Package,” providing a comfortable guest room with Prestige Day Spa OCELAS Massage and a brunch set that can be enjoyed through room service. Prestige Day Spa OCELAS Massage comes in two kinds: foot massage and soleus massage. Foot massage is provided for about 30 minutes, promoting blood circulation and helping the ...

With increasingly colder months ahead, popular sweet shops throughout the city are releasing seasonal treats that run the gauntlet from ruby red apple pies and tarts to burnt orange pumpkin pies. At Bewitch, pumpkin pie and other pumpkin-based desserts are available as long as the season is right, according to co-owner and chef Shin Ji-min. Shin’s small dessert shop, which first set down roots ...

A 21-year-old Korean pianist won Poland’s Chopin competition Tuesday -- one of the most prestigious contests in the piano world and considered a launch pad for an international career. Cho Seong-jin beat 77 other young pianists from 20 countries to take home the gold medal and prize of 30,000 euros ($33,500) at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in th...

Korean actor Lee Joon-gi is currently shooting the final installment of the “Resident Evil” franchise to mark his Hollywood debut, his Korean agency confirmed Saturday. “Lee is shooting (the film) in South Africa,” Namoo Actors said. The firm, however, refused to give more details about Lee’s role in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.” The confirmation came after “Resident Evil” star Milla Jovo...

After five decades of high growth and the rags-to-riches transformation, Korea’s economy is finally slowing. Although it might look quite natural to outsiders, particularly in this global era of the “new normal” -- slower but more sustainable growth -- the ongoing economic slowdown worries many in Korea to a great extent. They fear Korea’s half-century stride toward prosperity may be coming to ...

Seventeen “Boys Be” (Loen Entertainment) Seventeen, the 13-member rookie group that debuted this year after going through a grueling training process broadcast on the air, has come out with a catchy second EP called “Boys Be.” Despite its name, Seventeen has 13 members, split up into three units -- the hip-hop unit, the vocal unit and the performance unit. Like its first EP “17 Carat,”...

G.Soul “Dirty” (KT Music) “Dirty” could probably pass for a DJ set at a house music lounge. With DJ and composer Frants (who also worked on the Wonder Girls’ ‘Reboot’ album), JYP’s G.Soul toned down the emotion of his first EP “Coming Home” from January, and turned up the beat to create a quality album combining jazz and soul with house music. Although the EP is called “Dirty” and...