Articles by Kim Hoo-ran
Kim Hoo-ran
khooran@heraldcorp.com-
Broad range of David Hockney’s works on view at SeMA
The largest-ever David Hockney exhibition in South Korea is underway at the Seoul Museum of Art, featuring some of the artist’s iconic paintings such as “The Bigger Splash” (1967) and “A Bigger Grand Canyon” (1998) -- as well as “In the Studio, December 2017,” which is being shown to the general public for the first time. David Hockney’s double portraits are on exhibit at the Seoul Museum of Art on Thursday. (Yonhap)Born in 1937, Hockney is the world’s most famous, beloved and expensive living
Arts & Design March 25, 2019
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[Kim Hoo-ran] Gwangju deniers damage democracy
In Gwangju for the first time a few years ago, I walked down Geumnanro, the site of violent clashes between Gwangju locals and troops enforcing martial law on May 18, 1980. Events were being held on the broad avenue closed off to traffic for the day -- a play, a concert and a samulnori performance to name but a few, all commemorating the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement. There were few people in attendance, but that didn’t seem to matter. These were people remembering the massacre in whic
Viewpoints Feb. 20, 2019
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[Herald interview] Changing lives, one building at a time
Taking the steep, narrow staircase to meet architect Seung Hyo-sang, or Seung H-Sang as his business card says, one almost fears for one’s life, tottering down the steps in heels with one hand against the wall for support in the semidarkness.Upon reaching the floor, there is a sigh of relief and a sense of salvation as one follows the sound of choral music to Seung’s office. It is a few days before Christmas, and there is something of a sacred quality to the space, crammed with bookcases and a l
Arts & Design Jan. 3, 2019
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[Kim Hoo-ran] Staying clear-eyed on N. Korea more important than ever
The third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang last week had many Instagrammable moments.There was the pomp and ceremony of Moon’s arrival at Sunan International Airport where he was greeted by Kim and his senior officials, ceremonial guards and a 21-gun salute. A motorcade through the Pyongyang thoroughfare saw the two leaders standing side by side in an open-top car waving at the crowds of people in colorful hanbok chanting “Unifica
Viewpoints Sept. 26, 2018
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Culture Ministry requests prosecution probe of officials over blacklist scandal
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday that it would ask the prosecution to investigate seven government officials over their alleged involvement in the blacklisting of cultural figures by the two previous administrations.Of the seven, five belong to the Culture Ministry and accusations had been filed against one of them by a concerned cultural group. Three officials are currently heads of Korean cultural centers overseas, and will be summoned back to Korea as soon as possible
Culture Sept. 13, 2018
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Sex crime reports rise despite decrease in overall crimes
Sex crime reports are continuing to increase in Korea despite a decline in overall crimes.One of the reasons is because more people are speaking up amid a changing social perception of sex crimes.“Sex crimes are the most underreported crimes,” according to an official the National Police Agency. (123rf)“Previously, many women were reluctant to report that they were victims of sex crimes, but now more people are reporting, and this is one of the reasons of the increase in the number of cases.”Whi
Social Affairs Aug. 1, 2018
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[Herald Review] ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ a funny film for children
A funny-looking vampire in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts dancing to “Gangnam Style” is how I would describe “Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation.”That is exactly the yardstick to determine who will enjoy the film and who will hate it. Does that image -- actually in the movie, and exactly as it sounds -- have you rolling on the floor? You are in for a treat. Are you grinding your teeth? Leave now. "Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation" (Sony Pictures Korea)The movie briefly looks at the pa
Film July 29, 2018
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[Herald Interview] It all began with the house
Looking for Mark Tetto’s house in Gaehoe-dong, Seoul, Monday morning, I encounter groups of foreign tourists -- from the Philippines and Vietnam, mostly -- posing and taking pictures against the backdrop of narrow alleys lined with Korea’s traditional hanok. After walking up and down a hill, going round in circles under the blazing morning sun, I finally locate Tetto’s house, its slim gate hard to find between the walls of houses next to it on either side. I swear I had walked past this street 1
Culture July 19, 2018
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[Herald Interview] Violist with a big heart
Receiving an email a few weeks ago that violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill’s press conference for this year’s Ditto Festival would take place in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, my immediate reaction was “Why?”For most Koreans, the industrial city southwest of Seoul is a place of great sorrow -- most of the more than the 300 passengers who died in the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, 2014 were second year students from a high school in Ansan, on their way to what should have been a fun-filled school trip
People June 15, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Traditional media the only source of reliable information’
World-renowned French intellect and author Guy Sorman has been a longtime observer of Korea -- and at times its sharp critic.Sorman’s connection to Korea goes back to his friendship with the late video artist Paik Nam-june in the early 1980s. The New York-based artist was not well-known in his home country, but spoke a lot about Korea as a source of inspiration, recalled Sorman. Curious about the little-known country, Sorman decided to visit. “It was still an unknown country in the West,” he tol
People May 3, 2018
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Prosecutor quits after misusing parking lot for disabled
A prosecutor who misused parking space for the disabled has resigned after an inspection found he was having an extramarital affair.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission received a complaint late last year that a vehicle without a disability decal was constantly occupying a parking lot for the disabled at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.An inspection by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office found that a prosecutor in the special investigation department had bought the car unde
Social Affairs April 27, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Small is beautiful’
It was over a meal with a foreign friend that Yeol Chairwoman Kim Young-M’Young’s interest in conserving Korean culture was sparked. Today, what originated from three friends brainstorming has grown into a non-profit organization with the mission of conserving, developing and promoting Korean cultural heritage with some 620 members. Yeol Chairwoman Kim Young-M’Young poses at the organization‘s headquarters in Bukchon, Seoul, on March 22. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)“We wanted to start small,
Culture March 30, 2018
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Ex-president Lee files suit against prosecution
Former President Lee Myung-bak filed an administrative lawsuit against the prosecution over its use of presidential office documents in the investigation into corruption allegations involving him.During a raid of DAS, an auto parts manufacturer owned by Lee’s brother, in late January, prosecutors seized documents from Lee’s presidential office found in the basement storage. The prosecution has been looking into allegations that DAS ran slush funds for the former president. As the presidential fi
Social Affairs March 2, 2018
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[Herald Interview] ‘Sunday Paintings’ record life of artist
In this age of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, people’s lives seem to be fully on display, feeding our exhibitionist and voyeuristic tendencies at the same time. To be seen and to see has come to define our times.Yet, viewing US-based artist Byron Kim’s “Sunday Paintings” series at the Kukje Gallery in Sojeok-dong, Seoul, is an oddly discomfiting experience. In a series of 35.5 centimeter-by-35.5 centimeter canvases, the artist depicts the sky over wherever he may be on a given Sunday and write
Culture Feb. 23, 2018
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Safety checks on ‘high-risk’ facilities begin next week
Some 60,000 facilities used by the public, such as hospitals and traditional marketplaces across the country, will undergo safety checks starting next week, the government said Friday. The inspections come amid heightened safety concerns after two deadly fires claimed dozens of lives at a hospital in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, last week and at a fitness center in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, in December. (Yonhap)The 60,000 establishments categorized as “high-risk facilities” inc
Social Affairs Feb. 2, 2018
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