Articles by Lee Si-jin
Lee Si-jin
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com-
[Best Brand] Hyundae Rose Garden brings world’s flower to S. Korea
Since Hyundae Rose Garden opened in 1995, the company has been striving to become a front-runner in the field of rose breeding. Aiming to produce and distribute the finest roses to South Korea, the company made technical license agreements with leading rose breeders around the world, including Harness Roses of the UK and Poulsen Roser of Denmark. Hyundae Rose Garden has been breeding and growing 600 varieties of roses for more than 25 years. Almost 400,000 to 500,000 seedlings are provided by th
Culture Dec. 28, 2022
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Broadcasters up the ante for 2023
Receiving unprecedented attention from international viewers, South Korean TV series are hoping to continue the winning streak with more unique and thrilling stories, the return of top movie stars to the small screen and spinoffs of beloved dramas. Cable channel tvN’s “Crash Course in Romance” is scheduled to entertain viewers starting at the beginning of 2023. Starring the Cannes-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon, who returns to a romance series after 17 years since SBS’ me
Television Dec. 28, 2022
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Content business will be game changer in S. Korea’s soft power growth: ministry
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Tuesday it would focus on maintaining the global popularity of Korea media and broadcast content with an increased budget of 190 billion won ($149.9 million) for the creative content sector next year. “Korean content is receiving an unprecedented attention from the global audience. Many say that they are watching the drama series, film or TV show, because it is from Korea," First Vice Culture Minister Chun Byong-geuk said at CJ E
Television Dec. 27, 2022
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Actor Song Joong-ki in a relationship: agency
Actor Song Joong-ki is in a relationship, entertainment agency HighZium Studio said Monday, confirming a local media report. “Song is dating a woman," Song's agency, also a content production firm, said in an official statement. HighZium Studio added that it cannot divulge any additional information about the woman, including her age and nationality. Speculation about Song's new girlfriend erupted Monday morning when a local media outlet reported that Song is in a relations
Television Dec. 26, 2022
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Han Seok-kyu‘s ‘Recipe for Farewell’ a local hit
Watcha’s latest drama series “Recipe for Farewell” has staked out a spot in the streaming market's fierce year-end competition with its heartwarming story. The series revolves around a middle-aged man named Chang-wook (played by Han Seok-kyu) whose wife is terminally ill. The series develops as the husband learns to cook for his sick wife. “Recipe for Farewell” remained in the No. 1 slot on the service’s viewership chart for three consecutive weeks after
Television Dec. 26, 2022
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[Well-curated] Christmas fun with rabbits, illuminated lanterns and leather crafts
Celebrate the New Year at the World Trade Center Seoul Looking for a unique way to celebrate the New Year? Visit Korea’s biggest digital display at Coex K-pop Square in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. As 2023 -- the Year of the Black Rabbit -- approaches, the country's largest multiplex cinema chain CGV and Korea International Trade Association are showcasing a 3-D animation video, featuring giant rabbits. Samseong-dong in Seoul, where Coex K-pop Square is located, was declared Korea’s f
Culture Dec. 23, 2022
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Jeju Fire Festival The Jeju Fire Festival will be held at Saebyeol Oreum in Aewol-eup on Jeju Island from March 18-20. The annual festival is a reinterpretation of “bangae,” the oldest nomadic culture in Jeju, where people pray for richness and health by burning off the old grass and killing vermin in the fields. The shimmering flames provide a stupendous view for visitors. In an attempt to hold a safe festival, all the programs of the Jeju Fire Festival -- opening ceremony, lighting
Travel Dec. 23, 2022
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KOCCA expands budget to take nation's content industry to global stage
The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) plans to provide active assistance against a highly competitive global content market industry in 2023, with an increased budget plan of 623.8 billion won ($485.1 million) for next year. Although yet to be confirmed by the government, the expected budget is a 14 percent increase from 2022. KOCCA President Jo Hyun-rae announced that the budget will not only be used in strengthening the competitiveness of Korean content in the global intellectual propert
Culture Dec. 21, 2022
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Screenwriter Kim Eun-sook challenges new genre with Song Hye-kyo
Top Korean screenwriter Kim Eun-sook and actor Song Hye-kyo is set to highlight the year-end with the female-led revenge drama “The Glory” on Netflix. While many drama fans were surprised with the renowned melodrama writer’s decision to make her Netflix debut with a thriller suspense, Kim explained that the life as a mother of a high school student gave her huge inspiration for the story. “I will become a mother of an 11th grade student in 2023. School violence is a ver
Television Dec. 20, 2022
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Creative content industry grows 7% in first half, KOCCA report
South Korea's creative content sales rose 7 percent in the first half of the year amid overseas expansion and eased COVID-19 curbs, the Korea Creative Content Agency said Monday. The combined sales by 11 sectors of the creative content industry, including film, music, webtoon and more, came to a total of 66.9 trillion won ($50.8 billion) in the first half of the year, compared with 62.5 trillion won in the same period a year earlier, according to data compiled by the agency. Sales from mo
Culture Dec. 19, 2022
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Mbic Live streams hit MBC dramas and TV shows for free
Terrestrial broadcaster MBC announced Friday that its video streaming service Mbic Live will offer hit MBC dramas and unscripted shows. Mbic Live is a free, ad-supported streaming platform that allow viewers to enjoy MBC’s popular shows without sign-in or additional payment. A total of 30 programs, including “Infinite Challenge” (2005-2018), “I Live Alone,” “Radio Star” and “County Diaries” (1980-2002), are available. Twenty shows will be a
Television Dec. 16, 2022
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[Well-curated] Art, sledding and space shows this weekend
If you can't make it to New York to see American figurative artist Alex Katz’s eight-decade retrospective at Guggenheim Museum, you have a chance to view some of the artist’s works in Seoul at the exhibition “Reflection” at Espace Louis Vuitton Seoul. The exhibition is the third presentation of the renowned artist’s works at the exhibition space located on the fourth floor of Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, the French luxury brand’s flagship store in Gangnam-gu, s
Culture Dec. 16, 2022
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Suseong Light Art Festival, Daegu The fourth edition of the Suseong Light Art Festival started Dec. 9 and runs through Jan. 2, 2023 at Suseongmot Lake in Daegu. Ranging from a school project created by Light Art School students from 5 to 19 years old to works from professional artists, the festival is set to display various creations to entertain visitors. A total of 300 light-bearing drones will present a light art show and hands-on activities for the tourists of all ages will be prepared as we
Travel Dec. 16, 2022
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‘Oldboy’ star Choi Min-sik says he missed TV dramas
Top movie star Choi Min-sik did not hide his excitement at his return after 25 years to the small screen in Disney+ noir series “Big Bet.” His last television drama was MBC’s “Love and Farewell” (1997-1998). “I decided to star in ‘Big Bet’ because I really missed TV dramas,” Choi said in a press conference at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on Wednesday. The veteran actor explained he wanted the opportunity to work on a project featurin
Television Dec. 14, 2022
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Independent female leads: Key to success for TV dramas in 2022
Female characters, who were once limited to men’s sidekicks, lovers or mothers in TV series, are making a splash with powerful women leading this year’s Korean drama trend. As more Korean actresses tried to break the country’s stereotype of women -- as needing men’s protection and help -- diversity in female characters is no longer new in Korean dramas. While many attempts were made to put women in central roles, no noticeable results had been seen since MBC’s perio
Television Dec. 14, 2022
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