Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
# In-depth
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
Youn Yuh-jung owns it: 'I’ve been in this job too long'
"Korean feels best," Youn Yuh-jung says with a sense of relief. "English is torture for me." The 78-year-old actress and her co-star Han Gi-chan have just endured a four-hour marathon of back-to-back interviews in English when we connect over Zoom for our conversation about "The Wedding Banquet," director Andrew Ahn's remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic. Han nods in agreement. "Hearing Korean after speaking English all day feels so different," he says. "It has more authenticity somehow." Hitting US
8 hour ago
Interview: Prince in progress, Jeon Min-chul finds his own Albrecht
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul is on the cusp of a major career leap. In June, he will join the Mariinsky Ballet -- only the second Korean to do so after Kim Ki-min. Before that, he takes the final stage this week in Korea in two sold-out performances of "Giselle" with Universal Ballet's principal dancer Hong Hyang-gee, on Friday and Sunday. This is his second full-length ballet after Solor in "La Bayadere" last September. “Giselle was the very first ballet I ever saw, actually,” Jeon said in a separat
9 hour ago
Interview: Rising ballet stars step into tragedy of 'Giselle'
Few works in the classical ballet canon are as enduring or as emotionally charged as “Giselle.” A quintessential romantic masterpiece, the ballet tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, who falls in love with a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht, only to die of heartbreak upon discovering he is betrothed to another. While the first act is filled with youthful first love, celebration and a radiant atmosphere, the second act marks a dramatic shift, unfolding at Giselle’s grave, stee
9 hour ago
Park Eun-bin talks becoming psychopath doctor in 'Hyper Knife'
Park Eun-bin, widely recognized for her infectious smile and innocent roles — most notably as the endearing Woo Young-woo in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and the free-spirited Mok-ha in "Castaway Diva" — has taken on a strikingly dark transformation in her latest project. In a bold departure from her previous roles, the actor plays Se-ok in "Hyper Knife," a psychopathic doctor prone to bouts of rage and a penchant for illegal surgeries. In the medical crime thriller series, Se-ok is a once-celeb
11 hour ago
Interview: Yoo Hae-jin and weight of familiar faces
Yoo Hae-jin sits at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, his face settling into the thoughtful creases familiar to Korean audiences. "I just hope it goes well," he tells a group of reporters of his new film "Yadang: The Snitch." "Though when the weather's this nice, people might skip theaters altogether." This self-effacing wit typifies Yoo, who, at 55, has transcended mere ubiquity to become something of Korean cinema's connective tissue. Since his film debut in 1997, he has amassed a filmography o
April 16, 2025 - 15:24:16
Ambassador Al-Hamar on 50 years of Qatar-Korea relations and Qatar’s cultural diplomacy
The recent performance by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in Seoul was more than an evening of music — it was a vivid expression of the deepening cultural dialogue between Qatar and Korea. Held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, the concert struck a symbolic high note in a year filled with cross-cultural engagement. Khalid Ebrahim Al-Hamar, ambassador of the State of Qatar to Korea, described the event as a bridge between two cultures — one t
April 15, 2025 - 06:30:00
South Korea-Vietnam ties enter new strategic terrain, but need more detailed road map: Seoul envoy
Once centered on factory floors churning out textiles and electronics, the South Korea–Vietnam partnership is now being recast as a deeply interwoven strategic partnership spanning nearly every domain, South Korea’s top envoy to Vietnam told The Korea Herald. That evolution — evident in the expansion of economic cooperation into infrastructure, next-generation technologies and critical supply chains — now demands a clearer and sharper roadmap for the next phase of strategic alignment between Seo
April 14, 2025 - 14:54:21
Interview: Cultivation of connection
How Buddhist nun, Swiss photographer and Korean German writer bridged cultures through passion for temple cuisine In a quiet residential corner of Jongno, Seoul, the Swiss Embassy building rises like an architectural bridge between cultures — a modern wooden structure placed in conversation with traditional Korean hanok design. It is a deliberate confluence of East and West, traditional and modern, one that mirrors the gathering inside of individuals from disparate worlds who sat down for a chat
April 9, 2025 - 16:56:21
Tongyeong music festival sets eyes beyond Korea
TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- When the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) was first imagined, it was little more than a hopeful vision on the southern coast of Korea -- a dream of celebrating contemporary music in a city once home to late composer Isang Yun. Now, over two decades later, the festival has become a cultural landmark. This year’s edition, held under the theme “Journey Inwards,” wrapped up its 10-day run on Sunday, led by its artistic director, Chin Unsuk, and pi
April 8, 2025 - 17:42:50
K-beauty fuels Shiseido’s global strategy: APAC chief
Nicole Tan says global brands now follow Korea’s lead — from BB creams to next-gen wellness beauty Nicole Tan, president and CEO of Shiseido Asia Pacific, highlighted the rapid ascent of K-beauty and Korea’s growing influence in the global beauty market. "Today, it’s no longer just ‘Korea for Korea,’ it’s ‘Korea for the world’ in the beauty industry,” Tan said in an interview with The Korea Herald during her visit to Seoul on Thursday for the launch of Cle de Peau Beaute beauty spa at The Shilla
April 6, 2025 - 14:03:35
'Global vision, local focus’: How Trip.com brings mission to life in Korea
In an age where global access is taken for granted, travel has never been easier -- flights booked, hotels reserved and itineraries mapped out with just a few taps. Yet the easier travel becomes, the more we value what can’t be made universal: local nuance. This is where Trip.com Group steps in as a global travel service provider, well-versed in both scale and localization, striking a balance between global efficiency and market-specific customization. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Boon
April 5, 2025 - 16:00:00
Porsche eyes Korean recovery with new models, EV push
German carmaker plans to double Korea's service capacity in next five years Porsche Korea CEO Mathias Busse has pledged to revitalize sales in Korea — one of the German automaker’s top 10 markets — by offering a diverse lineup of vehicles, from powerful sports cars and family sport utility vehicles to all-electric models. “Our strategy to boost sales in the Korean market this year is to introduce a wide range of products, fulfilling Korean customers’ expectations of us, including the ultimate le
April 5, 2025 - 16:00:00
Interview: NIS tally of North Koreans killed or injured in Ukraine war rises over 4,000
Seoul spy agency says North Koreans inflicting self-mutilation to avoid conscription The total number of North Korean troops killed or injured fighting for Russia in its war in Ukraine has risen above 4,000, according to the National Intelligence Service's latest update, ruling party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun said. Lee, the People Power Party's deputy chair of the National Assembly's intelligence committee, told The Korea Herald that the NIS' figure as of mid-March indicates more than 4,000 North Kor
March 31, 2025 - 14:54:19
Astrid Lindgren nominee Ko Jung-wook pioneers disability representation in children’s literature
Wheelchair-using author dreams of world where people with and without disabilities live together in harmony Last fall was a surreal time for children's book author Ko Jung-wook. Amid the whirlwind of his writing and lecture schedule, his nomination for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in October gave him a rare opportunity to reflect on his long and prolific career -- a journey spanning over three decades and resulting in over 350 published books. "I can certainly say I've written
March 29, 2025 - 16:00:00
Interview: 'Yoon won't last a year in office, even if impeachment is dismissed'
China's dominance in AI "alarming," could lead to South Korean data's exposure to Beijing, says entrepreneur-turned-politician President Yoon Suk Yeol will not be able to last longer than another year in office even if the Constitutional Court overturns his impeachment, according to three-time presidential contender Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the ruling People Power Party. Ahn told The Korea Herald that even if the Constitutional Court dismisses Yoon's impeachment and the president returns to office,
March 28, 2025 - 18:57:56
