The Korea Herald

Lotte City Hotel opens in Guro

TravelJul 25, 2014

Lotte Hotels and Resorts opened its 10th business hotel in Guro on Wednesday. Located in the Guro Digital Valley, a cluster of IT companies in western Seoul, the 20-story new hotel has 283 guestrooms, a buffet restaurant C’Caf, meeting rooms and a gym. Wi-Fi is available in every guestroom. The business zone and coin laundry offer convenience for business travelers. To celebrate the opening, the hotel is offering a special accommodation package until Aug. 31. The 130,000-won package includes a o
KTO offers four-day travel program

TravelJul 25, 2014

The Korea Tourism Organization invites foreigners on a four-day tour program under the new travel campaign “Imagine your Korea,” launched this week. Foreigners may apply online at www.tourimagination.com until Aug. 31, and the KTO will invite 16 of them. Those invited will have the chance to travel Korea in eight groups, with two members per group in October and November. The KTO plans to film their trips and use the videos to promote the campaign. The KTO invited Thai actor Mario Maurer and You
[Herald Interview] Gontran Cherrier opens first Seoul bakery

Food&BeverageJul 25, 2014

Famed French baker’s shop lands in Seorae Village
[Weekender] Around the hotel

Food&BeverageJul 25, 2014

Peruvian Food Festival at Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Hyatt Seoul’s signature restaurant The Terrace is inviting guests to a culinary tour of authentic Peruvian cuisine. The Peruvian Food Festival, co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Peru, will feature Peruvian and South American dishes cooked by a visiting native chef. To be included in the selection are Ceviche, a lemon-ripened seafood dish, Chicharron, a chewy pork rinds recipe, and Aji de Gallina, a tasty preparation of soft chicken brea
Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi)

Food&BeverageJul 25, 2014

Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi) (Korean Bapsang)One of the greatest joys of summer is the abundance of fresh vegetables. Here, I made a quick and easy kimchi with cucumbers. Summer cucumbers are very crispy and tasty! Always look for cucumbers that are firm and slender. Lightly salt the cucumbers first and let them stand for a while to draw out water. This process gives the cucumbers an extra crunch. You can eat this cucumber kimchi 20 to 30 minutes after making it. If you like it mellow, leave it o
'Faceless' artist from N. Korea to hold exhibition in Beijing

CultureJul 25, 2014

A North Korean defector known for his satirical paintings on North Korean society plans to hold a rare exhibition in Beijing this week, an organizer of the exhibition said Friday. The painter from North Korea, who uses the pseudonym Sun Mu, fled the North in 1998 and resettled in South Korea in 2001, has been called a "faceless" artist as he does not allow himself to be photographed out of fears that his family left behind could suffer retribution. Sun Mu, who was trained to paint propaganda pic
Mayfield opens business hotel in Dongdaemun

TravelJul 24, 2014

A suite in Mayplace Seoul Dongdaemun (Mayplace Seoul Dongdaemun)The Mayfield Hotel and Resort opened its first business hotel Mayplace in Dongdaemun, Seoul on Thursday.Mayplace is located within walking distance to major tourist spots in the capital such as Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine. It’s also close to the shopping districts of Dongdaemun, Myeongdong and Insa-dong. “The location, outstanding service and reasonable price make the hotel an attractive accommodation option for both l
Joseon royal’s endeavor for longevity

CultureJul 24, 2014

National Palace Museum exhibits medical records, devices of Joseon Dynasty kings and families
[Herald Review] ‘Dracula’: Blood, love and a red-haired Jun-su

CultureJul 24, 2014

Musical adaptation of vampire love story is full of spectacle, but lacks dramatic clout
It’s a Barbie world

CultureJul 24, 2014

Celebrities not limited to singers and actors, says Mattel brand manager
‘The Novel: A Biography’ captures life, history, connections of literature

BooksJul 24, 2014

Michael Schmidt’s massive new book, “The Novel: A Biography,” covers nearly 700 years of prose and hundreds of writers. At 1,200 pages, it is much longer than “Moby-Dick” and nearly as long as “War and Peace.” Although it’s not necessarily the last word on any given novel, as a resource, reference and stimulator, it’s a bargain and a worthy addition to your home library.While Schmidt, born in Mexico, has long been a professor in the United Kingdom, his approach is not academic. He writes for com
‘All I Love and Know’ tackles social issues

BooksJul 24, 2014

The considerable power of Judith Frank’s second novel, “All I Love and Know,” comes from two sources not always found in combination: first, the seriousness of the social issues it takes on, and second, its psychological, nearly Jamesian style, following its characters tick by tick through their emotions and thoughts. The merger is a success, providing a nuanced and profound approach to politically volatile subject matter, like an upmarket Jodi Picoult.“All I Love and Know” opens on a flight to
‘World of Trouble’ shows planet before impending destruction

BooksJul 24, 2014

World of TroubleBen H. Winters (Quirk Books)How would you behave if it were the end of the world?In “World of Trouble,” Detective Hank Palace has only 14 days to live and a mystery to solve ― what happened to his younger sister, Nico?Palace is not the only one with 14 days remaining. Everyone on earth has just two weeks to live since an asteroid, 2011GV, or Maia, is going to strike the planet, causing mass devastation.“Because these auburn Midwestern trees are going to burst into flames in the f
‘Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands’ follows life on run after disaster

BooksJul 24, 2014

Close Your EyesHold Hands/By Chris Bohjalian (Doubleday) Emily Shepard’s famous namesake once wrote that “The Soul selects her own Society ― Then ― shuts the Door.” Shepard, the runaway Vermont teenager who narrates Chris Bohjalian’s new novel, “Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands,” is just as choosy.Surprisingly, one of the few companions that Shepard ― a cutter, dope smoker and OxyContin popper, and sometimes a reluctant “prositot” for truckers ― selects is Emily Dickinson, the Belle of Amherst. Shepa
Creating the world of ‘Romeo & Juliette’

CultureJul 23, 2014

The man who created the African savanna on stage for the Broadway musical “Lion King” is trying to revive his sense of a romantic, atmospheric setting, working on the world’s most famous love story, “Romeo and Juliette.” In his first Korean venture, Richard Hudson is designing the set and costumes for the Korea National Opera’s upcoming production of “Romeo et Juliette” to be staged at Seoul Arts Center in October. The Korea Herald on Monday sat down with the designer, who was in Seoul for a 10-