SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) ― The wildly popular “Gangnam Style” music video cemented its place Saturday as one of the defining soundtracks of the digital age, smashing through the 2 billion barrier on YouTube.The infectious and satirical mega-hit by South Korean pop star Psy became a worldwide sensation, fueling a South Korean “K-pop” trend after it was first uploaded to the popular video sharing platform in July 2012.It continues to garner thousands of looks daily and already was hundreds of thousands

NEW YORK (AP) ― Five years after her musical breakthrough, Susan Boyle says she’s feeling confident and comfortable ― and ready to launch her first U.S. tour. The 53-year-old will hit the road in October on a 21-date trek. Boyle said she hadn’t been ready to take on the tour after her pop culture moment in 2009, but now she’s more relaxed and ready to perform. “I didn’t have the confidence. I didn’t have the right experience, but I feel more ready now, and I really can’t wait,” she said in a pho

Cartoonist Park Heung-yong’s socially conscious comics on exhibit in Seoul

The Tourist releases 2nd full album, ‘Guidebook to Excitement’

Lee Hyori showed her morning coffee time on her blog over the weekend. Posting several pictures of her husband Lee Sang-soon brewing coffee, the hallyu star shared a glimpse of how the couple starts the day with coffee. Lee also posted pictures of her waiting for coffee with no make-up. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

 Pop MusicUltra Korea Music Festival: The annual Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s largest outdoor electronica music fests, will be in full swing in Seoul once again. Last summer’s event drew more than 80,000 EDM fans. Like last year, this year’s lineup will include a handful of world famous DJ acts including Steve Aoki, Above & Beyond, Steve Angello and Paul Vanduk. The festival will be held on June 13 and 14 at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Stadium Complex. Tickets are listed at 130,000

High Heel (Korea)Opening June 4Noir, action. Directed by Jang JinYoon Ji-wook (Cha Seung-won) is a homicide detective whose macho looks match his undisputed ability to nab violent criminals. He is revered as a legend in the police force and at the same time feared among the mafia for his brutality in cracking down on crime. But deep inside, his identity is quite different. Ji-wook has desired to become a woman ever since his teenage days. He tries to suppress the inner desire -- in vain. He fina

Joe, a 180-kilogram Latino boy from Houston, weeps in fear and frustration. He’s not alone. Maggie, a 96-kilogram 12-year-old from Oklahoma, joins him. Wesley, an overweight 13-year-old in Houston, is desperate.But Brandon, 15, a 98-kilogram South Carolinian headed toward diabetes, morbid obesity and being a member of “the first American generation to not live as long as their parents,” is documenting his struggle on videolife, reading up on his diet and the causes of his problem, determined to

Old classics never get oldIU“A Flower Bookmark” (LOEN Entertainment)In her new covers album “A Flower Bookmark,” IU leads listeners down memory lane through calm and acoustic reinterpretations of hits from the 80s and 90s.For every track, IU keeps a careful balance between preserving the song’s original sentiments and altering the original with her own color and arrangements. Age does not seem to preclude the 21-year-old singer from reviving old classics released even before she was born.The lea

Taeyang, a member of the popular boy band Big Bang, is coming out with a new studio album, “Rise,” on June 2.His agency, YG Entertainment released a full track list as well as a detailed explanation of the songs and the making of the album on its official blog on Thursday.According to the track list, Taeyang was involved in composing and writing most of the tracks on his new album, and a number of famous producers and artists including G-Dragon, Tablo, Choice37, Boys Noize, The Fliptones, Happy

The 16th International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul opened on Thursday at Megabox Theater in Sinchon with the overarching theme of “the visions of 99 percent for another world.” Organizers adopted the motto to highlight the importance of women’s diverse views in interpreting the multiple layers of life around the world. “The theme focuses on the lives of 99 percent of the world’s population (as opposed to the privileged 1 percent),” said festival director Lee Hye-kyung at a press conference he