The Korea Herald

NASA responds to Beyonce’s Challenger sample use

MusicJan 2, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) ― NASA officials say the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster “should never be trivialized” in response to a new song from Beyonce that features an audio sample recorded just after the craft exploded on takeoff in 1986, killing all seven crewmembers. The space agency issued the statement late Tuesday after the pop star began to receive criticism from Challenger families and others for using the short sample that includes the words “major malfunction” as an allusion to a fa
Rain says his girlfriend Kim tae-hee is rock

MusicJan 2, 2014

Actor and singer Rain expressed his fondness toward his girlfriend, actress Kim Tae-hee, in a recent interview. “My girlfriend is someone I can rely on and trust when I am down,” said the 32-year-old star, who just released his 6th album, titled “Rain Effect,” on Thursday.“We are on good terms, but we cannot go on dates frequently as both of us are too busy. We are keeping in contact by phone.”He drew a clear line between love and work, however. “I don’t want love to be mixed with work. I don’t
[Herald Review] Revisiting Roh Moo-hyun

FilmJan 1, 2014

‘The Attorney,’ taking cues from late president’s earlier days as a lawyer in the 1980s, attracts 5 million viewers in 12 days
[Photo News] Actress Hwang Jung-eum gives tearful speech

TelevisionJan 1, 2014

Singer and actress Hwang Jung-eum gives a tearful speech during her acceptance address after winning the best actress award in the 2013 KBS Drama Awards on Tuesday night, New Year’s Eve. In her speech, she expressed affection toward her long-term boyfriend Kim Yong-joon, a member of vocal group SG Wannabe, by saying, “Thanks to my other half for always being by my side. Love you.”By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
Despite lackluster results, K-pop continues collaborations

MusicDec 30, 2013

With news earlier in the year of Psy’s collaboration with American rock legend Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as well as local rap star G-Dragon’s announcement that he had indeed recorded a track with international pop superstar Justin Bieber, it appears as though K-pop artists are looking to expand their presence in the international music realm and continue to snatch any collaborative opportunities that come their way. In August, Big Bang leader G-Dragon released his second solo album, “Coup d’etat
‘Hobbit,’ ‘Frozen’ lead box office to record year

FilmDec 30, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Over the bustling post-Christmas weekend, Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continued to lead the box office, landing in the No. 1 slot for the third weekend in a row.The Warner Bros. prequel earned $30 million, bringing the domestic gross to $190.3 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday.Disney’s animated adventure, “Frozen,” took the No. 2 position, earning $28.9 million over the weekend and $248.4 million domestically after six weeks at the mult
Carly Rae Jepsen heads to Broadway next year

MusicDec 30, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen has had her calls returned by Broadway.Producers of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” said Sunday that the Canadian singer-songwriter will take over the role of Cinderella starting Feb. 4 for 12 weeks. She’ll take over from Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes.The Grammy Award nominee began performing in musical theater in high school. She starred in “Annie,” “The Wiz” and “Grease” before attending the Canadian College of Performing Arts.She’l
[Photo News] K-pop divas Lee hyo-ri and 2NE1’s CL present joint performance

TelevisionDec 30, 2013

Two powerful K-pop divas, singer Lee Hyo-ri and 2NE1's CL showcased a collaboration performance on SBS’ year-end music festival, aired live on Sunday. 　The duo appeared on stage in coordinating black and white outfits, singing a mashup of Lee's "Bad Girls" and CL's "Baddest Female," exclusively remixed for the collaborative stage by YG’s main composer Teddy Park.　Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
Stars and families in Annie Leibovitz’s viewfinder

TheaterDec 29, 2013

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is one of the rare photographers who can capture an ordinary moment in the middle of a dramatic setting, or the other way around. The photograph of the naked John Lennon cuddling with his wife Yoko Ono, taken three hours before he was assassinated in 1980, was printed on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and became an instant sensation because of its unusual composition and striking message. Thirty-three years later, Leibovitz has became the queen of portrait photo
Family disputes claims in Norman Rockwell book

TheaterDec 29, 2013

BOSTON (AP) ― The family of the late Norman Rockwell is taking exception to a new biography of the American illustrator, saying it contains numerous inaccuracies and poses a “phantom theory” about his sexuality.“American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell,” by Deborah Solomon, was published in November.In a statement released by the Norman Rockwell Family Agency, family members said they found at least 96 factual errors in the book, that the author misused sources and made “highly selec
New York stage actor makes Met debut

TheaterDec 29, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― For longtime Broadway actor Danny Burstein, the big challenge in preparing for his Metropolitan Opera debut has been “trying to find the funny.”Burstein will play the non-singing role of the drunken jailer Frosch in the Met’s new production of Johann Strauss’s operetta “Die Fledermaus,” which opens on New Year’s Eve and runs through Feb. 22.Some might consider it an unenviable assignment. Frosch doesn’t appear until Act 3 and then has to hold the stage alone while delivering a mo
Untouchable calls return to hip-hop ‘a long trip’

MusicDec 29, 2013

Hip-hop duo hopes to find own sound after military service
Hollywood poised for best-ever box office year

FilmDec 29, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Despite a string of summertime flops, Hollywood is expected to have a banner year at the domestic box office, coming in just shy of $11 billion, the largest annual take ever. But because of higher ticket prices, actual attendance at North American theaters remained flat after a decade of decline.With the current domestic box office tally nearly 1 percent ahead of last year at this time, 2013 could surpass 2012’s overall haul of $10.8 billion by more than $100 million, accordin
Hollywood struggles against new film meccas

FilmDec 28, 2013

In the old days, filmmakers flocked to Hollywood for its abundant sunshine, beautiful people and sandy beaches. But today a new filmmaking diaspora is spreading across the globe to places like Vancouver, London and Wellington, New Zealand.Fueled by politicians doling out generous tax breaks, filmmaking talent is migrating to where the money is. The result is an incentives arms race that pits California against governments around the world and allows powerful studios -- with hundreds of millions
Eyelike: Beatles fans, rejoice: Box set from the Beatles

FilmDec 27, 2013

Beatles fans, rejoice: Box set from the BeatlesThe Beatles “On Air ― Live At the BBC, Vol. 2” (Universal)Beatles fans, rejoice: More live rarities from the Fab Four are on the way to stores.Nearly 20 years after the first volume of long-lost BBC recordings sold millions of copies, a second volume is here, and with it, a coffee table book with rare photos and heretofore unseen historical documents chronicling the band’s interaction with the BBC.Like the first volume, “On Air - Live at the BBC, V