The Korea Herald

Alec Baldwin apologizes to NY gay group for tweets

FilmJun 29, 2013

Alec Baldwin has apologized to a New York City-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group for a series of tweets that could be interpreted as homophobic.Baldwin's messages were directed at a newspaper reporter who accused his wife of tweeting during the funeral for the former star of ``The Sopranos'' James Gandolfini. Baldwin says in a letter to GLAAD posted on its website Friday his tweets didn't have anything to do with "issues of anyone's sexual orientation."The former "30 Rock
Life’s little luxuries at outdoor art event

TheaterJun 28, 2013

Sejong Art Market SoSo offers affordable items for visitors, sales opportunities for local artists
Box office: Side Effects, Cold Eyes, White House Down

FilmJun 28, 2013

Side EffectsOpening July 11Thriller. Crime. Drama. Directed by Steven SoderberghEmily Taylor (Rooney Mara), despite having recently reunited with her husband Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum) after his release from prison, is severely depressed. To treat her condition, her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), prescribes an unconfirmed new medication called Ablixa. But Emily’s world turns upside down when the side effects of the drug lead her to kill her husband while sleepwalking. In a plea bar
Eyelike: Natalie Maines shines on 1st solo album

MusicJun 28, 2013

Natalie Maines shines on 1st solo albumNatalie Maines“Mother”(Columbia)Natalie Maines‘ first solo album continues her movement into a deeply considered, provocative form of polished adult rock heard on her last recording, the Dixie Chicks’ 2006 award-winning ``Take the Long Way Home.‘’ As with that album, Maines sets aside the cheeky playfulness that marked her success in country music. Instead, she carefully curates an album of covers and originals by other writers -- with one strong original,
Bullock and McCarthy bull their way to laughs in ‘The Heat’

FilmJun 28, 2013

Give it up for Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. You’ll never see them work harder at comedy than in “The Heat,” a stumbling, aggressively loud and profane cop buddy picture where they struggle to wring “funny” out of a script that isn’t.Plot? It’s more a collection of scenes that force the stars to riff and riff until something coarse and amusing comes out, topped by something else coarser and more amusing. Instructions must have read, “Sandy and Melissa go to a dance club, where Melissa hac
Lee Seung-chul is back, tops K-pop Billboard

MusicJun 28, 2013

Best known as the former lead vocalist of the famed Korean rock band Boohwal and a judge on singing audition program “Superstar K,” singer Lee Seung-chul has topped the K-pop Billboard charts for the first time in his 27-year career with his new rock ballad single “My Love.” Lee released his latest 10-track album, also titled “My Love,” on June 18, making it his 11th studio album and his first full album release in almost four years. After debuting in 1989 as a member of the still-ongoing rock b
Cable show embroiled in ‘sisterboy’ dispute

TelevisionJun 28, 2013

A popular South Korean TV show which introduces eccentric people drew fire on Friday over its latest episode featuring an intimate relationship between a brother and his sisters.“Martian Virus,” a cable TV program on tvN, touched off a firestorm of criticisms online Friday after it aired an episode of a high school student dubbed “sisterboy.”The boy, featured in Thursday’s episode, depends heavily on his two sisters, who spoon-feed him, wash him and even carry him on their backs when he has to g
Operas make switch to the movie screen

FilmJun 27, 2013

Screening of acclaimed opera productions at movie theaters brings high-brow art to the masses
Auction sees two old Korean paintings make a return to the country

TheaterJun 27, 2013

Two old Korean paintings, one given away as a gift, the other looted, finally returned to their home country and found new owners at an auction Wednesday in Seoul. A granddaughter of German businessman Carl Andreas Wolter, who established the first trading company in Korea in the early 1900s, brought back to Korea a painting that was presented to her grandfather by Emperor Gojong to be auctioned.On Wednesday the 10-panel folding screening was sold at 660 million won ($574,162) by Seoul Auction i
‘Secretly, Greatly’ to get overseas release

FilmJun 27, 2013

Korean film “Secretly, Greatly” will be released overseas, according to the movie’s producer Showbox/Mediaplex.The film, starring national heartthrob Kim Soo-hyun in the lead, tells the story of three young and attractive North Korean spies who disguise themselves as a rock musician, a high school student, and an intellectually challenged young man, in South Korea. It is based on the popular 2010 webtoon series “Convertness” by artist HUN.The movie will be released in the U.S. and Singapore on J
‘KCON All Things Hallyu’ returns to L.A.

MusicJun 27, 2013

After its launch last year, “KCON All Things Hallyu,” a large-scale K-pop and K-culture convention, is making its return to Los Angeles for a two-day star-studded second round of hallyu madness. KCON was first established to allow hallyu enthusiasts from around the world to experience the full extent of Korea’s culture. Unlike the previous year’s all-day event, this year’s KCON festival will be a two-day weekend K-culture experience, jam-packed with a wide range of activities related to Korean
Kim Soo-hyun considers alien role in drama

TelevisionJun 27, 2013

Kim Soo-hyun considers alien role in dramaPopular actor Kim Soo-hyun is considering taking up a role in a forthcoming drama on SBS slated for December. The drama, temporarily titled “A Man from a Star,” will be written by Park Ji-eun, known for hit KBS drama “My Husband Got a Family.”Kim’s agency said casting was not finalized but the actor seemed likely to accept the offer. In the drama, Kim’s character Do Min-jun is a handsome alien with amazing abilities. Do, who has lived in Korea for 400 ye
Singer Baek Ji-young suffers miscarriage

MusicJun 27, 2013

South Korean singer Baek Ji-young suffered a miscarriage on Thursday. “Baek had a stomachache on Wednesday night, and visited the Seoul National University Hospital at around 10 a.m. this morning but it was too late,” Baek’s agency said. She was four months pregnant. Baek married actor Jung Suk-won on June 3. The couple had postponed their honeymoon due to her condition after their wedding. 　From news report　(knews@heraldcorp.com)　　
K-pop stars aim to revive Korean Wave in Japan

Jun 27, 2013

Korean idol groups are reaching out to Japanese television drama market in a bid to create new Hallyu in the neighboring country.The idol stars are aggressively targeting the market, departing from the passive ways which were heavily relying on exporting music and dramas produced in Korea, with fine Japanese language abilities and fresh images. Unlike Korea where acting ability regarded as one of top qualifications for actors, Japan offers more opportunities to new faces that don’t have much exp
‘Infinite Challenge’ goes to hospital

TelevisionJun 27, 2013

All seven members of MBC’s popular variety show “Infinite Challenge” will participate in the show on Thursday even though two members, Jeong Jun-ha and Jeong Hyeong-don, are in the hospital.The shooting schedule hit a bump as the two TV personalities were taken to hospital for different reasons. The program’s staff said they adjusted the schedule in a way that the remaining five members would visit each Jeong’s hospital to produce a “hospital episode.” Back in 2009, a similar show was filmed wit