The Korea Herald

Seoul cinema takes on Arab and Indian flavors

FilmMay 21, 2013

Arab and Indian film festivals bring diversity to Korean theaters
‘Voice of Korea’ judges share coaching techniques

MusicMay 21, 2013

Music survival program’s second season down to 8 finalists
All-star crime thriller flops at Cannes

FilmMay 21, 2013

CANNES, France (AFP) ― Oscar winner Marion Cotillard and her partner, French actor and director Guillaume Canet, teamed up for the all-star “Blood Ties” premiering Monday in Cannes but faced audiences’ stony silence after high hopes for the picture.The film features one of the most high-wattage casts of the festival including Clive Owen, James Caan, Billy Crudup, Zoe Saldana, Mila Kunis and Lili Taylor.And the hard-boiled screenplay by Canet and New York-based director James Gray, another Cannes
Korean director Park Chan-wook's 2002 film to be remade in Hollywood

FilmMay 21, 2013

A crime thriller by South Korea's acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook will get remade for American audiences, a Korean film studio involved in the project said Tuesday. CJ E&M said it has decided to co-produce the remake of "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" with three Hollywood studios -- Silver Reel, Lotus Entertainment and Di Bonaventura Pictures. Released in 2002, "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" is a dark, disturbing tale about a young girl's kidnapping and her father's quest for merciless reven
Rhapsody in blue

TheaterMay 20, 2013

James Turrell Museum at Wonju’s Hansol Museum shows artist’s four major works
Uangel Voice recruits new members

MusicMay 20, 2013

Uangel Voice foundation, which has been discovering and supporting young talented classical musicians since 2007, is recruiting new members ahead of releasing a new album. The new members will have the opportunity to participate in the recording of the upcoming album.The foundation has two groups, a male quintet, Uangel Voice, and a musical team, Uvoice. Uangel Voice is made up of three tenors, a baritone and a bass. The quintet has released three albums since 2008. With powerful yet sweet voice
‘Before Midnight’ as charming as its predecessors

FilmMay 20, 2013

They are now in their 40s, with more responsibility on their shoulders and more to lose. Meet Celine and Jesse again, this time as a long-term, committed couple.After its very successful world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January, the follow-up to the famous “Before Sunrise” (1995) and “Before Sunset” (2004) was finally unveiled to the local press last week. Titled “Before Midnight,” the latest installment of the trilogy turned out to be equally ― if not more ― compelling as its predece
Psy wins Billboard award for Top Streaming Song

FilmMay 20, 2013

Korean rapper and singer Psy won the Top Streaming Song Billboard Music Award in the video category with his international hit song “Gangnam Style” on Monday. He is the first Korean artist to ever win a Billboard award. The award is for the most watched music video of that year. Psy was nominated along with several other musicians including Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, and fun., among others.Billboard said they determined the nominees and winners based on key fan interactions over the last ye
T-ara N4 to release album, perform in U.S. next week

May 20, 2013

Popular K-pop girl group T-ara N4 is releasing an album in the U.S. and will perform during Chris Brown’s upcoming concert next week, according to news reports.The girl group reportedly met with recording artist Chris Brown in the U.S. last week, and signed a deal with an American record label to release their upcoming U.S. album, “Jeonwon Diary.”The upcoming album will include a total of five different English-language versions of the group’s Korean debut single, “Jeonwon Diary.” Popular U.S. r
Energy of S. Africa explodes on stage

TheaterMay 19, 2013

South Africa’s ‘Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness’ returns to Seoul for fourth time
Sarah Brightman to feature ‘space dream’ in Korea

MusicMay 19, 2013

“Queen of Popera” Sarah Brightman will be back in Korea to feature her latest songs at BEXCO in Busan on July 21 and Seoul’s Gymnastics Stadium of Olympic Park on July 26.The classical crossover soprano’s tour will cover the songs from her latest album, “Dream Chaser,” which was inspired by her dream of traveling to the International Space Station on board the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft. Based on the plan that will make her the first musician to travel into space in 2015, the organizers will proje
Hot off the press: Seen and heard in Cannes

FilmMay 19, 2013

CANNES, France (AP) ― Will a switched-at-birth Japanese drama tug on Steven Spielberg’s heart strings?The Cannes Film Festival was wondering that Saturday, when Kore-eda Hirokazu’s elegant and emotional “Like Father, Like Son” premiered. It quickly emerged as an early contender for the Palme d’Or, the winner of which will be decided by a jury headed by Spielberg.Though reviews varied, “Like Father, Like Son” largely charmed Cannes with its sweet, understated examination of nature versus nurture.
Denmark’s de Forest wins Eurovision Song Contest

MusicMay 19, 2013

MALMO, Sweden (AP) ― Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest has won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with her ethno-inspired flute and drum tune “Only Teardrops,” despite tough competition from spectacular stage shows by performers from Azerbaijan and Ukraine.Juries and television viewers across Europe awarded the barefoot, hippie-chic de Forest for the catchy love song that is driven by her deep, Shakira-like voice. She received a total of 281 points in the glitzy music battle, which also featured a bi
Mraz and his band serenade 18,000 fans

MusicMay 19, 2013

American pop singer-songwriter Jason Mraz made his way back to his Korean fans on Friday night, and despite it being the musician’s sixth performance in the country, the geek in the pink still managed to attract around 18,000 fans to Jamsil Sports Complex. Opening acts for the show included Superstar K4 winner Roy Kim, who performed his new single “Spring, Spring, Spring,” as well as 25-year-old up-and-coming British singer Joe Brooks. When Mraz finally took the stage, he opened with his 2011 p
Greenplugged heralds start of festival season

MusicMay 19, 2013

Music festival season officially kicked off in Korea on Friday with the two-day Greenplugged Festival at Nanji Hangang River Park.With some of the hottest Korean bands hitting the stage, the festival was packed with rock lovers of all ages.The sets started around noon each day with seven stages running on a staggered schedule throughout the weekend.Friday brought reggae group Windy City, hip-hop due Supreme Team and indie band Bye Bye Badman, as well as popular rock band Pia.Set next to the Hang