The Korea Herald

Christian protests greet Lady Gaga in Philippines

MusicMay 20, 2012

MANILA (AP) ― Pop singer Lady Gaga arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to cheers from fans and protests from young Christians calling for the cancellation of her upcoming concerts.About 200 Christian young people marched in Manila for a second straight day, holding placards urging the singer to “respect our faith, stop the blasphemy.”The Biblemode Youth Philippines members plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the concert venue. They said they are offended by Lady Gaga’s music, particular
Will Smith slaps journalist who tries to kiss him

TelevisionMay 20, 2012

MOSCOW (AP) ― Hollywood star Will Smith slapped a male television reporter who he said tried to kiss him on the lips as he walked down the red carpet for the Moscow premiere of “Men in Black III.”The reporter from the Ukrainian television channel 1+1, Vitalii Sediuk, made headlines at the Venice Film Festival in September when he presented a bouquet of clearly unappreciated purple hydrangeas to Madonna and called her “my princess.”Smith was even less charmed by the reporter, who approached him
Will Smith slaps journalist who tries to kiss him

FilmMay 20, 2012

MOSCOW (AP) _ Hollywood star Will Smith slapped a male television reporter who he said tried to kiss him on the lips as he walked down the red carpet for the Moscow premiere of ``Men in Black III.''The reporter from the Ukrainian television channel 1+1, Vitalii Sediuk, made headlines at the Venice Film Festival in September when he presented a bouquet of clearly unappreciated purple hydrangeas to
Calendar

MusicMay 18, 2012

Festival“Muju Firefly Festival”: This environmentally friendly festival, now in its 16th year, features hands-on experience to learn about fireflies. Visitors can observe fireflies closely at its natural habitat as well as learn about them in depth at the Bandi Nara Museum. Other events include trout fishing and rafting in Namdaecheon stream. Visitors can also experience the local culture at the festival as it holds some of the region’s famous traditional performances and craftwork displays. Vis
Box Office

FilmMay 18, 2012

Runway Cop (Korea)Opening May 31Comedy. Directed by Shin Tae-ra. Detective Cha Cheol-soo (Kang Ji-hwan) does not care about the way he looks or what others think of him. He is fat and does not wash enough. His hair is always greasy and his clothes smell. But assigned to investigate a drug case in Korea’s flashy fashion industry, he is ordered to lose at least 20 kilograms and pretend to be a fashion model to investigate the case undercover. Granny is in 1st Grade (Korea)Opening May 24Drama. Dire
Eyelike

MusicMay 18, 2012

Occupy movement gets a shining soundtrack“Occupy This Album” Various artists (Razor & Tie)“Occupy This Album,” this homage to the Occupy Wall Street movement, is thick with troubadours and an eye toward social justice. The four-disc compilation is one part “Who’s who” and one part “Who’s that?” But there are some gems within this encampment.The theme is mixed, as has been the movement. Take Richard Barone’s “Can I Sleep On Your Futon?” His world is in tatters as he bemoans having a hard time fin
‘Expecting’ author and star bond over babies in pregnancy comedy

FilmMay 18, 2012

Many times Hollywood came calling, wanting to make her book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” into a movie. But Heidi Murkoff said “Huh?”It’s a best seller, yes, with some 40 million copies in four editions in print. But it’s a self-help book, packed with answers to the burning questions a lot of pregnant women and their husbands ask. Murkoff, 53, didn’t see a movie in that.“These movie pitches never survived my gut check,” Murkoff says. She was waiting for somebody who “got it,” that “What
Song says new role is very ‘Alice in Wonderland’

TelevisionMay 18, 2012

Viewers might be wavering over which program to tune in to come next weekend when two brand new series, MBC’s “Dr. Jin” and SBS’ “A Gentleman’s Dignity” (working title), go head to head. While actor Song Seung-heon, who is starring in “Dr. Jin,” sincerely wishes fellow actor Jang Dong-gun and his drama, “A Gentleman’s Dignity” the best, he did not mince words when it came to the desired outcome.“I would like his series to do well, but I would like ours to do a tad bit better,” Song, 35, said at
Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, dies at 63

MusicMay 18, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as “Last Dance,” “Love to Love You Baby” and “Bad Girl” became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63.Her family released a statement, saying Summer died Thursday morning and that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.”“Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time,” th
Leessang’s new song hits online

MusicMay 18, 2012

Korean hip-pop group Leessang’s new song “Hard to be Humble” became a hit as soon as the group released the song on online music portals Friday.In just an hour, the song shot up to top the best-selling online song on several music sites.The group’s new album “Unplugged” is its eighth ordinary release. It took three years for the band to complete.Leessang will unveil the second song “I Learn from You” on May 23, and “Someday,” on May 25.The group is to start touring on July 14. (yoonmi@heraldm.co
Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, dies at 63

MusicMay 18, 2012

In this May 21, 2008 file photo, Donna Summer performs during the finale of "American Idol" at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as “Last Dance,” ‘'Love to Love You Baby” and “Bad Girls” became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63.Her family released a statement, saying Summer died T
Im Sang-soo takes disturbing portrait of chaebol to Cannes

FilmMay 17, 2012

'Taste of Money’ to compete at Cannes film fest along with Hong Sang-soo’s ’In another Country’Regardless of whether or not director Im Sang-soo has met any real-life chaebol families, this is how he imagines their lives to be in his latest drama: They have a Philippines-born housemaid, are ruthlessly immoral, commit murder with no shame, speak Korean with a smattering of English, and are utterly unhappy. Just a couple of days before the opening of this year’s Cannes film festival, Im’s “Taste o
Two ‘K-pop Star’ finalists sign contracts with YG Entertainment

MusicMay 17, 2012

Two of the four finalists from SBS’ TV popular audition show “K-pop Star” have signed contracts with YG Entertainment led by Yang Hyun-seok, a former member of Seo Taiji & Boys and one of the three judges for the SBS program, according to industry sources.Lee Ha-yi, 16, who came in second, and Lee Seung-hoon, 20, who ranked fourth on the show, have decided to begin their professional careers at YG Entertainment, one of largest entertainment agencies in Korea.The singing contest drew much attent
Spotlight on Asian art as Hong Kong fair opens

TheaterMay 17, 2012

HONG KONG (AFP) ― The glittering Hong Kong International Art Fair opens Thursday, featuring works by artists from Picasso to Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei and cementing the city’s status as a global art hub.More than 260 galleries from 38 countries, representing an even split from the West and the East, have booked space at the four-day event known as Art HK, now in its fifth edition.“The transformation here culturally has been pretty significant,” art collector and fair board member Richard Chang
Im takes disturbing portrait of chaebol to Cannes

FilmMay 17, 2012

‘Taste of Money’ to compete at Cannes film festival along with Hong Sang-soo’s ‘In Another Country’Regardless of whether or not director Im Sang-soo has met any real-life chaebol families, this is how he imagines their lives to be in his latest drama: They have a Philippines-born housemaid, are ruthlessly immoral, commit murder with no shame, speak Korean with a smattering of English, and are utterly unhappy.Just a couple of days before the opening of this year’s Cannes film festival, Im’s “Tast