The Korea Herald

Britain celebrates 350 years of Punch and Judy

TheaterMay 14, 2012

LONDON (AFP) ― Dozens of puppeteers gathered in central London on Sunday to celebrate 350 years of the Punch and Judy show, an anarchic English seaside entertainment known for its slapstick and casual violence.On the second of two days of festivities, Punch and Judy men and women ― known as “professors” ― took their hand puppets on a procession in London’s Covent Garden, staged shows for hundreds of children and held a church service with the red-nosed Mr Punch in the pulpit.“Punch and Judy poke
Versatile idol group BTOB has a lot more to show

MusicMay 14, 2012

Seven-member group to make international debut at Singapore’s Music Matters FestivalThis is part of a series featuring new hallyu stars. ― Ed.Korean idol groups, so far, may have relied on their pretty looks, dance performances that are akin to acrobatics, and trendy music widely accepted by different cultures around the world, to appeal to audiences. However, BTOB, a Korean boy group that debuted two months ago, said they will show new features as K-pop artists in a way that will set them apart
YG Entertainment CEO reveals story of Seo Taiji and Boys

TelevisionMay 14, 2012

YG Entertainment CEO and former member of Korean group Seo Taiji and Boys Yang Hyun-suk has revealed the story behind the formation of the group for the first time on a TV talk show.The dance guru said on SBS’ “Healing Camp” that he met the leader of the band, Seo Taiji, in a club and Seo paid him a large amount of money to learn his dance moves.They started dance lessons after Seo’s request, but Yang later lost contact with him.The dancer-turned-producer also spoke about his childhood and his e
Cannes fest slammed for all-male line-up

FilmMay 13, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― French feminists on Friday slammed the Cannes Film Festival for failing to include a single woman director in the line-up for the Palme d’Or top award that kicks off next week.There are no female film-makers among the 22 competing for the top award at the May 16-27 festival, and just two among the 17 in its new talent section “Un Certain Regard”: France’s Catherine Corsini and Sylvie Verheyde.“All 22 films in the official selection were written, happy coincidence, by 22 men,” the f
Suzy says kiss with Kim Soo-hyun ‘made her heart flutter’

TelevisionMay 13, 2012

Up-and-coming actor and singer Suzy singled out a kiss with actor Kim Soo-hyun as the one which made her heart throb the most. Suzy, a member of a popular K-pop girl group Miss A, talked about her experience doing romantic scenes with some of the hottest male celebrities in Korea during an interview with TV program “Entertainment Broadcast.”“I was not sure at first, but now I ‘go with the flow’ during a kiss scene,” she said.Suzy’s first ever experience of on-screen smooching with Taek-yeon, a m
Mnet’s ‘Voice Korea’ finds its swan

TelevisionMay 13, 2012

Mnet’s “Voice Korea,” a popular singing contest show, crowned Son Seung-yeon its musical swan on Friday.Son dazzled the judges and the audience with a heartfelt performance of “Ugly Duckling” in the final round which took place Friday night at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.Son beat rivals Yoo Seung-eun, Woo Hye-mi and Ji Sae-hee to go home with 300 million won ($262,000) in cash and prizes, a new car and a tour of international cities renowned for their music.“The new song that I sang during the
Chinese actress comes out of closet

FilmMay 13, 2012

Chinese actress Lan Yen has announced on Friday that she is a lesbian, according to Chinese news reports.The 26-year-old Lan said that she “would not choose men in reality” during a press conference introducing her new movie. The bold announcement caught many by surprise.She also told the reporters that her “eternal idol” was late Leslie Cheung, a world-renown Chinese actor who was also known to be homosexual. Lan Yen is an emerging actress who recently gained fame by starring in the Hong Kong e
YG reveals new member of girl group

MusicMay 11, 2012

YG Entertainment posted a new video unveiling the fifth member of its upcoming girl group through their official blog on Friday. The one minute and 30 second video featured the 16-year-old trainee’s powerful dance moves along with other girls in a studio.At the end of the footage, a profile showed a photo of her face but listed her name and nationality as 'Unknown.'On May 4, YG posted a photo of the new member under a title of “Who’s that girl?” and a month ago they also uploaded a video of othe
Calendar

MusicMay 11, 2012

Theater“On an Azure Day”: Director Go Seon-woong’s award-sweeping play about the 1980 Gwangju democratization movement is back for a second run -- just in time for the 32nd anniversary of the historical event on May 18. The show premiered in 2011 and won the grand prize and best play at last year’s National Theater Awards. It tells a story of middle-aged Buddhist monk Yeosan, who participated in the uprising and was brutally tortured by the authorities upon his arrest. At the time, he testified
Box Office

FilmMay 11, 2012

Granny is in 1st Grade (Korea)Opening May 24Drama. Directed by Jin Gwang-gyo. Nan-ee, a 70-year-old illiterate woman, lives with her granddaughter in her rural hometown. She has just lost her son to a car accident and is still grieving. One day, Nan-ee finds out her late son had left her a letter while he was alive. Anxious to find out what’s in the letter, Nan-ee decides to learn how to read and write for the first time in her life. At first, she makes her 7-year-old granddaughter, Dong-ee, tea
Eyelike

MusicMay 11, 2012

Snider’s twisted take on Broadway tunesDee Snider “Dee Does Broadway” (Razor & Tie)In a signature song early in his career, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider vowed “I’ll Never Grow Up.” But bless his twisted heart and frizzed-out hair, that’s exactly what’s happening to the heavy metal legend, best known for hits like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.”Dee Snider has become a brand. He’s done stints as a commercial voice-over actor, a radio DJ, a reality TV star and budding author. Bu
Tim Burton lightens the tone of ‘Dark Shadows’

FilmMay 11, 2012

There’s one thing everyone will be able to agree on regarding Tim Burton’s cinematic reimagining of the old TV series “Dark Shadows”: This isn’t your mother’s gothic soap opera.The original, which ran from 1966 to 1971, smashed the daytime-TV mold by introducing cool supernatural storylines into the usual heat of love triangles and broken hearts. Long before staid afternoon dramas like “General Hospital,” in order to attract young viewers, juiced up their storylines with fantastical elements, an
As book thrives, Carole King hints at songwriting end

MusicMay 11, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― The voice behind dozens of standards like “It’s Too Late,’’ `’You’ve Got a Friend’’ and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’’ says her music-making days are likely over.Carole King, now a best-selling author, doubts she will ever write another song and suggested that her 2010 “Troubadours Reunion’’ concert tour with James Taylor would be her last: “It was a good way to go out.’’King composed dozens of 1960s hits with then-husband Gerry Goffin before emerging as a recording a
Singer head bangs his way to injury

MusicMay 11, 2012

The lead singer of a Swedish metal band said he had to cancel a Minnesota concert when an accidental head bang on a tour bus left him bleeding.Mikael Akerfeldt, lead singer of death metal bank Opeth, said he was retrieving underwear from his suitcase on a tour bus belonging to fellow metal act Mastodon when he accidentally hit his head, resulting in a gash "open down to the skullbone," The Local r
Monumenta exhibit goes minimalist

TheaterMay 10, 2012

PARIS (AP) ― Art lovers should expect the unexpected in the latest offering of the ground-breaking and normally roof-scraping Monumenta exhibit, as artist Daniel Buren brings the Grand Palais’ lofty ceiling for the first time ―literally ― down to earth.Monumenta, the hugely-mediatized annual art project that’s in its fifth year dares an artist of international stature to “move into’’ the nave of one of the French capital’s most monumental buildings, and own it.With a space measuring 13,500 squar