The Korea Herald

Broadway show ‘Once’ will tour US in 2013

MusicMay 8, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) -- The small-budget film that became an album and then a Broadway musical is now becoming a U.S. tour.Producers of the show ``Once‘’ announced Monday that a national tour will launch in 2013. Dates and locations will be revealed later.The news comes less than a week after ``Once‘’ became the top-nominated show of this year‘s Tony Awards, with 11 nods.The musical starring Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti is based on the 2006 film about an unlikely romance between a Czech flower selle
JK Film sues director over copyright

FilmMay 8, 2012

CEO-director Yoon Je-kyoon and filmmaker Lee Myeong-se battle over 10 billion won filmProduction company JK Film on Monday filed a copyright lawsuit against director Lee Myeong-se, who dropped out of a big budget movie project last month.The lawsuit is aimed at regaining the copyright of the 10 billion won ($8.8 million) movie, titled “Mister K,” from Lee, who “illegally and secretly registered” himself as its copyright holder in April, according to the production house. The legal battle was spa
Ryu Si-won’s drama starts with embarrassing viewer ratings

TelevisionMay 8, 2012

Hallyu star Ryu Si-won’s ambitious TV drama “Good-Bye My Wife” aired its first episode with dismal viewer ratings of less than 1 percent. According to ratings research firm AGB Nielsen Media Research, the drama’s first episode, aired on Monday evening, took 0.84 percent of the viewership nationwide.Considering the drama was the first TV program for the Korean Wave star after a four-year absence from the small screen, the ratings were seen as weak.“Good-Bye My Wife” also drew attention prior to a
Adam Yauch was a Beastie Boy tamed by age, wisdom

MusicMay 7, 2012

LOS ANGELES ― Most fans of the Beastie Boys’ early hits know Adam Yauch, or MCA as he was known, for a few choice boasts, like “I got more juice than Picasso’s got paint” (from the 1986 song “The New Style”). Despite the group’s early reputation as party animals, however, peace, mindfulness and positive energy were subjects the rapper wanted to represent in his work.Any remembrance of Yauch has to focus on the more spiritual lines he wrote, as on 1998’s “Intergalactic,” where he perfectly descri
Will Smith gets ‘jiggy wit it’ in Seoul

FilmMay 7, 2012

Top Hollywood stars in town for world premiere of ‘Men in Black 3’As one of Hollywood’s top actors, it comes as no surprise that Will Smith can instantly turn a crowd of stern reporters into laughing fans during a press conference in Seoul on Monday.Once voted Hollywood’s most powerful actor, Smith is once again stepping into the comical and familiar shoes of Agent J in his upcoming sequel “Men In Black 3.”Before the conference even started at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Smith’s unmistakable shouts
Will Smith, Ewan McGregor in Seoul

FilmMay 7, 2012

Hollywood celebrities Will Smith and Ewan McGregor visited Korea on Monday -- one to promote his new film the other for a department store event.Will Smith poses at a press conference in Seoul, Monday, on the upcoming film, “Men In Black 3.” (Yonhap News)Smith, who arrived in Incheon with his wife and a daughter, had a press conference in Seoul to promote the upcoming move “Men In Black 3.”Will Sm
DSO names violinist Song as concertmaster

MusicMay 7, 2012

DETROIT (AP) ― The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has chosen violinist Yoonshin Song as its concertmaster.Music Director Leonard Slatkin announced the appointment Sunday after intermission at the symphony’s final performance of ``Pictures at an Exhibition.’’The 30-year-old Song, a native of South Korea, is a member of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. She served as guest concertmaster during this weekend’s performances.The Detroit symphony says that Song will take the position in September and will
'Avengers' smashes record: $200.3 million debut

FilmMay 7, 2012

Hulk, smash.That's what Captain America tells the Incredible Hulk to do in “The Avengers,” and that's what the Marvel Comics superhero mash-up did at the box office, smashing the domestic revenue record with a $200.3 million debut.It's by far the biggest opening ever, shooting past the previous record of $169.2 million for the debut of last year's “Harry Potter” finale.“The Avengers” added $151.5
It’s all about the fans

MusicMay 6, 2012

Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel returns to Korea to connect with local fansFrom start to finish, it was obvious what brought Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel back to Seoul on Saturday night: the fans.They came en masse, decked out in the band’s t-shirts and towels. A few imitating vocalist Hyde’s notorious dark, vampiric style, while a few others were decked out in kimonos. And they left just as happy and excited as they arrived.The show started off jam-packed with energy and with explosive technology.
From Hongdae to Texas

MusicMay 6, 2012

Korean indie band Galaxy Express gains confidence after U.S. tourGalaxy Express, one of the leading indie rock bands based in Hongdae, wondered why they had to go to the U.S. to perform when they were first offered the chance two years ago.“We were asked to participate in a project called SEOULSONIC designed to bring Korean rock groups to North America. But we said, ‘No. Why do we have to? We are already doing great and busy here,’” said Park Jong-hyun, the band’s guitarist and vocal.The band wh
Big Bang wins Best Fan at MTV Awards

MusicMay 6, 2012

Big Bang won in the Best Fan category at the 2012 MTV Total Request Live awards in Firenze, Italy, on Saturday. It was the first time an Asian artist had won the best fan award, which also nominated global pop star Avril Lavigne and popular British group One Direction. TRL is a television series on MTV that features popular music videos and the winner of the awards chosen through online fan voting on the MTV TRL official website. YG Entertainment, Big Bang’s agency, said “We are very happy and
'21' sells more copies than 'Thriller'

MusicMay 6, 2012

Adele's 2011 album "21" has sold more copies than Michael Jackson's iconic 1982 record "Thriller" in the United Kingdom, the Official Charts Co. reported."21" has now sold 4,274,300 copies in the United Kingdom -- 500 more than "Thriller," NME.com said.The Top 10 best-selling albums of all time in the United Kingdom are "Queen's "Greatest Hits" at No. 1, The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Cl
Calendar

MusicMay 4, 2012

Exhibitions“Dajeong”: Kim Jong-hak’s solo exhibition at Gallery Hyundai unveils his paintings as well as heartwarming letters he wrote to his daughter when he was working away from home at Seorak Mountain. The exhibition also features Kim’s collection of antiques, which will help visitors understand his artistic philosophy and characteristics. It offers a chance for the viewers to get to know about the veteran artist born in North Korea in 1937 with his 20 drawings and some 40 hand-written lette
Box Office

FilmMay 4, 2012

Taste of Money (Korea), Opening May 17Drama. Directed by Im Sang-soo. Ruthless chaebol woman Geum-ok (Yoon Yeo-jeong) lives with her aloof husband, daughter, and ambitious secretary Young-jak (Kim Kang-woo). Guem-ok strictly believes money is the solution for everything, and doesn’t feel guilty when she commits immoral and corrupt deeds with her business. Young-jak does all the dirty work for her, while she keeps her name clean. Meanwhile, Nami (Kim Hyo-jin), Geum-ok’s only daughter who despises
Eyelike

MusicMay 4, 2012

Underwood’s image overshadows artCarrie Underwood“Blown Away” (19/Arista)The cover of Carrie Underwood’s fourth album illustrates her evolution since introducing herself as a young Oklahoma woman with a powerful voice.Initially, she came across as the friendly girl next door, with songs about Jesus and of compassion for the less fortunate, while showing her wit with empowering songs about getting back at a cheating guy.The cover of “Blown Away” depicts the modern Underwood as an airbrushed, supe