The Korea Herald

Kang’s departure leaves popular TV shows in trouble

TelevisionSept 13, 2011

Four of Korea’s most popular TV shows are at risk after popular host Kang Ho-dong abruptly announced Friday that he would “tentatively” retire from the entertainment industry due to public uproar over his evasion of tax.Earlier, on Monday, Kang had apologized to the public for failing to properly de
‘High Kick 3’ unveiled

TelevisionSept 13, 2011

Director Kim Byung-wook promises aggressive launch for semi-hopeful tale of young underdogsThe unveiling of the long-awaited third installment to MBC’s wildly popular “High Kick” sitcom series did not disappoint. True to form, the brief preview reel at the drama’s press conference Thursday unleashed
SpongeBob in hot water from study of 4-year-olds

TelevisionSept 13, 2011

CHICAGO (AP) — The cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants is in hot water from a study suggesting that watching just nine minutes of that program can cause short-term attention and learning problems in 4-year-olds. This undated file image released by Nickelodeon shows a scene from the animate
Top show host announces "semi-retirement" over tax evasion allegations

TelevisionSept 9, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- Kang Ho-dong, one of South Korea's top comedians, said Friday that he is tentatively retiring from the entertainment world following a public uproar over tax evasion.A local media reported on Monday that Kang, 41, was audited by the national tax agency and ordered to pay "
Highlights

MusicSept 9, 2011

Exhibitions“Agony and Ecstasy”: 22 among business mogul and noted collector Franois Pinault’s impressive art collection is brought to Seoul. Exhibits include paintings, sculptures, installation works and photos by four renowned contemporary artists ― Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Cindy Sherman and Takas
Eye-like

MusicSept 9, 2011

Campbell’s slow exit should be heardGlen Campbell“Ghost on the Canvas” (Surfdog)Given the circumstances of its release, it would be wonderful to say how Glen Campbell’s presumably final album is an unmitigated triumph. Not quite, though it came closer than anyone had a right to expect.An in-demand s
Box Office

FilmSept 9, 2011

The Crucible (Silenced) (Korea)Opening Sept. 22Drama. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyeok. Kang In-ho (Gong Yoo), a newly appointed art teacher at a school for hearing-impaired children in Gwangju, is excited to teach his new students. Yet the children are aloof and distant, trying to avoid running into hi
Jude Law relished his prickly part in ‘Contagion’

FilmSept 9, 2011

In “Contagion,” the fast, frightening global pandemic drama opening Friday, Jude Law is a mad blogger, a Web journo whose raging posts against Big Pharm and Big Gov turn incendiary when people start dropping like flies.Is Law’s Alan Krumwiede (pronounced “crum-woody”) prophet or paranoiac? A voice o
Lawmaker named fashion ambassador

TheaterSept 8, 2011

Rep. Cho Yoon-sun (left) of the Grand National Party shakes hands with Won Dae-yun, chairman of Korea Fashion Association, after being appointed goodwill ambassador of the 2011 Korean Fashion Culture Centennial Awards on Tuesday at Imperial Palace Hotel in southern Seoul. (Korea Fashion Association)
National Ballet to stage Maillot’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

TheaterSept 8, 2011

Chung Myung-whun to conduct Seoul Philharmonic for Oct. 27-30 showsKorean ballet has grown phenomenally in the past few years, said conductor Chung Myung-whun at a press conference held Thursday at the Press Center in central Seoul. “Korea National Ballet used to be like our old orchestras. It was r
Hong’s film invited to London fest

FilmSept 8, 2011

A scene from director Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day He Arrives” (Finecut)Director Hong Sang-soo’s 12th film, “The Day He Arrives,” has been officially invited to the 55th BFI London Film Festival, the movie’s production company Jeonwonsa Film Co. announced this week.The film was the opener for the 5th Ci
Ladies of U.S. pop win with wacky, weird tactics

MusicSept 8, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Whether it is being encased in an egg or wearing slabs of meat, there never is a question whether Lady Gaga will make a spectacle of herself at an awards show; the only question is just what kind.So when the MTV Video Music Awards came around this year, Gaga did not disappoint. Altho
Israeli designer Ron Arad installs swirling media art in Seoul

TheaterSept 7, 2011

A giant red metallic ribbon swivels towards the sky at Sindorim D-CUBE City’s Millefleur Park in Guro-dong, western Seoul. Taking a closer look, one can see about 24,000 tiny LED screens lined on the outside of the 17-meter-tall installation work, which features images and text such as poetry and ev
Arnold premiers ‘Wuthering Heights’

FilmSept 7, 2011

VENICE (AP) ― British director Andrea Arnold describes her experience creating a new film version of ‘Wuthering Heights,’ Emily Bronte’s only novel and 250-year-old literary phenomenon, as “a very difficult journey” but one which she couldn’t abandon.The result, in which the character of Heathcliff
Experts discuss ways to promote Korean culture

TheaterSept 6, 2011

Forum brings world perspectives on Korean cuisine, literature and popular culture promotionInternational cultural figures gathered on Tuesday in Seoul for a series of discussions on Korean culture and ways of promoting it globally.The Culture Communication Forum, which kicked off Sunday, has provide