The Korea Herald

For Helen Mirren, ‘Debt’ becomes her

FilmSept 2, 2011

There’s really nothing more you can say about Helen Mirren.That she’s one of stage, screen and TV’s greatest actresses is a given. If nothing else, her Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in “The Queen” and her multiple Emmy Award-winning performance as tortured policewoman Jane Tennison in t
Gana Art Center donates artifacts

TheaterSept 1, 2011

Lee Ho-jae, head of Gana Art Center, one of the most prominent art galleries in South Korea, donated 128 Korean artifacts to Seoul Arts Center last week. The donated items ― 74 rubbed copies of epigraphs from the ancient and medieval times and 54 calligraphy works done with Chinese black ink from th
National Academy of Arts honors veteran actress Choi Eun-hee

FilmSept 1, 2011

Choi Eun-heeVeteran actress Choi Eun-hee has been selected as one of the three recipients of the 56th National Academy of Arts award this year, the institution announced Thursday.The 81-year-old started her film career in 1947 and led the Shin Film company together with her husband and the acclaimed
Sumi Jo voices her Bohemian spirit in 25th anniversary CD

MusicSept 1, 2011

Since coloratura soprano Sumi Jo made her international operatic debut as Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in Italy in 1986, the 25 years of world tours and musical explorations have made her musical life “free.”Such a free-spirited and gypsy-like image is the core concept of Jo’s latest album “Libera,”
Gwangju searches for new definition of design

TheaterSept 1, 2011

Co-director Ai of China unable to attend biennale; Korean director selects Chinese artist’s work for 10 most important exhibitsGWANGJU ― A day may be too short to enjoy everything the 4th Gwangju Design Biennale has to offer. The nation’s biggest design biennale kicked off its 52-day run on Thursday
More dollars, fewer fans for Hollywood films

FilmSept 1, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The good news for Hollywood: Summer movie revenues are up worldwide as studios rebounded from a dismally slow start to the year.The bad news: Domestically, revenues rose only a fraction compared to the previous year’s, while actual movie attendance dropped for the fourth-straight
Clooney sees ‘cynicism’ in U.S. politics as Venice fest kicks off

FilmSept 1, 2011

VENICE (AFP) ― Hollywood star George Clooney spoke Wednesday of his disillusionment with the U.S. political scene ahead of the premiere of his dark political thriller “The Ides of March” in Venice.The director told reporters ahead of a star-studded opening of the world’s oldest film festival that th
Comedian-turned-director falls into trap of debts after film's flop

FilmSept 1, 2011

He was once called a great master of slapstick comedy with his trademark persona, a fool named "Young-gu." Shim Hyung-rae (Yonhap)After becoming a movie director, Shim Hyung-rae became the first to receive "Korea's new intellectual" medal from the liberal government led by President Kim Dae-jung in
Sistar tops first Billboard K-pop chart

MusicAug 31, 2011

Girl group Sistar’s song “So Cool” topped the first Billboard K-pop Hot 100 Chart, which opened last week, Billboard said.The U.S. weekly magazine, particularly famous for music charts, launched the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 Chart on Aug. 25, ranking digital sales of the country’s top songs and mobile
Pop diva to star in musical ‘Cats’

TheaterAug 31, 2011

Insooni to play the famous cat Grizabella along with Park Hae-mi and Hong Ji-minKorea’s diva Insooni is certainly a multitasker. And an amazing one.On top of singing the theme song for the IAAF World Championships in Daegu and appearing on MBC TV’s “I Am a Singer,” (better known as “Nagasu”) the 54-
SM Town Live Tour goes to N.Y.

MusicAug 31, 2011

K-pop groups will fly to New York to hold the SM Town Live World Tour at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 23, after holding a series of concerts in Seoul, Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo.Joint concerts by K-pop groups affiliated with the entertainment agency have played a significant role in creating a ne
Despite hitches and delays, TV musical drama plows forward

TelevisionAug 31, 2011

‘The Musical’ co-star Ku Hye-sun sees hope in song-and-dance seriesSome people may have thought that “The Musical” ― a song-and-dance made-for-TV miniseries ― would never see the light of day. The drama waited in the wings with the press second-guessing its fate every step of the way. The cast
Is Park Jin-young planning to make big screen debut?

FilmAug 30, 2011

Park Jin-young, South Korean music mogul, may take a leading role in a movie. JYP Entertainment, Park’s agency, said on Monday that he is in talks to star in the film “Five Million Dollar Man.” Park is a singer-song writer and producer, as well as founder and head of JYPE, one of the top three Korea
SNU professor awarded for anti-cancer study

TelevisionAug 30, 2011

Baek Sung-hee, professor of biological science at Seoul National University, was on Tuesday awarded the Korea L’Oreal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Life Science in recognition of her study of cancer. Baek Sung-heeThe award, jointly given by the France-based beauty company’s Korean branch, UN
Korean exhibition hall opens in Uzbekistan...’s national museum

TheaterAug 30, 2011

An exhibition hall dedicated to Korea’s historic and cultural relics has opened in the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, the National Folk Museum of Korea announced Tuesday.The hall will be managed by the Uzbekistan Museum in Tashkent, while all the exhibits will be provided by the Korean insti