The National Assembly is set to convene parliamentary sessions this week as part of its last-ditch efforts to pass pending bills before the lawmakers set aside the legislative affairs to accelerate their campaigns for the April general elections.  Kicking off Monday with the rival parties’ floor leaders addressing the Assembly, a monthlong extraordinary session will include an interpellation upon state affairs on Feb. 17-18 and a plenary session, scheduled on Feb. 19 and 23, where the pending bi

MEXICO CITY -- Catholic faithful flocked to the streets of Mexico City to greet Pope Francis on Friday after the pontiff held a historic meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.President Enrique Pena Nieto welcomed Francis at the airport while crowds lined the streets, preparing to hold up their phones to light the way for the popemobile across the mega-capital of the world's second largest Catholic country. Pope Francis (center) waves next to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (r

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval to a package of stringent sanctions on North Korea on Friday, taking swift action to punish the communist regime for its nuclear and missile tests.The House approved the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of2016 in a 408-2 vote, just two days after the Senate unanimously passed the legislation in a demonstration of bipartisan support for a tough response to Pyongyang.The legislation will take effect as soon as President Barac

The three major broadcast networks in Korea launched pilot programs over the Lunar New Year holiday, testing the waters for potential new regular programs. Each network’s top show chose a different strategy to pull in viewers, with SBS’ music competition show and MBC’s hidden camera comedy clearly appealing to viewers more than KBS’ show featuring girl group members battling against one another.The pilot programs that received top ratings on each network were “God’s Voice” on SBS (10.4 percent a

After spending countless hours in the kitchen or in front of the TV, most families want to spend a day outside having fun together. The most accessible source of entertainment is the movie theater, where you can catch a film that everyone in the family can enjoy. The Korea Herald offers a short guide to the best movies for a family outing.Commanding nearly 70 percent of ticket bookings as of Thursday, Lee Il-hyung’s crime comedy “A Violent Prosecutor” looks set to be the top film during this hol

　Bumkey“U-Turn”(Loen Entertainment)　R&B singer Bumkey is one of those artists who can rack up impressive chart rankings and music sales without going through the hamster wheel of radio and TV promotions that are obligatory for most artists to gain some traction. On “U-Turn,” his first studio-length album coming 11 years after his debut, Bumkey demonstrates why he has been able to survive with his music alone with eight tracks he wrote himself, as well as a new version of the hymn “Amazing Grace.

Heading to the theaters this weekend? Whether you're looking for an artistic film to add class to your holiday, something to watch with your kids, or something to make you cry, the silver screen's got you covered.The Korea Herald offers a guide to the top movies playing this weekend.Carol (U.K., U.S.)Drama. Directed by Todd HaynesOpened Feb. 4　Set in the conservative 1950s Manhattan, “Carol” follows the dangerous romance that buds between Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett). The two

Yu Seung-woo's EP “Pit a Pat’ is his first record since after he legally became an adult in Korea, but he has still maintained his cute, boyish character on the five tracks, four of which each depict a different stage of romance.The lead track "Whatever," featuring rapper Crucial Star, is about trying fruitlessly to brush off a breakup. "Getting like U" captures the first sparks of puppy love, "45.7 cm" is about the tingling excitement of beginning a new relationship, while last year‘s hit track

Two Korean fashion designers presented their menswear collection at Pier 59 Studios in New York on Monday, the first day of New York Fashion Week: Men’s. Kang Dong-jun of DBYD and Jang Hyung-chul of Ordinary People were presented by Concept Korea, a project promoting Korean culture sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency.Kang presented a collection that employed modern silhouettes in trench coats and patterned long cardigans, reflecting the

Dead Buttons has launched just one official album but the rock and roll duo is not your typical rookie group. Grungy, carefree and playful, drummer Lee Kang-hee and guitarist Hong Ji-hyun exuded the ease of seasoned musicians when they spoke to the The Korea Herald at a cafe in Seoul’s Hongdae area.Although “Some Kind of Youth” is the band’s first official album, the band has already established a reputation for itself over the past few years. Dead Buttons (Love Rock Company)Formed in 2012, Dead