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Seoul shares forecast to seesaw amid global uncertainties

Sept 5, 2015

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks are expected to move in a wide range next week as investors await key economic data from the United States and China for clues over their impact on the global financial market, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.6 percent this week to close at 1,886.04 on Friday.Trading volume was light as investors took to the sidelines following a wild ride in the previous week, responding to mixed data from the w
September box office to be dominated by men

FilmSept 4, 2015

It was the summer of women in Korean cinema, with heavyweights like Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun), Uhm Jeong-hwa, Jeon Do-yeon and Lee Jung-hyun all returning to the screen around the same time. Now, the men are poised to take over for September. Here’s a look at some of the Korean films coming up in September.　　Deep Trap (Sept. 10)　Directed by Kwon Hyung-jin　　Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee), a fan favorite who often provides balance and comic relief to otherwise heavy action movies, returns to the screen as
Fostering creativity while cultivating skill

TheaterSept 4, 2015

A quick walk through the campus of Korea Animation High School (nicknamed Anigo among locals) makes it immediately apparent that it is not an ordinary Korean high school. The campus is big and brightly colored, and students roam freely with dyed hair and piercings, dressed in casual clothing. Each floor, and even the stairwells connecting the floors are decorated with the students’ artwork.“We try to give our students an environment that maximizes their creativity,” teacher Kim Young-mi told The
[Album Review] Giriboy becomes Everyman on ‘Lonely 4Songs’

MusicSept 4, 2015

　Giriboy　“Lonely 4Songs”　(Loen Entertainment)　In all of Giriboy’s songs, the common denominator is Giriboy’s ability to write lyrics that are highly relatable. He doesn’t disappoint on “Lonely 4Songs,” an EP devoted to expressing the process of coping with loneliness that most people go through after a breakup. Written entirely as a collaboration between Giriboy and Han Yo-han, a producer-guitarist who has worked with Block B’s Zico and most recently on Blacknut’s song “What I Can Do” for “Show
[Album Review] Beat Win lacking X factor on ‘Insatiable’

MusicSept 4, 2015

　　Beat Win　“Insatiable”　(Loen Entertainment)　It has been reported that at the media showcase for the album “Insatiable,” Beat Win announced they would “break” the Korean pop music industry. Unfortunately, their first EP “Insatiable” -- which came out after the group regrouped into five members -- does not seem to take them quite there. “Insatiable” starts off with a bold intro called “Attention,” warning other artists about who they’re dealing with, but things spiral very fast. The lead track “S
[Album Review] Verbal Jint shows off on ‘Yeoja’

MusicSept 4, 2015

　　Verbal Jint & Sanchez　“Yeoja”　(Loen Entertainment)　Sanchez was cast personally by Verbal Jint to put “Yeoja” together, and it’s easy to see why: Sanchez’s thin, high voice provides a nice contrast to Verbal Jint’s distinctive low voice and staccato rapping style. The lead track “Favorite!” is a new version of the 2007 track Verbal Jint released with Dynamic Duo, which turned the hip-hop track into a pop track with Sanchez’s vocal style reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s. “My Type 2.5” is also a
Weekend Box Office Guide

FilmSept 4, 2015

The Korea Herald offers a guide to what's playing in theaters this weekend.For those seeking some drama, check out "The Immigrant," in which Marion Cotillard transforms into a young Polish woman trying to make it in the U.S. For some more light-hearted fun, "Ricki and the Flash" offers a musical experience while "Ant-Man" provides a dose of superhero action. From Korean cinema, "Veteran" still remains in box offices after surpassing 10 million ticket sold, while the Cannes-screened "Office" supp
[Herald Interview] Ko A-sung, Park Sung-woong talk ‘Office’

FilmSept 3, 2015

The two lead actors of screenwriter Hong Won-chan’s directorial debut “Office” proved their acting chops in the thriller genre long before this year. Ko A-sung rose to fame as a child actress in 2006’s “The Host” and made her international mark with 2013’s “Snowpiercer,” while Park Sung-woong’s big break was his role as a tough gangster in 2013’s “New World,” which he followed with a serial killer role in “The Deal” early this year.They brought those past experiences with them to create an eerie
[Herald Interview] 'More cartoons, stories to be told online'

CultureSept 2, 2015

Terry Mosher, a well-known political cartoonist based in Montreal, has been satirizing and drawing about the Canadian political landscape for newspapers since 1967.He has recently made the transition to online and mobile, and now believes that many more cartoonists and storytellers will follow suit as the print industry comes to an end."I think newspapers will disappear, but in a slower process than we think, because people still need valid information as opposed to, for instance, some kid writi
'New media technology will spur culture'

CultureSept 2, 2015

The culture community should not see new media technology as a threat but an opportunity that can help many people to gain greater access to information and interest in culture, said participants at the Culture Communication Forum 2015 in Seoul.Under the theme of "Cultural Combustion in the Smart Age," some 20 delegates from G20 economies, including Korea, participated in the forum hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute to discuss about social media technology and its effects on cultu
Star producer reunites old crew for 'New Journey to the West'

TelevisionSept 1, 2015

The star producer behind hits like “Grandpas Over Flowers” and “Three Meals a Day” is bringing together old friends for a new travel-themed variety show.That familiar chemistry was what producer Na Young-suk and cast members Kang Ho-dong, Lee Seung-gi, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun -- who previously appeared together on another travel variety show called “1 Night, 2 Days” -- emphasized at a press conference at the 63 Convention Center ahead of the premiere of “New Journey to the West.”“It was the
New unification song introduced

MusicSept 1, 2015

A new song representing the desire for Korean unification was introduced on Tuesday at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul.Titled “One Dream, One Korea,” it is the result of the New Era Unification Song campaign that was launched in April to create the first unification song since the 1947 song “Our Wish.” The campaign brought domestic civic groups and Koreans living abroad together with some of the top names in Korean music, who donated their talent for the cause. “One Dream, One Kor
Girls’ Generation holds ‘Tencent K-pop Live’ concert

MusicAug 31, 2015

Girls‘ Generation was the eighth artist to hold a monthly live broadcast concert via the “Tencent K-pop Live” series on Tencent‘s video service QQ.The “Tencent K-pop Live” concert series is a collaboration between Chinese information technology giant Tencent and content distribution company Cantara Global. It is part of Tencent Video’s “Live Music” business, which began last year as a comprehensive music service offering content from artists in Japan, Korea, the U.S. and Europe. Girls' Generatio
[Herald Review] Beast puts on ‘Beautiful Show’ with voices only

MusicAug 30, 2015

At a press conference ahead of the group's annual concert "Beautiful Show," Beast's Dujun was full of enthusiasm."We're so excited and thankful. This is the one day of the year we look forward to most, and we're so happy," he said.The show was the group's first exclusive concert in a year, and the members said they were eager to show how they had matured.Beast (CUBE Entertainment)"For this concert, we've taken out a lot of the stage effects and have prepared performances that will move our fans'
[Album Review] Ben's 2nd EP has much more to show than lead single

MusicAug 30, 2015

Ben"My Name is BEN"(Sony Music)It's hard to understand why Ben or her management decided to choose the song "Looby Loo" as the lead track of her second EP "My Name is BEN."The song is bubblegum cute and is about a friend comforting another friend who has just gone through a breakup with cliches along the lines of "Congratulations! You're better off without him. Let's go get our hair done!"The song is fine in and of itself, but does nothing to show Ben's talents as a singer, which she definitely