Korean webtoons going global

A few months ago, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power popped out of nowhere as one of the most frequently searched keywords online. Its website crashed for hours because of excessive clicks. What caused the sudden attention? Did the company do something eye-catching or upset the public?Not at all. The shutdown was traced to someone who had nothing to do with renewable power sources. The culprit was webtoon artist Cho Suk.In episode 791 of his slapstick webtoon “Maeumeui Sori (Voice Within),” Cho mention

CartoonMay 25, 2014

Family, food mix in ‘Franky and Friends’

“Franky and Friends” was first streamed on television two years ago. Kids were excited to learn about nutrition and eating habits through charming characters like Franky the bear and Ttoo, a Korean goblin.They are back with live music and choreography. The family musical “Franky and Friends” will be on stage from May 27 to Aug. 24 at Seoul’s Jeongdong Theater. “Franky and Friends” (YooYeol Company)Yoo Yeol, the singer and CEO of the Yooyeol Company, is producing the musical. It is his second mus

PerformanceMay 25, 2014

Turkish film ‘Winter Sleep’ wins top honor at Cannes

CANNES, France (AP) ― The richly ruminative Chekhovian drama “Winter Sleep” was awarded the Palme d’Or on Saturday, bestowing the Cannes Film Festival’s top honor on an intimate, wintery epic set on Turkey’s Anatolian steppe. Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan accepted the award, handed out by Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman at the French Riviera festival. In his speech, Ceylan alluded to anti-government protests in Istanbul that began a year ago and have raged following a recent mining disaster that

FilmMay 25, 2014

[Band Uprising] ‘Just kidding’: Super Kidd puts the humor back into punk rock

As the Korean music market begins to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the 13th installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed.The members of often light-hearted punk trio Super Kidd say they are doing all they can to keep the true spirit of punk alive.With their side-splitting satire, rockers HerCheck, Zingo and Heavy Potter are a constant rem

May 25, 2014

Model rejects blind date with ‘Infinite Challenge’ host Noh Hong-chul

Model Ji Ho-jin turned down a blind-date offer with “Infinite Challenge” show host Noh Hong-chul, which was a hidden-camera prank between the model and another show host Jeong Jun-ha.In the 380th episode aired Saturday, show emcee Jeong said he knew a girl who might fit Noh’s ideal type of woman -– 174 centimeters or taller, pretty and young -– which turned out to be model Ji Ho-jin. (Ji Ho-jin`s blog) (Ji Ho-jin`s blog)Ji, 31, has appeared on multiple television shows such as Comedy TV reality

May 25, 2014

2NE1 mesmerizes Malaysian fans at world tour concert

Hip-hop-infused local girl group 2NE1 held the second leg of its “All or Nothing” world tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday, enchanting 4,000 local fans.　The girl group was first of its kind to ever stage a world tour concert in Malaysia, agency YG Entertainment said. The first Malaysian concert was in 2012, when the members of 2NE1 -- CL, Park Bom, Dara and Minzy -- staged their first world tour, “New Evolution.”　(YG Entertainment)2NE1, also famous for its funky fashion style, came on s

May 25, 2014

Actor Kim Soo-hyun to appear on 4 magazine covers

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has been chosen to appear on the cover of four Asian magazines to be issued in late May and early June. The 27-year-old heartthrob went for a photo shoot in Marrakech, Morocco, for the May-June issues of Marie Claire’s Taiwanese edition, ELLE MEN’s Hong Kong edition, Me’s Hong Kong edition, and Femina’s Chinese edition.The photo shoot, sponsored by high-end Italian fashion label Gucci, came as part of the “Kim Soo-hyun Asia Project,” in which five Asian fashion ma

May 25, 2014

Kris-less EXO members talk first solo concert series

Amid the heated controversy surrounding EXO-M leader Kris’ lawsuit against agency SM Entertainment to nullify his contract, the remaining 11 members of EXO set aside all controversy and went on to hold the group’s first solo concert series at Seoul Olympic Park over the weekend. The three-day concert series that began on Friday sold out in a matter of minutes, which prompted the agency to tack on a third and final show to what was originally meant to be a two-concert series.  Eleven members of E

May 25, 2014

EXO-M Kris' exit nothing unexpected?

While the whereabouts of K-pop boy band EXO-M’s Kris remains unknown, some music watchers reportedly claimed that the idol star had attempted to signal his intention to leave the group before he sued his agency, SM Entertainment. EXO-M leader Kris (S.M. Entertainment)“Kris has broken away from the team before, so the agency‘s staff and fellow members found it difficult to bear,” one source told a local media outlet. The Chinese-born-Canadian allegedly stayed abroad without joining the team for p

May 25, 2014

EXO-M Kris‘ exit nothing unexpected?

EXO-M leader Kris (S.M.Entertainment)While the whereabouts of K-pop boy band EXO-M’s Kris remains unknown, some music watchers reportedly claimed that the idol star had attempted to signal his intention to leave the group before he sued his agency, SM Entertainment.“Kris has broken away from the team before, so the agency‘s staff and fellow members found it difficult to bear,” one source told a local media outlet. The Chinese-born-Canadian allegedly stayed abroad without joining the team for pra

May 23, 2014

[Weekender] More than a piece of jewelry

As more people are choosing clothes and jewelry that highlight the wearers rather than specific brands, jewelers have started creating one-of-a-kind jewelry that can showcase the wearer’s personal history. Jewelry designer Jung Soo-yeon, who launched her jewelry brand Tanello in 2000, says she has succeeded in attracting both foreigners and Koreans in Seoul looking for such unique jewelry. “I focus on the private feeling that the jewelry can give to the wearer,” said Jung in a recent interview w

Arts & DesignMay 23, 2014

[Weekender] Staying relevant to the neighborhood

Lee (right) learns to shuck conch from a veteran woman diver in Seongsan-ri, Jejudo Island, Wednesday. (Kim Hoo-ran/The Korea Herald)SEOGWIPO, Jeju ― It is not every day that a two Michelin-star chef from San Francisco gets tips on shucking a conch from a grandma. But then, this is no ordinary grandma: she is a hardy haenyeo, one of the celebrated women divers of Jejudo Island. Corey Lee, 36, the owner-chef of the critically acclaimed Benu, has just picked out some conch at a beachside eatery op

FoodMay 23, 2014

Calendar

Dance“Mookhyang”: Fashion designer Jung Kuho’s dance “Mookhyang (Scent of Ink)” is returning for its second run in June. The piece is his second collaboration with the National Dance Company of Korea, a group that specializes in traditional Korean dance. It is inspired by Korean traditional ink painting and pays special attention to the “four noble ones,” the four plants believed to epitomize Korea’s Confucian aesthetics: bamboo, the chrysanthemum, the plum blossom and the orchid. The four were

CultureMay 23, 2014

[Weekender] Eyelike: Fly to the Sky continues to soar on new album

Fly to the Sky continues to soar on new albumFly to the Sky“Continuum” (LOEN Entertainment)Despite five years of being apart, popular male R&B duo Fly to the Sky has returned strong and unchanged with its ninth studio album “Continuum.”The 10-track album is filled with the duo’s signature sound, characterized by the deep, resonant vocals of Hwanhee, which are balanced out by Brian Joo’s light and clear singing.“You You You,” the second track, is a yearning ballad about not being able to let go o

PerformanceMay 23, 2014

Box office

Maleficent (the U.S.)Opening May 29Action, adventure, family. Directed by Robert Stromberg.In this hidden story behind Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty,” Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) becomes a vindictive fairy when her forest kingdom is invaded by a human kingdom. In order to exact revenge, she wages a war against the human kingdom and places an irreversible curse on infant princess Aurora (Elle Fanning). But as the princess grows up, Maleficent realizes that Aurora is the only one who can resto

FilmMay 23, 2014

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ merges old and new

Marvel’s X-Men franchise involves multiple characters, multiple aliases, multiple story lines, comic books, TV shows, seven blockbuster feature films and a legacy of esoterica dating back to 1963. One would need an Anti-Perplexity Superpower to keep all the history straight.Now, they’re mutating history itself.“Days of Future Past,” which brings the latest X-venture to theaters Friday, involves traveling through time, changing the past and several characters meeting not only younger versions of

FilmMay 23, 2014

Mountainous Muju now home to world’s largest taekwondo training grounds

Long known for its upscale Deogyusan ski resort, the mountainous and remote countryside of Muju-gun, North Jeolla Province, has now become the new go-to destination for all things taekwondo. About a 2 1/2-hour drive from Seoul stands the Taekwondowon, the world’s largest taekwondo training space. Situated at the foot of Mount Baekunsan, the vast area spans across 2.3 square kilometers and nine valleys and equates to approximately three-quarters of the land mass of New York City’s Central Park. T

TravelMay 23, 2014

Mount Jirisan area reveals rich heritage and culture

Mount Jirisan offers stunning scenery from every peak and ridge, but also holds a trove of unique culture and rich tradition well preserved for centuries. The biggest mountain range in South Korea sprawls across seven cities and counties in the Jeolla region and South Gyeongsang Province. Hikers visit there year-round to appreciate its majestic peaks, the highest of which towers 1,915 meters above sea level, and to tread trails that weave in and out of the foothills of the mountain. The popular

TravelMay 23, 2014