Most Popular
-
1
Korean labor force to shrink by 10 million by 2044: report
-
2
[AtoZ Korean Mind] Does your job define who you are? Should it?
-
3
Allegations surrounding BTS resurface, enraged fans demand apology
-
4
Students with history of violence will be barred from becoming teachers
-
5
Top prosecutor pledges 'speedy, strict' probe into first lady's luxury bag allegations
-
6
Medical feud leaves hospitals in financial crisis
-
7
Samsung mocks Apple over iPhone alarm glitch
-
8
'Queen of Tears' riding high on Netflix chart
-
9
Chip up cycle won’t stay long: SK chief
-
10
Speaker floats dual citizenship as solution to falling births
-
Rothko, Jasper Johns star at NYC art auction
NEW YORK (AP) ― A radiant painting by Mark Rothko and one of Jasper Johns’ iconic flag paintings were among the stars at the second day of New York’s dazzling post-war and contemporary art auctions. “No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange),” which was purchased by art benefactors Pierre and Sao Schlumberger directly from Rothko’s estate, brought in $45 million at Sotheby’s on Tuesday evening. Its pre-sale high estimate was $50 million. The abstract 1951 work comes up for bid a day after the auctio
PerformanceNov. 12, 2014
-
Ha Ji-won named honorary ambassador of children’s charity
Ha Ji-wonActress Ha Ji-won was appointed the honorary ambassador of the nongovernment organization Operation Smile on Tuesday.Following the appointment ceremony held at the office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion agency, a partner of Operation Smile, the actress became the second Asian honorary ambassador of the children’s charity after Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan. Ha is the first Asian female to represent the group. The action blockbuster queen will begin her promotional mission Nov
FilmNov. 12, 2014
-
Sony Pictures to withdraw from South Korean market
Sony Pictures will end its direct movie distribution business in South Korea this year, 24 years after its entry into the local market, the company’s local unit said Wednesday.“We’re going to engage in the film distribution business in South Korea till the year’s end according to the decision by the U.S. headquarters,” Sony Pictures Korea said in a release.“Fury,” an American war movie starring Brad Pitt, is expected to be Sony’s last Korean release.After the closure, United International Pictur
FilmNov. 12, 2014
-
K-pop idols to take college entry exam
Autumn may come as a relief for those who detest the summer heat, but for high school seniors, November brings the dreaded college entrance exam, or Suneung. Teenage K-pop idols are among the students prepping for the exam.But of the slew of idols entitled to take this year’s Suneung, only a few decided to take it.Girl group Apink’s Oh Ha-young, B.A.P member Zelo and GOT7 member Youngjae will take the exam. GOT7’s Youngjae (JYP Entertainment) Apink’s Oh Ha-young (ACUBE Entertainment)But not all
PerformanceNov. 12, 2014
-
TVXQ’s concert poster unveiled
The poster for TVXQ’s Seoul concerts next month . (SM Entertainment)The teaser poster for TVXQ’s Seoul tour was revealed Wednesday. The upcoming concerts will be held in a Seoul gymnasium on Dec. 6 and 7.The concert poster, which was uploaded on SM Entertainment’s official website, shows TVXQ performing on stage.The boy group’s concerts have added significance as they mark the group’s 10th anniversary. Tickets sold out shortly after sales opened on Oct. 28, proving TVXQ’s soaring popularity. SM’
PerformanceNov. 12, 2014
-
[Newsmaker] Celebs barred from Japan amid Dokdo dispute
Singer Lee Seung-chul was denied entry to Japan on Sunday in an apparent retaliation for a performance on the easternmost Korean islets of Dokdo in August. The singer performed on the islet on Aug. 14, a day before the 69th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Lee sang a song with a choir of young North Korean defectors.The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over Lee’s entry refusal on Tuesday. “It’s regrettable for a Korean national to have been report
TelevisionNov. 11, 2014
-
Expat art groups join Jeonju exhibition
Two expat artists’ groups will be joining an exhibition that starts this weekend in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, as part of a collaborative effort with a local arts group in the city.The show at Jeonbuk Art Gallery in Gyeongwon-dong will feature 14 artists from the Professional Arts Network Korea and the International Artists Community.PANK founder Martyn Thompson said that his group had worked previously with the same people. Lee Taek-gu, who runs the Sadaemun Arts and Culture Institute, invi
Expat LivingNov. 11, 2014
-
Ladies give back through SIWA Bazaar
Seoul International Women’s Association held its annual charity SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar in the 63 Building in Yeouido on Monday.Stalls run by dozens of embassies, organizations and charitable groups sold Christmas and cultural items and food to raise money for the SIWA Welfare Fund. The bazaar was run by Sophia Barry, who is SIWA’s new president but has been in charge of the bazaar organizing committee since seizing the chance in June.Visitors shop around at the SIWA and Diplomatic
Expat LivingNov. 11, 2014
-
Determination of employee status and contract value
We will discuss labor law again in this column, but from a more general perspective, so that employers and employees alike can evaluate compensation, rights and duties under the law. Korean labor law has several unique features, such as severance pay and presumptions of permanent employment, which can catch foreign employers off-guard if they are not fully aware. But of course, not knowing the labor law cannot be an excuse to avoid employers’ liability.When one party works for another, the most
Expat LivingNov. 11, 2014
-
Maestro Jansons strives for ‘cosmic’ level of music-making
For some classical music lovers, the news earlier this year that Mariss Jansons would be leaving the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam was saddening. Many took it as a sign that the beloved Latvian conductor, who has had health problems for years, may finally be slowing down. Considered by many to be the greatest living conductor, he has been with the prominent Dutch orchestra, which frequently tops orchestra rankings worldwide, since 2004. To fans who might be worried about his health,
PerformanceNov. 11, 2014
-
Smithsonian pairs Cosby’s, African art
WASHINGTON (AP) ― Everybody knows Bill Cosby’s humor, but the comedian has kept his artistic tastes close at home. Now the extensive art collection of Bill and Camille Cosby is opening to the public for the first time Sunday at the Smithsonian Institution, revealing some works by African-American artists that until now have been seen only by family and friends. The exhibition not only celebrates African-American heritage, it also provides a glimpse at works the Cosbys have enjoyed intimately, wi
FilmNov. 11, 2014
-
Jason Aldean’s new album pulled from Spotify
Jason Aldean. (Jason Aldean Facebook)NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) ― Country music’s top digital sales leader Jason Aldean pulled his latest album off Spotify on Monday, although his previous albums are still available through the digital music streaming service. Aldean’s sixth album, “Old Boots, New Dirt,” had been available to subscribers of the service when it was initially released Oct. 7, but a Spotify spokesman confirmed the album was removed. A representative for Aldean’s label, Broken Bow Re
PerformanceNov. 11, 2014
-
Bowie interprets WWI horror in new song
NEW YORK (AFP) ― One hundred years after the start of World War I, innovative rock legend David Bowie has offered an interpretation of the war’s horrors in an experimental new song.“‘Tis a Pity She Was a Whore,” which alludes to the controversial 17th-century play by John Ford, starts with percussion that resembles trench gunfire before growing into a rock beat with a hazy electronic background.As saxophones blare with growing urgency, the 67-year-old stretches his voice to high pitch as he desc
PerformanceNov. 11, 2014
-
Ace of Angels returns as feisty felines with ‘Like a Cat’
Striking feline poses and strutting down the catwalk in skintight black getups, K-pop girl group Ace of Angels is returning with a new EP and a “catwoman” concept.During a press showcase held Monday at the Yes24 MUV Hall in Seoul, the seven-member girl group unveiled its latest EP, “Like a Cat,” and its eponymous lead single that was very much in keeping with the group’s feline choreography. The single is an upbeat electro-pop dance track that has the girls dancing in feline movements, with the
Nov. 11, 2014
-
Lawyer: Bieber on track to resolve vandalism case
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Justin Bieber has paid more than $80,000 to the owner of a home he egged but has otherwise made slow progress on the terms of his sentence in the vandalism case, probation officials said in a report disclosed at a hearing Monday. The pop singer has yet to begin his community service or complete the majority of the anger management sessions ordered by a court, the officials wrote to the judge handling the case. Still, Bieber’s attorney Shawn Holley said the singer is on track t
PerformanceNov. 11, 2014
-
TVXQ becomes best-selling foreign artist in Japan
South Korean boy band TVXQ has set a new record by selling the most singles as a foreign artist in Japan, the group’s agency said Tuesday.SM Entertainment said the band has sold 4.08 million copies of its singles in Japan, surpassing 4.01 million by Hong Kong’s Agnes Chan.The group’s newest single “Time Works Wonders,” released last Wednesday, sold 107,000 copies, ranking second on the Oricon weekly chart in the first week of release.“We’re really happy and thankful for setting a new record with
PerformanceNov. 11, 2014
-
Fest celebrates kimchi-making
For Koreans, kimchi-making is the annual family or neighborhood ritual that prepares them to get through the long winter with nutritional kimchi. This year, this custom called “gimjang” will be celebrated in a big way in bustling spots across Seoul such as Gwanghwamun, Cheonggye Plaza and Seoul Plaza. The 2014 Seoul Kimchi Making and Sharing Festival will run from Friday to Sunday with a variety of events related to kimchi. The festival invites citizens and tourists to taste different kinds of k
TravelNov. 10, 2014
-
TV chiefs to discuss future of content
As technology evolves, the way people consume content is changing dramatically. In the U.S., video-streaming service Netflix has made giant strides, prompting many to ponder the future of television. In Korea and many other places, more people are opting to visit online streaming sites to listen to music instead of downloading songs or purchasing CDs. A forum to be held in Seoul next week aims to shed light on the latest trends in the global content industry and provide a glimpse into what the f
CultureNov. 10, 2014
-
Acclaimed indie movies hit theaters
Two distinctive and artistic films that have won acclaim at recent international film festivals will appear in local cinemas in November.The compelling independent movies are grabbing viewers’ time and attention in the blockbuster-filled market thanks to their thought-provoking and heartwarming plots. ‘Set Me Free’The first on the list is “Set Me Free,” a coming-of-age film centering on a 17-year-old boy who grew up in a group home, neglected by his irresponsible parents and by society. Director
FilmNov. 10, 2014
-
N.E.X.T to hold memorial concert for late leader
The revived legendary ’90s rock band N.E.X.T will put on a special memorial concert performance next month in honor of the late leading man Shin Hae-chul, KCA Entertainment officials said in a statement.The original members of N.E.X.T are tentatively scheduled to perform at Korea University’s Hwajung Gymnasium on New Year’s Eve and is slated to play both the band’s and Shin’s past hits as well as one or two never-before-heard singles that the fallen singer was working on before he passed. Rocke
PerformanceNov. 10, 2014