Maum’s novel an exercise in wit and ‘Fun’

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without YouBy Courtney Maum (Touchstone)Richard Haddon, the morose British artist at the center of Courtney Maum’s amusing and yet still heartfelt new novel, used to be devoted to the avant garde. He made mixed-media collages using saw blades and driftwood and melted ramen noodle packets. He wrapped toy soldiers in Bubble Wrap to make a statement. He was confident and energetic and young. Hell, he even used to listen to Peaches.Now, though, things have changed. Richa

BooksJuly 3, 2014

Powerful ‘Euphoria’ reimagines Mead

EuphoriaBy Lily King (Atlantic Monthly Press)This novel is as concentrated as orchid food, packing as much narrative power and intellectual energy into its 250 pages as novels triple its size.Inspired by the 1933 meeting of anthropologists Margaret Mead, Reo Fortune and Gregory Bateson (Mead’s second husband and her third), and interweaving many other real characters and theoretical developments, “Euphoria” is a tale of passions, discoveries, jealousy, dedication, sexual mores and violence. It i

BooksJuly 3, 2014

Korean celebrities engaged in cross-border romances

Korean celebrities with international partners are taking the spotlight after the recent announcement of director Kim Tae-yong’s upcoming wedding with Chinese actress Tang Wei.Korean movie director Kim Tae-yong and Chinese actress Tang Wei. (OSEN)Actress Chae Rim confirmed her engagement with Chinese actor Gao Ziqi, accepting a beautiful wedding proposal on June 29. The couple plans to marry in the fall. Korean actress Chae Rim and Chinese actor Gao Ziqi.Gao Ziqi proposes to Chae Rim.Actress Bae

July 3, 2014

Han Jung-soo’s ex-girlfriend was 180cm tall, nicknamed ‘Bayaba!’

Actor Han Jung-soo revealed on MBC reality show “Radio Star” that his ex-girlfriend was 180 centimeters tall and nicknamed “Bayaba.” Actor Han Jung-soo appears on MBC reality show "Radio Star" on Tuesday. (MBC)The 41-year-old actor was one of the four male guests along with singers Park Sang-min, San E and actor Lim Dae-ho, who participated in the “Macho Men” special that aired on Tuesday.Han kicked off the men’s talk by saying, “My dates hated me after the first one to two months.” Show host Ki

July 3, 2014

Jang Hyuk draws laughs in rom-com ‘Fated to Love You’

Actor Jang Hyuk brought hilarious puns and comic twists to the television screen, kicking off the first episode of MBC’s rom-com series “Fated to Love You” as a thick-skinned heartthrob with money.  (MBC)Jang Hyuk plays Lee Gun, a stuck-up aristocrat who has been indulged by his business tycoon family all his life. The first episode is packed with countless chains of unlikely events, following the golden rules of classic rom-com dramas. He buys an engagement ring to propose to his Juliette, but

July 3, 2014

T-Ara’s Soyeon sparks plastic surgery rumor

The photo on the left was taken in January 2013 while photo on the right was taken in October of the same year. The controversial photo of Soyeon (Instagram)T-Ara member Soyeon discussed her disputed photos that sparked debates over whether she had additional plastic surgery after her debut in 2009.“I think one (nice) photo out of 50 photos that I took caused the misunderstanding. I upload photos that seem good and that don’t look like me so that might have been the problem. I’ll concentrate on

July 3, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong to reveal hip-hop song ‘His Habit’

K-pop singer Kim Hyun-joong is to unveil new song “His Habit” on Friday in the run-up to the release of his fourth EP “Timing” in July. (KeyEast Entertainment)“His Habit” is an urban hip-hop song composed by keyboard player Mister Rocks of American hip-hop group Far East Movement. Kim teamed up with K-pop singer Kim Ye-rim and rapper Kanto for the track. The upcoming album features tracks of various genres, ranging from up-tempo dance song “Beauty Beauty,” to acoustic ballad “Nothing on You,” an

July 3, 2014

Lee Hyori shows off all black style

K-pop diva Lee Hyori showed off her black style during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. The black silk dress gave her a flattering silhouette. To highlight chicness of the dress, Lee wore only minimal silver accessories. (OSEN)The press conference was held for the launch of her new television entertainment show called “Magic Eye.” Lee will co-host the program with actress Moon So-ri and Hong Jin-kyung. (OSEN)The new show will kick off next Tuesday on SBS. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

July 3, 2014

JYJ overseas fans demand its performance in Incheon AG

Fans of the idol group JYJ expressed their disappointment and anger over the uncertainty of whether the group would perform in the opening ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games.The three-member K-pop group has served as a promotional ambassador for the sports festival since February 2013, but was excluded from the list of singers performing in the opening and closing ceremonies.The list was revealed last Monday at a press conference and included other famous K-pop singers Psy, CNBLUE and EXO, an i

July 3, 2014

Psy‘s photo taken at age 27 revealed

World star Psy unveiled a photo of himself from when he was 27 years old on his Twitter page on Wednesday. “This is when Psy was 27 years old. I was young,” he wrote alongside the picture.The viral sensation came under the spotlight once again with his latest song “Hangover,” released on June 9, which had garnered nearly 90 million hits on YouTube as of Thursday. He plans to unveil his new song “Daddy” this summer. (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

July 3, 2014

2NE1 Park Bom‘s fate on reality show ’Roommate‘ remains unclear

The popular SBS-TV reality show “Roommate” is set to film the next episode as scheduled despite the uproar over 2NE1 member Park Bom’s alleged drug scandal. But whether the idol will make an appearance remains unclear. (SBS)Park, a regular cast member on the show, recently came under fire after a Korean daily belatedly revealed Monday that she had attempted to bring illegal drugs into Korea four years ago, but did not face charges. “The drug-related case wasn’t confirmed illegal, so there is no

July 3, 2014

Lee Bo-young reveals elegant look

Actress Lee Bo-young showed off elegant look in a photo shoot with Cartier that was released Thursday. (Cartier)Matching a minimal black dress with lace-up heels, Lee exuded urban elegant fashion. More photos are available in magazine HEREN’s July issue.(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

July 3, 2014

Lee Jong-suk’s eyes tell everything in ‘Doctor Stranger’

 Pictures of scenes from “Doctor Stranger” are gaining attention online as it shows actor Lee Jong-suk’s excellent acting skills in the drama.The scenes included Lee making a narrow escape from death, meeting his mother and hearing a gunshot when trying to protect his love.Lee was able to express the delicate emotions of his character Park Hoon with just his eyes. Even though he did not speak, the viewers were able to feel Lee’s deep sorrow in the drama.　The drama airs every Monday and Tuesday e

July 3, 2014

f(x)’s sexy charisma editorial

Girl group f(x)’s sexy and charismatic fashion advertorial was released in High Cut magazine. The ad shows each member in different concepts such as masculine, sexy and chic. The girl group is staging a comeback soon with their third album. The advertorial can be seen in High Cut magazine edition number 129.By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: High Cut)

July 3, 2014

Yoo Yeon-seok ad with casual brand ANDEW

Wearing mostly basic items in blue or white, actor Yoo Yeon-seok poses in an advertisement for casual brand ANDEW. He also manages to look good in flower patterned outfits. The advertorial focuses on the actor’s gentle and pure image. By Cho Han-na, Intern reporter (hnncho@heraldcorp.com)(Photo credit: ANDEW)

July 3, 2014

Gugak center chief to play gayageum at German fest

A poster for Kim Hae-sook’s concerts in Germany. (National Gugak Center)Kim Hae-sook, chief of the National Gugak Center and master of the Korean zither-like string instrument the gayageum, will perform at a German world music festival, the state-run center said. Kim will give two recitals and a workshop as part of the TFF Rudolstadt, a German folk, roots and world music festival from July 5-6. The String Quartet of the Liszt School of Music Weimar will collaborate with her, while other masters

PerformanceJuly 2, 2014

Berliners here to show beauty of wind quintet

Adding extra colors to the season’s chamber music lineup, five veteran members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra are holding a five-city tour of Korea as a wind ensemble, starting Thursday in Busan. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet said the upcoming concerts will be a chance for Korean music aficionados to discover a hidden gem in the world of chamber music which is, both locally and globally, heavily dominated by string instruments. “

PerformanceJuly 2, 2014

Kang Sue-jin as emotionally spiraling geisha of ‘Madama Butterfly’

John Luther Long’s 19th century tale “Madame Butterfly” is not a narrative that can be personally related to by the masses. While most women cannot even begin to empathize with the fictional story of Cho-Cho-San, or Madame Butterfly ― a geisha trapped in a whirlwind of blind love, deception and gut-wrenching betrayal, and pushed to the very brink of suicide ― renowned dancer Kang Sue-jin has taken on the arduous task of reliving her forbearance and suffering on the stage for the first time ever

PerformanceJuly 2, 2014

Girl group KARA welcomes new member

K-pop girl group KARA will become a four-member group after it introduces the winner of a TV audition program, the group’s management agency said Wednesday.The group has been working as a three-member group since the departure in January of two of its original five members ― Kang Ji-young and Nicole.According to DSP Media, Heo Young-ji, 20, became a new member of the group, beating out three competitors in the final round of MBC Music’s “KARA project-KARA The Beginning,” which was aired on Tuesd

PerformanceJuly 2, 2014