Box Office: The Fake, The Hunger Games, The Counselor

The Fake Opened Nov. 21Animation. Thriller. Directed by Yeon Sang-hoA rural Korean town is on the verge of being flooded. Amid the gloom, a good-looking young minister enters the scene. He charms the villagers, and seems to have the ability to heal. He and his coworker tell the villagers they will build a church and a house where they will all be able to live together after the town is completely submerged, all the while periodically collecting money from them. Min-cheol, a man known in the vill

FilmNov. 29, 2013

‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ is bigger, better, broodier

The Districts are in revolt. People are being shot simply for raising their hands and whistling ― not because they’re trying to hail a cab (they’re too poor), but as a symbol of solidarity and protest.And Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) ― the girl from Appalachia with the fierce eyes, daunting archery skills and multi-demographic fan base ― is making trouble.“She’s become a beacon of hope for the rebellion,” a worried President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) confides to the new head ga

FilmNov. 29, 2013

Eyelike: Hyolyn shows promise on “LOVE&HATE”

Hyolyn shows promise on “LOVE&HATE”Hyolyn “LOVEA&HATE”(LOEN Entertainment) Sistar member Hyolyn’s unique, husky voice has always been a main feature of many of the group’s tracks. No doubt she has a special voice, but compared to the hype, Hyolyn was not able to show her full potential on her solo album. Instead the 10-track album delivers pleasant-sounding but overall mediocre pop tunes. Hyolyn’s usually strong vocals are toned down in starting track “Lonely,” a mid-tempo ballad. But in “One Wa

PerformanceNov. 29, 2013

Trading homes for an affordable stay in Paris

Ah, Paris. The food. The art. The sights.The hotel bill.It was the little matter of finding a place to stay that kept an international vacation off our radar, especially in wake of a recession that had put a king-size crimp in our international travel plans. As we discussed a European getaway, we realized that a hotel stay for my wife, Nancy, our daughter, Hannah, and me would cost us as much as our airline tickets.I had read about house exchanges, but Nancy was hesitant to let strangers into ou

TravelNov. 29, 2013

Around the Hotels

Enjoy the European Christmas market with The Grand Hilton The Grand Hilton Seoul will be joining the European Christmas market held in Seongbukcheon Fountain Plaza on Nov. 29 and 30. Sponsored by the embassies of Germany, France, Italy, the U.K. and Switzerland, the European Christmas market is a festive event that celebrates the holiday season and the cultures of various countries. The Grand Hilton Seoul will represent Germany and sell decorative wrapped desserts including gingerbread houses, m

FoodNov. 29, 2013

Left Coast puts the pow in bao

The story may not be fresh, but the food is at Left Coast Artisan Burgers.This is not just another burger joint launched by a group of ambitious, young entrepreneurs. Well, the latter half is true. Three friends from California joined hands to open a spot with a focus on meat-in-a-bun, but this was not going to be just any old bun-centric spot. “Even if the burger market was saturated, this kind of niche gourmet concept wasn’t,” Left Coast co-owner Angela Shin explained why the trio went for a f

FoodNov. 29, 2013

Dakgaejang (spicy chicken soup)

Dakgaejang is a variation of yukgaejang that is made with chicken. Yukgaejang is a popular spicy soup made with shredded beef and lots of scallions and other vegetables. The chicken version is traditionally made with boiled chicken. However, I often make it with leftovers of a roasted whole chicken (store-bought or homemade) or turkey. Those leftover bones are perfect for making stock. So, here’s how to make a delicious, spicy soup with chicken or turkey leftovers. 4 servingsIngredients: ● 8 cu

FoodNov. 29, 2013

Fake eyeballs, paper planes and failed crowd surfing

“You’re lucky, lucky, you’re so lucky” chanted the thousands who had gathered to see rockers Franz Ferdinand as they performed “Do You Want To” during their first concert in Seoul. The four Scots lit up the UNIQLO AX stage on Thursday night with heart-thumping beats and enough chaotic flashing strobe lights to send almost anyone into an epileptic seizure. It was a rare yet pleasant surprise to have a performance actually start right on time; and as the four members strutted out onto the stage, t

PerformanceNov. 29, 2013

[Photo News] Vietnam War hero laid to rest

DefenseNov. 28, 2013

[Newsmaker] War veteran buried alongside his men

Retired Lt. Gen. Chae Myung-shin, the first commander of South Korean forces in the Vietnam War, was buried Thursday alongside enlisted soldiers killed in the conflict.Chae died of chronic illness on Monday. He was 86.Before his death, he told his family that he wanted to be buried in a cemetery for rank and file soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. His funeral service was officiated by the Army chief of staff, and his ashes were laid to rest in Seoul National Cemetery.It is the first time in

PeopleNov. 28, 2013

Korean-Chinese wins top literary translation prize

Korean-Chinese scholar Kim Hak-cheol (Jin Hezhe) arrived in Seoul in 2001 at age 28 without knowing much about the country.Now 41, Kim is an associate professor teaching Korean literature at Harbin Institute of Technology in Weihai, China. Kim, who worked as a journalist in China for seven years before studying comparative literature at Seoul National University, is a third-generation Korean-Chinese born in Yanbian, a Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin Province, China. On Wednesday, Kim recei

BooksNov. 28, 2013

Renzo Piano building expands Kimbell’s gallery space

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) ― The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is expanding its gallery space with a new building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano that is a nod to the museum’s original Louis Kahn-designed building.“There are so many echoes of the Khan building here,” said museum director Eric M. Lee as he stood in one of the new building’s galleries. “The facade is the same length as the facade of the Kahn building and both are broken down into three equal bays, with a lobby in the cent

PerformanceNov. 28, 2013

Giant Louis Vuitton trunk ordered off Red Square

MOSCOW (AFP) ― French luxury brand Louis Vuitton has been ordered to remove a giant trunk put up as a publicity stunt on Moscow’s iconic Red Square, an associated department store said Wednesday, after it triggered outrage among Russians.The boxy brown suitcase-shaped pavilion, covered with the brand’s signature “LV” stencilling was erected 10 days ago just outside GUM, a 19th-century upmarket department store across from the Kremlin that faces the square.But many tourists and ordinary Russians

CultureNov. 28, 2013

Speaking a universal language

With no attachment to Korea to fall back on and having never even been to Asia before, independent American singer-songwriter Audra Connolly decided to leave her home in Idaho and take a short-term position as an English teacher on the outskirts of Seoul. Nearly three years later, Connolly is still living and working in Korea ― much to her surprise.“I thought I would come here for a year, and then I thought I would be here for two years,” she said, laughing. “I’ve kind of made this life here.”Bu

PerformanceNov. 28, 2013