Ahn Jung-hwan becomes soccer commentator

Former soccer star Ahn Jung-hwan has signed a contract with local TV broadcaster MBC for a stint as a soccer commentator, the TV channel said Thursday. He will join former national team coach Huh Jung-moo and another retired national team player, Song Jong-gug, in MBC’s panel of commentators for the coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June. Ahn shot to stardom when the striker scored the winning golden goal for Korea against Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Seoul. He played for K

PeopleJan. 8, 2014

Akdong Musician set to debut soon

Akdong Musician, the amateur winning team of SBS’ music reality competition “K-pop Star 2,” plans to make an official debut at the end of February, a local media outlet reported. 　 The teenage duo, consisting of siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Soo-hyun, will debut as professional singers through the SBS TV audition program “K-pop Star 3” after a nine-month training period at YG Entertainment, the report said. 　 The sibling stars took the No. 1 spot in the competition in 2013, garnering a

PerformanceJan. 8, 2014

[Photo News] Nichkhun returns as Prince of Badminton

Nichkhun, a member of K-pop idol group 2PM, showed off his badminton skills, outshining counterparts on the KBS entertainment show “Uridongne Yecheneung,” aired on Tuesday. 　Badminton coaches and players, including the former Olympic gold medalist Lee Yong-dae, starred in the last episode, “All Star Match,” and teamed up with stars for a doubles badminton match.  　“Uridongne Yecheneung” means “our neighborhood arts and sports.” The popular show features stars challenging local residents in vario

TelevisionJan. 8, 2014

[Photo News] Max Changmin quits ‘Uridongne Yecheneung’

Max Changmin, a member of pop duo TVXQ, has decided to drop out of the variety TV show “Uridongne Yecheneung (Our Neighborhood Arts and Sports),” nine months after he joined the program.According to the show’s production team, the star has decided to focus on his music with TVXQ, which recently released its seventh full-length album. The popular show, in which stars challenge local residents in sporting activities, will air its last episode with the idol singer on KBS 2TV on Feb. 4. 　By Ock Hyun

TelevisionJan. 8, 2014

Hopes high for pope’s visit to Korea

Hopes are running high in the Catholic community in Korea that Pope Francis may visit Korea this year, his first visit as a pontiff to the region and the first papal visit to the country in 25 years, if realized. Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the pope is highly likely to come and that the visit could be scheduled for one of two Catholic events taking place here in August and October. The Asia Youth Day, scheduled to be held in August in Daejeon, south of Seoul, is expected to draw

CultureJan. 7, 2014

Boy band singer’s father, grandparents found dead

Police officials announced on Tuesday that they are currently investigating the deaths of the father and grandparents of popular K-pop boy band member Leeteuk, of Super Junior, which occurred late Sunday night. Although on Monday night officials from the star’s agency SM Entertainment announced that the family members had been killed in a car accident in an apparent attempt to protect the entertainer from bad publicity, it has now been revealed that the three actually died in their home in what

PeopleJan. 7, 2014

‘Varyd’ designs help label stand out

Online fashion label Varyd brings together different styles under one name with the aim of empowering people.The label was set up by Vanessa Burke and Rydia Kim in June, selling T-shirts, tank tops and dresses with designs provided by the three main designers of the label: The two founders and Rock san, an award-winning artist.Varyd, which is pronounced like “varied” and is a combination of the two women’s names, was founded as a women’s fashion label, but included a male fashion line soon after

Expat LivingJan. 7, 2014

Making scenes pop out in style

Seoul City Improv will be hosting a long-form improvisational comedy workshop led by Kaci Beeler, who runs the Hideout Theater in Austin, Texas, later this month. The class will focus on connecting with other players onstage and introducing the “monopop” format. The format is an improvised play lasting 20-35 minutes, in which performers usually stay in one character, but then “pop out” of the main narrative to perform short flashbacks, musings or hypothetical scenes, Beeler said.But, since there

Expat LivingJan. 7, 2014

[Herald Review] Grandma relives youth in ‘Miss Granny’

Filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk’s latest protagonist Oh Mal-soon (played by veteran actress Na Moon-hee) is the kind of old woman whom you don’t want to have as your mother-in-law.She is shameless and controlling, complains about your food, and is not afraid to belittle you in front of your children. Mal-soon’s biggest pride is her son, who is a university professor, and that she managed to raise him by herself, against all odds. The real story of the film, “Miss Granny,” begins with Mal-soon suddenly

FilmJan. 7, 2014

Local festivals offer unique adventures in Korea

Korea has seen the number of local festivals increase for the past couple of years, led by provincial governments’ push for tourism revenue. Some attracted thousands of visitors including foreign tourists and expat residents, establishing themselves as the most popular events in Korea. However, others still flounder with disappointing programs which make visitors feel deceived by flash promotions. For those looking for credible festival information, the Culture Ministry and the Korea Tourism Org

TravelJan. 7, 2014

NYC museum presents ‘The Little Prince’ exhibit

NEW YORK (AP) ― Antoine de Saint-Exupery crafted “The Little Prince” in New York City, mentioning Rockefeller Center and Long Island in one draft of the beloved children’s tale ― references he ultimately deleted. That page is contained in the French author’s original handwritten manuscript, which is the subject of a major exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum on the 70th anniversary of the book’s French publication ― a year after its U.S. debut.“The Little Prince: A New York Story,” which

CultureJan. 7, 2014

[Photo News] Ready for takeoff

PeopleJan. 7, 2014

Leeteuk’s childhood unveiled

Leeteuk’s previous mentions of his childhood on television and comments made by acquaintances with the star’s father are shedding new light on the family’s affairs after news of the tragedy broke out on Monday.“I was often beaten up and my parents would argue often. Father was just a scary figure to me at the time,” the Super Junior member confessed on a TV program in 2012, describing his deprived childhood.Acquaintances who went to pay their respects to the family commented that Leeteuk’s fathe

TelevisionJan. 7, 2014

JYP to launch new boy band ‘GOT7’ next week

JYP Entertainment, run by one of the nation’s most successful music producers Park Jin-young, will be launching its new boy band “GOT7” next week. Coming a year after the debut of duo JJ Project, who since its launch has released only two singles to little success, officials at JYPE announced plans to do away with the group and move the two members into the seven-member K-pop idol boy group. The public has already glimpsed a number of the members in action during the airing of YG Entertainment’s

PerformanceJan. 7, 2014

[Photo news] Clara flaunts her curves

Korea‘s rising sex symbol Clara posted a video of her at dance practice on Twitter on Tuesday, drawing much attention from her fans. She wrote, “Clara is practicing SNSD’s dance for ‘I Got a Boy.’” She was practicing the dance to participate in MBC TV’s annual music festival’s opening stage that was aired at the end of last year. 　 By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

TelevisionJan. 7, 2014

Korean makgeolli ad appears in WSJ

Seo Kyung-duk, a PR expert in promoting Korean culture, said he posted a new ad for makgeolli (a traditional rice-based alcoholic drink) in the Wall Street Journal’s Jan. 5 edition. The ad posted in the European Wall Street Journal read, “Makgeolli is Korea’s favorite rice brew. Pair it with kimchi to really bring out the flavors. It’s a healthy way to drink. Visit the nearest Koreatown and enjoy!” The professor of Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul partnered up with Song Il-kook, who gained p

CultureJan. 7, 2014