Most Popular
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[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
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[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
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Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
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Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
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Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
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[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
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[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
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S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
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North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
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Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
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Eyelike
Justin Bieber’s new album impressesJustin Bieber“Believe” (Island Def Jam)Because Justin Bieber is Justin Bieber -- a Canadian teen singer heartthrob -- it’s hard to take his music seriously. Everything about him screams Tiger Beat, from the endless screeching girls to his relationship with fellow teen sensation Selena Gomez.And then there’s the song that has defined him most -- “Baby,” perhaps the most saccharine, bubble-gum song recorded in quite some time.It’s not surprising that few have tak
June 22, 2012
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After School returns to Korea after Kahi’s departure
K-pop group After School has returned to Korea with its fifth album “Flashback,” after a successful year in Japan.With the new album, full of electronica sounds and beats, the girls are trying to rekindle the image of their debut in 2009.“The album title ‘Flashback’ means that we are trying to go back to our initial image to the fans when we first debuted,” said Jung-A, the group’s lead vocalist, in a news conference held in Seoul on Wednesday.“For our new album, we are trying to show what fans
June 22, 2012
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Ayumi linked to Japanese rock star
Image from the Official site of singer Ayumi(Iconiq)South Korean singer Ayumi is rumored to be in a romantic relationship with Gackt, one of Japan’s top rock stars, Japanese papers reported Friday.Tabloid magazine “Friday” published a photo of the 27-year-old singer dining at a French restaurant with singer and actor Gackt. One of the photos showed the two holding hands and gazing at each other.Ay
June 22, 2012
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Rapid growth of concert market: Boom or bubble?
When YG Entertainment, one of Korea’s dominant entertainment companies, calculated its 2011 profits, its business strategy was confirmed a success ― domestic and overseas concert revenue accounted for 22.3 percent of its total revenue, a jump of 46 percent over the course of one year. With continued piracy issues and low margins of the local digital music market, the Korean music industry is shifting its focus to live concerts. According to industry experts, the Korean concert market was around
June 21, 2012
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Artist LeRoy Neiman dies in U.S. at 91
NEW YORK (AP) ― LeRoy Neiman, the painter and sketch artist best known for evoking the kinetic energy of the world’s biggest sporting and leisure events with bright quick strokes, died Wednesday at age 91.Neiman also was a contributing artist at Playboy magazine for many years and official painter of five Olympiads. His longtime publicist Gail Parenteau confirmed his death Wednesday but didn’t disclose the cause.Neiman was a media-savvy artist who knew how to enthrall audiences with his instant
June 21, 2012
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King of Kitsch, Jeff Koons, in Frankfurt double exhibition
FRANKFURT (AFP) ― Love him or hate him, there is no escaping Jeff Koons, the king of pornographic kitsch, in Frankfurt these days, with a mammoth double retrospective in two of the city’s main museums.Ubiquitous oversized posters line the river front and are plastered across every metro station proclaiming “Wow” or “Must See” for what is being hailed as the biggest-ever show of works by the 57-year-old American pop artist, opening here on Wednesday. The Schirn Kunsthalle, one of the city’s two m
June 21, 2012
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Asia’s digital divide poses challenge for music industry
HONG KONG (AFP) ― Technology is the new rock ‘n’ roll as smartphones and digital services transform the music industry. But for those companies helping change the way music is consumed, Asia presents big hurdles.Apple’s iTunes music store ― which has stamped its presence in the U.S. and Europe as sales in traditional formats such as compact discs continue to fall ― is still a limited service in many parts of the region.Other global players and streaming services popular in the West such as start
June 21, 2012
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South-North joint orchestra not likely to happen this summer
An anticipated project that aimed to have both South and North Korean musicians perform together is not likely to happen this summer, maestro Chung Myung-whun, a South Korean conductor, said in Seoul on Thursday.“We had hoped North Korean musicians would take part in the annual performance by the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra this summer. But until now we haven’t heard a word from them,” Chung told reporters at UNICEF Korea’s head office.Instead, he will hold a charity concert at the Amphitheater
June 21, 2012
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Park experiments with indie music, expands musical range
R&B diva releases ‘Parallax,’ her first album in three years, plans three-month-long tourIt was exactly a year ago that Lena Park stunned millions of viewers of “I am a Singer.” The 36-year-old singer, who is also known as Park Jung-hyun, mesmerized the audience with the powerful but touching voice that emanated from her small frame. Her popularity soared and so did people’s interest in her background ― being a Korean-American and an Ivy League graduate.After receiving much unexpected attention
June 21, 2012
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Who silenced the Pakistani diva?
A prominent Pakistani female singer, Ghazala Javed, was shot to death Monday by two unidentified gunmen, according to local news reports. Initial police investigation indicated that the 24-year-old singer’s ex-husband Jehangir Khan may be behind the attack. Last year, Javed asked him for a divorce, which is considered a dishonor in the highly conservative male-dominated society.However some are speculating that the singer’s abrupt death is a remainder of the dark history of “artist prosecution”
June 21, 2012
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Korea Foundation to hold Summer Concert 2012
The Korea Foundation and the Sejong Center present the “KF Summer Concert for Foreign Residents 2012” at the Seoul Namsan Traditional Theater in Namsangol Hanok Village, from June 21-23. Under the title “Beautiful Seoul, Amazing Korea,” this year’s concert features performances of traditional music and dance, hands-on experience programs and outdoor performances.The event, which celebrates its 10th year anniversary, includes a variety of programs with traditional music and musical instruments su
June 20, 2012
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Council busts pub in mix-up
Council officials in Surrey, England, raided a gig only to find that “4 a.m.” was the name of the band, not the starting time.Council officials and police officers busted a village pub after seeing an advertisement for a concert at 4 a.m., which would have been illegal.The owner of the pub, Kate Dillon, said she was dumbfounded when the officials asked her if the show was going to run until 4 o’clock. in the morning. “I was too old to stay up that late,” she said.The signer of the band said that
June 20, 2012
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Man charged for taping pageant contestants
Miami police say they arrested a man for videotaping Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant contestants undressing in the Fontainebleau hotel.The Miami Herald reported Ronald Keith Rolfes, 31, was arrested Sunday night and charged with video voyeurism. "Man to man, I did it because I've never had a girlfriend," Rolfes allegedly told an officer after confessing to sneaking into the changing room eq
June 20, 2012
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Paul McCartney: Rock’s patriarch still going strong at 70
LONDON (AFP) ― His ballad “Yesterday” is one of the most covered songs in history ― but as he turned 70 on Monday, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney showed no signs of settling back to reflect on his extraordinary past.Fresh from wowing huge crowds at Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee concert and with another headline gig ― the London Olympics opening ceremony ― booked for next month, retirement looks a way off for the British legend.“If I’m really enjoying this, why retire?” the most prolific, most c
June 19, 2012
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The rising U.S. artist Hernan Bas holds first exhibition in Korea
Visual artist invites viewers to a world of fantasy and tests their beliefs The Miami-born Cuban-American artist Hernan Bas is a prominent young artist in the contemporary art world who has attracted worldwide attention lately with his dreamy, imaginary paintings with expressive and bold brushwork.His first exhibition in Korea, also his first in Asia, at PKM Trinity Gallery in Seoul features five paintings, 14 photographs and a film, all put together under the theme of “a brief suspension of dis
June 19, 2012
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My Afternoon revives lyrical K-pop from the ’90s
Composer of Girls’ Generation songs offers musical cure for broken heartsThis is part of a series featuring new hallyu stars. ― Ed.K-pop from the ’90s is back. Songs with sentimental lyrics and melodies are enjoying a quiet revival in Korea’s music scene. My Afternoon, a duo of star composer Hwang Hyun and singer Agnes, is one of several outfits trying to deliver a different aspect of K-pop and present an alternative to music fans tired of strong beats and flashy performances by idol groups.“Pro
June 19, 2012
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Big-name musicals hit Seoul’s theaters
‘Chicago,’ ‘Hairspray’ to offer stirring entertainmentThis summer Seoul’s musical scene is packed with more top-name shows than ever.One of the most anticipated shows “Wicked” had a successful opening last month, while local production “Bungee-Jump” and the 1983 Broadway musical “La Cage aux Folles” are slated to kick off their first runs next month.Adding to the excitement is the opening of two big-name musicals this month ― “Chicago” and “Hairspray.” Both shows have been performed in Seoul be
June 19, 2012
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New York’s subway performers begin annual tryouts for prime space
NEW YORK ― Luke Folger was in a mild state of panic. His one-man-band contraption had gone dead in front of three rows of judges, and time was ticking by. Folger knelt on the floor of Grand Central Terminal and rummaged through a jumble of cables and plugs, trying to figure out what was wrong.A violinist-juggler act was waiting to take the stage. So were an urban-acid-jazz guitarist and a onetime “American Idol” contestant. Perhaps worst of all: Another one-man band was in the wings, his snare d
June 18, 2012
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Summer evenings with Beethoven sonatas
Classical artists explore dramatic and passionate life of BeethovenThere is apparently no specific reason why many classical artists have chosen Beethoven sonatas for their recitals and recordings this year. Starting with pianist Kim Sun-wook’s two-year-long project to perform all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, the so-called “Beethoven fever” continued with rookie Lim Hyun-jung releasing her debut album of 30 sonatas by the great German composer. “Beethoven’s life was full of challenges but, a
June 18, 2012
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Yeowoorack fest kicks off its third edition
Gugak-themed theater fest features Lee Ja-ram, Yang Bang-eonOur music is here, our music is here.Yeowoorak, which is an abbreviation for the Korean sentence “Yeogi Woori Eeumagee Itda,” meaning “our music (gugak) is here,” is kicking off its third edition with some of today’s most acclaimed artists.The gugak-themed festival is directed by Korean-Japanese pianist Yang Bang-eon this year. A total of 13 artistic groups are participating ― comprised of both gugak artists and musicians from other mus
June 18, 2012