Actor Nam Joo-hyuk denies new school bullying rumors

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk has denied another round of bullying allegations raised against him. Management Soop, Nam’s agency, said Wednesday that they had sought to verify the facts through various channels after the rumors were raised and found that such allegations were “not true.” The controversy erupted on Tuesday last week when a local media outlet ran a report alleging that Nam had bullied a classmate in high school. The article was based on a tip-off from an anonymous pers

July 7, 2022

[Herald Interview] Tailoring dance steps to idols: Kasper says it’s essential in K-pop

The name Kasper may sound familiar to many K-pop fans. His demo videos of popular choreography have made him a hit among lovers of Korean music. Kasper, whose real name is Kim Tae-woo, is a choreographer with 15 years of experience working with elite groups from S.M. Entertainment. He received praise for composing the moves for Exo’s “Ko Ko Bop” and Shinee’s “Don’t Call Me.” Wearing in his signature look of sneakers and earrings, and with his right a

July 6, 2022

Kang Ji-young reveals teaser image for her new single ‘Lucid Dream’

The teaser image for singer and actress Kang Ji-young‘s new single, “Lucid Dream,” was released on Monday. Kang, who co-wrote the lyrics of the melodic blues-inspired song about missing a loved one, expressed excitement about her first release in four years. She also launched the YouTube channel “My Name is Jiyoung Kang ” last Tuesday and released a video about her new single. “Lucid Dream” is a collaborative project between Kang and Unda, a shampoo

July 4, 2022

Pianist Chang Hyoung-joon appointed new president of Seoul Arts Center

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday said that it has appointed pianist and professor Chang Hyoung-joon as the new president of the Seoul Arts Center. Starting Friday, Chang will lead the country’s top art complex for the next three years. Born in 1962, Chang received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He has been teaching piano at Seoul National University since 1995. He has collaborated with world-reno

June 16, 2022

[Eye] ‘Kids need values, not grades’

Behind the shining successes in economy, education, public security and the health care system, Korea is a country with an extremely low birth rate and the highest suicide rate among OECD member nations. Now, the country stands at a crossroad to choose its path forward. “It is between whether we place a high value on mental state or continue to focus on extrinsic values,” said Ji Na-young, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Extrinsic

June 16, 2022

[Herald Interview] Illusionist Lee Eun-gyeol explores new possibilities of magic

With his eye-catching gestures, comical facial expressions and mischievous voices, illusionist Lee Eun-gyeol turned even a small studio into a grand stage for his stage performances. “Which version of Lee Eun-gyeol do you want to see today? I don’t think the performer from MBC is available today,” Lee playfully told The Korea Herald during a recent interview. The zany persona that made him so well-loved on MBC’s “My Little Television” might have been absen

June 8, 2022

[Herald Interview] Man launches personal crusade against ‘bad fathers’

Koo Bon-chang, a 59-year-old retiree, is a man who has had numerous run-ins with legal authorities. So far, he has been sued 28 times, undergone police investigation, been indicted and been sentenced to fines multiple times for disclosing personal information on the internet of those who refuse to pay child support after divorce. “Some call it vigilantism. But when you think of the #MeToo movement, it starts with the victims alerting (society) of how they were victimized,” Koo tol

May 30, 2022

Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber Rhee Keun plans to return from Ukraine

Former South Korean Navy special warfare officer Rhee Keun, who has reportedly been injured while leading a recent mission in Ukraine, may return home. According to a post by the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine on Thursday, Rhee, also known as Ken Rhee, was treated at a military hospital in Ukraine and will return to South Korea for rehabilitation. “He will soon resume his service and once again defend the Ukrainian people as soon as possible. We wish Ken a speedy recovery an

May 20, 2022

Choi Eung-chon appointed new head of Cultural Heritage Administration

Choi Eung-chon, an art history professor at Dongguk University, has been appointed the new head of the Cultural Heritage Administration. Choi previously served as chair of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation from 2019. He succeeds Kim Hyun-mo, who had served in the role since December 2020. Known as an expert in Buddhist art, Choi graduated from Dongguk University and holds a doctoral degree from Kyushu University in Japan. Choi started his career as a curator at the National

May 15, 2022

Ex-Navy SEAL and YouTuber Rhee Keun injured in Ukraine

Former South Korean Navy special warfare officer Rhee Keun, who left South Korea to fight as a volunteer soldier in the war in Ukraine, said in a YouTube post that he was injured in a recent mission. According to ROKSEAL (Rhee Reun’s YouTube channel) on Sunday, Rhee, also known as Ken Rhee, was injured while leading a special reconnaissance mission. “LT Ken Rhee recently incurred injuries while leading a special reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines. He has been transferred to

May 15, 2022

‘Life’s golden age starts at 60’

Learning, working and contributing to society -- these are the three steps that one should take every three decades in order to live a responsible and fulfilling life, according to Kim Hyung-seok, a 103-year-old professor emeritus at Yonsei University. At The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum held Wednesday evening in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, the esteemed scholar spoke of his own contemplations on the true meaning of life. Born in North Korea’s South Pyongan Province in 1920

May 12, 2022

[Newsmaker] Kim Ji-ha, poet, beacon of democracy and controversy

Famed poet Kim Ji-ha, who died on Sunday at the age of 81, left behind a legacy of decades-long battles against the military dictatorship, followed by disputes later in life. Kim died at 4 p.m. at his home in Wonju, Gangwon Province, after suffering from an unspecified illness for the past year, the Toji Cultural Foundation said on behalf of the bereaved family. He passed away “peacefully, after holding each of their hands and smiling,” it added. The foundation, which supports K

May 9, 2022

Kim Ji-ha, poet and democracy activist, dies at 81

Renowned poet Kim Ji-ha, a dissident figure who spoke out against the military dictatorship of the 1960s and ‘70s, died Sunday at the age of 81. Kim had been suffering from an unspecified illness for the past year before he passed away at his home in Wonju, Gangwon Province, according to the Toji Cultural Foundation. The foundation, which supports Korean writers and scholars, was named after the novel “Toji” written by the late Park Kyong-ni, who was also Kim’s mother-i

May 8, 2022

Global Biz Forum 2022 kicks off with focus on digital transformation, post-COVID business trends

The second edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off Wednesday in Seoul, under the theme of “Post-COVID-19 Global Business Opportunities and Trends.” The 13-week forum, held every Wednesday, is aimed at sharing and enhancing knowledge of the international community, and for exploring overseas investment opportunities and expanding business networks. GBF is a platform that gathers Korean business and financial leaders, diplomats as well as those from the c

April 28, 2022

Maverick novelist Lee Oi-soo dead at 75

Bestselling author Lee Oi-soo died of COVID-19-associated pneumonia on Monday, according to his family. He was 75. Lee died at around 8 p.m. at a hospital in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, of complications from COVID-19 after he contracted the viral illness in March. He had been in poor health since a collapse from a cerebral hemorrhage in March 2020. He was treated for stomach cancer in 2014. Born in 1946 in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, he studied education in college for eight years

April 26, 2022

Baduk world champions participate in pro-am Go competition

The 2022 Pro-am Go Competitions, co-hosted by DataStreams and The Korea Herald, were held at the Korea Baduk Association headquarters in Seoul on Friday, aiming to enhance the status and recognition of Korea’s baduk. 　 Baduk, also called Go, is a traditional strategy board game in which players take turns putting black and white stones on the board while aiming to surround more territory than their opponent. “DataStreams is grateful to have sponsored such a meaningful competition,

April 22, 2022

Charles H. head bartender wins award at Asia’s 50 Best Bars

Keith Motsi, the head bartender at Charles H., a speakeasy-style bar at Four Seasons Seoul, won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2022 on Tuesday. The award given to personalities who have made significant impact on Asia’s bar sector over the voting period is the only peer-judged award for Asia’s 50 Best Bars. “I am extremely honored and humbled to be recognized by my peers for whom I have the utmost respect,“ Keith Motsi said through a press release. “

April 12, 2022

YouTube’s top five Korean teachers for English-speaking viewers

Buoyed by the popularity of Korean cultural products, a Korean language learning frenzy is spreading around the world. Unlike in the past, when most Korean learners studied for practical reasons like for academic research or jobs, more people now seem to do so out of interest in the country itself. As of 2020, some 1,669 elementary, junior high and high schools in 39 countries have opened and operated Korean classes, with about 160,000 students enrolled, according to Education Ministry data. I

April 6, 2022

'Crash Landing on You' couple Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin wed in private ceremony

Top actors Hyun Bin, 39, and Son Ye-jin, 40, were married in a private ceremony Thursday afternoon. The couple’s parents, relatives and friends attended the ceremony at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, that was held under tight security. “Actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are holding their wedding ceremony, taking their first step as a married couple,” Son’s agency MSTeam Entertainment said in a press statement Thursday afternoon. “Conside

March 31, 2022

[Reporter’s notebook] What Youn Yuh-jung has taught us: It’s OK to be yourself

My first memory of Youn Yuh-jung dates back to 1991 when she played the role of a talkative and fussy mother in the television series “What is Love,” which holds the record for the third-highest average viewership of any Korean television broadcast here. In the eyes of a 9-year-old child, Youn looked far from the stereotypical Korean moms that I’ve seen on TV before. It was not just because of the snobbish role she played. It was more about her stiff appearance and husky v

March 31, 2022