Arts & Theater
Jeon Do-yeon returns to stage after 27 years
After a 27-year hiatus from the theater, Cannes-winning actor Jeon Do-yeon will return to the stage, starring in Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard" in June.
Feb 21, 2024
Park Jin-hai
Korea Times K-Culture Reporter
Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
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Arts & Theater
Veteran actors draw sold-out crowds for stage plays
Veteran actors aged 80 and over are making waves in the Korean theatrical circle, with their performances drawing sold-out crowds. The enduring appeal and talent of these seasoned performers, who seamlessly transition between the small screen and the stage, have brought plays to new heights of popularity here.
Feb 20, 2024
Arts & Theater
Bolshoi ballerina Svetlana Zakharova to dance in Seoul wearing Chanel costumes
Svetlana Zakharova, the Ukrainian-born Russian principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, is set to grace Seoul in Chanel costumes in April.
Feb 16, 2024
Music
Son of prolific Korean conductor to lead Italian orchestra
Conductor Chung Min, son of prolific Korean conductor and pianist Chung Myung-whun, who has been following in his father's footsteps, will take the helm of a prestigious Italian orchestra in February.
Feb 15, 2024
Music
Pianist Lim Yun-chan invited to Carnegie Hall for 2nd straight year
Pianist Lim Yun-chan, 20, will perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City for the second consecutive year, following his highly-anticipated debut on Feb. 21.
Feb 14, 2024
Films
'EXIT' tells of hilarious escape from city engulfed by toxic gas
Yoona, left, and Jo Jung-suk, co-stars of disaster action film “EXIT,” demonstrate the same pose they did for the film's poster during a press conference for the film at a local theater in southern Seoul, Thursday./ YonhapBy Park Jin-haiBlockbuster disaster films targeting the peak summer season mostly focus on the tragic, life-threatening moments. However, director Lee Sang-geun's new disaster action film “EXIT” says he strived to inject humor into the genre, allowing audiences to enjoy amusing scenes along with the human moments. Jo Jung-suk, lead actor co-starring with Yoona of Girls' Generation, said the film has it all ― hilariously funny moments, white-knuckle action and tear-jerking scenes. Jo takes on the role of a young unemployed man called Yong-nam, who used to be an excellent climber in his college climbing club. The film revolves around him and his former college climbing club friend Eui-joo, played by Yoona, when their reunion gets interrupted by a mysterious toxic gas that has engulfed the entire city. “The film started from the question o
Jun 28, 2019
Health
Young YouTuber says she is happiest cancer patient
Cho Yoon-ju shares her cancer-fighting stories on her YouTube channel "Cancer Patient Poppy." / Captured from Cho's YouTube)By Park Jin-haiCho Yoon-ju, a 30-year-old ovarian cancer patient, says she has had “life or death” surgery twice already. In December, 2011, four months after Cho started working as a lecturer on customer services, she felt excruciating pain in her abdominal area and collapsed several times on the subway. At the hospital for what she thought would be a “minor” procedure, she went through an eight-hour long surgery. She lost her womb and ovaries at the age of 21. After a year-long course of treatment, the cancer was gone. But unfortunately it returned in 2016, and painful chemotherapy followed, causing her to lose her hair and with it, her self-esteem. “That was the worst moment of my life. I kept on thinking 'why me?' I was just working hard every day of my life,” said Cho during an interview with The Korea Times. She beat cancer twice and started her YouTube channel, “Cancer Patient Poppy,” in December 2018 in ord
Jun 25, 2019
Films
Korean films ready for summer blockbuster season
Song Kang-ho is seen in the upcoming film "The King's Letters." / Courtesy of MegaboxBy Park Jin-haiUpcoming Korean films are fully loaded with diverse genres and star casts, targeting audiences for the summer peak season.From classic period dramas and disaster movies to films about the occult and thrillers, Korean films hiring veteran actors and rising stars will vie fiercely for viewers' attention in the most lucrative season of the year. Traditionally, cinema admissions tallied between July and August amount to 50 million, or approximately one quarter of the annual total. During the period between late July and late August, in particular, when most students and workers are on summer vacation, local movie theaters see 35 million tickets sold.It is a boon for movie fans, fatigued with a lack of diversity in Korean films. Veteran actor Song Kang-ho, the star of award-winning film “Parasite,” will return as King Sejong, or Sejong the Great, in the upcoming period film “The King's Letters.” The film will feature the last eight years of the fourth king of the 139
Jun 23, 2019
Travel & Food
Old port town exudes exotic beauty
Visitors walk around streets of China Town, adorned with red and gold colors, in Incheon, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Jin-haiThe city of Incheon, some 40 kilometers west of Seoul, invites visitors to take a historic journey to the late 19th century, when the country saw its first modernization, following the forced opening of the port in 1883 by foreign countries.Over 130 years ago, the urbanscape of Incheon was “international,” bustling with merchants from Japan, China, the U.S., Germany, France and Russia. Starting from Japan, China and then Western countries, foreigners resided within a special settlement with extraterritoriality. The city exuded a cosmopolitan atmosphere with various foreign languages being spoken and rare imported goods being traded. Banks and hotels appeared and an expatriates' social club, the Jemulpo Club, was built. Through those exchanges, Incheon expanded into a modern city, initiating the modernization of the country. When the late Joseon Kingdom was on its precarious way to becoming forcefully annexed by Japan in 191
Jun 20, 2019