Tom Cruise is well-known for his love of Korea and its moviegoers, and made a stop here on his promotional tour for “Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation” together with director Christopher McQuarrie in time for its premiere. Actor Tom Cruise (left) and director Chris McQuarrie of "Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation" at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Thursday (Yonhap)“We just finished the movie a week ago Saturday in London, and the moment we finished we started this tour. One of the

After being bombarded this year with back-to-back Hollywood blockbuster movies filled with exploding cars, collapsing buildings, and cities turned upside down, it seemed that bigger, louder and hotter was the only recipe for the success of action flicks.In “Veteran,” director Ryoo Seung-wan brings in an all-star cast led by Hwang Jung-min and Yoo Ah-in to flip that assumption on its head.The reunion of Ryoo with stunt coordinator Jung Doo-hong (the pairing seen in Ryoo‘s “The Unjust” and “The Be

Sporting a retro neon sign, mint green banquettes and Formica tables, the latest iteration of Brooklyn the Burger Joint’s hit restaurant chain reads like a 1950s American diner.The resemblance, Brookyn the Burger Joint owner-chef Park Hyun revealed, is intentional, as are the diner-like opening hours -- 24 hours, seven days-a-week. “I wanted to do it somewhere big and I wanted to do a 24-hour spot,” Park, 35, explained how he came to launch Brooklyn the Burger Joint’s fourth outlet this June nea

There’s nothing quite like a sandy beach and open ocean in the summer to wash away the fatigue of everyday stress. With long, stretching coastlines, Korea offers a variety of beaches for midsummer vacations, each with its own unique personality. The Korea Herald suggests some of the nation’s best beaches for relaxation, for crowded fun and for fun experiences.　Quiet seaside paradises　For those seeking a quieter, more relaxing summer getaway, the following are some of the country’s hidden seaside

 This boiling hot noodle soup is a popular summertime dish in Korea. Kalguksu literally means “knife noodles”, but it actually refers to a steaming hot noodle soup that’s traditionally made with handmade, knife-cut noodles. There are many variations using different ingredients for the soup base or for the dough. Dak (chicken) kalguksu is made with a rich chicken broth, and shredded chicken meat. For convenience, you can use commercially packaged fresh kalguksu noodles available in the refrigerat

Heading to theaters this weekend but not sure what to watch?The Korea Herald offers a summary of the top box office hits now playing.For the fourth weekend of July, check out "Pixels" or "Three Summer Night" for some slapstick feel-good comedy, or "Assassination" for an edge-of-your-seat historical thriller. If you still haven't seen "Inside Out," this may be your last chance -- "Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation" comes out on July 30 and is sure to gobble up screens.Mission: Impossible -- Rog

Sonamoo“Cushion”LOEN EntertainmentSonamoo splashed into the K-pop scene proclaiming that they would be different. With tall, pretty members each with 3 to 4 years of training experience, they seemed ready to bring something fresh to the market. Their first EP “Déjà vu” was favorably received by the public.Unfortunately, Sonamoo’s second album “Cushion” fails to build on that steady first step. The first few lines of the title track “Cushion” are interesting and exciting, but the song quickly dis

Hellovenus“I’m Ill”Neowiz InternetGirl group Hellovenus joined forces once again with hit-making composer Brave Brothers for its fifth EP “I’m Ill.” He composed all but one of the tracks (“Whatcha Talk About”) on the EP, which was composed by Brave Entertainment’s producing team Galactika* and ChaKun of Brave’s hip-hop group Electroboyz.So it’s no surprise that the EP is one big party album. It starts with a club-style EDM punch on the album’s title track “I’m Ill,” where the girls sing about “s

Gfriend“Flower Bud”(KT Music)Gfriend played it safe for their second EP “Flower Bud,” opting to nestle comfortably into the bubble-gum pop niche in a market saturated by EDM and hip-hop beats. The group, which debuted in January with “Glass Bead,” was often referred to as the next Apink during their last promotions. That sweet, innocent vibe -- complete with matching white dresses and schoolgirl outfits -- continues into this second EP. Excluding the intro and instrumental track, there are four

“Memories of the Sword” is set to hit the big screen next month, intensifying summer box office competition with “Assassination,” “Veteran,” “The Beauty Inside” and the Hollywood blockbuster “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.” 　Starring a stellar ensemble cast of actor Lee Byung-hun, actresses Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun and directed by Park Heung-sik, the film is a martial arts epic about a man of humble beginnings (Yu-baek, played by Lee) who uses his swordsmanship and cunning betrayal to gain

Music label Mystic Entertainment, home to artists such as Lim Kim, Eddy Kim and Jane Jang, and peer-to-peer content streaming site Afreeca TV have joined to create a new content company, the companies announced Thursday. Afreeca TV Seo Soo-kiel (left) and Mystic Entertainment CEO Yoon Jong-shin pose for press at CGV Apgujeong Thursday. (Mystic Entertainment)The joint venture, called Freec, will be used to create and share content in a way that integrates and maximizes the advantages of new and o

Ha Jung-woo has never been an actor to turn down a challenge. For “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014), he shaved his head and played the part of a lowly 19th-century butcher who ferociously avenges his family. In “The Terror Live” (2013), he was an anchorman rigged with an armed bomb. “The Berlin File” (2012) transformed him into a deadly North Korean agent.Despite Ha’s chameleon talents, when director Choi Dong-hoon (“The Thieves”) tapped him for the film “Assassination,” he asked him to play a

Lee Young-man, the chief executive officer of Herald Corp., has been named the first president of the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea.The association, which registered as a nonprofit organization last month, aims to boost understanding of Korea in the international community through the foreign-language media and mobile technology. Lee Young-manThe Korea Herald, Korea Times, Korea Joongang Daily and Aju Business Daily are the founding members of the group.“The Foreign Language N

　“The Piper” is an interesting hodgepodge that borrows elements from various genres and weaves together several plotlines. 　There is the fantastical motif of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, set against the historical backdrop of postwar Korea, filled with the mystery of a remote village ruled by a tyrant trying to hide a terrible secret, and the paternal love of a man desperately trying to save his sick son.Still from "The Piper" (CJ Entertainment)　Unfortunately, the ambitious feature-length debut fr

Super Junior’s Siwon and Secret’s Sunhwa were officially proclaimed the spokesmodels of the 11th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Tuesday at a press conference at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul.The two Hallyu stars were chosen for their extensive cultural influence both in Korea and around the world, stemming from their successful careers in both music and acting.  Siwon and Sunhwa pose for press at the Conrad Hotel Seoul, Tuesday. (Yonhap)“I’m so happy that I can experience music and film

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival, a partially competitive festival that offers a balance of movie screenings and outdoor concerts. Official poster of the JIMFF (JIMFF)The festival will open with the film “Try to Remember” from Korean director Kim Dae-hyun, and screen a total of 101 films from 25 countries. The competitive section “World Music Film Today” will have seven films from abroad in competition. “We usually try to balance scripted fi

The first half of 2015 was not kind to the Korean film industry. With the exception of “Ode to My Father” and “Twenty,” no Korean movies were able to make a big splash in theaters. Korean moviegoers opted for blockbuster Hollywood films like “The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Furious 7,” “Mad Max” and “Jurassic World” or smaller surprise hits like “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Whiplash.”Korean movies began to pick up at the box office with “The Classified File,” a true-story crime thriller th

　Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke have landed in Seoul to promote the summer blockbuster “Terminator Genisys“ directed by Alan Taylor, the fifth installment in the “Terminator” franchise.　As an actor who has become an icon through the “Terminator” series and a new face taking on the legendary role of Sarah Connor, they shared their different thoughts and experiences about the movie at a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, ahead of the local red carpet to be held Thursday

　The press conference for the upcoming summer action film “Veteran,” at CGV Apgujeong Wednesday, was a gathering of some of the most trusted names in Korean cinema. Director Ryoo Seung-wan and the cast of "Veteran" at CGV Apgujeong Wednesday (CJ E&M)　The film is helmed by Ryoo Seung-wan, the director behind “The Unjust” (2010) and “The Berlin File” (2012), and the cast includes veteran actors like Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Hae-jin, and Yoo Ah-in. 　“The two hours will just fly by because you’ll enjoy t

Boy band 2PM celebrated eight years together with their fans at two “House Party” concerts at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena on Saturday and Sunday in Seoul. Kicking off the performance with a rendition of “Go Crazy” packed with special effects, 2PM sped forward with their past hit “I Hate You,” two songs from their new album, “Jump” and “Magic,” and their party song “Hands Up.”2PM performs at the 'House Party' concert (JYP Entertainment)The stage was set to sprawl across the arena‘s floor, w