Bumkey“U-Turn”(Loen Entertainment)　R&B singer Bumkey is one of those artists who can rack up impressive chart rankings and music sales without going through the hamster wheel of radio and TV promotions that are obligatory for most artists to gain some traction. On “U-Turn,” his first studio-length album coming 11 years after his debut, Bumkey demonstrates why he has been able to survive with his music alone with eight tracks he wrote himself, as well as a new version of the hymn “Amazing Grace.

Heading to the theaters this weekend? Whether you're looking for an artistic film to add class to your holiday, something to watch with your kids, or something to make you cry, the silver screen's got you covered.The Korea Herald offers a guide to the top movies playing this weekend.Carol (U.K., U.S.)Drama. Directed by Todd HaynesOpened Feb. 4　Set in the conservative 1950s Manhattan, “Carol” follows the dangerous romance that buds between Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett). The two

Yu Seung-woo's EP “Pit a Pat’ is his first record since after he legally became an adult in Korea, but he has still maintained his cute, boyish character on the five tracks, four of which each depict a different stage of romance.The lead track "Whatever," featuring rapper Crucial Star, is about trying fruitlessly to brush off a breakup. "Getting like U" captures the first sparks of puppy love, "45.7 cm" is about the tingling excitement of beginning a new relationship, while last year‘s hit track

Two Korean fashion designers presented their menswear collection at Pier 59 Studios in New York on Monday, the first day of New York Fashion Week: Men’s. Kang Dong-jun of DBYD and Jang Hyung-chul of Ordinary People were presented by Concept Korea, a project promoting Korean culture sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency.Kang presented a collection that employed modern silhouettes in trench coats and patterned long cardigans, reflecting the

Dead Buttons has launched just one official album but the rock and roll duo is not your typical rookie group. Grungy, carefree and playful, drummer Lee Kang-hee and guitarist Hong Ji-hyun exuded the ease of seasoned musicians when they spoke to the The Korea Herald at a cafe in Seoul’s Hongdae area.Although “Some Kind of Youth” is the band’s first official album, the band has already established a reputation for itself over the past few years. Dead Buttons (Love Rock Company)Formed in 2012, Dead

The members of SM Entertainment’s girl group f(x) said that they let themselves loosen up for their first solo concert, “Dimension 4 - Docking Station.”“We’re a group that always tries to be perfect, so we normally didn’t accept even the smallest mistakes (in our performances). But with this concert, we wanted to focus on being free and interacting more with our fans, so we made some more mistakes,” member Luna told reporters ahead of the concert‘s third and last show at Olympic Hall on Sunday.A

Luna of SM Entertainment girl group f(x) said that f(x)’s music has been successful because it is global and trendy. The girl group is known for its high quality dance music in addition to its energetic performances. Billboard named the quartet’s latest album “4 Walls” the No. 2 K-pop album of 2015.“F(x) communicates a lot with composers from abroad, so we can connect better with our fans abroad. It also helps us to develop our musical color,” she said at a press conference before the Sunday per

Thinking about watching a movie this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide to the top movies playing on the big screen.A Melody to Remember (Korea)Drama, war. Directed by Lee HanOpened Jan. 21　Sang-ryeol (Im Si-wan) is a soldier who has lost everyone he loves in the Korean War. He is sent to another division, and meets a group of children who have lost everything, just like him. Along with volunteer teacher Ju-mi (Ko A-sung), he creates a children’s choir to bring a little warmth to the cold

The Legend“Sound Up!”(Loen Entertainment)　It’s almost a shame that “Sound Up!” wasn’t boy group The Legend’s first EP. Making a 180-degree flip from rookie group’s original pained, brooding image, “Sound Up!” brings out the commercial pop appeal of the group, who had previously had trouble getting off the ground despite the tall, handsome looks. The five-track EP kicks off with the lead track “Crush on You,” a funky, fun and brass-heavy dance track about a guy who falls in love at first sight wi

JQ“Paper Moon”(Bugs)　Singer-songwriter and rapper JQ’s music is always easy on the ears. Although he is a rapper, his songs are catchy and rhythmic and never overbearing. Perhaps the reason that his music is so listener-friendly is that he is best-known for being the rap coach for artists at SM Entertainment such as TVXQ, Super Junior, and EXO. On his sixth EP “Paper Moon” JQ aptly demonstrates that he has a full understanding of how to shape rap for a pop audience.The six tracks each take on a

Cross Gene“Game”(Universal Music)Cross Gene’s third EP “Game” is slow overall, considering the group’s talents in dance. For whatever reason, the dance tracks all take on a slower tempo, leaving the songs feeling outdated and reminiscent of the dance tracks of the past decade.Perhaps the biggest culprit is “Noona, You,” which lacks any sense of personality. With an intro that sounds like the starting notes of a cardio workout mixtape, a bland melody and lyrics that take yet another whack at the

Every Thursday evening, a group of 20 people gather at a hands-on food lab on the 10th floor of a quiet building in Jongno, central Seoul. The lab of Makgeolli School is clean, with five smooth countertops surrounded by barstools, and earthen pots and ingredients stacked against the walls. There are huge sinks for washing rice, pots for steaming it, huge earthen jars for fermentation, and smaller jars and bottles labeled with the names of herbs and medicinal ingredients for flavoring. Students h

Activist and author Shin Young-bok, a professor at Sungkonghoe University best known for writing “Reflections from Prison,” containing his thoughts while imprisoned during the military-backed government, passed away Friday from skin cancer. He was 75.Shin was imprisoned for his pro-democracy ideas in 1968, accused of being part of the Tongil Hyeongmyeongdang (Unification Revolution) party. He remained imprisoned for 20 years until he was released through a special pardon on the Aug. 15 Liberatio

BUCHEON -- A couple was arrested Friday after their child was found dead and mutilated, police said.Police discovered the boy's body earlier in the day at the home of an acquaintance of the father in Incheon, west of Seoul.During questioning, the father said he mutilated and froze the body after his son died, recently transferring it to his acquaintance's home. He denied, however, that he killed his son.The acquaintance said he did not know what was in the bag that carried the body, police said.

LONDON -- The IOC is ready to examine allegations of possible bribery in the bidding for the 2020 Olympics.　 The Olympic body said Friday it has asked the World Anti-Doping Agency‘s independent commission for transcripts from its report on doping and corruption in track and field that raises the possibility that $5 million in sponsorship money was paid to help Tokyo secure the games.　 A footnote to the WADA report indicates that former IAAF president Lamine Diack was prepared to sell his vote in

BEIJING -- Haier Group, the world’s biggest home appliance maker, is buying General Electric Co.‘s appliance business for $5.4 billion to expand its U.S. and global presence.　 The acquisition announced Friday comes as Haier tries to transform itself into a premium brand. GE is shifting emphasis from traditional businesses such as appliances, in which it has been a prominent presence for more than a century, to higher-technology areas such as medical equipment and clean energy. Haier headquarters

A main opposition leader became a front-runner in an opinion poll for the first time in eight months, a poll showed Friday.A poll released by polling agency Gallup Korea showed 16 percent of people supported Moon Jae-in, leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party, in a potential presidential race.It marked the first time that Moon has become a front-runner in a poll since May last year.The turnaround came as Moon is recruiting new figures for his embattled party following a breakup with Ahn Cheo

Headed to the theaters this weekend? The Korea Herald offers a guide to the latest films to hit the big screen in Korea.Mood of the Day (Korea)Romantic comedy. Directed by Cho Ku-jang　Opened Jan. 14　Su-jeong (Moon Chae-won) and Jae-hyeon (Yoo Yeon-seok) are two strangers who find themselves as seat neighbors on a train to Busan. The confident, suave Jae-hyeon is attracted to Su-jeong, and proposes a one-night stand -- but she won’t have any of it. Will he be able to convince her to come over to

SEOUL/BUSAN -- Police said Friday they have heightened security as Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul received an international phone call threatening to blow up all airports in South Korea.A pre-recorded voice of a Korean woman was heard in the call made to the airport at around 7:40 a.m., saying explosives had been set up in every airport in the country, police said.“All of you will die,” the voice said, according to police.“The explosives will not only shoot us but also you.” The ai

BRUSSELS -- European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said EU member states have “failed to deliver” on efforts to resolve the migrant crisis, including on a deal to relocate thousands of asylum seekers from Italy and Greece.So far just 272 refugees have been moved to other countries out of the 160,000 that European Union nations agreed to relocate as the continent faced a wave of people fleeing conflict in Syria and elsewhere. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker gives a press