Former Justice Minister Kang Geum-sil on Monday said Korea should move away from its authoritarian political system, during a press meeting promoting er latest book “Politics of Life” published by Rhodos Publishing.The former minister said the ruling Saenuri Party has been following the authoritatian and controlling political style of former President Park Chunghee, nd the party with such a system should not rule the country for the next five years.“We cannot move forward if we don’t move away f

Japanese-born director’s ‘Our Homeland’ delves into hardships of ethnic Koreans in JapanBUSAN ― Japanese-born director Yang Yong-hi, who was in Korea last year with her personal documentary “Goodbye Pyongyang”― a cinematic account of her young niece who lives in Pyongyang, North Korea ― visited Busan with her first feature-length feature film, also based on her personal story of her unusual family. Yang, who was born and grew up in Osaka and obtained her South Korean citizenship in 2004, says sh

Make-up artist shares her six years’ experience working for BIFFBUSAN ― BIFF is one of the biggest fashion events in the country, on top of being the biggest film bash.And every actress needs perfect make-up to go with her stunning dress. Pro make-up artist Kim Eun-ji is one of the hidden faces behind the glamour; she has been working for BIFF’s opening ceremonies for the last six years, and experienced the highs and lows of the exciting event. On the morning after BIFF’s opening, the lobby of H

BUSAN ― Korea Film Council announced on Sunday that it will hold a special forum about Asian cinema on Tuesday as a side event for the Busan Film Festival.The forum, which will take place at BEXCO in Busan, will be attended by Sanford Panitch, president of Fox International Productions; Hengameh Panahi, president of Celluloid Dreams; and Terence Chang, producer for Lion Rock Productions. The three panelists will discuss potential ways to launch joint film projects between Asian and non-Asian cou

‘Unbowed’ director says he wants presidential candidates to see his latest work, which recounts torture suffered by late democracy activist Kim Geun-taeBUSAN ― After highly controversial courtroom drama “Unbowed,” director Chung Ji-young has returned with another socially conscious, politically themed drama inspired by the true story of late politician and democracy activist Kim Geun-tae.In spite of its serious subject matter, last year’s “Unbowed” was often comical and humorous. Yet Chung’s lat

Theater“Phantom of the Opera”: Tickets are available for the upcoming run of the world’s beloved musical, “Phantom of the Opera.” The show opens on Dec. 7 at Blue Square’s Samsung Electronics Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical tells the story of a beautiful soprano Christine, and a mysterious, disfigured musical genius who becomes obsessed with her. Australian actress Claire Lyon will play Christine, while veteran Broadway actor Brad Little will perform as t

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is wistful, witty, romantic and sentimental, a “Breakfast Club” for the new millennium. It’s not high school as it really was and remains today. It is high school as it really should be.Writer-director Stephen Chbosky, adapting his own novel, presents a version of those years that is equal parts hopeful and cruel, with complicated, fragile kids with deep dark secrets and great, unrequited loves. The unpopular are protected from bullies by kind strangers, their p

Chinese actresses share their experience making Korean-Chinese production “Dangerous Liaisons”BUSAN -- Stars of one of the most anticipated films at this year’s BIFF shared thoughts on making of the film on the second day of the festival in Busan. China’s top actress Zhang Ziyi and Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung together praised Korean actor Jang Dong-gun, whom they co-starred with in Korean director Hur Jin-ho’s latest drama “Dangerous Liaisons” -- for his professionalism and looks. “I’ve bee

Russia’s ice theater troupe presents Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’While Olympic champion Kim Yu-na has made figure skating more of a spectator sport than ever before in Korea, many still may not be familiar with the genre of ice theater.Hence Russia’s Bobrin Ice Theatre’s performance of Tchaikovsky classic “Swan Lake” would offer a unique experience for both local ballet fans as well as figure skating buffs. The troupe has been in Seoul since last week, to present the Tchaikovsky piece not in toe sh

The 15th Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance), the nation’s largest annual dance bash, kicks off on Oct. 5 for its 15-day run, with a total of four pieces officially banned for teenagers. One of the most reputable genre showcases here, the event is presented by the local section of the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO. Fifty-three dance companies from 16 countries will present 57 works during the festival. This year’s edition has been receiving a lot of attention even before the op

Guide to the 17th edition of one of the biggest film fests in AsiaMoviegoers and cineastes will head to Busan next week, as one of the biggest film festivals in Asia is kicking off its 17th edition in the southern port city. This year, the Busan International Film Festival features a total of 304 films from 75 countries, including a romantic comedy shot entirely in North Korea.Hong Kong’s police action film “Cold War” opens this year’s edition, while Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Farooki’s sati

Telegraph AvenueBy Michael Chabon (Harper)One of the great boundary-defying outlaws of contemporary American fiction, Michael Chabon revels in high culture and low. He’s as likely to write about comic books (“The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay”) as the mysteries and snares of the literary life (“Wonder Boys”). He has written a Harry-Potteresque novel for young readers (“Summerland”) and a grown-up detective tale (“The Yiddish Policemen’s Union”). Whatever the subject or genre, the languag

David Byrne is, to use one of his favorite words, a context unto himself. Founding member of Talking Heads, he blew up the concept of that band at least three times before disbanding it in 1988 for good.By then, he was already a film director, artist and composer, working on projects such as Robert Wilson’s 1985 “The Knee Plays” and Twyla Tharp’s 1981 ballet “The Catherine Wheel.”In the years since, he has created his own world music record label, written movie soundtracks and published half a d

Jo Sung-hee's upcoming film 'A Werewolf Boy' brings fantasy genre to local cinemaFor fans of Song Joong-ki, his upcoming film may come as a surprise. For local moviegoers, it will be a rare opportunity to see a one-of-a-kind film character never before shown in Korean cinema. Song, who is largely recognized for his pretty-boy looks, is returning as a beast, or a “wolf-boy” in director Jo Sung-hee’s upcoming fantasy romance “A Werewolf Boy.” The upcoming flick tells the story of a teenage girl Su

Director Shin Jeong-won returns with comic-horror movie ‘Ghost Sweepers’One of the most anticipated local films this year was finally unveiled on Monday, mixing two seemingly irreconcilable genres for a unique fortuneteller tale featuring malicious ghosts and crime.“Ghost Sweepers” is director Shin Jeong-won’s ambitious project to create another film that belongs to his own, distinctive style, which he calls as the genre of “comic-horror.” The film, a fortuneteller tale taking place in Korea’s r

Park Seo-won (left), CEO of Big Ant International, and Jungwook Hong, chairman of Herald Corporation, discuss the theme of “Sharing Wisdom: Classic, an Everlasting Source of Creativity” during the Herald Design Forum 2012 at COEX Auditorium in southern Seoul on Friday. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)Leading design figures talk about their career, inspirations and visionTwo leading design figures talked on Friday about their sources of inspiration during a special session at the Herald Design Fo

The first hour of Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” contains some of the most rapturous filmmaking of the year.The time is post-World War II America. The streets gleam with hope and possibility. Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), an emotionally disturbed loner who already had trouble fitting in with his fellow sailors in the Navy, has landed a job as a portrait photographer at a swanky department store. The superb cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr. (“Tetro,” “Youth Without Youth”) lights the se

Many would think of the products of Japanese retail company such as its blank notepads and white tea cups, as simple and minimalistic.But the company’s art director Kenya Hara says the philosophy behind its products is “emptiness,” not “simplicity.” And it’s that “emptiness” that creates room for creativity and imagination, the designer said. “It’s very important to talk about the concept of emptiness when I talk about Muji products,” Hara said during his lecture at the Herald Design Forum in Se

A four-member team won the top prize at Herald Corporation’s English-language presentation competition for college students on Thursday for their engaging presentation on urban slum transformation.“None of us have studied overseas to learn English,” said Jeong Jun-young, a member of the winning group.“We all learned the foreign language using local resources. So this prize means a lot to us.”The winning team, named “Shall We Design,” consists of students of different majors: French literature, l

French economist Guy Sorman, who also serves as a global advisor to the Lee Myung-bak administration, said Korea needs to promote its traditional culture as well as fine arts ― rather than K-pop and other forms of popular culture ― during a press conference promoting his latest book last week.“In Europe, people consider Korea’s idol groups as pop artists, not necessarily as Korean artists,” the scholar told reporters on Sept. 14 in Seoul. “I don’t think the current K-pop wave in Europe makes Eur