BTS was spotted at Incheon Airport on Wednesday evening as it embarked on its world tour. The seven members showed up in casual outfits, along with sunglasses, masks and caps to cover their faces.(Yonhap)(Yonhap)Fans had gathered at the airport since afternoon to get a glimpse of BTS, which was scheduled to depart in the evening. As BTS entered the airport, crowds of fans followed.  (Yonhap)The world tour will see the boy band perform across North America, Europe and Japan, covering 16 cities wi

Singer-comedian Shin Jung-hwan has broken his yearslong hiatus with an appearance on the JTBC’s hit talk show “Knowing Bros,” but the comeback has sparked controversy from the public still disgruntled about the gambling scandal that led to his absence.In Saturday’s episode, Shin appeared as a guest, along with Kim Ji-hyun and Chae Ri-na. The three and Lee Sang-min, a permanent cast member of the show, were members of old-school co-ed group Roo’ra. The show mainly focused on the fame and the popu

After extensive yearlong renovations, Lotte Hotel Seoul is ready to reopen its Executive Tower -- and, with it, the Michelin-starred French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire. The famous chef Gagnaire was in Seoul for two days to supervise the reopening of the restaurant, which has modernized its service while maintaining its quality.  The Royal Suite in the Executive Tower (Lotte Hotels and Resorts)Service during lunch hours has been simplified so that guests can finish eating within an hour. The resta

Amy Chu is a breath of fresh air in the comic book industry, especially in the US, where the industry is dominated by white men who have been reading comic books since they were young. Chu is an Asian-American woman who, before becoming a writer, had worked in very different fields. There was not a hint in her youth that might have signaled her life would be in comics.  Amy Chu poses with her “Wonder Woman” comic book before an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday in central Seoul. (CICI

Autumn swim at Banyan Tree Club & Spa SeoulBanyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is offering the Oasis Cabana package for guests seeking a late staycation. The package includes a one-night stay at the hotel’s Banyan Room or Namsan Pool Room. A cabana for four people at the hotel’s iconic Oasis Pool is included as well. As the weather may not be warm enough for a late-night swim, the pool is maintained at a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. Each cabana has an individual Jacuzzi allowing the guests to enj

Ordering borigulbi at a restaurant, first-timers may expect barley aside the dried fish, as “bori” refers to that grain in Korean. But they will be disappointed, as not a single piece of barley will be served with the fish. Instead, a distinctive odor wafts from the table. It is a fishy smell, but not such a smell that would come from fresh fish. (Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)Borigulbi is made with yellow corvina. After the intestines are removed, the corvina is drie

As a person in the film industry whose life and work span both Japan and France, Noemi Nakai hopes to serve as a bridge between the two.Currently based in London, Nakai is an actress, film director and scriptwriter best known for her role in the 2016 Japanese hit film “Death Note: Light Up the New World.“ She also directed and wrote a short film, “The Last Dream,” a year later. Born in Japan to a Japanese father and a French mother, Nakai is comfortable with both countries and cultures and is fl

[Herald Interview]The more the merrier -- such is the life of Banzz.For the 28-year-old YouTuber, it is all about “more”: He eats more than practically anyone, has more followers than most other content creators, and grows more famous each day.  Banzz poses before an interview with The Korea Herald at the DIA TV Studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Banzz has a “meokbang,” which can be translated into “eating show” in English and is a form of entertainment where the

The boundaries of design have changed tremendously over a short span of time. Design influences every aspect of our lives, not only the realm of products but also the way people live, says Bartomeu Mari, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. “The Herald Design Forum is very good at bringing to the stage new voices. Deyan Sudjic is one of the most brilliant critics of the design-architecture field. I am honored to share the floor with all guests and learn from the

Actress Park Hae-mee’s husband was on the way for another drink when he was involved in a drunk-driving accident Monday night.Two other passengers, 19 and 31, were killed, and three, including the driver, were injured in the accident.The driver, surnamed Hwang, 45, told police he and the crew were on their way to have another drink after watching the Asian Games soccer quarterfinal between South Korea and Uzbekistan. 　 Firefighters respond to Monday’s car accident involving the drunken driving o

Actor Kim Jung-hyun is to quit his role in MBC drama “Time” due to health concerns. Kim, who has been starring in the Wednesday-Thursday drama series “Time,” decided to step down from his role, according to network MBC and his agency O& Entertainment on Sunday. O& Entertainment issued a statement saying that Kim has been unable to eat or sleep properly. Kim Jung-hyun (O& Entertainment)“Kim has been shooting the drama while receiving treatment, with the determination to not trouble the production

This summer’s prolonged heat wave was overwhelming for everyone -- including the local hotel sector, which recorded near full sales as South Koreans sought shelter in the comfort of cool hotels.While the “staycation” is nothing new, this year’s record-breaking temperatures encouraged more vacationers to flock to nearby hotels for a relaxing getaway.  Swimming pool at Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotels & ResidencesHotels with swimming pools and dining facilities were especially popular, as a la

[Epicurean Challenge] Noodles mixed with pig blood, stuffed into pig intestinesBy Im Eun-byelSundae is often described as the Korean version of blood sausage. Though sundae appears similar to a classic blood sausage -- thick, black and glossy on the surface -- there is an obvious difference between the two when they are sliced up. Upon cutting up sundae into edible pieces, bountiful glass noodles reveal themselves. Steaming with heat, the noodles are moist and full of flavor. They are stuffed in

Grand Hilton Seoul is gearing up for its annual beer festival, Oktoberfest, bringing Germany’s renowned beer festival to the heart of Seoul. This year’s festival will be held on Sept. 8 at the hotel’s convention center. The hotel’s General Manager Bernhard Brender, a German native, started the tradition in 2007, hosting the local version of Oktoberfest every year since then.  General Manager Bernhard Brender of Grand Hilton Seoul (By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)“It’s all about the originali

Taste of France at Lotte Hotel Seoul After an extensive renovation, Lotte Hotel Seoul’s world-class restaurant Pierre Gagnaire is set to reopen on Sept. 1. The French fine dining restaurant will offer Allegro service for business guests during lunch, allowing guests to finish their meal in an hour. Southern French-style cuisine is offered for dinner. At Pierre’s Bar, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul at a private boutique space. Bar bites will be added to the menu. For more information

Mainstream TV shows are seeking to attract more teenage viewers to survive in the network TV market here, after veering away from that age group in the past few years. TV shows for teenagers had been popular in the early 2000s. Big-name stars such as Go A-ra and Yoo Ah-in debuted on KBS2’s school drama “Sharp” in 2003. The broadcaster’s “School” series was a hit, too, making it to its fourth season in a run that lasted from 1999 to 2002. With the rise of cable channels and over-the-top services

"It’s like wearing makeup not just around the eyes, but also on the eyes,” said Kim Ji-hye, an office worker in her mid-20s, talking about colored contact lenses. Kim has been wearing colored contacts for more than 10 years. She first tried them on when she was in middle school. Like others of her age at the time, she used to wear cheap contacts and did not care much about hygiene or sanitation.“I was reckless. Now I only wear one-day colored contact lenses just on special days, to highlight my

Hyatt Hotels is to add Small Luxury Hotels of the World to its rewards portfolio. Starting from the end of this year, guests who stay at any of more than 500 independent luxury boutique properties under the SLH umbrella, will be able to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points. The exact kickoff date for the service is yet to be set. Guests who make their bookings through Hyatt channels, not directly with the SLH properties or through third-party websites will receive point benefits.“SLH’s high-end

Beer galore at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelSheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel will be celebrating its seventh anniversary by hosting the Sheraton Craft Beer Festival in mid-September. Famous breweries such as Goose Island, Art Monster, Craft Roo, The Hand and Malt, Levee Brewing Company and more are participating in the festival. At the event, there will also be German-style side dishes created by the hotel’s new head chef from Germany.The festival will be held over a period from Sept. 14 to 1

A passion for books is often symbolized by a love of the scent of new books. But it’s not only the scent of fresh ink and paper that excites book-lovers. The musty scent of a used book can be just as much of a turn-on for bibliophiles. Cheonggyecheon Secondhand Book Street in Dongdaemun, central Seoul, is the most widely known spot for secondhand books. Used books are piled up at Cheonggyecheon Secondhand Book Street. (By Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)Used books are piled up at Cheonggyecheon S