On weekends, cafes are often frequented by young men and women on blind dates. With a cup of tea or coffee in front of them, they wonder if the person sitting across the table might be that perfect match.A special cafe that caters to such customers is now open in Seoul; special, not for its menu, but for its guests -- only people who have reserved a blind date can visit the cafe. . TvN’s new variety show “Cafe Amor” is to feature a special cafe for blind dates. The cast -- actress Yoo In-na, sin

Seo Min-woo of 100% died of a heart attack Sunday at the age of 33. The boy band’s agency TOP Media announced the death of group leader Seo Min-woo, better known as just Minwoo, through its official website.  Minwoo (TOP Media)“He was found at his home in Gangnam, Seoul. Paramedics rushed to the scene, who pronounced him dead,” the announcement read. Seo debuted as an actor in 2006 through TV drama series “Sharp 3.” He switched to pop music in 2012, as the leader of 100%. The group was to hold c

Wrapping up its five-day exploration of styles and trends, the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week ended its run Saturday. The country’s largest fashion event took place from Tuesday to Saturday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, where 39 local designers showed off their collections to buyers, the press and the invited public. This year, the organizers invited more than 180 foreign buyers from high-end department stores, boutiques and online shopping websites.There was as much action outside the D

Dongdaemun Design Plaza bustled with "fashion people" Saturday, as they took in the last bit of  the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week. Local fashion brands staged shows, bidding to return for the next season.Kwon Munsoo (Seoul Collection) (Seoul Design Foundation)The runway was graced by “playboys.” Based on the idea that modern people are secretly jealous of the playboys they criticize so much, the designer sought to redefine them as modern style icons, making garments that are suitable

With a full load of sunshine, Friday’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza was filled with crowds visiting for the fourth day of the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week. Local fashion brands continued to stage inspiring shows. Following are the three highlights of the day. Nohant (Seoul Collection) (Seoul Design Foundation)Nohant’s runway mimicked a city street under construction. The brand’s collection for upcoming fall and winter seasons was labeled as “Dosi,” meaning city in Korean. The wallpaper of

Fans of Wanna One attempted to clear the band’s name by requesting a digital forensic audio analysis.Wanna One became embroiled in controversy Monday, when some of its members allegedly made vulgar comments during a live broadcast.  Wanna One poses during a press conference for its new EP “0+1=0 (I Promise You)” in Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)The members allegedly used inappropriate language, including slang and a sexual term, unaware of the fact that they were being aired live on cable channel Mne

A decade ago, the word “selfie” did not even exist, but almost everyone with a smartphone takes such photos these days. In Korea, there is even a word for a person who looks very different in selfies in a good way: “selgikkun.” For instance, Yura of Girls’ Day, who takes excellent photos of herself. “Taking a good selfie takes enormous effort,” Yura said multiple times while starring in the MBC show “We Got Married.” She explained how she takes more than a hundred snaps for one perfect photo. Yu

Gourmet weekend at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton offers multicourse specials at its Chinese and Japanese restaurants, Taipan and Genji, only on the weekends. Taipan, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, offers a gourmet meal comprising six dishes, at 65,000 won per person. The menu features abalones, crab meat, prawns, beef and pine mushrooms as its main ingredients.Genji, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, also offers a weekend special at 86,000 won. The weekend special set-course men

At the 2018 HERA fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week, there is a distinctive crowd that fills the front rows of fashion shows other than fashion industry insiders, models and celebrities -- buyers. They work for high-end department stores, boutiques and online shopping websites, who decide on what items will be stocked in their stores. It is basically business-to-business shopping. Mario Dell’Oglio speaks during an interview with The Korea Herald at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Thursday. (Seoul Design

Dongdaemun Design Plaza was filled Thursday afternoon with crowds attending the third day of the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week at the peak of its hype. Dressed in bold, creative and unique outfits, they gathered to watch the innovative shows staged by local brands. Following are three highlights of the day.Blindness (Seoul Collection)  (Seoul Design Foundation)Blindness’ show managed to fully express the designer’s artistry, featuring garments that maximized the creativeness of the br

Choi Soo-young, better known as Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation, is to take a leading role in a Korean-and-Japanese-made film. Choi will play a leading role in the film “Memories of a Dead End,” based on a novel written by Japanese writer Banana Yoshimoto. It depicts how a female character faces a life-changing moment. The film will start shooting in April in Japan.  Choi Soo-young (Echo Global Group)Choi debuted as a member of Girls’ Generation in 2007. She did not renew her contract with the age

Koreans are known for their love of fermented dishes -- for instance, the ever-present kimchi. And Koreans also consume fermented sauces on a daily base. Adding one more to the list is, hongeo, a fermented skate dish, is a delicacy for many. A whole skate is placed in a pile of hay for days for the fermentation that results in its pungent odor -- such that some compare it to a public toilet. Even after the meal, one cannot escape the pungent smell that attaches itself to clothes and hair for day

Despite heavy snow, a fashionable, passionate crowd gathered at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Wednesday to enjoy the second day of the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week. Various local brands staged creative shows, providing the audience the chance to observe Korea’s fashion industry at the scene. Following are three highlights of the day. Ordinary People (Seoul Collection) (Seoul Design Foundation)Ordinary People went experimental, making use of various materials typically considered unfit f

With the hype of the Winter Games beginning to fade, Executive Creative Director Song Seung-hwan revealed the intricate planning that went into staging the Olympic opening ceremony that captivated an international audience. Song directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang Olympics. He attended a meeting held by the Corea Image Communication Institute on Tuesday night in Seoul to speak about what it was like to stage performances for a global audience.  Song Seung-hwan delivers

Unlike most medical dramas that feature doctors as the main characters, tvN’s new series “A Poem, a Day” depicts staff who are less often in the spotlight. The new Monday-Tuesday drama centers on the lives of physical therapists and radiology technicians, dubbing them “co-medical staff.” It can also be called a “comedical drama,” as it features a combination of comedy and medicine.  From the left, Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Yoo-bi and Lee Joon-hyuk (tvN)Producer Han Sang-jae hopes to set the series apa

The 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week officially began Tuesday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Various local brands staged eye-catching shows, providing the audience the chance to observe Korea’s fashion industry at the scene. Following are three highlights of the day. A.Bell (Seoul Collection)  (Seoul Design Foundation)“Light” was the main keyword here. Around 34 outfits portraying the refraction and reflection of light were showcased. Hues of white, beige, ivory and black were dominant. The

The 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week opened Monday with a showcase of modern interpretations of hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing. Celebrated hanbok designer Kim Hye-soon traveled back in time for her inspiration to create a colorful jewel-toned collection of hanbok made contemporary, which graced the runway at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.  Models walk down the runway of hanbok opening show for the finale. (Seoul Design Foundation)“This season, I wanted to promote the beaut

With the reality TV show “I Live Alone” enjoying a purple patch, the program’s real-life couple, Jun Hyun-moo and Han Hye-jin, opened up about their relationship at a press conference held Monday to mark the show’s fifth anniversary. TV personality Jun Hyun-moo and fashion model Han Hye-jin admitted to the relationship at the end of last month, after news reports regarding the two surfaced. The two have been dating since Christmas.  Jun Hyun-moo and Han Hye-jin pose for photos at a media briefin

Actress Lee Tae-im has announced she is ending her acting career.“Going through difficulties with many thoughts and pain, I decided to live a normal life,” she wrote in a social media post Monday. “I won’t forget those who loved me. Thank you,” she added. Lee Tae-im (Management Henem)The announcement came as a surprise as Lee had returned to the entertainment scene last summer with the hit drama series “Women of Dignity” on JTBC, after a two-year break. She disappeared from the public eye after

Celebrating Easter at Millennium Seoul Hilton For guests who seek to celebrate Easter in a classic yet luxurious way, Millennium Seoul Hilton has prepared various activities and events. Cilantro Deli offers specialty Easter bread and chocolates during Easter week. Precooked Easter lunch hampers will also be on sale at 350,000 won. For lunch on Easter Sunday, diners can head to Cafe 395 for an Easter-themed buffet, at the price of 94,000 per person. On Easter Day, visitors can take part in an Eas