The Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform film scores from “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “Jaws” and other Hollywood blockbusters, in tribute to John Williams, a legendary film composer. 　 The orchestra will hold a concert entitled “Celebrating John Williams” at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in eastern Seoul on March 17. Film composer John Williams (Mast Media)Williams is a film composer who created original soundtracks for various hit Hollywood productions. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel will lead the

The Corea Image Communication Institute handed down CICI Korea Image Awards to YouTubers Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal, ballet dancer Park Sae-eun, and the Korean language.Since 2005, CICI -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Korea’s image abroad -- has annually honored individuals, organizations and objects that have helped to spread a positive image of Korea. This year’s award ceremony took place at the InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul on Thursday. Participants pose

JTBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “Sky Castle,” which centers on Korea’s overheated educational system, has been creating a buzz since its launch on Nov. 23. But beyond its depiction of the educational system, the story is about the importance of parenting and trials and tribulations of parenthood.The drama revolves around the lives of housewives living in a luxurious residential area called Sky Castle in suburban Seoul. The name is also a reference to the country’s top three universities: Seoul Nati

Strawberry pleasure at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunWelcoming the strawberry season, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences presents the “Feel the Berry” promotion. The hotel’s cafe and bakery The Deli offers coconut berry smoothie and berry cream latte. Gourmet Bar offers strawberry vanilla latte, a strawberry coconut blended drink, strawberry cream soda and strawberry gin. The strawberry promotion continues until the end of January, with prices starting from 6,500 won. For mor

Apartments have long been considered a symbol of the concrete jungle. No matter which part of a Korean city you are in, the scenery is the same, with stacks of gray and ivory apartment buildings surrounding you.While it has been around 30 years since apartments became a common form of housing, there has been little change in the design. The height may have increased, but the essential structure has remained the same -- tall concrete buildings without personality or a sense of creativeness. In re

Lights, camera, action! There is always a sense of glamour in the fashion industry. Pricey labels, niche perfumes and expensive Champagne exude a certain “wow” factor. Here is fashion photographer Hong Jang-hyun, a man who must be living a life full of glamour. He is the first man you search for when planning a luxury photo shoot here. He is invited to every posh party and event, where he mingles with high-profile figures. Working with top celebrities and high-end fashion houses, those who do no

The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts plans to become an artistic landmark of Seoul in 2019 by improving the center’s environment and offering diverse quality performances. The arts center, affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, presented its plan for 2019 at a press event held at the center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, on Wednesday.  The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts CEO Kim Sung-kyu speaks during a press conference at the center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Wednesda

Singer-actor Henry Lau, better known as Henry, was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the International Vaccine Institute at a ceremony at the IVI’s headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday. Founded by the UN Development Programme in 1997, IVI is an independent international organization that works on vaccine development, with a focus on creating awareness about the importance of vaccines among the general public, especially in low-income developing countries.  IVI Goodwill Ambassador Henry Lau tries out e

Kumho Art Hall will be up-and-coming pianist Park Jong-hai’s “playground,” where he will meet the Korean audience throughout the year and showcase his musical color. The 30-year-old pianist was selected as the art hall’s artist in residence for this year. Each year, the art hall, run by the Kumho Art Cultural Foundation, selects an under-30 classical musician starting to build up a career. The annual program, titled “Playground” this year, provides opportunities for musicians to further develop

Writer Yoon Yi-hyung’s novel “Their First and Second Cat” (unofficial translation) was announced the winner of the 43rd Yi Sang Literary Award, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Korea, at a press event held in central Seoul on Monday.The story, inspired by Yoon’s experience after the death of her cat early last year, was published in the November and December issues of local literary magazine Munhaksasang.   (Munhaksasang) Writer Yoon Yi-hyung, winner of the 2019 Yi Sang Literary Aw

The people of Seoul will be invited to take part in a musical performance in honor of freedom fighter Yu Gwan-sun to be held on March 2, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus will jointly hold “Yu Gwan-sun Opera Cantata.” The performance tells the life story of the emblematic female activist of the March 1st

The Lotte Foundation for Arts has appointed Kim Sun-kwang as its new head, according to the foundation on Wednesday.Kim, 60, formerly managed the retail business of Mario Outlet before being appointed at the foundation. Kim Sun-kwang (Lotte Foundation for Arts)Kim has been working for Lotte Group since 1986, when he first joined Lotte Shopping. Since then, he has mainly worked for Lotte Department Store’s retail business. He reportedly does not have professional experience in the culture industr

Yellowtail feast at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s vinyl music bar The Timber House hosts Winter Yellowtail promotion.During weekday happy hour from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. guests can enjoy a 4-course meal featuring yellowtail. The set-course menu starts with salad, followed by a sushi platter, tempura and udon. The meal will be completed with an unlimited flow of white wine, house sake and Japanese draft beer.The promotion deal costs 69,000 won per person. For more information or reservation, call

CJ ENM’s DIA TV stayed strong on the YouTube platform in 2018.According to Thursday’s announcement from DIA TV, an affiliate of entertainment heavyweight CJ ENM, Studio DIA created around 400 videos last year, which combined for 100 million views.  Creators affiliated with DIA TV promote the channel. (CJ ENM)While DIA TV specializes in managing content creators -- particularly YouTubers -- Studio DIA, a subdivision launched in 2017, creates original videos suitable for the online streaming platf

Maestro Chung Myung-whun kicked off 2019 by conducting “New Year’s Concert 2019” in Venice, Italy. The annual concert, in its 16th edition, was performed four times from Saturday to Tuesday at the historic Teatro La Fenice, also known as the La Fenice opera house. Chung led the venue’s previous New Year’s concert, too.  Maestro Chung Myung-whun (Teatro La Fenice)The first part of the concert was exclusively orchestral, with the performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 7. The second half was dedicat

In recent years, the term “culture complex” has often been seen on social media. Postings showing people spending time at these spaces are shared often, attached with hashtags that read “culture life,” “leisure time” and “relaxation.”Culture complexes have risen as popular city destinations for young Seoulites. Buildings housing exhibition halls, cafes, restaurants and design shops bill themselves as culture complexes. According to last year’s “Where to Live,” a book by Yoo Hyun-joon, an archite

With the year almost at its end, local hotels are rushing out parties, packages and promotion deals to attract excited guests willing to spend some extra money. As the same old countdown events can be mind-numbing, hotels have prepared their own luxurious events. While staying warm and cozy amid the hospitality of hotels, guests can fully feel the excitement of greeting 2019. Grand Ambassador Seoul Associated with Pullman’s entertainment pub Gran·A hosts Adieu 2018! Bubbly Midnight party. The pa

Though the air is freezing, hotel dessert sections have already warmed up, gearing up for the strawberry buffet season.Over the past decade, local luxury hotels have been presenting all-you-can-eat buffets filled with strawberry-related desserts each winter, following the trend of hotels in Japan and Hong Kong.Though the buffet season used to start around February, the saturated market has moved the timeline as early as December. Most now start around the winter holiday season. Intercontinental

More than a century has passed already since Koreans began to consume coffee near the close of the 19th century. Throughout the years, it has surely established its position. In downtown areas, there are cafes one after another. According to the industry, the average Korean drinks 500 cups of coffee in a year. Ongoing exhibition “Winter Coffee Club,” hosted by the Korea Crafts & Design Foundation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reflects on the changing history of coffee cultur

Johncook Deli Meats opened its Salami Museum on Thursday, the first of its kind in Korea. Though it bills itself as a museum, the space is more of a showroom next to its factory in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. Admission is free. Visitors can observe how various types of salami are fermented, at the around 30-square-meter establishment. Salami on display at Salami Museum in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. (Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)“We began to work with salami 20 years ago, finding ways to consu