President Park Geun-hye on Friday pressed North Korea again to give up its nuclear weapons programs as she offered her latest conciliatory overture meant to lay the groundwork for potential unification with Pyongyang.She suggested that North Korea should follow in the footsteps of Kazakhstan in giving up nuclear weapons and emulate Vietnam and Myanmar, which opted for reform and openness, noting those countries enjoy peace and prosperity. (Yonhap)"Now, North Korea should abandon its nuclear prog

(Yonhap)Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to witness Pope Francis beatify 124 martyrs in downtown Seoul on Saturday under chants of “amen” and “viva il papa.” Up to 1 million people, according to the police, gathered in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square -- usually a district bustling with office workers.(Yonhap)The square resembled a large outdoor cathedral on Saturday with attendees praying in silence and singing Bible hymns during the beatification ceremony.(Yonhap)The crowd enthusiastically wa

Pope Francis has reinforced his reputation as a man of surprises during his five-day pastoral visit to Korea.　From an impromptu speech on the division on the Korean Peninsula to a surprise visit to a Jesuit-run university, here are some notable, unexpected, surprising moments from the top Catholic cleric’s visit in Korea so far. 　(Yonhap)Taking KTX to Daejeon 　Shunning the presidential helicopter, the pontiff hopped onto a high-speed train to the southern city of Daejeon along with about 500 pas

Pope Francis said Saturday the legacy of Korean martyrs will contribute to promoting peace and human values in South Korea and the rest of the world.(Yonhap)"The legacy of the martyrs can inspire all men and women of good will to work in harmony for a more just, free and reconciled society, thus contributing to peace and the protection of authentically human values in this country and in our world," the pope said during a beatification Mass in central Seoul for 124 Korean martyrs.Yun Ji-chung an

A tight security cordon was thrown around central Seoul Saturday to screen out possible threats as up to one million people gathered for a huge, open-air mass by Pope Francis.Office windows overlooking Gwanghwamun plaza, the South Korean capital's main ceremonial thoroughfare, were sealed, with snipers on the rooftops among 30,000 police deployed for the event.(Yonhap)The mass, which will see the pope beatify 124 early Korean martyrs, is the centrepiece of his five-day visit to South Korea, the

[Papal Visit] Pope to baptize father of Sewol victim 　　Pope Francis will baptize the father of a boy who died in the Sewol ferry disaster in April, organizers of the papal visit said Saturday. 　The pontiff, on his first trip to Asia, will lead the ceremony himself Sunday at the Vatican Embassy in Seoul, said Rev. Hur Young-yup, spokesman for the government-civilian Committee for the Papal Visit to Korea. 　The man, 62-year-old Lee Ho-jin, asked to be baptized by the pope when he met him Friday be

K-pop legend Seo Taiji finally broke his silence on Wednesday, clarifying his stance amid mounting controversy after his former wife, actress E Ji-ah made comments on their marriage on a TV show.　On Monday, E revealed her side of the story about her marriage to Seo, most of which has been hidden behind a veil of secrecy.　On the TV talk show “Healing Camp,” E confessed that the two fell in love after they first met at concert in the U.S. E talked about how lonely her life was as she had to keep t

2NE1 member CL released a photo she took with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott on Tuesday, boasting of their steady friendship. In the photo posted on Instagram, CL and Scott pose for the camera while holding glasses. Meanwhile, CL is scheduled to perform along with her label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Rookie K-pop group Winner has made a splash not only at home but also abroad with its debut album released Tuesday. 　As Winner dropped its debut EP “2014 S/S” at midnight on Aug. 12, one of the band’s two main tracks, “Empty,” instantly topped Korea’s nine major music charts.  (YG Entertainment)A day after the release, the track is drawing positive reactions from abroad as well. The tune debuted at No.1 on iTunes album charts in five countries -- Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Tai

G-Dragon of K-pop boy group Big Bang released a photo he took with an American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams on Wednesday.　“The man who always inspires me. Thank you,” G-Dragon wrote on his Instagram alongside the photo.　In the photo, G-Dragon makes a funny face while Pharrell gazes straight-faced.　Meanwhile, G-Dragon is scheduled to perform along with his label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

The still photos of K-pop girl group Red Velvet went viral Tuesday.　Red Velvet’s agency SM Entertainment released the photos on Aug. 8 taken at the group’s debut performance on the TV music program “Music Bank.” 　The photos of group member Irene, in particular, are heating up online communities. “Red Velvet Irene” became one of the “hot topic keywords” on the nation’s largest portal site Naver as of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. 　The four-member group dropped its EP “Happiness” online on Aug. 4 and deb

K-pop rookie group Winner received messages of support on Twitter from its labelmates after the release of the group’s debut album on Tuesday. 　Psy, G-Dragon and Tablo of Epik High, all under YG Entertainment alongside Winner, showed their support for the newest band from their agency. 　(OSEN)“If this is the way, it is okay to take a long time (to release an album),” Psy wrote on his Twitter on Wednesday, sharing the link to the music video of Winner’s title track “Empty.” 　G-Dragon also shared

K-pop boy band 2PM’s Taecyeon became the latest idol star to send a warning message to his obsessive fans.　“Do you really have to follow me in my private time, take pictures and post them?” Taecyeon wrote on his Twitter Tuesday.  (OSEN)Ok is not the only one who suffers from some fans’ extreme behaviors. 　For example, it is widely known that the boy group EXO has also seen their fans stalking them around the clock, or even breaking into their dormitories to steal personal belongings. 　Another bo

Winner (YG Entertainment)Rookie K-pop group Winner topped major music charts with its debut album Tuesday. As the YG Entertainment boy band dropped its debut EP “2014 S/S” at midnight on Aug. 12, one of the two main tracks, “Empty,” instantly appeared at the top of the nine major Korean music charts, including Mnet, Olleh Music and Naver Music. The other tunes on the album, including the other main track “Color Ring,” made the top five on the charts. The group’s five members ― Kang Seung-yoon, L

G-Dragon posted a picture of him praying on his Instagram on Monday. 　In the photo, the K-pop artist, wearing fashionable overalls, has his head lowered and hands together, against a painting of praying hands on the wall. 　“Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight here one day,” the painting reads. 　G-Dragon took the stage as a headliner at KCON 2014, held from Aug. 9-10 in California, the U.S.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Kris, a former member of K-pop idol group EXO, is following in former Super Junior member Hangeng’s footsteps and will star with him in a joint Korea-China film.　According to local news reports on Monday, Kris won a role as one of the male leads in the romantic flick “Xiao You Qiao Mu,” directed by Korean filmmaker Jo Jin-kyoo.  　Kris is the latest addition to the cast and joins Hangeng and Korean actor Joo Won. In the film the three stars compete to win the heart of the same woman. 　Kris’ move

Kris, an ex-member of K-pop idol group EXO, was cast to star in a Korea-China film, along with Hangeng, formerly of boy band Super Junior, according to news reports on Tuesday.　Kris won the role as one of the male leads in the romantic flick “Xiao You Qiao Mu,” directed by Korean filmmaker Jo Jin-kyoo.Kris is the latest addition to the two other male leads, Hangeng and Korean actor Joo Won. The three stars will compete to win the heart of a woman in the film. 　Kris has been in the spotlight afte

K-pop rookie group Winner’s debut album is dominating local music charts shortly after its release on Tuesday. 　The long-awaited boy band from YG Entertainment dropped its debut EP “2014 S/S” at midnight on Aug. 12. 　One of the album’s two lead tracks “Empty” instantly debuted at the top of nine Korean music charts such as Mnet, Genie, Olleh Music and Naver Music. 　The other songs, including the second title track “Color Ring,” also ranked high. 　 (YG Entertainment)Though Winner is not completel

K-pop idol group EXO will revive the K-pop from the 1990s in an upcoming TV show. 　The 11-member group will shed new light on first-generation K-pop by reinterpreting once-trendy tunes in a more contemporary perspective on Mnet’s entertainment program “EXO 902014.” 　(OSEN)The EXO members, who were all born in the early 1990s, will look into the nostalgic music and trigger vivid recollections for those in their 30s and 40s who grew up with first-generation idols such as H.O.T, g.o.d and Seo Taiji

K-pop idol group EXO’s Lay said that he is a big fan of K-pop diva BoA. 　“I am BoA’s fan,” Lay told reporters at a press conference for the entertainment show “EXO 90:2014.”　(OSEN)The remark came as he spoke on his feelings about taking part in the upcoming show.　“I am honored and excited that I can sing songs by my seniors,” he said.　The Mnet TV program “EXO 90:2014,” starring 11 members from EXO will revisit K-pop tunes from the 1990s to help new generations better communicate through music.　T