Asked what position he would like his team XXX to occupy in the Korean hip-hop scene, rapper Kim Ximya was quiet but confident in his response.　“Tupac,” he answered, referring to the iconic American rapper, as he sat down for an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday at the group’s studio in Seogyo-dong, Seoul. “By that I mean that I hope people, whether they know a lot about music or not, wouldn’t dare judge our music easily.” 　Music duo XXX, which consists of rapper Kim Ximya, 23, and com

Reports claiming that Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo are dating have once again surfaced, saying the two went on a trip to Bali, Indonesia, together.Both denied the reports through their respective management agencies Monday.　“Song Joong-ki went to Bali with friends before embarking on promotions for his upcoming film ‘Battleship Island,’” the actor’s agency Blossom Entertainment said.　“While it is true that Song Hye-kyo went to Bali, she went to attend a meeting for a different project. We have

Eleven days before its release, Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming film “Okja” is ranking second in ticket reservations, despite major cinema chains refusing to show the film.　As of Monday, “Okja” accounted for 12 percent of ticket reservations -- 9,257 tickets -- according to the Korean Film Council’s statistics. 　The number is significant considering that “Okja” will not be screened at CGV, Lotte Cinema or Megabox, Korea’s largest multiplex cinema chains.　The three companies announced their barring of th

In his latest film, Lee Je-hoon was tasked with expressing a complex historical character, the anarchist and independence activist Park Yeol who lived in the early 1900s.　The film, “Anarchist from Colony” and directed by Lee Joon-ik, traces Park’s turbulent life in Tokyo during Japan’s occupation of Korea. 　Park had moved abroad after the March First Movement of 1919 to further his education and protest against the Japanese colonizers on their home turf. He became the leader of a group of anarch

K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri appeared on Saturday’s episode of variety program “Infinite Challenge” for the first time in three years, proving she was still a bundle of laughs. The members of the variety show traveled to Jeju Island to meet up with the singer, who lives there with her husband, singer-songwriter Lee Sang-soon.　Lee was seen joking with the comedians of “Infinite Challenge” and demonstrating her yoga skills, which she had honed for the past three years. Lee Hyo-ri practices yoga on Saturd

Made with instant curry mix, Korean curry rice is a stew-like curry sauce served over rice. It’s one of those dishes that was introduced to Korea by the Japanese, and has since become a staple in Korean homes. The Korean version of the sauce is generally lighter, which makes it so good eaten with kimchi. It’s a hearty, comfort food we all grew up eating! 　 The instant curry mix makes this dish very easy to make. The curry roux is made with fat, so it has a richer taste and makes the sauce thicke

A Day(Korea)Opened June 15Drama. Directed by Jo Sun-hoJoon-young (Kim Myung-min) is a world-famous doctor who volunteers to work in Third World countries. His busy schedule forces him to neglect his 12-year-old daughter Eun-jung (Jo Eun-hyung), who becomes angry and refuses to answer his calls. It is Eun-jung’s birthday the day Joon-young returns to Seoul after treating patients abroad. After a frenzied press conference at the airport, he rushes over to celebrate his daughter’s birthday when he

 The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Asia’s largest genre film event, is set to broaden its horizon this year with more programmers and strong films.“We’ve been striving to present diverse programs,” said the festival’s chairman Jung Ji-young, who was appointed to the position last year. “This year especially, a large number of staff and programmers have made great efforts to present new types of events.” 　 A press conference for the Bucheon International Film Festival takes place

Korea’s culture of upholding meticulous protocol has come into the spotlight since a video featuring a Korean lawmaker’s “authoritarian no-look pass” went viral last month.　In the clip, Rep. Kim Moo-sung is seen nonchalantly passing his suitcase to an assistant waiting at the airport arrival gate, without even looking to see where the bag will roll. The assistant receives the suitcase and hurriedly removes himself from the camera frame.(Yonhap)The internet buzzed with criticism of Kim, noting hi

Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day After” will be screened to local press on June 22, but the film’s director and cast will not attend the screening, according to production company Jeonwonsa on Thursday.　“No press conference will take place subsequent to the screening,” the company said in a statement.　The screening will take place at Lotte Cinema near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.　Jeonwonsa gave no reason for the lack of a press conference. 　 A still from “The Day After” (Jeonwonsa)Th

Director Bong Joon-ho opened up on the controversy that has been surrounding his film “Okja” and its backer Netflix’s decision to release it simultaneously in theaters and online in Korea, at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday.　The director assumed responsibility for the kerfuffle in Korea. “I think (this situation) has arisen from my cinematic ambition. Netflix hasn’t tried to push through with theatrical releases (abroad) but Korea is a unique case.“That is because of me. While filming w

Balladeer Lim Seul-ong, a member of K-pop quartet 2AM, is set to return with two new songs in a digital album on June 20, according to the singer’s agency Sidus HQ on Wednesday. The album will consist of two tracks: “That’s Right” and the title track “It’s You” (unofficial translation), a soft ballad promising eternal love. Rapper Beenzino is featured in the song.An image for Lim Seul-ong’s upcoming digital album “It’s You” (Sidus HQ)Lim participated in the producing of the tracks, according to

Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” is a delightful coming-of-age story that centers on the warmth between living beings. But the way its little heroine Mija, a free spirit with a big heart, comes to terms with the world is perhaps more brutal and realistic than any crime-ridden thriller.The film begins as the head of a multinational food and research conglomerate, Lucy Mirando, played by Tilda Swinton, announces the discovery of stunning super pigs in the wilderness of Chile.Some 20 of these amazing creature

“Warriors of the Dawn,” led by actors Lee Jung-jae and Yeo Jin-goo, will hit North American theaters Friday, according to the film’s distributor 20th Century Fox Korea. Fox will be screening the film in some 30 theaters in North America. 　 “Warriors of the Dawn” (20th Century Fox Korea)The film, which hit local theaters on May 31, was presold to the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia at the 70th Cannes Film Market in May. 　“Warriors” is the fifth Korean-language period film to be pro

Bong Joon-ho’s latest film “Okja,” which has been receiving international attention both for its unique story and the controversy surrounding its backer Netflix, was screened to the press Monday for the first time in Seoul.The film centers on the relationship between Mija, a country girl living in the mountains and played by 13-year-old Ahn Seo-hyun, and Okja, a super pig who boasts remarkable physical capabilities, intelligence and gentleness.Mirando, a multinational food research corporation h

Hong Sang-soo’s latest film “The Day After,” which competed at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is set to hit local theaters on July 6, the film’s producer Jeonwonsa announced Monday.　Hong’s 21st film, the black-and-white dramedy stars Kim Min-hee, Jung Jae-young, Cho Yun-hee in a story about a married publishing company employee and the aftermath of his affair.　 Kim Min-hee stars in “The Day After.” (Jeonwonsa)It is Hong’s fourth film to be invited to the competition category at Cannes, followi

K-pop dancing diva Lee Hyo-ri is set to release a new album in the beginning of July, her agency Kiwi Media Group said Monday. “The album had originally been planned for June, but we have decided to release it in the beginning of July,” the agency said. “We are in the process of working on the last touches of the album and have not yet specified a date.” Lee Hyo-ri (Kiwi Media Group)Lee worked with composer Kim Do-hyun to produce the album. It will mark the songstress‘ return to the music scene

Actress Tilda Swinton was spotted entering the country at Incheon Airport on Monday morning.Dressed comfortably in a beige cap and navy frock, Swinton was accompanied by her husband, German visual artist Sandro Kopp.  Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop) Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop)Swinton, along with other cast members of the upcoming film “Okja,” will participate in various promotional events for the film during her st

INCHEON -- A local court issued an arrest warrant on Friday for a daughter of a late businessman who controlled the operator of a sunken ferry that killed hundreds of passengers in 2014.The Incheon District Court issued the warrant for Yoo Sum-na, the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of Cheonghaejin Marine Co., in light of risks that she "might flee or destroy evidence." Yoo Sum-na, the daughter of the late Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the Sewol ferry, arrives at the Incheon

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet with a special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week, officials said Friday.Toshihiro Nikai, a lawmaker and secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will make a courtesy call on Moon at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, officials from the presidential office said.Nikai will be returning a visit by Moon's special envoy to Japan, Rep. Moon Hee-sang, who had also delivered Moon's personal letter to the