Jo Yuri to return as singer next month
The new release comes about two years since her previous EP 'Love All' fronted by 'Taxi,' which came in first place on a television music chart show.
The upcoming set is titled as the same as her fan concert that ended in April. It was her first such event since she went solo after her former group Iz*One disbanded. At the fan concert, she performed the group's song 'Panorama' as well as her unpublished solo single 'Growls and Purrs.'
Meanwhile, she attended the preview event in New York for season 3 of the Netflix series 'Squid Game' last week. She plays one of the main characters in the show, having survived the previous season.
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Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Riddle me this
Looking to find something unique? Shop for the latest 'it' items at the National Museum of Korea, look for one-of-a-kind vintage items with an American vibe at a Hongdae store. Feeling restless? Head outdoors for a weekend glamping. Hunting down museum goods The National Museum of Korea has always enjoyed a steady trickle of visitors to its gift shop, where history gets a stylish twist. Recently, however, a fresh wave of enthusiasm has been sweeping through the store. Fans of Netflix's hit animated film "Kpop Demon Hunters" are flocking to get their hands on the "authentic" goods inspired by the traditional items referenced in the film. The tiger and magpie badge, which very much resembles Derpy and the three-eyed magpie from the film and is a playful nod to the traditional duo often seen in Joseon-era minhwa folk paintings, has already sold out but will be restocked soon, according to the museum. Other hot items include gat-inspired accessories such as bookmarks, pencil tops and keyrings. One standout is the Ilwol Obongdo collection, featuring pouches and bags printed with the majestic image of five mountain peaks, the sun and the moon. Historically, this image from the folding screen was reserved for kings. In the film, it forms the backdrop to the 'Golden' stage where the fierce trio, Huntrix, performs. Don't skip the museum itself. It offers a rich journey through Korea's cultural heritage and is the perfect place to escape the summer heat while connecting with history. If you would like to look specifically for the Ilwol Obongdo and tiger-magpie painting, visit the Calligraphy and Painting section on the second floor of the museum. National Museum of Korea 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Mountain glamping getaway at Spoon Camping deep in the mountains is not just for seasoned campers anymore with places providing convenience for those seeking an escape into nature. For those without equipment or a desire to set up a tent themselves, Spoon Glamping in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, offers a ready-made retreat with stunning views and cozy comforts. Nestled high in a quiet mountain village, Spoon Glamping offers a surreal landscape and an interior design that evokes an almost exotic atmosphere. The site is divided into two areas: the glamping zone and the caravan zone. One major advantage of the glamping zone is its panoramic mountain view. Each glamping tent is equipped with a barbecue grill and a fire pit, perfect for late-night conversations or roasting marshmallows for dessert. Between the room and the grill is a small outdoor table, where guests can place their food and enjoy grilled pork belly or seafood over charcoal while seated in classic camping chairs. However, the idyllic scenery and fresh mountain air come at a cost — a compromise with nature. Mountain moths and mosquitoes are inevitable visitors. While insect repellents are provided, their effectiveness may vary. Spoon Glamping 201 Cheonggun-ro 2985 beon-gil, Gunnae-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province Shop vintage items and collectables at Little Riddle Whether you are a seasoned collector or just a curious beginner, looking for vintage items and collectables can be exciting and rewarding — especially when you get the one that others cannot find elsewhere. And from online marketplaces to neighborhood shops, places to discover one-of-a-kind treasures are limitless. If you are wandering around Hongdae, head over to Little Riddle, a select shop that offers vintage goods in an atmosphere that feels distinctly American. It is only a minute- walk to the shop from Exit No. 6, Hongik University Station on Subway Line No. 2. The store sells vintage-style knitwear, magnets, keyrings, T-shirts, mugs and Kit-cat Klocks, made in the US since 1932, to name a few. All of these items would make great gifts to bring to a housewarming party or to have for yourself. The shop also features a display ranking the top eight incense scents, making it easier for customers to choose. Stick cost about 4,000 won each or 10,000 won for a set of three. hwangdh@ jaaykim@ junheee@
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Lee Jung-jae breaks down Gi-hun's journey and the line that left fans hanging
'Squid Game' star emphasizes the importance of living a life one can be proud of Lee Jung-jae's journey with "Squid Game" has come to a close, delivering a finale befitting a hero. The veteran actor, who made history by becoming the first Asian to win a Primetime Emmy with the global Netflix sensation, expressed a bittersweet farewell as the series wrapped its third season, released on June 27. Rather than mourning the end of the show, Lee reflected on parting ways with the cast and crew. 'The shoot lasted a long time, and during the process, the actors and staff built a lot of memories together. … We became close, and even more than that, our teamwork was so seamless that on set, instead of tension or pressure, there was a great flow. Because of that, we could look forward to unexpected ideas and spontaneous ad-libs from each other,' Lee shared during a group interview in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Thursday. 'Now that this project is wrapping up with such a well-synced cast and crew, that's what I feel the saddest about,' he added. The character of Gi-hun underwent significant evolution over the show's three seasons. Season 1 introduced him as a carefree contestant focused on winning the 45.6 million won ($33,538) prize, while Season 2 portrayed a revenge-driven Gi-hun reentering the deadly games to halt them after losing his friends. Season 3 presented a disillusioned, emotionally drained Gi-hun following the failure of his revolution against the games. Reflecting on the demands of the role in the latest season, Lee said, 'In Season 1, Gi-hun's emotions change from episode to episode. During the marble game, for example, he deceives someone, then moves on to the next game while carrying that guilt — this emotional shift gives him a wider range of choices.' 'But as we move into Seasons 2 and 3, the desire to stop the games becomes much stronger. In a way, compared to Season 1, instead of showing various sides of him, he's portrayed in a more determined, fixed way, which made me reflect a lot," said Lee. "I couldn't help but wonder: In this context, how can I draw the audience's attention and focus? It was something I had no choice but to wrestle with.' Perhaps due to this narrative shift, Gi-hun gradually assumed more of an observer role from Season 2 onward, with some critics noting his reduced presence in Season 3. Lee agreed with the observation, explaining that the change was intentional. "In Season 1, the fun was in showing Gi-hun's emotions across various situations, but in Seasons 2 and 3, the structure changed to delivering both message and entertainment by presenting diverse situations and characters.' 'Because of that, Gi-hun transformed into more of an observer's perspective. (With this), it seemed like the heartrending stories and choices of others became more visible," he said. "I wonder if ('Squid Game' Season 3) could have been so diverse if it only focused on Gi-hun. ... I think it was a good choice. Since this is a team project, I didn't dwell on any regrets.' Gi-hun's arc concludes with a poignant moment: delivering a soliloquy about how people are not mere game pieces to a black screen behind which the VIPs — those who sponsor the "Squid Game" for their amusement — stand. His final words, 'People are…' precede his sacrifice to save a baby born during the brutal games, ensuring her victory. Lee described the complexities behind filming this scene: 'I talked a lot with the director about the fact that the lines weren't finalized. Still, we said, 'Let's at least come up with a few.' We decided to shoot everything on set and try a few versions, so I thought about it a lot too." "The director had countless ideas but wouldn't tell me. I was going crazy trying to figure out what would be good," he said. 'Whatever line we tried felt insufficient somehow. The emotions were so complex, and trying to express that in a single short line was incredibly difficult. It just felt so lacking,' said Lee, adding, 'The more time passed, the more (we) came to think that leaving it empty for viewers to fill would be the best.' 'Squid Game' has resonated worldwide with its layered messages, touching on the flaws of capitalism, democracy and social realities. Reflecting on what he hoped to convey through Gi-hun's journey, Lee said he wanted to emphasize the importance of living a life one can be proud of — free from shame. 'For me, I talk a lot about conscience. Sometimes it's about humanity, while the director (also) touches on social and political themes. But from the perspective of playing Gi-hun, I focused a lot on conscience, what kind of choice (we) would make. In the end, isn't it most important to live a life you're not ashamed of?" yoonseo.3348@
Korea Herald
21 hours ago
- Korea Herald
What you need to know about the Saja Boys, Korea's grim reapers in K-pop form
Born in ghost stories, reapers transform into pop culture icons When the Saja Boys appeared on screen for the first time, dressed in floor-length black hanbok and wide-brimmed hats casting shadows over pale, painted faces, Kang Chan-mi, a 32-year-old office worker in Seoul, immediately recognized the look. 'I knew instantly what they were,' she said. 'If you're Korean, it's almost impossible not to.' The Saja Boys, a fictional K-pop group from the new Netflix animated film 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' may appear to be just another stylish boy band debuting for a global audience. However, for many Korean viewers, their stagewear evokes something much older and far more haunting: the "jeoseung saja," or the traditional Korean Grim Reaper. The image is deeply familiar to Koreans. A pale-faced man, draped in black robes and wearing a gat, a traditional Korean hat made of horsehair and silk, has long signaled death in Korean storytelling. This isn't the first time the grim reaper's look has stepped into the limelight. Most recently, on the dance competition show 'World of Street Woman Fighter,' the Korean crew Bumsup built a performance around the figure, donning black shirts and "gat," a traditional hat, to evoke the jeoseung saja's chilling presence. In Korean television and film, grim reapers have often been reimagined as charismatic and charming figures. In the 2016 hit drama 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,' actor Lee Dong-wook played a modern version of the character, trading traditional robes and a gat for a tailored black suit and fedora. The styling was contemporary, but the symbolism remained intact. Tracing the allure of Korean grim reapers So, where did this image come from? Many trace it back to a June 1980 episode of the KBS series "Legend of the Hometown" (unofficial title), a show known for its ghost stories. It was there that the jeoseung saja took on its now iconic appearance. 'We wanted to create a distinctly Korean image of death,' said Choi Sang-shik, a producer on the series, in a past interview. 'Since death is associated with darkness, we dressed the grim reaper in black robes and contrasted it with a pale face and jet-black lips.' But the grim reaper hasn't always looked this way. According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture by Kim Deok-mook, the jeoseung saja originally appeared in shamanistic rituals as a military officer, dressed in official armor. In many paintings from the Joseon era — including Gamjae Saja, which indicates one of the underworld messengers — he is depicted wearing bright red armor. He was also a figure to be feared, as his arrival marked the moment a soul was taken from the world of the living. Though he was a figure to be scared of, he was not treated with hostility. In traditional funerary rites, the reaper is regarded with solemn respect. 'Since the reaper also serves as a guide through the long and difficult journey to the afterlife, mistreating him could bring misfortune to the deceased,' Kim said. 'That's why families treat him with care during rituals.' Even the number of reapers varies between tradition and pop culture. In 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' there are five Saja Boys; in many Korean dramas and films, the jeoseung saja often appears alone, an isolated figure quietly escorting the dead. But in Korean shamanism, the number is typically three. According to Kim, in a traditional funerary ritual from Hwanghae Province, families prepare three bowls of rice, three pairs of straw shoes, and three sets of spoons and chopsticks. These offerings are meant to honor the three reapers guiding the soul from this world to the next. That belief has also made its way into modern storytelling. In the hit film 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,' three grim reapers move together as a team.
