Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
# In-depth
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
Interview: Pianist Bruce Liu: Multicultural voice interprets Russian Romantics
When pianist Bruce Liu last performed in Seoul in 2023, his recital was filled with electrifying technique and seven encores. Liu returns to Seoul in May as part of the 2025 Great Pianists Series, bringing with him an entirely new program centered on Russian Romanticism, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev. "With Tchaikovsky, I think there's this emotional vulnerability. His pain-dedicated personal moments, even larger-than-large gestures,” Liu, who catapulted to international
April 30, 2025 - 14:32:10
Interview: French winds and familiar faces who sustain SSF's chamber music spirit
For a chamber music festival to continue for 20 years, many things must come together. Chief among them are a devoted artistic director, innovative programming, a stable operation and a growing interest in chamber music — a genre defined by its intimate scale, where a small group of musicians perform without a conductor. Equally vital are the musicians themselves — both the loyal artists who return year after year and new participants who bring fresh energy — who collectively sustain the festiva
April 28, 2025 - 15:42:31
B.Grimm's vision: Channeling ‘compassion’ into Korea’s clean energy, social fabric
For B.Grimm Power, the energy arm of Bangkok-based B.Grimm Group — a 147-year-old conglomerate with core businesses spanning health care, energy, industrial systems and real estate — South Korea stands as a beacon of promise. The nation’s rapid development in the energy sector appears all but destined, and perhaps more importantly, it bears testament to B.Grimm’s broader commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future across Asia. At the helm of B.Grimm’s charge into Korea’s energy future is C
April 28, 2025 - 13:16:44
US tariffs to hurt Korean banks' profitability: Fitch
A surge in US tariffs would pummel South Korean banks, as the slowdown of Asia's fourth-largest economy could take a toll on their profitability and asset quality, according to an executive at a global credit rating agency. While Korea and the US agreed to work toward a comprehensive package deal aimed at removing new US tariffs, Jonathan Cornish, managing director and head of Asia-Pacific Bank Ratings at Fitch Ratings, suggested that local lenders could suffer a blow from higher tariffs. “Overa
April 27, 2025 - 15:18:30
Interview: Ma Dong-seok trades criminals for demons
Korean cinema has its own immovable object. Where Hollywood boasts Dwayne Johnson, South Korea counters with Ma Dong-seok — an actor whose boulder-like physique and jackhammer fists have become a bankable genre unto themselves. In an industry struggling to reclaim prepandemic viewership, Ma's fist-first persona has demonstrated remarkable resilience. His "Roundup" franchise — where Ma's blunt-force detective pulverizes criminal enterprises — has accumulated over 40 million admissions, with three
April 27, 2025 - 15:02:59
Interview: Top adviser to Lee Jae-myung says Seoul should reclaim full OPCON
South Korea should take back wartime operational control of its military forces from the US, according to Rep. Ahn Gyu-back, the chief special adviser for Democratic Party of Korea presidential frontrunner Rep. Lee Jae-myung. Ahn, who is part of Lee's Democratic Party primary campaign, told The Korea Herald on Thursday it was his personal view that ultimately, South Korea should have full control of the country's forces. He said that the conditions-based approach to the transition of wartime OPC
April 25, 2025 - 14:29:46
'Only I can handle Trump' ― Kim Dong-yeon blasts acting president over US tariff talks
Liberal presidential candidate Kim Dong-yeon on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on acting President Han Duck-soo, accusing him of “opportunism” for initiating trade consultations with the United States despite not being an elected leader. In a written interview with The Korea Herald, Kim said Han’s actions amounted to “betraying his own people,” criticizing the acting president for pushing ahead with ministerial-level talks with Washington on tariffs while remaining vague about his potential p
April 24, 2025 - 15:25:45
APR's head researcher stresses safety, results
As global demand for Korea’s skin care expertise grows, access to professional dermatological care remains limited in many international markets. To bridge this gap, APR — a rapidly expanding Korean beauty tech brand — is introducing innovative at-home skin care devices both domestically and abroad. The company is on the verge of surpassing 1 trillion won ($705 million) in cumulative sales, a benchmark achieved by only a select few in Korea’s beauty sector, including industry giants like Amorepa
April 21, 2025 - 16:10:25
Interview: Director Jang Seong-ho's leap of faith
While Hollywood executives fret over underperforming franchises, an unassuming animated film from Korea has quietly stormed the American box office. "The King of Kings," written and directed by Jang Seong-ho, pulled in $19 million in its first week after its April 11 release, claiming second place only behind "A Minecraft Movie" and outpacing several major studio releases. The biblical tale maintained an impressive box office footing heading into Easter weekend, dropping only 9 percent in revenu
April 20, 2025 - 15:04:33
Navigating trade risks, FTI exec advises caution, scenario planning
Amid escalating trade uncertainties fueled by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, many South Korean firms are scrambling to reassess their supply chains and investment strategies. Yet one global consulting executive advises companies to refrain from making hasty decisions and instead focus on gathering information and developing contingency plans. “Have as much information as they can have, to the extent that there are plans that they can develop based on scenarios,” Luke Schaeffer, se
April 20, 2025 - 12:01:00
Youn Yuh-jung owns it: 'I’ve been in this job too long'
"Korean feels best," Youn Yuh-jung says with a sense of relief. "English is torture for me." The 78-year-old actress and her co-star Han Gi-chan have just endured a four-hour marathon of back-to-back interviews in English when we connect over Zoom for our conversation about "The Wedding Banquet," director Andrew Ahn's remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic. Han nods in agreement. "Hearing Korean after speaking English all day feels so different," he says. "It has more authenticity somehow." Hitting US
April 17, 2025 - 18:56:32
Interview: Prince in progress, Jeon Min-chul finds his own Albrecht
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul is on the cusp of a major career leap. In June, he will join the Mariinsky Ballet -- only the second Korean to do so after Kim Ki-min. Before that, he takes the final stage this week in Korea in two sold-out performances of "Giselle" with Universal Ballet's principal dancer Hong Hyang-gee, on Friday and Sunday. This is his second full-length ballet after Solor in "La Bayadere" last September. “Giselle was the very first ballet I ever saw, actually,” Jeon said in a separat
April 17, 2025 - 17:59:14
Interview: Rising ballet stars step into tragedy of 'Giselle'
Few works in the classical ballet canon are as enduring or as emotionally charged as “Giselle.” A quintessential romantic masterpiece, the ballet tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, who falls in love with a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht, only to die of heartbreak upon discovering he is betrothed to another. While the first act is filled with youthful first love, celebration and a radiant atmosphere, the second act marks a dramatic shift, unfolding at Giselle’s grave, stee
April 17, 2025 - 17:50:28
Park Eun-bin talks becoming psychopath doctor in 'Hyper Knife'
Park Eun-bin, widely recognized for her infectious smile and innocent roles — most notably as the endearing Woo Young-woo in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and the free-spirited Mok-ha in "Castaway Diva" — has taken on a strikingly dark transformation in her latest project. In a bold departure from her previous roles, the actor plays Se-ok in "Hyper Knife," a psychopathic doctor prone to bouts of rage and a penchant for illegal surgeries. In the medical crime thriller series, Se-ok is a once-celeb
April 17, 2025 - 16:13:36
Interview: Yoo Hae-jin and weight of familiar faces
Yoo Hae-jin sits at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, his face settling into the thoughtful creases familiar to Korean audiences. "I just hope it goes well," he tells a group of reporters of his new film "Yadang: The Snitch." "Though when the weather's this nice, people might skip theaters altogether." This self-effacing wit typifies Yoo, who, at 55, has transcended mere ubiquity to become something of Korean cinema's connective tissue. Since his film debut in 1997, he has amassed a filmography o
April 16, 2025 - 15:24:16
