Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Spin-off groups look to make splash in 2013
The announcement of Sistar19’s comeback in January has sparked news of other spin-off groups who wish to make a name for themselves this year. Girl group 4minute and the new boys of Infinite have both confirmed that they will be launching sub-groups of their own.Early last year, one of the leading girl groups in the K-pop world, Girls’ Generation, found success with their own spin-off group, Girls’ Generation-TTS, also known as TaeTiSeo, with members Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun. Now, with the a
PerformanceJan. 2, 2013
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Bond film ‘Skyfall’ sets record in Britain
LONDON (AFP) ― The latest James Bond film “Skyfall” has become the first movie ever to take 100 million pounds at the British box office, it was announced Monday.The 23rd official Bond film surpassed the landmark, equivalent of $162 million (123 million euros), after becoming the highest grossing film ever in Britain earlier this month when it overtook the 94 million pounds generated by “Avatar.”“Skyfall” achieved the figure in just 40 days, while “Avatar” (2009) took 11 months to amass its tota
FilmJan. 2, 2013
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Concern over Oscar voting extends nomination deadline
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Growing concern that problems with the new electronic Oscar voting system could lead to record-low turnout has prompted the motion picture academy to extend the deadline for members to vote for Oscar nominations.But with next week’s highly anticipated announcements looming, the extension is only for a day, until Friday. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday any votes received after the new deadline will not be counted.“By extending the voting deadline we
FilmJan. 2, 2013
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Actress-boxer Lee Si-young named envoy for Incheon Asian Games
The 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee said Wednesday that it appointed actress Lee Si-young a goodwill ambassador.Officials of the committee said they chose her as a publicity envoy because of her image not only as a well-known actress but also a female amateur boxer.“I will do my best as a goodwill ambassador to promote Incheon and the Asian Games,” she said in an appointment ceremony. “If I am given a chance while I stay as an active boxer, I would like to make the national team an
PeopleJan. 2, 2013
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Playboy founder Hefner marries for third time at 86
LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner has tied the knot for the third time, marrying a former Playmate 60 years his junior in an intimate New Year’s Eve ceremony at the Playboy Mansion.Hefner, 86, and Crystal Harris, 26, announced the nuptials on their Twitter feeds ― @hughhefner and @crystalhefner ― and posted pictures of the wedding.“Happy New Year from Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hefner!” Hefner said in a message accompanied by a picture of the octogenarian sporting purple pajamas an
PeopleJan. 2, 2013
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Shy U.S. heiress left millions to library, parks: report
NEW YORK (AFP) ― A shy New York woman whom no one took to be wealthy left a shockingly happy surprise when she died: $20 million in donations to the city’s libraries and main park.Mary McConnell Bailey lived modestly and volunteered at a hospital and schools, before dying at 88 last year, the New York Post newspaper reported Tuesday.Now, the Post says, it emerges that the New York Public Library and Central Park Conservancy recently received checks from her estate worth $10 million a piece.“You
PeopleJan. 2, 2013
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Girls’ Generation new album: fresh or too complicated?
Girls’ Generation released their fourth album “I Got a Boy” on Jan. 1, but some fans who had eagerly awaited the girl group’s return were disappointed with the title track “I Got a Boy” and its music video. A number of Twitter users sent out a flurry of tweets that the new album does not strongly appeal to listeners. They said that “I Got a Boy” seems to be partly inspired by other girl group songs with similar chord progression and dance moves. Some online users even said the new album lacked t
PerformanceJan. 2, 2013
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Stephen Hawking conjures black hole in ad
Famed physicist Stephen Hawking appears on a commercial for a British website, conjuring a black hole to swallow the website‘s intentionally annoying mascot.Hawking, 70, said he is a fan of insurance website Go Compare’s humorous advertisements and was glad to be able to film a commercial where he conjures a black hole to swallow fictitious opera singer Gio Compario, The Guardian reported Tuesday.“I confess I am a fan of the Go Compare adverts,” Hawking said. “I am also an opera fan so I was del
PeopleJan. 2, 2013
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LA photographer killed while shooting Bieber‘s car
Police say a paparazzo was hit by a car and killed after taking photos of Justin Bieber’s white Ferrari on a Los Angeles street.Los Angeles police Officer James Stoughton says the photographer, who was not identified, died at a hospital shortly after the crash Tuesday evening. Stoughton says Bieber was not in the Ferrari at the time.The sports car was parked on the side of Sepulveda Boulevard near Getty Center Drive after a traffic stop. The photographer was struck as he walked across the boulev
PerformanceJan. 2, 2013
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Oscar-winning sound editor Michael Hopkins killed in rafting accident
Oscar-winning sound editor Michael Hopkins, a frequent collaborator of filmmaker Peter Jackson, was killed in a rafting accident in New Zealand, police said.Hopkins, 53, drowned Sunday in the Waiohine River on New Zealand‘s North Island, the BBC reported. Two people with him survived after all three were ejected from the raft in a fast-flowing eddy, the report said. Hopkins won Academy Awards for his work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” in 2003 and “King Kong” in 2006. Both were big-s
FilmJan. 2, 2013
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Rain blasted for ‘too much’ vacation in the military
Korean pop star Rain, who is serving his mandatory military service, has come under fire for getting “too much vacation.”Criticism flooded the Internet as the 31-year-old singer’s romantic relationship with top actress Kim Tae-hee was revealed by local online media outlet Dispatch on Tuesday. Kim’s agency confirmed their relationship later in the day.According to Dispatch, Rain and Kim went on dates every Sunday in December. The website claimed that Rain went on a four-day vacation starting Dec.
PeopleJan. 2, 2013
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“Gangnam Style” video stars perform in Times Square
“Gangnam Style” video stars perform in Times SquareKorean singer Psy performed “Gangnam Style” with actors Yoo Jae-suk and Noh Hong-chul, who were featured in the video, at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on Dec. 31 in New York Times Square. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve” is one of America’s biggest shows with millions of people gathering at New York Times Square on the last day of every year to see spectacular performances. And Psy invited Yoo and Noh to perform with him at the even
PerformanceJan. 2, 2013
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Egypt prosecutors investigate popular TV comedian
Egyptian prosecutors launched an investigation on Tuesday against a popular television satirist for allegedly insulting the president in the latest case raised by Islamist lawyers against outspoken media personalities.Lawyer Ramadan Abdel-Hamid al-Oqsori charged that TV host Bassem Youssef insulted President Mohammed Morsi by putting the Islamist leader's image on a pillow and parodying his speeches.The case against Youssef comes as opposition media and independent journalists are growing increa
TelevisionJan. 2, 2013
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Paris' oldest bakery folds after 202 years
The oldest bakery in Paris will close after 202 years in business because of rising rent and real estate prices, its current owner says.Claude Esnault, 66, has operated the Au Richelieu Boulangerie bakery, in the rue de Richelieu in central Paris, since 1969 and hoped to sell the store to a younger baker, but after landlords doubled his rent, it is au revoir to the business that sells about 200 baguettes per day, Radio France Internationale reported Friday.The rent on the facility is about to r
CultureJan. 2, 2013
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Gwangju International Center adds TOPIK Korean class
Gwangju International Center is running its first Korean course of the year starting Saturday, with the new addition of intensive afternoon TOPIK classes for levels 1-2 and 3-4.Classes are mostly on weekdays but also include a Saturday course, hallyu-based classes and a kids’ class. There are also classes available on weekends and evenings.The cost of tuition varies. The morning courses are 200,000 won for an intensive course of four days a week for two hours each or 100,000 won for two days a w
Expat LivingJan. 1, 2013
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Busan center offers free Korean classes
Busan Foundation for International Activities is offering free Korean classes to local foreign residents.The classes are available for different levels in the morning, afternoon or evening, with schedules varying for each class. Among those on offer are beginners classes for most schedules and a conversation class on Saturdays.The courses run from Jan. 28 to March 30 at the Busan Global Center. Tuition is free but students must supply their own materials and pay for textbooks.Registration is ope
Expat LivingJan. 1, 2013
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CMC auditions for chamber choir
The Camarata Music Company is auditioning for its Chamber Singers, a semi-professional choir with 27 singers. Auditions will be held through Jan. 10, and spots in every section are available. The 2013 season will begin in the middle of January. The CMC Chamber Singers perform regularly throughout the year. Recent performances have been at the Seoul Arts Center, and at a concert for President Lee Myung-bak and ambassadors at the presidential residence.Auditions are by appointment. Hopefuls should
Expat LivingJan. 1, 2013
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Group volunteers for disabled shelter in Seoul
A group of volunteers will meet to help residents at a home for disabled people in Yeonsinnae, in northwestern Seoul on Saturday.The Angel House volunteers usually visit on one or two Saturdays a month to clean the facilities, do laundry, cook food, help with basic personal hygiene and have fun with the residents.To get involved or find out more contact kikihero@gmail.com. First time volunteers should send their name and phone number or email address. The group must report to the Angel House how
Expat LivingJan. 1, 2013
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Expat director films documentary of German orchestra’s N.K. visit
Seoul-based filmmaker Nils Clauss has made a documentary on an unusual cultural exchange between North Korea and Germany.“Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North” shows what happened when the Goethe-Institut Korea arranged for the Munich Chamber Orchestra to travel to North Korea and work with North Korean musicians. Clauss was invited by the Goethe-Institut to document the visit, but it was not initially clear whether they would be allowed to film. So he went initially as a photographer, packing a D
Expat LivingJan. 1, 2013
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Foreign visitors to Korea top 11.1m in 2012
The number of foreign nationals visiting Korea last year is estimated at over 11.1 million, generating $14.1 billion in tourism revenue, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday. The figure is a 13.4 percent rise from 2011 and the ministry expects it to increase in 2013. According to the ministry, the number of tourists rose sharply in early 2012 but stalled in September and October when the political dispute between China and Japan over territory deepened and the travel industry
CultureJan. 1, 2013