Most Popular
-
1
Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
-
2
Korea enters full election mode
-
3
Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
-
4
Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
-
5
Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
-
6
Dialogue hopes fade as doctors pick hard-liner as new head
-
7
Coupang pledges W3tr to expand Rocket Delivery nationwide by 2027
-
8
[Election Battlefield] Political novice to face off star politician in ‘swing district’
-
9
Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
-
10
[Herald Interview] Son Suk-ku chooses to be swayed by others in navigating life
-
Figurine-maker hopes for a miniatures resurgence
LOS ANGELES ― Susan Renaker Nikas still remembers the duck that saved her parents’ ceramics business nearly 70 years ago.The tiny bird was white and seemed to be gliding on a lake, designed on a whim by her mother. As an afterthought, her father added it to an order sheet for the dishware that the couple had been selling, somewhat steadily, despite a few nagging production problems.The duck, however, changed everything. Customers snapped it up.“From that point on, they decided to make animal fig
May 21, 2014
-
Once ignored, iron Buddha gets new status
The National Museum of Korea’s revamped Unified Silla section, which opens to the public Tuesday, displays an undisputed new star: a larger-than-life Buddha statue made of cast iron. Placed in a spacious room right in the middle of the hall, the statue overwhelms visitors with its mystic beauty and half-smile. The exquisiteness of this artifact, which dates back to the late eighth or early ninth century, however, went unnoticed until recently. Iron seated Buddha (National Museum of Korea)“This
May 20, 2014
-
Gyeongju museum chief puts tomb relics in the limelight
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province ― Yi Young-hoon, director of Gyeongju National Museum, is one of the few who breathe fresh air into the otherwise dull local museum scene. Through a series of exhibits on royal tombs of the ancient kingdom of Silla, he brought to the spotlight a slew of long-forgotten relics from the backroom of the museum. “Rediscovery of relics from our own storage rooms is what I emphasize to most to my staff here,” Yi said at his office in the museum last week. “The concep
May 19, 2014
-
Museum’s unsung heroes
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province ― Looking through a microscope, a researcher in a blue gown is poised to tackle a thumb-size, heavily corroded metal object with what appears to be a medical scalpel. After a deep breath, he starts scraping off the rust in a slow and controlled movement. Welcome to the conservation lab of Gyeongju National Museum, where ancient treasures are reborn with the help of the latest technology. “Patience is the greatest virtue around here,” says Shin Yong-bi, one of
May 19, 2014
-
Calendar
Pop musicSeoul Jazz Festival 2014: Every year the annual two-day Seoul Jazz Festival features a wide variety of musical acts, from legendary jazz musicians to popular contemporary figures. This year’s headline artists include Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, jazz-pop musician Jamie Cullum, jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, the Jack DeJohnette Trio and R&B soloist Eric Benet as well as local bands Jang Kiha and the Faces and Urban Zakapa. The 2014 Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Seoul Olympic
May 16, 2014
-
[Eye on English]Disputes show importance of translation
Recently, a debate rose in the literary world over the Korean translation of the novel “The Stranger” by French writer Albert Camus. What triggered the debate was the claim by the publishing company Saeum that the original Korean translation had many translation errors. The publisher even argued that “‘The Stranger’ we’ve read so far is not Camus’ original.” The claim instantly drew the attention of readers, with 4,700 copies of the new version sold in just two weeks, according to Saeum. The boo
May 14, 2014
-
Art at German envoy’s residence augurs hope for inter-Korean ties
German Ambassador Rolf Mafael poses for a photo during an interview with The Korea Herald at his home in Seongbuk-dong in Seoul. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)This is the first in a series of articles in which foreign envoys to Korea show the art of their countries displayed in their homes. ― Ed.The hilltop garden at the residence of the German ambassador on Mount Bugaksan commands a panoramic view of the elegant homes peppering the landscape of the exclusive Seongbuk-dong neighborhood below.
May 14, 2014
-
Art Basel puts spotlight on Hong Kong
HONG KONG (AFP) ― Hong Kong’s tallest building will transform into a glowing art installation this week, a beacon showing off the city’s ambition to be recognized as a major cultural hub with its second Art Basel fair. With its knack for bringing in a global mix of wealthy buyers, artists, gallerists, VIPs and celebrities, the five-day show is the catalyst to a champagne-soaked itinerary of art fairs, exhibitions and happenings. German artist Carsten Nicolai was commissioned by Art Basel to turn
May 12, 2014
-
Nintendo apologizes for lack of virtual equality
Nintendo is apologizing and pledging to be more inclusive after being criticized for not recognizing same-sex relationships in English editions of a life-simulator video game. The publisher said that while it was too late to change the current game, it was committed to building virtual equality into future versions if they’re produced. Nintendo came under fire from fans and gay rights organizations this past week after refusing to add same-sex relationship options to the game “Tomodachi Life.” “
May 11, 2014
-
Calendar
Pop musicSeoul Jazz Festival 2014: Every year the annual two-day Seoul Jazz Festival features a wide variety of musical acts, from legendary jazz musicians to popular contemporary figures. This year’s headline artists include Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, jazz-pop musician Jamie Cullum, jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, the Jack DeJohnette Trio and R&B soloist Eric Benet as well as local bands Jang Kiha and the Faces and Urban Zakapa. The 2014 Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at Seoul Olympic
May 9, 2014
-
Changdeokgung Palace unveiled beneath a full moon
One has not witnessed the true beauty of Changdeokgung Palace until seeing it unveiled under a full moon, the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation claims. And it is beautiful with the full moon rising above Buyongji Pond and brushing through the royal court of Nakseonjae and the Secret Garden. Prior to the foundation’s launch of the “2014 Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace,” all visitors had to exit this UNESCO world heritage site by 6 p.m. without exception. But thanks to the monthly special
May 9, 2014
-
Russia cracks down on swearing in arts, media
MOSCOW (AFP) ― Russia’s media watchdog vowed to crack down on swearing on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin signed a wide-reaching law banning the use of obscenities in films, theater and mass media.Putin on Monday signed legislation that bans outright the use of swear words in films, stage performances and media, prompting a storm of criticism from leading arts figures who called the law unworkable and overly draconian.The language law comes as part of a broader crackdown on independent me
May 7, 2014
-
[Weekender] A singular vision realized
JEJU, Jeju Province ― More than an hour’s drive from Seogwipo in the southwestern part of Jejudo Island, numerous gigantic stone piles that resemble abstract human figures rise out of nowhere. “That is Jeju Stone Park,” says the bus driver. The 500 stone piles, each topped with a large rock for the head, represent the 500 Generals of a popular Jeju myth, and are part of the sprawling, 327-hectare Jeju Stone Park.One is awestruck by the scale of the park ― which currently includes a garden based
May 2, 2014
-
Calendar
Pop Music“Hyundai Culture Project 14 John Mayer”: The multiple Grammy Award-winning American singer John Mayer will be putting on his first concert in Korea since his musical debut more than 10 years ago. Mayer made his official debut in 2001 with his first album “Room for Squares” that featured a number of hit singles including “No Such Thing,” “Why Georgia” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” which snagged Mayer his first Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2003. The upcoming conc
May 2, 2014
-
[Uniquely Korean] Cash the ultimate gift for Koreans
Thirty-year-old web designer Kim Jung-wan recently gave 300,000 won ($290) to her close friend for her wedding.“I would normally give about 50,000 won at most weddings, but she is a dear childhood friend of mine, which is why I decided to shell out some more,” said Kim.Giving gifts for special occasions is a universal practice. In Korea, giving money is not considered any more unusual than buying someone household items or a nice bottle of wine. It is perceived that the fatter the envelope is, t
April 30, 2014
-
Superhero window washers give young hospital patients a lift
CHICAGO ― The nurses on the 20th floor were the first to see them. “Oh my goodness,” declared Colleen Forrester, 29, a nurse dressed in green scrubs, who pointed to the windows. Other nurses came to look and laughed. Were the children strong enough to come see?Soon, parents and nurses were leading kids out of their rooms. The children were small and frail-looking. Most were undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious disorders.But on this cold April morning, they had a precious moment of d
April 30, 2014
-
Fortress likely to get UNESCO listing
A mountain fortress southeast of Seoul is highly likely to make it onto UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, the government said Tuesday. An experts’ panel under the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that deliberates on new additions to the list has recommended Namhansanseong Fortress for inscription in its recent report, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. A final decision is due in June when the committee meets in Qatar, but it seldom overturns recommendations from the Internati
April 29, 2014
-
[Herald Review] KNO’s ‘La Traviata’ brilliantly produced, vividly sung
The Korea National Opera’s latest performance of “La Traviata” on Sunday has raised the local standards of Giuseppe Verdi’s most beloved opera by every measure, with impressive singing and acting by the lead characters, sumptuous sets and sublime music. Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury was convincing as Violetta Valery, the sick Parisian courtesan who finds her true love, Alfredo, just as her life draws to a close. Although her coloratura in the first act wasn’t so impressive, she gave a vivid a
April 28, 2014
-
Diggers find Atari’s E.T. games in landfill
ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico (AP) ― A decades-old urban legend was put to rest Saturday when workers for a documentary film production company recovered “E.T.” Atari game cartridges from a heap of garbage buried deep in the New Mexico desert.The “Atari grave” was, until that moment, a highly debated tale among gaming enthusiasts and other self-described geeks for 30 years. The story claimed that in its death throes, the video game company sent about a dozen truckloads of cartridges of what many call t
April 27, 2014
-
Calendar
Classical musicJordi Savall and Hesperion XXI: Early-music heavyweight Jordi Savall will bring his Hesperion XXI ensemble to Korea for a concert titled “Orient & Occident.” He will play music composed in the Mediterranean area from the 13th to 18th centuries as part of his efforts to bridge the gap between the Islamic Arab region and Christian Europe through music. The Hesperion XXI, an ensemble Savall put together, will feature three players of traditional Arab instruments. Savall himself will
April 25, 2014