Most Popular
-
1
Iran’s president found dead at helicopter crash site
-
2
Seoul rolls out W250b package in bid to lure foreign talent
-
3
N. Korea slams US subcritical nuclear test, vows measures to bolster nuclear deterrence
-
4
Korea's increasing US investment mutually beneficial: report
-
5
Yoon vetoes bill for special probe into young Marine's death
-
6
Minister warns against trusting NK stated intentions, says Moon misguided
-
7
South Korea bans viral North Korea propaganda video praising Kim
-
8
AI Seoul Summit to discuss ways to make AI equitable in Global South
-
9
Hermes celebrates craftsmanship
-
10
SNU alums nabbed for digital sex crimes
-
US comic wins Japan international manga award
TOKYO (AFP) - American comic book “I Kill Giants” has won the top prize in the Japanese government-sponsored annual international award for manga, the foreign ministry said.The 2008 book, created by American writer Joe Kelly and Spanish cartoonist J.M. Ken Niimura, was awarded the gold prize out of 145 entries from 30 countries and areas, the ministry announced on Tuesday.It portrays a socially isolated girl battling monsters both real and imagined as she comes of age.The three silver prizes wen
BooksFeb. 16, 2012
-
Angelina Jolie says directing inspired her
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) ― Angelina Jolie said Wednesday working as a director has rekindled her love for the film industry, even if it was something of a personal artistic rebellion.Jolie told the Associated Press in Sarajevo that she was starting to feel “disheartened’’ and uninspired by her acting roles.She knew she wanted to use film as a medium to deal with weighty matters, such as human rights abuses.“We must remember to use this medium in a responsible way when we can,’’ she said
FilmFeb. 16, 2012
-
Chinese epic breaks out as front-runner at Berlin fest
BERLIN (AFP) ― A sweeping Chinese epic set against the bloody upheaval of the early 20th century emerged Wednesday as a front-runner at the Berlin film festival, which is dominated this year by revolutions and their consequences.“White Deer Plain” (Bai lu yuan) by Wang Quan’an had its world premiere at the event and despite its three-hour running time, drew enthusiastic applause at a press preview.Wang captured Berlin’s Golden Bear top prize in 2007 for “Tuya’s Marriage,” an unconventional love
FilmFeb. 16, 2012
-
Philippine swordsmith has Hollywood touch
POZORRUBIO, Philippines (AFP) ― Filomeno de Guzman does not know Sparta from medieval Scotland, but the Philippine swordsmith is an expert at replicating ancient warriors’ tools for killing each other.A stubby ex-military sergeant who has never set foot abroad, de Guzman and 15 rice farmer-neighbors who moonlight as blacksmiths craft old truck leaf springs into things of terrible beauty.The business feeds an overseas market for replica swords of Roman gladiators, Greek infantry and Japanese samu
CultureFeb. 16, 2012
-
UBC’s ‘This is Modern 3’ brings modern ballet closer to audience
The Universal Ballet Company chose modern ballet, not classic, to open its 2012 season. Its show “This is Modern 3” on Feb. 18-19 at the Universal Arts Center in Neung-dong, eastern Seoul, offers four modern dances by established choreographers from around the world. It is the third installment of UBC’s “This is Modern” series. The company has been introducing a variety of noted contemporary ballets since 2001 through the series as well as the “An Evening of Contemporary Ballet” show. The upcom
PerformanceFeb. 16, 2012
-
Korean diva Patti Kim to retire
After more than five decades of enthralling audiences, Korea’s legendary diva Patti Kim said she will retire as a singer and pursue an ordinary live as a mother and grandmother.“I wanted to retire from the stage while I can sing well and look fabulous. I’m still healthy enough to perform on the stage. But I wanted to say farewell to my fans while I can show them my best,” Kim told reporters at a press conference in Seoul. “That’s Patti Kim’s style of saying goodbye.”Kim, who ruled the country’s
PeopleFeb. 15, 2012
-
Sotheby’s finds hidden Basquiat signature
LONDON (AP) ― Thirty years ago, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat secretly signed one of his paintings in invisible ink, says Sotheby’s auction house, which discovered the hidden autograph as it was preparing the painting for sale.Sotheby’s experts uncovered the secret this month as they were examining “Orange Sports Figure,’’ which goes on sale Wednesday. The vibrant image of an abstract crowned figure is estimated to be worth between 3 million pounds and 4 million pounds ($4.7 million and $6.3 milli
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Aztec relics uncovered in Mexico City temple
MEXICO CITY (AFP) ― Mexican archeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of 23 stone plaques with carved images inside the main temple of what was once the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, in downtown Mexico City.The carved images of serpents and warriors tell stories that include the birth of the Aztec warrior god Huitzilopochtli, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said.The tiles were likely carved when the main temple was built between 1440 and 1469, said archeologist
CultureFeb. 15, 2012
-
Arirang TV to hold Peace Concert
Arirang TV, the state-run English-language broadcaster, will hold “Peace Concert” featuring Korean traditional music, or “gugak,” on March 26-27 to commemorate the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.The concerts will be held at the main theater of the National Gugak Center near the Seoul Arts Center in Yangjae-dong, southern Seoul. The concerts will offer interesting performances of various forms of gugak, ranging from traditional to fusion, featuring traditional musician Kim Yong-woo, pansori s
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Nobel literature laureates to gather in Gyeongju
Some 300 authors from 114 countries will be visiting Korea in September, including Nobel literary prize winners Orhan Pamuk, Wole Soyinka, and Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, to attend the 78th International PEN Congress in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.A London-based international association of writers, International PEN has been hosting the congress, which consists of networking and literary events and lectures, in cities around the world. The event has been held in Korea twice before in
CultureFeb. 15, 2012
-
Bacon masterpiece nets 21m pounds at London auction
LONDON (AFP) ― A provocative masterpiece by Irish painter Francis Bacon on Tuesday fetched 21.3 million pounds at a London auction while a Gerhard Richter abstract netted almost 10 million pounds.Bacon’s 1963 work “Portrait of Henrietta Moraes,” which features a naked model sprawled on a bed, was snapped up by an unnamed telephone bidder at Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art auction.The Bacon auction record is $86.3 million for his 1976 “Triptych” which was achieved at Sotheby’s New York i
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Kyobo cuts prices of English travel books
Korea Tourism Organization and Kyobo Bookstore on Wednesday jointly kicked off a promotional event on English-language tourism books on Korea.The books are available at a discounted price at the bookstore’s online store (www.kyobobook.co.kr). Gifts are offered at the offline bookstore in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, with each purchase of the books. KTO also announced that it will introduce the books at its English-language website (www.visitkorea.or.kr) and give information on where they can be p
TravelFeb. 15, 2012
-
Realistic yet implausible
SNU Museum of Art exhibition showcases 80 years of Dutch ‘Magical Realism’Despite being named the nation’s favorite artist in recent surveys, few Koreans realize Vincent van Gogh was Dutch.“Not many know about Dutch artists after van Gogh, either. Koreans tend to be interested only in artists from the U.S. or a few European countries like France or England. It is an unbalanced diet,” said Oh Jinyee, senior curator at Seoul National Museum’s Museum of Art. To broaden the public’s perspective, MoA
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Beach Boys, Radiohead, Chili Peppers play Bonnaroo
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) ― The reunited Beach Boys will celebrate sunshine and summer at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival with Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish and Bon Iver.The always eclectic four-day festival also will include Skrillex, Foster the People, The Avett Brothers, The Shins, The Roots and Alice Cooper on the 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. Bonnaroo will be held June 7-10.The lineup has something of a ripped-from-the-headlines feel. Several acts had notable n
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Fukushima weighs heavy at Berlin film showcase
BERLIN (AFP) ― The Fukushima nuclear disaster has come under the spotlight at Berlin’s film festival with three films exploring its impact on Japanese society less than a year on.The 11-day festival, which prides itself on its generally edgier and more politically-overt line-up over other film showcases, was perhaps a fitting backdrop for the documentaries.“I’m more than happy to be here because the Berlinale has got a long history of showing all those political, socially conscious films,” Atsus
FilmFeb. 15, 2012
-
Ok Ju-hyun’s ‘Elisabeth’ captivates Seoul
Austrian musical brings touching portrayal of legendary empressThere was a standing ovation, cheers and prolonged applause. Austrian musical “Elisabeth,” which kicked off its first show on Feb. 9, managed to captivate the local audience during its first week, in spite of a number of flaws.The musical, which portrays the life and death of the real-life iconic Austrian empress Elisabeth von Wittelsbach (1837-1898), is being staged in Korea for the first time. Former girl group FIN.K.L member-turne
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
‘Panks’ happy to remain aunties only, sans kids of their own
For Jennifer Emmert, it’s the best of both worlds. Emmert loves kids and spends tons of time with her six nieces and nephews, from outdoor activities to sleepovers at her place. The 30-year-old is engaged to be married, but she’s perfectly happy living up to the name of one of her favorite books: “Childless and Loving It.”“I’m completely content with adoring and smothering my nieces and nephews and keeping my life the way it is,” said the Minneapolis resident. “I absolutely love and adore them,
CultureFeb. 15, 2012
-
Ancient art expert to head Getty Museum
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― An expert in ancient art who has overseen museums in England, the U.S. and his native Australia was named Tuesday to head the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.Getty officials said Timothy Potts, director of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England, will take over Sept. 1. Potts takes over two huge, architecturally impressive museum campuses, one at The Getty Center in the hills overlooking Los Angeles and the other at the Getty Villa, in the hills above Malibu.The Getty
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Stolen Dutch artworks found in U.K.
LONDON (AFP) ― Hundreds of works by celebrated Dutch expressionist artist Karel Appel have been discovered in a British warehouse ten years after they went missing, the Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday.Appel never recovered from the loss of his lifetime’s work of drawings, sketches and notebooks, which disappeared in Amsterdam in 2002, and died aged 85 in 2006.The 400 pieces were found by a British storage company when it cleared out the contents of a warehouse that it had bought before Chris
PerformanceFeb. 15, 2012
-
Former Seoul mayor named as city think tank chairman
Former Seoul Mayor Lee Won-jong, 70, has been appointed chairman of Seoul Development Institute, an urban policy research institute in the capital. The city-funded think tank is expected to undergo major reform of its organizational structure and research programs under the new chairman from next month, according to city officials. Lee, a long-time local government chief, served three terms as governor of North Chungcheong Province, first in 1992 and then from 1998-2006. He was also Seoul Mayor
PeopleFeb. 15, 2012