The Korea Herald

Ulsan to host ‘Look But Don’t Touch’ art tour

The Royal Anchor Pub in Ulsan’s Culture Street will open Saturday for an evening of food, music and art.It will host the second leg of “Look But Don’t Touch,” a nationwide art tour showcasing the work of artists from across Korea. Art will be on display at other venues around Culture Street: Da:Lak, Formosa, Sum, The Coffee House and Page 104. Participating artists include Lawrence Blackman, Sybille Cavasin, Wynsum Foreman and Jeongmin Lee.At the Royal Anchor, a pop-up food and art market will b

March 2, 2016

Mental health more important than ‘saving face’

With a high level of stigma, low public awareness and poor provisions of treatment, mental health is a tricky area for Koreans and foreign residents alike, but visa and language barriers, as well as cultural issues, can make it a particularly difficult area for expats. Lack of balance between work and other activities, alcoholism and the negative stigma attached to psychiatric medication are making mental health issues worse, according to counselor Yvon Malenfant. 123rfOverseas studies also conf

Feb. 24, 2016

Mental health more important than ‘saving face’

Filmmaker examines factory life of ’70s and ’80s

What’s in a word? Quite a lot for Nils Clauss, a video artist and documentary filmmaker who has used terms coined during Korea’s industrial rise to study the turbulent period in his latest work, “Bikini Words.”　The film shows people who worked in factories during the period, who playfully yet plaintively illustrate the terms while giving explanations of their meaning and recollections of that time via voice-over.　A still from “Bikini Words” by Nils ClaussClauss made the video for the Geumcheon D

Feb. 24, 2016

Filmmaker examines factory life of ’70s and ’80s

SIWA honors charity bazaar contributors

The Seoul International Women’s Association honored key participants in its 2015 charity bazaar at a morning coffee social at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday.The bazaar was held in partnership with local firms, members of the diplomatic community and other groups. Last year, it raised 81 million ($65,700) won for SIWA’s welfare fund, which helps charities in Korea.The association awarded the Israeli Embassy first prize for its participation, followed by the Japanese Embassy and the embass

Feb. 24, 2016

Seoul Players takes entries for 10-Minute Play Fest

Expat theater group Seoul Players has opened submissions for its annual 10-Minute Play Festival.The festival is a competition for plays by Korean- and foreign-based writers fitting the time limit, run in two rounds each autumn. There are cash prizes of 100,000 won ($81), 60,000 won and 40,000 won for the top three plays.Play submissions will be accepted until June 30, with the selected plays announced in August.Submissions are free until Monday and 5,000 won or $5 thereafter.For more information

Feb. 24, 2016

Seoul seeks ‘quality of life’ volunteers

Seoul Metropolitan Government is recruiting foreign volunteers to help make suggestions to improve life as an expat in the city. The “Quality of Life Monitors” will be asked to identify problems in everyday life and make suggestions on how to improve things. Areas of interest include multicultural family affairs, legal and government policy. Last year 70 people from 29 countries took part in the project.Applications close on March 7. They require a photo ID and a completed application form, whic

Feb. 24, 2016

Seoul Shakespeare to host free screening

Seoul Shakespeare Company will be screening a video of last year’s main performance, “Titus Andronicus,” on March 5. It will be the first time the video is shown, even to many of the cast. The screening is free but donations are welcome for the company’s upcoming production “Much Ado About Nothing” this spring. Drinks and light refreshments will also be on sale.Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the screening begins at 6 p.m. with a 15-minute intermission. It will take place at the Camarata Music Compa

Feb. 24, 2016

Expats take Black History Month celebrations to Seoul

Black History Month celebrations will take place in Seoul next week, with further recognition coming in May. The American Center Korea will be hosting their Mission Speaker Program on Feb. 25 in honor of Black History Month, pinned each year to February, to encourage understanding and awareness of an important component of American history. Robert Ogburn, head of public affairs for the American Embassy, has said their program will reach out to those in the Korean community hoping to find out mor

Feb. 18, 2016

TNKR helps open doors for N.K. refugees

A passion for freedom, innovation and a group of enthusiastic volunteers is all it takes to make a difference for North Korean refugees, according to Casey Lartigue and Lee Eun-koo, cofounders and codirectors of Teach North Korean Refugees.The nongovernmental organization will hold the third TNKR English Speech Contest on Feb. 27, another milestone in the organization’s three-year journey. “I’ve always been someone interested in freedom, and when you create opportunities, how do you do it so tha

Feb. 17, 2016

Seoul government to assist foreign community cultural events

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced it will continue to support its foreign community members by offering financial assistance for related activities.Subsidies will be offered for cultural events hosted by embassies and expat communities in 2016 for the eighth consecutive year, it said. Subsidies can cover up to 80 percent of total expenses for events, up to a maximum of 6 million won ($4,900). The government has reached out to a number of foreign communities through the support prog

Feb. 3, 2016

Royal Asiatic Society offers excursion to Cheorwon

The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch is hosting an excursion to Cheorwon, a county in Gangwon Province, on Feb. 14. The excursion, hosted by Robert Koehler, will offer an opportunity to explore the “new” Cheorwon, a city that was reconstructed kilometers away from the original, following its destruction during the Korean War. Commencing at 9 a.m. from Yongsan Post Office, the excursion will also take participants along the Civilian Control Zone -- a limited-access area just south of the DMZ --

Feb. 3, 2016

Busan begins preparations for Global Gathering festival

The organizers of Busan’s Global Gathering festival are looking for exhibitors and performers to take part in the city’s largest annual multicultural event on May 21. Busan Metropolitan City Government, Busan Foundation for International Cooperation and Busan Immigration Office are recruiting local and foreign participants interested in exhibiting food or arts and crafts, as well as those interested in performing at the festival. Global Gathering 2016, the eleventh festival to date, will be held

Feb. 3, 2016

Embroidery artist brings nature’s patterns to vivid life

An electric blue bird, a pair of purple- and green-faced owls and a multicolored pigeon, the work of embroidery artist Leela Bear is certainly vivid.But look beyond the brilliant colors and you will find an intricate study of patterns. Made in circles -- a rejection of the “mass-produced” feel of standard rectangular frames -- her work looks at the Mandelbrot patterns found in natural subjects.Birds commonly appear in the work of Bear, who exhibited at galleries and the Absa KKNK art festival in

Feb. 3, 2016

Embroidery artist brings nature’s patterns to vivid life

Daegu V-Day event to help KUMFA

V-Day is returning to Daegu.Daegu Theatre Troupe will be staging Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues” on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 to raise money for the Korea Unwed Mothers and Families Association.V-Day is an event held each year to campaign to end violence against women and raise funds in aid of women’s causes, featuring Ensler’s play and other approved fund-raising performances. It has been marked by expats in several cities, but Daegu hasn’t had one in recent years. DTT’s new artistic director Caitli

Feb. 3, 2016

Free English walking tour offered in Seoul

Student volunteer group Seoul Free Walking Tour will run guided walks around the city’s historic center of Jeong-dong and Bukchon, an area east of Gyeongbokgung Palace that is famous for its traditional houses.The Jeong-dong tour starts at Gyeongbokgung Station and visits sites around Deoksugung Palace, many of which are related to early Western involvement in the country in the late Joseon era.The Bukchon tour starts at Anguk Station, moves to the Bukchon Cultural Center and then to Gyedonggil

Jan. 20, 2016

U.S. military portrayals of Korea examined

The Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch will host a talk by veteran expat Jacco Zwetsloot on the portrayal of Korea in U.S. military media under the U.S. Army Military Government of Korea from 1945-48. He will focus on Korea Graphic, the weekly newspaper printed by the Troop Information and Education section of the 24th Corps for troops stationed in the U.S. zone of occupation. As U.S. troops were discouraged from getting too close to the country, Korea Graphic was a key source of information fo

Jan. 20, 2016

Seoul seeks student volunteers

Seoul Metropolitan Government is seeking student volunteers to help out with the city’s community projects.The volunteers will participate in group volunteer events, give online classes on foreign languages and culture to children living in island areas, and help with translation, cleaning and other services at Gwanghwamun Plaza Flea Market. Those who teach children from island areas at least twice a week over 10 months will be eligible for a scholarship of up to 2.5 million won from KT.Voluntee

Jan. 20, 2016

Foreign craft fairs to open in Seoul, Busan

Two foreign cultural markets will open in Seoul and Busan this month with a selection of handicrafts from vendors based across the country.Celebrating its first anniversary, the monthly Busan Foreign Culture Market will open Saturday at Owl and Pussycat, Hq, Beached Bar & Sharkys Bar in the city’s Gwangan area, with a magical theme.The market will feature handmade accessories, stationery, soaps and scents, many of which will have touches from “Harry Potter.” Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary will al

Jan. 20, 2016

Taxing times for expat earners

Along with a new year, January heralds a new nuisance – end-of-year tax settlements.　The Korean tax year is the same as the calendar year, and for most employees, tax is deducted from monthly pay based on estimates, and the end-of-year settlement is used to make corrections to that estimate.　However, some deductions are not available to foreign taxpayers, and what counts and does not is not always obvious to expats. (123RF)　Exemptions are available for recorded cash and card spending, dependents

Jan. 20, 2016

ROK Ultimate set to kick off spring season

Whether you’re a dedicated disc chaser or just want to try a new sport, the Republic of Korea Ultimate is seeking your involvement as it recruits players for its spring season.The season includes 15 regular matches of Ultimate, the team sport played with a flying disc, followed by a playoff round scheduled for June. Dante Greeff of the HongSeong Ajumafia makes a catch as his team celebrates against Gyeongnam Feel in ROK-U’s fall season last year. (Ron Genech)ROK-U organizers Tom Capranica and Ge

Jan. 13, 2016

ROK Ultimate set to kick off spring season