Most Popular
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Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment vote looms large
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In Yoon's martial law speech, a window into his troubling worldview
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Ruling party leader stands firm on suspending Yoon from his position
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How Yoon’s fate could unfold under 4 scenarios
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Yoon needs to be stopped from exercising power as president: ruling party head
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South Korean military says will not obey another martial law
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[Latest Updates] Martial law fallout
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Why did martial law troops go to National Election Commission?
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Rights group claims proof of 2nd martial law declaration
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Protests sweep South Korea as calls for Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation intensify
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‘Gate of hell’ found: Italian scholars
An ancient site that was depicted in Greek and Roman mythology as the “Gates of Hell” has been found, an Italian archeologist claimed. Francesco D’Andria, a professor of classic archaeology at the University of Salento, said recently that his team successfully identified a site in the city of Pamukkale, West Turkey, as the Plutonium, or sanctuary of Pluto. Pluto is the Roman god of death.D’Andria claimed the site matched many characteristics of the ancient Greek and Roman description of the lege
April 3, 2013
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Buddha’s sarira removed from Bulguksa pagoda
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province ― What are believed to be the sarira of Sakyamuni enclosed in urns kept inside the Three-Storied Stone Pagoda at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, were removed on Tuesday in preparation for repairs to the nearly 1,300-year-old structure.This is the first time the bead-like objects said to have been found among the cremated ashes of Buddha were removed from the stone pagoda and shown to the public since 1966.Byun Young-sup, the newly appoi
April 2, 2013
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Welcome to the holy grail of toilets
The following is part of a series exploring unique museums, collections and the passionate collectors behind them. ― Ed.The late Sim Jae-duck, then the mayor of Suwon, was elated when his city was chosen to host some of the 2002 World Cup games. However, when he was asked what he intended to do about updating the public restrooms in the city, the mayor was reportedly jolted into action to improve the quality and hygiene of the city’s public restrooms. His dedication to the clean-up efforts of Su
April 2, 2013
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A glimpse into life of Koreans centuries ago
From a wife’s affair, poverty and hunger to embezzlement by a government official, it seems that everyday life today is not so different compared with the Joseon period.Ancient documents that offer a glimpse into people’s lives during the Joseon era are on display at Chonbuk National University Museum.Since reopening in 2011, the museum has selected “interesting” old papers to exhibit, the museum’s curator Lee Jong-cheol said. Various documents from the Joseon period, including divorce papers an
April 2, 2013
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Joseon palaces open for private functions
The Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday that it was leasing three halls of Joseon-period palaces in Seoul for private gatherings through Oct. 31.The three venues are Hamhwadang and Jipgyeongdang, where the king received foreign envoys, in Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gajeongdang, a building the king and his queen used for rest and leisure.“The openings will widen the public’s access to the palaces, our cultural heritage. Since Hamhwadang and Jipgyeongdang and Gajeongdang were used for vario
April 1, 2013
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Young wannabe stars follow dancing dreams
A group of youthful dancers took the stage on March 16 at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, moving and grooving to popular K-pop songs.While the scene was certainly eye-catching, it was not out of the blue; the square is an easy target for people seeking attention ― protesters and street performers ― as it constantly swarms with tourists, police, young couples, and families on weekends.This particular group, however, was peculiar in the sense that none of the members looked old enough to be there witho
April 1, 2013
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Moving picture of life and death in Pompeii at London exhibition
LONDON (Reuters) ― An exhibition showing daily life and tragic death in the ill-fated Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum opened in London on Thursday to glowing reviews and the highest advance tickets sales at the British Museum in five years.Over 450 objects, many of which haven’t been seen outside Italy, are arranged to show everyday life in the Roman Empire before Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, burying the two Southern Italian cities in volcanic ash. Paul Roberts, senior curator at t
April 1, 2013
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Pianist-maestro keeps heart for chamber music
Even after the emergence of hundreds of new genres of music over the centuries, classical chamber music is still one of a kind. A small group of musicians with different musical instruments sit close to each other and perform in the intimate atmosphere of a relatively small venue. The audience can even hear the players’ breathing, the very detailed resonance of the strings and the sound of the piano pedals moving up and down. “I believe that chamber music was written as if a composer were confes
April 1, 2013
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Suspended coffee: a gift for you and others
A warm, smooth cappuccino or latte is ideal for coping with mid-spring frosty winds. It warms you up, boosts energy and, more than anything, provides comfort in a hectic life. To share such a good feeling with the less wealthy, a number of cafe owners across Europe have joined the “suspended coffee” initiative.Suspended coffee is an extra coffee that one pays for in advance for someone in need. People participating in the initiative go to a coffeehouse, order their coffee and prepay for another
April 1, 2013
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Study shows Shakespeare as ruthless businessman
Hoarder, moneylender, tax dodger _ it's not how we usually think of William Shakespeare.But we should, according to a group of academics who say the Bard was a ruthless businessman who grew wealthy dealing in grain during a time of famine.Researchers from Aberystwyth University in Wales argue that we can't fully understand Shakespeare unless we study his often-overlooked business savvy.“Shakespeare the grain-hoarder has been redacted from history so that Shakespeare the creative genius could be
April 1, 2013
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‘Shroud of Turin’ may have existed in Jesus’ lifetime, scholar insists
The Shroud of Turin, the alleged burial shroud of Jesus, may have been made during Jesus’ lifetime, according to a new study by an Italian scholar.Giulio Fanti, a professor of mechanical engineering at Padua University, claimed that the shroud dates from 280 B.C. to A.D. 220, the period when Jesus was alive.The findings were published in Fanti’s new book, “Il Mistero della Sindone (The Mystery of the Shroud).“The latest research contrasts a 1988 study that put the production date of the linen cl
March 30, 2013
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Calendar
Dance“Altar”: Fashion designer Jung Kuho is staging his second dance piece in April with the National Dance Company of Korea. Titled “Altar,” the dance is choreographed by local artist Ahn Sung-soo, who also choreographed the Korean National Ballet and Jung’s collaboration work “Poise” last year. Jung is directing the upcoming performance, and is in charge of the stage and costume design, music, hair and makeup, and lighting. In the center of the stage, a huge altar will be set serving as an art
March 29, 2013
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Korea targets 16m tourists a year
The country’s tourism sector is targeted for a renewed boost under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s new five-year plan. With the goal of attracting 16 million foreign visitors to Korea annually by the year 2017, the ministry will implement a number of initiatives, including medical tourism clusters in Daegu and Osong, North Chungcheong Province, designed to utilize the two cities’ infrastructure as government-designated medical clusters. In its report to President Park Geun-hye on T
March 28, 2013
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[Newsmaker] MBC chief faces music after disputes
Is he a martyr for the previous administration’s broadcasting policy or a tyrant facing the music for his authoritarianism?Kim Jae-chul, who resigned on Wednesday after being voted out as chief of the state-subsidized broadcasting network MBC on Tuesday by the board of the broadcaster’s majority shareholder, Foundation for Broadcast Culture, had been at the center of controversy from the day he took charge at MBC in February 2010. Kim’s appointment was labeled “Lee Myung-bak cronyism” as he had
March 27, 2013
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Applications open for hallyu magazine grant
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday said it was receiving grant applications for hallyu magazines seeking to advance overseas. The publications, to be eligible, should cover the areas of traditional, contemporary or pop culture in Korea. Seven selected magazines will receive up to 2.5 million won a month in subsidies to put toward translation of their content for six months. A total of 30 additional magazines will be supported with a translation stipend for their brochures a
March 27, 2013
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Sejong arts center to support Korean-developed musicals
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will offer discounts on local musical performances in order to boost the domestic arts industry, the center’s president Bahg In-bae said on Monday. “The center charges an additional 30 percent fee to events that lease the performing halls for more than 15 days, of which the majority are musicals. However, we will exempt the fee for locally created musicals, which account for 10 percent of all musicals staged in Korea at the moment,” Bahg said at a press
March 27, 2013
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Paper never looked so beautiful
The following is part of a series exploring unique museums, collections and the passionate collectors behind them. ― Ed.The wonders that can be created with something as seemingly simple as a piece of paper are awe-inspiring. Although paper is used in everyday life on such regular basis, its intrinsic and artistic value is oftentimes overlooked. Beyond its practical uses such as material for printing and jotting down notes, paper itself is actually a form of artistic expression. Despite the adva
March 26, 2013
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A faithful servant to music
The viola, slightly larger than a violin and with a deeper sound, has always been overshadowed by its smaller, higher-profile cousin.In Korea, however, the viola enjoys as much fame as the violin, thanks to Richard Yongjae O’Neill. The 34-year-old musician has reportedly sold more than 150,000 viola recordings here and his concerts are almost always sold-out affairs. His impressive CV includes an Avery Fisher Career Grant and two Grammy nominations, performances with internationally renowned orc
March 26, 2013
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‘Hotel’ offers the homeless experience
A Swedish “hotel” is offering customers the chance to sleep in “rooms” including a dirty mattress under a bridge and a sleeping bag in a public park.Faktum Hotels in Gothenburg said the $15-per-night accommodations, which it began offering in November, are designed to highlight the hardships facing the city‘s homeless population, The Local.se reported Monday. “We asked several of our homeless contacts where they often slept, then we set up our rooms,” said Aaron Israelson, editor of Faktum magaz
March 26, 2013
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Cho to head Korean Pavilion at 2014 Venice Biennale
Architect Cho Min-suk has been named the commissioner of the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2014, the state cultural agency Arts Council of Korea announced on Monday. Cho will be in charge of selecting architects and planning the Korean Pavilion for the architecture exhibition. Cho runs his own architecture firm, Mass Studies in Korea. Its representative projects include the “Dalki Theme Park,” in Paju, “Nature Poem,” and “World Expo 2010 Shanghai: Korea Pavilion,” for which Cho received the
March 25, 2013