[Herald Interview] Houston mayor seeks bigger economic ties with Seoul

The resumption of U.S. energy exports after nearly four decades and the rise of shale gas as a next-generation energy source will reinforce South Korea-Houston ties in the future, Houston Mayor Annise Parker said. “About 50 percent of our major economy is fueled by the oil and gas sector. The unconventional extraction of shale gas in the country has invigorated the atmosphere and has become a game changer. We are learning about Korean companies’ interest in the sector,” said the leader of the la

Oct. 1, 2014

[Herald Interview] ‘Seoul has good chance of becoming offshore RMB hub’

South Korea’s renmibi market is still largely passive, especially considering its trade volume with China, but the country is considered a leading candidate as a global offshore hub for the Chinese currency, according to a transaction banking expert.“Korea’s currency market is going through a transition phase, which means that most local banks realize the importance of the renmibi trade but still lack the necessary manpower and expertise,” Kim Dan-joo, the head of transaction banking at Standard

Sept. 30, 2014

[Herald Interview] Conductor preaches beauty of orchestral music

As many as a hundred people gather ― each with their own musical instrument and own musical world ― to create harmony. There will mostly likely be some drama.It’s the conductor who must put aside whatever discord that members may have, make them work like organs of the human body, and in the end present harmonious music. Conductor Kim Bong-mee says the beauty of orchestral music is right there in that moment. “So many different people with different musical instruments and colors come together f

PerformanceSept. 30, 2014

[Herald Interview] Philanthropy is about finding shared value: UWW chief

Philanthropy is not about society’s “haves” giving their wealth to the “have-nots,” but about inspiring governments and corporations to find value via their contributions, according to the chief of the world’s largest nonprofit organization.“Philanthropic activities are just like business projects ― one should first find the value, set a detailed goal and take the most cost-effective actions,” Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, told The Korea Herald in an interview. “Con

Sept. 28, 2014

[Herald Interview] Soprano bridges two ends of music spectrum

To say that Suh Yeree has a versatile voice is an understatement. In one stage, the soprano was the living messenger of Handel, dressed like women found in 17th-century European paintings and singing church music with a crystal clear voice and all the right spirituality. Then in another, she was a whip-wielding cop in a leather outfit, the embodiment of the satirical wit in the music of 21st-century composer Gorge Ligeti. Not only does she cross back and forth between two very different territor

PerformanceSept. 28, 2014

[Herald Interview] Following the call of a creative mind

Musically, Steve Barakatt has little left to prove in Korea. The New Age composer and pianist from Quebec, Canada, is so adored by Koreans that he finds himself returning again and again to give concerts, collaborate with top local artists or just to meet fans. From “Rainbow Bridge,” one of his earliest hits from the late ’90s, to his 2011 work “He is from Seoul, She is from Pyongyang,” his music has gained popularity that not many other artists ― Korean or non-Korean ― have achieved here. “Rain

CultureSept. 23, 2014

[Herald Interview] Making art available to anyone

The Internet has reshaped our daily life in almost every aspect. And it has been redefining the traditional art viewing experience, too. To view masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” the Louvre is not the place to be anymore. The painting can be viewed on a personal computer, without having to pay thousands of dollars on an overseas trip. The Google Art Project, launched in 2011, has enabled art lovers around the world to view masterpieces without visiting actual museums and art

PerformanceSept. 22, 2014

[Herald Interview] Seeking justice for sex slavery victims

The following is the 10th in a series of articles on Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Asian women on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the foundation of The Korea Herald on Aug. 15. ― Ed.In 2007, U.S. lawmaker Mike Honda set a milestone in the issue of Japan’s sexual enslavement of Asian women during World War II by spearheading the adoption of a resolution at the House of Representatives calling for Tokyo’s apology. The resolution played a key role in boosting awareness in the intern

Foreign AffairsSept. 21, 2014

[Herald Interview] Bentley pursues timeless design

Bentley Motors’ DNA is rooted in its classic designs and its ability to balance craftsmanship and technology, according to the British luxury automaker’s head designer. Lee Sang-yup, who is at the helm of Bentley’s exterior and advanced designs, shared his design philosophy during an interview with The Korea Herald when he visited Korea for the launch of the Flying Spur V8 this month. “I want to share with Korean consumers the passion Bentley has for keeping its heritage and DNA,” the chief desi

MobilitySept. 21, 2014

[Herald Interview] ‘Pension service should take more risks’

The National Pension Service, South Korea’s pension fund manager, should stop playing safe by investing in low-yielding bonds, a notable Korean economist said.Instead, it should be a little more aggressive by seeking riskier assets overseas to secure “medium returns, if not high returns,” through investment diversification, he said. Otherwise, the country’s pension fund will soon run dry up for people who are depending on it after retirement.“It is time for the NPS to move on to investing in ass

Sept. 18, 2014

[Herald Interview] Korea Post eyes global markets

This year marks the 130th anniversary of the adoption of modern postal services on the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of the state-run mail service provider Korea Post.Over the years, technological advancements such as the Internet and smart gadgets have changed the way people and industries communicate and have opened up new transnational business opportunities.While these changes serve as a grave threat to traditional postal services, they also offer the postal industry a chance to inn

IndustrySept. 17, 2014

[Herald Interview] Korean drama fever hits U.S.

Korean TV dramas have been popular across Asia for the past decade, with series like “Autumn in My Heart,” “Jewel in the Palace” and the most recent “My Love from the Star” all being major hits. Now, Korean dramas are paving the way across the U.S., triggered by new platforms such as on-demand Internet streaming media. “People in the U.S. are gripped by Korean dramas because they are very different from typical American dramas,” said Suk Park, cofounder and co-CEO of DramaFever, a New York-based

TelevisionSept. 14, 2014

[Herald Interview] Macquarie capitalizes on reputation

Macquarie, an Australia-based global financial service group, puts a priority on building public trust for sustainable growth in Korea, the top management of the group’s Korean arm said. “It’s obvious and we know that our reputation is everything to us. Without a reputation we have nothing,” Macquarie Group of Companies Korea chairman John Walker said in an interview with The Korea Herald last Friday. Since its entry into the Korean market in 2000 as a foreign investor in infrastructure projects

Sept. 11, 2014

[Herald Interview] Korea faces household debt crisis

The vexing debt problem has come back to haunt the Korean economy. Back in the late 1990s, the economy suffered from humongous corporate debts, but this time, the mounting household debt has set alarm bells ringing. “South Korea’s surging household debt can trigger serious economic crisis,’’ Jun Sung-in, an economics professor at Hongik University told The Korea Herald in an interview Thursday.“The government’s latest push to ease regulations on home mortgage will increase household debts, which

IndustrySept. 5, 2014

[Herald Interview] Online learning transforms education

Korea has often been lauded for having an education system that is near the top of most global education rankings and has been declared a model by many foreign leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama.But with more Koreans viewing learning as labor rather than a chance to improve oneself, the country is seeking to implement a culture of lifelong learning and is trying to nurture students by unleashing their potential and dreams.This goal is coherent with that of Simon Nelson, the chief exec

Social AffairsSept. 4, 2014

[Herald Interview] Making life choices through acting

Simon Abkarian, a French-Armenian actor who played Col. Amanulla in “Kaboul Kitchen,” flew from the ongoing Venice International Film Festival to receive the grand prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards. It is his first visit to Korea.Reflecting on his diverse roles in films, TV dramas and plays over the past 30 years, the 52-year-old actor said he considers two things when selecting a drama.“First, we actors have to work and make a living, at least for me,” said Abkarian. “But second, an

TelevisionSept. 4, 2014

[Herald Interview] Small changes can send big message

Norwegian actress and director of “Mammon” Cecile Mosli, the Best Miniseries award winner, says she believes that small changes from the perceived norms can make a statement. “I try to put different people from different countries, backgrounds and genders all together in my works,” said Mosli. “For example, if the role is written for a male part, I change it to female,” which makes it more interesting added. “I like putting things upside down, and this sometimes carries out the message I want to

TelevisionSept. 4, 2014

[Herald Interview] Russian museum director talks value of cultural exchange

Alexy Levykin has dedicated most of his life to the preservation of Russian history.As a former supervisor of studies at the Moscow Kremlin Museum for nearly 10 years and now the director of The State Historical Museum, Levykin is a firm believer that museums are gateways to both the past and the future. “The human memory is the guarantor of preservation and development of personality,” he said. “The museum is a place where it is necessary to go periodically and discover something new every time

CultureSept. 3, 2014

[Herald Interview] Williams encourages people to appreciate Korea’s treasures

Aside from being the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is one of the most renowned and best-known museums in the world, attracting more than 6.2 million visitors every year. As the Met’s chief audience development officer, Donna Williams says she has had a number of opportunities to work closely with her local Korean-American community, adding that the establishment of its Asia Wing has “built a very big connection” with it. “We had this wo

CultureSept. 3, 2014

[Herald Interview] Breathing life back into museums

Artist Rirkrit Tiravanija breaks the typical museum stereotypes. He cooked and served Thai curry to visitors at a gallery in New York in the early 1990s. What many thought was an opening event continued throughout the exhibition. He loves eschewing the usual museum paradigm: an artist, artwork and audience. He turned an exhibition space into a live radio broadcasting studio at the Guggenheim Museum in 2005. He set up a bookstore at the 2009 Venice Biennale and a pingpong table at the 2012 Gwangj

FilmSept. 1, 2014