The Korea Herald

[Meghan Daum] Politics signals the invasion of the idiocrats

ViewpointsAug 31, 2011

You may not have seen “Idiocracy,” the 2006 sci-fi comedy set in an utterly dysfunctional nation 500 years in the future, but chances are you’ve heard it mentioned lately. References to the film seem to be everywhere, and not just in op-eds penned by cranky columnists (I mentioned it in a column las
[Eve Weinbaum and Rachel Roth] Beyond suffrage: How far have women come since?

ViewpointsAug 31, 2011

Today we celebrate the anniversary of female suffrage, a victory that took more than 70 years of political struggle to achieve. After women won the right to vote in 1920, socialist feminist Crystal Eastman observed that suffrage was an important first step but that what women really wanted was freed
Landslide in Uganda kills 40

World NewsAug 31, 2011

KAMPALA (AP) ― An official says the death toll has risen to 40 from landslides that buried homes in an eastern district of Uganda. Relatives mourn for their loved ones who died in landslides in Gombe village in the Bulambuli district, 267 kilometers east of Kampala on Tuesday. (AP-Yonhap News)Region
Gadhafi blamed for Tripoli water crisis

World NewsAug 31, 2011

TRIPOLI (AP) ― Attacks by Moammar Gadhafi’s forces on engineers deep in the Libyan desert caused the massive water shortage that has left the capital without running water for a week, a rebel official said Tuesday.Regime forces fired on repair crews a week ago as they tried to restart pumps bringing
Perry overtakes Romney as Republican leader

World NewsAug 31, 2011

On anti-government sentiment, brash Texan becomes favorite less than 3 weeks into raceWASHINGTON (AP) ― Gov. Rick Perry has ridden a wave of anti-government sentiment to the top of a crowded field of Republicans who want to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012, with some polls showing the brash
Sistar tops first Billboard K-pop chart

MusicAug 31, 2011

Girl group Sistar’s song “So Cool” topped the first Billboard K-pop Hot 100 Chart, which opened last week, Billboard said.The U.S. weekly magazine, particularly famous for music charts, launched the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 Chart on Aug. 25, ranking digital sales of the country’s top songs and mobile
Focus on fusing tradition with the contemporary: Choe

CultureAug 31, 2011

Combining Korean traditional culture with contemporary culture, sports and tourism will be key to promoting the country, said Choe Kwang-shik, 58, culture, sports and tourism minister designate. “Patchworks best represent Korean culture. It shows a unified beauty by connecting different pieces. I wi
Pop diva to star in musical ‘Cats’

TheaterAug 31, 2011

Insooni to play the famous cat Grizabella along with Park Hae-mi and Hong Ji-minKorea’s diva Insooni is certainly a multitasker. And an amazing one.On top of singing the theme song for the IAAF World Championships in Daegu and appearing on MBC TV’s “I Am a Singer,” (better known as “Nagasu”) the 54-
Mandela museums booming in S. Africa

CultureAug 31, 2011

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) ― Nelson Mandela covered most of South Africa during five decades fighting apartheid and five years as president, and it sometimes seems a museum has sprouted everywhere he set foot.The 93-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner is among the world’s most famous living icons, and re-trac
SM Town Live Tour goes to N.Y.

MusicAug 31, 2011

K-pop groups will fly to New York to hold the SM Town Live World Tour at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 23, after holding a series of concerts in Seoul, Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo.Joint concerts by K-pop groups affiliated with the entertainment agency have played a significant role in creating a ne
Despite hitches and delays, TV musical drama plows forward

TelevisionAug 31, 2011

‘The Musical’ co-star Ku Hye-sun sees hope in song-and-dance seriesSome people may have thought that “The Musical” ― a song-and-dance made-for-TV miniseries ― would never see the light of day. The drama waited in the wings with the press second-guessing its fate every step of the way. The cast
IAAF anti-doping chief aims for clean worlds

Aug 31, 2011

DAEGU ― Almost 1,700 athletes among the some 1,900 participants at the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu have been blood-tested in an unprecedented anti-doping program, said the medical chief from the sports governing body.The Daegu Worlds is the first event to have endorsed the largest anti
Rudisha, overshadowed by Bolt, enjoys his moment in the sun

Aug 31, 2011

DAEGU ― Usain Bolt is a household but what about the dominant 800-meter runner, David Rudisha? Kenya’s Rudisha took his rightful spot at the top of the podium at the World Championship in Daegu on Tuesday, after a long time coming.Though the 22-year-old Kenyan achieved feats arguably greater than th
Breaking the curse

Aug 31, 2011

After recent failures of stars, Kaniskina strides to 20km walk goldDAEGU ― Two-time defending world champion Olga Kaniskina of Russia walked across the finish line first in the 20-kilometer walk to add another gold at the 2011 World Championship in Daegu on Wednesday.In full sunshine and sweltering
Senior prosecutor resigns over adultery

Social affairsAug 31, 2011

A senior prosecutor in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, offered to resign Wednesday after his affair with a housewife was revealed, the Yonhap news agency reported.(Yonhap News)The two were found together by the woman’s husband at a restaurant at 5 a.m. the previous day.The prosecutor reportedly