The Korea Herald

Chinese house price collapse rumors wishful thinking

ViewpointsJun 10, 2011

Media reports that the prices of new homes in major Chinese cities are plummeting at double-digit rates amount to nothing more than bunkum and wishful thinking. Admittedly, shrinking sales of new apartments can be observed in most Chinese cities nowadays. But this is just a possible harbinger, not evidence, that property prices have begun to drop. China’s rocketing housing prices are so unpopular
[Salman Haidar] A time of troubles in Pakistan

ViewpointsJun 10, 2011

The killing of Osama bin Laden was like a huge seismic tremor that gave rise to a number of aftershocks that still plague Pakistan. The fact that U.S. attackers were able to penetrate deep into Pakistani territory without being challenged made the security apparatus look helpless and unworthy of the automatic public trust it has claimed and received. A mood of disenchantment with the army was indu
A treasure trove of Korean art unveiled twice a year

TheaterJun 10, 2011

Director of Kan Song Art Museum says his legacy is keeping the collection intactAt the home of Chun Sung-woo, director of the country’s foremost private museum of Korean art, where one would expect to find old Korean masterpieces, hang large abstract paintings.“These are part of my mandala series,” explains Chun, pointing at the paintings that hang on the wall of the living room and its adjoining
Highlights

MusicJun 10, 2011

Classical Music“2011 Ditto Festival”: Male-chamber ensemble Ditto, led by violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, is to hold its annual summer festival from June 22-July 3 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall and Hoam Art Hall. Highlights of the festival will include Ditto and Parker Quartet’s duo recital on June 25 at the SAC at 2 p.m. The duo program will feature Debbusy’s String Quartet in g minor
W - eye-like

MusicJun 10, 2011

Lila Downs“En Paris o Live Á Fip”Music CompassBorn to a Mexican-Indian mother and Scottish-American father in the U.S., singer-songwriter Lila Downs is quite mysterious in that she taps into both Mexican traditional music and pop. The 42-year-old mestizo’s latest album “En Paris o Live Á Fip” collects her songs performed for France’s FIP radio station in 2009. Songs like “La Cucarach” and “La Llor
Box office

FilmJun 10, 2011

Poongsan Dog (Korea)Opening June 23Drama. Directed by Jeon Jae-hong. A young man named Poongsan (Yoon Gye-sang) crosses the border between South and North Korea to deliver goods requested by members of the two Koreas’ separated families. One day, he receives a secret request by the South Korean government to safely bring In-ok (Kim Gyoo-ri), the lover of a high-ranking North Korean defector, to Se
J.J. Abrams teams with his childhood hero, Steven Spielberg

FilmJun 10, 2011

There are plenty of stories with Hollywood endings ― this is one with a Hollywood beginning.A new J.J. Abrams film called “Super 8” reaches theaters Friday with a coming-of-age story about young, amateur filmmakers who film a spidery space alien on the loose in Ohio during summer 1979. For people who know the 44-year-old Abrams, that plot seems only slightly more fantastic than the real-life, thre
William and Catherine dazzle at charity gala

PeopleJun 10, 2011

LONDON (AFP) ― Prince William and his new wife Catherine laughed and smiled as they mingled with celebrity guests at their first official engagement in the gardens of Kensington Palace Thursday.Wearing a shimmering, dusty-pink cap-sleeve gown by Jenny Packham, the new Duchess of Cambridge and her husband were guests of honor at a lavish gala dinner hosted by financier Arpad Busson for his children
Hiddink arrives in Seoul

SoccerJun 10, 2011

Guus HiddinkFormer South Korean national football coach Guus Hiddink arrived in Seoul on Friday for a five-day visit. The Dutchman, who successfully guided the Taeguk Warriors into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, came to attend the opening of “Hiddink Dream Field,” a futsal field in the southeastern city of Ulsan on June 14. During his five-day trip, Hiddink will meet Chung Mong-joon, honora
Mindy Kim takes lead at LPGA

GolfJun 10, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (AP) ― Mindy Kim shot a career-low 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round lead of the LPGA State Farm Classic on Thursday.Sarah Kemp and Jiyai Shin were tied for second at 6-under at the Panther Creek Country Club. Brittany Lincicome, last week’s winner at the ShopRite Classic, birdied the final hole to finish at 67 and in a tie for fourth with Yani Tseng and Juli
Nowitzki’s Mavericks move to brink of title

More sportsJun 10, 2011

DALLAS (AP) ― Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, driving for the go-ahead dunk with 2:45 remaining, as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 112-103 on Thursday to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals.Five years after going up 2-0 on the Heat, the Mavs finally got that elusive third victory, and can wrap up their first championship in Game 6 at Miami on Sunday.“We’re a very resilient team, you know t
Takayama City designates June as Korea Month

TravelJun 10, 2011

Takayama City said it has designated June as Korea Month to promote cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan. The city will hold diverse events including a June 11 forum on new possibilities in the future tourism industry between the two countries and June 26 joint concert of Nagoya University of Arts and its sister Kyungnam University. “Korea Exhibition,” showcasing Korean traditional culture a
Cathay Pacific offers getaway discounts

TravelJun 10, 2011

Cathay Pacific Airways said it will offer “Getaway Surprise” online tickets for travelers planning a trip to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia for four days from June 13. Round-trip flights leaving Incheon or Busan between Aug. 16 and Oct. 31 will be offered at 579,000 won for Sydney/Melbourne and 649,000 won for Perth, excluding taxes. Business class tickets will be 2.08 million won and 2.
KTO supports summer Korea travel

TravelJun 10, 2011

For those who are planning a local trip in the summer, the Korea Tourism Organization will support part of the accommodation fee and provide free Sonata Hybrid car rental service in partnership with Hyundai Motor. The program is part of government’s effort to promote Korean tourism in the summer when a large number of Koreans go on overseas vacations. The program will let travelers choose one of t
Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s summer package

TravelJun 10, 2011

The Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers a “Summer Package” from June 17 to Aug. 31. Four different packages are offered with prices ranging from 129,000 won to 255,000 won per night. All packages include complimentary use of the indoor swimming pool, Renaissance Recreation Center and 50 percent discount on the sauna. The 129,000 won “Summer Saving Package,” includes a night in a deluxe room with genera