The Korea Herald

[Jonathan Alter] Don’t believe critics, education reform works

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

America’s education-reform movement ― the most significant social movement of our time ― is just completing another productive school year, with hundreds of districts beefing up accountability and standards. Amid grim news about budget cuts, the year brought new awareness that relying on seniority alone in determining teacher layoffs is mindless. It’s like saying that if the Chicago Bulls wanted t
[Robert Reich] Unbridled public contractors in U.S.

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

President Obama is mulling an executive order to force big government contractors to disclose their political spending. He should issue it immediately. But he should go further ― banning all political activity by companies receiving more than half their revenues from the U.S. government.Consider Lockheed Martin, the nation’s largest contractor. It’s received more than $19 billion in federal contra
Japan admits being unprepared for crisis

World NewsJun 8, 2011

Government knew reactor design inadequacies, need for independence of regulatorsTOKYO (AP) ― Japan admitted Tuesday it was unprepared for a severe nuclear accident like the tsunami-caused Fukushima disaster and said damage to the reactors and radiation leakage were worse than it previously thought.In a report being submitted to the U.N. nuclear agency, the government also acknowledged reactor desi
[News Focus] Betraying for money or hiding another scandal?

TheaterJun 8, 2011

Seomi director says Samsung still owes her 53 billion wonAre the once-best-and-strongest partners in the local art scene turning their backs on each other or starting yet another scheme together? Gallery Seomi director Hong Song-won, arrested May 6 for money laundering, filed a law suit worth 5 billion won ($4.6 million) against Hong Ra-hee, director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art and wife of Sam
K-pop cover dance online contest starts

MusicJun 8, 2011

The Visit Korea Year Committee said it has kicked off the 2011 K-pop cover dance festival at www.coverdance.org. The committee will conduct an online preliminary competition until July 24. Applicants around the world can submit their K-pop cover dance video to the webpage. In countries where the registered videos get the most hits and “recommended” buttons clicks, the committee will run a second r
Ulysses celebration blooms in Seoul

BooksJun 8, 2011

Bloomsday, a commemoration to celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce that also relives events from his novel Ulysses, is to be held in Seoul.“The evening will be a convivial mix of drama, readings and music,” said Ireland’s Ambassador Eamonn McKee.“It is a world-wide phenomenon which reflects the admiration and love for Joycean literature, specifically the greatest novel yet written, ‘Ulys
Crown-Haitai CEO Yoon wins Montblanc award

TheaterJun 8, 2011

Yoon Young-dal, CEO of Crown-Haitai Confectionary, has been selected the winner of this year’s Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, announced Euro Trading Co. on Wednesday. The foundation recognized Yoon’s contributions to developing and promoting “gugak,” or Korean traditional music, worldwide and his efforts to discover and foster young gugak musicians. Yoon established RaGeum Orchestra
Ancient documents to e-books: Seoul International Book Fair

BooksJun 8, 2011

Giant book event to feature exhibitions, seminars and meetings with authorsThe 17th Seoul International Book Fair, one of the biggest book events in Korea, opens June 15 at COEX in southern Seoul with a total of 572 publishers from 23 countries participating.The five-day event is filled with diverse special exhibitions, seminars, and events on a variety of themes in today’s international publishin
SCI to perform in English, Korean

Expat LivingJun 8, 2011

Seoul City Improv will host a night of improvised comedy in both English and Korean on Saturday. The group’s English language and Korean language troupes will take it in turns to play games in each language. There will also be some specially prepared mixed language games.The show will be at 9 p.m. at Bar Carmen in the Gyeongnidan area of Itaewon, Seoul. Admission is free.(paulkerry@heraldm.com)
Paris K-pop concerts will be posted online

MusicJun 8, 2011

The highlights of two upcoming K-pop concerts in Paris will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook. SM Entertainment plans to hold the “SM Town World Tour in Paris” concerts on June 10 and June 11 at Le Zenith de Paris as part of the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Year(s), the country’s largest entertainment agency said. The company added the June 11 show after hundreds of French K-pop fans in May rallied in
Is Internet sex cheating? Many say yes

CultureJun 8, 2011

Jon Austin’s wife, Amy, had a blunt assessment for her husband as the Minneapolis couple watched Rep. Anthony Weiner’s stunning confessions on television this week.“You’d be dead,” she told him.Regardless of his professional future, it’s Weiner’s predicament at home that seems to be launching countless discussions among couples like the Austins. And this time, it’s not a question of actual physica
K-League teams face difficult AFC draws

More sportsJun 8, 2011

Three South Korean representatives at a continental club football competition have drawn tough opponents in the quarterfinals.At the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, FC Seoul of the K-League drew a two-time champion, Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, in the quarters. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will clash against Cerezo Osaka of Japan.A third K-League club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, will meet Zo
Former No. 1 to skip U.S. Open with lingering leg injury

GolfJun 8, 2011

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) ― Tiger Woods pulled out of the U.S. Open on Tuesday because of lingering issues with his left leg, leaving him uncertain how soon he can resume his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record for major titles.It will be the first time Woods has missed the U.S. Open since 1994, when he had just graduated high school.“I am extremely disappointed that I won’t be playing in the U.S. O
U.S. hospital puts healing power of art to work

TheaterJun 8, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Missouri ― When you push through the revolving doors of an inner-city hospital, you don’t expect modernist sculptures in Popsicle colors between the glass doors.But at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, glazed ceramics in abstracted flower shapes twirl around with the human traffic 24 hours a day. The display shelves are positioned low, at wheelchair level. Or scared-kid level.The
Ji rises to occasion against Ghana

SoccerJun 8, 2011

He finally seems happy. For manager Cho Kwang-rae, one of the biggest tasks has been how to fill the void left by Park Ji-sung of Manchester United. The indispensable midfielder retired from the national team earlier this year to focus on playing for his club. Cho was not content with several players he had tested. But on Tuesday night, the hard-nosed manager finally found the right man ― forward