The Korea Herald

Birds gotta fly, flight controllers need to sleep

ViewpointsApr 24, 2011

Napping on the job will be strictly forbidden. Sounds reasonable, but is it?Following the discovery of several air traffic controllers caught sleeping on duty in recent weeks, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood handed down a no-napping edict this past weekend.But can a government edict prevent bone-tired air traffic controllers working the midnight shift, the swing shift or two shifts in a r
[David Ignatius] Upping the ante to support Egypt reform

ViewpointsApr 24, 2011

WASHINGTON ― Samuel Johnson famously observed that the prospect of hanging concentrates the mind. The same could be said about America’s current budget crisis: It should force some hard decisions about foreign policy priorities ― so that we spend more to support the democratic revolution in Egypt and less to seek a military solution in Afghanistan. Today, the United States is allocating about $110
[Meghan Daum] Kids, teachers do your own homework

ViewpointsApr 24, 2011

I get lots of emails. They generally break down like this: People telling me I’m brilliant and the reason print media is hanging on; people telling me I’m a moron and the reason print media is dying; people trying to get me to write about their book/cause/personal gripe; people asking me to read something they wrote about their book/cause/personal gripe; and people asking for help with their homew
[Dorothy Stuehmke] Should we feed North Korea?

ViewpointsApr 24, 2011

North Korea has recently made a desperate international appeal for food aid. Reports from aid workers and international nongovernmental organizations warn of a major food shortage. As the United States deliberates whether to restart a food aid program in North Korea, it must consider the following questions: Is there a true humanitarian need, can we address the potential risk of food diversion and
[Dominique Moisi France turning American world view upside down

ViewpointsApr 24, 2011

PARIS ― From Washington, the enthusiasm of the French for intervention in Libya is seen with a mixture of relief and puzzlement. The Americans do not want the job and are happy that someone else does. Indeed, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s willingness to intervene (alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron) helped close a dangerous gap between the world of “values,” which would call for direct A
Yemeni president agrees to resign in 30 days

World NewsApr 24, 2011

Parliament will grant Saleh legal protection; power to be handed to vice presidentSANAA (AP) ― Yemen’s embattled president agreed Saturday to a proposal by Gulf Arab mediators to step down within 30 days and hand power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution, a major about-face for the autocratic leader who has ruled for 32 years.A coalition of seven opposition parties said they al
‘Dialogues of the Carmelites’ gets Asian premiere in Seoul

TheaterApr 24, 2011

The Korea National Opera Company is to perform opera “Les Dialogues des Carmelites” by 20th-century French composer Francis Poulenc in Seoul in May, the first performance of the opera in Asia.First premiered in Paris and Milan in 1957, the opera is based on historical events which took place at a monastery of Carmelite nuns in Compiegne during the French Revolution.“This piece takes us to the ulti
Lee Soo-man gives Hallyu lecture at Stanford

MusicApr 24, 2011

Lee Soo-man, head producer and founder of SM Entertainment, gave a Hallyu business lecture at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business on April 19, an SM Entertainment spokesperson said. S.M Entertainment is a K-pop powerhouse, managing groups like TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee and F(x). Lee Soo-man speaks to Stanford MBA students at KnightManagement Center. (SM Entertainm
HBO expolores making of first reality show

TelevisionApr 24, 2011

‘Cinema Verite’ delves into the creation of the first reality television show 40 years agoAt the beginning of the annual congressional shootout over funding for public broadcasting, PBS inevitably launches a barrage of press releases about its storied cultural and intellectual contributions to U.S. culture. One achievement that never gets mentioned: the invention of reality television. Long before
Dutch bicycle seminar on industry’s future

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

The Dutch bicycle industry plays an important role in promoting bicycle use by combining it with a tradition of spatial planning and traffic-safety policy.In Korea, the bicycle industry has taken off as a new way of exercise as well as a pastime.To examine the relationship Holland and Korea have in this sector, the Dutch Embassy and the Korea Transportation Institute are holding a joint seminar on
Europe Study and Research fair this week

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

Studying in Europe is a dream for many students, but the legwork involved in researching a host country and university can be daunting.To help with the search, 15 European countries are promoting the annual Study and Research higher education fair.With links between the European Union and Korea growing by the day, the needs of professionals with European connections and expertise are increasing, a
New UAE envoy arrives this week

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

The new United Arab Emirates Ambassador, Abdulla Khalfan Matar Al Romaithi, will arrive in Seoul on April 28.Al Romaithi was sworn in on April 18 at the Al Mushrif Palace before President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. New UAE Ambassador to Korea Abdulla Khalfan Matar Al Romaithi at his swearing-in ceremonySheikh Khalifa urged the new envoy to highlight the UAE’s position in the international
Pakistan plants seeds for potential prospects

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

Traditional diplomatic interactions used to be the norm when building ties, but now a new paradigm has emerged where cultural and public diplomacy have become increasingly important.To change popular conceptions of Pakistan, the embassy organized an event for primary school-age children and their parents. Elementary school children line up to sample Pakistani food.(Yoav Cerralbo/The Korea Herald)H
Brazil appoints Hyun as first honorary consul

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

For any country, picking its first ever honorary consul can be a tough choice, but at other times it is an easy fit. After over half a century of diplomatic relations, Brazil has chosen Hyundai Group chairperson Hyun Jeong-eun to represent Brazil’s interests in the southern part of the nation. Brazil Ambassador Edmundo Fujita (left) appoints Hyundai Group chairperson Hyun Jeong-eun as honorary con
Fashion icons as symbols for closer ties

Foreign affairsApr 24, 2011

In Korea, wearing a hanbok could get you kicked out of a famous high-end hotel, but in Vietnam, after many years of conflicting feelings, the ao dai has become welcomed and part of everyday life.To showcase the beauty and global mark of both dresses, the Vietnamese Embassy set up a cultural exchange day that celebrates the new designs changing the face of these classical icons. New styles of the t