The Korea Herald

Slow the growth of the U.S. defense budget

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ plan to reduce the Pentagon budget over the next five years is appropriate, overdue and even brave. The politics and emotions will be intense.For a federal budget awash in red ink, no government role is above review, and cutting. The Pentagon has avoided scrutiny for a decade, with soaring growth in the budget taxpayers nominally know about, and two expensive wars e
[William Pesek] Americans are figuring out who is world’s No. 1

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

Nine percent of Americans think Japan is the world’s top economic power, and that raises an obvious question: Huh?If we knew exactly who that current-events-challenged minority was, we could make a bundle sending them e-mails on how to redeem unclaimed fortunes in Nigerian banks. Thankfully, most Americans got it right in a Jan. 5-9 survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. I
[Shashi Tharoor] India at the U.N. Security Council

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

NEW DELHI ― Indian diplomacy began 2011 with election to the chair of the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee, a body of some importance to the country (and one which many thought India might not be asked to lead, given its strong feelings on the issue). Coming in the wake of India’s record margin of victory in the race for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, this news confirms India’s stan
[Editorial] Japan’s new adults must think, act globally

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

Today (Jan. 10) marks Coming-of-Age Day, when 1.24 million people born in 1990 start a new chapter in their life. We hope they will take a firm first step into adulthood while retaining their self-awareness and recognizing their responsibility as adults.Nevertheless, many of them will be apprehensive about what their future holds amid the job market’s “ultra-ice age” caused by the protracted anemi
[Editorial] Procedural diplomacy

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

During his preview of Indonesia’s 2011 foreign policy, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa rightly highlighted the demanding schedule of the next 12 months. As chair of ASEAN for 2011, Indonesia will host more than 300 meetings at various levels. The meetings will cover various areas of cooperation of the 10-member grouping, including trade, investment and defense. Mingled among the multiple ASEAN
[Editorial] Taiwan should lead the way in adopting electric vehicles

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

You might have noticed a new brand of car called “Luxgen” on Taiwan’s roads. Luxgen was founded by Taiwan’s biggest carmaker, Yulon, as a separate, indigenous Taiwanese auto company in 2009. Luxgen (the name is a combination of the words, “Luxury” and “Genius”) is doing very well. The company’s website claims that Luxgen is now number six in the Taiwanese market. Yulon is, of course, just one of s
[Chen Weihua] Double standards of Western companies

ViewpointsJan 14, 2011

For months, the West has been attacking China for tightening control of its rare earth exports. The assault is likely to escalate, as China recently announced it would slash its rare earth export quota by 37 percent for the first half of 2011. China is also introducing more stringent environmental standards for the rare earth industry, which are likely to send many small businesses in the industry
National Museum of Korea

TheaterJan 14, 2011

“Hamheung: the Hometown of Joseon Royal Family”: Hamheung, the central city in the northeast of Hamgyeong Province, used to be regarded as “an uncultivated place far from the capital” before the mid-17th century. However, it steadily developed until it was later recognized as the hometown of the Joseon Royal Family as it is where Yi Seonggye, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, spent his youth. Aro
Events calendar

TheaterJan 14, 2011

Exhibition“Christian Marclay: What You See Is What You Hear”: Three of U.S. artist Christian Marclay’s labor-intensive media works are on display at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art’s Black Box in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. It is the museum’s first “Black Box Project” which aims to introduce world-renowned media artists to the Korean public. The exhibition runs through Feb. 13 at Leeum, Samsung Museu
Box office

FilmJan 14, 2011

I Am Love (Italy)Opening Jan. 20Drama. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. The polished rooms of a Milanese villa ignite with anxious activity as a wealthy industrial family, the Recchis, prepare to celebrate the birthday of their patriarch. It is an occasion designed to ensconce family traditions -- the handsome grandson, Edoardo, introduces his new girlfriend; his sister presents another piece of her a
Box office ranks

FilmJan 14, 2011

Box office rankJan. 7-Jan. 91. The Last GodfatherOpened Dec. 29Directed by Shim Hyung-raeStarring Shim Hyung-rae2. HeartbeatOpened Jan. 5Directed by Yoon Jae-geunStarring Kim Yun-jin, Park Hae-il 3. Hello GhostOpened Dec. 22Directed by Kim Yeong-takStarring Cha Tae-hyeon, Kang Ye-won4. The Yellow SeaOpened Dec. 22Directed by Na Hong-jinStarring Ha Jeong-woo, Kim Yoon-seok5. Harry Potter and the De
Peter Yates, director of ‘Bullitt,’ dies at 81

FilmJan 14, 2011

Peter Yates, the British director of “Breaking Away,” “The Dresser” and “Bullitt,” the 1968 Steve McQueen movie whose landmark car chase sequence over the hilly streets of San Francisco was a career-defining moment for both director and star, has died. He was 81.Yates died Sunday in London after an illness, his agent, Judy Daish, said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.In a career tha
Tourists overrun Haneda international terminal

TravelJan 14, 2011

A surprising name recently has joined the pantheon of popular Tokyo tourist spots―Haneda Airport’s international terminal.Since the international terminal opened in October, it has been inundated with visitors who came to the airport not for flights but to stroll the terminal itself. The sightseers outnumber genuine air passengers by more than 2-to-1 on weekends and holidays, according to the airp
Traveling for business in Germany, and enjoying it

TravelJan 14, 2011

NEW YORK ― I practice intellectual-property law in New York, but as a dual U.S.-German national, I have considerable cross-border work, which is why I go back and forth quite often. I have a working wife and a toddler who has developed the ability to be in three places simultaneously; that means I have to keep my away time as short as possible and make every business hour count. But that is still
New books

BooksJan 14, 2011

Strict Chinese parentingBattle Hymn of the Tiger MotherBy Amy Chua(The Penguin Press, $25.95)Amy Chua is an American-born daughter of Chinese immigrants from the Philippines. She’s a professor of law at Yale, married to another law professor at Yale who comes from an Orthodox Jewish family. So it’s no surprise that her first two books dealt with minorities and governments.Her third book, “Battle H