The Korea Herald

Global film to screen on Earth Day

Apr 18, 2012

Screenings of the film “One Day on Earth” are to be held at the Laughing Tree Lab in Seoul on international Earth Day.The documentary is the first-ever collaboration of simultaneous filming occurring in every country of the world, and is to be screened at venues across the globe on April 22. The film was produced from 3,000 hours of footage shot by people all over the world, from students with cellphones to professional filmmakers on Oct. 10, 2010. The finished product portrays pockets of divers
Seoul series on North Korean rights

Apr 18, 2012

The prospects of hereditary succession in North Korea will be discussed by Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov in Seoul on April 25. The talk to start at 6:30 p.m. at Artreon Toz in the Sinchon area of the city is part of the NK Human Rights Speaker Series covering issues ranging from forced refugee repatriation to information freedom. Foreigners, South Koreans and North Korean defectors are invited to join the discussions to be conducted in or translated into English. The events are bein
N. Korean human rights workshop in Seoul

Apr 18, 2012

A workshop on promoting non-violent methods for opposing the human rights violations of North Korea, drawing on the experiences of Eastern Europe during and after the Cold War, will take place on April 25 in Seoul. “European-Korean Human Rights Dialogue: The experience of promoting human rights in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and beyond” will take place from 1-6 p.m. at the National Human Rights Commission in Mugyo-dong, near City Hall subway station. The event is being hosted by PSCORE, a Seo
Migrant cultural space to open in Seoul

Apr 18, 2012

A new alternative art space has been created to help migrant and Korean artists to connect and exchange ideas. People of any nationality, religion, gender and sexual orientation are welcome at the new Freeport cultural space located near Sangsu Subway Station, in Mapo-gu, Seoul.An opening party will be held at the venue April 28. The center will be open from 4 p.m. and the party will start at 7 p.m. Entertainment will feature Indonesian traditional dance as well as music from Mongolia. Food and
Korean choreographer seeks funds for Asian tour

Apr 18, 2012

Acclaimed choreographer Kim Young-soon first moved to the U.S. in 1977 with just $240, two suitcases, and the dream of being a dancer. In fact, she was only able to take the flight because she traveled for free in return for taking two babies to America for adoption from Korea on behalf of the Holt International adoption agency. More than 30 years later, she is seeking funding to bring her successful New York-based modern dance troupe to Korea as part of a homecoming Asian tour. She wishes to b
Belly dance festival to benefit Korean women

Apr 18, 2012

A celebration of World Belly Dance Day in Seoul is set to support Korean women’s rights.The international event is held on the second Saturday in May each year to let belly dancers around the world unite to celebrate their art, and also benefit good causes.The Raising Awareness in Korea 2012 weekend of charity dance events is to include two performances on May 12 and a day of workshops on May 13, with profits going to benefit Korea Women’s Association United.About 100 dancers will perform on the
TED talk aims to give ‘Big Picture’ in Seoul

Apr 11, 2012

Issues of global health and development are to be discussed at a TED event in Seoul this Saturday entitled “The Big Picture.”The TEDxItaewonChange will link to the global TEDxChange 2012 program, co-organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It will focus on global health and development in countries including North Korea. The event will combine local live speakers and artists with talks streamed by video as one of many TEDxChange events happening around the globe from April 5-14. The int
Expats to save trees for Earth Day

Apr 11, 2012

Hundreds of volunteers are set to help protect trees on Bukhansan to celebrate Earth Day. Mannam International Division is going to the mountain to the north of Seoul with more than 500 expats on April 21. They will help trees in the national park that are dying of oak wilt disease. They will help to wrap more than 600 diseased trees to stop the infection spreading to other trees on the mountain.The event is being held with the Nature Conservationists of Bukhansan National Park to mark internati
Masked ball to help orphans

Apr 11, 2012

A charity masquerade ball is being held in Seoul on Saturday to raise cash for Korean kids. Free masks will be doled out at the door for the event at the Banyan Tree Club to start at 11 p.m. The inaugural masquerade ball aims to attract professionals for an elegant yet tantalizing night to raise cash for Program REACH and Dream House Orphanage in Suwon. Entry into the event is 5,000 won per person with donations going to provide children with school supplies and help support the orphanage. An ad
Concert to support free summer festival

Apr 11, 2012

A fund-raising concert is to be held in Hongdae on Saturday to provide the cash needed to run a free music festival planned for Seoul this summer. Bands including The Rub, Magna Fall, the March Kings and Table People will play at club DGBD from 10:30 p.m. The 5,000 won cover charge will go toward costs for the free Rock Do (Rock Island) concert planned to be held on the floating island on the Han River in September. The festival aims to bring together the Korean and expat communities for a bilin
U.S. charity leader calls for businesses to share more

Apr 11, 2012

The president and CEO of United Way Worldwide has called on people to come together to address challenges such as achievement gaps and disparities in wealth. Brian Gallagher, who is head of the world’s largest privately funded nonprofit, said that Korea’s Samsung conglomerate was one of his organization’s most important partners. But he called on more corporations to invest in improving people’s lives. He said that civil unrest from the international “Occupy” movement, to that in the Middle East
Korean stars pledge to help world’s kids

Apr 11, 2012

Two of Korea’s best loved stars have been appointed by United Nations Children’s Fund to help support needy children around the world.Han Ga-in and Kim Beom have become UNICEF Ambassadors to do publicity work in Korea to help the organization’s Inspired Gifts program. The initiative gives nutritious food and measles vaccines to children living in poverty around the world.Han, who is currently drawing crowds at the box office with her leading role in the movie “Architecture 101” was joined by Kim
‘Comfort women’ museum to open in May

Apr 11, 2012

Museum and new Butterfly fund will also support rape victims in AfricaA museum to highlight the plight of Korea’s “comfort women” is to open in Seoul on May 5. The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan is opening the 2.3 billion won facility in Seodaemun Independence Park. It aims to alert the world to the ongoing fight for a proper apology from Japan for the sexual slavery imposed upon other nations’ women during World War II.An estimated 50,000-200,000 women
Italy signs pacts on holidays, taxes

Apr 8, 2012

Italy has signed pacts on taxes and working holiday visas with Korea following after the European country’s prime minister visited here. Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Ho-young and Italian Ambassador Sergio Mercuri signed the ROK-Italy Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on the Working Holiday Program at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and Korean President Lee Myung-bak had discussed the agreeme
Korean musicians play for peace

Apr 4, 2012

A Korean charity is aiming to send a message of world peace via concerts in the Middle East. Korea’s Beautiful Mind Charity is holding concerts in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan from April 1-9. Fifteen young Korean performers will perform with other musicians at the international peace concerts in the UAE.Talented musicians from Korea, including the 15-member group Virtuoso, will take part in the 8th Emirates International Peace Music Festival, hosted by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestr