WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― South Korean rapper Psy, who has galloped to superstardom with his trade mark horse-riding dance, has been chosen as the eighth most intriguing figure on the planet this year, according to an internet survey by the U.S. cable news channel CNN.The music video of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became the most-viewed YouTube clip last week, topping 1 billion hits.CNN selected the 35-year-old Park and 19 other people who captured the world’s attention in 2012 and conducted an onlin

THE HAGUE (AFP) ― Steve Jobs’ superyacht Venus was free to leave Amsterdam port Monday after the late Apple co-founder’s estate paid a deposit to resolve a dispute with designer Philippe Starck, who had had the yacht impounded.“The Venus is no longer impounded, we have found a solution,” Gerard Moussault, a Hague-based lawyer for the Jobs estate, told AFP.“A security deposit was paid into a bank account, but I cannot say for how much,” Moussault said after French designer Starck last week asked

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Jack Klugman, the television star who portrayed a slovenly sportswriter on “The Odd Couple” and a tough medical examiner on “Quincy, ME,” has died. He was 90.Klugman’s attorney Larry Larson said the actor died peacefully at his home in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles with Peggy, his wife of nearly five years, at his side. He is survived by two sons, David and Adam, and two grandchildren.The TV drama “Quincy, ME,” which initially ran from 1976 to 1983, saw Klugman p

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) ― Ailing icon Nelson Mandela will spend Christmas Day in hospital, the South African government said Monday, dashing hopes for a festive end to his longest stay in care since being released from prison in 1990.“Former president Nelson Mandela will spend Christmas Day in hospital, his doctors have confirmed today, on 24 December 2012,” the presidency said in a statement.The 94-year-old Nobel Peace laureate and South Africa’s first black post-apartheid president, was admitted to

It may be the best time of the year for many, but for some, the holidays are the most depressing time of the year, Canadian researchers say.Colleen Carney, a sleep and depression expert and psychology professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, says when people feel down, they often avoid being around others, which increases the likelihood their depression will worsen.Instead, she says, be sure to be around people this holiday season, but don‘t put up with acquaintances, friends or family member

Some major producers in performing arts were involved in the drawing up of Park’s cultural policies during her campaign

Actress Sue-ae was inducted into the Community Chest of Korea’s Honor Society as the 200th member for her charitable contributions. Sue-ae pledged to donate100 million won to the Community Chest to help the unfortunate in Korea. “It means so much to me that I get to attend this event by the Community Chest of Korea,” she said. “Growing up, I did not have much.”  The Honor Society inductees are members who have played a leading role in spreading the spirit of generosity through donations. Sue-ae

Hwang Chang-gyu, the former president of Samsung’s semiconductor division, has been appointed a professor at Seoul National University.The school announced Sunday that Hwang, 58, will serve as a professor in its department of social sciences starting next year.SNU noted that Hwang’s appointment is part of its efforts to enhance integrated studies of different fields. Hwang served nearly 20 years at Samsung Electronics, during which time he worked as the chief technology officer and the president

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to visit Seoul National University next month.“Though a specific schedule has not been finalized yet, the university is in consultation with her aides over its planned conferment of an honorary doctorate and her giving a special lecture at Seoul National University,” a university official said. Suu Kyi will visit Korea for the first time for four days from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. She is invited to the opening ceremony of the 2013 PyeongChang S

Maria Sharapova of Russia, the world No. 2 female tennis player, will play alongside a popular Korean TV personality Lee Hui-jae for a mixed doubles match in Seoul on Friday.Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will square off in an exhibition match in Jamsil Indoor Gymansium on the same day. After the singles match, they will have a mixed doubles focused on entertainment rather than competitive play.Lee Jin-soo, the head of JS Management, the organizer of the Seoul exhibition, said that

As the world embraces the most celebrated Christian holiday, U.S. scholars have presented an unusual theory about the legend of Santa Claus, according to a report on Livescience.com.“Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world,” said John Rush, an anthropologist at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. Hundreds of years ago, the shamans in the Siberian and Arctic regions would collect Amanita muscaria -- hallucinogenic