When Miroslav Penkov moved to the United States from Bulgaria just short of his 19th birthday, he was so insecure about his accented English that he’d often rehearse conversations in his head. In line at the grocery store, before ordering a Coke on the airplane, even when talking to peers, Penkov turned over the phrase dozens of times.That experience of being an outsider in a foreign country would define him as a writer ― and make Penkov, 29, a rising literary star.His collection of short storie

Products with moving goals and stories become best-sellThe following is the seventh in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed.I ♥ NY, the beloved image created by U.S. graphic designer Milton Glaser in the 1970s, became more popular than ever in the Big Apple after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. T-shirts and souvenirs bearing the logo, and also Glaser’s revamped version reading “I Love NY More Than Ever,” were frequently spotted in

From a special nighttime tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site Changdeokgung Palace to the performance of “Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King,” a Korean pansori opera, participants at the third Culture Communication Forum were introduced to a wide range of cultural experiences.Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik on Tuesday evening hosted a welcome dinner for the 15 guests representing 14 different countries. Despite the heavy downpour, the minister went ahead with the tour of Changdeokgung Palace, a J

Culture Communication Forum tackles issues society-at-large faces todayThe challenge of fostering culture-driven communication was the hotly discussed topic at the third Culture Communication Forum in Seoul, Thursday. Keynote speaker Dominique Wolton ― research director of the French National Centre for Scientific Research ― opened the panel by putting the spotlight on globalization. Rather than praise technological advances as a driving force in the formation of a more tightly-knit global socie

Lydia Ko, the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, has been named sports ambassador for the 2012 Korea-New Zealand year of friendship.New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Patrick Rata presented an award and certificate to the teenage golfing sensation Tuesday, designating her as its sports envoy.At age 15 as an amateur, the South Korean-born New Zealander made history by winning the Canadian Women’s Open, an LPGA tournament, Aug. 26. In accepting the award of sports ambassador, Ko talked about her p

Groups from Indonesia and Rwanda received the 23rd annual King Sejong Literacy Prize at an award ceremony held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Thursday. The prize, created in 1989, recognizes individuals and groups for their efforts to eradicate illiteracy. The prize is named in honor of King Sejong, who created Hangeul, the Korean writing system. The annual award ceremony is held two days before International Literacy Day. Indonesia’s Directorate of Community Education Development was ho

MANILA (AFP) ― The Philippines’ oldest World War II veteran has passed away at the age of 111, just a few months after finally receiving recognition for his wartime service, a veterans’ official said Wednesday.Alfonso Fabros, who fought with U.S. and Filipino forces against the Japanese in Bataan, died a little over two weeks ago, reportedly due to pneumonia, said government veterans’ affairs chief Ernesto Carolina. “We gave him an award, a plaque of recognition, last April on veterans’ week. He

The Gwangju Biennale, known as the largest contemporary art festival in Asia, will open Thursday to introduce the latest international developments in modern art to South Korea.This year’s event, the 9th, will display works by 92 artists from 40 countries at various venues across the southwestern provincial city of Gwangju, under the theme “Round Table.” The biennale runs through Nov. 11.The theme reflects the festival’s aim to serve as a platform for restoring respect for other countries and sh

South Korean credit card company Hyundai Card opts for a judge-by-numbers tack to the restaurant app with its newly minted MY MENU service. Available for both iPhone and Android platforms, MY MENU is a free restaurant guide that was launched in mid-August. The idea is simple and straightforward. MY MENU takes stock of the age, gender and profession of members swiping their Hyundai Card at restaurants throughout Seoul and Busan.  According to a Hyundai Card representative, three months’ worth of

Concept Korea presents a mix of veteran and fresh designers to global audienceGaining a foothold in the global fashion market is a formidable task, the industry already saturated with great talents from the traditional fashion powerhouses of Europe and the U.S.Frustrated by years of trying to get the attention of international buyers and press through Seoul Fashion Week, the government a few years ago hit upon the idea of showcasing Korea’s fashion designers at the world’s major fashion capitals

“Gangnam Style” singer Psy was appointed the promotional ambassador of the F1 Korea Grand Prix at a ceremony held at CM Park Studio in Gwangju yesterday.At the ceremony, it was proposed that the 34-year-old singer hold an “F1 Psy Special Concert” at the Korea International Circuit concert hall after the F1 Korea Grand Prix final race on Oct. 14. Fans with 2012 F1 Korea tickets will have chance to watch the K-Pop concert on Oct. 12-13 and Psy’s special concert on Oct. 14 for free. “It is great to

A horse farm in Lake Ariel, not far from Scranton, Pennsylvania, has become a place to help victims of abuse recover from the atrocities they have suffered through horse therapy, according to news reports. In 2009, a 5-year-old was savagely raped by a complete stranger, leaving her mute. Her parents tried all types of therapy, including talk therapy and art therapy, to get her to speak, but nothing worked. Her therapist Ann Cook decided to try something different. Cook had the girl spend time wi