The Korea Herald

Living alone ups death risk from 45 to 80

HealthJul 5, 2012

An study of stable outpatients at risk of or with coronary disease found those ages 45-80 who lived alone had an increased risk of death, U.S. researchers say.Dr. Jacob A. Udell of Brigham and Women‘s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues examined whether living alone was associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular risk in a global study involving 44,573 people --
Chestnut wins 6th straight title, downs 68 dogs

Food&BeverageJul 5, 2012

Joey Chestnut ate his way to a sixth straight win at the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island on Wednesday, downing 68 to tie his personal best in a sweaty, gag-inducing spectacle.Last year, the 28-year-old San Jose, California, man nicknamed “Jaws” won with 62 hot dogs. He bested his main rival this year by 16 dogs, scarfing down all 68 in 10 minutes in the sweltering summer hea
Lifeguard in Florida fired after saving drowning man

PeopleJul 5, 2012

WASHINGTON—A young lifeguard in Florida has lost his job after rescuing a drowning man in a section of beach he was not assigned to patrol, local news media reported Wednesday.Tomas Lopez, 21, was manning his post on Hallandale Beach, north of Miami, on Monday afternoon when a beach-goer alerted him to a swimmer struggling in an “unprotected” part of the beach.“It was a long run, but someone neede
Seoul pushes for drinking ban in parks

HealthJul 5, 2012

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it is pushing to ban drinking in public parks starting next year to enhance public health and reduce disturbances. The municipal government said it submitted to the land ministry last month a proposal of revising relevant law to prohibit drinkingin the city's 2,000-odd parks.Smoking is not allowed in public parks according to law, but no similar rule
Training center for all seasons

Arts&DesignJul 4, 2012

Following is the ninth in a series of articles in which leading architects discuss their representative work. ― Ed.The master plan for the University of Seoul Gangchon Training Center includes a research institute and Gangchon Seowon to be completed by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the University of Seoul. Development of the training center’s main building and accommodation building ― the first stage of the master plan ― has been completed, earning the site the symbolic status of the university
‘All Eyes on Korea’ vies for London limelight

CultureJul 4, 2012

Korean Culture Centre UK on a 100-day journey to promote Korean culture in the Olympic host cityIt all started with K-pop. Interest in Korean pop artists has led to many young Europeans wanting to know more about Korea and its other cultural offerings such as food, traditional music, film and art. To meet the growing interest, Korean Culture Centre UK kicked off a three-month-long journey titled “All Eyes on Korea” last month to offer a wide range of creative Korean culture in various parts of L
Korean professor wins best paper award at SNS conference

PeopleJul 4, 2012

Cha Mi-young, a professor of cultural technology at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has won the prestigious Best Paper Award at the International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media, the university announced on Wednesday. The paper titled “The Emergence of Conventions in Online Social Network” was co-written by professor Cha and researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems to verify the formation process of the social conventions on Twitter. Social
French language takes center stage at Quebec forum

CultureJul 4, 2012

The first global forum on French kicked off in the Canadian province of Quebec Monday aimed at strengthening the language of Moliere in a world dominated by English.“I could tell you that the French language is doing well, that it is spoken and taught on five continents, that the number of speakers is growing and that it promises to have a brilliant future, especially in Africa,” declared Abdou Diouf, secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), a union of French
Video games can improve employee health

HealthJul 4, 2012

Employers are using health wellness video games to promote health and save employers direct and indirect healthcare costs, U.S. researchers say.Bill Ferguson, editor-in-chief of Games for Health Journal wrote in an editorial that wellness programs using health games could have a significant impact on human well-being and the costs, pain and suffering of preventable illnesses and conditions.Video g
Conference to seek new frontiers in Korean tourism

TravelJul 3, 2012

The annual international tourism conference kicks off Wednesday in Ulsan, gathering international and domestic tourism experts and highlighting recent tourism trends. More than 100 foreign participants including chief editors of major tourism journals ― Rick Perdue of Journal of Travel Research and former editor-in-chief of Annals of Tourism Research Jafar Jafari among them ― are attending the 72nd conference organized by the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea.Local participants include TOSOK pre
New designer revitalizes Dior’s classic silhouette

FashionJul 3, 2012

PARIS (AP) ― The start of haute couture week in Paris is a must on any self-respecting fashionista’s calendar.But day one of the French capital’s fall-winter 2012 shows was different: It’s what’s called a fashion event.Monday was the debut of Christian Dior’s new designer Raf Simons ― the first chance to see into the future of a storied powerhouse.Ever since last year’s dismissal of John Galliano, the house has been looking for a new, stronger direction.In Simons’ triumphant offering ― which mod
Camarata seeks singers for September concert

Expat LivingJul 3, 2012

Camarata Music Company is recruiting singers for its Chorale ahead of the company’s concert in September. Songs will include hits from “Wicked,” “Rent,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and other musicals, and there will be music from “Lord of the Rings,” popular cartoons and TV shows.Some singers will be chosen for solos and for small ensembles for musical numbers.After the concert, CMC’s Chorale will begin preparations for its annual “Messiah” Christmas concert.No experience is necessary. Rehearsals
Busan center offers Korean classes, changes helpline hours

Expat LivingJul 3, 2012

Busan Foundation for International Activities is providing 10 weeks of free Korean classes from July 16 to Sept. 21. Classes are in six levels from pre-beginner to advanced. Each class is limited to 25 people and is only offered to adults. The classes are offered at various times between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Busan Global Center and Social Service Center of Dong-Seo University. Tuition is free, except for a 10,000 won deposit that is refunded on the last week to students who attend at least 70
Korean mothers run trip for foreign students

Expat LivingJul 3, 2012

Korean Association of Mothers in Seoul is organizing a cultural experience event for foreign students in Korea this Saturday and Sunday.Participants in the event, called Embrace Korea, will visit Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon and a folk village, and stay one night with a Korean homestay family.The event aims to attract 25 foreign students, 25 volunteers and 13 homestay families. There is no charge, and meals will be provided.To attend or make inquiries, email kmaseoul@hanmail.net with your name, na
Toronto to host first N.K. rights film festival in N. America

Expat LivingJul 3, 2012

From July 6-8 the Innis Town Hall in Toronto will play host to North America’s first North Korean Human Rights Film Festival, organized by some former residents of South Korea. Two of the event’s co-organizers, Gilad Cohen and Michelle Ragno, took an interest in North Korean human rights after visits to the Korean Peninsula. For Cohen it started in 2008 with a trip to the Gaeseong Industrial Region, the special administrative zone of the North where it has cooperated with South Korea on manufact