The Korea Herald

AXIS seeks stories of outrageous fortune

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

The next AXIS storytelling event will be May 13 at Pier 8 in Itaewon. The theme for this event is “Outrageous Fortune” ― stories about happy accidents, tough breaks and other twists of fate.Submissions for stories should be made in 200 words and sent to axisstories@gmail.com. Those accepted will get 10 minutes to tell their tale in front of the audience.Stories can be far-fetched or fanciful, but they must be true.Pier 8 can be reached by leaving Exit 3 of Itaewon Station and walking straight fo
Applications for KLAT open May 1

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

Applications to take the Korean Language Ability Test ― formerly known as the Korean Language Proficiency Test ― open May 1-14.The test will be available in six days in June across the country and on four days overseas. The test is computer-based test and available in two levels ― standard and basic.The international tests are available June 9-10 and 16-17 and the Korea-based tests on the same days, plus June 23-24.The times of the test depend on location, with the earliest in Korea being in Seo
Capturing subculture through a Loose Union

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

A new project has been launched by three expats to record the Korean capital’s alternative cultural scene. The Loose Union collective of artists and musicians has just been formed to produce audio and video to capture the underground music scene that is growing in Seoul. The group was founded by American Danny Arens, Canadian Adam Brennan and Ollie Walker from South Africa, with the aim of recording live music acts and distributing the content for free online. The three are all English teachers
Korea’s Muslims encounter stereotypes but little prejudice

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

One year after arriving, his main concerns seem awfully similar to those of other expatriates: language and food. But for Naveed Ejaz, 30, food is not just a matter of taste. Like 97 percent of Pakistanis, Ejaz is Muslim and must follow an Islamic diet. This means no pork or ham, no alcohol and no meat that hasn’t been slaughtered in a way that is considered “halal,” or permissible. Finding it can be tricky for Ejaz, who is studying for a doctorate in digital content at Sejong University in Seou
GIC extends Korean class to toddlers

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

Gwangju International Center begins its next round of Korean language courses on May 1, and this time is offering a special class for kids 3-6 years old.Other courses include three levels of Saturday classes and four levels of weekday evening classes. There are also beginner and intermediate classes on the Test of Proficiency in Korean on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, an intensive four evening a week course and courses featuring K-pop and dramas that run on Tuesday or Saturday afternoons.Course
Gwangju theater group mixes dance with laughs

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

Gwangju Performance Project is returning for its first full production this year with a series of short plays and a bit of dancing. “Ives Just Got to Dance” features four short comedies by David Ives, and a dance performance choreographed by GPP’s Angie Hartley.“The themes are timing and miscommunication based on language,” said Travis Major, who is overseeing the production and directing two of the plays. “That’s why we selected it, because we thought it was something a Korean audience would fi
Free food event for foreign residents

Expat LivingApr 24, 2012

Publishing house Hollym will offer a free Korean cuisine event Thursday including an English lecture on Korean food, cooking classes and a performance of musical “Bibap.” There will also be a chance to try on hanbok and a visit the Tteok Museum.It is the first of a series of events for foreigners on Korean culture run by Hollym to mark its 50th anniversary in 2013. Director of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food Yoon Sook-ja will explain the basic principles of Korean cuisine.Classes on mak
Shin’s award-winning novel sells over 2 million here

BooksApr 24, 2012

“Please Look After Mom,” a novel of family love and loss by award-winning author Shin Kyung-sook, has sold more than two million copies in her homeland South Korea, the publisher said Tuesday.Lee Sang-Sul, director at publisher Changbi, said only two other novels since the 1990s had sold more than two million in South Korea, “so it’s a rare achievement for a pure literary work.”Shin last month became the first South Korean to win the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize with the novel, which portrays a
(단독) 레이디 가가, 호텔방에서 못 나오는 이유

PeopleApr 24, 2012

오는 4월 27일 서울 올림픽 주경기장서 첫 월드투어를 여는 레이디 가가가 활달한 그녀의 성격과는 달리 호텔 방에서 통 나오지 않고 있다. 팝스타 레이디 가가(연합뉴스)오늘 오전 강남의 한 호텔 로비에서 그녀의 보디가드로 보이는 두명의 남자가 “레이디가 오전에는 못 일어난다. 오늘 새벽 한시에도 일어나 앉아있더라”고 대화를 주고받는 장면이 코리아헤럴드 기자에게 목격되었다.“그들은 아침식사시간에도 그녀가 잠을 청했으며 다시 일어났을 때는 배고파하는 것 같았다며 안쓰럽다”는 대화를 주고받았다고.지난 쇼케이스때와는 달리 언론에 모습을 거의 드러내지 않는 레이디 가가는 오는 콘서트를 앞두고 신경이 매우 예민해 있는 것으로 알려졌다.그녀는 이번 한국공연을 앞두고는 어느 매체와도 인터뷰를 하지 않겠다고 했으며, 기자
Jessica Alba in Seoul, not just for pleasure?

PeopleApr 24, 2012

Rumors are spreading about U.S. actress Jessica Alba signing business deals with Korean companies during her unexpected Seoul trip. Alba was spotted at Kolon’s fashion unit in Gangnam on Monday and also at a celebrity party hosted by CJ E&M vice chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung later in the evening, according to reports.Kolon is one of the country’s leading textile and fashion companies and creates products for fashion and accessories brands like Couronne, Qua and Elord. CJ E&M is the entertainment and m
Lady Gaga stays holed up in hotel room

PeopleApr 24, 2012

Lady Gaga who kicks off her world tour at Olympic Stadium in Seoul this Friday is holed up in her hotel room, not showing up anywhere around the city, contrary to her active personality. Two Korean bodyguards were seen talking this morning by The Korea Herald about how Lady Gaga is unable to get up in the morning.In the lobby of a hotel in Gangnam, they talked about how Lady Gaga is suffering from a jet lag, getting up at 1 a.m. and going back to sleep during the breakfast hours. She looked hung
Sotheby's to sell 400-year-old diamond

FashionApr 24, 2012

The 400-year-old ``Beau Sancy,'' one of the world's oldest and most storied diamonds in private hands, is up for sale at Sotheby's auction house. Weighing in at 34.98 carats, the sparkling gem with a rare pear cut is expected to fetch up to $4 million. The Beau Sancy, a 34.98 carat diamond that will be put on sale by Sotheby`s auction house in Geneva next month, is presented in Paris, Monday. (AP-
Jessica Alba surprises Seoul clubbers

PeopleApr 23, 2012

American Actress Jessica Alba surprised clubbers and bar-hoppers by showing up in Seoul last Saturday. The actress and her husband Cash Warren flew from Japan to Korea last Saturday evening, and reserved a table around 11:30 p.m. at Club Octagon in Nonhyeon-dong.Staying at the V.I.P. area for about an hour, Alba, Warren and two Korean friends enjoyed their night out together. The couple took pictures with excited fans and friends for the last 5 minutes and left with their bodyguard. “Alba mostly
‘Islam is calling for peace’

PeopleApr 23, 2012

Head of Islamic Cultural Center in Qatar says coreof Islamic culture is to respect other culturesIslamic culture is not calling for violence, said Abdulla Al-Mulla, Director of the Qatar Islamic Cultural Center. “We respect other cultures. But like any other cultures, some groups will do something that would be negative for this culture. But we should not generalize the act that all Muslims are like that. If there is a group which did something not acceptable, even from Islam, we should not say
Egyptian scrolls found in Aussie museum

CultureApr 23, 2012

SYDNEY (AFP) ― A British historian said Saturday he had unearthed a trove of Egyptian Book of the Dead fragments by a top ancient official after chancing upon a scrap on show in an Australian museum.John Taylor, a world-famous Egyptologist from the British Museum, said his discovery began with a shred of papyrus on display at Queensland Museum’s new mummies exhibition bearing the distinctive hieroglyphs of Amenhotep.The 15th century B.C. figure, son of Hapu, was Egypt’s chief architect and is am