‘tt’ call center operators offer information, careOn a cold December day last year, an elderly Japanese woman was found sitting on the steps of Myeong-dong subway station. The person who found her wanted to take her to her destination but couldn’t communicate in Japanese.The person called 1330 and was able to communicate with the woman through the Japanese language interpreter on the phone. The call was also transferred to the police who tracked down a report of the disappearance of an elderly J

First Lady Kim Yoon-ok offered the spouses of global leaders currently in Seoul for the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit a chance to appreciate both Korean traditional culture and K-pop at an official luncheon held in Cheong Wa Dae, on Tuesday.Kim, a strong advocate of the globalization of hansik, or Korean cuisine, hosted a luncheon at Sangchunjae, meaning “a house used during spring.” Sangchujae, built in 1983 to serve VIP guests, is the only traditional-style building at the Blue House complex.

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel just got a prime-time gig: Host of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards. The star and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will host the Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. “I hope to be able to do for the Emmys this year what Eddie Murphy did for the Oscars,” Kimmel joked, referring to the comic actor who pulled out as host of this year’s Academy Awards. This is Kimmel’s first time hosting the Emmys.  Kimmel’s nam

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Officials in Southern California said Bobby Brown has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Harris said Brown was arrested around 12:20 p.m. Monday in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles. He failed a field sobriety test and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. Harris said the R&B singer was pulled over after an officer saw him talking on his cellphone without a hands-free unit and noticed h

CHICAGO (AP) ― Former President Bill Clinton will be the opening speaker when Nobel Peace laureates gather in Chicago next month.It was announced Monday that Clinton will speak at the opening dinner April 23 at Chicago’s Field Museum. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn are among co-chairs of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. The summit is from April 23 to 25.Laureates expected to attend include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, former U.S. Presi

Cut Glass Theater will stage Willy Russell’s “Educating Rita” from March 30-April 14.The Seoul-based group is looking to repeat the success of its inaugural production, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” in November.Founded by Jessica Adel, Stephanie Ann Foster and Gef Somervel, all of whom are prolific performers of other Seoul-based theater groups, Cut Glass Theater was formed to bring something new to Seoul.“What we felt lacking in Seoul were the classics,” said Foster. “Amid all of the stron

Korea will shift the focus of cultural exchange from developed countries to Third World countries, said Choe Kwang-shik, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday. Choe announced plans to enhance international cooperation and exchanges in culture, sports and tourism and promote cultural welfare at a media briefing at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit media center at COEX, Samseong-dong, Tuesday. The basic plans for Korean cultural policy include finding creativity in tradition, promotion

Since opening in 2008, Seoul’s Modoo Library has gone from strength to strength, doubling its number of books and opening 12 programs for multicultural children.In addition to the Modoo library in Imun-dong, Seoul, there are another six Modoo branches in Korea.Each one has more than 10,000 books in at least nine languages ― and is becoming popular with children without a multicultural background, too.“Considering Modoo’s small size, 12 regular programs is a large number,” said Sung Ji-yeon, a st

Probationary Theatre will be bringing Yasmina Reeza’s 1998 Tony award-winning comedy “Art” to Seoul starting this weekend.The 80-minute play follows three male friends, Yvan, Marc and Serge, whose friendship is tested when Serge purchases a piece of art for an astronomical sum.The art in question is a white canvas with a white background and a white diagonal line on it. Director Desiree Munro said one of the reasons for choosing the play was its universal appeal, even when performed in different