The Korea Herald

KTO, Buyeo team up for smartphone service

TravelJun 24, 2011

The Korea Tourism Organization and Buyeo County on June 22 signed an MOU to collaborate for providing smartphone services on tourism in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. The two will produce animation content about history and legends of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, for smartphones, websites and museums in Buyeo County. The content will include the establishment of Baekje Kingdom,
Philippines’ Sandugo Festival coming up

TravelJun 24, 2011

The Philippines Tourism Board said the country is to hold an annual historical celebration Sandugo Festival from July 1-31 in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol. The festival originates from the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lpez de Legazpi in 16th century. “Sandugo“ means a pact of blood. For foreign tourists, a famous part o
Sanbangsan Biwon: ‘secret garden’ in Geoje Island

TravelJun 24, 2011

A beautiful garden, Geoje Sanbangsan Biwon, can be found after a 10-minute drive to the right of Geoje Bridge, in Dundeok-myeon, Geoje City, where the legacy of Emperor Uijong of Goryeo Dynasty still vividly remains. Seating in the Mount Sanbang foothill over 24-acres of land, Sanbangsan Biwon looks like it came from another planet. The garden boasts more than 1,000 kinds of wild flowers, trees, s
Ports of call: What’s not to like about Portugal in the off-season?

TravelJun 24, 2011

PORTO, Portugal ― On an overcast day in November, we drove east from Porto along the Douro River. The grape harvest was over. The men hired for the crush had gone home; the raw tawny and ruby ports had been poured into barrels or steel casks to age.The boats that make day trips up the river and the excursion trains that bring visitors to the wineries had ended their seasons, so my travel agent had
Betrayal, war and destiny

BooksJun 24, 2011

The Cry of the MagpiesBy Kim Dong-ni(Jimoondang, 5,000 won)“The Cry of Magpies” is one of the most well-known short stories written by Korea’s late author Kim Dong-ni. A dark and painful account of war and betrayal, the novella engages elements of Korean shamanism to reflect his view on human destiny that controls one’s life and innermost desires.The novel tells a story of Bong-su, who just return
New Books

BooksJun 24, 2011

Miracle told by late Park’s chiefFrom Despair to HopeBy Kim Chung-yum(KDI)The right-hand man of late President Park Chung-hee uncovered inside the brainstorming of Korea’s macroeconomic policies of the 1960s and 70s ― process widely believed to have brought the country’s remarkable development. The memoirs by former chief presidential secretary Kim Chung-yum is reorganized and translated by the Ko
Ann Patchett’s ‘State of Wonder’ evokes magic

BooksJun 24, 2011

Ever since a shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe scrambled ashore and found Friday, the novel has been exploring lost continents in search of what’s missing at home.Anybody who has read Ann Patchett’s masterfully constructed “Bel Canto” won’t be surprised to learn that in “State of Wonder,” her latest novel, she, too, has made an outbound voyage.“Bel Canto” revolved around a hostage crisis in an unnamed c
Bordeaux glitterati unveil stunning wine cellars

Food&BeverageJun 24, 2011

MOUSSET (AFP) ― Construction cranes are as ubiquitous as wine critics in Bordeaux’s prized vineyards as leading chateaux brand their estates by transforming their cellars into architectural show pieces.In the case of Chateau Clerc Milon, located across the road from the illustrious vineyards of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Lafite Rothschild, the wine scored with critics but it sorely need
Ululani’s redefines the meaning of fine texture

Food&BeverageJun 24, 2011

A term synonymous with Hawaii much like ukulele, luau or humuhumunukunukuapua’a (the state fish), shaved ice is a must-have for anyone visiting from the mainland. Shave ice, as the locals call it, has its roots in Asian culture, as it was Japanese plantation workers who first started shaving ice with machetes and flavoring it with fruit juice. One of the near infinite flavor combinations available
Omija-hwachae (Omija Punch)

Food&BeverageJun 24, 2011

Omija-hwachae is a Korean berry punch made with omija berries and honey or sugar, and garnished with pear. Omija-hwachae is a cold drink that is typically enjoyed in the summer. It has a beautiful color and is high in organic acids which are good for relieving fatigue and quenching thirst. Omija-hwachae (Institute of Korean Traditional Food)Ingredients ● 1/5 cups of omija, 2 cups water ● 3 tbsp s
Vinegar drinks all the rage

Food&BeverageJun 24, 2011

Celebrity drinkers putting vinegar health fad on the mapVinegar, we put it in our salad dressings and dip dumplings in it with some soy sauce. Up until 2005, drinking it was not the norm. Then food goliath Daesang’s Chungjungwon released Drink Hong Cho ― a brilliantly packaged and pleasantly fruity vinegar squash ― for health-conscious Koreans. The beverage was a major hit, reeling in 25.3 billion
Judge tells Lohan: No more parties

PeopleJun 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The house party is over for Lindsay Lohan, at least while she’s on house arrest.Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner chided Lohan for having rooftop parties at her home while serving house arrest on a probation violation but said the actress hadn’t violated any other rules.“If you are guilty of some violation of your probation, I don’t see it,” Sautner said. “What you are guil
Roadblock: theme park boss’ car replaced with Lego

CultureJun 24, 2011

Some people might be unlucky enough to wake up to find their car on bricks, but not many find their vehicle made out of bricks.　That happened at Legoland California, where staff organized the perfect prank by replacing their boss’ car with a Lego version, the Daily Mail reported.On Monday morning, Peter Rochetti, the general manager of Legoland parked his Volvo SUV in his usual spot. Little did he
Study links potatoes, among other foods, to weight gain

HealthJun 24, 2011

(MCT)LOS ANGELES — Public Enemy No. 1 in America's battle of the bulge isn't cupcakes, soda or double bacon cheeseburgers. It's the simple potato, according to Harvard University researchers.Daily consumption of an extra serving of spuds — french fried, sliced into crispy chips, mashed with butter and garlic, or simply boiled or baked — was found to cause more weight gain than downing an additiona
Promoting Korean culture in Beijing tastes success and challenges

CultureJun 23, 2011

By Claire Lee, Korea Herald correspondentBEIJING ― The city is booming, huge, commercial and industrial. Its gigantic roads are filled with countless vehicles, high-rise buildings and almost unbearably polluted air.It is lunch time in Dongcheng District, an urban district in Beijing covering the eastern half of the city’s urban core. And what’s located on the ground floor of Park Plaza Mall, one o