Beneath glinting disco balls and festive decor, illuminated by multicolored strobe lights, the group ― all beaming, glistening with sweat ― are caught up in hip-shaking, body-swirling dance moves. But this isn’t a nightclub. This is Zumba ― a Latin-inspired fitness program that has gripped dance and exercise lovers in more than 110 countries and has now landed in Itaewon, Seoul. “Zumba has changed

(MCT)The immediate task might be coaxing a toddler into one more swallow of nasty-tasting medication. Longer term, there are tough choices to be made about telling that child, and the surrounding community, why those daily doses may be needed for the rest of his or her life.While most adoptions present challenges, there is a distinctive set of them facing parents who decide to adopt children livin

Park Seung, former governor of the Bank of Korea, has donated 500 million won to the elementary school he went to in Gimje, North Jeolla Province.The small elementary school that he graduated from in 1948 has used the money to build a library.The 75-year-old Gimje native gave 400 million won in May to start the construction of the library, and recently sent an extra 100 million ahead of its openin

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ― She can climb stairs and hike blocks to a bus stop. The beat-up wheelchair is gone.Sounlove Zamor, who lost both legs below the knee in Haiti’s earthquake, is walking again.The young woman, who had been caught in a collapsed house, was fitted with prosthetic legs in Israel after benefactors read about her in the Los Angeles Times. Now she’s back in Haiti and walking on new

Sohn Hong-shik on way to become the first Korean to donate blood 600 timesRetiree Sohn Hong-shik has a long-cherished habit that he says freshens him up like having a haircut or taking a bath, but may sound freakish to others: having a needle stuck in his arm and blood pumped out of it.For Sohn, 61, blood donation has been an almost once-every-two-weeks ritual for the past 27 years. He has donated

Ko Un, one of the most acclaimed living poets in Korea, shared his attachment for Prague and Czech culture at a Prague-themed book launch event held at Ceske Info Centrum (Czech Information Center) in Seoul, Thursday.The newly-released Korean language book, “Praha,” contains a total of 16 stories and essays about Prague by 14 established Czech writers, including Franz Kafka (1883-1924) and Jan Ner

SYDNEY ― Korean Culture and Information Service’s Korean culture centers promoting Korean studies, culture and arts around the world need to know exactly what kind of information and content local visitors want, Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said in a meeting with Korean cultural center heads in Sydney, Australia.His comments came as directors of Korean cultural centers and culture & press co

Edible blossoms enliven and brighten up mealsFlowers serve as emblems of spring’s arrival, a sign that plants are stirring, birds are warbling and bees buzzing. Though often used to create decorative bouquets, blossoms at the dinner table are not restricted to the vase. Technicolor petals add a burst of color to a bowl of salad, a frosted cake or even a cheesy slab of pizza. The Korean tradition o

Murder and affectionPhoto Shop MurderBy Kim Young-ha(Jimoondang, 5,000 won)Kim Young-ha, one of the leading contemporary literary voices of Korea, has been capturing both the absurd and the mundane in our society. One of his short stories, “Photo Shop Murder,” portrays modern individuals who are desperate for affection while completely losing their morals and values.The nameless protagonist, who w

Literature Still MattersThe Use and Abuse of LiteratureBy Marjorie Garber(Pantheon Books, $28.95)In an age that prizes short bursts of electronic information, Harvard English professor Marjorie Garber asks whether literature still matters. As might be expected of someone who has spent her career teaching Shakespeare to undergraduates, she answers with a resounding “yes.”Garber sets the stage for h

26-year-old author Amanda Hocking signs a book contract worth more than $2 millionAmanda Hocking, a 26-year-old author in Austin, Minnesota who’s considered the biggest e-book seller in the world, has signed with an ink-and-paper publisher for a book contract reportedly worth more than $2 million. The four-book deal was confirmed Thursday by Hector DeJean, a spokesman for St. Martin’s Press.“I alw

Men may be overrepresented in the halls of power and executive suites, but a look around the bookshelves shows that boys are a great source of anxiety to teachers, parents and experts these days. One can’t escape titles like “The Trouble With Boys” and “Boys Adrift.”For a fascinating look into the world of boys and how they evolve into men, my money is on Hannah Pittard and her debut novel, “The F

IP Boutique HotelThe hotel’s Café Amiga offers various new menus prepared with strawberries through May 31. The menus include flower and sprout bibimbap, strawberry juice, strawberries with cream and strawberry banana juice. Prices range from 9,000 won to 15,000 won. Other course menus and buffet bars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available at 18,000 won, 22,000 won and 29,000 won, respecti