After a turbulent 2014, the New Year has finally arrived. In what feels like a nice respite, 2015 is the Year of the Sheep, a meek and gentle creature often associated with peace, harmony and compatibility. The sheep is the eighth animal in the 12-year cycle. It is the guardian animal for the time between 1 and 3 p.m. The previous sheep year was 2003. Year of the Sheep or the Goat? In Chinese, the animal sign for 2015 is “yang,” an inclusive term for various horned ruminating mammals. So, Year o

Best-selling novelist Gong Ji-young sued seven netizens for libel, claiming they circulated a false rumor about her private life and posted malicious comments online. Gong filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office against the netizens, who are accused of posting sexually insulting comments on major newspaper websites, Facebook and Twitter between December 2012 and November 2014, according to Yonhap. The nature of the rumor was not specified.“Gong is well aware that as

PHILADELPHIA ― Gold has moved beyond deck-the-halls festive into the glitzy realm of must-have fashion.It’s the season for gleaming flecks to sparkle on fluttering eyelids and glisten on mistletoe-ready lips. A bronzy link chain, instead of a ribbon, on tuxedo-style trousers is happy-hour sultry. And shimmering, silky pantsuits are both retro and relevant.Once civilization’s most sought-after metal, gold shines brightest this year in classic yellow. But copper and rose blends, especially on sequ

Korea attracts 14 million foreign visitors in 2014

The number of foreign residents in Seoul has now reached about 410,000, accounting for about one in every twenty-five people. This changing demographic of Seoul has motivated the city administration to develop policies to support the foreign residents of the city. As a result, the city is currently carrying out a variety of initiatives to create an advanced, multi-cultural cosmopolitan community built on the basis of cultural diversity, thereby improving the quality of life of its foreign reside

Art exhibit explores confusion in male roles as gender power shifts

Simone to launch own brand after 27 years of making handbags for luxury brand

FestivalPyeongchang Trout Festival: The festival, named one of the top 20 winter festivals in Korea by the Korea Tourism Organization, is being held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics until Feb. 8. The festival is underway along the Odaecheon Stream known for its abundant trout population. Visitors can ice fish and eat trout raw for sashimi or roast it on the spot. More winter activities are available such as catching trouts with bare hands, ice skating,

AUSTIN, Texas ― Lounging poolside, sipping $18 mini-margaritas under sprawling live oaks, our eyes and wallets opened wide to a life of luxury we didn’t really know existed in the city we once knew so well.Austin’s drastically changing skyline was visible from our plush loungers at the small but otherworldly St. Cecilia Hotel. To fully see downtown, though, we had to look over the giant neon sign at the end of the hotel pool, which simply reads “SOUL.” It reminded me of Austin’s late, great musi

Looking for the perfect spot to watch the sunset and sunrise that is not too far from Seoul? Incheon, situated on the west coast, recommends eight top places to watch sunset and sunrise for the New Year. The Incheon Development and Tourism Corporation suggests four great places to bid farewell to 2014: Jeongseojin, Mount Seoksan in Songdo, Sunset Village in Janghwa-ri, Ganghwa and Wangsan Beach. Jeongseojin, located at the starting point of the Gyeongin Ara waterway, is known for a beautiful sun

Rice-centric meals and wholesome sides at new restaurant