The Korea Herald

Dongdaemun Design Plaza creates futuristic Seoul scape

Arts&DesignJan 1, 2014

Plaza and park designed by Pritzker-winning architect Zaha Hadid will open in March amid high anticipation
‘Snack culture’ to lead cultural trends this year

CultureJan 1, 2014

In 2014, more people are expected to use smartphones in their spare moments to watch short video clips or engage in cultural activities, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday. Koreans will likely live more private and individualistic lives while seeking a sense of attachment in real life, not just in cyberspace, it said. According to a joint report by the ministry and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, titled “10 Likely Trends for 2014,” this “snack culture” ― in which
Lee Seung-gi and SNSD’s YoonA dating

PeopleJan 1, 2014

It has been revealed that popular TV personality and singer Lee Seung-gi and Girls’ Generation’s YoonA have been seeing each other for the past several months. On New Year’s Day both of the stars’ agencies confirmed rumors that the two were dating after local online news media Dispatch released several photos of YoonA getting into Lee’s car on a number of occasions since October. The two have reportedly been dating in secret since September.“Lee Seung-gi and YoonA’s feelings for one another are
Herald Corp. names new managing editors

PeopleJan 1, 2014

Herald Corp. has conducted a major shuffle of senior staff at its media business units to enhance its digital and mobile content, data-based news and visual presentation online and offline.Hwang Jang-jin, National Desk editor, was appointed managing editor of The Korea Herald, the nation’s No. 1 English daily newspaper, on Monday. He replaced Chon Shi-young, who led the newspaper since 2010 and will now write editorials.The media firm also named Kwon Yong-kook, chief of the English Business Divi
Pope asks if people helped others in 2013

PeopleJan 1, 2014

VATICAN CITY (AP) ― Pope Francis used his year-end prayer service on Tuesday evening to urge people to ask themselves a tough question: Did they mainly spend 2013 promoting self-interests or helping others? That’s what we all should consider as New Year’s celebrations get under way, the pontiff said as he led the service in St. Peter’s Basilica to give thanks, a Vatican year-end tradition.“Let us courageously ask ourselves: How did we live the time (God) gave us?” Francis asked in his homily. “D
Vegas hypnotist will bring out your inner Strip dweller

CultureJan 1, 2014

LAS VEGAS ― Sure, Anthony Cools is a hypnotist, but this slick pompadour-sporting showman won’t help you quit smoking.He drives a Lamborghini and dresses in form-fitting suits with a bow tie, skull ring and pointy-toed, black-and-white Giorgio Brutini wingtips. Under his calculated spell, in fact, you might even start chain-smoking, or engage in other nefarious activities you wouldn’t be caught dead doing in your right mind.Maybe you’ll move your bra outside your blouse, dirty-flirt with a stran
World’s hottest pepper is grown in U.S.

Food&BeverageJan 1, 2014

FORT MILL, South Carolina (AP) ― Ed Currie holds one of his world-record Carolina Reaper peppers by the stem, which looks like the tail of a scorpion. On the other end is red fruit with a punch of heat nearly as potent as most pepper sprays used by police. Last month, The Guinness Book of World Records decided Currie’s peppers were the hottest on Earth, ending a more than four-year drive to prove no one grows a more scorching chili. The heat of Currie’s peppers was certified by students at Winth
Japan’s ‘Tree Town’ sculptors make living art

PeopleJan 1, 2014

SOSA, Japan (AFP) ― With a deft clip here and a gentle tug there, Makoto Ishibashi sculpts trees with the skill of an artisan whose work is far more than just a job.The heir to a centuries-old family business, he creates masterpieces that can turn a pine tree into a work of art that could fetch $40,000. “This tree is a woman ― the leaves are soft,” the arborist says of the pine into a triangle at his farm in the city of Sosa.“Trees are my family ― they don’t say what they want but they are sendi
[Rookies of 2014] Clara Jumi Kang, latest darling of classical music

PeopleDec 30, 2013

Twenty-six-year-old Clara Jumi Kang was 5 when she was admitted to the Mannheim Musikhochschule as the youngest student ever accepted to study under Valery Gradov. Brought up in a music-filled environment ― her father is the famed Wagnerian bass singer Philp Kang and her mother is the equally noted soprano Han Min-hee ― the violinist climbed steadily to the top. At five, she made her debut with the Hamburg Symphony and at seven she was accepted at the Juilliard School to study under Dorothy Dela
[Rookies of 2014] Media artist Yang Min-ha draws on latest technologies

PeopleDec 30, 2013

Media artist Yang Min-ha’s interactive media work was one of the well-received artworks at the inaugural exhibition of the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. His “Intervention, Misalignment,” on exhibit until Feb. 28 in Seoul, has been hailed as a fresh take on the existing media art form. His media installation, based on advanced technologies, not filmed images, set an example of the latest innovations in media art. “Yang is emerging in the international
[Rookies of 2014] Boys Republic looking to make a statement in 2014

PeopleDec 30, 2013

In June 2013, Universal Music Korea launched the global music conglomerate’s first K-pop group. The five-member boy band of Boys Republic, consisting of members Won-jun, Da-bin, Soo-wong, Sung-joon and Min-soo, is the first K-pop group organized directly by Universal Music.After two years of training in singing and dancing, as well as learning many different customs in order to become a global idol group, the boys made their official debut with “Party Rock” on June 6.In August, the boys released
[Rookies of 2014] Shim Eun-kyeong steps forward with ‘Miss Granny’

PeopleDec 30, 2013

One of the most anticipated films in the first half of this year is “Miss Granny,” a fantasy film and a comedy about an old woman in her 70s who somehow regains her physical appearance from when she was 20 years old. Playing the role is former child actress Shim Eun-kyeong, whose acting career in the past couple of years saw some dramatic highs, including roles in some of the most successful Korean films. In 2011, the 19-year-old actress played Na-mi, a wacky teenager living in 1980s Korea in di
[Rookie of 2014] Musical actress Park Ji-yeon evolves with ‘Ghost the Musical’

PeopleDec 30, 2013

Though “Ghost the Musical,” one of the most anticipated musicals of last year, has been grabbing attention for its star-studded cast ― including TV actor Joo Won and pop-singer Ivy ― it is in fact actress Park Ji-yeon who is making huge strides in her career with the show.The 25-year-old actress is sharing the lead role with Ivy in the musical which opened in November, an adaptation of the 1990 hit romance movie “Ghost.” She won her first musical role ― in “Mamma Mia!” ― through an audition with
Unknown donor leaves cash for charity again this year

PeopleDec 30, 2013

An unidentified person has made another cash donation this year in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, without being noticed at all.The mysterious donor has left a huge sum of cash in front of a community center of the city office each year for 14 years in a row.According to the Nosong-dong Community Center in Jeonju on Monday, a man presumed to be in his 50s called at around 11:15 a.m. Monday, and let them know he had left money there.The man said over the phone, “I put the money beside the statue o
Former F1 driver Schumacher ‘critical’ after skiing accident

PeopleDec 30, 2013

PARIS (AP) ― Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, doctors said. The Grenoble University Hospital Center said the retired racing driver arrived at the clinic in a coma and underwent immediate surgery for a serious head trauma. It was not clear whether the 44-year-old Schumacher was still in a coma but the hospital statement, which was signed by a neurosurgeon, an anesth