The Korea Herald

Citizens lose 1.64 kg under Seoul anti-obesity program

PeopleDec 3, 2013

About 5,000 citizens each lost an average of 1.64 kilograms under a three-month Seoul City weight-loss project.A total of 5,812 Seoul residents aged 18 and older joined the program from July to September and shed a total of 9,580 kilograms in three months, Seoul City said.The municipal government launched the Healthy Weight Project 3.3.3 with a goal of 3,000 persons losing 3 kg in three months.It was the first collective anti-obesity program administered by a local government. Though the city fa
More than 80 dinosaur tracks found near Ulsan dam site

PeopleDec 3, 2013

More than 80 fossilized dinosaur tracks have been discovered at the foot of a cliff known for its set of prehistoric engravings, in the southeastern part of the country, a government think tank said Tuesday.The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage announced the discovery after providing results on an additional archeological survey on the areas surrounding the cliff in Ulsan.Only 25 footprints had previously been discovered. About 30 of the footprints were found in the rock bed of th
Jesse Owens’ gold medal up for sale

PeopleDec 3, 2013

LAGUNA NIGUEL, California (AP) ― One of the four Olympic gold medals won by track and field star Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games is up for sale in an online auction that runs through Dec. 7.The medal ― being auctioned online ― recalls both the Nazi propaganda myths that Owens busted with his world record-setting 100-yard dash, and the American segregation that he came home to when he returned to the U.S. after the Games, which Adolf Hitler orchestrated to showcase his ideas of Aryan suprema
Murder, jealousy and lust

BooksDec 2, 2013

The Korea Herald, LTI Korea jointly publish book series of classic Korean literature
‘Understanding of classic literature required to understand contemporary literature’

BooksDec 2, 2013

LTI Korea director Kim Seong-kon speaks about the institution’s current and future projects
Meet the translators

BooksDec 2, 2013

Three translators worked on the Korean Classic Stories, a five-volume series consisting of Korean classic literature and folktales.The first two volumes, “Avengers & Artists” and “Confucians in Love,” were translated by Kevin O’Rourke, professor emeritus of English at Kyung Hee University in Seoul. Formerly a Catholic priest from Ireland, O’Rourke has been living in Korea since 1964. He is believed to be the first foreigner to receive a Ph.D. in Korean literature. He earned the degree from Yonse
Series introduces ‘all walks of life’ of Joseon period

BooksDec 2, 2013

When professor emeritus Kim Hung-gyu was asked to select and compile classic Korean stories for a book series, the first thing he wanted to do was introduce the kind of stories that are “page-turners.”“Many say pre-modern Korea was a Confucian society,” Kim, a longtime researcher of traditional Korea literature, told The Korea Herald. “And that is not incorrect. But the pre-modern Korea cannot be solely defined as ‘Confucian.’ It was very much a complex and diverse society and people felt all ki
Glory and sophistication of Hungary

CultureDec 2, 2013

Exhibitions in Seoul and Daegu highlight life of Hungarian aristocracy under the Habsburg Dynasty
[Photo News] Mission complete

PeopleDec 2, 2013
Philippine village named after Gangneung

PeopleDec 2, 2013

A village in Indang in the province of Cavite, Philippines, was named after the Korean city of Gangneung.Gangneung Mayor Choi Myeong-hee, Gangneung City Council chairman Kim Hwa-mook and other officials from the east coast city attended an event Saturday to name the newly created Indang village “Pine City Gangneung,” city officials said.The village was formed under a Habitat housing project led by Gangneung-based volunteer group SCU.SCU has built a village of 23 houses to accommodate 43 househol
Newspaper discovers pamphlet by Korean WWII POWs

PeopleDec 2, 2013

A copy of the third edition of a newsletter published by Koreans while they were jailed in a prisoner-of-war camp in Hawaii after being captured by allied forces was recently discovered in North Chungcheong Province. The soldiers had been drafted by Japan to fight in World War II.Before it was found, Korea had only seventh edition copies, in the Independence Hall of Korea and the National Archives of Korea. The Chungcheong Daily News reported Monday that it had discovered the copy and a roster o
Star Chinese director admits defying one-child rule

PeopleDec 2, 2013

BEIJING (AP) ― Star Chinese director Zhang Yimou has admitted to flouting his country’s strict family planning rules by having three children with his wife, but rejected rumors that he had fathered seven children with several women. Zhang’s office issued an open letter through its verified microblog account on China’s equivalent to Twitter, Sina Weibo, saying the director and his wife, Chen Ting, have two sons and a daughter. This is the first time Zhang has responded to reports that circulated
Soviet dissident Natalya Gorbanevskaya dies

PeopleDec 2, 2013

MOSCOW (AFP) ― Russian poet Natalya Gorbanevskaya, one of the former Soviet Union’s foremost civil rights activists, died in Paris Friday at the age of 77, friends in Moscow told AFP.Gorbanevskaya was a key figure in the dissident movement that fought for human rights in the Communist country and took a prominent role in the protests against the August 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops.On August 25, 1968, she was one of seven dissidents who publicly denounced the invasion in
[Photo News] Miranda Kerr dating billionaire Packer: report

PeopleDec 2, 2013

Model Miranda Kerr is in a romantic relationship with Casino tycoon James Packer, according to numerous news outlets. The 30-year-old Kerr, who divorced Hollywood star Orlando Bloom in October, recently started dating the billionaire, who parted ways with his wife in September. The two Australians have known each other for years and even spent the holidays together in Tahiti last year with their respective then-spouses, according to the AFP.
Early Goryeo lacquer box under spotlight

CultureDec 1, 2013

The 12th-century Korean incense box offers insight into history of East Asian lacquerware