The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it appointed former Ambassador to Laos Lee Gun-tae, 56, as the 15th ambassador for international relations. Lee graduated from the department of French literature at Seoul National University, and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1980. He served as vice consul general in Houston, an aide to the chief trade negotiator, director-general for regional trade and ambassador to Laos.He will provide advice and suggestions to the city government on its int

STOCKHOLM (AFP) ― Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrated 40 years as monarch Sunday in true Scandinavian egalitarian style by inviting everyone to come and dance at the royal palace.“I invite everybody to a music and dance party in the inner courtyard of the royal palace,” the 67-year-old said according to national Swedish radio.“And everybody is welcome. Bring your dancing shoes. Cheers!”The king showed the way by asking his spouse for the past 37 years, German-born Queen Silvia, up for a dan

A book on the music world of Hwang Byung-ki, a master of “gayageum” and honorary professor of Ewha Womans University, has been published as part of a British university’s musicology series. It is the first book in English about an Asian composer who writes primarily for traditional instruments. The publisher, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, is the only higher education institution in Europe specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The gayageum

An advocacy group for the women who were drafted by Japan as sex slaves for its soldiers during World War II started a petition on Monday in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, asking for the United Nations to take a step toward restoring their honor.The group of citizens living in Tongyeong and its adjacent city Geoje held a news conference in front of a monument memorializing the women euphemistically called “comfort women” by Japan to kick off the campaign, the third launched of its kind.Ki

A 1,200-year-old Buddha statue will be shown to the public for the first time during this year’s global Tripitaka festival, the event’s organizer said Monday.The Haeinsa Temple will unveil “Maaebul,” a 7.5-meter high Buddha statue engraved into a rock wall at Gayasan Mountain, for the 2013 Tripitaka Koreana Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 27 for a 45-day run, the Millennial Anniversary of the Tripitaka Koreana Organizing Committee said.The Maaebul is one of the country’s most well-preserved s

New Chinese Travel Law effective Oct. 1 will temporarily stem the growing tide of Chinese tourists

Kong Sung-hun, winner of this year’s Korea Artist Prize, said he wanted to show a slice of life through his paintings. “I want to get away from the current art trend and reveal pieces of ordinary lives, including myself living in the present,” he said. The 48-year-old fine arts professor at Sungkyunkwan University received the award from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea on Sept. 10 for his series of paintings titled “Winter Journey.”The judge panels praised Kong for infu

The Miss America pageant has crowned its first winner of Indian heritage.Moments after winning the 2014 crown, 24-year-old Nina Davuluri described how delighted she is that the nearly century-old pageant sees beauty and talent of all kinds.“I'm so happy this organization has embraced diversity,” she said in her first press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall. “I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss Americ

A large sculpture will be built at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery and Peace Park in Busan to memorialize Korean War veterans of the U.N. allies who fought for South Korea in the 1950-1953 war. The Nam-gu district office said Sunday that it plans to set up the sculpture by April next year at the cost of 640 million won ($550,000). The memorial will be 14 meters tall and depict a person bowing with two hands held together. Doves flying above the U.N. emblem will be carved on the foot of its drum-shape

The statue of a legendary Korean pitcher, Choi Dong-won, was unveiled near the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Saturday. The 2.4-meter-high statue depicts the Busan native in mid-pitch. The unveiling ceremony was attended by his mother, wife and son, Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik, regional lawmakers, professional league officials and players, and citizens.Twenty-eight members of the baseball team from his high school alma mater, Kyungnam High, also paid their respects at the ceremony. Dubbed an “ir