The Korea Herald

Overseas Sejong institutes to top 100 this year

CultureJul 4, 2013

The number of Korea’s government-funded overseas institutes that offer Korean language courses is expected to exceed 100 this year amid the global boom of Korean pop culture, officials said Thursday.The government will open 27 more King Sejong Institutes in 20 countries across the world, increasing the number of the institutes to 117, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.Named after the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) king who invented the Korean alphabet Hangeul, the institutes offer lan
Actress Ava Gardner’s bawdy banter powers new book

BooksJul 4, 2013

“I’m tired of remembering,” actress Ava Gardner laments during one of many sessions with the ghostwriter working on her memoir. “I’m sick of trying to explain myself all the time.”Her spirit may have been unwilling, but Gardner’s motivation was powerful: She needed the money. At 66, with her acting career over and her body suffering from the effects of a debilitating stroke, one of film’s most beautiful women was nearly broke. The star of “The Barefoot Contessa’’ (1954) and dozens of other movie
Questlove’s inner nerd unleashed

BooksJul 4, 2013

Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to QuestloveBy Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Ben Greenman (Central Publishing)Countless rappers and NBA stars have adopted a self-consciously nerdy fashion acumen, everything from Izod shirts to conspicuous eyeglasses.Then there’s the real deal, Ahmir “Questlove“ Thompson: driving force behind the Roots, Twitter giant, compulsive compiler of music lists and now author, with Ben Greenman, of the new quasi-memoir “Mo’ Meta Blues.”The guy who emerges from these
A midsummer night’s ‘Star Wars’

BooksJul 4, 2013

William Shakespeare’s ‘Star Wars’ By Ian Doescher (Quirk Books)If you are scared of a summer reading slump for your media-obsessed student ― or game-obsessed adult ― there’s a solution: Shakespeare a la George Lucas.In other words, take “William Shakespeare’s ‘Star Wars’” by Ian Doescher for a spin. He has adapted “Star Wars” (otherwise known as “Episode IV, A New Hope”) in the style of the great Bard of Avon.This can lead to some hilarious reading.In the movie, for example, when the pirate aka
Ven. Haemin’s book tops Kyobo bestseller list in first half

BooksJul 4, 2013

Ven. Haemin’s thought-provoking book topped Kyobo Book Centre’s bestseller charts in the first half of this year, the country’s biggest bookseller said in a press release Thursday. The Buddhist monk’s book titled “The Things You See When You Look Back” has been enjoying strong sales for an extended period, setting fresh records. The book’s popularity is partly boosted by local readers’ preference for essay collections focused on “healing” by a handful of established authors. Kyobo said total sal
Paintings by 3-year-old British girl with autism stun the world

CultureJul 4, 2013

Iris Grace Halmshaw, an autistic 3-year-old girl living in Britain, has attracted keen public attention with her fascinating paintings. Iris, diagnosed with autism in 2011, cannot talk; she even gets distressed when her friends get close to her. She started painting as a part of therapy. In the process, her parents noticed she is a talented painter. Since then, her paintings have been on display on Facebook and two pieces were sold for up to 1,500 pounds ($2,200) each. Her parents are now plann
Finest ingredients spell success at Seoul’s first wine shop

Food&BeverageJul 3, 2013

The Jell sheds members-only policy, but continues fine dining tradition
Dior, Valli, Versace, Schiaparelli energize Paris

FashionJul 3, 2013

PARIS (AP) ― Naomi Campbell not only owns the clothes she wears, but by her sheer magnetic presence commands the entire runway when she walks it. Donatella Versace knows this well, casting the age-defying 43-year-old to start Paris haute couture week with a bang of indomitable energy.It was a hard act to follow.Monday, the first of three full days of collections, showcased a universe of divergent and notable styles: From Dutch wunderkind Iris Van Herpen’s organic musings, the diaphanous display
Juun.J explores boundaries of design

FashionJul 3, 2013

Juun.J, one of the few Korean brands participating in Paris Fashion Week, has rolled out fresh spring and summer looks for 2014. The collection featured a mix of classic tailoring with sporty looks, challenging typical designs of menswear collections. The 38 pieces included variations of oversized sweatshirts with bold numbers emblazoned on them, high-waisted pants and photo-printed graphic sweatshirts. The spring and summer looks were put together under the theme “ununiform,” coined by the desi
Recent discovery on Silla tomb relic may overturn existing theories

CultureJul 3, 2013

The National Museum on Wednesday unveiled the discovery of a king’s name inscribed on the sheath of a large sword found at the ancient Geumgwan (Golden Crown) tomb in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The inscription, “Yisajiwang” or King Yisaji, is the oldest name of a king found at a Silla (B.C. 57-A.D. 935) tomb and makes Geumgwan the only sepulcher with an identified owner, researchers at the museum said. The Geumgwan tomb, believed to have been built in the sixth century, has been thorou
Government to change casino authorization process

CultureJul 3, 2013

Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong on Wednesday said that the government will change the current casino authorization process in order to sort out unfeasible and unhealthy casino plans from the initial stage.Yoon said that the authorities will design the casino establishment first and seek the appropriate candidates rather than authorizing projects as they come. Currently, one only needs to present a plan ― without making any actual investment ― for investing more than $300 million in hotel and othe
September wedding rumored for singers Lee Hyori, Lee Sang-soon

PeopleJul 3, 2013

Singer Lee Hyori is to tie the knot with her boyfriend Lee Sang-soon, a renowned guitarist and singer in Korea, in September, according to news reports on Wednesday. Reports said that the upcoming wedding came to light as news spread about the couple preparing wedding invitations. The two have been together since 2011. However, the news of the impending wedding has not been officially confirmed, with Lee Hyori’s agency B2M Entertainment changing its statements throughout Wednesday.The CEO of th
GIC offers excursion to Byeonsanbando Peninsula

Expat LivingJul 2, 2013

Gwangju International Center will run a tour to Byeonsanbando Peninsula National Park on July 20.The tour will start at Naesosa Temple, home to the country’s largest Buddhist mural, where the participants will try mulberry tea.The tour will then walk up the national park’s main valley, through an old temple site, and end at a waterfall, where the group will have a picnic.The group will then spend the afternoon at Gosapo Beach on the Yellow Sea. The tour starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m., and c
Gangnam center to run e-commerce course

Expat LivingJul 2, 2013

Gangnam Global Business Center will hold a free course on starting up an e-commerce business from July 15-18.The course will explain the start-up procedure for online businesses and discuss online business opportunities. It will also cover sales approaches to Korean and international markets, and marketing strategies for different online sales outlets.The course takes place on each of the four days from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Gangnam Global Business Center in the COEX building.Those wishing to at
Auditions open for 10 Minute Play Festival

Expat LivingJul 2, 2013

Seoul Players is holding auditions Saturday and Sunday for its 10 Minute Play Festival, which will take place in late September.Sixteen plays have been chosen for the festival from submissions by writers here and overseas. The plays cover a wide variety of genres, and actors of all backgrounds and levels of experience are invited to attend.Auditions will be held in three 45-minute sessions each day starting at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Bar Carmen in the Gyeongnidan area of Itaewon. There is a