The Korea Herald

Writing is like going to dark place: Murakami

BooksMay 7, 2013

KYOTO, Japan (AFP) ― Bestselling author Haruki Murakami said Monday that writing a novel is like descending to a very dark second basement of your psyche, when you are not even sure where the corridors are.In a rare public appearance by the publicity-shy but wildly popular writer, Murakami spoke at a seminar entitled “Observe soul, write soul” in the ancient city of Kyoto.“For novelists or musicians, if they really want to create something, they need to go downstairs and find a passage to get in
Culture officials call for preservation of Bangudae engravings in Ulsan

CultureMay 7, 2013

The Cultural Heritage Administration and local authorities at Ulsan are locking horns over the preservation of a group of ancient carvings that are candidates for the UNESCO World Heritage list. Until President Park Geun-hye expressed interest, the engravings on the rock face of Bangudae, located on Daegokcheon Stream cliff in Ulsan, were merely a subject of a decade-long, little publicized issue between cultural experts and local administrators. But it has become a battlefield where environment
Park to get rights award for N.K. pro-democracy campaign

PeopleMay 7, 2013

A South Korean activist who has been engaged in sending pro-democracy leaflets into North Korea will receive an international human rights award.The Fighters for Free North Korea said Monday that its representative Park Sang-hak will be awarded the 2013 Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent in Oslo, Norway on May 15.The group said it received an official notification from the U.S.-based Human Rights Foundation on Sunday and said Park will be leaving for Norway on Saturday to take part in the a
Mamma Mia!: ABBA The Museum opens in Stockholm

PeopleMay 7, 2013

STOCKHOLM (AP) ― You can thank ABBA for the music. And so much more. A museum devoted to the pop superstars opening in Stockholm on Tuesday will celebrate the band’s long list of hits. But it will also show off paraphernalia, including the helicopter featured on the cover of its “Arrival” album, a star-shaped guitar and dozens of glitzy costumes the Swedish band wore at the height of its 1970s fame. Some gear is definitely not on show. With a smirk on his face, band member Bjorn Ulvaeus says cer
Seven-time Italian P.M. Giulio Andreotti dies at age 94

PeopleMay 7, 2013

ROME (AFP) ― Giulio Andreotti, a Machiavellian seven-time Italian prime minister who dominated the political scene for decades, died on Monday at the age of 94.Andreotti, a top figure in the once-dominant Christian Democratic party, died at his home in Rome. He had suffered ill health in recent years and was hospitalized last year with heart trouble.A private funeral will be held on Tuesday in Andreotti’s local church for the staunchly pro-Catholic politician, who had close ties with the Vatican
Nearsightedness hereditary: study

HealthMay 7, 2013

Many problems with eyesight can be traced to genetic conditions, South Korean researchers said in a new study on Tuesday. Professor Chung Eui-sang and his colleagues from Samsung Medical Center conducted the study on 240 identical twins and 45 fraternal twins and 469 pairs of siblings who had visited the hospital from 2007 to 2011.They found that identical twins who share many of their genes showed a high level of consistency in their eyesight. When one monozygotic twin is nearsighted, the other
Sunfull encourages comments for quake victims

PeopleMay 6, 2013

The Sunfull Movement said Monday that it started a campaign to encourage online condolences to the families, friends and neighbors of the victims of the earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan province on April 20. The magnitude-7.0 temblor killed about 200 people and injured more than 11,000. Sunfull opened a website (sichuan.sunfull.or.kr) jointly with a news portal by People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, on April 23 for netizens to post encouraging messages f
College students face risk of heart diseases due to binge drinking

HealthMay 6, 2013

Students on college campuses do not fear pulling all-nighters at parties and drinking a large amount of alcohol, assuming that their youth may protect them from the destructive effects of their lifestyle. However, according to a study by researchers from the University of Illinois, people in their 20s are not immune to heart disease caused by binge drinking.“Binge drinking is neurotoxic and our data supports that there may be serious cardiovascular consequences in young adults,” said professor S
Workers scared to take sick leave

CultureMay 6, 2013

British workers with a cold or flu are afraid to take sick leave because of heavy workloads and other colleagues’ critical views, a survey by Canada Life Group revealed. More than one-third of the workers said they would go to work even if they had flu, while 93 percent of those surveyed said they would not miss work if they had a cold. Another reason for avoiding sick leave is the heavy workload that tends to build up while they stay home sick, the survey found. Employees were also mindful of
Korean cuisine, chefs go strong in U.S.

CultureMay 5, 2013

A new generation of Korean chefs, whether they are Korean-Americans or Korean migrants, are introducing Korean flavors to the U.S. and captivating the American palate. From neighborhood taco trucks catering to those looking for a quick bite to high-end dining spots adorned with a Michelin star, the chefs are armed with the cultural understanding and intimate knowledge of both countries’ ingredients ― skills necessary for putting Korean food on the international gastronomical map. Familiarizing K
Understanding each other’s culture and history

CultureMay 5, 2013

Exchange art exhibitions between Korea and the U.S. are helping people of each country to better understand the other’s culture and history. American masterpieces have been on show in Korea since February at an ongoing exhibition at the National Museum of Korea. From paintings to furniture and Native American craftwork, 168 pieces spanning different phases of American art and history from Columbus’ landing to today’s America offer a glimpse of American life to the Korean audience. According to t
Crosby, Stills and Nash get jazzy with Marsalis

CultureMay 5, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― Crosby, Stills and Nash surprised the audience with a new look when they walked onstage dressed in dark gray Brooks Brothers suits for a benefit concert with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.“If you laugh at our suits, you’re getting thrown out of here,” quipped Graham Nash. “My first pair of grown-up shoes,” David Crosby added, without skipping a beat. “They have laces and everything.”Nash admitted to some uncertainty about whether the languages of rock and jazz
Buddhists offer lotus festival tour program

CultureMay 5, 2013

Buddhist circles and the Korea Tourism Organization released a special program for foreigners combining Templestay with Yeondeunghoe, the Lotus Lantern Festival on May 11-12, in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday which falls on May 17. On May 10, participants will stay at Jeondeungsa Temple in Seoul and experience a day in the life of a monk. On May 11-12 they will be able to take part in making lotus lanterns, watch Buddhism movies, join the lantern parade and various cultural events in downtown
Catholics congratulate Buddha’s Birthday

CultureMay 5, 2013

The Catholic community on Friday made a congratulatory announcement to Buddhists days ahead of Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on May 17, seeking peace and harmony between the two religions. “Pope Francis, at the very beginning of his ministry, has reaffirmed the necessity of dialogue of friendship among followers of different religions. I wish to voice that the Catholic Church has sincere respect for your noble religious tradition. Frequently we note a consonance with values expressed also in yo
Fans flock to Scranton for ‘The Office’ fete

CultureMay 5, 2013

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania (AP) ― The actors who play Pam, Jim, Dwight and other beloved characters from the popular NBC show “The Office” bade farewell on Saturday to the northeastern Pennsylvania city of Scranton that served as the TV setting for their fictional paper company.The NBC mockumentary about a clan of quirky cubicle-dwellers at the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. wraps up May 16 after nine seasons, and a crowd estimated at 10,000 attended a “Wrap Party” in Scranton to show their appr