A number of veteran program directors at major television networks are moving to new cable channels in pursuit of higher salaries and a creative work environment. Yeo Woon-heok, producer of MBC’s hit program “Goldfish,” quit the company last week to work for an entertainment cable channel jTBC, the broadcast arm of the Joongang Ilbo, one of the major dailies. The channel recently gained a license

Linked by Korea Herald, Korean, Swede transcend distance for five decadesThe word “pen pal” might seem ancient for those accustomed to social networking sites. But these sites did not exist 50 years ago, so the steadfast friendship between Chang Key-kwan and Gunnar Sildevon was shared through letters. When Chang sent his first letter to Sildevon in 1962, Chang was a junior at Yonsei University and

CAPE TOWN (AFP) ― South Africa’s apartheid state locked him up, Nelson Mandela was a fan and Jacob Zuma is suing for millions: all have been rich pickings for the fearless satire of cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro.From slapping down AIDS denials to taking a dig at Zuma’s multiple wives and offspring, his distinctive cartoons spark furious outrage to applause for their spot-on commentary of South Afric

Koreans in their 30s used to automatically associate the name “Seo Tai-ji” with “the President of Culture” in the 1990s.His songs such as “Class Idea,” (1994) “Dreaming Balhae” (1994) and “Come Back Home” (1995) contained controversial yet influential messages to make teenagers rebel against the cramming system of Korean education, hope for reunification of the two Koreas and to urge runaway frien

Mariah Carey hasn’t even given birth to her twins yet, but she’s already dismissing the idea of more children. Mariah Carey in the nursery of her Los Angeles home in the current issue of “Life & Style” magazine. (AP-Yonhap News)The expectant mother talked about her pregnancy to Life & Style magazine in an issue that hits newsstands nationwide Friday.When asked if she would like to have more childr

Chung Chung-kil took office as president of the Academy of Korean Studies on Wednesday, as outgoing Kim Jung-bae finished up his three-year term.  Chung Chung-kilChung, who studied law at Seoul National University and obtained a Ph.D in politics at University of Michigan, had worked as professor at Seoul National University until 2008.Chung also served as presidential chief of staff last year befo

Lee Kwang-hee seeks donations for Sudanese to ease hunger with mangosFashion designer Lee Kwang-hee has made clothes for the richest in society, including former and current first ladies.Two years ago, she rolled up her sleeves not to sew dresses but to grab a garden trowel in Africa. She planted mango trees in one of Sudan’s poorest areas to help people living in the troubled Sudanese village of

“People who litter public areas suffer from mental and social dysfunction which makes them unable to achieve success in modern societies,” writes journalist Sandra Brasil in one of the most prestigious Brazilian weekly magazines, VEJA. Harsh words to describe a common but unfortunate behavior pattern of people from all over the world. Littering does not spare any country or culture whether it is G

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― The world’s oldest man, Walter Breuning, whose first memories included the day U.S. president William McKinley was shot in 1901, has died at age 114, the retirement home where he lived said Friday. Walter BreuningBreuning was the second oldest person in the world, 26 days younger than American woman Besse Cooper, according to the Gerontology Research Group which tracks the worl

Korean jazz singer Na Youn-sun has won the Echo Jazz 2011 award in the international female vocalist category.The award is presented by the German Phono Academy, the cultural institute of the federal association of the music industry. The award ceremony will take place on June 17 at the Glaserne Manufaktur of Volkswagen in Dresden.  Na Youn-sunAccording to Yonhap news agency, 42-year-old Na receiv

Air crash kills man on way to visit father’s grave at cemetery for massacred PolesCHICAGO ― The artist was overjoyed as he boarded a jet bound for the forest of death.Wojciech Seweryn, a guest of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, was honored for dedicating his life to commemorating the massacre of 20,000 Polish officers in the Katyn Forest of Russia in 1940.One of those men was Seweryn’s father.“Ne