The Korea Herald

Historic recognition: Washington's family tree is biracial

Sept 19, 2016

ARLINGTON, Virginia (AP) -- George Washington's adopted son was a bit of a ne’er-do-well by most accounts, including those of Washington himself, who wrote about his frustrations with the boy they called “Wash.”“From his infancy, I have discovered an almost unconquerable disposition to indolence in everything that did not tend to his amusements,” the founding father wrote.At the time, George Washington Parke Custis was 16 and attending Princeton, one of several schools he bounced in and out of.
London commuters get boost with inspirational quotes

Sept 19, 2016

LONDON (AFP) -- The daily grind of London commuting is being brightened by a collection of black marker pens and white boards -- giving city dwellers a welcome boost as they travel through the metropolis.The hall of Oval underground station looks more like a living room than a Tube stop -- complete with plants and a small library, while Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5” plays.It is at this stop on the Underground’s Northern Line that Glen Sutherland, an employee of tube operator Transport for L
Artifacts damaged in record-breaking Gyeongju earthquake

Sept 18, 2016

Damage greater than initially thought
In vast West, new music center aims big by going small

Sept 12, 2016

FISHTAIL, United States (AFP) - Winding through the arid green hills, the highway gives way to a rugged gravel road ending at a lonesome gate like so many in this land of ranches. Inside lies an experiment in music, sculpture and how to present art in the 21st century.Inaugurated this summer, the 4,700-hectare estate called Tippet Rise is the brainchild of a wealthy couple of free-spirits who are fulfilling a lifelong goal of creating their own classical music venue.The Tippet Rise Art Center, h
Radio drama's tale of domestic abuse grips Britain

Sept 12, 2016

LONDON (AP) - The trial of Helen Titchener, who stabbed her husband Rob after months of emotional and physical abuse, has gripped Britain, sparked a national debate about domestic violence and brought a flood of donations to women‘s shelters.That’s quite an achievement, since Helen and Rob are characters in a 65-year-old rural radio drama whose plotlines often center on crops, cattle and the weather.Millions of listeners to “The Archers” on BBC radio have been horrified and transfixed by the rel
Prominent thinkers urge Turkey to end writers‘ witch hunt

Sept 12, 2016

ISTANBUL (AP) -- About 40 prominent academics and authors from around the world are urging Turkey’s government to end what they say is the persecution of the country’s own writers and professors voicing differing points of view.In an open letter released Sunday, academics and authors including Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and British Booker Prize winner John Berger called on supporters to protest what they said is the Turkish government’s “vendetta” against its brightest thinkers.They said
[Herald Interview] Victoria and Albert museum sheds light on Korean art

Sept 11, 2016

In 1961, the Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the world’s leading museums of art and design, held Europe’s first Korean art exhibition. In 1992, the museum officially opened the first Korean gallery in London dedicated to the country’s arts and crafts. Beth McKillop, a senior research fellow at the V&A and its former deputy director and director of collections, orchestrated the opening of the first Korean gallery in London and the building of the Korean art collection. The V&A’s Korean Gallery
Last artifacts of 9/11 find new homes 15 years on

Sept 11, 2016

Behind the barbed wire, the minivan’s busted windows and crumpled roof hint at its story. But forklifted to this windblown spot on the John F. Kennedy International Airport tarmac, between a decommissioned 727 and an aircraft hangar, it is doubtful passing drivers notice it at all.In the long struggle with the memories of 9/11, though, the van’s solitary presence here marks a small but significant transition point.Tons of wreckage -- twisted steel beams, chunks of concrete smelling of smoke, a c
Britain’s National Gallery fends off ‘illicit’ Matisse row

Sept 11, 2016

Britain’s National Gallery on Friday ruled out giving the descendants of one of Matisse’s models a work by the painter which they claim the museum received through an “illicit transfer.”Painted in 1908, the “Portrait of Greta Moll” is the subject of a legal claim lodged in New York by three descendants of its subject, an artist and pupil of the French master who posed for 30 hours for the work.The three relatives launched their lawsuit earlier this week, requesting that they be given the work or
[Weekender] Dealing with holiday stress in all shapes and sizes

Sept 9, 2016

Koreans face pressure from all fronts during Chuseok
[Weekender] Activities galore for expats this Chuseok

Sept 9, 2016

Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the country’s biggest holidays, and traditionally spent at home with family and loved ones. The occasion is widely considered to be about good food and company, but expats without family in Korea are often left with the question of how to spend the break. With Seoul virtually desolate as masses travel to their hometowns, some expats may choose to jet off overseas, too. However, those stuck in the city during this upcoming holiday need not despair, a
London exhibition celebrates rebellious 1960s

Sept 8, 2016

LONDON (AFP) - Counterculture and hippy life are served up in a visual and musical blend at London‘s Victoria and Albert Museum, where a new exhibition delves into the swinging sixties. “With this exhibition we explore the era-defining significance and impact of the late 1960s upon life today,” says Victoria Broackes, curator of the exhibition “You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970,” which opens on Saturday. “The years from 1966 to 1970 -- just 1,826 days -- undeniably shap
Italy's museums turn toward private sector for funding

Sept 8, 2016

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- Italian taxi drivers and concierges are being enlisted to encourage tourists to visit some museums. In Florence, supermarket customers raised 250,000 euros ($275,000) by opting to help the city’s art instead of receiving store loyalty rewards. And in Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is partnering with big-name businesses including ones that make watches, grappa and cologne.Whatever the formula, museums are increasingly looking to private-sector donations, collabora
CCF delegates point to Korea’s modern adaptions of traditional culture　

Sept 7, 2016

This year's Cultural Communication Forum organized by Corea Image Communication Institute invited 20 leading cultural figures from 18 countries to experience Korean culture and to discuss ways to promote cultural communication across national borders. Following is an excerpt from interviews with some of the delegates who attended the three-day program.Benson PuahAfter building a notable career in hotel construction and management, Benson Puah reached a turning point in his life. “I asked myself,
CCF 2016 Night wraps up three-day cross-cultural event

Sept 7, 2016

Traditional markets, theme cafes and palace visits in traditional Korean garment hanbok are the top three Korean trends both foreigners and Koreans alike would like to try, a Corea Image Communication Institute survey on Koreans’ and foreigners’ perceptions of Korea showed.The results of the survey of 307 Koreans and 223 foreigners were unveiled during the CICI’s Culture Communication Forum 2016 Night, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, also showed that Koreans and non-Koreans were both p