The Korea Herald

‘Study death to live well’

Mar 13, 2015

Contemplating death earlier can lead to a more fulfilling life, explains professor Choi Joon-sik
S. Korean violinist wins Italian concours

Mar 10, 2015

A rising South Korean violinist has won the first prize of the Paganini international competition, a local culture foundation sponsoring the artist said Tuesday.Yang In-mo received the top prize along with three special awards at the 54th Premio Paganini international violin competition that closed in Genova, Italy, on Sunday, the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation said.This marks the first time that a Korean has secured the first prize in the competition.The prize entitles him to a one-year spons
Korean musical creators aim big

Mar 8, 2015

Slew of original Korean shows to debut in coming months
New journal explores Korea’s modern history

Mar 5, 2015

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History has launched a new English-language academic journal to spotlight research and foster the exchange of ideas on contemporary Korean history. The biannual Journal of Contemporary Korean Studies features articles not only on Korean politics and economy but also on contemporary Korean social affairs, culture and the arts. It includes an essay section where contributors offer reflections on their personal experiences of Korean contemporary history, a
Brecht epic to be told through ‘pansori’

Mar 3, 2015

“The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” a play written by German playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), will be told through the soul-piercing sounds of “pansori” in an upcoming theatrical production in Seoul. Korean-Japanese playwright and stage director Jung Eui-shin speaks at a news conference at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on Monday. (National Theater of Korea)A National Changgeuk Company of Korea production, the experimental work will be directed by Korean-Japanese playwright and stage dir
Around the hotels

Feb 27, 2015

Hong Kong cuisine at Sheraton Incheon HotelSheraton Incheon Hotel’s traditional Chinese restaurant YUE is presenting authentic Hong Kong cuisine from March 13 to 22. Two chefs have been invited from Jockey Club, one of the most prestigious social clubs in Hong Kong, for this special promotion. Chef Lap Sun Chan is currently associated with Cook-Po Chun Kitchen and won the silver award in the vegetable category of the 2011 Best of the Best Culinary Awards. Chef Kam Ho Lee is a highly renowned mas
Yeol to offer English lectures on Korean art, culture, history

Feb 25, 2015

The Korean Heritage Preservation Society, Yeol, will be presenting an English-language lecture series this year, delving into Korean art, culture and history. The series will deal with subjects ranging from traditional music to K-pop, the Korean War, North Korean films, folktales and Buddhist sculpture. They will feature distinguished scholars and experts in the relevant fields. The next lecture will be given at 11:30 a.m. on March 9 by Bak Sang-mee, professor of cultural anthropology at Hankuk
Remote villages visited by Hangeul creator revamped

Feb 25, 2015

Four remote villages where King Sejong, the creator of the Korean alphabet, went to cure an eye infection and put the finishing touches on his unique writing system, have been renovated to attract modern visitors, officials in the central city said Wednesday. Housed within this city, some 137 kilometers south of Seoul, the villages -- Jeogok, Usan, Sangdangsanseong and Hyeongdong -- are part of the Sejong 100 project being pushed by the municipal government. Hangeul, one of the world's simple
Chojeong Mineral Spring that helped King Sejong's creation of Hangeul

Feb 24, 2015

A mineral spring in the central region is well known as a place where King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the inventor of the Korean alphabet, stayed for months to treat his eye infection at the last stage of the creation. Located approximately 16 kilometers northeast of Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, the Chojeong Mineral Spring is known to have provided a perfect environment for the king to refresh his heart and mind and devote himself to the invention of Hangeul with its b
Highbrow arts take to the screen

Feb 17, 2015

Great news for local Benedict Cumberbatch fans: The 2011 British National Theatre production of “Frankenstein,” in which the “Sherlock Holmes” star played the titular role of a hideous creature, is currently playing here. The original production never came to Korea, but instead will appear on the silver screen. As part of National Theater Live series, The National Theater of Korea is screening the award-winning play ― written by British playwright Nick Dear and produced by Academy Award-winning
Kim Seong-kon gets 2nd term as LTI Korea head

Feb 17, 2015

Kim Seong-kon, the incumbent president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, has been tapped to serve a second term at the state-run institution, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday. The ministry endorsed Kim, 66, for his efforts to spread Korean literature abroad through publishing Korean literature in translation in many countries and expanding the curriculum at LTI Korea Translation Academy to nurture native-speaker translators. “I hope Kim will spearhead the
Park Hyo-shin to star as Phantom

Feb 16, 2015

Singer Park Hyo-shin will star as the Phantom, a mysterious, disfigured musical genius living in the dark cellars of a Paris opera house, in an upcoming production of a musical based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel “Phantom of the Opera.” A Seoul-based EMK Musical Company production, the American musical “Phantom” will premiere in Korea on April 28, with Park sharing the lead role with veteran musical actor Ryu Jung-han and pop-opera singer and musical actor KAI. Park became one of the most sought
Korea leads world in hotel Wi-Fi: study

Feb 15, 2015

South Korea has the highest percentage of hotels that offer quality wireless Internet, according to a study released last month by Hotel Wi-Fi Test, a company that collects and analyzes hotel Wi-Fi data from around the world. With 92 percent in Wi-Fi quality, South Korea topped the list by a healthy margin of 7.1 percentage points. Japan came in second with 84.9 percent. In third and fourth places were Ukraine and Switzerland, with 82.1 percent and 79.8 percent, respectively. The study assessed
[Weekender] Get in the mood for Seollal

Feb 13, 2015

While locals ring in Year of Sheep with Confucian traditions, opportunities for fun abound for expats
[Weekender] Celebrating holiday with tradition

Feb 13, 2015

The Lunar New Year holiday is a great opportunity for locals and expats to experience traditional Korean activities. For those who are at a loss for how to spend these five days off, we suggest you take advantage of the various holiday promotions being offered at cultural sites around Korea. The National Gugak Center’s folk music group giving a “pangut” percussion performance (National Gugak Center)Palaces, tombs and games On Feb. 19, Lunar New Year’s Day, the Cultural Heritage Administration wi