Pop music“Seoul Jazz Festival 2013”: The annual Seoul Jazz Festival is a two-day concert event featuring many jazz and jazz-inspired acts from all across the world. This year’s festival will feature more than 25 local and international headliners the Ramsey Lewis Electric Band with special guest Philip Bailey, Mika, Damien Rice, Kings of Convenience, the Parov Stellar Band, the Roy Hargrove Quintet and many more. Bands from the local jazz scene include Chung Won-young, La Ventana with 10cm, and

President Park Geun-hye’s official visit to the U.S. drew the attention of even those normally indifferent to politics. It was the first overseas trip by Korea’s first woman president and the public was eager to see how she would present herself to the global audience.And it seems that Park has developed her own way of wearing powerful suits and feminine hanbok, or traditional Korean dress. Starting with a gold-green silk jacket with a turquoise mandarin collar, paired with brown trousers, the o

Everyone knows about the four jolly town musicians of Bremen. The musical “The Bremen Town Musicians,” now on at the National Museum Theater Yong in Seoul until May 26, is a pleasant mix of adventure, dreams and self discovery. The four animals, which were depicted as useless, outdated and almost abandoned fixtures in the original Grimm Brothers’ story, were revamped as a curious donkey, a dog with bad breath, a sympathetic cat, and an aspiring-star hen. And they take on a journey to become memb

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

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

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

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

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

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