The Korea Herald

Met gives ‘Barber’ a cut in English version

Dec 30, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― For the first time since Rossini’s most famous work was given its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1883, “The Barber of Seville’’ is being presented by the company in English rather than Italian, a shortened holiday version intended to entice families during school break.To cut “Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’ down to about 90 minutes around an intermission, the Met hired poet J.D. McClatchy to write a rhyme-filled libretto. For once there were giggles around the house Wednesday when Fig
Curious seek destiny in New Year

Dec 28, 2012

Fortune-telling methods besides saju are also en vogue: Gwansang, or face reading; Tojeongbigyeol, Korean interpretation of monthly divination signs; and palm-reading are all popular means of trying to learn about the future
What’s Korea’s fortune for the New Year?

Dec 28, 2012

The presidential election is over, and the year 2012 is reaching its end. Korea is heading into a new year with its newly-elected, first female president. So what’s Korea’s fortune for the year 2013?According to fortune teller Kim Deok-young, a nation’s fortune is inseparable from the “saju,” or four pillars of destiny, of its president. The term saju describes the four components creating a person’s destiny or fate: the year, month, date, and hour of one’s birth.Kim posted a video-clip on his w
In search of original hallyu stars

Dec 27, 2012

Exhibition highlights Joseon envoys sent to Japan to forge ties between the two countries
Play ‘hard-to-get’ works for serious love

Dec 27, 2012

Playing “hard to get” works for women who want a long-term relationship, but not for those looking for casual sex, researchers in Australia say. Study author Peter Jonason, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Western Sydney in Australia, and colleagues said playing “hard to get” is a mating tactic in which people give the impression they are ostensibly uninterested to get others to desire them more. The researchers conducted four experiments using a supply-side economics mo
Hero dog getting closer to surgery

Dec 27, 2012

Veterinarians in California said a dog credited with saving two girls from being struck by a motorcycle is getting closer to receiving reconstructive surgery.University of California-Davis veterinarians said Kabang, a 2-year-old dog who lost her muzzle in last year‘s motorcycle crash, successfully underwent chemotherapy for the tumors that delayed her facial surgery, The Sacramento Bee reported Wednesday.The vets said Kabang is now undergoing heartworm treatment before the reconstructive efforts
Korea National Opera in heavy debt over 2007 fire

Dec 26, 2012

Concerns are growing over the Korea National Opera’s struggle to pay over 7 billion won ($6.5 million) in compensation to the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance for a fire that broke out during a performance five years ago. According to industry insiders, the KNO has yet to pay any of the 4.8 billion won in principal and 2.2 billion won in interest to the insurance firm 10 months after the Supreme Court ruling that ordered the opera company to pay its insurer. The money exceeds this year’s governme
Poster couple

Dec 26, 2012

Indian husband, Korean wife talk about benefits and challenges of multicultural family
Oakwood Premier COEX Center offers home away from home

Dec 25, 2012

The Oakwood Premier COEX Center Seoul is the first of its kind, providing luxurious total living spaces and hotel amenities to make guests feel at home. The serviced residence offers 280 furnished apartments including studio and one to four-bedroom apartments ― which range in size from 47 square meters to 228 square meters ― along with 397-square-meter regal penthouses. All apartments have separate living, dining and sleeping areas, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. Each residence includes a
Lights here, lights there, lights everywhere

Dec 25, 2012

Lighting Museum showcases art of illumination
How to cope with holiday blues

Dec 25, 2012

It may be the best time of the year for many, but for some, the holidays are the most depressing time of the year, Canadian researchers say.Colleen Carney, a sleep and depression expert and psychology professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, says when people feel down, they often avoid being around others, which increases the likelihood their depression will worsen.Instead, she says, be sure to be around people this holiday season, but don‘t put up with acquaintances, friends or family member
Park draws unlikely support from arts community

Dec 24, 2012

Some major producers in performing arts were involved in the drawing up of Park’s cultural policies during her campaign
Mayan temple damaged in ‘apocalypse’ frenzy

Dec 24, 2012

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) ―Tourists flocking to Guatemala for “end of the world” parties have damaged an ancient stone temple at Tikal, the largest archeological site and urban center of the Mayan civilization.“Sadly, many tourists climbed Temple II and caused damage,” said Osvaldo Gomez, a technical adviser at the site, which is located some 550 kilometers north of Guatemala City.“We are fine with the celebration, but (the tourists) should be more aware because this is a (UNESCO) World Heritage Site
‘Santa may have been mushroom-intoxicated shaman’

Dec 24, 2012

As the world embraces the most celebrated Christian holiday, U.S. scholars have presented an unusual theory about the legend of Santa Claus, according to a report on Livescience.com.“Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering plants and fungi to commune with the spirit world,” said John Rush, an anthropologist at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. Hundreds of years ago, the shamans in the Siberian and Arctic regions would collect Amanita muscaria -- hallucinogenic
Better to get a 'bad gift' than gift card

Dec 24, 2012

Those ready to wrap up Christmas shopping by getting gift cards, a U.S. philosophy professor suggests reconsidering and buying a gift instead.Steven Gimbel of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania discourages last-minute shoppers from purchasing gift cards because they primarily serve as an easy way out for the shopper."To avoid giving bad gifts, people have turned more and more to gift cards," Gimbel said in a statement.Gimbel said people need to remember why they are giving a gift. People are oft