The Korea Herald

Six named Sejong Munhwasang winners

Oct 25, 2012

Peter Bartholomew, chairman of Royal Asiatic Society’s Korea branch; SBS TV drama, “Deep Rooted Tree,” and four other figures were named the Sejong Munhwasang (Sejong cultural award) winners by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports on Thursday. Bartholomew was recognized as a passionate advocate for the preservation of Korean traditional houses while Professor Toh Soo-hee of Chungnam National University won the prize for his 40-year study of the language of Baekje (BC18-660). Cellist Chang
‘Meteor Buddha’ statue said a modern fake

Oct 25, 2012

A statue that made worldwide news as the “Iron Man” and was purportedly carved from a meteorite a thousand years ago is likely a modern fake, a researcher says.While supposedly made by the 11th-century Bon culture of Tibet and looted in the 20th century by a Nazi ethnologist, incorrect “pseudo-Tibetan” features of the carved Buddha figure suggest it‘s a modern European fake, Buddhism specialist Achim Bayer of the University of Seoul said.The 10-inch statue bears 13 features Bayer said are easily
Maya demand an end to doomsday myth

Oct 25, 2012

Guatemala's Mayan people accused the government and tour groups on Wednesday of perpetuating the myth that their calendar foresees the imminent end of the world for monetary gain."We are speaking out against deceit, lies and twisting of the truth, and turning us into folklore-for-profit. They are not telling the truth about time cycles," charged Felipe Gomez, leader of the Maya alliance Oxlaljuj Ajpop.Several films and documentaries have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts
Politics demonstrates body language well

Oct 25, 2012

Pointing fingers, interrupting and smirking are ill-advised at work, so there is much to learn from political candidates‘ body language, a U.S. expert says.Melvin Scales, executive coach and Wake Forest University Schools of Business assistant director of student career services, said regardless of political affiliation, debates are a one-stop shop for observing what body language and speech styles reflect the best impression. “Given that we only have 7 seconds to make a good first impression, i
‘W’ stands on top in Asia

Oct 24, 2012

Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed.While Seoul’s bar scene is rather blas, offering little in terms of diversity, if you are looking for a fun and enjoyable drinking experience and willing to spend a fair amount of money, W Seoul Walkerhill’s WOOBAR is the place to go.Since its opening in 2004, the bar has been growing in popularity and reputation, serving some 400-500 regulars every weekend. Many praise the facility’s “cool” entertainment environment with its
Iraq seeks help in retrieving pillaged antiques

Oct 24, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― Iraq’s Tourism Minister Liwaa Smaisim Tuesday urged France to help Baghdad in reclaiming archaeological treasures pillaged after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.“The return of cultural assets is a priority for the Iraqi government,” he said, during a visit to the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural organisation headquarters in Paris.“France can play a major role in this field,” he added, complaining that Paris had dragged its feet on returning four cuneiform stone tablet
Handbag mecca charts history of accessory

Oct 24, 2012

Following is part of a series exploring unique museums, collections and the passionate collectors behind them. ― Ed.Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Channel ― whatever your guilty pleasure, your one-stop fix for all things handbag can be found right here in Seoul. From a circa 1550 green silk Italian purse to a $100,000 red crocodile leather Hermes Birkin bag, the Simone Handbag Museum hosts one of the finest handbag collections in the world, with more than 350 historic, classic and modern Western-style bag
KBS’ ‘Backpack travel’ wins Asian Grand Prix award

Oct 23, 2012

KBS1 TV’s travel documentary “Backpack Travel” won the Grand Prix award at the second Festival Asia TV & Film On Journey 2012 held in Japan, the broadcaster said.The award winning episode, “Backpack Travel’s Mekong Delta, Vietnam” produced by director Ahn Sung-jin, was aired on Jan. 14. The episode filmed the nature and lives of the inhabitants living in the lower Mekong Delta Region famous for its river that streams down from Tibet and flows through Southeast Asia and into the East China Sea. S
S. Korean director wins best animated short award at Warsaw fest

Oct 22, 2012

A South Korean director has won an award for the best animated film at this year's Warsaw Film Festival, Seoul's culture ministry said Monday.Kim Jin-man won the Best Animated Short award in the short films section of the 28th edition of the festival with his "Noodle Fish," at the closing ceremony on Saturday (on local time), the ministry said in a news release.The film is about the struggle of a small, naive fish made of noodles who wants to experience the bigger world out of the water.The Oct.
Koreana celebrates 100th edition

Oct 21, 2012

Quarterly magazine has served as window to Korean culture and art for 25 yearsKoreana, a quarterly magazine on Korean culture, marks its 100th issue this month and celebrates 25 years of serving as a window to Korean art and culture for foreign readers. Launched in 1987 by The Korea Foundation, affiliated with the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it has served as an iconic Korean culture magazine for international readers.“Koreana has established a reputation as a high-class cultur
Theology journal decides not to publish study on ‘Gospel of Jesus‘ Wife’

Oct 21, 2012

Harvard’s theology journal has decided not to publish a paper on a disputed “The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife” by a Harvard historian, according to news reports.The Harvard Theological Review recently announced that it will withdraw the paper by Professor Karen King on the supposed lost gospel -- in which Jesus mentions his wife -- in its January 2013 issue. It added however, the study may be published after it has been confirmed to be genuine.“The owner of the papyrus fragment has been making arrangem
Giving Korea wings

Oct 19, 2012

Interpreter-professor Choi dedicated to improving Korea’s image abroad“I have been very lucky,” Choi Jung-wha, president of Corea Image Communication Institute, begins in her interview with The Korea Herald.When Choi, the head of the Korean-French department of the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, credits something as fickle as Lady Luck for her achievements, surely she is being modest.If anything, her “bon augure,” as she calls it, is mu
Promoting Korea’s image around the globe

Oct 19, 2012

The Corea Image Communication Institute is an organization whose main goal is to promote Korea and Korean culture on a global level. The institution organizes international events and annually honors people, events or even landmarks that promote Korea’s positive brand image. In order to create a dialogue between cultural leaders regarding Korean culture, the CICI hosted the Culture 20, a meeting of leading cultural figures from the G20 countries. In order to maximize the effect of the 2010 G20 S
Trick or treat?

Oct 19, 2012

The hottest parties, biggest fun for Halloween 2012It’s that time of year again when ghosts and ghouls come out to play ― along with thousands of Halloween revelers.Many bars, clubs and even amusement parks are going all out for the fall holiday, with a number of festivities taking place the weekend before Oct. 31. Here are just some of the events going on.ItaewonDISTRICT: ON “Dark Castle” at DISTRICTThis month at DISTRICT: ON event at glam Lounge and club MUTE, Halloween revelers are in for two
Calendar

Oct 19, 2012

Pop music“Singing the Beatles”: A special two-concert event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles. Eleven artists from the Korean indie rock scene including the Moonshiners, Jang Jae-in, the Windy City, the Mentles, Kingston Rudieska, Yozoh and many more will hit the stage with their versions of more than 30 classic Beatles hits. The performance will be held at the Mapo Art Center on Nov. 2-3 at 8 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. Tickets range from 22,000 won to 33,000 won. For more i