The Korea Herald

S. Sudanese teenage brass band to perform in Seoul

Oct 10, 2012

A musical band established by the late Lee Tae-seok, a Catholic priest who devoted his life to caring for displaced people in South Sudan, will be performing in Korea in a meeting to forge ties between Korea and African states, the government said Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, a brass band composed of teenagers from the village of Tonj, where Lee served as a clergyman, doctor, teacher and mentor, will arrive in Seoul on Oct. 13 and perform on Oct. 15 at the welcom
Foreign scholars awarded medals for Hangeul promotion overseas

Oct 9, 2012

Ten scholars in the field of Korean studies were awarded medals for their roles and services toward the promotion of Hangeul at a ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The “Hangeul, Sharing the World” event was held Tuesday in celebration of the 566th Hangeul Day.The recipients included experts from around the globe, including from Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Japan, China and the United States, and were selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in recognit
Taiwan showgirls strip for the dead

Oct 9, 2012

Dressed in mini skirts barely covering their hips, the two girls took to the neon-lit stage and moved vigorously to the loud pumping pop music.Their job: to appease the wandering spirits.As the temple facade in the background changed color from the fireworks lighting up the Taiwanese night sky, the show climaxed with pole-dancing and striptease in front of an audience consisting of men, women and children.“This is hard work but I need to make a living,” said 18 year-old En En, out of breath afte
Korean language school in Indonesian village closed

Oct 8, 2012

The first Korean language school for an Indonesian tribe has closed due to financial and cultural problems, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The news comes as Tuesday marks the 566th anniversary of the promulgation of Hangeul, causing concerns that it may put a halt to the nation’s drive to promote its writing system overseas. “Sejong Hakdang,” or King Sejong Institute, in Bau-Bau, Indonesia, was jointly established and run by Kyungpook National University and Indonesia’
Online Korean dictionary to go on trial run

Oct 8, 2012

A new Internet-based Korean language dictionary will open for a trial service this week, a state think tank that developed the dictionary said Monday, amid growing demand for Korean language study among foreigners at home and abroad.The National Institute of the Korean Language said the dictionary will become available at http://krdic.korean.go.kr, from Tuesday, the national day for commemorating King Sejong’s creation of Korean alphabet known as Hangeul.The digital dictionary has some 50,000 en
Citizens frustrated by Romanized signboards

Oct 8, 2012

Insa-dong, ironically a touristy area specializing in traditional products, strives to preserve shop signs in KoreanFor 82-year-old Kim, going out for a cup of coffee with her friends takes a lot of effort. “All the shop signs are written in English and I can’t read them,” she said. She grumbled that many of her friends try a different approach when they search for places to sit down and chat over beverages. “We first look through the window to see if anyone is drinking something. If they do, we
Cheesy ‘B-class culture’ sweeps Korea

Oct 5, 2012

From Psy to cult cartoons, subculture in full bloomThis man is no Prince Charming. He’s a rather chubby man with a sneaky grin and whose shirt buttons seem about to pop. He is attired in a full suit with dress shoes and stands next to a fancy car. His shades are too small to cover his eyes and he doesn’t mold all of his hair with pomade. He boasts that he can win any girl he likes and that he prefers women who understand class. But in reality, all he can do is hit on any girl while looking at th
Openness, respect for differences key to thriving subcultures

Oct 5, 2012

B-class culture has already established its own status in the West. Perhaps one of the best terms depicting the spirit is “kitsch,” a term derived from the German phrase “verk itschen (make it cheap).” Though the initial focus was strictly on the tight-budget aspect, it slowly came to be used to express mocking or refusing the major conventional high-class arts. The 1997 film “Austin Powers” was a phenomenal hit with the geeky, dorky and troublesome man in horn-rimmed glasses emerging as a “mojo
Seoul rises as beauty destination

Oct 5, 2012

Beauty salons, makeup classes draw foreign residents and travelers who want to try Korean celebrity styleDriven by the popularity of Korean pop music around the world, Korean beauty and style are becoming sought after by young women around the world. They buy Korean cosmetics and follow makeup routines on YouTube to emulate the sophisticated looks of Korean actresses or charismatic style of K-pop singers. An easy way for them to learn Korean beauty secrets is to follow makeup gurus on YouTube wh
Swimming the hard way in Japan: in samurai armor

Oct 5, 2012

Walking or running in a full suit of samurai armor is not the easiest thing in the world. Swimming in it is even harder, but that‘s exactly what some in Japan are doing. For fun. “It’s heavy, and it‘s hot in here... Fan me hard,” Mutsuo Koga, a 27-year-old doctor, told fellow disciples of traditional Japanese swimming at a recent meet. “I’m worried about whether I‘ll be able to get myself back out of the water. It’s been three years since I last swam,” said Koga as he readied to take the
Study: Bald head can be business winner

Oct 4, 2012

Political activist Al Sharpton jokes about hip hop mogul Russel Simmons bald head before the start of the National Action Network Keeper of the Dream Award ceremonies hosted by Sharpton April 5, 2001 in New York City. (UPI)A lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of business says studies show men with shaved heads are perceived as better leaders.There's apparently something ab
Australia seniors stay 'connected' via web

Oct 2, 2012

In isolated rural areas, the Internet, Skype, email and social networking sites are keeping older people "connected," Australian researchers say.Lead author Dr. Helen Feist, deputy director of the Australian Population and Migration Research Centre at the University of Adelaide, spent the past three years investigating how technology can be used in remote and rural areas of Australia to improve th
1,505.5-pound pumpkin wins weigh-off

Oct 2, 2012

A New York state man whose 1,505.5-pound pumpkin took the top prize at a festival said his secret is “lots of water and lots of luck.”Karl Haist of Clarence Center, who took first in the 30th World Pumpkin Weigh-off at the Great Pumpkin Farm‘s fall festival in Clarence, said he has been growing pumpkins for 10 years, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Monday.Haist, who said his prize-winning pumpki
Experts: Mayas prophesized, but not end of world

Sept 29, 2012

One of three archaeological pieces of Mayan culture, recovered in the United States where they were sold illegally, is presented by Guatemalan authorities in Guatemala City Sept.12. (AP-Yonhap)MEXICO CITY (AP) _ As the clock winds down to Dec. 21, experts on the Mayan calendar have been racing to convince people that the Mayas didn't predict an apocalypse for the end of this year.Some experts are
Pigs' revenge as 'Angry Birds' makers launch new game

Sept 27, 2012

TAIPEI (AFP) - "Angry Birds" maker Rovio launched a new title Thursday allowing users to play as the "Bad Piggies" from the smash-hit game, and take revenge on the birds who attacked them with slingshots.Rovio Asia senior vice president said the launch ceremony in the Taiwanese capital Taipei was the first in a series of global events."We decided to choose Taipei as the place for the first global