Korea’s top entertainment agency SM Entertainment said it would hold overseas auditions for future K-pop stars starting January. Starting Jan. 7 in Daegu, Korea, the auditions will go to 15 cities in five countries including the U.S., China, Canada and Japan, S.M. said. The talent agency has produced many famous musicians and pop groups including Girls’ Generation, Super Junior and f(X), becoming Korea’s largest entertainment firm in the past decade. The auditions are open to anyone and everyone

Korean Culture and Information Service this week announced its new slogan for its 40th year anniversary, which it selected from entries from the public. The slogan reads: “Reaching out Constantly, Resounding Globally!”KOCIS, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had organized a public contest for the slogan from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3. A total of 297 people, including foreigners, submitted entries.The winning phrase was created by Cho Han-gyeong, 24, from South Chungcheong Prov

Less than stellar year for charity bazaarBy Yoav CerralboThis year’s SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar received mixed reactions from participants.For some embassies, it was a good year selling most or all of their products with the profits going to charities in Korea.For others, it was a year that did not bear much fruit despite the amount of labor they put into making it a success.Dressed in traditional dress, the women of the Nordic Club sold out of all their homemade bread, chocolates, Chr

NEW YORK (AP) ― Fernando Botero’s monumental bronze “Dancers” has fetched more than $1.7 million at a New York auction, setting a new record for a sculpture by the renowned Colombian artist.The sculpture, which depicts a couple standing face to face, as if about to start a dance, was made in 2007 and bought directly from Botero.It was acquired at the first session of Christie’s Latin American Art sale on Tuesday, by a private European buyer whose identity was not revealed.The previous record for

BEIJING (AP) ― Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said Wednesday he feels like he has paid a ransom, after depositing $1.3 million into a government account while he contests a huge tax bill months after being held in police detention.Chinese tax authorities say Ai’s design firm, Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., owes 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) in back taxes and fines. Ai disputes the government’s tax-evasion allegations and says he does not even own the company involved.The guarantee

LOS ANGELES ― Earlier this political season, many comedians lamented the absence of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the 2012 presidential race, fearing they would never be able to tap an equally rich source of humor in the stable of button-down Republican candidates. Oh, ye of little faith.Perhaps, after Rick Perry’s already infamous debate gaffe of absent-mindedness, “The Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart put it best this week: “Many Republican faithful thought Perry would be the answer to their pray

SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Wednesday rejected a TV celebrity's appeal of his conviction for a deliberate enlistment delay and upheld a suspended jail term handed down earlier this year.Reading a summary of its decision, the appellate division of the Seoul Central District Court said