Universiade Gwangju 2015 pursues four visions: eco, peace, information technology and culture. Organizers have named the 2015 Universiade Ecoversiade, Peaceversiade, ITversiade and Cultureversiade, summing them up with the acronym EPIC.Guided by the vision of Ecoversiade, Gwangju has tried to preserve the environment by using as many existing sports facilities as possible. The host city has refurbished 97 percent of the 73 competition venues, while constructing a swimming pool and a few other fa

Some 14,000 athletes and officials from about 170 countries will participate in the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju, July 3-14.They will compete for 272 gold medals at stake in 21 sports ― 13 compulsory and eight optional.The compulsory sports are athletics, artistic gymnastics, baseball, basketball, fencing, football, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. The organizers chose archery, badminton, baseball, golf, handball, rowing, shooting and ta

World-renowned athletes have gathered in Gwangju for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the biennial university sports competition organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).As some 13,000 athletes from about 150 countries are competing for 272 gold medals in 21 sports disciplines at Universiade Gwangju 2015, a number of world champions are expected to take the lead in their respective sports.From artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and archery to basketball, di

There are quite a few must-watch Korean athletes at the 28th Universiade 2015 in Gwangju. Some of them are already familiar to sports fans, while others have kept a relatively low-profile. Here are some notable athletes to watch out for.Son Yon-jae in rhythmic gymnasticsSon Yon-jae, the darling of Korean gymnastics fans, has been the face of Korean women’s rhythmic gymnastics since age 15, when she won bronze in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Since then, the 20-year

The Gwangju Universiade opened with a bang at its main stadium Friday.Under the event’s slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow,” traditional Korean percussion musicians and a Western marching band celebrated the opening of the games with thrilling performances. Dancers then took to the stage to perform a traditional mock battle.The opening ceremony of the Gwangju Universiade is under way on Friday. (Yonhap)The performances depicted the beauty of the host city and the historical significance of Mount Mudeu

The Gwangju Universiade opening ceremony was designed to unite young people from all over the world and encourage them to work for peace and harmony, according to Park Myung-sung, chief director of the event’s opening ceremony. Attended by more than 13,000 university students from 148 countries, the event was held under the slogan of “U are Shining.” The official theme of the opening ceremony epitomizes the spirit of youth and brings hopes and passion to young people. “(Through the theme) I want

Just a short stroll away from the bustling multicultural neighborhood of Seoul’s Itaewon lies the lesser-known, yet trend-setting street of Gyeongnidan-gil.A short walk from Noksapyeong Station, this stretch of road is filled with craft breweries, terrace cafes, unique restaurants and quaint shops steeped in culture and creativity. Located two blocks away from the main streets of this up-and-coming neighborhood is a narrow alley, nestled away in a residential district that is even further off th

Locals worry about side effects of increase in visitors

You may get a glimpse of taste of the latest trends in Korea if you travel Jejudo Island, Busan or Songdo in Incheon. Challenging the old beach vacation formula, with tons of almost-identical seafood restaurants, Woljeong-ri Beach in Jejudo is accompanies by a boulevard of cafes, boasting unique interior designs and localized menus. “I dropped by to spend a few relaxing hours at the beach, to feel the ocean breeze and have fun in a comfortable way,” a soldier in his 20s said at a cafe on the bea

‘I wouldn’t say the rise of these hot spots means that the existing popular places will die out. They might not be as refreshing as they were in the older days, though.’

Art, cafes, shops, ambience attract young people

‘A drone allows me to see my surroundings like an angel, which would otherwise be impossible.’

The Lily camera, once thrown into the air, chases after the person wearing its GPS tracking device. (Lily)In 2013, a team of robotics engineering students from the University of California, Berkeley set out to create the world’s first throw-and-shoot camera.Lily, a GPS-oriented flying camera about to go on sale, can hover once thrown into the air, and chase whoever is wearing its tracking device while filming aerial shots in high-definition. Lily is an advanced version of what has already been w

Koreans are known for their impatient temperament and cutting-edge innovations, but not even Korea has developed the idea of deliveries to your door by drone.That is the crux of U.S. retail giant Amazon’s Prime Air 30 Minute Delivery service, which was first unveiled in December 2013.Amazon plans to deliver packages weighing less than 2.2 kg to anywhere within 16 km of a servicing warehouse in less than half an hour.The hurdle is not that the technology is in the realm of science fiction ― it is

Importers warn beginners to note safety issues