New books in ‘Insight into Korea Series’Making the High-Speed Train Fly: Korean Global STI Strategy, Empowering Korea with New InnovationsBy Kim Suk-joon and others(Jimoondang)The Korea Herald’s “Insight into Korea” book series, which previously dealt with key Korean issues including Dokdo, the Korean Wave, and various social and financial topics, has published two more volumes ― this time about the challenges Korea faces in R&D and science and technology. The books ― “Making the High-Speed Trai

Handaxes in the Imjin BasinEdited by Yi Seon-bok(SNU Press)Many things remain a mystery about the early Paleolithic period, especially the one of East Asia. Many of the Paleolithic remains found in the region have added to such questions. Most importantly, hand axes, which had been considered some of the most significant remains of the early Paleolithic in Europe and Africa, were not found in Asia until the late 1970s.Yet as the first set of Acheulian-like hand axes were found in Korea’s Imjin R

Sure, why not. Let’s have yet another biography of Elizabeth II, this one as she’s about to mark 60 years on the throne.So what is new to justify Sally Bedell Smith’s massive “Elizabeth the Queen”? What is left to uncover, and what should be left uncovered and unknown in the life of this exemplary lady whose predetermined existence of regal obligation is yawningly unenviable, however bejeweled the box it comes in?Smith’s book answers those questions with a double yes ― yes, there are mercifully

More best-selling books to be made into movies in 2012We saw its success on the silver screen last year, with the hits “Punch” and “The Silenced.”Following the box-office triumph of the two bestsellers-turned-films, Korea’s publishing scene is seeing more of its output being turned into motion pictures this year. The film rights to about 10 popular books have been sold to production houses so far. The books to be turned into films include author Park Bum-shin’s romance novel “Eungyo,” Kim Tak-hw

Eighth Japanese Film Festival features top worksThis will be a thrilling week for Japanese movie buffs in Korea, as the annual J-cinema event returns to Seoul on Thursday, bringing with it some of the most celebrated Japanese anime filmmakers. The 8th Japanese Film Festival, which is being hosted by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, along with Korea’s CJ CGV, Busan Cinema Center and Japan Image Council, features 18 films this year. Notably, a separate event will be held in Busan for the first

Hallyu sees new turn as more K-pop stars dominate TV drama and performing arts sceneThis is the last of a five-part series on hallyu. ― Ed.For Girls’ Generation fans, the year 2012 must come as an exciting one.Not only are they going to see their favorite hallyu singers on YouTube music videos and K-pop shows, but they are also going to find the girls on the small screen, as TV drama actresses. Four members of the group -- Yoona, Jessica, Yoori, and Sooyoung -- have recently announced their upco

Mobile gadgets become new source of experience for pro and amateur filmmakersIt’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s accessible. Welcome to smartphone-filmmaking, which has become the new trend for both amateur and professional filmmakers in the past year. The trend ― which started about a year ago upon the domestic release of Apple’s iPhone 4 and its local carrier KT’s aggressive-creative promotion of the products ― is becoming even bigger as more capital and talents are getting involved.In the beginni

His voice is deep, sonorous, rumbling with quiet gravitas.Few actors are as readily recognizable by their vocal cords as Max von Sydow, the great Swedish actor who arrived on the international scene in 1957, as a knight who encounters Death ― and plays chess with him ― in Ingmar Bergman’s classic, “The Seventh Seal.”Von Sydow would make 10 more films with Bergman (“Without him, I would certainly not have been here today,” he says). And he would make his mark in big commercial films, playing a sl

‘The Obamas’ surprisingly lacks surpriseThe Obamas By Jodi Kantor(Little, Brown) With all the headlines about Jodi Kantor’s book on Barack and Michelle Obama, the biggest surprise about it is this: There aren’t any surprises.I learned little about the Obamas or the presidency that I didn’t know or imagine, and I’m not even a passionate follower of events in Washington. Well, one thing shocked me. Can you believe the White House residence has a spotty Internet connection and only one extension of

Voices of Foreign Brides: The Roots and Development of Multiculturalism in KoreaBy Kim Choong-soon(AltaMira Press)One of the stars to emerge from last year’s silver screen hit “Punch” was Jasmine Lee. The Filipino-born Korean actress and activist, who rose to prominence as a panelist on KBS TV’s multicultural show “Love in Asia,” also appeared as an immigrant in the box-office hit. Aside from the film and TV roles, Lee was appointed one of Seoul City’s first foreign civil servants last year. The

Staring down a no-good, gun-toting heir to a marijuana empire in rural Kentucky who’s just thrown a dead rat at his car, Raylan Givens stands unfazed.“You know how many wanted felons have given me that look?” he says, calm as a man on a Sunday stroll. “I say a thousand I know I’m low.”Cool.Raylan Givens is one cool character, whether he’s enforcing the law as a deputy U.S. marshal in Elmore Leonard’s new novel “Raylan” or on “Justified,” the taut, moody FX series that has become a critical favor

Pop group 2PM will be teaching the Korean language on air in Japan, according to the group’s local agency.The group will appear on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK from April, hosting a five-minute segment of its popular Korean-language education show. The segment is slated to be titled “2PM’s One-point Korean,” and the members will be mainly teaching useful travel phrases.The group made its Japanese debut last year, and successfully completed the “Republic of 2PM” Japan Arena Tour. The group held

Pop star-turned musical actress Ok Ju-hyun to star in ‘Elisabeth’After welcoming the local adaptations of Czech musical “Hamlet” and London’s West End musical “Zorro“ recently, Korea’s theater scene is seeing the arrival of another European show, this time about the real-life 19th-century legendary Austrian empress Elisabeth (1837-1898).Starring former girl group FIN.K.L. member-turned-musical actress Ok Ju-hyun, actor Song Chang-ui and K-pop group JYJ member and rising musical star Kim Jun-su,

Ven. Jaseung shares his plan for order’s 50th year anniversaryThe Jogye Order, Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, will focus on promoting harmony and peace this year, its 50th anniversary.“It’s easy to say the word ‘harmony,’” said Ven. Jaseung, president of the Jogye Order, at a press conference at the Center for Korean Buddhist History and Culture in Seoul on Tuesday. “But there is a saying that conflicts are unavoidable unless you live all alone by yourself. This is an important year for Korea, a

“Olje Classics,” a book series consisting of four local and Western classics. (Olje)‘Olje Classics’ sold out one day after hitting bookstore shelvesA book series consisting of four local and Western classics, published at a low-price to provide the texts to the less fortunate, sold out just one day after hitting the shelves last week.Provided by non-profit corporation Olje, the four-volume series in Korean titled “Olje Classics” includes Plato’s “The Republic,” Aristotle’s “Politics,” “Analects