Eight highly-anticipated films get early showings in SeoulFor art house and indie movie fans, the year 2012 looks promising. Several award-winning films are being released this year, including the local non-fiction film “Planet of Snail,” which won the top prize at the world’s largest documentary film festival in the Netherlands, and Golden Globe nominated French romance “The Artist.”For those who would like to check out some of the most highly anticipated films to be released this year in advan

CHICAGO (AP) ― Carlos Boozer scored 23 points and the Chicago Bulls beat Detroit 92-68 on Monday night for their 13th consecutive victory against the Pistons.Derrick Rose added 22 points and eight assists for Chicago, which bounced back from Saturday night’s lackluster 109-94 loss at Atlanta. Ronnie Brewer finished with 12 points, and Boozer also had eight rebounds.The Bulls improved to 4-1 during their first stretch of nine games in 12 days in 30 years. They play again each of the next two nigh

NEW YORK (AP) ― Barry Larkin was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Monday with plenty of room to spare.The former Cincinnati Reds shortstop was chosen on 495 of 573 ballots (86 percent) in voting announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, well above the necessary 75 percent. Larkin was on the ballot for the third time after falling 75 votes short last year.He will be inducted July 22 in Cooperstown along with the late Ron Santo, elected last month by the Veterans Committee.“I

ZURICH (AP) ― Already considered one of soccer’s greats at age 24, Lionel Messi became the first person to win FIFA player of the year three times in a row.The Barcelona and Argentina forward received the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2011, winning out over club teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the sport’s top individual honor.“It’s a huge pleasure for me,” Messi said, after accepting the trophy from another three-time winner, retired Brazilian forward Ronaldo. “It’s

The Royal Asiatic Society’s Korea Branch is holding a lecture on Park Ji-won’s short stories, especially how he uncovered the world of ordinary people on Jan. 17.Park Ji-won, a nobleman, was a powerful advocate of a more open society in the late 18th century. He wrote short stories about people in Korea’s lowest class, who created their own cultural space in Joseon’s rigid society, and suggested new prospects for the future.The lecturer will be Emanuel Pastreich, a professor of humanities at Kyu

Asian-American comedian Esther Ku will be performing in Seoul on Saturday.Ku works as a stand-up in the U.S. and was a finalist in the sixth season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” She also sings comedic songs in which she juxtaposes adult themes against her cutesy image.This will be the only show on her visit. The show is at Orange Tree in Haebangchon and starts at 9:30 p.m. Entry is 7,000 won on the door. To get to Orange Tree, leave Noksapyeong Station Exit 2 and bear left up the hill after 30

While skiing, snowboarding and ice fishing are the highlights in winter outdoor pursuits here, Korea also offers good ice climbing.The country has both indoor and outdoor gyms, as well as places where climbers can hack their way up natural frozen falls.For those who want to clip on the crampons and get stuck into the ice, English-language courses are available.Sanirang Alpine Networks, which runs activities on rock climbing and ice climbing in and around Seoul, is running two sessions of its Ice