Foreign residents in Korea can receive free 2012 desk calendars featuring Korean landscapes and cultural images by dialing 1330, a call center for non-Korean speakers, the Korea Tourism Organization said.Foreign residents can receive a calendar by calling the 1330 “TT Call Center” and leaving their names and addresses, KTO said. The 2012 KTO calendar carries works by four Korean photographers who traveled around the country to capture Korean traditional culture and its people. It is available in

Technical glitches, frequent program reruns dampen expectations for the cables operated by print media firmsAll that flashy advertisement and promises of “a new television era” were brought to shame, at least in the first few days after new pay-television channels went on air here. Instead of mega-sized soap operas and high quality variety shows that had been promised, viewers were left with broken and frozen frames, several minutes of sudden muteness, if not a complete empty signal. “For a mome

Creating one’s own ‘it-bag’ more popular among menWhile there are plenty of good things to say about leather crafting, the growing number of addicts of the hobby pick one above all others ― what you make is completely unique.“Regardless of the amount of money you pay for an expensive designer bag, someone else is bound to own the same one. I find pride in making something that only I can possess,” Kim Yu-ri, a blogger who started learning leather crafting four months ago, said.Although Korea is

Classical Music“Marc Grauwels & Friends”: Belgian flautist Marc Grauwels will perform with a group of acclaimed Korean musicians on Dec. 8 in Seoul. Noted for his eclecticism as a soloist, Grauwels has worked with international musician such as famed Guy Lukowski and Greek composer Yannis Markopoulos, who wrote a concerto for flute dedicated to Grauwels that was played at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. He will play with flautist Park Min-young, violinist Jung Yoo-jin and many more. The pro

A ‘great farewell’ to the Irish wonders’ 14 -year journey Westlife“Greatest Hits”(Sony Music)With boy bands appearing and disappearing at such speed these days, only Westlife -- the Irish wonders who have stayed with us for 14 faithful years -- could stretch the definition of greatest hits to its full potential.To the sadness of millions of fans all over the world, Westlife has announced the decision to disband with the release of their “new” and final album.Opening this final soiree with their

Korea must concentrate on the young generation, soft power and business-related vision in its future cultural promotion activities, experts at a Korea Culture and Information Service seminar said Thursday. The state-run organization held the seminar to mark its 40th anniversary, aiming to seek new ways to conduct its activities more effectively in the years to come.The seminar, titled “Reaching out constantly, Resounding globally,” was attended by dozens of experts and cultural figures from Kore

Entry of four general programming channels and one news network to stiffen competition in broadcastingFour new general programming cable TV broadcasters will go on air Thursday, with dozens of grand-scale drama series and variety shows to appeal to the nation’s 23 million cable, IPTV (Internet TV) and satellite TV subscribers. Four media consortiums led by top daily newspapers ― the Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Maeil Business Newspaper ― are anticipated not only to rake in the mo

Experts to evaluate Korea’s overseas cultural promotion activities in seminar Over the past four decades, the Korea Culture and Information Service has grown into an organization with 24 overseas offices, promoting the nation’s culture and image all over the world.In time with its 40th anniversary on Dec. 31, the state-run organization will hold a seminar aimed at “seeking new answers” on how to conduct its activities more effectively. KOCIS was inaugurated as the Overseas Information Center und

Korea’s traditional martial arts taekkyeon, tightrope walking and ramie fabric weaving of the Hansan region have joined UNESCO’s intangible heritage list. UNESCO delegates, who are meeting Nov. 22-29 in Bali, Indonesia, gave the green light Monday to taekkyon, jultagi (tightrope walking) and Hansan mosijjagi (ramie fabric weaving). The three were among the six Korean traditions of the 49 submitted from across the world. UNESCO holds regular meetings to discuss which local traditions should be pr

Cellist says she finds happiness growing in conductingWhile the world-renowned musician says she regrets “not having done enough things” as she draws closer to the age of 30, Chang Han-na has had many unequivocal achievements in her decades-long musical career. While holding at least 40 concerts around the world each year, the cellist has managed to expand her musical scope through five years of conducting. Chang, 29, promised an “intimate interaction” with the audience during her upcoming recit

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- Preparations for a long-needed renovation of the 1,500-year-old Church of the Nativity are moving ahead in Bethlehem, the town of Jesus’ birth, in the face of political and religious conflicts that have kept one of Christendom’s holiest sites in a state of decay for centuries.The first and most urgent part of the renovation, initiated by the Palestinian government in the West Bank, is meant to replace the building’s roof. Ancient wooden beams pose a danger to visitor