The Korea Herald

Youth instructors sought in Seoul

Overseas instructors are being sought to teach a multicultural education program to Korean kids. The Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchange is seeking volunteers to help on its 2012 Deep-rooted World Cultural Heritage (MIZY) program. Foreign citizens aged 19 or older are invited to teach their country’s culture and world heritage sites to native Koreans.Volunteers will deliver lectures about world cultural heritage and create class materials to inspire cultural diversity in young people here.

Feb. 15, 2012

Myanmar refugees’ nights campaign in Seoul

People from Myanmar and human rights activists have held a pro-democracy demonstration in front of the country’s embassy in Seoul. The protestors gathered in front of the Myanmar Embassy on Feb. 12 to mark Union Day, which commemorates the country’s different territories joining as one nation in 1947.Activists called for the implementation of the Panglong Agreement signed by representatives of Myanmar’s different ethnic groups on this day, which they say has never been done by Myanmar’s successi

Feb. 15, 2012

Volunteers to visit disabled people

A volunteer group is set to make a trip to help disabled people at their home on March 3. Angel House Volunteers will meet inside Younsinae Subway Station near Exit 3 at 1:30 p.m. before making their way by bus to the home in Goyangdong, western Seoul.The group goes to socialize with the people living there once each month, and helps them with some basic chores. They assist with cooking, cleaning and laundry as well as spending time with children and adults living there. People attending should

Feb. 15, 2012

Chance to study peace in Japan

Applications are now open for a peace-promoting summer school in Hiroshima. The intensive summer courses at graduate and undergraduate level will run from July 31 until Aug. 9 at Hiroshima City University. The courses aim to help students understand the nature of war and peace by teaching about wartime experiences, including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. They will also explore world peace issues in the era of globalization.All lectures will be given in English, with free homestay accommodatio

Feb. 15, 2012

Charity reaching out to Korean hearts

A charity helping children in 13 countries is reaching out to Korean donors to help improve the lives of children around the world.Restore a Child helps children access basic needs unavailable to them such as food, water, health care, education and shelter. The U.S. non-profit organization is now seeking volunteer translators to help set up a Korean website to reach what founder and director Norma Nashed describes as a community of responsive hearts.“Many Koreans express an interest in helping t

Feb. 15, 2012

International women mark bazaar’s help for Korean charity

Wives of diplomats in Korea gathered Wednesday to celebrate the efforts of Seoul International Women’s Association to raise more than 2 billion won ($1.7 million) for Korean charities in just over 30 years.The Italian stall at the last SIWA and Diplomatic Community Bazaar was also recognized for raising some 12 million won for Korean charities. “SIWA is very important for all the diplomatic spouses. There is a real sense of community,” said Maria Giovanna Fadiga Mercuri, wife of the Italian amba

Feb. 15, 2012

International women mark bazaar’s help for Korean charity

V-Day to be celebrated across Korea

More than a dozen V-Day events are to be held across Korea to help end violence against women. A range of events are to be held in Seoul, Busan and other cities to support the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. People around the world are encouraged to stage Eve Ensler’s award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues” and other artistic works during campaign season that has run from February until April for the last 14 years. V-Day founder Ensler interviewed more than 2

Feb. 15, 2012

Fund-raiser for free concert in Seoul

Rock bands are set to play a fund-raiser concert in Seoul to collect cash to stage a free summer music festival. The event organized by Exit Six will be held at Hongdae’s Strange Fruit venue on March 10. Local acts including Frenzy, Swimmingdoll and Angry Bear will perform at the concert along with Japanese band Icon Girl Pistols. The gig will start at 8 p.m. with a 45-minute set by Frenzy. Icon Girl Pistols will bring the concert to a close shortly before midnight.Tickets for the concert cost 5

Feb. 8, 2012

Korea asked to make art for peace

People in Korea are being invited to join an art contest to promote peace around the world. Kids and teens are being asked to create pictures for the U.N. Art for Peace contest. Young artists from around the world are invited to upload their art to the competition website until April 30. Teachers are also invited to lead class activities on topics such as “Imagining a World Without Nuclear Weapons” as well as art classes to create the peace-promoting works. Materials for such programs and detail

Feb. 8, 2012

Coals to keep Guryong shantytown warm

The international community is to help people living in a Gangnam shantytown keep warm this winter.Guryong Village is an unauthorized settlement of about 1,200 shacks located near the affluent southern Seoul area. The residents settled in the former green belt zone after being evicted by city authorities for redevelopment projects in the 1980s, in the run-up to the Seoul Olympics. Expats will deliver coal to some of the 2,500 people still living there whose shack homes were damaged by a fire thi

Feb. 8, 2012

Volunteer ‘city monitors’ needed

Foreign volunteers are sought to monitor the quality of life in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is recruiting expats to report on and make policy suggestions on every aspect of their daily lives in the city.The participants in the “Seoul Quality of Life Monitor” will also make suggestions on the legal and governmental policy areas life in Seoul. Foreigners and naturalized Koreans interested in taking one of the 45 positions should apply by Feb. 10. They should have lived for a minimum o

Feb. 8, 2012

Fund-raiser for free concert

Rock bands are set to play a fund-raiser concert in Seoul to collect cash to stage a free summer music festival. The event organized by Exit Six will be held at Hongdae’s Strange Fruit venue on March 10. Local acts including Frenzy, Swimmingdoll and Angry Bear will perform at the concert along with Japanese band Icon Girl Pistols. The gig will start at 8 p.m. with a 45-minute set by Frenzy. Icon Girl Pistols will bring the concert to a close shortly before midnight.Tickets for the concert cost 5

Feb. 8, 2012

Volunteer ‘city monitors’ needed

Foreign volunteers are sought to monitor the quality of life in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is recruiting expats to report on and make policy suggestions on every aspect of their daily lives in the city.The participants in the “Seoul Quality of Life Monitor” will also make suggestions on the legal and governmental policy areas life in Seoul. Foreigners and naturalized Koreans interested in taking one of the 45 positions should apply by Feb. 10. They should have lived for a minimum o

Feb. 8, 2012

Korea asked to make art for peace

People in Korea are being invited to join an art contest to promote peace around the world. Kids and teens are being asked to create pictures for the UN Art for Peace contest. Young artists from around the world are invited to upload their art to the competition website until April 30. Teachers are also invited to lead class activities on topics such as “Imagining a World Without Nuclear Weapons” as well as art classes to create the peace-promoting works. Materials for such programs and details

Feb. 8, 2012

Coals to keep Guryong shantytown warm

By Kirsty Taylor The international community is to help people living in a Gangnam shantytown keep warm this winter.Guryong Village is an unauthorized settlement of about 1,200 shacks located near the affluent southern Seoul area. The residents settled in the former green belt zone after being evicted by city authorities for redevelopment projects in the 1980s, in the run-up to the Seoul Olympics. Expats will deliver coal to some of the 2,500 people still living there whose shack homes were dama

Feb. 8, 2012

Refugee support center to open in Seoul

Refugees and asylum seekers who have fled their countries for Korea are soon to have a new center to go to in Seoul. NANCEN refugee support organization is renovating the ground floor of its office to provide a kitchen, shower and laundry room for refugees to use. The NGO recently opened the new office in the Garibong-dong area of Guro-gu, in southwest Seoul. The center also plans to provide small rooms ― called goshiwon ― around the area for some of the asylum seekers to use overnight. “The gos

Feb. 8, 2012

Foster care sought for abandoned pets

The Korean Animal Protection Society is looking for people to foster abandoned pets. Fosterers should provide basic daily care and basic veterinary care for the animal they are caring for. They should also not permit the animal to leave their care without KAPS’ approval. The organization requires that all people fostering animals should create an online profile for the pet ― posting fresh photos and information every 10 days to help the pet be adopted and show that it is being well cared for. Pe

Feb. 8, 2012

N.K. defector seeks cash for art debut in U.S.

A former North Korean propaganda artist who now makes pop art is seeking donations to exhibit his work outside of Korea for the first time. North Korean defector Song Byeok has been invited by distinguished U.S. professors to tell people in the state of Georgia about his life and art. And a campaign has been launched to help cover his airfare and the shipping of his works for his first trip to America. Members of the public have already pledged to donate almost $3,000 toward the $6,500 online fu

Feb. 8, 2012

N.K. defector seeks cash for art debut in U.S.

Diplomats invited to learn Korean in Seoul

Foreign diplomats in Seoul are invited to join one-on-one Korean language and culture classes. The program, taught by a group from Gangnam Volunteer Center, aims to help foreign diplomats and their families adapt to Korean life and understand the culture here.The “Friends of Diplomats” volunteer team of students from major Korean universities aims to have international exchanges in English or other languages with participants. The program has been running since 2008. “Diplomats who were satisfie

Feb. 5, 2012

Acts needed for black culture night

Performers are being sought to celebrate Black Beauty in Seoul on Feb. 4. The Beaute De Noir group is looking for performers and poets to contribute to a Bob Marley Birthday Bash in Itaewon. Photographers and videographers are also needed to record the event to run from 8-11:30 p.m. at Bar Yuki and then from 12-3 a.m. at Spy Club.Janet Kim, Jae Yoo, Fancy, Sarah B, Da Green, Lyric, JoshRoy, Dj Chris, Dj Rico and Elliot Ashby are already confirmed to perform. Tickets are 10,000 won and can be bou

Feb. 1, 2012