The Korea Herald

Men asked to WRAP up violence

Men across Asia are being asked to sign a pledge to help end violence against women. The Asia Pacific Youth Network is asking men in the region to help halt the gender-based violence that one in three women will experience in her lifetime, calling the practice “the most widespread, yet hidden, human rights abuse of our time.”Males are being asked to vocally challenge sexism and violence to show others that being a man shouldn’t involve oppression of women. The White Ribbon Asia Pacific, or WRAP

Dec. 7, 2011

CARE trip to animal shelter

A Korean animal rights group has invited people to visit its animal rescue shelter this Sunday. The Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth is running a trip to its shelter in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, which is home to 250 dogs and 50 cats. CARE group will meet at Uijeongbu Subway Station’s exit 2 at 11 a.m. before taking a bus to the shelter together to socialize with the dogs and cats. Visitors are advised to dress warmly as all of the trip will be spent outside. For more information or to reg

Dec. 7, 2011

Art and beats for cancer support

An Iron Mic and Sketch the Beat night will be held on Saturday to raise money to help cancer patients. The event from 10 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon will see all proceeds from the 5,000 won entry fee go to the Korean Cancer Society. Host Adam Palmeter will invite emcees, beatboxers and vocalists to join the Iron Mic, while artist Mike Stewart will lead a sketch event during their performances. He is inviting people to bring along their sketchbooks and art supplies to draw to the

Dec. 7, 2011

Teddies and tunes for Korean orphans

A volunteer group in Korea is to host an open mic afternoon to raise cash for local orphanages. Mannam’s Open Mic Cafe is to be divided into two separate timeslots on Dec. 10 at Daehagno Star City Caf in Seoul. The event costs 5,000 won to attend either from 1-4 p.m. or 4-7 p.m., with the ticket price including a cookie and a cup of coffee at the cafe in Myeongnyun 4 ga, Jongno-gu. Two time slots available for those wanting to perform the first will run from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and the second will be

Dec. 7, 2011

Mixed-race Koreans urge identity rethink

Things have come a long way since the 1970s when mixed-race Koreans here were spat upon and beaten up for being different. The kids of that time, whose fathers were often foreign soldiers who first came here during the Korean War, used to find it hard to walk down the street for fear of discrimination.These days, the Korean government and charities are investing heavily in programs to support multicultural families and overt discrimination against Amerasians is rare. But African-American Korean

Dec. 7, 2011

Mixed-race Koreans urge identity rethink

Films reeled to protect Korean rocks

An international film tour is to be held in Seoul on Saturday to raise funds to protect Korean mountains. The event to raise cash for Korea on the Rocks Initiatives is being organized with the Reel Rock Film Tour and adidas to raise cash to refurbish climbing gear on Korea’s mountains and clean up the environment. The event at the SETEC International Auditorium will be the only South Korean screening for the international tour featuring six adventure films including the premier of adidas’ film “

Dec. 7, 2011

Daejeon’s all-day gig to help children

A day of rock n’ roll is to be held in Daejeon to raise funds to help disadvantaged children.Picture My Face Bookings and ROKD have organized the 11-hour music festival to be held on Dec. 17 at Daejeon Cantina to raise money for Save the Children.Picture My Face is a promotions company which has been planning band nights in Cheonan, Daejeon and Cheong-Ju for about five years and is bringing a mix of Korean and foreign bands together to perform for charity. The ladies from ROKD, Korea’s only roll

Dec. 7, 2011

Exhibition to help ‘comfort women’ old and new

Links between the modern sex industry and the plight of women forced into sexual slavery during World War II are to be explored during events marking the 1,000th demonstration by Korean “comfort women.”Women given this euphemistic title ― who were forced to work as prostitutes for Japanese soldiers during the Second World War ― have been protesting outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul every Wednesday since 1992.Some of the surviving women will stage a protest outside the Japanese embassy in Joo

Dec. 7, 2011

Exhibition to help ‘comfort women’ old and new

Holiday party with N.K. refugees

A holiday party is to bring North Korean refugees, South Koreans and expats together in Seoul on Dec. 17. The party to be held from 12-3 p.m. at Tool Caf in Hongdae has been organized by PSCORE as a fund-raiser and awareness campaign for North Korean human rights. The 15,000 won entrance fee covers one free drink and three free holiday gifts for those attending. Cash collected at the event will help fund the organization’s education programs and other projects assisting refugees living in South

Nov. 30, 2011

International human rights internships open

An organization set up to keep Gwangju’s historic democracy movement alive is seeking international interns for next year. The May 18 Memorial Foundation aims to promote and protect democracy, human rights and peace in the name of the uprising on that day in 1980. The foundation’s activities include holding memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research and awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.The annual International Internship Program aims to develop democracy and human

Nov. 30, 2011

Christmas Day party at Ulsan orphanage

An expat volunteer group is seeking 100 volunteers to hold a Christmas party at a Korean orphanage on Dec. 25. The T-hope Korea group will make its regular visit to the orphanage that Sunday, but will plan extra treats for the kids living there. Volunteers will teach the center’s kids Christmas songs and Santa will visit to hand out gifts from 1:30-5:30 p.m. The group will also hold a soul-themed fund-raising party on Dec. 16 at The Royal Anchor bar in Ulsan to gather cash and gifts for the orph

Nov. 30, 2011

Santas sought for rescued pets

Animal-lovers are being sought to play Santa to rescue dogs in Korea. Generous donors are being asked to give the gift of health to abandoned and neglected pups by paying for a checkup for one of them this year. One checkup costs 150,000 won, which can be paid by one person or split by a group of willing Santa’s elves. People who do not wish to give cash are welcome to send dog blankets, food and toys to Animal Rescue Korea, which is organizing the festive pet present drive. The items will then

Nov. 30, 2011

Success at Geoje school’s first charity jumble sale

A charity jumble sale at an English village attracted more than 700 Koreans and foreigners to raise cash for a disabled people’s charity. The first Geoje English Village event of its kind saw foreign volunteers sell donated goods to raise funds for social welfare foundation Ai Kwang Won.Staff at the school on South Korea’s second-largest island also held open classes for parents and kids at the semi-public school subsidized by Geoje City Government and operated by Herald Media. English-speaking

Nov. 30, 2011

Success at Geoje school’s first charity jumble sale

Soccer star Hong kicks out to fight HIV

Sporting legend Hong Myung-bo has become an ambassador to help end the stigma and prevent HIV in South Korea and across Asia. The Korean soccer ace was appointed as a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness about HIV among young people and help break down barriers of discrimination surrounding the virus.“People living with HIV are people like you and me,” said Hong during the appointment ceremony at Yonsei University in Seoul on Monday. “They have rights and should not be dis

Nov. 30, 2011

Rubber Soul bounces back for AIDS Day

A Seoul gig night is to mark World AIDS Day by promoting safe sex and raising cash to support some of those living with the virus. Little Travellers Korea will hold the fourth annual Rubber Soul event across six Hongdae clubs on Dec. 3 following the global awareness day held every Dec. 1. Last year’s event was attended by more than 1,000 people raising 9.4 million won for the Hillcrest AIDS Center in South Africa. Little Travellers Korea has raised 48 million in total for the center which suppo

Nov. 30, 2011

Coastal cleanup trip for expats

Expat volunteers are being invited to discover winter migratory birds on an overnight beach cleanup eco tour to a Korean island. The two-day trip organized by the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation will run from Dec. 10-11 Daebudo in Gyeonggi Province. There are 25 places for ocean-loving foreigners on the trip which costs 20,000 won including food and accommodation. Volunteers will have the chance to visit a fishing village and bird-watch as well as helping with the tidal flats cle

Nov. 30, 2011

Diwali gala donates to Red Cross

Indian women living in Korea have donated 5 million won to the Korean Red Cross. Annapurna Indian Women’s Club raised the money at a Diwali Gala Dinner, which it has held for the past five years. The AIWC hosted 350 people for this year’s dinner at Millennium Seoul Hilton on Oct. 14. The Korean Red Cross will use the funds to support children raised by their grandparents as well as for disaster relief, refugees and other Red Cross humanitarian relief activities. Kusum Tayal, chairwoman of AIWC a

Nov. 23, 2011

Anti-slavery film screening in Daegu

A documentary exposing the global sex trade is to be screened at a Daegu church on Saturday, Dec. 3. The film “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls” will be shown at Dongshin church in Suseong-Gu at 7 p.m. The film was produced by international anti-trafficking organization Exodus Cry, a movement working to end modern day slavery through prayer and awareness. The non-profit movement also assists the victims of human trafficking and slavery through rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration into society.A

Nov. 23, 2011

Baked goodies for two charities

The Canadian Women’s Club in Korea is to sell home-baked goods to raise cash for two charities next month. The bake sale to benefit Aeranwon and First Steps will be held at the Schofield Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 9. The hall is at the Canadian embassy located closest to Seodaemun and City Hall subway stations. Homemade baked goods including butter tarts, fudge and gingerbread will be sold along with Tim Horton’s coffee and hot chocolate. Canadian maple syrup will also be on sale, as wi

Nov. 23, 2011

Music to raise awareness of N.K. rights

A Christian musician is seeking other artists to join him on an international tour to raise awareness about North Korean human rights.David K. O’Hannah is planning to tour church venues in the U.S. and Europe from early 2012. He has written North Korea-related songs that have been used at rights rallies in Seoul and is releasing an album shortly. He is seeking to contact musicians, sound engineers and crew to support him on all or part of the tour as well as people to help him create an online p

Nov. 23, 2011