Old newspapers available via digital archive

Seven of Korea’s oldest newspapers have been made available to the public in an online archive run by the National Library of Korea, the state-run library said Wednesday. “A digital archive of old newspapers published from 1939-1949 is now searchable online,” it said in a press release. At www.dibrary.net, the archive covers a total of 146,736 articles printed in seven dailies ― Kukmin Shinbo, Dongnip Shinmun, Daehan Dongnip Shinmun, Dongnip Shinbo, Minjung Ilbo, Joseon Joongang Ilbo and Joongan

CultureMarch 19, 2014

Award-winning film ‘Han Gong-ju’ to hit local theaters

Filmmaker Lee Su-jin’s first feature film “Han Gong-ju” is finally hitting local theaters after scooping up awards at international film festivals, including Rotterdam and Deauville.The film tells the tale of a traumatized teen sexual-assault victim, who is forced to change schools and leaves her family. It had its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival in November, and won the top prize there, given by a Martin Scorsese-headed jury. It also nabbed the Tiger Award, which is

FilmMarch 19, 2014

Sunye of Wonder Girls to head to Haiti for missionary work

Sunye, the leader of the Wonder Girls, has announced that she will head to Haiti to carry out missionary work there for five years with her husband through their self-established NGO “Whitestone Global.”Sunye broke the news on the group’s official fan website on Tuesday by uploading a personal statement that explained her reasons for moving to the Caribbean nation with her missionary husband James Park.“During a short week that I spent volunteering in Haiti while living abroad, the direction of

PerformanceMarch 19, 2014

Students press professors to open minds to cheaper textbooks

SEATTLE ― In deciding which classes she’ll take every quarter, Alissa Ramberg often applies the textbook-cost-factor test: She figures out which professors require pricey textbooks, and avoids those classes.The University of Washington senior and student-government senator, who is majoring in political science, has also put off taking classes ― and even chosen alternative courses that still fill the requirement ― to try to control how much she must shell out for books.The price of college textbo

CultureMarch 19, 2014

The hearth can sell the home: Fireplaces available in many styles

HACKENSACK, New Jersey ― Vikki Ruisch had a fireplace in her house, but it was in a room her family barely used. So during a remodeling project last year, she had a fireplace built in her heavily trafficked living room, where everyone could enjoy it.Ruisch figured it would add value to her Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, house, but that wasn’t really an incentive. She grew up having a fireplace in her home and just wanted one, or two. She also had one put in the master bedroom.“I don’t know anyone w

CultureMarch 19, 2014

Art magazine expands to Seoul, Busan

Daegu-based art magazine (b)racket has expanded its circulation to Seoul and Busan.Its March edition will be available at four locations in Busan and 11 locations in Seoul, mostly in the Hongdae and Itaewon areas.Magazine co-founder Jess Hinshaw said that increased support from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center had allowed the magazine to double its print run, allowing it to expand to new cities and bolster the supply at its roughly two-dozen Daegu locations.Hinshaw said that there were no immed

Expat LivingMarch 18, 2014

SIWA to hold annual fund-raising gala

SIWA will hold its annual fund-raising gala on April 12 with a “Sunset Safari” theme.The SIWA Charity Gala is one of the association’s major charity events, along with the SIWA Bazaar, and has raised about 21 million won ($20,000) for local good causes each year. The money goes to a fund managed by the SIWA Welfare Committee, which chooses charities to support, although additional donations for specific charities will be accepted on the night. Last year, major donors included Anna’s House, which

Expat LivingMarch 18, 2014

Korea Touch reaches out

The Korea Touch Association will kick-start its 2014 season Saturday with an open day in Jamwon Park, next to the Han River. The touch rugby event will involve skills practices, coaching clinics and an introduction to the game for complete beginners, followed by a casual mini-tournament. The KTA has seen most of its old hands leave in recent years, according to event organizer Dain Leathem, but a large influx of new players meant that last year saw an uptick in participation. “We had another big

Expat LivingMarch 18, 2014

Yukio Ninagawa stages ‘Musashi’ in Seoul

Yukio Ninagawa, a Japanese theater director best known for his Japanese adaptations of Shakespeare plays and Greek tragedies, is presenting his Japanese Zen comedy-drama “Musashi” in Seoul this month. “I guess I am known as the director who interprets Shakespeare plays in a very Japanese way,” the director told reporters during a press conference in Seoul. “But with ‘Musashi,’ I wanted to do something that does not rely on Shakespeare (and his scripts).”The upcoming show is Ninagawa’s second pie

PerformanceMarch 18, 2014

‘Avengers’ sequel to film in Seoul

Some scenes from the sequel to Hollywood blockbuster “The Avengers” will be filmed in and around Seoul from March 30-April 9.U.S.-based Marvel Studios signed a memorandum of understanding with the related Korean authorities on Tuesday regarding filming dates and six locations ― five in Seoul and one in its outskirts ― for “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The five locations in Seoul are Cheongdam Grand Bridge, a northern road in Digital Media City in Sangam-dong, Gangnam Boulevard, Mapo Grand Bridg

FilmMarch 18, 2014

Paraguay group of poor kids turns garbage into sweet melodies

ASUNCION (AFP) ― Parents all over the world often complain about their children’s music being garbage. For one group of poor kids in Paraguay, however, who have found international fame by forming an orchestra which uses instruments built from trash, it is quite literally true. The Orchestra of Recycled Instruments of Cateura will mark another notable chapter in their history this week when they will be the opening act for U.S. heavy metal band Metallica on a six-nation South American tour. “It

PerformanceMarch 18, 2014

Super Junior-M to unveil new album in China

A unit of the K-pop boy band Super Junior will make a comeback this week by releasing its new album in Chinese-speaking countries, the group’s management agency said Tuesday.Super Junior-M will upload its third EP, titled “Swing,” to various online music services in China on Friday, SM Entertainment said.It is the third and most successful subgroup of the 13-member boy band Super Junior and consists of Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun, Eunhyuk, Henry and Zhou Mi.“Swing” is the first album to be

March 18, 2014

Short skirts and new beats: 4minute makes return with ‘4minute World’

The five starlets of 4minute, with many buzzing about HyunA’s attention-grabbing, see-through miniskirt and the group’s new sexy choreography, made their return official with their fifth EP, “4minute World,” on Monday. The group performed the title track “Whatcha Doin’ Today” for the first time at a showcase held on the Garden Stage at Lotte World Monday night. The single was composed and written by popular hit-making producer Brave Brothers and reached No. 1 on nine local real-time charts, incl

March 18, 2014