Independence activist to become honorary Yonsei graduate

Ahn Chang-ho, a late independence activist, will be honored with a posthumous certificate of graduation from Yonsei University.The award comes 118 years after he entered the forerunner of Yonsei.The school will award Ahn with a certificate of honorary graduation in a ceremony at Yonsei-Samsung Library on the Sinchon campus in Seoul on Nov. 8, a day before his birthday. His grandson, Philip Cuddy, 58, is scheduled to attend the event.Yonsei will also hold a commemorative exhibition for Ahn in a m

PeopleOct. 27, 2013

ASEAN celebrated

The “5th Bravo! ASEAN in Korea 2013” showcased Southeast Asian traditional music and dance, as well as pop music performances, at the Millennium Hall of Konkuk University in Seoul on Saturday.The theme of the fifth installment of “Bravo ASEAN” was “diversity in harmony” to highlight the enormous diversity of ethnicities, language and most of all cultural heritage of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, organizers from the ASEAN-Korea Centre said. The event ha

PeopleOct. 27, 2013

Royal Academy of Music seeks Korean talent

It is widely understood that Korea’s aspiring classical musicians have impeccable technicality but lack a “unique” style of their own. In fact, those in the scene have been striving to find that extra factor that could nurture internationally acclaimed Korean musicians. Perhaps a good example might come from the Royal Academy of Music, a London-based institution of world renown, which trains nearly 700 students from more than 50 countries in over 20 musical disciplines. Since its establishment i

PerformanceOct. 27, 2013

Exhibit gives intimate view of rich and famous

Portraits of Hollywood stars, top fashion models and British royals taken from the unique viewpoint of Peruvian photographer Mario Testino are on view in Seoul as part of the photographer’s Asia tour, following openings in Beijing and Shanghai last year. The exhibition reveals some private moments the photographer got a peek of or shared with some of the world’s most celebrated people. The 86 photos on exhibit are arranged in three sections featuring photographs of celebrities, fashion models an

PerformanceOct. 27, 2013

Gaultier sizzles in New York museum retrospective

NEW YORK (AFP) ― A dazzling retrospective featuring the masterpieces of couture superstar Jean Paul Gaultier opened in New York on Friday, sizzling with wit and oozing sex appeal.The Brooklyn Museum exhibition unites under one roof objects as diverse as the French designer’s childhood teddy bear, a picture of his grandmother and the conical bras he designed for Madonna.Brimming with infectious enthusiasm for life, fashion and the unique magic of New York, Gaultier says he is delighted and humble

Arts & DesignOct. 27, 2013

Commitment flows deep

This is the 12th in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. Translator Ary Kim contributed to this article. ― Ed.Life is certainly hectic for producer and hip-hop artist Deepflow. Since starting his crew, Vismajor, just a few years ago, he has taken on many roles, from manager and CEO, to producer and director.But he says that while difficult, the fact that there is no money involved ― his members must find ways to support themselves ― makes

PerformanceOct. 27, 2013

IU single caught up in plagiarism claims

Netizens have raised allegations of plagiarism on K-pop star IU’s lead track “The Red Shoes” from the artist’s recently released third studio album “Modern Times.” On the new album, IU has attempted to shift gears from her previously cutesy pop style to more mature genres including swing, jazz, bossa nova and Latin pop. Netizens, however, say “The Red Shoes” sounds strikingly similar to German duo Nekta’s “Here’s Us,” an electro-jazz pop track released in 2009. Officials from IU’s agency LOEN re

PerformanceOct. 27, 2013

Keep on running

On a chilly Saturday morning at the Hangang River’s waterside park in Seoul, I was gearing up for the 10-kilometer run of the Savings Day Marathons. The emcees were screaming over loud background music. Those running the half-course of the Oct. 19 event had already left and it was my turn, along with several hundred others, to start. I tightened the laces of my trainers once again, checked whether the brim of my cap could block the blinding sunrays, and did some simple stretching. And to the sou

CultureOct. 25, 2013

Calendar

Festivals“Gunsan International Migratory Bird Festival”: The scene in which thousands of migratory birds dancing in groups will stretch in the well-conserved vast mudflats and reed fields in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province during the 10th Gunsan International Migratory Bird Festival from Nov. 22-24. The festival offers a rare chance to observe more than 50 kinds of winter migratory birds at the bird-watching corridor built on the embankment of the Geum River. The festival features hands-on program

TravelOct. 25, 2013

Eyelike: Boys Republic lose ‘Identity’

Boys Republic lose ‘Identity’ Boys Republic “Identity”(Universal Music)Boys Republic made a much-anticipated debut in June with its promising first digital single “Party Rock.” The boy band showed talent and differentiated themselves from the droves of pop stars that seem to debut by the dozen. However, the freshness they showed on their single was nowhere to be found on their new album, “Identity,” which is lacking both in content and style. There is a hint of a spark with opening track “I’m Re

PerformanceOct. 25, 2013

Box office: The Accomplice, Lovelace, Hwa-yi

 The AccompliceOpened Oct. 24Thriller. Directed by Guk Dong-suk. Da-eun (Son Ye-jin) becomes suspicious of her father (Kim Kap-soo) and thinks he might be the culprit in a kidnap-turned-murder case. With only 15 days remaining until the statute of limitations expires, Da-eun begins to look into her father’s hazy past. She is put into emotional turmoil as she finds out more about the case and distrust begins to grow toward her otherwise dedicated, loving father. The movie is inspired by the true

FilmOct. 25, 2013

Johnny Knoxville shrugged off a lot on the way to being ‘Bad Grandpa’

The right ring finger. ... No, “THE LEFT RING FINGER!”It’s minutes before sunrise at Westchester’s Kerlan-Jobe sports medicine clinic and Johnny Knoxville has very nearly, accidentally, authorized orthopedic surgery on the wrong hand. His uninjured hand.A clinic administrator taking down Knoxville’s information shakes her head in disbelief.Within the hour, the co-creator and breakout star of MTV’s cultishly beloved series “Jackass” ― and a trio of spin-off movies that have a combined gross of mo

FilmOct. 25, 2013

Eulalia festivals sweep peninsula

On a clear October morning at Sangam-dong in Seoul, hundreds of people in trekking suits were climbing the “280 stairs” to Haneul Park created atop a huge garbage landfill. Some of them were kindergarteners on a picnic, school students taking a day off in nature, apparent retirees enjoying full-tinted foliage and others. In front of the park, venders sold all kinds of foods from fish cakes to ice cream and beverages, attracting people to stop by. Some middle-aged men and women took seats and cha

TravelOct. 25, 2013

New Ibis Ambassador opens in traditional Insa-dong

The newly opened Ibis hotel in Insa-dong, Seoul, aims to meet the various needs of both business and leisure travelers, according to Patrick Basset, senior vice president of the Southeast Asian region of Accor Group. Opened on Sept. 25, the fifth Ibis chain hotel in Korea has proven to be an attractive accommodation option for tourists as its occupancy rate during the first month reached 70 percent. “We are performing better than expected,” said Basset, who manages major tourist destinations in

TravelOct. 25, 2013