LPGA star Park In-bee nominated for U.S. sports foundation award

South Korean golfer Park In-bee has been short-listed for an annual award for female athletes presented by a U.S.-based charity organization.Park, the world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer, is among the eight finalists for the Sportswoman of the Year honors in the individual sport category, awarded by the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), the organization announced on its website.The annual award, determined by the WSF’s Awards Committee and on-line voting, is based on athletes’ accomplishments in a

PeopleAug. 14, 2013

Offspring of early emigrants to Mexico, Cuba invited to Korea

A Cuban girl of Korean ancestry was surprised to spot familiar faces in the Museum of Korean Immigration History in Incheon on Tuesday.“I was taken aback to see a photo of my maternal great-great-grandparents. I saw their photo at home,” Mei-Lai Contreras Fong, a 17-year-old from Cuba, told local news media. “The photo struck me that Korea has not forgotten us.”Her maternal grandfather’s grandfather was one of almost 300 Koreans who went halfway across the world by ship to Mexico in 1905 before

PeopleAug. 14, 2013

Matt Damon: ‘Elysium’ resonates with the world we live in

Following on the heels of “World War Z,” “After Earth” and “Snowpiercer,” local theaters are seeing the arrival of another dystopian blockbuster, this time starring Matt Damon. Damon, who is best known in Korea for his 1997 drama film “Good Will Hunting” which he co-wrote with his friend and fellow actor Ben Affleck, visited Seoul for the first time to promote his latest movie “Elysium.”The film, directed by “District 9” filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, is set in 2154 where the powerful live in a space

FilmAug. 14, 2013

Six decades of coverage and growth

  Korea’s first president, Syngman Rhee, makes an address to the U.S. Congress in 1954.The April 19 Revolution in 1960President Park Chung-hee meets U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961.Kim Jae-kyu, chief of the intelligence agency, stands trial for assassinating President Park Chung-hee in 1979.Soldiers clamp down on the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980Hyundai Motors rolls out the 200,000th Pony in 1980. The company began manufacturing the nation’s first mass-produced car in 1975.Pres

CultureAug. 13, 2013

Cultural icons reflect spirit of the times

The Korea Herald revisits the past six decades through the lives of iconic cultural figures and examines how their professional and personal development reflect the nation’s complex and often tumultuous history. 1950s: Choi Seung-hee, dancer (1911-1969)The life of legendary dancer Choi Seung-hee (1911-1969), lauded as one of the best dancers in Asia in the late 1930s, was entwined with Korea’s complex post-colonial politics, the Korean War and national division.Of aristocratic birth, Choi traine

CultureAug. 13, 2013

Correspondents rely on English media

Whether they are reporting in Spanish, French or English, most foreign correspondents working in South Korea rely on domestic English-language media outlets to stay informed on what is happening here.The reason is obvious. It is simply too difficult to learn Korean, at least well enough to read Korean language papers. Many foreign correspondents rely on The Korea Herald and media outlets like it, such as the English language wire service that Yonhap News provides for Korean news and information.

PeopleAug. 13, 2013

‘Every day counts in honing English’

More than 1,300 people applied in April to serve as telephone translators for BBB Korea, an institution specializing in free 24-hour Korean-English telephone translation services. Of the 431 applicants offering their time to serve, was Choi Soo-hyun, the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service.Becoming a volunteer translator may not be the most eventful occurence in the FSS head’s life, but his candidacy for such a position reckons an explanation. A recipient of a bachelor’s degree from Se

PeopleAug. 13, 2013

A vital resource for foreign envoys

Unless a foreign envoy here has local staff dedicated to translating news articles into his or her native language, the South Korea-based English-language media is indispensable for diplomats. Even for foreign missions with a sizable local staff, foreign ambassadors turn to the English language press as a source of knowledge on Korean culture, politics and economy.This the case for Australian Ambassador to South Korea William Paterson. “As an English speaker, The Korea Herald provides me with ke

PeopleAug. 13, 2013

English newspapers crucial to language learning: professor

The 16-year-old middle-school student flipped through the English dictionary, slowly pushing aside the wrinkled sheets of paper. He squinted his eyes as he stared intensely at the book, while ignoring his mother’s calls to come and eat dinner.“Mr. Kim Hong-yup, I will not repeat myself. Get over here and eat your dinner,” snapped his mother from the kitchen.Hong-yup barely mumbled a reply. “I’m busy, mom.”The freckled teenager was a bookworm, but he was taking on a new challenge in the realm of

PeopleAug. 13, 2013

Daegu troupe to stage ‘Princess Bride’

The Daegu Theatre Troupe, a theatrical group of English-speaking expats, is soon to stage William Goldman’s “The Princess Bride.”“The Princess Bride” is a satirical, fantasy love story centering around two adolescents, Buttercup and Westley. Throughout the play, they face a multitude of obstacles that keep them apart.Jarod Clegg, the director of the Daegu Theatre Troupe production, also wrote the script for their adaptation. He describes their version as a “fun, good natured play” in which they

Expat LivingAug. 13, 2013

Then & Now: A look back at the changing tides of K-pop

From traditional Korean folk music and the sounds of pansori, to the heavily Western influence of Korea’s old rock ’n’ roll scene, all the way to the current trends of choreograph-heavy K-pop idol groups, the nation’s music industry has had a number seismic shifts. After the trend of popular music shifted from folk to rock to pop, the modern era of music gave birth to the continually growing, internationally recognized genre that is now referred as K-pop, or Korean pop music. Within the first ha

PerformanceAug. 13, 2013

Dutch design and architecture showcased in Seoul

Dutch architecture and design have played a leading role in the global scene with their functional yet playful qualities. Dubbed “the world’s largest artificial paradise,” the Netherlands has developed distinctive architectural and design styles in battling floods and other natural disasters as much of its land is below sea level. The key architectural and design qualities of the Netherlands can be seen in Seoul at a new special exhibition put together by the Korea Foundation, the state-funded a

Arts & DesignAug. 13, 2013

Crayon Pop signs contract with Sony Music Entertainment

Crayon Pop, known for their “series five-cylinder engine dance” set to the song “Bar Bar Bar,” has signed with world-famous label Sony Music Entertainment. Crayon Pop differentiated themselves from other girl groups by making a debut decked out in matching polo shirts, track pants, skirts and bike helmets. Instead of going for the stereotypical sexy or cute concept, the group aimed for a girl-next-door style, gaining fans and sparking a slew of parodies of their famous dance. “When Sony Music En

Aug. 13, 2013