GIC offers Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes

Gwangju International Center is offering August courses in Korean, Chinese and Japanese. The courses run from Aug. 6-31 and include beginners’ classes for Chinese and Japanese. Korean classes include beginners’ courses, TOPIK prep classes and speaking and entertainment-based classes.Classes are on weekdays, except the speaking and entertainment courses, with the schedule depending on the course. Fees range from 50,000 won to 200,000 won.To apply, visit gic.or.kr and download an application form.

Expat LivingJuly 30, 2013

RASKB offers historical tour to Japan

The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch is offering a range of weekend outings for August. The outings include a guided tour of Osaka and Nara on Aug. 24-26, focusing on the history of the two ancient Japanese cities and their historical connections to Korea. Other excursions include trips to Danyang, North Gyeongsang Province, on Aug. 11, Anmyeondo in South Chungcheong Province on Aug. 17 and a rafting trip in Gangwon Province on Aug. 24.For more information on the trips, visit www.raskb.or.kr.(

Expat LivingJuly 30, 2013

DJs to battle it out on Busan beach

Seven DJs will battle it out at the final of Busan eFM’s Expat DJ Contest on Friday at Busan’s Gwangalli beach.The finalists, chosen through an online preliminary round, will be able to play music of any genre, but must include at least one K-pop song.The finalists are Blaze, Coldchillin’, Ferry, Kalibo, Mike Holland, Pinnacle TheHustler and Woodreaux. The winner will get 1 million won ($880), while runners-up will also receive cash prizes.There will also be sets from special guest DJs Pandol an

Expat LivingJuly 30, 2013

Group sends books to overseas ethnic Koreans

A group of book lovers has mailed thousands of books to overseas ethnic Koreans. The Campaign Center of the Book Supplying for Overseas Koreans held a ceremony at its warehouse in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, to mail 6,000 books to Kyrgyzstan, and 5,000 each to Massachusetts in the U.S., Manila in the Philippines and Singapore. The center plans to hold a book donation ceremony in Kyrgyzstan around Sept. 5. when they are expected to arrive. The ceremony was attended by Sohn Suck-woo, pres

PeopleJuly 30, 2013

Angelina Jolie speaks out against rape in war

TOKYO (AP) ― Movie star and director Angelina Jolie urged a Japanese audience Monday to join her fight to stop sexual violence in war zones. Jolie said she hoped “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” her first film as writer and director, would inspire viewers to think about rape in war. In April, the Group of Eight leaders agreed to work to end rape and sexual violence in conflict and the United Nations Security Council adopted text urging sanctions against perpetrators of sexual violence during ar

PeopleJuly 30, 2013

Cultural Heritage Administration to release official Romanization guide

The Cultural Heritage Administration has established an official standard for the Romanization of all the nation’s major historical sites, names and locations. Since 2010, CHA has worked together with some 100 experts, expatriates and foreign students from non-English-speaking countries and ordinary citizens to create the guideline. The guideline will help eliminate much confusion about how to translate Korean titles and names into English, the agency said.Starting Aug. 1, Gyeongbokgung and Sung

CultureJuly 30, 2013

Vienna Boys’ Choir facing serious money problems

VIENNA (AFP) ― The sailor-suited Vienna Boys’ Choir, one of Austria’s best-selling musical exports, is facing serious financial problems, its director warned in a newspaper interview Monday.“The Vienna Boys’ Choir is a well-run institution but financial resources are very scarce,” Walter Nettig told the Die Presse daily.The “Wiener Saengerknaben” and an attached school, with roots going back to the 13th century, is classified as a non-profit association. It relies on income from its many concert

PerformanceJuly 30, 2013

Copy of Schindler’s list fails to find eBay buyer

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― An original copy of the list of Jews saved by Oskar Schindler from the Holocaust has gone unsold on eBay, but the auctioneer said Monday he’s not disappointed.The 14-page typewritten list ― bearing the names of 801 men ― originated with the German industrialist’s right-hand man Itzhak Stern and had a steep opening bid of $3 million.But by the end of the online auction Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Los Angeles time not one bid had been placed ― although there was no lack of interest.“Ov

CultureJuly 30, 2013

Wagner fest seeks new audiences with ‘pocket’ operas

BAYREUTH, Germany (AFP) ― Mini versions of Richard Wagner’s best-known works are on offer in Bayreuth this year for those who baulk at the prospect of sitting through operas lasting five hours and more.While Wagnerians from all over the world traipse up to Festspielhaus theater built to the composer’s own designs on the town’s Green Hill, children and opera novices can get a taste for his music in slimmed-down arrangements of two of his greatest masterpieces.The Bayreuth Festival’s highly succes

PerformanceJuly 30, 2013

Culture Ministry introduces standard contract for entertainment industry

TV actors should be given their script at least two days before shooting an episode, cast and crew must not shoot for more than 18 hours a day, and broadcasters should pay the cast and crew if their outsourcing production company be unable. These are some of the clauses included in the suggested standard contract between the nation’s broadcasters and outsourcing producers, drawn up by the Culture Ministry and unveiled on Tuesday. “While Korea’s popular culture is a major driving force for hallyu

TelevisionJuly 30, 2013

CBS defends handling of ‘Big Brother’ controversy

BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP) ― The “social experiment” that is the CBS television show,’ “Big Brother,” included appalling behavior this season but the network has responded appropriately, CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves said Monday.Contestants have been caught on the reality show’s 24-hour-a-day Internet feed making boorish and racially insensitive remarks, and some were aired on one of the show’s TV episodes.“What you see there ... unfortunately is reflective of how certain people feel in America.

TelevisionJuly 30, 2013

59th Newport Jazz Fest stars Cole, Hancock

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) ― Roger Lewis has hauled his baritone saxophone to gigs in far-flung places, from England to Japan to New Guinea. He’s played so many places he’s lost count of precisely where he’s been. But he’s never forgotten Newport.Lewis, a member of New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band, returns to Rhode Island’s city-by-the-sea again this weekend for the Newport Jazz Festival, an event he calls “one of the greatest festivals in the world.’’“I remember listening to that Ray Char

PerformanceJuly 30, 2013