History and politics, not U.S. drive Putin in Ukraine: book

In the U.S. debate over the Ukraine crisis, with its inward focus on which U.S. administration has been the most naive about Vladimir Putin’s intentions, it’s easy to lose sight of the recent history that led him to judge he could get away with seizing the Crimean peninsula.Former President George W. Bush famously described looking into Putin’s soul, but he failed to block Putin’s dispatch of troops to Georgia, while Republicans now blame President Barack Obama’s attempt to “reset” tense relatio

BooksApril 3, 2014

Love, failed ambition and revenge

This Dark Road to MercyBy Wiley Cash (Morrow)Wiley Cash’s lyrical, poignant approach to storytelling ― an outstanding asset of his 2012 debut ― takes another leap forward in “This Dark Road to Mercy.”As he did in his first novel “A Land More Kind Than Home,” Wiley mixes crime fiction with bits of Southern Gothic for a graceful second novel that is steeped in strong characters driven by a longing to connect with each other. Using the caper ― a mystery category that often is underutilized ― Cash d

BooksApril 3, 2014

Why we all feel ‘Overwhelmed’

Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the TimeBy Brigid Schulte (Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux)Remember boredom? Fifty years ago, big thinkers were wringing their hands over an oncoming age of mass boredom prompted by ever-increasing worker productivity. The Harvard Business Review fretted in 1959 that “boredom, which used to bother only aristocrats, has become a common curse.”Needless to say, the curse has lifted. These days, most of us experience boredom only in th

BooksApril 3, 2014

Design professor tapped to head tourism agency

Byun Choo-suk, a design professor at Kookmin University, has been tapped as the new president of the Korea Tourism Organization, according to officials on Thursday. He will succeed German-born Lee Charm, who resigned as head of the organization amid a sex scandal in November last year. Byun is known as an advertisement and design expert. He has served as a director of LG Ad and as former dean of Kookmin University College of Design. He was a member of the presidential campaign team for Park Geun

PeopleApril 3, 2014

Men with heavenly voices

If music aficionados in Korea were starting to get a little bored with the local classical music scene dominated by orchestras and players of major solo instruments, April brings a rare treat. Two men with heavenly voices are coming to Korea for solo recitals: countertenor Philippe Jaroussky on April 30 and Lieder singer Ian Bostridge on April 19. Frenchman Jaroussky is an unusual star in the world of countertenors, grown men who sing soprano or mezzo-soprano and perform roles that were original

PerformanceApril 2, 2014

Delivering voices of Iranian women

Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat has lived most of her life outside of her home country. She left Iran to study in the U.S. at age 17 in 1974 but hasn’t gone back for nearly 16 years. On her last visit in 1999, she was detained and interrogated by Iranian officials who mistook her for a political dissident. Outside her native country, Neshat has gained an international reputation as an Iranian artist. Her inspiring TED talk on her life as an Iranian woman and artist in exile drew more than 480,

PerformanceApril 2, 2014

20th Dream Concert to showcase popular K-pop acts

The 20th edition of the Dream Concert, an annual showcase of popular K-pop acts, will take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 7, the concert’s organizer Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association said on Tuesday.Under the slogan “We Love You Korea,” this year’s Dream Concert is scheduled to feature today’s hottest K-pop groups including Girls’ Generation, EXO, Beast, KARA, 4minute, B1A4, VIXX, A Pink, Girl’s Day, T-Ara, U-Kiss, BTOB, Rainbow, Crayon Pop, Boys Republic, Dal Shabet and m

April 2, 2014

BuzzFeed picks 2NE1 on list of top girl groups

South Korean girl group 2NE1 has been chosen by U.S. media website BuzzFeed as one of “11 girl groups from around the world to love right now.” According to an article posted on the popular website Monday, 2NE1 is riffing on the format all over the world, along with British “X-Factor” champs Little Mix. The article further mentioned that the four members ― CL, Park Bom, Dara and Minzy ― are amazing dancers who create wild, over-the-top videos and that each have a distinct personality.The band’s

PerformanceApril 2, 2014

Wild idea? Massage therapist says predators can ease PTSD

ORLANDO, Florida ― Kevin Rose doesn’t claim he can cure anyone, but he’s convinced he can teach people to manage their stress.“The animals,” he says, “are fantastic assistants for that.”Those animals include a black bear, three tigers, a cougar and two Asian black leopards. Abandoned by owners, the menagerie now lives at the CARE Foundation, a wildlife center in Apopka, Florida, that works with Rose and his fledgling business, Predatory Perceptions.Rose escorts clients through the center, stoppi

CultureApril 2, 2014

Composer named artistic director of gugak troupe

Ryu Hyeong-sun, a prominent gugak composer and producer, has become artistic director of the state-owned Creative Music Troupe. Handpicked by Kim Hae-sook, chief of the National Gugak Center, Ryu took office Tuesday for a two-year term. “I will seek out new possibilities by putting on stage performances that are new and of high quality yet based on traditions,” the 48-year-old composer said.  The creative music troupe started a decade ago under the auspice of the NGC. It has been trying to add m

PerformanceApril 2, 2014

No band is an island

A 3,500-full concert hall in Bangkok broke into the Korean version of “Happy Birthday” towards the end of the March 29 concert of rock band FTISLAND. A birthday cake was brought out with the mini figures of the five members who led in singing the song to celebrate six years in the industry since their debut.Bangkok was the last leg in the FTISLAND Sixth Anniversary Concert (FTHX) tour and fans came wearing their club’s official colour of yellow.The Thai capital is significant to the band because

April 2, 2014

Capoeira proves martial arts not just for men

Watching the capoeristas of Cordao de Ouro Seoul move together can be a mesmerizing sight.Watching the group sway in the “ginga” movement in time with each other can sometimes make it seem like it is not a martial art at all. But CDO’s capoeira ― an unusual martial art in Korea ― is unusual in its emphasis on music and nonviolence, while its relative novelty attracts a diverse range of people. “It’s a very collaborative atmosphere and people like the diversity of the group and the cosmopolitan n

Expat LivingApril 1, 2014

Rainbow Community wins award for helping disabled

The Rainbow Community, an organization helping people with special needs in Gwangju run by Irish priest Father Noel O’Neill, has won this year’s TJ Park Prize for philanthropy. The Community Development and Philanthropy Prize was one of three awards given out last week by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation in memory of the company’s founder. POSCO praised O’Neill when it announced that the Rainbow Community had won the award.“He created a group home where the mentally challenged could live together in

Expat LivingApril 1, 2014

[Herald Interview] Designer Munsoo Kwon adds whimsy to menswear

Munsoo Kwon attracted more viewers than any other rookie designer for his runway show at this year’s Seoul Fashion Week. His show was also frequently mentioned by foreign buyers and press as a favorite during the event. Since his debut with his 2013 fall and winter collection last year, he has become one of the most anticipated young designers in Seoul. His collection, featuring modern silhouettes and fine tailoring with a unique sense of humor, was widely praised by foreign buyers and press. Fo

Arts & DesignApril 1, 2014