Filipino crowned Miss World

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AFP) ― Miss Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 in a glittering finale Saturday on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, amid tight security following weeks of hard-line Muslim protests.Hundreds of Islamic radicals held a prayer session in a mosque near the capital to express their anger, while Megan Young wept as she won the coveted title on Hindu-majority Bali at the end of a three-week contest.The 23-year-old, wearing a pearl white gown, promised to be “the best Miss

PeopleSept. 29, 2013

6,000 soldiers participate in blood donation drive

Private First Class Jang Ho-joon of the 19th Regiment, 6th Division, 5th Corps rolled up his sleeves on Tuesday to donate blood. He was the 6,000th and last participant to donate to the corps’ blood drive, which lasted about three months, “I am doubly happy because I did not just join the meaningful event but also marked the completion of the blood donation event,” he said.He was awarded a souvenir from the corps commander and a leave of absence. The Fifth Corps said Sunday that it carried out a

PeopleSept. 29, 2013

Berlin Wall fragments to be displayed in Uijeongbu

Several fragments of the Berlin Wall, which divided Germany from Aug. 13, 1961 to Nov. 9, 1989, will be displayed at a unification-themed park to be created in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province.The government of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, said Sunday that it would place five fragments of the dismantled wall in a temporary park near Uijeongbu Station and open it to the public in mid-November. The display of the symbol of German reunification is intended to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signi

PeopleSept. 29, 2013

Blurred lines on stage

One of the biggest performing arts festivals in Asia arrives in Seoul on Wednesday, featuring a total of 19 works from seven countries, including a play about late celebrated intellectual Susan Sontag (1933-2004). This year’s lineup for the annual Seoul Performing Arts Festival, celebrating its 13th edition, is filled with a number of cutting-edge, highly experimental works that blur the line between fantasy and reality. “SPAF 2013 aspires to encourage and inspire a new mode of creativity by inv

PerformanceSept. 29, 2013

Korea, China and Japan vow greater cultural exchange amid souring relations

The culture ministers of Korea, China and Japan pledged to facilitate cultural exchanges as a way to improve souring relations in Northeast Asia at the fifth trilateral culture summit held in Gwangju on Saturday. In a joint statement issued after the summit, Korean Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong, Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu and Japanese Culture Minister Hakubun Shimomura agreed to cooperate on protecting cultural assets, foster cultural content and promote culture exchanges. The three minist

CultureSept. 29, 2013

Making Korean hip-hop a culture

This is the eighth in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. ― Ed.For rapper P-Type, a first-generation hip-hop artist in Korea, hip-hop is more than just a music genre: It’s a culture and attitude. And he hopes for the day when hip-hop becomes more than a trend here.“My dream is to make hip-hop grow its roots and become a culture in Korea so that future hip-hop artists can start a little bit easier than before,” P-Type said in an interview w

PerformanceSept. 29, 2013

Hugh Jackman gets lifetime achievement award in Spain

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AFP) ― Australian actor Hugh Jackman, the star of “Wolverine” and “X-Men,” received a lifetime achievement award on Friday at the San Sebastian film festival in northern Spain.“I will take this as a charge to go on working for many more years to move you and entertain you,” he said after collecting the festival‘s Donostia award for his film career from the hands of Mexican actor Diego Luna at a ceremony held at beachside congress centre in the coastal city of San Sebastian.

FilmSept. 29, 2013

From doodler to iconic cartoonist

 As a kid, cartoonist and scholar Rhie Won-bok spent most of his time doodling alone.“In the 1950s, you only had two choices as a kid,” Rhie, now 66, tells The Korea Herald. “You either went outside and played with other kids, or stayed inside and found something to do. People were poor and we all didn’t have many things. Books were also very hard to find. I wasn’t a very active type, so I stayed inside and just doodled.”After many years of doodling, he started drawing random things. He drew a l

BooksSept. 27, 2013

Introducing Korea to the world through cartoons

Throughout the last 33 years, Rhie Won-bok’s educational series “Far Countries, Near Countries” offered young Korean readers a glimpse into the culture and history of other countries. Yet the series’ volume on Korea is also a great introduction for people with no background knowledge on the country. Based on Rhie’s thorough research and keen observations, the book presents an insightful and sometimes hilarious analysis of Korean culture, society and its people. “I’ve received a number of invites

BooksSept. 27, 2013

2AM to hold year-end concert

K-pop group 2AM is holding its “NOCTURNE” concert on Dec. 7-8 at the Olympic Handball Stadium in Seoul. The group’s agency, Big Hit Entertainment, released a statement on Friday that the year-end concert would be a musical drama with different stories woven throughout the performances. The concert will be the group’s first big gig since it released its second album, “One Spring Day,” in March.Ever since 2AM’s first Christmas concert in 2010, 2AM has held year-end concerts to celebrate the season

Sept. 27, 2013

Kim Jun-su to appear in musical ‘December’

JYJ member Kim Jun-su is set to star in the upcoming musical “December: A Never Ending Story,” portraying the life of the late legendary musician Kim Kwang-seok, who died in an apparent suicide in 1996. The ex-member of TVXQ is expected to appear onstage for 30 performances, proving his ticket-selling power for the 5 billion won ($4.6 million) blockbuster musical, running from Dec. 8-29 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. “For the past three years, Kim has received huge support fo

Sept. 27, 2013

Lee Bo-young, Ji Sung take wedding vows in Seoul

Actress Lee Bo-young and actor Ji Sung tied the knot on Friday at a Seoul hotel with more than 200 guests in attendance. The pair has been dating for six years after starring opposite each other in the 2004 TV drama “Save the Last Dance for Me.” They admitted to dating in 2007 but have been low key about their relationship until very recently when Lee, who successfully finished her summer hit show “I Can Hear Your Voice” in July, announced her engagement. “What we wrote on our wedding invitation

PeopleSept. 27, 2013

Korean Air plants trees in Chinese desert

Korean Air employees began to plant trees in the Kubuqi Desert in China’s Inner Mongolia for the seventh straight year Thursday. The desert is the origin of about 40 percent of the sand that gets blown into Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula, every year. It is also regarded in China as the source of Beijing’s spring dust.The carrier has planted trees abroad to improve the global environment.Sixty-five executives and employees planted trees in the desert Thursday and Friday with 55 Ch

PeopleSept. 27, 2013

[Photo News] Contribution to Korean tourism

TravelSept. 27, 2013

Experience the southern coast with ease on the S-train

From blue seas, lush mountain ranges and vast green landscapes to popular getaways such as Busan, Yeosu and Boseong, Korea’s southern coast boasts some of the most scenic views and must-visit destinations in the country. The state-run Korea Railroad Corporation has made getting there not only easier, but more comfortable on its new “S-train,” the latest addition to its line of trains geared to tourism and sightseeing. Following KORAIL’s widely popular “V-train” and “O-train” launched in April in

TravelSept. 27, 2013

Calendar

Festivals“The World Traditional Medicine Fair and Festival”: The world’s first fair dedicated to Oriental medicine will take place in Sancheong, a village on Jirisan Mountain, until Oct. 20. The festival, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of the publication of Donguibogam, the ancient Korean medical book, showcases the latest Oriental medicine trends, treatments and health information. Visitors will also get the chance to receive free consultation and treatment at the festival. The venues a

CultureSept. 27, 2013