At Rotary, time-tested mission charts new path [Herald Interview]

The stereotype of Rotary International as just another elite social club quickly dissolves upon meeting its leadership. In Seoul this week for a leadership training summit, the organization's presidents — past, present and future — spoke with lively conviction about transforming lives through service, their enthusiasm matching their distinguished profiles. The gathering, which brought together 500 district leaders from across Korea, serves as preparation for both upcoming leader

Nov. 26, 2024

Lay Buddhist group donates children’s clothing to Laos

The Lay Buddhist Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the country’s largest Buddhist sect, donated 1,000 outfits to preschool girls in Laos on Thursday. “Starting with Laos, we will continue our efforts to assist other Buddhist countries,” said Jung Won-ju, president of the association, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of Daewoo E&C in Seoul. Jung is the chairman of Daewoo E&C and Herald Media Group. Alounkone Boulommavong, deputy chief of missio

Nov. 14, 2024

Songwriter tied to pro-democracy movement posthumously awarded

Kim Min-ki, a singer-songwriter best known for the once-banned 1971 hit “Morning Dew,” was posthumously given the Woodang Award for promoting national unity and the arts. “His music laid the groundwork that brought the country together. Kim was a humble creator, musician and director, and while leading a theater company, he helped foster singers and actors,” said Lee Jong-chan, president of the Woodang Education and Culture Foundation, at a ceremony Wednesday in Seoul. Th

Nov. 13, 2024

Woman donates organs to 7 after dying of heart failure

The organs of a woman who died after suffering cardiac arrest have been donated to help seven individuals, the state-run organ donation agency said Wednesday. Lee Mi-jeong, who passed away last month at the age of 37, left her heart, lungs, liver, both kidneys and both eyes to be transplanted, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency. She suffered critical cardiac arrest in July, which left her brain dead. The bereaved family of Lee said they saw organ donation as a way of keeping a part o

Nov. 13, 2024

Hankook Ilbo chief editorial writer takes office as new head of Korea News Editors’ Association

Lee Tae-gyu chief editorial writer of The Hankook Ilbo, a local daily, was elected as the 26th president of the Korea News Editors’ Association on Tuesday. The association, established in 1957, is a society of senior journalists from 62 South Korean media outlets. It works toward cooperation between news companies and promotes the freedom of the press. Lee was named the new president at the periodical meeting of the association held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The new president

Oct. 30, 2024

[Photo News] Hanok Experience

Foreign envoys, CEOs and their family members pose for a photo during a weekend program at the Hanok Heritage House in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province. Front row from left: Tourist guide Park So-young, Ignacio Montojo Salazar, husband of EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez; the ambassador; New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet; Renault Korea CEO Stephane Deblaise and his wife Marie Deblaise; Fernandez's friends; Italian Ambassador Emilia Gatto and Yoon Kyung-hae, the advise

Oct. 22, 2024

Korean language teaching expert says demand has outstripped supply

The Korean language and its writing system Hangeul are not easy to learn, let alone teach. Two non-Korean scholars have shown that that notion might be changing -- and the Korean government agrees. The two scholars will be awarded the Order of Culture Merit, the highest national recognition for contributions in the field of culture, at an official ceremony marking Hangeul Day on Wednesday morning in Sejong City. The city is named after King Sejong the Great (1418-1450), the fourth Joseon king wh

Oct. 8, 2024

[Herald Interview] Buddhism will 'pave way' for stronger Korea India ties

Buddhism can strengthen the ties between South Korea and India, according to Indian actor Gagan Malik. Malik is known for playing the role of Prince Siddhartha in the 2013 film “Sri Siddhartha Gautama,” for which he won best actor at the 2014 World Buddhist Film Festival, but he is also a Buddhist activist and an actor. Malik recently visited Korea, invited by the International Interchange Development Association here. “India is the cradle of Buddhism. The country has seen a gr

Oct. 3, 2024

Civilian heroes save person attempting suicide

A couple who saved someone who appeared to be attempting suicide in a car was commended by police, officials of Seoul Gwanak Police Station said Monday. Bae So-dam, 33, and Kim Du-hyeon, 41, saw smoke coming out of a vehicle as they were taking a walk a park in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu in Seoul on Sept. 22. They found a person sitting in the driver's seat, pulled them out and reported the case to the authorities. Officials presented a certificate of appreciation to Bae and Kim, along with A

Oct. 1, 2024

81-year-old model awarded ‘best dressed’ in Miss Universe Korea

An 81-year-old contestant was chosen as the best dressed in this year’s Miss Universe Korea competition on Monday, after reaching the finals as the oldest contestant in the competition. Choi Soon-hwa, who turned 81 this month, fell short of the ultimate crown in the event in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. But her admirable efforts won her the consolation prize of “best dressed” in the contest. Han Ariel, 22, a fashion school student, took the top prize and will represent the count

Oct. 1, 2024

[Eye Interview] Classic womenswear master rethinks skills gap, creativity

It was in 1979 when womenswear designer Gee Chun-hee opened her first Miss Gee Collection in Myeong-dong, a thriving shopping district in northern Seoul frequented by trendsetters back in the day. The 70-year-old designer has since become a Korean icon. Her storied legacy is a testament to a brand that has survived with a dedicated following -- clients whose affection for Miss Gee Collection runs in the family from mothers to their daughters. That tradition now faces an existential crisis: a loc

Sept. 28, 2024

Honorary degree given to late student who donated money she saved up while fighting cancer

Cha Su-hyeon, a former student of Daegu University who passed away due to cancer, received an honorary degree from her school Friday in appreciation of her donating 6 million won to be used as a scholarship fund for fellow students. Daegu University on Friday held a ceremony in honor of Cha, who was 22, to deliver her father Cha Min-su the honorary diploma from the department of biological education where she had attended. Six students of the same department each received 1 million won in schola

Sept. 22, 2024

Renowned former weathercaster Kim Dong-wan dies at 89

Kim Dong-wan, who was known as the country's first weathercaster, died Sunday at the age of 89, the state weather agency said. Kim began working as a weather forecaster for what is now the Korea Meteorological Administration in 1959. In the 1970s, he started giving weather forecasts at then broadcaster TBC, using catchy phrases, such as "heat that feels like a fly is falling asleep," to grab listeners' attention. He later worked for broadcaster MBC starting in 1982 and made w

Sept. 15, 2024

New season, new members, new ideas: Global Biz Forum kicks off fall run

The 6th edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off its three-month run in Seoul on Wednesday, with a packed agenda aimed at sparking discussion on global business trends and opportunities in an era of rapid change. The forum will convene weekly on Wednesdays, except on public holidays, for a total of 13 sessions, to facilitate knowledge exchange among global business leaders, finance experts, academics, diplomats and top civil servants. The goal is to build valuable

Sept. 12, 2024

Bereaved families act as 'suicide watchmen'

South Korean government on Tuesday held a commemoration of the state-designated Suicide Prevention Day, on which it commended welfare foundation employee Kim Dong-ho for his activities as a "suicide watchman" for over three years. Kim, 31, was among the 67 individuals and 23 organizations who received certificates of appreciation from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for their contribution suicide prevention. A fire safety manager for the South Jeolla branch of the Miral Welfare Foun

Sept. 11, 2024

South Gyeongsang Province inks deals for international, local investments

The South Gyeongsang Province government has signed multiple memorandums of understanding with international and local firms in the defense, aviation, industrial and automobile parts sectors for investments in the province's industrial zones. Delegations for the province, headed by Gov. Park Wan-su, visited European countries including Poland and Czech Republic to elicit cooperation with companies that have expanded their operations into the region. On Sept. 2 in the Polish capital Warsaw,

Sept. 10, 2024

27 years later, reformed boy thief leaves 'I'm sorry' note at temple

A Buddhist monk's tolerance toward a boy who stole from a temple led the boy to become a better person, a man who had stolen from a temple's offering box 27 years ago wrote in a letter of gratitude he sent to the temple recently. Tongdosa, a temple of the Jogye Order, has revealed that its monks recently found a letter with 2 million won ($1,490) inside the temple's offering box. The letter writer identified himself as having stolen money from the temple 27 years earlier, but

Sept. 10, 2024

'Please find her': Man dies amid 25-year search for missing daughter

A 71-year-old man who dedicated a large part of his life to searching for his missing daughter has died, a civic group said Wednesday. Song Gil-yong, whose daughter, Song Hye-hee, went missing in 1999, died Monday in a car accident, according to the local group dedicated to finding missing people here. The head of the group, Na Ju-bong, said in a media interview that Song had been suffering from deteriorating health, even showing signs of dementia in recent years. Na described Song as "a

Aug. 28, 2024

Table tennis star Shin Yu-bin lands BHC Chicken ad after Olympic snacking fame

Table tennis star and Paris Olympic double-bronze medalist Shin Yu-bin has become a favorite in the Korean food industry, landing major ad deals with top brands. The 20-year-old athlete brought home medals in mixed and women’s doubles, ending the country’s long medal drought in table tennis. Cameras caught her munching on snacks -- bananas, rice balls, and energy gels -- during breaks as the competition heated up. These endearing moments quickly went viral, adding to her charm alongs

Aug. 28, 2024

[Herald Interview] YouTube star seeks reach in creator economy

For Ddoddunam, a creator who runs an eponymous YouTube channel, his first career in marketing was something he entered by accident, but which, in hindsight, readied him for a more fulfilling life as a creator. “I never thought I would end up as a marketer in the credit card business, fresh out of college. I was thinking more retail,” said the video creator, who shares travel tips with about 512,000 subscribers on his channel. The 37-year-old quit Shinhan Card in April after nine year

Aug. 26, 2024