Let’s talk about men

Korea has seen brisk discussion of feminism and improvement in the status of women over the past decades. In Korea’s patriarchal society, securing women’s rights was a victory and promised a balanced development of society. For several years, though, men have been complaining about their weakening rights and positions in family and society. The shrinking dominance of males has been ridiculed and satirized on a comedy show that created the so-called “Committee for the Restoration of Male Human Ri

Dec. 28, 2014

[Weekender] Rollercoaster year for economy, culture

[Conglomerates] Conglomerates face changesThe hottest topic in Korean big business circles this year was no doubt a generation shift that was brought to surface by the poor health of Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, who suffered a heart attack in May. Lee is said to be recovering, but is still unable to return to the company. As the 72-year-old business magnate’s hospitalization dragged on, the nation’s largest conglomerate was taking steps for handing the chairman’s managerial autho

Dec. 26, 2014

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FestivalPyeongchang Trout Festival: The festival, named one of the top 20 winter festivals in Korea by the Korea Tourism Organization, is being held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics until Feb. 8. The festival is underway along the Odaecheon Stream known for its abundant trout population. Visitors can ice fish and eat trout raw for sashimi or roast it on the spot. More winter activities are available such as catching trouts with bare hands, ice skating,

Dec. 26, 2014

Images of 2014

Images of 2014Top 10 national and world news topics of the year selected by The Korea Herald editorsWorld01. IS influence increases in Iraq, SyriaIslamic State, a radical Islamist group controlling parts of Syria and Iraq, has sparked fear and outrage worldwide over its mass killings and abductions of soldiers and journalists.02. U.S., Cuba restore tiesEnding five decades of Cold War hostility, the U.S. and Cuba agreed in December to revive diplomatic ties and to ease a crippling U.S. trade emba

Dec. 25, 2014

Life and death in Pompeii

The story of Pompeii, how an ancient Roman city perished in a volcanic eruption about 2,000 years ago, has captured the imagination of many, resulting in a multitude of films, TV series and novels around the world. But what could possibly tell the tragic tale more vividly than the very relics excavated from beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash? In a rare treat for South Koreans, the National Museum of Korea has brought in about 300 artifacts from Italy to reenact the life and death of residents

Dec. 25, 2014

(Photo News) Afrasiab mural

Students view a full-size replica of an Afrasiab mural painting at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul on Tuesday. It was drawn in the middle of the seventh century and discovered in Uzbekistan in 1965. The people in the painting are thought to be envoys of Goguryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom. (Yonhap)

Dec. 23, 2014

JW Marriott in Seoul’s most vibrant, up-and-coming area

Inside the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul overlooking Dongdaemun, one of Seoul’s historic and cultural landmarksHotel / F&B JW Marriott Dongdaemun square seoulLocated in the heart of Seoul, JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul has become an important landmark along with the newly opened futuristic building Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park in Seoul’s prominent commercial and historic district of Dongdaemun. As the only luxury boutique hotel in the Asia-Pacific region, the 11-story hotel offe

Dec. 23, 2014

In Spanish city saved by museum, Guggenheim digs in

BARCELONA (AFP) ― Locals in Bilbao say an art museum helped save their Spanish city from decline. Now they are glad to know their savior, the Guggenheim, will be staying for some time.With the initial lease set to expire, the U.S.-based Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on Dec. 9 announced it was signing on to run its museum in the northern port city for another 20 years.That was double the period previously envisaged for the new contract, and for those involved it was another sign that the museu

Dec. 23, 2014

[Herald Interview] Craftsmanship behind Joseon woodblocks

Kim Gak-han has spent most of his life working with wood, from cabinetmaking to carving ancient texts and drawing on wood plates.“Now that I think about it, I think I was destined to do it,” the craftsman said in his Seoul studio, which was filled with wood plates of different sizes alongside countless handmade cutting tools and chisels. “One beauty of engraving is that you can’t think about anything else while you are doing it. It requires your full attention and there is something therapeutic

Dec. 21, 2014

Jangpangak, the woodblock archive

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― They say to see the real Korea, one must visit Andong, the home of Korean Confucianism. But even in this historic city, the real gems are hidden far off the beaten track. One such treasure waiting to be discovered is the collection of tens of thousands of woodblocks housed at Jangpangak, a storage facility in a peaceful little town called Seobu-ri. Tucked away at the foot of a hill overlooking the hamlet and a nearby lake, Jangpangak is the depository of the 6

Dec. 21, 2014

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Pop music“All Night Stand”: Just as he did last year, Psy will be returning to the stage for his “All Night Stand” holiday concert series. Psy has held holiday concerts each year for the past decade, with last year’s four-day event attracting a total of 60,000 fans. The man who defined Gangnam style will be hosting a series of shows from Dec. 20-24, with two separate performances on Christmas Eve. The shows will be held at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium with ticket prices ranging from 7

Dec. 19, 2014

Seoul to spend big on game industry

The Korean government plans to spend 180 billion won ($163 million) over the next five years to support game developers who have been facing a double whammy of intensifying competition in the global market and tough regulations, and negative perceptions at home. The five-year road map for the development of the game industry, unveiled Thursday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, envisions efforts to bring about a fundamental change to how the public and policymakers perceive online g

Dec. 18, 2014

[Herald Interview] Preserving family traditions in 21st century

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― In his beautiful old “hanok” property in a famous traditional village, there is a shrine to Lee Pang-soo’s distinguished ancestor Lee Sang-jeong. Every morning, the 64-year-old pays respect to his ancestor ― a prominent 18th century scholar ― before leaving the house. He does the same when he returns home at night. The two visits are his daily rituals and delight.“It gives me peace of mind,” Lee said. “It feels like I am being disciplined to be a better person

Dec. 17, 2014

[Herald Interview] Bringing Joseon treasure to light

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― Scholar Lim No-jig was born in Andong, home to hundreds of “jongga” ― the prestigious households descended from distinguished Joseon-era scholars through the eldest son of each generation.“Although I wasn’t a member of a jongga family, I certainly benefited from the region’s rich culture, which is heavily influenced by Joseon’s Confucianism and ethics,” Lim said during an interview with The Korea Herald in his hometown. The scholar heads the Woodblock Research

Dec. 17, 2014

[Herald Interview] Making sense of Confucian printing woodblocks

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― Despite their historical and cultural value, Confucian printing woodblocks are barely studied. Most people don’t even know they exist. That’s why Lee Yong-doo and his researchers at the Advanced Center for Korean Studies can’t slow down after the 10-plus-year campaign to salvage the relics from the threat of theft and damage. Deciphering the wisdom of Joseon scholars carved onto the slabs and making them readily available for today’s guidance-seeking Koreans i

Dec. 14, 2014

Why Confucian printing woodblocks matter

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― The legacy of Joseon, Korea’s last ruling dynasty, is alive and strong in this historic town. Billed as the heartland of Korean Confucianism, Andong boasts a number of private Confucian academies and clan villages from the 1392-1910 Joseon era, living proof that this region was home to many of the most prominent Confucian scholars of the time. What’s little known to the outside world, and even to many Koreans, is that the essence of the spiritual world of Jose

Dec. 14, 2014

Trailblazer in globalizing Korean classics

Choi Byong-hyon, a professor of English literature at Honam University in Gwangju, is widely regarded as one of the top translators of the Korean classics, especially historically important texts that are written in hard-to-decipher Chinese characters. Choi has already published four translated books in the category. The latest one, published in June by Harvard University, is a 1,056-page tome, “The Annals of King T’aejo: Founder of Korea’s Choson Dynasty.” He completed the massive translation p

Dec. 12, 2014

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Pop musicPsy Concert: “All Night Stand”: Just as he did last year, Psy will be returning to the stage for four energy-filled nights for his upcoming “All Night Stand” holiday concert series. Inarguably the world’s most famous K-pop star to date, Psy has held some form of a holiday concert annually for the past decade, with last year’s four-day event attracting 60,000 fans. The man who defined Gangnam style will host five shows from Dec. 19-24, with two separate performances on Christmas Eve. The

Dec. 12, 2014