Why so many churches in Korea?

Aaron Tan, a renowned architect based in Hong Kong, once described Seoul as “A city full of glowing church crosses.” And that seems to be an impression shared by many foreign visitors to Korea, as crosses atop high-rise church steeples, illuminated white or red at night, dot the skyline of Seoul. Has Korea been transformed into a Christian nation after hundreds of years of cultural domination by Confucianism and Buddhism?Professor Chung Byung-joon of Seoul Jangshin University in Gwangju, Gyeongg

Jan. 15, 2014

Last call for the hotel minibar?

The quintessential “Me Generation” hotel amenity, the minibar, may be fading away like disco music, transistor radios and bell-bottom jeans.Upscale resorts today seem lukewarm, at best, about providing and maintaining the self-service, in-room liquor caches, where guests can crack open a miniature bottle of tequila or vodka or perhaps even enjoy cookies and soft drinks.Never a huge moneymaker due to chronic petty larceny and the high labor costs of monitoring and restocking liquor supplies, the

Jan. 15, 2014

Korean wrapping cloths showcased in Japan

A collection of traditional Korean wrapping cloths, called bojagi in Korean, is being showcased in Japan, where the garments are often used in everyday life.About 40 Korean bojagi on loan from the Museum of Korean Embroidery, along with 25 traditional pocket bags, are on view in a special exhibition at Koryo Museum of Art in Kyoto until March 30.It is the third time for the Korean museum to be invited to present its collection in Japan, reflecting a growing interest in Korean bojagi.  “In Japan,

Jan. 14, 2014

China designates Korea’s Yut Nori as its cultural heritage

A Chinese province added Yut Nori, a Korean traditional board game, to its list of regional intangible assets, local media outlet MBN reported. Yut Nori, along with the six-holed bamboo flute Tungso and sword dance, was included on a list of intangible cultural assets posted on the official website of Heilung-chiang province, where ethnic Koreans living in China are concentrated.The popular Korean game was recognized as provincial cultural heritage, not at the national level. However, speculatio

Jan. 14, 2014

Cologne Phil to present rarely performed ‘Alpine Symphony’

Richard Strauss’ “Alpine Symphony” is rarely performed because of the demands it makes on an orchestra ― for starters, it requires 125 players. So far, no foreign orchestra has played the grandiose 50-minute piece here. That is why so many Korean music fans are thrilled about the upcoming concert by the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra.The Germany-based orchestra will hold its first concert in Korea on Feb. 15 at Seoul Arts Center, with the program consisting of the “Alpine Symphony” and Mozart’s

Jan. 12, 2014

Calendar

Exhibitions“Re-Atta, Part 1: On-Air Project”: Photographer Atta Kim, whose innovative, striking photographs have received much attention in the global art community, returns with a solo exhibition in Seoul. Kim presents new images to wrap up the “On-Air” project that won him worldwide attention, as well as his previous works such as city images taken with long exposure and introduce another ambitious, philosophical project that overlaps 10,000 snapshots of a city into one. The extensive survey o

Jan. 10, 2014

Around the hotels

Third anniversary promotion at La SeineLa Seine, a buffet restaurant at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, offers discounts and special events in celebration of the third anniversary of its reopening until March 31. The restaurant’s weekday lunch buffet is now priced at 79,000 won for adults and 53,000 won for children, 15 percent off the normal price. For an additional 20,000 won, restaurant guests can enjoy an unlimited amount of beer, five types of wine and soft drinks. Special promotional events include

Jan. 10, 2014

Boats, pearls, crabs: New museum channels Miami

MIAMI (AP) ― Model yachts, rustic fishing boats and wooden rafts dangle above visitors as they step into the new Perez Art Museum Miami. The colorful display is both a playful nod to South Florida’s maritime culture and a somber reference to the perilous journeys many make to get here. It is the perfect entry to a museum that channels the city around it: whimsical, vibrant, brimming with culture from across the Americas ― and yes, a work in progress. The museum, which opened in December, still l

Jan. 9, 2014

Hedonistic high of ‘Wolf’ provokes debate

NEW YORK (AP) ― In “The Wolf of Wall Street,” out-of-control stock broker Jordan Belfort is initially furious when a Forbes magazine profile turns out to be a hatchet job labeling him a “twisted Robin Hood who takes from the rich and gives to himself and his merry band of brokers.” But Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is quickly schooled on the rules of publicity. The next morning his office is overrun with rabid young brokers desperately waving resumes, dying to join his merry band. The re

Jan. 8, 2014

Actress Carmen Zapata dies at 86 after long career

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Emmy-nominated actress Carmen Zapata, who started a foundation to promote Hispanic writers because jobs were so scarce, has died of heart problems, colleagues say. She was 86. Zapata died Sunday at her Van Nuys-area home, said Luis Vela, marketing manager for the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts in Los Angeles. Zapata started her career in 1945 in the Broadway musical “Oklahoma” and went on to perform in “Bells Are Ringing,” “Guys and Dolls” and many plays. “She was an inspira

Jan. 8, 2014

As cohabitation gains favor, shotgun weddings fade

WASHINGTON (AP) ― No longer taboo, living together has become a more common arrangement for America’s couples who become pregnant while dating. Soon-to-be-released government figures show a major cultural shift since the days of “shotgun weddings” aimed at avoiding family embarrassment. With marriage on the decline, the shift is helping redefine the traditional notion of family. “The emergence of cohabitation as an acceptable context for childbearing has changed the family-formation landscape,”

Jan. 8, 2014

Hopes high for pope’s visit to Korea

Hopes are running high in the Catholic community in Korea that Pope Francis may visit Korea this year, his first visit as a pontiff to the region and the first papal visit to the country in 25 years, if realized. Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the pope is highly likely to come and that the visit could be scheduled for one of two Catholic events taking place here in August and October. The Asia Youth Day, scheduled to be held in August in Daejeon, south of Seoul, is expected to draw

Jan. 7, 2014

NYC museum presents ‘The Little Prince’ exhibit

NEW YORK (AP) ― Antoine de Saint-Exupery crafted “The Little Prince” in New York City, mentioning Rockefeller Center and Long Island in one draft of the beloved children’s tale ― references he ultimately deleted. That page is contained in the French author’s original handwritten manuscript, which is the subject of a major exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum on the 70th anniversary of the book’s French publication ― a year after its U.S. debut.“The Little Prince: A New York Story,” which

Jan. 7, 2014

Korean makgeolli ad appears in WSJ

Seo Kyung-duk, a PR expert in promoting Korean culture, said he posted a new ad for makgeolli (a traditional rice-based alcoholic drink) in the Wall Street Journal’s Jan. 5 edition. The ad posted in the European Wall Street Journal read, “Makgeolli is Korea’s favorite rice brew. Pair it with kimchi to really bring out the flavors. It’s a healthy way to drink. Visit the nearest Koreatown and enjoy!” The professor of Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul partnered up with Song Il-kook, who gained p

Jan. 7, 2014

Young violinist readies to charm audiences

Park Hye-yoon, a 21-year-old violinist with a budding performance career in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, is preparing to dazzle audiences here. Having been named the 2014 artist-in-residence by Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, Park is preparing five concerts with the foundation, scheduled throughout the year, which she and officials at the foundation hope will grab the attention of Korean concertgoers in a year packed with big-name concerts.“Although I performed quite often in Europe, I’ve

Jan. 6, 2014