Art along the tense border

Works on display at tour sites of Cheorwon Security Tour show realities of a divided peninsulaSecurity is of utmost importance at the heavily fortified 250-kilometer-long Demilitarized Zone along the 38th parallel that divides the Korean Peninsula into South and North Korea. And though Cheorwon Peace Observatory boasts a panoramic view of North Korea, well into the propaganda village close to the border, tourists are often prohibited from taking photos for security reasons. On the third floor of

July 30, 2012

Group outraged over eye-sewing experiment on cats

Animal rights groups are furious over an experiment in the U.K where cats’ eyes were sewn up to find out how the brain responds to sensory deprivation.More than 20 kittens were raised in darkness for up to 12 weeks and another five had their eyes sewn closed for up to a week. The test was funded by British taxpayers and conducted by researchers at Cardiff University who insist the procedure is humane and took place in a bid to find a cure for lazy eye in children. But the British Union for the A

July 26, 2012

Killer whale drags trainer under water for 15 minutes

An online video showed a huge killer whale thrashing his trainer for 15 minutes at a U.S. theme park SeaWorld.The 2006 video was released as part of the on-going litigation against SeaWorld by the U.S. Secretary of Labor. The government says SeaWorld has endangered its trainers by exposing them to the dangerous whales.Killer whale Kasatka's attack on San Diego trainer Ken Peters has been put on Yo

July 25, 2012

Beopseongpo Danoje designated as important intangible cultural asset

The Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday it has designated the Danoje Festival held in Beopseongpo in South Jeolla Province as Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 123.The Beopseongpo Danoje is one of the major Dano festivals held in Korea along with Gangneung Danoje, a UNESCO-designated world cultural heritage. Programs include ritual offerings to the Dragon King for the sake of safety of fishermen, folk games, a Korean music competition, and a lantern parade to pray for the well-be

July 24, 2012

Self-esteem irresistible to opposite sex

 A sense of humor and self-confidence are the most irresistible traits in a potential love interest, not physical traits, a U.S. survey indicates.A survey by Tango.com, a Web-based source for love and relationships, indicated 89 percent of respondents agreed that when one or both partners in a couple has poor self-confidence, relationship problems ensue."Conventional wisdom holds that attraction t

July 24, 2012

Celebs descending on London for Olympic bashes

LONDON (AP) ― The athletes and the Olympic torch have arrived in London ― and so has the party.For those keener on celebrity-spotting or dancing the night away than medal counting, the British host city has plenty of action to offer during games time. Away from the track and field, Hollywood royalty such as Brangelina and Nicole Kidman will be rubbing shoulders with diplomats and businessmen at the city’s glitziest clubs and grandest historic buildings. Meanwhile, Dizzy Rascal, Snow Patrol and o

July 22, 2012

Waiting on life’s breath

Hannah, 2, awaiting groundbreaking procedure for windpipeThe sight of Lee Young-mi leading her nearly 2-year-old daughter Hannah along a hallway in Seoul National University Hospital might not sound too unusual. But when The Korea Herald visited her about one year ago, she could do nothing but lie on her back. Hannah can now walk if she holds on to her parents’ hands, though she can’t go far. Hannah was born without a windpipe. Because she needs to have her artificial airway cleared every fiftee

July 20, 2012

‘Focus on human nature, not unique cultural aspects’

World-renowned story-teller Robert McKee says appealing to human nature matters mostHow to best produce hit dramas and movies based on traditional Korean culture is an important question for the government as it tries to promote the country’s heritage abroad.Robert McKee, a world-renowned teacher of story-writing and story-telling, said a strategy that focuses on cultural uniqueness is likely to fail because it has nothing in common with people in other countries. Stories that appeal to human na

July 18, 2012

Corporate donations to arts drops in 2011

Korea’s mecenat council urges National Assembly to pass bill that offers tax deduction to companies supporting the artsThe total amount Korean companies gave to the arts and spent on their culture-related activities last year decreased 6.2 percent from the previous year, as businesses have begun to feel the pressure from Europe’s fiscal crisis, the country’s mecenat council said on Tuesday.According to a survey conducted by the Korean Business Council for the Arts, a total of 624 local companies

July 17, 2012

Ancient pre-Inca tomb found in northern Peru

LIMA (AFP) ― Archeologists said Friday they have discovered a tomb about 1,200 years old, from the pre-Inca Sican era, in northern Peru.Human remains and jewelry were found July 4 along with the tomb, likely that of a member of the aristocracy of the Sican or Lambayeque elite, head researcher Carlos Wester La Torre told AFP.A gold earflap, a silver-plated crown, and some 120 silver and copper ornaments that served as emblems of power, along with 116 pieces of pottery and seashells were found in

July 15, 2012

Ditching digital

Gadget-fatigued people turn back to vinyl records, film cameras, fountain pensKoreans are often thought of as some of the world’s most tech-savvy people, quick to catch on to the newest digital gadgets.Using their mobile phones or tablets, they listen to music, manage schedules, take pictures and type emails.However, an underground shopping arcade in Hoehyeon-dong, central Seoul seems to resist the tide of digital culture. Vinyl record stores line the passageways, and everything feels slow. If y

July 13, 2012

Museums, art centers offer fun, education for kids

With school break just around the corner, museums and art centers have lined up a variety of cultural events. The programs will suit the needs of children and teenagers looking for fun and entertaining events as well as parents seeking to find more educational opportunities. Although the vacation has been made shorter by the five-day school week this year, children and parents can still make the best of it in an enriching cultural atmosphere. Here are some fun yet educational summer programs tha

July 13, 2012