Korea’s royal books returning from France

Korea’s royal books, looted by the French navy in the late 19th century and kept by the National Library of France until recently, will be returning to their home country Thursday, the government said.The 297 books of “Uigwe,” or manuscripts for royal protocols created during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), will be delivered to the National Museum of Korea in four separate air transports. The firs

April 13, 2011

Shilla Hotel bans hanbok, offers apology

The Shilla Seoul CEO Lee Bu-jin (Yonhap News)The Shilla Seoul on Wednesday apologized for banning a hanbok-clad customer from entering its restaurant, the Park View, which provoked fierce criticism in the nation’s cyber space.The controversy sparked when well-known hanbok designer Lee Hye-sun of Damyeon was reportedly banned from entering the Park View on Tuesday evening by a restaurant staff, who

April 13, 2011

Korean novel gets world’s attention

(Author Shin Kyung-sook at a press conference in New York on Tuesday. Yonhap News)(The cover of Shin Kyung-sook’s “Please Look After Mom,” published by Alfred A. Knopf in the U.S. Yonhap News)Korean novel “Please Look After Mom,” written by Shin Kyung-sook and translated into English by Kim Chi-young, is making an impact internationally, entering the top 40 bestselling books on Amazon.com.The book

April 8, 2011

[Herald interview] Culture budget should double: minister

SYDNEY ― Funding for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism takes up about 1 percent of the Korea’s total budget this year, but spending should be doubled, Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said.“The cultural content industry is a new growth engine for the Korean economy and about 1 percent of the national budget should go to investment for cultural content development,” Choung told The Kore

April 5, 2011

More marriages end due to financial conflicts

  The number of South Korean couples who got divorced due to conflicts over money surged almost 78 percent in the past decade, a survey said Tuesday, indicating that financial problems are becoming a major factor in the rising divorce rate.   According to the survey of 4,405 divorced people conducted between 1990-2009 by one of the country's leading matchmaking firms Sunwoo, 12.7 percent of marria

April 5, 2011

Korean cultural centers need to identify local demand: minister

SYDNEY ― Korean Culture and Information Service’s Korean culture centers promoting Korean studies, culture and arts around the world need to know exactly what kind of information and content local visitors want, Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said in a meeting with Korean cultural center heads in Sydney, Australia.His comments came as directors of Korean cultural centers and culture & press co

April 3, 2011

Korea, Australia to celebrate 50 years of ‘mateship’ in Sydney

First Korean Culture Center in Oceania to openSouth Korea and Australia plan to hold cultural events in Sydney next week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said a delegation of Korean government officials including Culture Minister Choung Byoung-guk and Australian leaders in politics, culture and media will attend the cultural performan

March 31, 2011

Modern men attracted to powerful, independent women

Economic downturn is changing the ideal types of men and women. Men and women both prefer powerful partners whom they can depend on, the Daily Mail reported, citing a survey by Electronics Arts, a game company. Megan Fox (AP)About 66 percent of modern men are attracted to high-flying females and the number goes up to 71 percent among men between 30 and 34 years old. About 35 percent of men said th

March 28, 2011

Ministry to protect rights and welfare of entertainers

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Friday announced plans to set up an “Entertainer Supporting Center” as early as next month.The plans were unveiled at a forum involving about 20 influential figures in South Korea’s show biz industry at the SM Entertainment building in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. The forum, hosted by the Culture Ministry, sought to solve problems clouding over the

March 25, 2011

A crocus with your cappuccino

Flower cafés emerge as new hope amid slump of flower sales and fierce competition in café industryInstead of the expected scent of coffee and waffles, the fresh fragrances of spring flowers greet visitors at the door of Blute, a flower café in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. On a Saturday afternoon, surrounded by bundles of flowers and plants, a barista made hot Americanos while a nearby florist skill

March 9, 2011

Ven. Myeongjin leaves Bongeun Temple amid allegations of political pressure

Ven. Myeongjin, former chief monk of Bongeun Temple, has left the temple permanently, claiming that he was coerced to leave by the nation’s intelligence agency chief who allegedly took issue with his anti-government comments. The Bongeun Temple is part of the Jogye order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea, and is the largest temple in southern Seoul. Since Nov. 9, Ven. Myeongjin has been away for

March 7, 2011

LONDON (AFP) - Lawyers for US pop icon Lady Gaga have threatened legal proceedings against the makers of breast milk ice cream named "Baby Gaga", according to papers seen by AFP on Saturday.The New York singer's lawyers have given the manufacturers until 1600 GMT Wednesday to change the name "if you wish to avoid proceedings for trade mark infringement and passing off", according to a letter addressed to London restaurant The Icecreamists Limited.The cafe in the trendy Covent Garden district mus

March 6, 2011

Singapore gov’t to match unmarried singles

Singapore’s government is planning to help unmarried citizens to find their match.The government is concerned about the country’s low fertility rate and the fact that the younger generation is reluctant to get married and have children. (MCT)The Straits Times reported Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s minister for community development, youth, and sports, said, “We need to help them find the right

March 4, 2011

Rain, SNSD among winners of 2011 Seoul Art & Culture Award

Girls' Generation (Yonhap News)  The Korean entertainers considered to have advanced Korean art and culture in 11 categories last year gathered at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in southeastern Seoul to receive the 2011 Seoul Art & Culture Award on Monday.Attendees to 2011 Seoul Art & Culture Award ceremony pose for a photo at Olympic Park in southern Seoul, Monday. (Yonhap News)Rain picked up the

March 1, 2011

Varying life expectancies among Seoul residents reveal economic disparities

Life expectancy in Seocho district, the most affluent in southern Seoul, was 83.1. South Koreans living in the more affluent central southern part of Seoul tend to live longer than those in the north, a study said Thursday, a reflection of widening disparities in the quality of life among the residents of the 10-million-strong capital.According to the study conducted by Cho Young-tae, a public hea

Feb. 25, 2011