Historic recognition: Washington's family tree is biracial

ARLINGTON, Virginia (AP) -- George Washington's adopted son was a bit of a ne’er-do-well by most accounts, including those of Washington himself, who wrote about his frustrations with the boy they called “Wash.”“From his infancy, I have discovered an almost unconquerable disposition to indolence in everything that did not tend to his amusements,” the founding father wrote.At the time, George Washington Parke Custis was 16 and attending Princeton, one of several schools he bounced in and out of.

Sept. 19, 2016

Artifacts damaged in record-breaking Gyeongju earthquake

Numerous historical sites in Gyeongju suffered damage ranging from severe to minor cracks during the earthquake that hit the city last Monday, the largest to be recorded on the Korean Peninsula.The Cultural Heritage Administration, which is in charge of preserving the country’s cultural sites, announced Sunday that some 60 cultural assets have been damaged. Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to 935) and located north of Busan on the southeastern coast of the peninsula, hous

Sept. 18, 2016

[Herald Interview] Victoria and Albert museum sheds light on Korean art

In 1961, the Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the world’s leading museums of art and design, held Europe’s first Korean art exhibition. In 1992, the museum officially opened the first Korean gallery in London dedicated to the country’s arts and crafts. Beth McKillop, a senior research fellow at the V&A and its former deputy director and director of collections, orchestrated the opening of the first Korean gallery in London and the building of the Korean art collection. The V&A’s Korean Gallery

Sept. 11, 2016

Last artifacts of 9/11 find new homes 15 years on

Behind the barbed wire, the minivan’s busted windows and crumpled roof hint at its story. But forklifted to this windblown spot on the John F. Kennedy International Airport tarmac, between a decommissioned 727 and an aircraft hangar, it is doubtful passing drivers notice it at all.In the long struggle with the memories of 9/11, though, the van’s solitary presence here marks a small but significant transition point.Tons of wreckage -- twisted steel beams, chunks of concrete smelling of smoke, a c

Sept. 11, 2016

[Weekender] Dealing with holiday stress in all shapes and sizes

Chuseok, or the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving in the West, offers Koreans a few days' break in September, but it can turn out to be both physically and psychologically draining. In traditional homes, wives face the daunting task of preparing a feast for the extended family, while the younger generation cringe as relatives assail them with questions about marriage, jobs and plans to have children. There are various ways to deal with the stress, but above all, people should strive to be less e

Sept. 9, 2016

[Weekender] Activities galore for expats this Chuseok

Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the country’s biggest holidays, and traditionally spent at home with family and loved ones. The occasion is widely considered to be about good food and company, but expats without family in Korea are often left with the question of how to spend the break. With Seoul virtually desolate as masses travel to their hometowns, some expats may choose to jet off overseas, too. However, those stuck in the city during this upcoming holiday need not despair, a

Sept. 9, 2016

London exhibition celebrates rebellious 1960s

LONDON (AFP) - Counterculture and hippy life are served up in a visual and musical blend at London‘s Victoria and Albert Museum, where a new exhibition delves into the swinging sixties. “With this exhibition we explore the era-defining significance and impact of the late 1960s upon life today,” says Victoria Broackes, curator of the exhibition “You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970,” which opens on Saturday. “The years from 1966 to 1970 -- just 1,826 days -- undeniably shap

Sept. 8, 2016

Italy's museums turn toward private sector for funding

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- Italian taxi drivers and concierges are being enlisted to encourage tourists to visit some museums. In Florence, supermarket customers raised 250,000 euros ($275,000) by opting to help the city’s art instead of receiving store loyalty rewards. And in Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is partnering with big-name businesses including ones that make watches, grappa and cologne.Whatever the formula, museums are increasingly looking to private-sector donations, collabora

Sept. 8, 2016

CCF delegates point to Korea’s modern adaptions of traditional culture　

This year's Cultural Communication Forum organized by Corea Image Communication Institute invited 20 leading cultural figures from 18 countries to experience Korean culture and to discuss ways to promote cultural communication across national borders. Following is an excerpt from interviews with some of the delegates who attended the three-day program.Benson PuahAfter building a notable career in hotel construction and management, Benson Puah reached a turning point in his life. “I asked myself,

Sept. 7, 2016

CCF 2016 Night wraps up three-day cross-cultural event

Traditional markets, theme cafes and palace visits in traditional Korean garment hanbok are the top three Korean trends both foreigners and Koreans alike would like to try, a Corea Image Communication Institute survey on Koreans’ and foreigners’ perceptions of Korea showed.The results of the survey of 307 Koreans and 223 foreigners were unveiled during the CICI’s Culture Communication Forum 2016 Night, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday, also showed that Koreans and non-Koreans were both p

Sept. 7, 2016

K-pop, tech, ‘ppalli-ppalli’ -- How foreigners view Korea in 2016

When Beth McKillop, research fellow of the Victoria and Albert Museum, was invited to Korea for the Culture Communication Forum 2016, she surveyed her extended family members on their impressions of the East Asian country.She was met with a range of answers, said the founding curator of the Korean Gallery in the prestigious UK museum, from “why are Koreans so keen on plastic surgery,” “why are so many great women golfers Korean” and “I love ‘Gangnam Style’” to “Korea’s advertising is 20 years ah

Sept. 6, 2016

The biggest what? Dubai seeks glory in obscure world records

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The 6,148 whiskey shots perched atop glasses of energy drink waited for the push that might send them tumbling into the record books -- just another night in Dubai, and another chance to make a certain kind of history.Superlatives like “the world's biggest” and “the world’s first” are almost as ubiquitous as the skyscrapers and mega-projects that have come to define this city-state on the Arabian Peninsula, home to the tallest building and the busiest internati

Sept. 6, 2016

Foreign cultural figures try Korean mask dance

Leading cultural figures from around the world participating in this year’s Culture Communication Forum visited the National Hangeul Museum Monday to learn about the Korean alphabet and experience talchum, the traditional Korean mask dance. 　A total of 23 participants, including Australian barista Paul Bassett, Turkish dancer Behan Murphy and American jazz vocalist Tim Stong toured the museum that traces the history of Hangul, the Korean alphabet system.“There are only two countries in the world

Sept. 5, 2016

‘Humans of Seoul’ captures lives of everyday Seoulites

A post from the Humans of Seoul Facebook page features a photo of a 20 or 30-something-year-old man with a short crown top hat and two suitcases, accompanied by a childhood episode about his brother’s damaged hearing after a physical attack by an elementary school teacher: “My father fought a legal battle for five, six years on his own with what little money we had... But eventually, I heard that the teacher quit teaching and, after being sentenced to one year in jail, went into a mental institu

Sept. 4, 2016