As Hangeul-nal, or Hangeul Promulgation Day, which falls on Wednesday, became a national holiday after 22 years out of the public eye, the nation will go abuzz celebrating the 567th anniversary of the promulgation of the Korean alphabetical system that is still written and used in everyday lives, representing the Korean spirit. Hangeulmunhwa KeunjanchiThe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is hosting the Hangeulmunhwa Keunjanchi, a festival highlighting Hangeul and its culture, at the Gwang

Oct. 6, 2013

Exhibitions“Take Your Shirt Off”: PKM Gallery holds a solo exhibition of young artist Jeong Young-do, who expresses the cultural and moral differences he felt while going back and forth between the U.S. and Korea during his studies at Rhode Island School of Design and Temple University Tyler School of Art. In his paintings and illustrations, abstract figures subtly, but explicitly show the emotions he felt, such as confusion, pain and a sense of loss. The artist currently works in Seoul. The exh

Oct. 4, 2013

Korean traditional medicine has found popular application in the beauty industry in Korea.The expansion of Korean medicine into modern lifestyle is seen through a diverse range of beauty products ― from skin care products, shampoo and body products to acne treatments. While it remains to be seen if the trend will continue in Korea, where consumer trends change rapidly, some of the ancient medical tips are regaining influence. Leading the revival of the ancient medical and beauty tips are cosmeti

Oct. 4, 2013

Concerns are mounting over two items on exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum that are suspected of having been smuggled out of Korea during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). Experts on the repatriation of cultural artifacts are urging the museum to investigate the nature of their acquisition, citing an international treaty of museums. The International Council of Museums’ code of ethics prohibits looted or illegally acquired items from being publicly exhibited. Some are suggesting a move

Oct. 3, 2013

PARIS (AP) ― Karl Lagerfeld is a man of many talents. In addition to Chanel’s lauded designer, he also is an industrious artist, a sensitive colorist and a gallery curator. These were the hats he wore Tuesday at Chanel’s glorious spring-summer 2014 show, one of the biggest at Paris Fashion Week.With a snap of his black-gloved finger and the backing of a Chanel-sized budget, curator Lagerfeld transformed the vast interior of Paris’ Grand Palais into his very own gallery space.“It’s like the days

Oct. 2, 2013

NEMEA, Greece (AP) ― While world leaders and top athletes lit the Olympic flame with pageantry drawn from antiquity, another important ancient site of athletic prowess sat overlooked and endangered.Some 200 kilometers east of Ancient Olympia where the flame lighting for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi went off without a hitch Sunday, the Nemea stadium and its humbler games are in danger of closing to the public because of crisis-hit Greece’s harsh budget cuts, according to a renowned American arc

Sept. 30, 2013

The culture ministers of Korea, China and Japan pledged to facilitate cultural exchanges as a way to improve souring relations in Northeast Asia at the fifth trilateral culture summit held in Gwangju on Saturday. In a joint statement issued after the summit, Korean Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong, Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu and Japanese Culture Minister Hakubun Shimomura agreed to cooperate on protecting cultural assets, foster cultural content and promote culture exchanges. The three minist

Sept. 29, 2013

Festivals“The World Traditional Medicine Fair and Festival”: The world’s first fair dedicated to Oriental medicine will take place in Sancheong, a village on Jirisan Mountain, until Oct. 20. The festival, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of the publication of Donguibogam, the ancient Korean medical book, showcases the latest Oriental medicine trends, treatments and health information. Visitors will also get the chance to receive free consultation and treatment at the festival. The venues a

Sept. 27, 2013

The most common question that bridge experts are asked is when you should draw trumps when playing a suit contract. It is quite a difficult question, but we can simplify it by pointing out that about 25-40 percent of experts will lead a trump at the first opportunity.Facing an opening lead of ♣Q, South was careful to win in the dummy. If somebody had a singleton club, it was likely to be East, and it was important not to give him the opportunity to ruff an honor.To draw even one round of trumps

Sept. 27, 2013

In 1893, 10 Joseon-era musicians of Joseon (1392-1910) traveled to Chicago on a special mission. King Gojong (1863-1907), aware of the country’s declining prospects due to foreign pressures, sent a group of musicians and craftsmen to join the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition 1893 to promote Joseon as a dignified independent country. At the global event, in which 47 countries participated, traditional housing, women’s accessories, attire and chinaware from Joseon were showcased. The musicians

Sept. 26, 2013

HAPCHEON, South Gyeongsang Province ― The smile of Buddha on a rock cliff in Mount Gayasan in South Gyeongsang Province opened to the public on Wednesday, the first time in 1,200 years. The “Maaebul,” a 7.5-meter-tall Buddha image carved into a large granite boulder, is situated about 2.7 kilometers from Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and has been used as a prayer site among monks since its creation during the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935). According to Buddhist art tr

Sept. 25, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) ― The old man couldn’t control his diabetes, no matter how closely he followed his doctor’s instructions. A nurse visited him to find out why the insulin wasn’t working, only to watch the nearly blind man inadvertently inject himself with a syringe filled with nothing but air.It sounds simple to track a patient outside of office visits. But the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation found the idea genius.Jeffrey Brenner, a doctor and founder of the organization

Sept. 25, 2013

A garden by award-winning Korean garden designer Hwang Ji-hae is on permanent display in the French city of Lons le Saunier. The mudflat-themed 800-square-meter garden was unveiled in the French town Tuesday as the fourth Korean garden on permanent exhibit in France. Existing gardens include a Seoul garden created in 2002 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of friendship between Seoul and Paris and another garden to celebrate the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and

Sept. 25, 2013

The race for the leadership of the country’s largest Buddhist order has intensified with the incumbent chief slamming the current election system. Ven. Jaseung, the current leader of the Jogye Order, on Monday said he did not support the current election system. “I think the leaders should be recommended for the position by a unanimous recommendation,” he said as he announced his platform in Seoul. “But if that is not feasible in real life, I think we should adopt a direct election system, where

Sept. 24, 2013

The Kokdu Museum in Seoul will be promoting Korea’s traditional wooden figurine culture overseas with a touring exhibition across Europe, the museum announced Tuesday. Collections of various kkokdu from the museum will be on display in Germany, Hungary, Belgium and France starting Thursday until April of next year. The Kokdu Museum is dedicated to the time-honored funeral rituals of kkokdu, which are small figurines carved from pine wood that were traditionally used during funeral practices duri

Sept. 24, 2013