S. Korean maestro says will push for joint orchestra performance with N. Korea

'Musicians from two Koreas may perform Beethoven together’　　　South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun said a joint orchestra consisting of musicians from South Korea and North Korea, may hold a concert in Seoul and/or Pyongyang to perform Beethoven Symphony No. 9 “Choral” late this year, as almost no

Sept. 16, 2011

Don’t get stuck at home this Chuseok

Wide variety of events available for expats to enjoy during holidaysAfter Dillon Jones’ first Chuseok, there was nowhere to go but up. It was September 2003, and he had just arrived in Seoul from the U.S. about a month earlier. He knew a traditional holiday was coming; for one thing, his Korean-Amer

Sept. 9, 2011

‘Think big, act small’ to make real change

Former fundraiser for N.Y. public schools transforms Governors Island with creative cultural ideasCareer choices of Leslie Koch, president of the Trust for Governors Island, have been far from typical. The 49-year-old was once an executive at Microsoft. She later became a successful fundraiser for p

Sept. 7, 2011

Koreans are very quality-conscious: Bogner

It is hard for Europeans to distinguish between Asian cultures, and Willy Bogner suggests that may help Korea to come up with effective publicity“For us Europeans, so many elements are similar in Japan and China and Korea. I think even for Koreans it must sometimes find it hard to differentiate betw

Sept. 5, 2011

Parental dilemma: Should you spy on your kids?

NEW YORK (AP) ― In the 21st century, parenthood and paranoia often walk hand in hand.For some, the blessed event is followed by high-tech surveillance, a monitoring system that tracks the baby’s breathing rhythms and relays infrared images from the nursery. The next investment might be a nanny cam,

Sept. 5, 2011

International cultural leaders to hold forum in Seoul

Cultural leaders from major economies will gather in Seoul this weekend to experience Korean culture and discuss how to better promote it. The Corea Image Communication Institute, or CICI, which organized the C20 (Culture 20) side event during the G20 Seoul Summit last year, will hold the Culture Co

Sept. 1, 2011

Ancient humans used hand axes earlier than thought

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ancient humans fashioned hand axes, cleavers and picks much earlier than believed, but didn‘t take the stone tools along when they left Africa, new research suggests. (AP)A team from the United States and France made the findings after traveling to an archaeological site alo

Sept. 1, 2011

Focus on fusing tradition with the contemporary: Choe

Combining Korean traditional culture with contemporary culture, sports and tourism will be key to promoting the country, said Choe Kwang-shik, 58, culture, sports and tourism minister designate. “Patchworks best represent Korean culture. It shows a unified beauty by connecting different pieces. I wi

Aug. 31, 2011

Mandela museums booming in S. Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) ― Nelson Mandela covered most of South Africa during five decades fighting apartheid and five years as president, and it sometimes seems a museum has sprouted everywhere he set foot.The 93-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner is among the world’s most famous living icons, and re-trac

Aug. 31, 2011

Nation branding led by government?

Inconsistent projects on nation branding may hinder promotion of hallyu and other successful eventsThe Lee Myung-bak administration has repeatedly stressed its desire to improve the Korea brand.It became the first country to establish a presidential council on the issue, to coordinate and support ef

Aug. 30, 2011

New HIV case causes LA porn industry shutdown

(MCT)LOS ANGELES (AP) — A porn industry group says an adult film performer has tested positive for HIV, resulting in a production moratorium in Southern California while the organization investigates to see if the virus has spread.Free Speech Coalition executive director Diane Duke told The Lo

Aug. 30, 2011

Germany celebrates 125 years of the car

STUTTGART (AFP) ― Germany is celebrating this year the birth of the automobile, with a patent applied for by Carl Benz 125 years ago for a motorized tricycle, in hopes of drawing tourists smitten by cars.The national tourism office has made the auto industry a highlight of its annual program for the

Aug. 29, 2011

Addiction? Video games crowded out man’s real life

SARASOTA, Florida (AP) ―At the height of what he calls his addiction, Ryan Van Cleave would stand in the grocery store checkout line with his milk and bread and baby food for his little girls and for a split second think he was living inside a video game.It sounds crazy, but it’s true: Something wou

Aug. 29, 2011

Korean Cultural Center announces new CI

Korean Culture and Information Service announced on Wednesday its new corporate identity that will be used in 24 Korean Cultural Centers worldwide. “Led by K-pop, the demand for Korean culture has been rising around the world. The number of Korean Cultural Centers increased from 12 to 24 last year a

Aug. 24, 2011

International Policy Studies Institute publishes English-language journal

The International Policy Studies Institute published its first English-language journal, Korea Review, this month. Founded in 1994, IPSI’s activities have focused on issues related to international peace and security, the Korea-U.S. alliance, and North Korea policies. It tailored the journal to be u

Aug. 24, 2011

Chungju to throw martial arts bash

UNESCO-supported event to attract practitioners from 18 countries Sept. 2-8Chungju, a city in North Chungcheong Province, is to hold its annual martial arts event from Sept. 2-8, featuring expert practitioners from 18 countries. The Chungju World Martial Arts Festival, which is officially supported

Aug. 23, 2011