A former Korean journalist has published a book that traces the holy grails of rock ‘n’ roll based on his journey across the musical heartlands of the U.S.“In Search of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heritage: American Rock Music Landmarks” is a travelogue highlighting the cultural and economic power of museums, monuments and memorials. The book was written by Cho Hyun-jin, a distinguished professor at Kookmin University and former journalist for YTN, Arirang TV and Billboard magazine, who is also credited with

Dec. 28, 2015

When the world mourned over dead Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, who washed up on a Turkish beach in early September, one Syrian man was not tormented. He had lost three children in an air strike some time before. “The boy looked like a sleeping angel. I wish my children had died like that,” the grief-stricken father told Abdul Wahab Almohammad Agha, the director of humanitarian organization Help Syria, at a refugee camp in Jordan in September. “Aylan’s father is a lucky guy compared to me. I died e

Dec. 28, 2015

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said Sunday that his forthcoming political party would seek rational reform, further distancing himself from the established parties that he has vowed to challenge in next year’s general election.He also stepped up his attacks against the Park Geun-hye administration, lambasting its economic policies as “insufficient” and “uncreative.”“The new political party will embrace ‘rational reform’ instead of ‘old progressivism’ and ‘reactionary conservatism,’” the independent lawmaker

Dec. 27, 2015

GWANGJU ― If you exit the subway station connected to the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju thinking that the multicultural complex will be similar in scale to the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, you should think again. Asia Culture Center in Gwangju (Culture Ministry)With its five interconnected buildings based on different yet synergistic and convergent themes, the Asia Culture Center strikes awe in visitors, who marvel at the architecture and the interior maze of exhibition and performance

Dec. 27, 2015

The strains of “Arirang,” Korea’s unofficial national anthem, filled the air as President Park Geun-hye smiled at the National Marionette Theatre in Prague early this month, followed by Czech folk song “Humoresques.“Titled “In the Attic,” the puppet show was the product of collaboration between the two countries’ artists ― traditional Korean pansori piece “Sugungga” formed the central music and story line under the command of a Korean director, while the rabbit and turtle marionettes playing the

Dec. 27, 2015

In South Korea where many family-run conglomerates hold the whip hand over much of the economy, the self-made billionaire Park Hyeon-joo’s bold step to create the country’s biggest brokerage has come into the spotlight after his successful bid to acquire KDB Daewoo Securities. Mirae Asset Financial Group chairman Park Hyeon-joo. (Yonhap)When a consortium of Mirae Asset Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments was chosen as the preferred bidder to take over the country’s second-largest broke

Dec. 27, 2015

Jeff ImmeltLet’s finally end the debate over whether or not we are in a “tech bubble.”There has been talk of a bubble going back to 2011 and it continues to rage today.I believe that this is shortsighted and rooted in the belief that at some point the tech industry must undergo the same unfortunate “burst” as in 2000.This line of thinking ignores the immense value that digital technologies have already created in the consumer world: the “app economy” alone is worth an estimated $300 billion.More

Dec. 25, 2015

Kim Jae-shik (third from left), president of Hyundai Development, Lee Gil-han (fourth from left) and Yang Chang-hoon (fifth from left), coheads of HDC Shilla Duty Free, and Hotel Shilla CEO Han In-kyu (fourth from right) attend the opening of Shilla HDC Duty Free in Yonsang I’Park Mall in Seoul on Thursday. HDC Shilla Duty FreeShilla I’Park Duty Free, an urban duty-free store at I’Park mall in Yongsan, central Seoul, opened on Thursday.In the first stage, only 60 percent of the total 30,400 squ

Dec. 25, 2015

After marathon 11-hour negotiations representatives of labor and the management of Hyundai Motor reached a tentative deal on wages Wednesday, ending months of internal conflicts that wobbled the nation’s largest automaker already facing lower-than-expected sales this year. Hyundai Motor president Yoon Gap-han (right) and labor union leader Park Yoo-ki leave after reaching a tentative agreement on wage and other labor issues in Ulsan, Thursday. (Yonhap)The two sides agreed to raise 85,000 won in

Dec. 24, 2015

An artwork installation commemorating South Korean military soldiers’ sacrifice for national security was installed at the Nuri Peace Park in Imjingak, northern Gyeonggi Province, in a ceremony Wednesday.The piece was installed by Hyosung Group, which provided financial support of 200 million won ($170,000). Hyosung president Cho Hyun-joon (fourth from right) and military officers applaud at the installation ceremony of the artwork, “The Foot of Peace,” at Nuri Peace Park in Imjingak on Wednesda

Dec. 23, 2015

Lotte Hotel, part of Lotte Group, will open a new lifestyle concept hotel called “L7 Myeongdong” in Seoul on Jan. 12.The L7 will offer stylish facilities, where hotel staff will sport jeans, oxford shirts and slip-on shoes in bright and lively colors in order to appeal to guests as “friendly and caring,” the hotel affiliate said.The hotel, situated in Myeong-dong ― Seoul’s downtown shopping district frequented by hallyu tourists ― will primarily target female guests in their 20s-40s who enjoy st

Dec. 23, 2015