Pope Francis on Sunday baptized a father of one of the children killed in April's ferry disaster who chose the same Catholic name as the pope."Pope Francis baptized Lee Ho-jin, who lost his youngest son in the ferry sinking, early in the morning. His baptismal name is Francis, the same as the pope," Hur Young-yup, spokesman for the organizing committee of the papal visit, said during a daily briefing in Seoul. (Yonhap)The ceremony was held closed-door with only his immediate family members atten

Social Affairs Aug. 17, 2014

 The governor of the US state of Missouri declared a state of emergency and curfew Saturday following race-tinged violence in the suburb where an officer shot dead an unarmed black teenager.The curfew will begin overnight and last from midnight until 5:00 am for the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot dead by police a week ago.(AFP-Yonhap)"To protect the people and property of Ferguson today, I signed an order declaring a state of emergency and ordering impleme

World News Aug. 17, 2014

Pope Francis at lunch with a group of youth at Major Seminary of Daejeon, South Korea, 15 August 2014. Pope Francis is on an official visit to South Korea from 14 to 18 August 2014 to attend the Asia Youth Day in Daejeon. The pontiff is also expected to lead the beatification ceremony of 124 Korean martyrs. (AFP)

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

Pope Francis is expected to begin the fourth day of his visit by baptizing the father of a boy who died in the Sewol ferry sinking at the Vatican Embassy in Seoul. 　The 62-year-old Lee Ho-jin will be baptized before the pope begins his official schedule on Sunday morning. Lee asked to be baptized to the pope when he met the pontiff at the Mass for the Assumption of Mary in Daejeon on Aug. 15. 　(Yonhap)The pope will head to Haemi Martyrdom Holy Ground in North Chungcheong Province to meet 60 Asia

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

Pope Francis beatified 124 Korean martyrs in a large-scale outdoor Mass at the heart of Seoul, on Saturday, telling hundreds of thousands of people in attendance that their ancestors’ martyrdom had lessons for the church around the world today. 　A highlight of the pope’s five-day apostolic visit here, the ceremony drew some 800,000 Koreans to the streets of Gwanghwamun, the traditional center of Seoul and a historic place where large numbers of early believers were martyred in the 18th and 19th

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

A homegrown action film about a 16th-century Korean naval hero's astonishing victory against Japan gathered more than 13.62 million in attendance at home, a local box-office tracker said Saturday.The Korean Film Council said "Roaring Currents" became the most-watched movie at theaters in the country as of Friday, breaking the previous record held by Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar" that gathered 13.62 million.The record came a day after "Roaring Currents" became the most-watched South Korean-made

Film Aug. 16, 2014

President Park Geun-hye on Friday pressed North Korea again to give up its nuclear weapons programs as she offered her latest conciliatory overture meant to lay the groundwork for potential unification with Pyongyang.She suggested that North Korea should follow in the footsteps of Kazakhstan in giving up nuclear weapons and emulate Vietnam and Myanmar, which opted for reform and openness, noting those countries enjoy peace and prosperity. (Yonhap)"Now, North Korea should abandon its nuclear prog

Politics Aug. 16, 2014

Pope Francis has reinforced his reputation as a man of surprises during his five-day pastoral visit to Korea.　From an impromptu speech on the division on the Korean Peninsula to a surprise visit to a Jesuit-run university, here are some notable, unexpected, surprising moments from the top Catholic cleric’s visit in Korea so far. 　(Yonhap)Taking KTX to Daejeon 　Shunning the presidential helicopter, the pontiff hopped onto a high-speed train to the southern city of Daejeon along with about 500 pas

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

Pope Francis said Saturday the legacy of Korean martyrs will contribute to promoting peace and human values in South Korea and the rest of the world.(Yonhap)"The legacy of the martyrs can inspire all men and women of good will to work in harmony for a more just, free and reconciled society, thus contributing to peace and the protection of authentically human values in this country and in our world," the pope said during a beatification Mass in central Seoul for 124 Korean martyrs.Yun Ji-chung an

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

A tight security cordon was thrown around central Seoul Saturday to screen out possible threats as up to one million people gathered for a huge, open-air mass by Pope Francis.Office windows overlooking Gwanghwamun plaza, the South Korean capital's main ceremonial thoroughfare, were sealed, with snipers on the rooftops among 30,000 police deployed for the event.(Yonhap)The mass, which will see the pope beatify 124 early Korean martyrs, is the centrepiece of his five-day visit to South Korea, the

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

[Papal Visit] Pope to baptize father of Sewol victim 　　Pope Francis will baptize the father of a boy who died in the Sewol ferry disaster in April, organizers of the papal visit said Saturday. 　The pontiff, on his first trip to Asia, will lead the ceremony himself Sunday at the Vatican Embassy in Seoul, said Rev. Hur Young-yup, spokesman for the government-civilian Committee for the Papal Visit to Korea. 　The man, 62-year-old Lee Ho-jin, asked to be baptized by the pope when he met him Friday be

Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2014

K-pop legend Seo Taiji finally broke his silence on Wednesday, clarifying his stance amid mounting controversy after his former wife, actress E Ji-ah made comments on their marriage on a TV show.　On Monday, E revealed her side of the story about her marriage to Seo, most of which has been hidden behind a veil of secrecy.　On the TV talk show “Healing Camp,” E confessed that the two fell in love after they first met at concert in the U.S. E talked about how lonely her life was as she had to keep t

Aug. 13, 2014

2NE1 member CL released a photo she took with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott on Tuesday, boasting of their steady friendship. In the photo posted on Instagram, CL and Scott pose for the camera while holding glasses. Meanwhile, CL is scheduled to perform along with her label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 13, 2014

Rookie K-pop group Winner has made a splash not only at home but also abroad with its debut album released Tuesday. 　As Winner dropped its debut EP “2014 S/S” at midnight on Aug. 12, one of the band’s two main tracks, “Empty,” instantly topped Korea’s nine major music charts.  (YG Entertainment)A day after the release, the track is drawing positive reactions from abroad as well. The tune debuted at No.1 on iTunes album charts in five countries -- Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Tai

Aug. 13, 2014

G-Dragon of K-pop boy group Big Bang released a photo he took with an American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams on Wednesday.　“The man who always inspires me. Thank you,” G-Dragon wrote on his Instagram alongside the photo.　In the photo, G-Dragon makes a funny face while Pharrell gazes straight-faced.　Meanwhile, G-Dragon is scheduled to perform along with his label mates at the upcoming “AIA Real Life: Now Festival 2014,” to be held on Aug. 15 in Seoul.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 13, 2014