In the latest twist in the influence-peddling and corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, special investigators resummoned former culture-related top officials to dig into allegations that the administration cracked down on dissident artists and cut state support. Former Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok on Sunday faced questioning at the special prosecutors‘ office in southern Seoul over suspicions that he took part in keeping a blacklist of about 10,000 artists deemed unfriendly to

Politics Jan. 8, 2017

Over the past decade, South Koreans have come to a realization: Facebook is needed to stay connected.Novel advances in smartphones and faster connectivity speeds have made it easier for people living in rural and urban areas to communicate, create and share content -- particularly for Facebook users. Apart from being a nationwide social hub that connects people, the beloved digital platform is fast becoming a news source for the younger generation in Korea, where web portal giants like Naver dom

Technology Jan. 1, 2017

South Korea’s National Assembly on Thursday holds its fifth round of hearings to question former Presidential Secretary Woo Byung-woo over the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante, Choi Soon-sil.  (Yonhap)Woo is involved in allegations that he deliberately helped Park’s friend Choi interfere in state affairs. The special committee also looks set to question a former nurse stationed at the presidential office over Park’s whereabouts during the sinking of

Politics Dec. 22, 2016

The Presidential Security Service, which allegedly allowed Choi Soon-sil and her aides free rein in Cheong Wa Dae, has recommended dozens of its agents for the annual presidential awards.The body directly responsible for the president has recently been blasted by local media outlets after it was revealed that Choi, a private citizen with no official government title, and her aides visited Cheong Wa Dae freely to meet with the president. Choi is now in custody over suspicions of amassing illegal

Politics Dec. 9, 2016

A 27-year-old female driver plowed through a security post at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday morning, injuring one police officer. The collision happened at 9:50 a.m., when a white Kia K3 vehicle crashed through the main security post of Cheong Wa Dae. Main securty post of Cheong Wa DaeDetails of the crash have not yet been released, including the identity of the driver and whether she was inebriated. She was alone in the car. Police said they are investigating the accident. By Bak Se-hwan (sh@herald

Social Affairs Dec. 8, 2016

The rapid adoption of digital devices in recent years is reshaping the concept of writing. A growing number of people view writing as a synonym of typing on PC or taking notes on their smartphones. For tech-savvy people, a traditional pen is nothing but an outdated and inconvenient tool. But this tech-oriented perspective is yet to convert the growing group of calligraphy enthusiasts with a penchant for beautiful writing. Calligraphy is making a comeback in Korea. Signs in favor of what people h

Culture Dec. 2, 2016

A state-run body for local craftsmen ended up taking away space originally designed for artists in the name of helping push a national project, according to sources with knowledge of the industry. The Korea Craft and Design Foundation, a state-run organization located in Insa-dong, Seoul, had initially provided office and research space to craftsmen for a fee. Designed to help individual craftsmen and the industry, the foundation has exhibited traditional crafts like fans, wooden masks and folk

Social Affairs Nov. 17, 2016

Frustration is now running deep in South Korea, with the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. Furthermore, uncertainties about the country’s diplomacy and economy are also rising after Republican Donald Trump’s upset win in the US presidential election. The unexpected developments at home and abroad are fueling public anxiety and discontent.However, for Tibetan monk Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, the biggest source of worry is less about the turbulent su

People Nov. 11, 2016

A designer of traditional Korean dress, known as hanbok, revealed Thursday that Choi Soon-sil, at the center of a widening government scandal and a longtime confidante of President Park Geun-hye, had visited her store ahead of the president’s inauguration ceremony in 2013. In an interview with The Korea Herald, the designer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Choi came to purchase a hanbok for a “very important person” in December 2012. Choi Soon-sil at a Seoul court Thursday to attend a

Social Affairs Nov. 4, 2016

A major state-run incubation center designed to help startups is struggling to survive amid the widening influence-peddling scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park Geun-hye. The unfolding scandal is also hurting dozens of fledgling venture startups whose previous high hopes are now seriously endangered. The government-run project for startups, named “Cultural Creation and Convergence Belt,” or “cel,” was launched in December last year. The project was one of President Par

Social Affairs Nov. 1, 2016

Choi Soon-sil, accused of interfering in state affairs using her relationship with President Park Geun-hye, arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office building in Seoul on Monday to face questioning over her alleged influence peddling.  Choi Soon-sil (Yonhap)Choi, a longtime confidante and shaman-like adviser to Park, had returned to Seoul on Sunday from Europe, capping a week of turmoil that led to a massive anti-government rally over the weekend. Choi, a private citizen with no position in mak

Politics Oct. 31, 2016

The third annual Seoul Kimchi Festival is set to kick off its three-day run on Nov. 4 at Seoul Plaza.Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival aims to provide citizens and tourists with a better understanding of how to make kimchi and the importance of its tradition.   A group of participants posing during the Seoul Kimchi Festival in 2014.“Gimjang,” or making kimchi, has long been an important tradition for families across the nation. It involves more than just making kimchi

Food Oct. 25, 2016

Drinking seven or more sweetened drinks per day, including soda and fruit juice, could increase the risk of high blood pressure by 10 times, according to a new study. The study, which was conducted by a research team at Samsung Seoul Hospital, followed 5,853 people aged 19 or older who had previously participated in the survey “Food Security Status in the Korean Population” between 2012 and 2013. The team analyzed the possible risk of high blood pressure for each individual in accordance with th

Food Oct. 25, 2016

A wild boar was spotted near an apartment in a downtown area and was shot to death, Masan Jungbu Police Station said Monday. At around 4:40 a.m., police were called to a residential area in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, following a report of sightings of the wild boar on a staircase in the apartment. 　Upon arriving, they made an announcement in the building to warn residents to be cautious about the boar roaming around. A huntsman who accompanied the police on their request spotted the bo

Social Affairs Oct. 24, 2016

Tibetan monk Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, widely known as “the happiest man in the world,” is scheduled to visit Korea next month after completing a four-year near-death retreat. Rinpoche, born in a small Nepalese village near Tibet, has gained worldwide reputation as a meditation teacher and best-selling author. He is holding several retreats in Seoul from Nov. 4 to Nov. 8 to shed light on how to find meaning in lives. On Nov. 11, Rinpoche plans to give a lecture in Busan to share his experiences i

People Oct. 24, 2016