The Korea Herald

Is that cake on display fresh?

There they sit, scrumptious looking baked goodies that tempt the taste buds.But just how fresh is that quiche or cake or pie or all manner of tantalizing treats behind glass displays?Housewife Janice Tan, 69, bought a cold quiche about three weeks ago from a popular bakery chain, only to discover mold on it when she heated it up at home the next afternoon.She recalled, “I was disappointed and shocked that what I thought was a reputable cafe would sell an item that was not fresh. Such extensive m

World News Nov. 18, 2014

We say white coffee, you say latte

“When I was young, I had to walk to school.”How many times did our parents grate us with tales of their old “hard times” and how lucky we were to have buses and cars?Well, guess what? We might just be turning into our parents, singing a similar tune:“When I was young, I had to take the bus and didn’t have a car until I was married.” Or “Last time, when I wanted to chat with my friend, I had to use the public phone.”And of course, everyone’s favorite now: “Last time, when I wanted coffee, I ‘tapa

World News Nov. 18, 2014

Park Yu-chun snags rookie actor award

Singer-actor Park Yu-chun grabbed the Rookie Actor Award at the 34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for “Sea Fog” on Thursday. Park, 29, was recognized for his excellent acting skills in the film, in which he played the part of Dong-sik, an obedient young sailor on a Korean fishing ship. “Sea Fog” is better known by its official Korean title “Haemoo.” On the podium, the hallyu actor thanked the production crew and his fellow actors for their wonderful teamwork. “I gained a lot by simp

Nov. 14, 2014

Wisdom of experience

As the deadline for the drafting of the new constitution approaches, the political parties of Nepal persist in their old habits. They continue to treat the Constituent Assembly calendar with indifference, treating deadlines as mere recommendations that can be easily postponed. Meanwhile, each party has been issuing maximalist demands and threats in the belief that this will force their rivals to accede. The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have come together on a federal model that disregards identit

World News Nov. 11, 2014

APEC: Common dream of prosperity

Behind the Asia-Pacific dream that president Xi Jinping proposed at the APEC CEO Summit on Sunday lies China’s wish for as large a proportion of the global population as possible to benefit from economic development and the progress of human civilization.The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank China has helped to launch and the $40 billion Silk Road Fund China has promised to create are concrete actions aimed at helping to make that dream come true.No wonder “building a future-oriented Asia-Pac

World News Nov. 11, 2014

U.S., China to avoid worst-case scenario

It is not the bad bilateral bond between them but history that calls for China and the U.S. to build a new type of major power relations.With history beckoning, the way to handle China-U.S. relations is not to pursue the best-case scenario, but to avoid the worst. This will not be achieved without the realization of a new type of major power relations. In other words, building a new type of major power relations should not be an option but an inevitable trend.However, there are several key perce

World News Nov. 11, 2014

U.S., China to avoid worst-case scenario

Navigating sexual harassment in Pakistan

I learned to drive when I was 16 years old.It was essentially my first foray into a world outside my rather conservative home setting. Insisting that I learn to drive the “correct” way, my father hired a driving instructor. I still owe this female instructor for providing me with my first window into how class operates alongside gender strictures in Pakistan.Having lived, by every stretch of the imagination, a “privileged” existence and based on just the size of my house and my address, my new i

World News Nov. 11, 2014

Poor and hungry

The presidential office’s response to the release of a Social Weather Stations survey showing that 43 percent, or about 9.3 million Filipinos, considered themselves hungry, and 55 percent, or some 12.1 million Filipino families, thought themselves poor, was true to form.The survey isn’t accurate, the palace said in so many words. Why, the National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority had declared that poverty in fact decreased in early 2013 to 24.9 percent,

World News Nov. 4, 2014

Shifting focus on Xinjiang

Xinjiang’s image has been tainted with negative perceptions.No thanks to the merciless terror attacks and violent clashes carried out by some people from the autonomous region, Xinjiang natives are suffering from prejudice against them.Kurbanjan Samat, a 32-year-old Uighur, believes the stereotype stems from the lack of understanding and has vowed to change that, one person at a time.“Photography is my passion. When I am holding a camera, I feel a sense of social responsibility,” he said.He star

World News Nov. 4, 2014

Avoidable disasters

The deadly landslide in Sri Lanka on Oct. 29, which wiped out an entire village and buried about 200 people alive in Koslanda, came as no surprise. Described as the worst ever natural disaster since December 2004, when massive waves barreled across the Indian Ocean and had a disastrous landfall, the collapse of the mountain slope had been predicted. Landslide warnings had been issued well in advance for several years but no action had been taken to evacuate the people living in the area, we are

World News Nov. 4, 2014

Articulation of nuanced principles is vital to justice

In the current war against the Islamic State, several voices have been calling for a review of the mindset with which a fundamental resolution of terrorism will be achieved. Some articles, such as “The Reign of Terror” by Tomis Kapitan, published in the New York Times, have pointed out that even as the world presents a united front in condemning terrorism, the rhetoric of destroying a vile enemy may be hindering efforts at identifying causes ― despite their nonjustifiability ― behind the frenzie

World News Nov. 4, 2014

Ha Ji-won outshines U.S. muses at TROA event

Hallyu top star Ha Ji-won flaunted her curves in TROA shirts and tuxedo jeans by designer Han Song, exuding charm at a cocktail party with U.S. fashion muses. The action blockbuster queen showed up at a cocktail party that was hosted by TROA on Oct. 28, wearing white shirts and shiny-textured tuxedo jeans that were made of “hanjisa,” one of Korea’s finest raw materials. Actress Ha Ji-won poses at a cocktail party that was hosted by TROA on Oct. 28, wearing white shirts and shiny-textured tuxedo

Oct. 31, 2014

Ha Ji-won outshines U.S. muses at TROA event

Malaysian crafter crochets her way into Hello Kitty world

As a little girl, Lee Mei Li longed to play with her elder sister’s Hello Kitty supermarket set, but to no avail ― she wasn’t even allowed to touch it. Instead, she made do with her Hello Kitty mug, which she drank from throughout her primary school years.Imagine little Mei Li’s joy had she just known that two-and-a-half decades later, she would be delighting fans the world over by authoring a book on making crocheted Hello Kitty dolls.Featuring step-by-step instructions on creating 24 character

World News Oct. 28, 2014

Malaysian crafter crochets her way into Hello Kitty world

Eyes on spies

The spy show “All Quiet in Peking” has surprised everyone by infiltrating the top ranks of Chinese TV.Domestic TV productions have been losing younger viewers because of their inferior quality and fierce competition from U.S. serials. But young, well-educated viewers who comment on creative works on douban.com rated “All Quiet” in Peking 9.1 out of 10 ― a score that surpasses most U.S. productions and perhaps all Chinese TV series.The 53-episode serial focuses on the social upheaval before New C

World News Oct. 28, 2014

Designers celebrate Japan’s traditional textiles

The Sakura Collection fashion event started Sunday, in Osaka Prefecture, hosting models and designers from five Southeast Asian countries as they showcase the designers’ remarkable creations, mainly made from Japanese textiles on a Japanese theme.Organizers hope the event will draw more people who are interested in Japan and help spread Japanese traditional industry around the world.The organizing committee selected Kansai Airport in Izumisano for Sunday’s activities and Osaka Castle in Osaka fo

World News Oct. 28, 2014

Designers celebrate Japan’s traditional textiles

Articles by Chung Joo-won