The Korea Herald

Greece: 4 dead, 340 people rescued from migrant boat

Four bodies were recovered and 340 people rescued Friday after a boat carrying migrants across the Mediterranean Sea sank south of the Greek island of Crete, authorities said. The coast guard said the roughly 25-meter (82-foot) vessel, which resembled a large fishing boat, had been carrying an undetermined number of people when it was located half-sunk about 75 nautical miles south of Crete in international waters, and within Egypt's search and rescue area of operation. Most survivors were

World News June 3, 2016

Park pledges to support innovation in young people from S. Korea, France

South Korean President Park Geun-hye vowed Friday to support the innovative activities of young people from South Korea and France, the latest in a series of steps to boost creativity. Park has made the creative economy one of her top priorities by viewing it as the only viable growth engine for Asia's fourth-largest economy. The creative economy is designed to, among other things, turn new ideas into real businesses with the help of cutting-edge science and information technology. “I wil

Social Affairs June 3, 2016

S. Korea-China trade fair near N. Korea border canceled over safety concerns

A trade fair between South Korean and Chinese small and mid-sized firms in the Chinese city of Dandong on the border with North Korea was canceled days before its opening because of unspecified safety concerns, a diplomatic source close to the matter said Friday. Organized by several South Korean municipal governments and the Chinese city of Dandong, which faces North Korea across the Amnok River, the five-day trade fair was previously scheduled to begin next Thursday. About 150 firms from

North Korea June 3, 2016

Ihwa Mural Village continues its struggle with noisy tourists

On the night of April 15, a 55-year-old resident of the Ihwa Mural Village surnamed Park and two other accomplices took buckets of gray paint and painted away one of the village’s most famous, flower mosaic-tiled outdoor staircase murals. A week later on April 24, a 45-year-old resident surnamed Kwon and another person followed suit and went on to gray over another of the village’s most photographed 3-D koi fish painted staircase murals.However, this act of vandalism was not committed as a means

Culture May 22, 2016

Ihwa Mural Village continues its struggle with noisy tourists

Gov't asks S. Koreans to avoid trips near N. Korea amid terror threats

The South Korean government called Monday for cooperation from local tour agencies to discourage its nationals from visiting areas bordering North Korea, as the country is on high alert against the likelihood of terrorist attacks by Pyongyang.The Foreign Ministry hosted a rare group meeting with representatives of those firms specializing in arranging oversea tours.It was meant to enhance awareness on the need to take stronger safety measures for South Koreans abroad and solicit cooperation.Conc

Social Affairs May 16, 2016

World powers discuss mounting IS threat in Libya

Major powers including the United States met in the Austrian capital on Monday to discuss the expanding presence of the Islamic State jihadist group in conflict-ridden Libya, just across the Mediterranean from Europe.IS has taken advantage of the chaos left by the toppling and death of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, which led to rival militias vying for control of the oil-rich country.A recently formed unity government backed by the international community has been slowly asserting it

World News May 16, 2016

6 students killed, 15 missing in western Indonesia floods

Rescuers on Monday found the bodies of six university students who were among nearly two dozen who went missing in rain-triggered floods and landslides at a waterfall in western Indonesia, an official said. The disaster occurred Sunday as more than 70 students were visiting the Air Terjun Dua Warna waterfall in North Sumatra province. Twenty-one students were reported missing after the disaster, said Darwin Surbakti, an official from the local Disaster Management Agency. The bodies of five men a

World News May 16, 2016

Angels' Choi Ji-man headed to minors after clearing waivers

Struggling South Korean infielder Choi Ji-man has accepted an assignment to the minors in the Los Angeles Angels system after clearing waivers, reports said Monday.The Angels designated Choi for assignment last Wednesday to make room on their 40-man roster for pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. He will now resume his season with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City.Choi, 24, joined the Angels via the Rule 5 Draft in December, after signing a minor le

Baseball May 16, 2016

S. Korea, Indonesia sign 11 MOUs on cooperation in trade, maritime affairs and other areas

South Korea and Indonesia agreed Monday to bolster bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, trade, investment, maritime affairs, energy and other areas, as the former seeks to step up its foray into the Southeast Asian market.The two sides signed 11 memorandums of understanding (MOU) largely over firming up their economic ties after President Park Geun-hye and her Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo held a summit at Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office. President Park Geun

May 16, 2016

S. Korea, Indonesia sign 11 MOUs on cooperation in trade, maritime affairs and other areas

Korean Air up, Asiana down in Q1 earnings

Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's largest flag carrier, reaped a record operating income in the first quarter of 2016, while its local rival Asiana Airlines Inc., saw its profit dwindle.Korean Air's operating profit jumped 70.2 percent to 323.3 billion won (US$274 million) from a year earlier, as demand for its flights was on a steady rise in almost all routes worldwide, the firm said in a regulatory filing. Its revenue dropped 0.1 percent to 2.86 trillion won, with net loss totaling 174.9 bil

Industry May 16, 2016

Korean Air up, Asiana down in Q1 earnings

Daegu Int’l Musical Fest celebrates 10th anniversary next month

The annual Daegu International Musical Festival, the world’s first established international musical festival, is celebrating its 10th year with more than 20 productions from Korea and abroad. 　Hosted by the city of Daegu and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the annual event was first established in 2006 to promote the city of Daegu as a musical hub in Asia. 　This year’s festivities will be held from June 24 to July 11 and will feature 22 musicals from five countries: th

Performance May 16, 2016

Daegu Int’l Musical Fest celebrates 10th anniversary next month

Akdong Musician returns with feelgood music

Akdong Musician’s Lee Chan-hyuk (left) and Lee Soo-hyun perform at Seoul Forest on Friday, May 5. (YG Entertainment)Akdong Musician held a mini-concert on Friday in Seoul to mark the release of “Spring,” a new album full of the sibling duo’s trademark feel-good music and whimsical lyrics.“We didn’t expect so many people to turn up, we’re truly moved,” said 17-year-old vocalist Lee Soo-hyun, referring to the swarms of families that filled the outdoor theater to hear the group perform at Seoul For

Performance May 8, 2016

Akdong Musician returns with feelgood music

Diversity of Korean art at Frieze New York

NEW YORK – From refined monochrome paintings fit for elegant modern interiors to cutting-edge works that reflect the dynamic sociopolitical landscape of Korea, the fifth edition of the Frieze art fair in New York featured various aspects of Korean modern and contemporary art. The five-day art fair, which ended on Sunday, gathered both big names and less well-known talents, connecting major galleries and artists to collectors, curators and museums, plus more than 40,000 public art lovers, accordi

Performance May 8, 2016

Diversity of Korean art at Frieze New York

Israeli film ‘Sand Storm’ wins at Jeonju Film Fest

Still from Elite Zexer’s “Sand Storm” (Jeonju International Film Festival)“Sand Storm” by Israeli director Elite Zexer has won the Grand Prize in the International Competition section of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival, JIFF announced last Friday.“Sand Storm,” directed by the female director Zexer, tells the tale of a Bedouin teenage girl torn between personal desires and tradition. It was awarded a cash prize of $19,000. "(The) International Competition has chosen 10 films that a

Film May 8, 2016

Israeli film ‘Sand Storm’ wins at Jeonju Film Fest

1 dead in collision between oil tanker, fishing boat

A large-size oil tanker collided with a fishing boat in waters off the southern region of South Korea, leaving one person dead, the Coast Guard said Friday.The accident took place at around 10:19 p.m. on Thursday when the 62,000-ton oil-carrying ship collided with the 4-ton shrimp boat in the waters off the southern port city of Yeosu, according to the police.A 58-year-old captain of the boat, only identified by his surname Kang, was confirmed dead. Authorities said that he was pulled from the s

Social Affairs May 6, 2016

Articles by Julie Jackson