The Korea Herald

Italian seeks kung-fu stardom in Shanghai

SHANGHAI (AFP) ― At a Shanghai building site, a man in a black Stetson looks over his shoulder at two approaching thugs. Four others appear, fists raised. They lock eyes and the cowboy springs up in a whirlwind of kicks.The scene is from “Shangdown: The Way of the Spur,” an independent kung-fu spaghetti western, and the cowboy is Christian Bachini, a 25-year-old Italian actor who came to Shanghai

Film Feb. 21, 2011

Egyptian tourism struggles to revive

CAIRO (AP) ― The wind-swept pyramids of Giza were virtually deserted Sunday, symbols not just of the might and culture of the pharaohs but also the damage that Egypt’s upheaval has inflicted on tourism, a pillar of the economy.Just two dozen foreign tourists were seen by midday at the wondrous monuments, where thousands flocked daily before protesters launched an uprising in late January that topp

Travel Feb. 21, 2011

Las Vegas wedding chapels deal with love recession

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Las Vegas’ love life is in the dumps.Fewer than 92,000 couples married in or around Sin City last year. The last time the city of drive-through wedding chapels married fewer people, it was 1993.The wedding industry hoped Valentine’s Day would provide some much needed sizzle, but they weren’t betting on it with the festival falling on a weekday. The love recession is a real heartac

Travel Feb. 18, 2011

Director Lee defends pace of Berlin’s sole Asian entry

BERLIN (AFP) ― The sole Asian contender for the Berlin film festival’s Golden Bear top prize, minimalist South Korean breakup drama “Come Rain, Come Shine,” met with jeers from critics Thursday.It tells the story of a woman who announces to her husband she is leaving him but, before she goes, spends one last day with him in their home ― an experience that fills them both with longing and regret.“S

Film Feb. 18, 2011

Director Lee defends pace of Berlin’s sole Asian entry

National Museum of Korea

“Tomb Murals of the Four Guardian Deities from Gangseodaemyo”: The four guardian deities are a pantheon of four divine beasts ― the Blue Dragon, the White Tiger, the Red Phoenixes and the Black Tortoise and Serpent ― which appear in Gangseodaemyo, a Goguryeo tomb located in Nampo city, South Pyeongan Province. The exhibition showcases murals of the deities. The exhibition runs through March 27 at

Performance Feb. 18, 2011

Computer creams ‘Jeopardy!’ champs

CHICAGO (AFP) ― An IBM computer creamed two human champions on the popular U.S. television game show “Jeopardy!” Wednesday in a triumph of artificial intelligence.“I for one welcome our new computer overlords,” contestant Ken Jennings ― who holds the “Jeopardy!” record of 74 straight wins ― cheekily wrote on his answer screen at the conclusion of the much-hyped three-day showdown.“Watson” ― named

Television Feb. 17, 2011

Iranian drama cheered at Berlin fest

BERLIN (AFP) ― A warmly applauded Iranian drama emerged Tuesday as a front-runner at the Berlin film festival, which is throwing the spotlight on the country’s embattled film-makers.“Nader and Simin: A Separation” by Asghar Farhadi, who won a best director prize for his haunting film “About Elly” at the 2009 festival, brings another fascinating portrait of contemporary Iranian urbanites to the scr

Film Feb. 16, 2011

Layering about fashion as well as function

NEW YORK (AP) ― Layering is mostly just how we dress, a way to extend what’s in our closets and, bonus, stay warm and dry.Next fall, it may be more about how we feel.Sequins on sheers have surfaced OVER wool and New York Fashion Week runways are filled with mashups of soft bulk, rich color, vibrant prints and a variety of textures done in fresh ways.Eclectic layers were on Rachel Roy’s mind, on he

Arts & Design Feb. 16, 2011

Layering about fashion as well as function

‘World’s happiest man’ advocates meditation

Tibetan Buddhist monk visits Korea for first time before three-year retreatDubbed the “world’s happiest man,” best-selling author and master Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche was in Korea for the first time last weekend, offering his take on how to be happy.The Tibetan monk participated in a groundbreaking study of brain activity in 2002, where scientists found that advanced meditation incr

People Feb. 16, 2011

‘World’s happiest man’ advocates meditation

3 women honored for letters to Juliet

VERONA, Italy (AP) ― An aspiring poet in search of true love. A student who has found it. And a young woman on the cusp of a major life change.All three confided their true hearts to Juliet, writing to Shakespeare’s fictional heroine seeking consolation, encouragement and friendship. The three women were honored Sunday, the eve of Valentine’s Day, with awards for the best letters of the last 12 mo

People Feb. 14, 2011

Documentary ‘The Last Tundra’ shows culture’s respect for nature

They follow the stars and the moon when they travel, melt gigantic pieces of ice for drinking water, and use natural moss for baby diapers and dish washing ― all in minus-50 degree weather.SBS documentary “The Last Tundra ― Movie Edition” offers a very rare glimpse into the life of the Nenets, the last reindeer herding nomads living in Siberian tundra. Through a yearly migration of more than a tho

Film Feb. 13, 2011

Documentary ‘The Last Tundra’ shows culture’s respect for nature

China, U.S. museum resolve dispute over exhibit

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― A museum said Friday that its exhibit on the Silk Road, including a pair of ancient mummies, will go on after it resolved a dispute with the Chinese government that led to a pared-down event with fake mummies and life-sized photos of the artifacts.The exhibit will reopen Feb. 18 with a full complement of mummies and more ancient artifacts from the Tarim Basin in the autonomous

Performance Feb. 13, 2011

China, U.S. museum resolve dispute over exhibit

Yale, Peru university sign deal on Incan artifacts

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) ― Yale University announced Friday that it will send back to Peru thousands of Incan artifacts removed from the famed Machu Picchu citadel nearly a century ago.The agreement allowing for the return of the ceramic pieces, animal and human bones, and metal and stone objects came after Yale and Peru officials announced in November that they had resolved a long-running disp

Performance Feb. 13, 2011

Yale, Peru university sign deal on Incan artifacts

Jagger, Dylan to join rising stars at Grammys

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Barbra Streisand join rising stars and seasoned chart-toppers Sunday at the music industry’s annual Grammys awards bash.Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and teen sensation Justin Bieber are also on a star-studded roster of performers at the show in Los Angeles, where rapper Eminem hopes to seal a comeback year with a brace of awards.While showcasing new talent,

Performance Feb. 13, 2011

Jagger, Dylan to join rising stars at Grammys

English a key corporate asset

Korean companies strive to foster English-speaking workforceKim Hyun-joo, an employee of Samsung Electronics’ marketing team, has fond memories of the 10 weeks she spent at Samsung’s foreign language institute, remembering the time as grueling but worthwhile. “Of course I can’t say I won’t need any more English training from now ever again, I can definitely say I’m good for now,” Kim told The Kore

People Feb. 11, 2011

Articles by Kim Hoo-ran