An English translation of a 17th century Korean medical textbook will be published this year, according to the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine on Monday. The English version of “Donguibogam” is scheduled to be released around September this year. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the book’s publication.“The publication of ‘Donguibogam’ in English will be a great opportunity to promote the excellence and the value of Korean medicine to the world,” said an KIOM official who wished to r

Culture Jan. 7, 2013

Hyatt Regency Incheon has appointed Paul Wright, the former hotel manager of Grand Hyatt Beijing, as its new general manager. “I am very excited to join the team at Hyatt Regency Incheon and to be working in such a passionate country as South Korea, especially Incheon, the gateway city,” he said. The Australian-born hotelier has extensive experience working at Hyatt chain hotels in Australia and Asia. Starting his career at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts at Hyatt Regency Perth, he served positions mai

People Jan. 7, 2013

Erotic paintings by two great masters of Korean painting will go on display at an exhibition that sheds light on the daily lives of people in the Joseon era. The exhibition at Gallery Hyundai features two complete collections of erotic paintings made by prominent painters in Korean history Shin Yun-bok and Kim Hong-do, as well as genre paintings that are being shown to the public for the first time. The original Joseon erotic paintings, called “chunhwa” (literally means spring paintings), weren’

Performance Jan. 6, 2013

I have seen the future and it is hot, wet, sandy and you can get one of those funny-colored drinks with a paper umbrella on top.I took a swim recently at Duke Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu in Hawaii. It will be the Best Beach of 2013, according to the popular “Dr. Beach” best beaches contest that will come out around Memorial Day.Officially, the 2013 winner is a closely guarded secret, with wire services, newspapers, radio and TV stations and (less consistently) websites promising to adhere to a stri

Travel Jan. 4, 2013

SOCHI, Russia ― Sochi, a resort area on the Black Sea in Russia, is the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. It’s a popular summer resort town because of its warm weather, beaches and a shoreline boardwalk that draws visitors from across Russia. All that makes it an interesting choice for the site of the Winter Games, scheduled for Feb. 7-23, 2014.Thirty minutes from the town center, a new Olympic park is under construction. The venues for figure skating, hockey, speed skating, curling and the open

Travel Jan. 4, 2013

Hong Ra-hee, the director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, has been named the most influential figure in the Korean art circle, according to a survey. The survey of 3,368 visitors to art museums, galleries and fairs was conducted by the Korea Art Price Appraise Association during last year. According to the art evaluation agency, Hong was also voted as the most influential figure every year between 2005 and 2009. Hong’s museum attracted more than 260,000 visitors in 2012 with major exhibitions s

Performance Jan. 3, 2013

A Hangeul-themed artwork by the famous Korean installation artist Kang Ik-joong will go on permanent display at the Kyoto University of Art and Design.The piece was made as part of a joint project of Kang and independent publicist Seo Kyoung-duk to promote the Korean writing system to the world. “I created the piece to promote Hangeul through art at a time when people started to take interest in the Korean alphabet along with the hallyu boom,” Kang told a local news outlet.  The artwork “Yoon Do

Performance Jan. 3, 2013

The latest group exhibition at Ilmin Museum of Art presents a rather serious theme for the beginning of the New Year ― the survival of humanity. But with forecasts warning of a worsening economy, survival may not be a distant theme to consider: Art is a reflection of the world we live in, it is widely saidFive artists ― Kang So-young liilliil, Song Ho-jun, Ahn Doo-jin, Chung So-young and Will Kim ― present their own interpretations of survival in the forms of film, painting, installation and mor

Performance Jan. 2, 2013

Major art museums and galleries in Korea are planning exhibitions of famous foreign artists and established Korean artists this year. Some of the most anticipated exhibitions are retrospectives, including those of American sculptor Alexander Calder, Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, American graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and American painter Alice Neel. Two Samsung art museums, Leeum and Plateau, feature some big names. Plateau hosts the retrospective in July of Murakami Takashi, a

Performance Dec. 30, 2012

Former Culture Minister Yoo In-chon will break the 7-year hiatus he took from acting with a performance of his own play on Friday. The professional actor-turned-public official will perform the main role in the new play he produced, “Faust ― Goethe and Gounod,” on Friday at Yoo Theater, which he founded in 1999, in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. Yoo served as the culture minister for three years starting in 2008 under the Lee Myung-bak administration. “I am warming up to my return to being an actor,” Yo

People Dec. 27, 2012

A large collection of American Impressionists paintings are on exhibit for the first time in Korea. The exhibition “Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940” presents 130 paintings that highlight unique characteristics of American Impressionism, the mainstream style in American art from the late 19th century to the beginning of World War II.The exhibition of 130 artworks by 90 artists on loan from Bank of America also marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South

Performance Dec. 26, 2012

Nestled in Seoul’s diplomatic, business and financial district, Somerset Palace Seoul sits beside the tranquil and picturesque Gyeongbok Palace. Guests can take a leisurely stroll to the myriad of restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment outlets located along the Insa-dong and Jongno areas. Other parts of Seoul are easily accessible from the residence, as it is located minutes from Anguk, Jonggak and Gwangwhamun subway stations. The residence is more than just about location. The professi

Travel Dec. 25, 2012

The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul has been awarded numerous prestigious awards including the Best Brand Awards by The Korea Herald for its quality service and innovative management philosophies. Since its opening in 1995, the hotel has established a reputation as a high-end luxury hotel in Seoul with its signature luxury interior, attentive service and comfort. It earned the prestigious Korean Architecture Award in 1995 and topped the National Customer Satisfaction Index, issued by the Korean Standards As

Travel Dec. 25, 2012

Imperial Palace Seoul offers versatile banquet halls and meeting rooms that can accommodate various events. With state-of-the-art facilities and easy access to public transportation, the hotel enables guests to hold any type of gathering, from large international events, high-tech conferences, seminars and business meetings to gala events and theme parties.The Dubhe Hall, decorated in antiques, can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and the Selena Hall can serve up to 800 guests. Five other halls ar

Travel Dec. 25, 2012

Can a white paper filled with an invisible substance instead of paint and drawings be called art? If the paper contains the most striking idea ever presented, will it change the viewer’s initial perception of the paper? Viewers at the 12th SongEun Art Award exhibition may confront the moment when they have to answer these questions. With artists claiming that “contemporary art is not about who draws well, but about whose idea is better,” more and more artists are challenging the boundaries of ho

Performance Dec. 25, 2012