Asia’s first Master of Wine writes book on pairing wine with Asian mealsHONG KONG ― If anyone could perfectly understand and satisfy two totally different palates from East and West, it could be Jeannie Cho Lee, the first Asian Master of Wine.Lee was born in Korea but has lived in numerous cities in the world including New York, Boston, London and Kuala Lumpur. Such a life opened her mind to diffe

People Feb. 1, 2011

Hip-hop artist Emmanuel Jal, a former child solider, raps for peace in SudanHONG KONG ― Barely 10, he was conscripted to kill anyone he saw ― any man, woman or child. For many years he saw homes burn down, men being beaten to death, hundreds of rolling dead bodies being pecked by vultures and fought hard against unbearable hunger that reached a point where human flesh smelled like meat ― all too m

People Jan. 29, 2011

Gana Art Gallery presents 80 pairings of poems, paintings by renowned Korean poets, artistsPoetry and art are like a couple meant to be. The two distinct genres have long complemented each other, as emphasized by the close friendships shared by famous artists and poets throughout history. In Korea, paintings accompanied with poems have been a popular type of art for a long time, and were especiall

Performance Jan. 20, 2011

Sitting in a stuffy office, you can start to lose concentration as the day drags on into the afternoon. The regular afternoon headache approaches, accompanied by that stifling feeling in rooms where the heater is turned on way too high. Things get worse if the air is tainted with streaks of cigarette smoke. Many people who spend a lot of time indoors suffer from severe headaches in the winter. Oft

Arts & Design Jan. 19, 2011

Troubled TV celebrity Shin Jung-hwan who is accused of illegal gambling abroad, is expected to return to Korea on Wednesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced Tuesday that 36-year-old Shin will arrive at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning and head to the police agency for investigation.  Shin Jung-hwanThe singer-turned-TV personality is accused of playing Baccarat at W

Television Jan. 18, 2011

TV celebrity Shin Jung-hwan, 36, who is accused of gambling abroad, is expected to return to Korea on Wednesday. Shin Jung-hwan (Yonhap News)By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldm.com)<한글 기사> 신정환, 내일 입국.. 곧장 경찰조사 필리핀에서 원정 도박을 한 혐의를 받고 있는 방송인 신정환(36)이 19일 입국한다.18일 경찰은 신씨가 19일 오전 인천공항을 통해 입국할 예정이라고 밝혔다. 신씨는 곧장 서울경찰청에서 조사를 받는다.신씨는 지난해 8월 필리핀 세부 W호텔 카지노에서 억대 바카라 도박을 한 의혹이 제기된 뒤 입국을 미룬 채 마카오와 네팔 등에 머물다 한 시

Television Jan. 18, 2011

The police said Monday that it is searching for a painting which allegedly disappeared from a storage room in the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The request for the investigation came from Yoo Chong-ha, the South Korean Red Cross President and former foreign minister, who is looking for his oil painting by Albert Schenck, a Dutch artist, according to the Seoul

Performance Jan. 17, 2011

The exotic culture of an Asian country has captivated five U.S. artists and made them a team. Lois Lancaster, Linus Lancaster, Chris Sarley, Mary Pettis-Sarley and Marilyn Hulbert, all California-based artists, have been collaborating since last year because they share a same interest: Korean culture.  Linus Lancaster talks about his work “Land Buoy”After holding two joint-exhibitions in Californi

Performance Jan. 16, 2011

‘More than half of Korean women had athlete’s foot’Many women hesitate when ushered into a room with floor-seating instead of to a table when having dinner at a Korean restaurant, especially in the winter. Sure, it could be because they are wearing skirts that are too short or boots that are too much trouble to take off and put back on. But frankly speaking, those might not be the only reasons. “I

Arts & Design Jan. 12, 2011

Top South Korean actor Hyun Bin has announced that he aims to join the Marines in March to serve his mandatory military duty. Hyun Bin’s agency, AM Entertainment, said on Wednesday that the actor took a physical test and an interview for the Marines last year. He will join in March if he passes the screening.  Actor Hyun Bin. (SBS)“Hyun Bin has so far focused on his sound image as an actor and als

Television Jan. 12, 2011

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea announced Tuesday that it has published a three-volume catalogue that introduces 3,361 Korean relics including 316 “eobo,” or royal seals. The catalogues, titled “The Royal Seals of Joseon,” are published in tabloid size and have 2,204 pages in total. They have over 13,800 photographs. The first book introduces different kinds of eobo while the second

Books Jan. 11, 2011

Having a stable job for eight years ― two years as a researcher at the National Museum of Korea and six as a professor at Seoul National University ― was enough for Chang Ucchin. Without much hesitation, the freewheeling artist resigned from the respected position and wandered off to the countryside to devote the rest of his life entirely to painting. He drifted from atelier to atelier that he bui

Performance Jan. 10, 2011

For a New Year gift, 25-year-old Nam So-hyun picked out a pullover with a line of reindeer patterns for her sister and a pair of leggings that give out a similar Nordic vibe for herself in Myeong-dong last weekend. “These warm patterns brighten up winter clothes which are usually dull and somber. They put me in a fairy tale-like mood,” said Nam. “Nordic knitwear,” which is best known for its repet

Arts & Design Jan. 6, 2011