Changdeokgung and its legacy featured by national museumAmong the five grand palaces that were built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), “Changdeokgung,” or Changdeok Palace, was favored by many members of the royal family. The literal meaning of the palace, “Palace of Flourishing Virtue,” is reflected in Changdeokgung’s architecture and scenery, where the buildings are harmoniously bl

Korean education should pay more attention to Chinese students’ needs: LeeBEIJING ― Professor Lee Yu-seung arrived in Beijing in 2003, at the Korean department of Beijing International Studies University, where its Korean curriculum was officially launched as an undergraduate degree program the year before.“They needed a native Korean professor from Korea for the undergraduate degree program,” Lee

Jeju United striker Shin Young-rok is awake after a 50-day coma, resulting from a serious heart attack in May, Cheju Halla General Hospital announced on Jeju Island, Monday.Shin is now capable of communicating freely and will eventually be able to return to his normal life with the help of rehabilitation therapies, the hospital said.  Jeju United manager Park Kyung-hoon (right) clasps hands with s

Children of multicultural families pose with 2006 Olympic Gold Medalists for women’s short track skating, Jeon Da-hye (left in the center) Kang Yun-mi (right to Jeon), at an event to experience Korea’s Olympic spirit and send well wishes for the PyeongChang 2018 bid at Seoul Olympic Parktel, Saturday.About 100 members of multicultural families in Korea participated in an event to learn about Korea

Color photographs donated by former U.S. dental officer show unknown side of Korean WarKids are playing with water, men and women sing and dance, and markets are filled with people and energy.These color photographs, taken by former U.S. dental officer Charles J. Burstone in Busan during the Korean War, are rather hard to believe. Filled with ordinary joys and peaceful moments, these photographs s

The Cat (Korea) Opening July 7.Horror. Directed by Byeon Seung-wook. So-yeon (Park Min-young), a young woman who works at a pet shop, suffers from claustrophobia stemming from a traumatic childhood experience. One day, the owner of a beautiful cat named Bi-dan, who often visits So-yeon’s shop, is found dead in an elevator. So-yeon takes Bi-dan, found next to her dead owner’s body, to her place and

After 17 years of winning over moviegoers with her mile-long legs, breezy confidence and wide, almost goofy smile, one of Hollywood’s consummate charmers has had enough. Cut the charisma and cue the contempt: It’s time, finally, to loathe Cameron Diaz.As an unrepentant moral scourge in her new film “Bad Teacher,” Diaz plays Elizabeth Halsey ― an educator who steals, cheats, lies, sleeps in class,

Poetry makes nothing happen.So said W.H. Auden.Who never lived in Chicago.Or knew Don Share. Share is the senior editor of Poetry magazine, the venerable Chicago-based literary institution. It turns 100 next year and has seen far more than nothing happen, particularly in the past decade. Share arrived at the magazine four years ago, hired away from Harvard University, where he was poetry editor of

PORTO, Portugal ― On an overcast day in November, we drove east from Porto along the Douro River. The grape harvest was over. The men hired for the crush had gone home; the raw tawny and ruby ports had been poured into barrels or steel casks to age.The boats that make day trips up the river and the excursion trains that bring visitors to the wineries had ended their seasons, so my travel agent had

The Cry of the MagpiesBy Kim Dong-ni(Jimoondang, 5,000 won)“The Cry of Magpies” is one of the most well-known short stories written by Korea’s late author Kim Dong-ni. A dark and painful account of war and betrayal, the novella engages elements of Korean shamanism to reflect his view on human destiny that controls one’s life and innermost desires.The novel tells a story of Bong-su, who just return

Miracle told by late Park’s chiefFrom Despair to HopeBy Kim Chung-yum(KDI)The right-hand man of late President Park Chung-hee uncovered inside the brainstorming of Korea’s macroeconomic policies of the 1960s and 70s ― process widely believed to have brought the country’s remarkable development. The memoirs by former chief presidential secretary Kim Chung-yum is reorganized and translated by the Ko

Ever since a shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe scrambled ashore and found Friday, the novel has been exploring lost continents in search of what’s missing at home.Anybody who has read Ann Patchett’s masterfully constructed “Bel Canto” won’t be surprised to learn that in “State of Wonder,” her latest novel, she, too, has made an outbound voyage.“Bel Canto” revolved around a hostage crisis in an unnamed c

By Claire Lee, Korea Herald correspondentBEIJING ― The city is booming, huge, commercial and industrial. Its gigantic roads are filled with countless vehicles, high-rise buildings and almost unbearably polluted air.It is lunch time in Dongcheng District, an urban district in Beijing covering the eastern half of the city’s urban core. And what’s located on the ground floor of Park Plaza Mall, one o

About 60 books written by Korean pastor Lee Jae-rock of Manmin Central Church, translated into 25 foreign languages, were exhibited by Urim Books at the 17th Seoul International Book Fair from June 15 to 19 at COEX in Seoul. Urim Books exhibited Lee’s books on his Christian faith and spiritual experiences along with their translated copies. Having translated Lee’s books into 25 different languages

Korea plans to apply for a UNESCO designation for the national folksong “Arirang,” in all its regional forms, in the hope of making it intangible world heritage by the end of this year, Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said Thursday.Choung’s comments came after China’s recent decision to list the song, as well as other cultural practices of ethnic Koreans living in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous

Veteran writer’s 39th novel coincides with 39-year-long careerFor the past 39 years, author Park Beom-shin has been a busy man. He has raised his three children with his wife, taught at a university, and published almost 40 books. “I’ve always gone for the second best options in my life,” Park told reporters at a press meeting held in central Seoul, Wednesday. “It was the only way to compromise. I

American actor and practicing Tibetan Buddhist Richard Gere spoke out on the sufferings of Tibetans under Chinese occupation in Seoul, Wednesday.“I think it’s impossible to look at these photographs and not realize the extraordinary suffering of the Tibetan people,” Gere told reporters at a press conference promoting his Tibet-themed photo exhibition at Seoul Arts Center. “I think when you see the

American actor and practicing Buddhist Richard Gere paid a courtesy call to officials of Jogye Order, Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, Tuesday.Gere worshipped with his palms pressed together as he entered the main building of the temple. After burning incense, he signed the temple’s guest book with a message that wished “peace and happiness” for all beings in the wo

Digital cartoon exhibition on wayAbout 300 animated films from 32 different countries and cartoon exhibitions covering diverse themes are arriving in Seoul next month.The 15th annual Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF) will open on July 20 in several locations in Seoul, the festival organizing committee said Tuesday during a press conference in Seoul.The official poster of S

Richard Gere (AP-Yonhap News)American actor Richard Gere arrived in South Korea on Monday at Incheon International Airport along with his wife, actress Carey Lowell and their son, Homer Gere, to promote his Buddhist-themed photo exhibition and experience Korea’s traditional Buddhist culture.Gere, who is known for his Buddhist faith, is scheduled to meet with Venerable Jaseung, head of the Jogye Or