Korea’s leading design event will be held next week in Daegu showcasing the latest innovative design products by Korean and international brands and designers. Design Korea 2012, organized by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, has attracted a wide range of Korean and international brands such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Woongjin Coway, Sally Hansen, Dell, Belkin and Philips. In its 10th year, the event is regarded as Korea’s largest design

Rene Magritte paintings recreated by renowned Korean photographer Kim Jung-manThe celebrated photographer Kim Jung-man has always photographed objects as they are, without alteration. But for the first time in his 38-year career, he had to use Photoshop editing techniques to recreate paintings of Belgian Surrealist painter Rene Magritte with photographs. “The recreation of one of the greatest artists was meaningful because no one has ever tried to do it before,” Kim said at a news conference las

Famous fashion stylist Patricia Field, who served as a costume designer for “Sex and the City” and “The Devil Wears Prada,” hosted a Korean fashion event last Thursday in New York. The celebrated stylist attracted more than 200 people in the fashion industry to the event titled “K-fashion Sensation” held at Dream Hotel, a modern luxury hotel in Manhattan, and introduced Korean fashion brands by having models wear clothes designed by Korean brands such as Buckaroo and Morine Comte Marant.The even

Exhibition“Erwin Olaf”: Gallery Kong holds the first solo exhibition of Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf in Korea. The international award-winning photographer exploits his experience as a successful commercial photographer and creates his own distinctive style. Through his photos, Olaf explores social problems of the day such as isolation and hidden racial discrimination. He shows two most recent series “The Keyholes” and “Dawn and Dusk” that involve different mediums such as installation, photogr

Icheon in Gyeonggi Province, famous for producing high-quality rice, is holding a rice festival this month to celebrate the harvest. The city will hold its 14th rice festival from Oct. 25-28 and offers a variety of activities related to rice and Korean agricultural traditions and customs. Korea’s traditional activities and performances held during the harvest season in the old days will be recreated to celebrate the successful harvest season this year despite frequent typhoons and rains this sum

EASTER ISLAND, Chile (AP) ― From its famed giant stone statues to finding a good, affordable hotel, Easter Island is full of mysteries.There are ancient questions, like how the statues were transported, and why the island lost its trees. And there are modern puzzles, like what $1,600 a night will get you in a hotel and why roads aren’t better marked for visitors touring the island.Perhaps it’s fitting that riddles still exist on the most remote inhabited island on earth: a Chilean territory in t

The Korean government launched an art bank to better manage the state-owned art collection and to run a proper loan system. “The government art bank will manage the art collection professionally and systematically. By doing so, I hope we can improve the quality of the government art collection and stimulate the art market,” said Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik at the launching event at the National Museum of Contemporary Art on Wednesday. With the establishment of the art bank, all purchases an

Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf’s first exhibition in Korea features his latest series ‘The Keyhole’ and ‘Dawn & Dusk’Whether through a window or through Facebook, everyone has his share of experiences peeking into others’ lives. Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf captured a boy sitting on a table and peering through a keyhole to portray the urge to peek and the curious state of the mind. The photo is part of his latest “The Keyhole” series completed in 2011. Subjects in the series are all turned away

The Seventh Seoul International Media Art Biennale presents media art that is approachable, accessible through social mediaMedia has become a very important part of our lives, but when it comes to art that involves different media forms, it still seems too distant to ordinary people. But at the Seoul International Media Art Biennale, people may be surprised to know how much media art can seep into everyday life and how much it enriches our lives. “People think media art is difficult. But if an a

The first Korean language school for an Indonesian tribe has closed due to financial and cultural problems, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The news comes as Tuesday marks the 566th anniversary of the promulgation of Hangeul, causing concerns that it may put a halt to the nation’s drive to promote its writing system overseas. “Sejong Hakdang,” or King Sejong Institute, in Bau-Bau, Indonesia, was jointly established and run by Kyungpook National University and Indonesia’

Beauty salons, makeup classes draw foreign residents and travelers who want to try Korean celebrity styleDriven by the popularity of Korean pop music around the world, Korean beauty and style are becoming sought after by young women around the world. They buy Korean cosmetics and follow makeup routines on YouTube to emulate the sophisticated looks of Korean actresses or charismatic style of K-pop singers. An easy way for them to learn Korean beauty secrets is to follow makeup gurus on YouTube wh

The online hotel booking site Hotels.com celebrates the 1st anniversary of the launch of its Welcome Rewards program in Korea, which offers one free night’s accommodation for every ten nights stayed. It gives Hotels.com customers a chance to redeem their free night’s accommodation across more than 65,000 hotels globally, with no blackout periods imposed. “Korean travelers love loyalty programs and we are proud of Welcome Rewards as it is simple and easy to use as well as more generous than many

NEW YORK (AP) ― Some couples celebrate their anniversary with a horse-drawn carriage ride. Others rent a romantic cabin in the woods. A few even jet off to Las Vegas and renew their vows in front of Elvis.Lori Kelly and her husband Gene recently marked their second anniversary by touring the woods of the Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa on a Segway.“It was absolutely fantastic. It is really the ultimately unique experience especially for people my age,” said Kelly, 59. Her husband is 64. “It gi

TOKYO (AP) ― Americans may seem obsessed with animals, with daycare for dogs and TV therapists for cats, not to mention the hours we spend looking at photos of cute critters on the Internet. But it’s generally the conventionally adorable ones that get our attention. On a recent trip to Japan I found ample evidence of our two countries’ mutual adoration of pets and pandas. But it was a pleasure to immerse myself in a culture that shares my appreciation for more unusual creatures as well. Here are

Street performances, fireworks and music offer rich cultural experiencesSeoul has transformed into a giant stage for dance performances, music and fireworks as the annual Hi Seoul Festival and other festivals begin this week. A total of 62 local and international performance groups are taking over the streets and neighborhoods with various genres of performances from parades, street theater, circus and stunt flying, to dance and a lot more. About 200 dance performances will be seen throughout t

About 100,000 Chinese tourists are expected to flock to Korea during the long Chinese holiday this week, Korea’s tourism agency said. Korea has seen a significant surge in the number of Chinese tourists entering the country since last week as the neighboring country began the nine-day “golden week” holiday that started on the lunar full moon day on Sept. 29 and continues through the national holiday from Oct. 1-7. Tourism experts also find that Korea is rising as an alternative travel destinatio

Kia’s chief designer Peter Schreyer has revealed his design inspirations through his first solo art exhibition. The renowned auto designer, who brought a design revolution to Kia with the K-series, showed his other artistic side through some 60 pieces that offer glimpses of his sources of inspiration for automobile design and his life. “When you do design, you do it to appeal to the audience. But when you do art, it’s completely different. You don’t have to appeal. I do it just with my feelings

The recent surge in the number of foreign tourists to Korea offers unprecedented opportunities for the growth of the hotel industry in the country. Both domestic and international hotel chains plan to open new properties in the country and upgrade their products and services to meet the growing number of foreign tourists and their evolving tastes. Hoyt Harper II, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, also expects the local opening of its sister brand Aloft in Suwon, Gyeonggi Provi

HALEIWA, Oahu ― If you’ve vacationed in Hawaii, you know the come-hither scent of flowers, the trade winds cooling the peaks and the warmth of the southern ocean.Now imagine growing up here, where Barack Obama was born, exposed from the first to a culture where the impossible has evolved: a multi-racial society, tolerant of differences and busily pursuing the delights and challenges of daily life.For voters still wondering why Obama stays cool, thinks things through and keeps an eye focused on p

Lotte Hotel president and chief executive Song Yong-dok received a top tourism industry award for enhancing the national brand image of Korea by opening the first Korean brand hotel in Moscow.Song was granted the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at the annual Tourism Day Ceremony on Thursday in Seoul. Song was named the CEO of Lotte Hotel in February in recognition of his achievements in getting Lotte Hotel Moscow in a stable position within a year and a half of its opening. Lotte Ho