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East Asia
Reality check on NLL
With less than two months before the Dec. 19 presidential election, the controversy over the Northern Limit Line (NLL) persists as a campaign issue in Korea. This controversy was sparked by an allegation from a member of the ruling Saenuri Party that former president Roh Moo-hyun gave up the South’s…
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East Asia
Scholars illuminates Silla-Persian royal wedding
A pre-Islamic Persian prince went to Silla in the seventh century and got married with a princess, showing how extensive the ancient kingdom was in terms of international exchanges. Lee Hee-soo, professor of cultural anthropology at Hanyang University, found the royal marriage in the ancient Persian book, which he is…
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East Asia
UN chief Ban arrives here to receive Seoul Peace Prize
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived here Sunday for a four-day visit during which he will receive this year’s Seoul Peace Prize. According to a Seoul official, Ban will receive the biennial award today for his work around the world, including his contributions to securing women’s and children’s rights, eliminating…
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East Asia
Will Pletnev lead rebirth of KBS Symphony?
After months of cancellations, the KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) Symphony Orchestra will finally hold a concert next month. All eyes will be on the Russian virtuoso Mikhail Pletnev, who has been offered a job as the new music director of the controversial ensemble. Pletnev will conduct a special concert on…
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East Asia
No more foul plays
Samsung, SK talk of ending semiconductor game of chicken Executives of both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the world’s two largest makers of computer memory chips, admit the companies had been playing a dangerous game of chicken that can’t last. It remains to be seen whether they can deliver on…
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East Asia
Convenience store republic of Korea
24-hour shops multiplying at rapid rate but that doesn’t mean their business is thriving These are dreadful times for small businesses but convenience stores seem to be defying the odds as they begin to cover Korean streets like a blanket. Still, it’s debatable whether thriving is the right word to…
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East Asia
Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko Greet Guests Invited To Annual Autumn Garden Party He Hosted
Japan’s Emperor Akihito, left, flanked by Empress Michiko, greets guests at the annual autumn garden party in Tokyo Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. About 2,100 people were invited to the garden party hosted by the Emperor and Empress on Thursday. Japan’s Emperor Akihito, left, flanked by Empress Michiko, along with Crown…
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East Asia
Tales of Korean Treasures ②
• Influences of the Silk Road I may not be wrong when I say that Korea’s ancient kingdoms which rose along the Silk Road made their arts communicate with their neighbours. That’s why their traditional handicrafts, popular habits and even tales were influenced by such proximity. Moreover, such influences went beyond…
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Column
Soft Power, Smart Power Or Public Diplomacy? Australia Fumbles
*Author, Alison Broinowski, formerly an Australian diplomat, was Cultural Attaché in the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, and Director of the Australia-Japan Foundation in the 1980s. She is currently researching soft power and public diplomacy as Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University’s Faculty of Asian Studies. As traditional diplomacy is…
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