• East Asia

    Suicide is preventable through social care

    The recent suicide of former ace baseball pitcher Cho Sung-mo, 39, traumatized the country. His death followed the suicides of his former wife, actress Choi Jin-sil, in 2008, and his brother-in-law, Choi Jin-young, in 2010. Many agree that these suicides were prompted by “anti-fans,” who spread malicious stories online. The…

    Read More »
  • Park calls for ‘leap’ in Seoul-Beijing ties

    President-elect Park Geun-hye said Korea and China should advance relations by creating a shared vision for the future, during talks with a senior official dispatched by Beijing, Thursday. Park, who will take office late next month, added that the region must send a “consistent and clear message” to North Korea…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    NK tech capabilities put on spotlight

    A trip to North Korea by Google’s Eric Schmidt this week has sparked speculation over whether the Kim Jong-un regime is politically inclined to increase internet access for his people. Additionally, there are questions over whether the impoverished state is technologically capable of the move. Watchers say the North may…

    Read More »
  • Death sentence sought for rapist of 7-year-old

    Prosecutors in Gwangju are seeking the death penalty for a man indicted for kidnapping and raping an elementary schoolgirl last summer. The request was filed Thursday by the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office asking a local court to impose the death sentence on Koh Jong-seok, 24, on charges of kidnapping and…

    Read More »
  • Prostitution vs. women’s rights

    Constitutionality of law to be reviewed A district court’s decision to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether part of the country’s Anti-Prostitution Law is constitutional has triggered a hot debate among citizens. At issue is a clause of the law, implemented in 2004, which punishes a woman for…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    ‘Cars are like part of my body’

    The worst interviewees for journalists are those who give short or just yes or no answers as there is then nothing much to write about. But talkative people are difficult too as they tend to talk about less interesting topics at length. Kim Pil-soo, a professor of automotive studies at…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    Seokpajeong

    Restored pavilion of Heungseon Daewongun Seokpajeong, located in Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, is a stately “hanok,” or Korean traditional building, built by the Joseon Kingdom’s (1392-1910) man of power Heungseon Daewongun. He was the father of the Joseon’s penultimate king. The house was privately owned for decades, but is now on public…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    Smart ways to embrace New Year’s energy

    People like to rearrange the interior of rooms or change furniture to refresh their living environment in the New Year. It is more recommended before Feb. 4, the first month of the saju calendar. In order to activate energy around us letting the old one out and allowing the new…

    Read More »
  • South East Asia

    Huge Number Of Roman Catholics Carry Image of Black Nazarene During A Procession In Manila

    Devotees struggle to climb the cart carrying the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene during a raucous procession on its feast day Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 in Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of thousands of mostly barefoot Roman Catholic devotees joined the annual ritual to demonstrate faith and seek miracle cures for…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    Chinese Craftsman Busy Painting New Year Pictures For Spring Festival

    Craftsman Zhai Ruichen (R) and his wife Liu Shufang examine New Year pictures they paints in Liaocheng, east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 9, 2013. The couple were busy painting New Year pictures recently to meet the demand in local market for the Spring Festival in February. Craftsman Zhai Ruichen (R)…

    Read More »