-
Lifestyle
Documenting ‘hallyu’ to ensure longevity
The popularity of local culture, otherwise known as “hallyu,” has brought along new challenges in promoting Korea to the outside world. One of them is building online and offline database of hallyu, which the Korea Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), the state-run overseas PR agency, has started to embrace…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
‘Korean Eye’ takes 34 artists to London
“Korean Eye,” an exhibition to introduce contemporary Korean artists to the world, revealed the 34 who will present their work at the 2012 show at the Saatchi Gallery in London from July 25 to Sept. 23. “Korean Eye” was founded by Parallel Media Group chairman David Ciclitira to promote…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Men drafted to life of ambivalence
Military service, mandatory or otherwise, is an experience shared by most men in South Korea. Some look back on their time in the military with fondness, while others would rather erase those years from their memory altogether. Photographer Oh Hein-kuhn decides to tackle this delicate but complex subject matter…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Little women of Korean cinema
Cannes publicity ignores chronic lack of interesting roles for actresses No one can dispute that the Korean film industry is flourishing. Investment and return are both on the upside. The sheer number of productions is rising, spawning hits and, of course, misses. This year, the local press is abuzz…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Wishing I were wrong
Nobody wants to hear anything negative when their saju is read. It doesn’t matter how successful one is now. People can’t be assured of their future and because of that uncertainty, they fear to seek out fortune tellers while at the same time they are insatiably curious. I am…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Pioneering ‘hallyu’ actor Song returns
Heartthrob Song Seung-heon is coming back to his fans through the small screen. Despite 16 years passing since his debut, Song, 35, remains as handsome and single as ever, coupled now with better acting ability. As one of the pioneers of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, his popularity continues…
Read More » -
Society
Korea pursues ‘hallyu’ initiatives
30 language institutes will be set up around world every year As part of efforts to boost the staying power of “hallyu” or the Korean wave, the government plans to set up language institutes around the world — 30 or more every year. Plus, the current Romanization system, already…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Champ Galatasaray laughs last and loudest
ISTANBULㅡ The 2011-12 Spor Toto Super League season is over for good after Galatasaray was crowned champion at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy, home of eternal rival Fenerbahçe, on Saturday following a 0-0 draw by both teams in the week-six finale of the inaugural Super Final. Fenerbahçe, or the Yellow…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Kuwaiti painter seeks to expose social contradictions
*Editor’s note: This is the second installment of six-part stories about six Arab women artists devoting themselves to creating different style of art and innovating their methods of expression for “revolutionary” change. Ghada Alkandari “A Pretty Green Bullet” “My name is Ghada Alkandari, an artist and ambitious blogger from Kuwait. I only realized that when I started…
Read More » -
Lifestyle
Exhibition explores royal life of Istanbul
Turkey and Korea are located on opposite sides of the globe, but the two nations have managed to forge close ties in the past half a century. Diplomatic relations began after Turkey provided crucial military support during the Korean War (1950-1953), and the bond remains strong to this day.…
Read More »