SNU professor honored in Spain

A Seoul National University professor emeritus has been honored by the Spanish government for improving Spain’s international status through his newspaper column.Kim Seong-kon, a professor of English language and literature, received the Order of Civil Merit -- an award that recognizes service performed by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain -- from Spain’s King Felipe VI in October. The specific honor awarded to him is the Officer’s Cross.  Professor Kim Seong-kon with the Off

Nov. 7, 2018

Korean SMEs get trade and investment tips for Ethiopia

Representatives of Korean small and midsized companies pose at the Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation building in Seoul on Friday following a business meeting with Ethiopian Embassy officials. (Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation)The Social Cooperative of Korean Small and Medium Business Federation held a business forum on Ethiopia at its headquarters in Seoul on Friday, inviting Ethiopian diplomats to offer their advice on trade and i

Oct. 25, 2018

KOREA-LAOS FRIENDSHIP

Members of the Korea-Laos Friendship Association - mostly politicians, government officials and academics from the two countries - pose for photographs ahead of their annual general meeting at a Seoul hotel on Wednesday. The meeting will last until Saturday and the Laotian members will have a chance to visit Yongin City while they are here. The foundation was established in 2004 to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Photos by Chung Hee-jo

Oct. 24, 2018

[Newsmaker] Indian prime minister wins Seoul Peace Prize 2018

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 68, was chosen for the Seoul Peace Prize this year for his contributions to the growth of the Indian and global economies, crediting “Modinomics” for reducing social and economic disparity between rich and poor.The Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, headed by Chairman Kwon E-hyock, made the announcement Thursday, following its final selection meeting in Jung-gu, Seoul.Selection Committee President Choe Chung-ho stated the 12-member committee conducted a r

Oct. 24, 2018

Rotary Korea offers free heart surgery for 60 Mongolian infants

Some 60 Mongolian infants have received heart surgery operations free of charge over the past six years through a charity program funded by Rotary Korea, the organizers said. Korean medical professionals pose for a photo in Mongolia, where they have performed some 60 free heart surgery operations for local children over the past six years. Rotary KoreaThe Seoul bureau of Rotary International, a global service organization dedicated to bringing professional leaders and businesses together to prov

Sept. 30, 2018

[Herald Interview] Experiencing more than darkness

“Switch off the light. Switch on the insight.” Song Young-hee, 47, is CEO of social enterprise N Visions and a person who finds his way through the darkness. He also created that darkness, bringing the exhibition “Dialogue in the Dark” to Korea. Song Young-hee, CEO of social enterprise N Visions, speaks during an interview with The Korea Herald. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)“Dialogue in the Dark” is an awareness-raising exhibition. Though an exhibition, there is not a hint of light in the exh

Sept. 27, 2018

Experts put heads together to tackle climate change at Peace BAR Festival 2018

A panel of experts including leading sea ice scientist Peter Wadhams gathered in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss the growing threat of climate change on the opening day of Peace BAR Festival 2018 at Kyung Hee University.The 37th Peace BAR Festival began in the run-up to the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on Friday, with peace and climate change set to take center stage during the event. Kicking off the three-day academic event, professor Wadhams, who is visiting Korea for the first time,

Sept. 19, 2018

[Herald Interview] Comic book writer works to better represent women in comics

Amy Chu is a breath of fresh air in the comic book industry, especially in the US, where the industry is dominated by white men who have been reading comic books since they were young. Chu is an Asian-American woman who, before becoming a writer, had worked in very different fields. There was not a hint in her youth that might have signaled her life would be in comics.  Amy Chu poses with her “Wonder Woman” comic book before an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday in central Seoul. (CICI

Aug. 30, 2018

[Video] Banzz eats his way to stardom

[Herald Interview]The more the merrier -- such is the life of Banzz.For the 28-year-old YouTuber, it is all about “more”: He eats more than practically anyone, has more followers than most other content creators, and grows more famous each day.  Banzz poses before an interview with The Korea Herald at the DIA TV Studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Banzz has a “meokbang,” which can be translated into “eating show” in English and is a form of entertainment where the

Aug. 30, 2018

[Herald Interview] Cameroonian refugee reignites boxing dreams in Korea

CHEONAN, South Chungcheong Province -- When Kil Tae-san was held at the immigration detention center in Korea in 2015, his desire to realize his dream of becoming a world champion boxer was one of the things that kept him going. “Boxing has always been my passion. Ever since I started in 2003 at the age of 16, my dream was to become a world champion,” said Kil, born Jean Durandal Etobil Etobilin in Cameroon and now living in Korea as a refugee. “I thought if I get out of here, when I become free

Aug. 23, 2018

Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul dies at 85

LONDON (AP) -- V.S. Naipaul, the Trinidad-born Nobel laureate whose celebrated writing and brittle, provocative personality drew admiration and revulsion in equal measures, died Saturday at his London home, his family said. He was 85.His wife, Nadira Naipaul, said he was “a giant in all that he achieved and he died surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavor.”Naipaul was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001 “for having united per

Aug. 12, 2018

Novelist Choi In-hun, who delved into ideological conflicts of modern Korea, dies of cancer

Prominent novelist Choi In-hun, whose fiction delved into the ideological conflicts, existential angst and decadent politics in modern Korea, died of cancer on Monday. He was 82. He passed away at a hospital in Goyang, just outside of Seoul, in the morning. He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer four months ago.  Born in 1936 in Hoeryong, in what is now North Korea, Choi crossed into the South after the Korean War broke out in 1950. (Yonhap)Choi is best known for his 1960 novel "The Square," on

July 23, 2018

[Herald Interview] When food connoisseur takes charge of hotel management

At first glance, Kim Bum-soo seems more like a hip fashion editor or a stylish tailor than a general manager of a classy hotel. Kim is the GM of a newly opened hotel in central Seoul, L’Escape. He recently sat down with The Korea Herald for an interview at the French-style boutique hotel near Hoehyeon Station.   General Manager of L’Escape Kim Bum-soo (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)Though wearing a classic suit, the GM’s style is different from that of your typical businessmen; his outfit was

July 19, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Culture, education critical in reaching out to the world’

Not many Koreans may be aware that there is a considerable K-pop following in Pakistan. Just last year, a K-pop festival was hosted in Islamabad by the city’s King Sejong Institute and the National University of Modern Languages.According to NUML chief Zia Uddin Najam, however, it has not always been that way. “There was very little knowledge about Korea,” he told The Korea Herald, referring to when his university first started collaborating with the Korean government to run a King Sejong instit

July 15, 2018

[Video] Housewives on YouTube: From cooking, home training to tech reviews

A housewife in her mid-30s, Choi Seo-young describes herself as a tech influencer on YouTube. She mainly reviews electronic goods and home appliances through video clips. With more than 94,000 followers, she has numerous companies offering her test products for review. But in the beginning, some questioned her credibility, citing her gender and profession. “Some thought that it was awkward for a woman, a housewife, to review tech,” Choi said at a press event held Wednesday at Google Campus in so

July 4, 2018

Korea Herald’s multimedia section chief awarded at 3rd anniversary of FNA

An event to mark the third anniversary of the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea took place at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Tuesday, Reporters from the four English language papers of Korea -- The Korea Herald, the Korea Times, the Joongang Daily and the Aju Business Daily -- gathered for the ceremony and the luncheon hosted by the association to celebrate the occasion. Outstanding reporters from each of the four papers were commended with a plaque. The Korea Herald’s

July 3, 2018

[Herald Interview] More than changing passport

First naturalized basketball player not of Korean descent strives to make lasting impact On Thursday, South Korean basketball fans saw something they hadn’t seen in years: their team dominating the paint against the towering Chinese national team.Ricardo Ratliffe, a recently naturalized Korean player, gave the Chinese twin towers of Wang Zhelin and Zhou Qi a run for their money as he scorched them for 25 points and 11 rebounds in an 82-74 victory in the third game of the FIBA Asian Qualifiers.Th

June 29, 2018

Government commends naturalized Korean proofreader for lifetime of service

Elizabeth G. Kraft, a naturalized Korean who worked as a proofreader for the government for the past 41 years, is retiring with one of the highest honors given to a civilian.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Wednesday that it is presenting the Moran Medal, the second-highest Order of Civil Merit, to Kraft upon her retirement on Friday.Craft, an English proofreader currently working for the Korean Culture and Information Service, has been working for the Korean government sinc

June 27, 2018

Communication professor to be laureled for bridging Korea, world

Choi Jung-wha, the president of the Corea Image Communication Institute, will receive the Yeongsan Diplomat Award on July 4 for her decadeslong efforts to promote Korea and its culture around the world.　The accolade, bestowed by the Seoul Forum organization, is annually conferred upon an individual who made superlative achievements to enhance the nation’s image and interests through public diplomacy. This year’s award ceremony will take place at the Plaza Hotel Seoul and gather opinion leaders f

June 26, 2018

[Herald Interview] The magic in Ed Kwon’s air

It isn’t common to come across a magician on the streets, but meeting a young professional magician who is also a college student is much more rare. Ed Kwon, or Kwon Joon-hyuk, is a 23-year-old Korean magician based in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Despite his young age, he performed as a headliner act last Christmas at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, the world-famous private club for magicians.  Ed Kwon 　On Tuesday, Kwon spoke with The Korea Herald before staging a magic show at an event held by

June 24, 2018