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Gallery head translates Women's Declaration of Independence into English

Lee Sung-sook, director of the National Women’s History Exhibition HallBy Kim Se-jeong Lee Sung-sook, director of the National Women’s History Exhibition Hall, has done what no one else has done in women’s history in Korea -- she has translated the Korean Women’s Declaration of Independence into English.The text was signed in 1919 by eight women in Jilin, northeastern China. They signed it under fake names and it is hard to know who they really were.In the declaration, they deplored the nation being taken by Japan and encouraged other women to keep their spirits up in the hope for independence and freedom.The original text was found in a book owned by independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho (1878-1938), and her daughter donated it to the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, where it is held.“The declaration is extremely significant,” the director said. “Imagine what the life would have been like back then. Women had no identities, confined to home. Being somewhere other than their homes and speaking out requi

Aug 7, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Gallery head translates Women's Declaration of Independence into English

Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Lee Mae-bangBy Yun Suh-youngKorean dance guru Lee Mae-bang died of a sudden illness stemming from old age at a hospital in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Friday morning. He was 88.The bereaved family announced that Lee's health drastically deteriorated the previous day and his death came as a surprise since the virtuoso was healthy enough to visit Mokpo a week before and had been preparing for a performance in December.He is survived by his wife and daughter.Lee, born in 1926 in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, was the only remaining artist who had mastered “seungmoo” (Buddhist dance) and “salpuri” (exorcism dance), which are designated Important Intangible Cultural Heritages No. 27 and No. 97.Lee had steadily pursued traditional dance for more than 80 years since he started learning dance at the age of 7. His seungmoo dance is known to represent the regional characteristics of North and South Jeolla Provinces which are graceful and aloof.Under masters Lee Dae-jo and Lee Chang-jo, he learned the basics of seungmoo, buknori (drum performance) and geommu (sword dance), a

Aug 7, 2015
Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Korean-American commands US Marine division

Daniel D. YooBy Jun Ji-hye Daniel D. Yoo, a Korean-American brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps, has been appointed commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.Yoo, formerly the assistant division commander at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., took command of the division of 23,000 troops on July 30 from Maj. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson.Nicholson will take command of the III Marine Expeditionary Force at Okinawa, Japan, next month.The 1st Marine Division participated in the 1950-53 Korean War. The division took a leading role in Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s famous Incheon Landing operation, code named “Operation Chromite.”The change of command ceremony took place at the 1st Marine Division Headquarters Building, commonly known as the White House.The division said Yoo, who became the first Korean-American U.S. general in 2011, approached Nicholson first and thanked him for his leadership while at the division.“Thank you very much on behalf of the entire division,” said Yoo. “For your truly genuine and unique style of leadership, you

Aug 5, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Korean-American commands US Marine division

Ex-minister to teach at Kookmin Univ.

Yoo Jin-ryongBy Chung Hyun-chae Kookmin University has appointed Yoo Jin-ryong, 59, a former minister of culture, sports and tourism, as chair professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration, a school spokesman said Tuesday.“Acknowledging Yoo’s achievements in the cultural content, arts, sports and tourism fields, we have decided to recruit him as chair professor,” the spokesman said.Yoo will teach from September for the fall semester. Although details of the content of his lectures have yet to be decided, he is likely to give a three-credit class during the semester.   Yoo served as a civil servant at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since 1979. He was also the ministry’s vice-minister in 2006 and served as minister between 2013 and 2014.Yoo graduated from Seoul National University in 1979 after studying international trade and earned a master’s degree in public administration from the school in 1987. He received his doctorate from Hanyang University in 2005.   

Aug 4, 2015
Ex-minister to teach at Kookmin Univ.

Ex-opposition leader dies at 77

Park Sang-cheonBy Kim Hyo-jinFormer opposition leader Park Sang-cheon died of cancer Tuesday. He was 77.Born in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Park began his career as a judge before working as a prosecutor for about 20 years. He entered politics in 1987 and a year later was elected as a lawmaker in his hometown. Park earned fame after working as a spokesman for an opposition party led by late former President Kim Dae-jung.With Kim’s trust, he was tapped as the first justice minister under the Kim administration who took office from 1998 to 2003. The veteran five-term lawmaker served as head of the Democratic Party in 2003 when the party split from the Uri Party, and secured the post again when they united back in 2008.In 2012, ahead of the 19th general election, he left politics, saying, “It is time to give a chance to young politicians.”Park is survived by his wife and three children.

Aug 4, 2015
Ex-opposition leader dies at 77

MMA champion, comedians to counsel underprivileged teens

Mixed martial arts fighter Kwon A-sol has been appointed an honorary counselor for underprivilegedchildren alongside comedians Hong In-gyu and Yoon Hyung-bin. / Courtesy of Road FCBy Baek Byung-yeul Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Kwon A-sol and funnymen Yoon Hyung-bin and Hong In-gyu will counsel underprivileged teenagers.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Gwanak Police Station appointed the three as honorary counselors for teenagers, Monday.The police station has been providing an after-school program for teenagers called “Green Frog Playground” in cooperation with a non-governmental organization Friending. The three will actively mentor students who join the program.As part of the counseling, the 28-year-old fighter Kwon said he will teach MMA to juveniles.“By learning MMA, they will recognize there are many fighters much better than them, and learn manners that they ought not take swings at anyone. With this chance, I would like to teach them the spirit of a fighter,” Kwon said.Kwon, whose career MMA record is 20 wins an

Aug 4, 2015
MMA champion, comedians to counsel underprivileged teens

Broken Valentine rocker dead at 33

Rock band Broken Valentine with the late Kim Kyung-min, the band's vocalist known as Van, at the center / Courtesy of Naver blogSinger Kim Kyung-min -- who went by the stage name Van -- of the five-member rock band Broken Valentine died in an undisclosed accident at the age of 33, Monday.The band’s official Facebook page posted the news Tuesday morning, saying Kim died as the result of an accident, the nature of which was not released.Singer Younha tweeted Tuesday morning expressing her sorrow over the musician’s sudden death. She regretted not keeping a promise to have a meal together, and urged netizens to visit a memorial altar in Dongsuwon General Hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, to “wish him well in the afterlife.”The band made its debut as 6.August in 2002, and changed its name to B.August in 2004. The current name was adopted in 2007.The band earned nationwide fame in 2011 when it participated in the television rock survival show “Top Band” on KBS2. The band participated in the Asian rock competition festival YAMAHA Asianbeat

Aug 4, 2015
Broken Valentine rocker dead at 33

Education cooperation with Colombia

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Hwang Woo-yea, right, shakes hands with Colombia’s Education Minister Gina Maria Parody d’Echeona after signing an agreement on education cooperation in Bogota, Colombia, Friday. Under the accord, Korea will send five to seven education experts to Colombia by mid-November to help train and evaluateteachers. Korea also plans to attract more Colombian students. / Courtesy of Ministry of Education

Aug 3, 2015

Choi Kyu-sun translates Alwaleed biography

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsau, right, speaks to Choi Kyu-sun, chairman of UI Energy, during the latter’s visit to the prince’s residence in Saudi Arabia. Choi recently translated and published an English language biography of the prince, who he came to know in 1995 through the late Michael Jackson and has remained friends with ever since. / Courtesy of UI EnergyKorean friend gives new dimension to Alwaleed featsBy Oh Young-jinThe recent Korean translation of billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud’s biography offers a story about two people — its protagonist and its translator — forged through friendship.The biography, titled “Alwaleed: Businessman, Billionaire, Prince,” is an authorized version of the prince’s life story — a rags-to-riches tale starting from humble beginnings with $30,000 seed money to become the “Arabian Warren Buffett” whose investment portfolio covers Citigroup, Apple, 20th Century Fox and CNN.The prince has also vo

Aug 3, 2015
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