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(226) SCIENCE

(225) MATHEMATICS II

Seoul Players’ 24-Hour Theater

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer Seoul's only expatriate acting troupe will hold one of its unique events this weekend, where actors create a performance in the space of a day. Seoul Players are set to hold their 24-hour-theater program, in which participants are put into groups and sent off to prepare a performance. Margret Whittum, onr of the organizers, said that with approximately 60 to 70 people participating, she expects the event to go well. ``It has been growing twice as big every year,'' she said. ``Also we have a much better venue this time around, there is a bigger stage, a bigger capacity for the audience. It is a step up from last year.'' ``They are put in teams randomly, we ask people to give their experience level out of one to five, this is so we can create fair teams, so they are equally experienced,'' said Whittum. Each group consists of a writer, director and two to four actors. A series of ``inspiration buckets'' will be available for the writers, which they must integrate into the story line. Categories can include a first line, a setting

Foreignline

Photographic Exhibition A photographic exhibition, in English and Korean, on the long history of Czech-Korean contacts opened in March at the Czech Info Center in Castle Praha, Hongdae. The history of Czech-Korean contacts began when the first Czech set foot in Seoul in 1886. Since then, Czech and Korean history has interconnected many times. Although the countries are divided geographically, the Czechoslovak Legion, a 60,000-strong army based in the Far East, helped Korean independence activists and fighters between 1918 and 1920. Through the exhibition, you can also learn more about the period when then Socialist Czechoslovakia was an ardent supporter of North Korea (in the 1950s) until the collapse of the Socialist bloc in 1989 and had no relations with the Republic of Korea. A significant part of the exhibition is devoted to the flourishing ties of the last two decades, when Czech classical music as well as musicals started appearing on Korean stages, as well as Korean films becoming successful in the Czech Republic. You can also learn about the successes o

HOPE Unites in Drive for N. Korean Defectors

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer HOPE (Helping Others Prosper through English), a Seoul-based charity that specializes in teaching English to underprivileged children, held its second Annual Clothing Drive last weekend to raise money for North Korean defectors. ``It went really well. We had a great turnout,'' said Public Relations Director Veronica Somos. ``It was helped by some online advertising ― 10 Magazine put us in their top 10 things to-do list, ATEK (Association of Teachers of English in Korea) put an ad for us on their Facebook page and we had our own Facebook page. It snowballed from there.'' Somos said that this year, HOPE is focusing on helping North Korean refugees, which they are doing through the Durihana Missionary Foundation. Although HOPE does not yet teach English to North Korean defectors, it plans to do so in the future, Somos said. Durihana was founded in 1999, and helps North Korean defectors in South Korea and China. The founder, Pastor Chun Ki-won, has orchestrated the escapes of hundreds of North Koreans. He was arrested by Chinese police on

Foreigners Lack Rice to Call Their Own

By Kim Daye Contributing Writer Restaurant Everest is a little Nepal in Dongdaemun, Seoul. The aroma of curry fills the air, Bollywood music from television sets the mood and paintings of Hindu deities and Tibetan symbols adorn the walls. The restaurant is as authentic as it gets -- except its rice. And the owner H.M. Gurung has little control over that. Basmati rice, long-grain type grown in India and Pakistan, completes the subcontinental food with its fragrance and fluffiness. Basmati, however, has never been officially imported into Korea. Left with few choices, Gurung cooks Thai long-grain rice with spices like cardamons to create the basmati-like flavor. Gurung isn't the only one struggling with the missing staple. As of Feb. 28, more than 868,000 registered foreigners ― a nearly two-fold increase from 485,144 in 2005 ― were living in Korea. Korea Immigration Service's statistics show that the figure includes 26,450 Thais, 7,993 Pakistanis and 4,160 Indians who eat mainly fragrant long-grain rice. The number of restaurants serving international cuisines also s

(224) MATHEMATICS I

Filipinos Vote for Nat’l Elections in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter National elections in the Philippines are less than a month away, but Filipinos living in Korea have already started casting their ballots for the next president. Overseas absentee voting started at the Philippine Embassy on Saturday morning. Although turnout was low on the first day, there were several voters who were serious about exercising their right to suffrage even if they are living in Korea. The first voter to arrive was Maria Gemma Cantutay, a 41-year-old housekeeper from Cebu who has been living in Korea for nine years. ``Of course, I need to vote as part of my duty as a Filipino citizen,'' she told The Korea Times. On election day in the Philippines, May 10, millions of Filipino voters will head to the polls to choose a new president, vice president, 12 senators and one party-list representative. Cantutay declined to reveal who she voted for, but hoped the new Philippine president will be able to fix the country's economic problems. ``I wish the Philippine economy will improve, so I can go home and find a

(223) CLIMATE

(222) MICROWAVE