In advance of Dental Day, which is June 9, actors from the English musical “Teeth” pose alongside some kids to promote dental health. But judging by the looks of toothbrush guy, dental health and mental health are mutually exclusive.

[photo: Korea Times]

In a surprise move, the Seoul Metropolitan Police have removed the buses that barricaded the lawn in front of City Hall. After sealing off the public space for fear of protests following the Roh Moo Hyun funeral last week, the police relented after a week of criticism from civic groups, activists, lawyers, and we think, angry kids who wanted to splash in the fountain. And in a completely related move, the police resumed their regularly scheduled activities. (HT to Roboseyo at Sparkle)

[source: Korea Times]

This review would sound just like a rant against a random incident that happened to me while I was buying tacos at the grand opening of Cusco’s Taco Papa, located near Hapjeong Station (line no.2). But then again, considering the adjusshi instigating the incident is the owner’s father and he was sitting with his buddies out on the stoop harassing take-out customers for hours, it might be pertinent information. Hence, the title. They can only do better from the first day, right? (more…)

A Ph.D candidate from George Mason University, Curtis Melvin has infiltrated the reclusive, impenetrable mystery that is North Korea and is revealing secrets previously known only by spies and Kim Jong-il himself. (read the rest…)

[Rachel Maddow MSNBC]

Microsoft unveiled its new search engine Bing on Tuesday night in a promotional event at the Seattle Space Needle. Bing is being billed as the next step forward in search. Its “decision engine” helps users filter out the clutter by collating information in a formatted form (as opposed to just listing links), and this, Microsoft believes, is going to help them take a larger share of the search market. (read more…)

Strict-constitutionalist and voice of reason Dr. Ron Paul explores the alternatives the U.S. might want to consider as they alert 30,000 U.S. forces on the peninsula and move Raptors and Aegis warships closer to the region.

[Youtube]

(source: Marmot’s Hole)

In what one commenter has called, “The most egregious incident of mass pixellation I’ve ever seen,” Korea Beat breaks the story for the English blogosphere. Evidently, a club in Gangnam is causing quite a stir, er, scandal, after Yonhap News released risque photos (SFW) of young Koreans doing the bumping and the grinding, otherwise known as boobi boobi (부비부비), or basically the sort of thing good Christian church-going moms would view as the devil’s work. (read more…)

The online company MegaStudy Co., Ltd. received a write-up from Choe Sang-Hun in the New York Times today:

“Megastudy.net, the online tutoring service Mr. Son started in 2000, may be the perfect convergence of South Koreans’ dual obsessions with educational credentials and the Internet. In this country, where people’s status and income at 60 are largely determined by which college they entered at 18, South Korean parents’ all-consuming task is to ensure that their children enter an elite university. And that requires a high score on the college entrance exam.

By tapping into those anxieties, which deepen during recessions, Megastudy has become South Korea’s fastest-growing technology company, with sales expected to grow 22.5 percent this year, to 245 billion won ($195 million), even as the country’s economy is projected to contract.”

Read the rest [NY Times]

To some this might be seen as a humorous coincidence of crossed marketing mascots, but if I were a parent, I’d be horrified right about now. HT to Brian in Jeollanam-do for posting these details about the 2009 Firefly Festival in Muju, Jeollabuk-do. From June 13-22.

[Newsis]