Miss Korea Kim Joo-ri Pushes Herself to Challenges

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

Growing up to be a beauty pageant queen may be one of many dreams young girls have, but for this year's Miss Korea, Kim Joo-ri, it was a stroke of coincidence.

``When I saw the 2007 Miss Korea Lee Ji-sun prepare for the Miss Universe pageant on television, I instantly thought `I want to do that!''' the 21-year-old Kim told The Korea Times during an interview last week at a cafe in northern Seoul. Dressed in black, Kim was ready for another long day as one of Korea's most beautiful women, with interviews and photo shoots lined up on her schedule.

Kim's dream as a young girl was to become a ballerina and she was on the right track from the start.

``I was a little girl who loved to dance. I started ballet when I was five years old and moved to England to attend the Royal Ballet School during third grade. When the 1997-98 economic recession hit Korea, I came back home and went to Sunhwa Arts School to study Korean dance,'' she said.