The Korea Times

'Arguments between spouses lead to premature deaths'

By Ko Dong-hwanArgumentative couples face a higher risk of death in middle age due to the elevated level of stress and anxiety, according to researchers from Denmark.Men are more vulnerable than women and unemployed more susceptible than people with stable income, according to a research team led by the University of Copenhagen’s Rikke Lund.The finding was based on a study of 9,875 men and women aged between 36 and 52. The focus of the study was to explore the connection between premature deaths and mental distress caused by tumultuous social relationships.Lund’s team concluded that around 315 deaths per 100,000 people per year could be caused by spousal demands and worries. The risk of early death is two or three times higher among couples arguing frequently, according to the study.The researchers, however, said further research is needed to confirm the cause of the higher number of deaths and how they are linked to spousal stress.

May 12, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

'Arguments between spouses lead to premature deaths'

Others

PR expert insults Sewol victims' families

By Ko Dong-hwanKim Ho-wol, a noted public relations (PR) expert, has come under fire for his Facebook comments many found as a distasteful attack on the families of the victims of the recent ferry disaster.In his posting, Kim, a professor at Hongik University’s graduate school for advertisement and PR, blasted the family members for attempting to hold a rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae to protest the way the government has been handling the tragic accident.The Sewol ferry sank off the waters of the southwestern island of Jindo on April 16 with 476 people aboard. Only 172 of them were rescued with the remainder confirmed as dead or missing.Critics have accused the government of bungling its emergency response and failing to properly enforce regulations that would have stopped the ship’s operators from putting profit before safety.``Was the president the owner of the Sewol ship? Why are they protesting in front of Cheong Wa Dae?’’ Kim wrote.``The families of the victims are acting with entitlement as if they have landed important positions or something … T

May 12, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

PR expert insults Sewol victims' families

World

Nintendo apologizes for being homophobic

By Ko Dong-hwanNintendo's "Tomodachi Life"A global Japanese game developer apologized for rendering one of its games disagreeable to those wishing to see homosexual chemistry bites.The Financial News said Saturday Nintendo apologized for designing a life simulation game for the hand-held console 3DS “Tomodachi Life” that doesn’t allow same-sex marriage in the game.The company’s homophobic approach to the game had previously drawn public critiques online before its release. In the recent apology, however, the developer said its next series will accommodate the feature.  Tomodachi Life allows users to create their own avatars living on an island and make them flourish by taking them to social venues and engaging them with new people.Originally released in Japan under the title “Tomodachi Collection: New Life,” its English version will be released in the U.S. and Europe next month. It sold about 1.85 million copies in Japan last year alone.  

May 11, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Nintendo apologizes for being homophobic

Others

Sewol victims' families tempted to suicide

Forlorn families of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster are marching down a road along with pictures of the deceased souls. / Courtesy of Kukmin.tvBy Ko Dong-hwan Some family members of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster couldn’t take in all the pains and sorrows they have been spotted attempting to end their own lives.According to Segye Ilbo Sunday, police received a report from a girl on Sunday that her father went missing. She was waiting for her father at a joint memorial altar in Ansan Hwarang Park a day before, but he didn’t take her calls.Police searched areas in the vicinity of the altar, and found him under a tree making a noose with his belt. He was apparently trying to hang himself.On Friday, another bereaved family member was spotted unconscious at home with signs of drug overdose. The person was taken to a hospital and was reportedly in normal condition.It’s been confirmed he had posted on an online community reserved for families of the victims that he will wish well for all from the world beyond.

May 11, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Sewol victims' families tempted to suicide

Others

Lawmaker opens campaign office made of construction debris

Outlook of the eco-friendly election office built out of construction debris by Rep. Hwa Deok-hyun from the Labor Party in Busan. / Courtesy of Seoul Shimmun By Ko Dong-hwan       A lawmaker running in the upcoming June local election opened his campaign office on a street which sacrificed aesthetics over greener causes.Seoul Shimmun introduced Sunday the street office of Rep. Hwa Deok-hyun of the Labor Party, an incumbent lawmaker aiming for his second term. The 4.8-square-meter office opened in Chwa-dong, Busan, next to a stationery store inside an apartment complex.Rep. Hwa built his office by himself, using veneers, wooden scraps and used office papers he picked up from local construction sites since April.A colorful information paint board decorates the office’s facade, stopping passersby for a closer look. Entitled “A Day at Haeundae,” the board includes informative district-specific statistics like population and numbers of expats and seniors living alone in the area.The report quoted Rep. Hwa as saying the office speak

May 11, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Lawmaker opens campaign office made of construction debris

Others

Hated coworker types likened to gag stars

A scene from an episode of Infinity Challenge where the stars go to a picnic as members of a fictitious trade company. From third on left, HaHa, Noh Hong-cheol, Yoo Jae-suk and, on far right, Park Myeong-su.By Ko Dong-hwan A survey used a popular television show to display some of the most hated and favored coworker types, eDaliy News said Sunday.Conducted by an online employment portal Incruit, the survey matched real life coworkers to characters from MBC’s Infinity Challenge.Some 1,027 workers participated in the survey, which asked who are the “bosses and juniors I hate to work with.”The most selected type of boss, with a majority of 47.6 percent, was Park Myeong-su. He was portrayed to burden his juniors by irresponsibly handing them down his own workload.Second most selection was the Yoo jae-suk-type, who works so hard he makes others feel guilty.As to juniors pulling chain, the top selection with 38.5 percent was the Noh Hong-cheol-type, a weasel who always leaves rooms to escape. He was followed by the HaHa-type, who is simply inept with taking down his

May 11, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Hated coworker types likened to gag stars

World

Boy murdered trying to save sister from getting raped

By Ko Dong-hwanMartin CobbAmerica saw a little hero killed by a rapist after trying to protect his older sister from being raped, according to Canadian press Global News Friday.Martin Cobb, 8, was smashed with a brick to his head by a teenage black male. It killed him at the scene.The attacker spotted Cobb and his 12-year-old sister playing near railroad tracks behind their Richmond home in Virginia. The report said the sister was taken to a local hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.Police are searching for the suspect, 16, who, according to the report, had threatened the girl to release a false description on him. She initially told police the attacker was a white male with scraggly facial hair.A prayer vigil has been scheduled at Abundant Life Church located in the victims’ neighborhood, the report said.           

May 10, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Boy murdered trying to save sister from getting raped

World

Video CROSS FIt comically mixes Christianity and fitness workout

Scenes from informercial-parody gig that pitches a fitness workout aid “CROSS FIt.” / Captured from YouTube By Ko Dong-hwan A hilarious online video mixed together two unlikely ingredients in an infomercial-parody comic gig; wooden cross, Christianity symbolic emblem, and a fitness workout method called cross fit.Created by YouTube video channel the Kloons, the infomercial for “CROSS FIt” is introduced by a slim-fit man who looks like Jesus Christ.The video uses Christianity-specific religious notions into promoting the imaginary workout aid, transfixing Christians in either jocular agreement or sacrilegious awe.The host explains in the video his biggest burden ―  bearing the wooden cross and nailed to it as depicted in the bible ― was the biggest opportunity (obviously to burn fat).Made with 100 percent Mahogany Holy Cross, CROSS FIt can be strapped to users’ back as they do creative exercises like cross walk, cross press, resurrection, exorcism and dead lift.The comedy ends with a final pitch that CROSS FIt is as affordable as

May 10, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

[Video]CROSS FIt comically mixes Christianity and fitness workout

Others

KBS reporters “We shied away from angry Sewol victims”

Some 40 reporters and cameramen from state-run broadcaster KBS voluntarily submitted a repentence note admitting their lack of professionalism in covering the Sewol ferry disaster.  By Ko Dong-hwanTens of KBS reporters submitted on their intranet server a collective self-critique reflecting on how they unprofessionally covered the Sewol fiasco.Those with remorse were 40 reporters and cameramen employed by the state-run broadcaster in 2012 and 2013. Among them, 10 representing the group penned the afterthought.   One reporter confessed they made up reports without visiting the disaster site in Jindo. They feared families of victims might beat them out of angst, since headlong journalists eager to make their reports exclusive were once blamed by the public.Another said they intentionally didn’t cover the pandemonium that erupted when President Park Geun-hye visited a Jindo indoor gymnasium to condole the families.In replacing audio records from the president, they said they used computer graphics as fillers.Another wrote he realized the 10kg equipment they carry on

May 8, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

KBS reporters “We shied away from angry Sewol victims”

World

Building on fire throws down 2 rescue workers from 13th floor

Two Chinese firemen falling from the 13th floor of an apartment building while on duty were captured by a passerby on streets./ Courtesy of Daily Mail By Ko Dong-hwan Two Chinese firefighters died after falling from the 13th floor while on duty inside a burning apartment in Shanghai, the Daily Mail said Friday.The victims fell holding each other’s hands, as one of them was trying to save the other from falling.Liu Jie, 20, pushed aback by a wall of flame caused by an explosion, was dangling from a balcony. Qian Lingyun, 23, got his hands on Liu to save him, but eventually fell together.The tragic moment was captured by a passerby with his mobile phone.The report said Liu and Qian had been working at the same fire station since December 2012. It added the fire might have been caused by a large amount of electrical equipment inside the household.

May 8, 2014By Ko Dong-hwan

Ko Dong-hwan

Read more

'Arguments between spouses lead to premature deaths'

PR expert insults Sewol victims' families

Nintendo apologizes for being homophobic

Sewol victims' families tempted to suicide

Lawmaker opens campaign office made of construction debris

Hated coworker types likened to gag stars

Boy murdered trying to save sister from getting raped

Video CROSS FIt comically mixes Christianity and fitness workout

KBS reporters “We shied away from angry Sewol victims”

Building on fire throws down 2 rescue workers from 13th floor

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