The Korea Times

Novelist quits social media after bickering with actress

Novelist Gong Ji-young appears at the Press Center in central Seoul for her book “Harry” in this July 2018 file photo. / Korea Times fileActress apologizes, saying she was immatureBy Kang Hyun-kyungNovelist Gong Ji-young deactivated her Twitter account on Thursday, days after exchanging nasty comments with actress Kim Boo-sun about the latter's alleged affair with Gong's ex-husband.In a Facebook post on Friday, Gong, 57, reportedly wrote that she would quit social media and focus on writing novels, adding she would “meet” her readers through her books, not social media. The message is no longer available because her Facebook account was also deactivated after the statement. “I am leaving Facebook, and other social media, too,” she wrote. “The past 10 years of being active on social media were full of traumatic experiences. I'm sorry if I hurt others with my social media posts. Please forget me. I will meet my readers through my books. I realized living a decent life in this ferocious and rugged world is almost impossible.”Her abrupt ann

Aug 14, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Novelist quits social media after bickering with actress

Trends

Millennials mock leftists currying favor with China, N. Korea

Kim Soo-hyun, chairman of Jeondaehyup, poses after a Korea Times interview at its newsroom in Seoul on Aug. 3. He characterized the nationwide student organization as a free democracy crusader. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulSouth Korea's protest culture shifting from Molotov cocktails to satireBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe farcical Operation Busan Landing last year had created a stir on the peaceful Gwangan Beach. It was a mission conducted by several South Korean university students affiliated with the nationwide student organization “Jeondaehyup,” or the Council of University Student Representatives of Korea, to sound the alarm about the country's porous maritime security by lampooning left-wing politicians accused of having pushed for engagement with North Korea at the cost of national security. Seven young people in North Korean military uniforms ― a woman and six men ― were seen aboard two speed boats in the waters off Busan's Gwangan Beach on July 26 last year. As their boats neared land, they jumped off and waded toward the beach. Armed with M1 Garand rifles, with o

Aug 13, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Millennials mock leftists currying favor with China, N. Korea

Books

Plastic surgeon writes medical fiction novels

Kim You-myung, author of medical fiction book “Face” / Courtesy of Kim You-myungSome undergo plastic surgery to move on from the past, he saysBy Kang Hyun-kyungAfter the winter peak season for cosmetic surgery, which usually continues for three months starting December, plastic surgeon Kim You-myung tries to find time to immerse himself deep into his other passion ― fiction writing.Every weekend, Kim, 48, goes to his clinic in Gangnam ― an area of southern Seoul famous for its cosmetic surgery clinics ― and writes stories. He says he feels ultimate freedom as there's no one in his clinic except him. He likes the disturbance-free, peaceful environment because he feels isolated from bustling urban life.Depending on the day, he says he usually writes for four to five hours. “The first week when I resume writing after a three-month hiatus following the peak winter season is kind of tough,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “I realized I forgot what I wrote previously. I look at my manuscripts and then resume writing.”Kim said writ

Aug 4, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Plastic surgeon writes medical fiction novels

Books

Fiction writers denounce 'foul-mouthed' justice minister

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae at the National Assembly meeting on July 30. / YonhapKNA leader denies allegation that the statement is politically motivatedBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe Korean Novelists' Association (KNA) has criticized Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae for her remarks on fiction novels during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting on Tuesday. In a statement issued on Thursday, the KNA said Choo “humiliated” novelists and their work in her response to an opposition party lawmaker Rep. Yoon Han-hong when he raised suspicions that a recent reshuffle in the justice ministry was Choo's attempt to cover up her son's alleged violations of military rules. Listening to his remarks, Choo said sarcastically, “(You're) writing a fiction novel.”Her attitude caused a stir, resulting in the committee meeting being suspended temporarily as opposition lawmakers protested against her unprofessional demeanor. Choo did not back down, criticizing the opposition lawmaker's behavior and claiming his questions were inappropriate. “Watching her on TV,

Aug 2, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Fiction writers denounce 'foul-mouthed' justice minister

Films

When history and storytelling collide

Singer-actor Jung Ji-hun, center, better known ashis stage name Rain, in a scene from the 2019 film “Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong” / Courtesy of Entertainment CelltrionFilmmakers asked to be prudent when making historical moviesBy Kang Hyun-kyungDirector Kim Yu-sung's biopic “Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong” was met with derision in March last year, shortly after the movie about Korea's greatest cyclist hit local theaters. Movie fans mocked it, calling it “kook-ppong” (an exaggerated story to trigger nationalistic sentiment from the public).Um (1892-1951) won several major cycling championships during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea. He was the first Korean to grab a cycling championship title and defeated many Japanese rivals. He made his fellow Koreans extremely proud. But his post-retirement life was far from heroic. He was arrested and jailed for selling dozens of stolen bicycles.“Race to Freedom” ignored Um's miserable twilight years.The movie starring Jung Ji-hun, a singer and actor who performs under the stage name of Rain,

Jul 29, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Trends

KBS anchor's closing lines that infuriated supporters of late Seoul mayor

KBS nightly news anchor Lee So-jung / Korea Times fileMore internet users back the news anchorBy Kang Hyun-kyungKBS nightly news anchor Lee So-jung drew the ire of supporters of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon over her final words on the mayor and his alleged sexual harassment of his former secretary.At the end of a news broadcast on July 16, Lee quoted a line from Jung Se-rang's fiction novel “From Siseon,” which reads: “A certain suicide constitutes violence, an ultimate form of violence.” She said the line means someone's death could cause deep pain for others who have to live with it.“The fact that this line has been shared so many times on social media (after Park's death) could mean many people share this view. Now the victim is shouldering the heavy burden of truth because of secondary victimization (by Park's supporters),” she said in her closing lines. “One TV personality caused a stir for her careless remarks that she was curious why Park's secretary kept silent for the past four years and then abruptly broke her silence. A femal

Jul 28, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

KBS anchor's closing lines that infuriated supporters of late Seoul mayor

Books

Book dissects 'Generation 586,' warns of their experiment to redirect South Korea

This photo from the 1980s shows university students launching an anti-government protest. The banner reads 'Bring the dictatorship down with the defiant spirit of the April protests.' / Korea Times fileAuthor opens up possibility for a shift in their political orientation from juche to XiismBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe specter of the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung haunts South Korea, although 26 years have passed since his death in 1994 from heart attack.During a confirmation hearing Thursday, Unification Minister nominee Lee In-young was quizzed on his current views on North Korea and its official political ideology, juche, which is “known” to have been crafted by the late North Korean leader. Opposition party lawmakers tried to double-check if he was still a juche sympathizer, saying “If not, prove it.” They noted the hearing was held to test if he is qualified to become the unification minister of South Korea, not North Korea. Lee denied the accusations, saying he had never been a juche sympathizer. In a show of support, some ruling party lawmakers yelled a

Jul 26, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Book dissects 'Generation 586,' warns of their experiment to redirect South Korea

Trends

Shoe-throwing, egging put freedom of expression to the test

Jung Chang-ok, a protester who threw his shoe at President Moon Jae-in last week in the National Assembly, speaks during an outdoor news conference in front of Dong Hwa Duty Free Shop in central Seoul, Monday, with his shoe on the table. Some right-wingers lauded him as a man of courage. / YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungShoes, eggs and paintings.These three objects appear to have nothing in common. In the discourse of freedom of expression, however, they are interrelated. Outraged people and sarcastic artists use them as mediums to express their anger and resentment toward politicians responsible for dysfunctional policies that put their lives in peril. Egging and throwing shoes at politicians are considered forms of protest and vandalism which have been utilized to make dissenting voices heard. Satirical paintings, meanwhile, are a non-violent form of protest and criticism designed to humiliate the targeted public figures. It's a shame tactic. These actions, however, spark a heated means vs. ends debate in freedom of expression. People are divided over whether or not such vandalism or humi

Jul 22, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Shoe-throwing, egging put freedom of expression to the test

Books

'Iran is not our enemy'

Iranians, some wearing face masks, go shopping around Tehran's grand bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday. / EPA-Yonhap'The Way Time Goes by in Iran' calls for realistic Iran policyBy Kang Hyun-kyungHow much do we know about Iran? How do we know what we've been told about Iran is true? “The Way Time Goes by in Iran” published by Hani Books raises these two questions and author Yu Dal-seung tries to answer them based on his first-hand experiences with Iranians and their culture during his years of stay in two different time periods ― first in the 1990s as a doctoral degree student and then last year when he returned as a visiting scholar.Telling the stories of Iranians and their culture is one of the two core parts of the book. The author also shares his insights into U.S.-Iran relations which shifted in 1979 after some 50 Americans _ diplomats and civilians _ were held hostage for 444 days during the Iranian Revolution, trying to draw practical lessons for Korean policymakers when they build a foreign policy toward Iran and other parts of the Middle East. “The Way Time G

Jul 16, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Trends

Protestant Church lashes out at PM for 'religious discrimination'

Rev. Kim Tae-young, president of the United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), speaks during a news conference in the Christian Church of Korea building in central Seoul, Tuesday. The UCCK leader urged the government to scrap “discriminative” COVID-19 measures. / YonhapUCCK leader urges gov't to scrap ban of small gatherings By Kang Hyun-kyungProtestant Church leaders slammed the government for banning any small church gatherings, other than Sunday worship, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming it constitutes religious discrimination. “I felt angry and humiliated while watching the government's announcement (on TV) that it would ban any small gatherings in church,” Rev. Kim Tae-young, president of the United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), said during a news conference at a conference room of Christian Churches of Korea building in Seoul, Tuesday. “Without even trying to reach out to churches for communication, they went ahead with the announcement. Over the past week, I have struggled to figure out why they did that.”The UCCK leader critic

Jul 15, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Kang Hyun-kyung

Read more

Novelist quits social media after bickering with actress

Millennials mock leftists currying favor with China, N. Korea

Plastic surgeon writes medical fiction novels

Fiction writers denounce 'foul-mouthed' justice minister

When history and storytelling collide

KBS anchor's closing lines that infuriated supporters of late Seoul mayor

Book dissects 'Generation 586,' warns of their experiment to redirect South Korea

Shoe-throwing, egging put freedom of expression to the test

'Iran is not our enemy'

Protestant Church lashes out at PM for 'religious discrimination'

Top 5 stories