The Korea Times

'King Maker,' liberal commentator turn back on their allies

Kim Chong-in, a chief campaigner of the main opposition United Future Party, released a memoir, “There is No Such Thing as Eternal Power,” earlier this month. / YonhapTwo authors release books ahead of National Assembly electionBy Kang Hyun-kyungKim Chong-in, a chief campaigner of the main opposition United Future Party, and liberal political commentator Kang Jun-man seem to have nothing in common in their personal, educational or professional backgrounds. Kim, 80, has been active in politics for three decades, starting in 1990 when he served as the chief presidential secretary for economic affairs during the conservative Roh Tae-woo government. After that, he served as a lawmaker five times and then transformed into a political consultant, becoming a self-claimed “kingmaker.” He claimed he successfully led the conservative politician Park Geun-hye to win the 2012 presidential election and then defected to the liberal party to help it win the 2016 National Assembly elections. Compared to Kim, Kang, 64, has been an academic for decades. He is a professor of jou

Apr 10, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

'King Maker,' liberal commentator turn back on their allies

Early voting kicks off

Books

Korean coming-of-age novel wins Japanese literary award

Author Sohn Won-pyung / Courtesy of Changbi PublishersKorean authors praised overseas, win international literary awardsBy Kang Hyun-kyungNovelist Sohn Won-pyung won the 2020 Japanese Booksellers' Awards in the category of translated fiction novel for her coming-of-age story “Almond,” becoming the first non-Japanese Asian writer to win the award.The news came amid several Korean novelists and poets being praised overseas for their works. Established in 2004, the Japanese awards name the best fiction and non-fiction novels published in the country the previous year and vote on the nominated works to select the winners in four categories. It is one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan. Sohn said she was thrilled and at the same time surprised at the news that her novel won the prestigious Japanese book award.“I started writing this book to answer my personal question,” she said in an acceptance letter sent to the organizers. “I've never thought my book would be loved by readers from around the world, not to mention winning the award.”She

Apr 8, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korean coming-of-age novel wins Japanese literary award

Trends

On Jeju, 'new settlers' feeling the pinch

On Jeju, self-employed people running cafes and guest houses that rely on tourists are facing significant challenges from the coronavirus outbreak and following depression in the tourism sector. / Korea Times fileCafes, guest houses in dire straits as tourism sector suffers from the coronavirus outbreakBy Kang Hyun-kyungBack in 2010, then a project manager at a conglomerate in Seoul who asked to be named only by his last name Lim, realized he wanted to do “something different” for a living. Feeling it's now or never, he quit his job and moved down to the southern island of Jeju. Lim, 49, said he initially had several ideas about his business and eventually ended up opening his own coffee house in 2013. His coffee business went fairly well and last summer, the cafe relocated to its current location in the bustling tourist town of Bukchon near Hamdeok Beach. The red characters of his coffee house's iconic signboard sit atop a cozy two-story building situated behind a short black stone wall. Out of the blue, however, his coffee house found itself in dire straits. Like many o

Apr 8, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

On Jeju, 'new settlers' feeling the pinch

Travel & Food

Pandemic buzzwords highlight housewives tired of increased chores

After the pandemic, housewives work harder and longer as making meals at home three times a day has become a norm. / gettyimagesbankBy Kang Hyun-kyung“Dolbab dolbab” (meals after meals) have become buzzwords in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.Social distancing and its related measures, including an increase in teleworking and delayed school semester, have added to married women's household chores. After the pandemic, housewives work harder and longer as making meals at home three times a day has become a norm. Housewives ― and some working moms who are working from home, too ― are complaining that they are tired of preparing meals every day for their family members. Preparing meals and table setting requires them to invest a great deal of time and energy on top of the work they still have to do after their families finish their meals. They are already thinking about what meals they need to prepare for the next day while they're washing dishes.Worries about infection have seen families eating at home more ― and restaurants have emptied as a result. Preparing three mea

Apr 5, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Pandemic buzzwords highlight housewives tired of increased chores

Books

Smartphones make you sick, stupid

“No-Mobile Phone Phobia” by German psychiatrist, psychologist and neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer was recently translated into Korean and published by local publishing house The Man.German neuroscientist warns of dysfunctional side of digital technologyBy Kang Hyun-kyungIn the digital age, life without a smartphone seems unthinkable for many people.Since 2006 when Apple unveiled the first iPhone as an innovative device, smartphones have reshaped people's lives with their versatile functions. They enable people to connect with others through calls, take and share photos on social media, consume news and other content and shop for their daily supplies.Amid sweeping praise for the conveniences digital devices offer us, a German neuroscientist unveils the dysfunctional side of smartphones which he claims has remained in a “blind spot.” In his new book “No-Mobile Phone Phobia” written in German and translated into Korean, psychiatrist, psychologist and neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer identifies the smartphone, along with other digital devices, as the sour

Apr 5, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Trends

Young women are easy prey for Shincheonji

Family members of victims of the secretive Shincheonji cult protest in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul in this Feb. 26 file photo. They urged the prosecution to investigate founder Lee Man-hee and put him behind the bars for breaking numerous laws. / Korea Times filePastor explains COVID-19's demographic, inter-city traits By Kang Hyun-kyungThe worst seems to be over. After the months-long nightmare of the coronavirus outbreak, Korea has successfully flattened the infection curve. As of Tuesday afternoon, 9,786 people were confirmed to have been infected with the virus, with 162 deaths. The fatality rate rose slightly from less than 1 percent in the early stages, but this is still lower than that of many other countries. New cases have gone down dramatically compared to early March when the virus was rampant. Despite the positive change, there are several questions that have remained unanswered regarding South Korea's unique outbreak pattern.In the early part of the pandemic, the country saw a rare demographic trait in confirmed cases: women in their 2os to

Mar 31, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Young women are easy prey for Shincheonji

Books

13 days of fears in Korea's deep south

The main street in the southwestern city of Gwangju is filled with soldiers and tanks in this May 1980 file photo after the military brutally cracked down on the pro-democracy protests there. Nationwide martial law was declared shortly during the May 18 uprising. / Korea Times fileIn 'Witnessing Gwangju,' ex-Peace Corps volunteer reconstructs 1980's pro-democracy uprising By Kang Hyun-kyungPaul Courtright's “Witnessing Gwangju” is an American's account of the tragic May 18 Gwangju Uprising that took place four decades ago. His memoir revisits the 13 days of fears and gunfire during the student-led pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city in 1980 when the author was working with a leprosy resettlement center named Hohyewon in South Jeolla Province as a Peace Corps volunteer. As his workplace was located 30 minutes from Gwangju, he frequently travelled back and forth to Gwangju, as well as other neighboring cities, on business trips. Courtright said the publication of his first-hand experience of the protests and military's brutal crackdown on protesters during the t

Mar 27, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Opinion

President's narrative

By Kang Hyun-kyung“Coupang is better than the government.” I found this comment from a reader while reading an online news article on Sunday about President Moon Jae-in's “self-promotional” narrative on why South Korea, unlike other countries like the United States, Britain and Australia, has no panic buying despite the coronavirus pandemic. Coupang is a popular online shopping mall and could be likened to Korea's version of Amazon because of its wide selection of products and overnight delivery.To help our readers understand why the internet user praised Coupang, I would like to share a little bit more about the news story. According to the article, in an undisclosed conversation last week, President Moon told his aides that he personally appreciated that the Korean public chose not to stockpile household supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.Moon reportedly said Korean consumers don't hoard household products, such as toilet paper and other emergency supplies, because they trust their government and its pandemic response. The government is supposed to help

Mar 27, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

People & Events

Designer, who redefined hanbok, dies at 85

Hanbok designer Lee Eun-yim, better known by her brand name Lee Rheeza, died of natural causes on Saturday. She was 85. / YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungHanbok designer Lee Eun-yim, better known by her brand name Lee Rheeza, died of natural causes on Saturday. She was 85. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, her family said Lee's funeral will be held with only family members in attendance. Lee, founder of the Lee Rheez Hanbok Institute in Seoul, was a first generation hanbok designer who was lauded for her elegant A-line skirt. The traditional Korean attire for women consisted of an upper garment, called jeogori, and a skirt, called chima. The original design of the lower garment took the form of a jar-type skirt which made the wearer look bulkier. Lee modified it into a chic A-line skirt to make the wearer look thinner and elegant. In a media interview, she said her hanbok design was inspired by American actress Vivian Leigh's dress in “Gone with the Wind” movie. It was also the brainchild of her endeavors over the years to make herself look good in the traditional attire. Ta

Mar 22, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Designer, who redefined hanbok, dies at 85

Trends

Managing fears crucial in Korea's COVID-19 fight

Fear and anxiety are the key driving forces behind Koreans' panic buying frenzy. / gettyimagesbankKorea ill-prepared to fight pandemic By Kang Hyun-kyungIn a video posted on his YouTube channel on March 5, Korean American doctor Charles Cho demonstrated how to make a homemade face shield that can protect users from becoming infected with the coronavirus. The L.A.-based physician and nephrologist recycled a clear file folder to invent an alternative to face masks as they are out of stock at supermarkets and drugstores in Korea. “I know it's awkward. Some people may think this device is weird and excessive,” he said. “It's the brainchild of my days of thinking about a face mask alternative that can better protect people from the virus. So please don't blame me but consider using it for your own safety.” Cho said he emulated the face shield which is on sale in U.S. online malls, touting his makeshift device as “perfect gear” when it comes to virus protection. The material is water-proof, allows air circulation as it only covers the front side of one's

Mar 19, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Kang Hyun-kyung

Read more

'King Maker,' liberal commentator turn back on their allies

Korean coming-of-age novel wins Japanese literary award

On Jeju, 'new settlers' feeling the pinch

Pandemic buzzwords highlight housewives tired of increased chores

Smartphones make you sick, stupid

Young women are easy prey for Shincheonji

13 days of fears in Korea's deep south

President's narrative

Designer, who redefined hanbok, dies at 85

Managing fears crucial in Korea's COVID-19 fight

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