The Korea Times

Chicken, pork skin enjoy heyday

Deep-fried chicken skin at KFC. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kim Ji-soo, Hong Seo-hyunBefore Koreans en masse favored fried chicken, poultry was mainly boiled or cooked in the “samgyetang” style, in which the chicken is stuffed with sticky rice, ginseng, dates and chestnuts. But even then, it is said that elderly Koreans enjoyed the chicken skin, saying it was the best part.?Now that fried chicken is quickly evolving in Korea, it was only a matter of time before fried chicken skin would start trending as well.Take KFC's latest menu item, fried chicken skin, which has gained quite some fame since its release in July: it's original, it's delicious, and it's limited ― the three factors that make consumers crave it.?Each serving comes with spicy salsa sauce, pricing at only 2,800 won.Although originally released exclusively in Indonesia, its release gained popularity on social media amongst Korea's younger generations who keep up to date with the hottest interna

Aug 15, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

Power of emotive narrative

By Kim Ji-sooGeneva, as many know, is home to a vast array of international organizations, including the headquarters of many United Nations agencies and financial institutions. Befittingly, the headquarters of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is there, as well as the award-winning International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Small, almost private in size, the museum enjoyed a steady flow of visitors on one rainy day in June, the same day French President Macron visited the city for the 108th session of the International Labor Conference. It first opened in 1988. It has received the Kenneth Hudson Award in recognition of its most unusual and daring achievements ― one that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society. Currently, there is an ongoing mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions. Under the broad theme “The Humanitarian Adventure,” three separate topics are dealt with in the permanent exhibition: “Defending human dignity” (developed by architect Gringo Cardia, Brazil); “Restoring fa

Jul 31, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

'Younger brother' pulls it off at Cannes

By Kim Ji-sooDirector Bong Joon-ho, 50, seemed more like the younger brother in the line of Korean auteurs such as Im Kwon-taek, Lee Chang-dong, Hong Sang-soo and Park Chan-wook. (Some critics dub them the “new wave” directors in Korean cinema.) It was however Bong who brought home the much-coveted Palme d'Or with his film “Parasite” in Cannes, France, Sunday.If heaven should have a visual expression, it rested on the face of Bong on that day. After receiving a thump of a hug from his “persona” the actor Song Kang-ho, pumping his fist in the air multiple times, he stood on the podium to accept the Palme d'Or. With his cheeks blushing red, and apologizing for not having prepared a speech in French, Bong thanked everyone, including the actors, for allowing him to physically touch the Palme d'Or. “I was a little 12-year-old boy, and a huge cinema fan, when I decided I would be a director. I am amazed to have won this prize, which means a great deal to me,” Bong said in Korean.Afterwards, outside the venue, Bong playfully went on his knees

May 29, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

'Younger brother' pulls it off at Cannes

Opinion

Luck of Korean voters

By Kim Ji-sooCompared to some other voters across the world, the Korean voters may well be lucky in that we only routinely discover our Cabinet minister-nominees have some “baggage” when they arrive for review at the parliamentary hearing for confirmation. Readers by now know that KAIST Professor Cho Dong-ho who was a nominee for science and technology minister and Choi Jeong-ho, the candidate who was tapped as land and transportation minister nominee, have both quit their candidacies. To be more clear, Cheong Wa Dae withdrew Cho's nomination and Choi voluntarily removed himself as nominee. Both had performed poorly at the hearings, apologizing for perceived ethical lapses. Cho was first criticized for problems with his real-estate investments and his two sons' supposedly lavish lifestyles during their time studying abroad. It was however his problematic attendance at the 2017 World Biomarkers Congress, an international conference known to be organized by OMICS International held in Spain that raised the biggest concerns. The conference, regarded as a “non-performin

Apr 3, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Global Community

Foreign Line

FAME hosts networking partyThis Friday at 8 p.m., Blackmarket in Itaewon and the FAME Creators Network host their first networking party for creators. To be held the first Friday of each month, the event is dedicated to facilitate networking and to support creative professionals in fashion, art, music and entertainment.The event also offers performances, including by singer Elliott and magician Jay, as well as an art exhibition by King Scribbler and a music video premiere by Saulo Aroca.Tickets cost 11,000 won in advance or 15,000 won at the door. Visit?fb.com/famecreatorsnetwork?for more informationRASKB tours Yonsei's Underwood historyInternationally, the name Underwood was synonymous with typewriters. But in Korea, Underwood represents one of the longest-lasting Western families in Korea. Horace G. Underwood was one of the earliest missionaries to Korea, a confidant to King Gojong and the founder of Yonsei University, as well as a founding member of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch (RASKB) in 1900. His great-grandson Peter Underwood, still a member of today's RASKB living in

Apr 2, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Global Community

Korea Encounters Arbor Day and the reforestation of Korea

By Matt VanVolkenburgUpon liberation from Japan in 1945, Korea's landscape was less than picturesque. Decades of timber exploitation by the Japanese and use of firewood by Koreans to heat homes had depleted Korea's forests and left most of its mountains barren.To deal with this pressing problem, the first Arbor Day was proclaimed in 1946. April 5 soon became a “holiday” during which officials, students, soldiers and regular citizens were marshalled to take part in tree-planting activities. American officials and soldiers also donated trees and labor.By 1957, 358 million saplings were being planted annually. The government exhorted citizens to plant by urging them to “regain their ancient aura of beauty of the land and to recapture our past remembrance of mild, warm and kind humanity prevalent among our people,” and had them sing the “Reforestation Song.”A lack of budget and commitment from the Syngman Rhee government, however, led to less-than-stellar results. This began to change after the military coup led

Apr 2, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

[Korea Encounters]Arbor Day and the reforestation of Korea

Books

'Now, Here, France'

“Now, Here, France” by Kim Sun-mi / Courtesy of Mimesis PublishingBy Kim Ji-sooEverybody has a preferred place or country outside their homeland that they find enchanting. To Kim Sun-mi, a journalist for the Korean vernacular Dong-A Ilbo newspaper and author of “Now, Here, France” the aforementioned country is that place. Having studied French in high school in Seoul, the opposite-to-trepid reporter had a chance to study at Paris ESMOD-ISEM in 2016. “Now, Here, France” is a book that offers a diverse array of topics related to the European country ― from trees in Paris and in-city events to collaborations of fashion artists and technology, and education. As a mother of two, she describes her children's experience at elementary school and kindergarten there. Through these topics, the writer tries to illustrate the country's undercurrent of a focus on culture and independent thinking, and the will to continue to creatively innovate.One of the noticeable chapters is the second, titled “Innovation and Luxury.”It provides a glimpse into the

Mar 29, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

People & Events

Former President of Korea Times passes away

Cho Byung-pil, former president-publisher of The Korea TimesCho Byung-pil, a former president-publisher of The Korea Times, has passed away. He was 80 years old.Cho, a graduate of English Language and Literature at Yonsei University, began work as a reporter at The Korea Times in 1962, and eventually went on to serve as managing editor from November 1987 through November 1991. He was president publisher of The Korea Times from February 1994 through February 1997. His funeral service will be held at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in Gyeonggi Province. He is survived by two children.

Mar 5, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Former President of Korea Times passes away

North Korea

Moratorium put on hope

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un hold a meeting during the second U.S.-North Korea summit at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi on Thursday. The planned signing of the so-called Hanoi Declaration was canceled, and the White House issued a statement saying “No agreement was reached at this time,” adding that “respective teams look forward to meeting in the future.” AFP-YonhapBy Kim Ji-soo“The relationship is just very strong and when you have a good relationship a lot of good things happen,” U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday, as he sat facing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The two leaders were briefly meeting the press before they embarked on the real negotiations constituting the second North Korea-U.S. summit. Kim, his cheeks slightly flushed but smiling, said “I believe by intuition that good results will be produced.”The two, who were meeting for the first time in eight months, visibly demonstrated a familiarity, a bit of trust or a desperate realization they need each other. Kim nee

Feb 28, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

North Korea

Vietnam, host country with shades from control to reform

U.S. President Donald Trump meets Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday. Reuters-YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooWith the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea in place in Hanoi, the host country has shown a big hearty welcome with a jolt of pride alongside a high level of security.Young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a lot of attention when he arrived in Hanoi, Tuesday. When he left his hotel in the afternoon to visit officials at the North Korean Embassy, the crowd outside cheered. Children at a kindergarten, founded in 1978 with assistance from the North, were seen with North Korean flags painted on their cheeks to welcome the leader. On Wednesday morning, Kim stayed in the hotel while senior officials visited the tourist destination Ha Long Bay, and the major industrial city of HaiPhong. U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Tuesday. AFP-YonhapTrump arrived late Tuesday on Air Force One, and his motorcade was greeted by streets decorated with American

Feb 27, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Vietnam, host country with shades from control to reform

Kim Jong-un takes Vietnam as case study

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Chicken, pork skin enjoy heyday

Power of emotive narrative

'Younger brother' pulls it off at Cannes

Luck of Korean voters

Foreign Line

Korea Encounters Arbor Day and the reforestation of Korea

'Now, Here, France'

Former President of Korea Times passes away

Moratorium put on hope

Vietnam, host country with shades from control to reform

Top 5 stories