The Korea Times

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

North Korea

Following in footsteps of his grandfather

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un sits in his vehicle after arriving at Dong Dang railway station, Vietnam, at the border with China, Tuesday. Reuters-YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooTraveling more than 4,000 kilometers and 65 hours to take his first step in Vietnam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un disembarked at Dong Dang Railway Station, Tuesday, looking confident and authoritative. He was accompanied on his armored green train by a top-level North Korean entourage that included his sister Kim Yo-jong, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party Kim Yong-chol, who has held ministerial-level talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, senior party aide Ri Su-yong and Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju did not accompany him. An interpreter was seen rushing to his side, as Kim met with a long line of Vietnamese officials. He then traveled to Hanoi in a Mercedez-Benz to the Hotel Melia that had strongly been rumored to be his accommodation during his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, and an official friendly visit upon the invitation of

Feb 26, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Following in footsteps of his grandfather

Kim Jong-un's every move under spotlight

Opinion

New faces and the race at LKP

By Kim Ji-sooA race, or a fight will always draw a crowd, as the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) will surely feel as it prepares for its upcoming convention. Beleaguered from the March 2017 impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye for corruption, the party will hold a convention on Feb. 27 to pick a new leader.Because the Moon Jae-in administration is heading into its second half, the race for the LKP leadership is a barometer to gauge the contenders' feasibility for the 2022 presidential election. In the competition, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn is emerging strong. At 61, the former prosecutor/justice minister/prime minister has a solid record as a bureaucrat. As a prosecutor he built a steady portfolio in public security cases. Calm, poised, soft-spoken and a devout Christian, Hwang's demeanor suggests he may well be the gentlemanly elder that the conservative camp urgently needs.This is despite the fact that Hwang served as Park's last prime minister, and eventually as acting president for several months before Park's ouster from the presidential offi

Feb 6, 2019By Kim Ji-soo

Politics

Ryu Kwon-ha re-elected to head FNA

Ryu Kwon-ha, CEO of the Korea JoongAng Daily and FNA chairmanRyu Kwon-ha, CEO of the Korea JoongAng Daily, has been re-elected to head the Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea (FNA). Ryu will serve as the FNA's fourth chairman. The FNA, comprising The Korea Times, the Korea Herald, the Korea JoongAng Daily and the Aju Business Daily, was established in July 2015. The FNA works for joint research and cooperation in publishing foreign-language dailies in Korea.Ryu has been leading the Korea JoongAng Daily since 2013. He was formerly a writer for the JoongAng Ilbo, a Korean-language daily newspaper where he was the paper's German correspondent between 2003 and 2007. From 2007, he has served in various JoongAng Ilbo management positions including as chief secretary to chairman of the JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC.

Dec 27, 2018By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

Finding solace in film

By Kim Ji-sooBy now, more than 6 million Korean moviegoers have watched the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and soon if the current trend is any indication, more will do so. When “Bohemian Rhapsody” first opened on the last day of October, my estimate was that its popularity would last a month or so before giving way to Christmas films. I thought only a limited generation of Koreans would know of the British rock band Queen. Admittedly, the Xmas flicks have had yet to land in Korean theaters in earnest and that may well be one reason. But the film about Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury is still flying high in the country, continuing to cast its spell over the country. It's not only music fans in their 40s and 50s like myself who listened to the British rock band in the 1980s. When news of the film opening in Korea arrived, as a Queen fan I was determined to see it. The band's songs from “Somebody to Love,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Under Pressure” and “We are the Champions,” we

Dec 5, 2018By Kim Ji-soo

K-pop

SOYA looks confidently ahead with mini-album

Female solo SOYA / GH EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooSOYA, a female solo artist often called “Korea's Dua Lipa,” released a mini-album Wednesday.Since January this year, SOYA has been releasing songs through the “SOYA Color Project,” taking the letters 'S,' 'O,' 'Y' and 'A' and releasing the songs “Show,” “OASIS” and “Y-shirt.”This release wraps up that effort with a mini-album titled “Artist,” referencing the last letter in her name. The mini-album in fact carries the previous singles, the new track “Artist” and “Alone.” One noticeable artistic collaborator on her album is e.one, whose real name is Cheong Ho-hyeon, a music writer who worked with Wanna One, EXO, TWICE and G-FRIEND. SOYA is signed with GH Entertainment.“I put in twice the effort in the mini-album as it was also the wrap-up of my year-long project, and I focused on the performance and working with the dance team Alien,” SOYA said in a showcase event held Wednesday at Spigen Hall in southern Seoul.“Artist”

Oct 19, 2018By Kim Ji-soo

SOYA looks confidently ahead with mini-album

Global Community

Foreign Line

Korea Legacy GalaThe nonprofit Korea Legacy Committee (KLC) is celebrating its third anniversary with a gala at the Four Seasons this Friday from 7 p.m. until midnight. The 3rd Anniversary Korea Legacy Gala is said to be one of Korea's premiere charity events led by young professionals to empower the next generation of Korean leaders. The KLC, created in 2015, is a team of social entrepreneurs who work hard to create awareness of issues regarding the elderly population and is dedicated to supporting them through volunteer events and fundraisers. Their mission is to engage, educate and inspire a new generation of Koreans on the issues that face the country's elderly.All proceeds from this special black tie event will go towards the Seoul Senior Welfare Center, Seoul's largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting impoverished elderly.The gala promises delicious cocktails, special musical guests and a night full of fun and dancing. Tickets for the event range from 40,000 won for students, 80,000 won for distinguished guests and 150,000 for VIPs. The ticket price includes an open bar, light

Oct 16, 2018By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

Stars born through sweat and grit

By Kim Ji-sooThe world rages over top K-pop stars BTS, and in consideration of the band's hectic schedule and demand from overseas, people are constantly on the lookout for newly rising stars with fresh sounds.One of these is the new girl band (G)I-DLE, poised to challenge existing stars with the song “HANN.” The song is unique for a K-pop song, starting out with a melody that evokes Indian pop with whistling. Listening to the song over and over like my sibling who first encountered it at an aerobics class, it's not hard to become addicted. The girl band has six members, and they only debuted in May this year. Its first extended-play album titled “I Am” and the song “Latata” did well on the charts. Then just three months later, the members put forth the single “Hann” (Alone), which was another hit. “Hann” is also playing in the halls of aerobic centers and gym classes and garnering more clicks with its official video.The sound of (G)I-DLE's music is refreshing in the landscape where pop dance numbers reign. Its members ― Miy

Oct 10, 2018By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Former President of Korea Times passes away

Moratorium put on hope

Vietnam, host country with shades from control to reform

Following in footsteps of his grandfather

New faces and the race at LKP

Ryu Kwon-ha re-elected to head FNA

Finding solace in film

SOYA looks confidently ahead with mini-album

Foreign Line

Stars born through sweat and grit

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