The Korea Times

Three-member KARA to meet fans starting next month

From left, Park Gyu-ri, Han Seung-yeon and Goo Hara, the three members of KARA will meet Korean fans in Seoul on May 24 and Japanese fans at the Budokan, Tokyo on June 1.By Kim Ji-sooKARA fans will have to wait no longer, as the K-pop girl group will jumpstart this year’s official public events with a fan meeting by the three girls — Park Gyu-ri, Han Seung-yeon and Goo Hara.Two former members, Nicole and Kang Ji-young, left this year when their contract with the agency DSP expired. Nicole returned to the United States and Kang left for studies in England.The now three-girl group KARA will first meet their fans on May 24 at the Blue Square’s Samsung Card Hall in Seoul and on June 1 at Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. They are meetings with the group’s fan club Kamilia.Following the departure of the two former members, DSP said KARA would continue as a group either with the three members or the addition of new members.But with no word on new members yet, the fan meetings are KARA’s first major public event in five months. The group popular both in Korea and J

Apr 16, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Three-member KARA to meet fans starting next month

Korean Heritage

Autobiography of woman of Joseon literati family

“Gohaengrok,” the autobiography of Lady Yi of the Hansan Yi clan is written on an enormously long scroll, measuring 584.2 centimeters in length and 34 centimeters in width. / Courtesy of Academy of Korean StudiesThis is the eighth of a 20-part of Jangseogak series in collaboration with the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS). Jangseogak houses Joseon Kingdom’s documents. — ED.Kim Bong-jwaBy Kim Bong-jwa In the Confucius Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), life was not easy for women. They were confined to domestic life, with many restrictions placed upon them. Yet, within the household, they held a certain degree of authority. The wives of the literati families, and especially those of the eldest son, were not content with living a passive life merely as a wife or a mother.They took the reins managing the household, demonstrating great strength as a pillar of support for their family.Let me introduce one such woman with a strong sense of self-awareness and tenacity who, as a wife of a Joseon scholar-bureaucrat or “sadaebu,” managed to

Apr 15, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Autobiography of woman of Joseon literati family

Shows & Dramas

Lady Gaga, Psy share Seoul stage in August

Lady Gaga holds hands with David Letterman when they walk on 53rd Street when she appears on Late Show with David Letterman in New York City on April 2, 2014. / UPI-YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooPop star Lady Gaga will co-grace a Seoul stage with leading YG artists including Psy, Big Bang and 2NE1 in August.The concert organizer Live Nation and YG Entertainment said Tuesday that the concert will take place Aug. 15-16 at the Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium in southern Seoul. The pan-Asian life insurance group AIA will be the global sponsor for the concert titled Real Life: Now Festival 2014.”YG artists Psy, Big Bang, 2NE1 and the new group Winner will take to the stage on Aug. 15 and Lady Gaga on Aug. 16.More details for the concert will be disclosed in stages via www.facebook.com/nowfestivalkr.Ticket sales will open on April 21 via Yes24 and G-Market. There will be an “early-bird”shopping chance starting at 8 p.m. on April 17 with a 20 percent discount.A one-day pass is expected to be priced at 126,000 won, and the two-day pass at 185,000 won.The concert is expected to be a v

Apr 15, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Lady Gaga, Psy share Seoul stage in August

Shows & Dramas

Reality programs focus on singles

Members of the cast of “Share House” pose at a press conference at CJ E&M Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul, Monday. The program brings nine starstogether to share a common living space. / Yonhap‘Share House,’ ‘Roommate’ start this weekBy Kim Ji-soo One of the reasons that Korean “reality” programs are enjoying a heyday is that they reflect what’s in demand or what’s lacking in Korean society today.In graying Korea, the television audience is highly attuned to celebrities traveling with their children as in “Where Are We Going Dad?” and “Superman Returns.” The former, which has been successfully remade in China, won the top prize in the television entertainment program division at the Houston International Film Awards, Monday.A more affluent Korean society is also more into vicariously enjoying life through watching travel programs as seen with “Grandfathers Over Flowers,” where veteran Korean actors Lee Sun-jae, Shin Gu, ParkGeun-hyung and Baek Il-sup travel overseas with a

Apr 15, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Designing hangeul

Calligrapher Kang Byung-in teaches foreigners and Koreans how to write both traditional Korean writing and how to design it at CQ Forum’s 17th Session held in Jung-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Corea Image Communication InstituteCalligrapher promotes beauty of hangeulFew may readily identify Kang Byung-in, but his calligraphic writings have donned popular items such as soju labels and TV drama titles.Calligrapher Kang, 52, has written titles for popular dramas the “Woman Who Marries Thrice” (2014), “Faith” (2012) starring hallyu star Lee Min-ho, “The Innocent Man” (2012) starring actor Song Joong-ki, “The Great King Sejong” (2008) and “Mom is Enraged” (2008).He has designed the brand logo for soju Chamisul, the Korean liquor Hwayo and the writing on the veil that wrapped the Sungnyemun while it underwent reconstruction. He also has produced art works such as “Arirang” (2012).As a calligrapher, he paints hangeul with a design for faster and more sentimental communication.How he does t

Apr 9, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

K-snack to whet global appetite

Jeong Wol-seon, owner of a fried tteokbokgi shop in Tongin Market near Gyeongbok Palace, talks to her customers while frying up the most popular item in the shop. She has become more famous since U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ate at the shop on Feb. 13. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-sooBy Kim Ji-sooAt Jeong Wol-seon’s “tteokbokgi” store in Tongin Market, northern Seoul, she sells a slightly different version of “tteokbokgi” or the spicy rice cake snack.It’s a fried, spicy version without the soupy sauce. It’s also the one that John Kerry, U.S. secretary of state, picked up with a toothpick to taste while he was in Seoul in February.There is a picture of Kerry at her small store. It’s lunch time Monday, and customers continue to line up, eager to consume the 3,000-won dish.Jeong says that she packs slightly more for those who come far to taste the snack dish. The store only sells the rice-cake snack, “sundae” or blood sausage and “jeon” or pancakes.A woman fries the mung bean pancake at the Gwangjan

Apr 2, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Emerging stars captivate China

Actor Kim Soo-hyun of the drama “My Love From the Star” sings during a fan meeting on March 16 in Seoul. He will tour Asian countries through May to meet his overseas fans. / Korea Times fileRising actors aggressively knock on neighboring market The drama “The Heirs” ended in December, but actor Lee Min-ho’s popularity seemingly knows no bounds in Asia.Actor Park Hae-jin, who had a supporting role in “My Love From the Star,” was popular in China prior to the drama.Actor Kim Woo-bin, whose rebellious role in “The Heirs” put him on a new level of stardomwill meet fans in Shanghai on March 29.Actor Lee Jong-suk is receiving his portion of attention for his upcoming drama “Dr. Stranger”in China.By Kim Ji-sooIn the beginning, there were Bae Yong-joon, 41, Lee Byung-hun, 43, Jang Dong-gun, 42, and Song Seung-heon, 37, the so-called first generation of hallyu actors.Bae is known as Yon-sama in Japan for that milestone drama “Winter Sonata”(2002). Jang reigned in Vietnam, Song als

Mar 26, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Foreign publishers introducing Korean literature

Korean ancient novel, “TheCloud Dream of the Nine” inRussianHan Mu-suk’s “Encounter” in CzechBy Chung Ah-youngThanks to the efforts of foreign publishers and scholars, more Korean literary writings are available in various languages.Last year, the Literature Translation Institute (LTI) of Korea began recognizing their contributions to raising the awareness of Korean literature with the LTI Korea Distinguished Service Award. This year’s award ceremony will take place on June 20.Among numerous foreign publishers and scholars, the LTI has selected three winners from each language area — The Dalkey Archive Press (John O’Brien) for English, Adelaida F. Trotsevich for Russian and Argo (Milan Gelnar) for Czech.The winners have been selected by the LTI’s judges, including Choe Yun, a professor of French literature at Sogang University, and poet Shin Dal-ja.“It is encouraging that there are many candidates for the award because they have done meaningful service for the globalization of Korean literature,” Choe said.“

Mar 23, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Foreign publishers introducing Korean literature

Shows & Dramas

5.4 Club survey finds Korean food most hot

Choi Jung-wha, seventh from left, president of Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), and Didier Beltoise, ninth from left, CEO of Cs, pose with dignatories at the first anniversary of the founding of the 5.4 Club holding up calligraphy by Kang Byung-in at a ceremony held at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of CICIBy Kim Ji-sooForeign visitors to Korea have identified its cuisine as the most exciting experience of their stay, with more of them complaining about environmental factors such as pollution and noise, revealed a recent survey by the 5.4 Club.The results were announced at the first anniversary of the founding of the 5.4 Club held at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday.The 5.4 Club, a co-creation of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) and Cs, is aimed at helping to share the experience of Korean culture through the five senses by way of things to eat and drink, to see, to enjoy and relax and to talk about.It was founded by Choi Jung-wha, president of CICI and Didier Beltoise, CEO of the consulting firm Cs.At Friday’s ceremony, calligrapher KangByung-in s

Mar 23, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

5.4 Club survey finds Korean food most hot

Shows & Dramas

New manager wants Seoul to fall in love with JW Marriott, again

Matthew Cooper, new general manager of JW Marriott Seoul in Gangnam, poses with the Han River in the background. / Courtesy of JW Marriott SeoulBy Kim Ji-sooOpening any new hotel, even with the name Marriott behind you, is a challenge.Matthew Cooper, 42, the new general manager of the JW Marriott Seoul, has officially opened two in India.The Australian, who officially assumed his Seoul post on March 1, has already made new friends in South Korea, both Koreans and expats, in order to strengthen the hotel’s connection with the community.He’s also graced the pages of a few local magazines. He shed 30 kilograms in the past five months before coming to Seoul, which allows him to boldly walk onto such fashion shoots.“Seoul is a mix of cool and culture,” Cooper said in an interview with The Korea Times. “There is money; an undercurrent of culture; you get an art scene, K-pop and drama in Seoul. It’s like Bollywood, so culturally significant.”Cooper, who spent nine years in India, said his strength is in positioning hotels.Thus with his mission

Mar 20, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Three-member KARA to meet fans starting next month

Autobiography of woman of Joseon literati family

Lady Gaga, Psy share Seoul stage in August

Reality programs focus on singles

Designing hangeul

K-snack to whet global appetite

Emerging stars captivate China

Foreign publishers introducing Korean literature

5.4 Club survey finds Korean food most hot

New manager wants Seoul to fall in love with JW Marriott, again

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