The Korea Times

Full moon & St. Valentine's Day falls on same day

Two fall on same day for first time in 19 yearsBy Yoon Ja-youngFor those visiting or newly adjusting to life in Korea, questions may arise why there are walnuts and peanuts galore at shopping stalls about now.Feb. 14 is St. Valentine’s Day. It is also “Jeongwol Daeboreum,” or the first full moon day in the lunar calendar. For the first time in 19 years, the two events fall on the same day.With “jeongwol” meaning first month of the year and “daeboreum” meaning big full moon, the day was celebrated significantly in Korean society with interesting traditions.In the morning of the full moon day, one would eat “bureom,” which refers to the nuts people eat on the day. They would crack nuts with their teeth. They would also eat “ogokbab,” or rice with five grains, and “namul,” or sauteed and seasoned vegetables. These food traditions are supposed to make up for the nutrients that one lacked during the winter.“On Jeongwol Daeboreum, we eat namul, ogokbab and bureom. In the agricultural society, you start labo

Feb 12, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Full moon & St. Valentine's Day falls on same day

Travel & Food

JW Marriott Dongdaemun opens

One can enjoy a view of Dongdaemun, Treasure No.1, from “The Lounge” in the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. / Courtesy of JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square SeoulSimon Cooper, president and managing director of the Asia Pacific for Marriott InternationalBy Kim Ji-sooStanding squarely next to Dongdaemun is JW Marriott’s second hotel in Seoul.The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul opened its 170-room building, complete with fine food and beverage outlets and conference space Tuesday.“The hotel boasts of a unique location,” said Simon Cooper, president and managing director of the Asia Pacific for Marriott International. “We are very proud to be the first luxury hotel in Dongdaemun,” he said, adding that the hotel is the 20th JW Marriott property in Asia and the 150th in the Asia-Pacific area.The hotel is also the first LEED gold certified hotel in Seoul. The certification is given by the U.S. Green Building Council, and stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.The JW Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s non-obstructive urban fa

Feb 6, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Travel & Food

Valentine's Day arrives

By Kim Ji-sooValentine’s Day is just around the corner, especially for those who need to recognize the dedication of their loved ones or those who need to express love.Hotels have are offering sweet chocolates and a host of package deals to celebrate the day.The Westin Chosun Seoul’s Vecchia e Nuovo has prepared a Valentine’s Day Special Hamper Set complete with a pink rose bouquet, gourmet chocolates and wines. Treat your loved one to a hamper, which start at 250,000 won. In addition, the shop will sell special chocolates such as American CHUAO Chocolatier “Bonbon Collection” for Valentine’s Day. Prices range from 55,000 to 61,000 won. The CHUAO Chocolatier is known to have pioneered “fusion chocolate” combining premium chocolates with unexpected ingredients such as popcorn, bacon, potato chips and oranges, offering a fun and creative chocolate experience. For more information, call (02) 317-0022, 0033.Select items you want to present to your loved one this Valentine’s Day at Vecchia e Nuovo at the Westin Chosun, downtown Se

Feb 6, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Female solo singers set to issue new releases

Singer Park Ji-yoonSinger SunmiBy Kim Ji-sooFollowing in the footstep of girl groups, well-known female solo artists will be releasing new works this month.Park Ji-yoon, 32, will release her new single, her agency said. It will be part of a continuing flow of singles that first started with “Mister Lee” in October. She will release more singles in spring and summer, which will then be made into an album. The signer twittered that she filmed a music video for the single during the Lunar New Year holidays.Ga In of Browned Eye Girls will today release her third mini-album titled “Truth or Dare.” She has received some collaborative help from fellow musicians including producer/singer Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment and K-pop queen, Lee Hyo-ri. Another female solo to watch for this month is Sunmi, a former Wonder Girls member who returned successfully as a solo last year with “24 Hours.” With that single, she presented new dance choreography that won good reviews.Although not confirmed, the industry is awash with rumors that mega-popular girl g

Feb 4, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Female solo singers set to issue new releases

Shows & Dramas

Foreign entertainers no longer rarity

Julian Kang, who is originally from Canada, has starred in various television and variety dramas and programs. He is currently starring in the cable television drama “Potato Star.”/ Courtesy of Show Brothers EntertainmentActors, comedians ... they are all overBy Kim Ji-soo Japanese actress Mina Fujii featured only briefly in the 2012 television drama “Emperor of Drama.” She had a very small role and her Korean was at a beginner’s level. But instantly, people began inquiring about her on the Internet. There was a demand for actresses such as Fujii in the Korean entertainment industry.Having acted since she was a teen, Fujii was not a stranger to the Korean entertainment sector. She appeared in music videos with TVXQ, when it was still a five-member K-pop group, and the actor/singer Jang Keun-suk, who is known as “Prince of Asia.” Serendipity was it? Maybe it was. The Japanese actress however was frank and straightforward in saying that she came to Korea after a search for her niche in the competitive acting industry.Japanese act

Feb 4, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

'Visit Korea Committee' welcoming Chinese tourists

An event center for foreign tourists is located near Doota fashion mall in Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Ji-sooVisit Korea Committee is holding a variety of promotional events with retailers and the nation’s flagship carriers for the estimated 80,000 Chinese tourists expected to visit Korea during the Lunar New Year holiday or “Seollal.”While the Lunar New Year’s Day falls on Jan. 31, Korea goes into public holiday mode starting Thursday.The committee will operate a “roving tourist service center” in collaboration with Shinsegae Department store in Myeong-dong, which will open from Feb. 1 through Feb. 5, and also with the Hyundai Department Store in Samseong-dong, from Feb. 6 through Feb. 9. The center will provide Chinese visitors with information as well as lottery events in conjunction with the two leading department stores.For those that visit the Korea Grand Sale event center in Dongdaemun, the committee will select 100 on a first-come, first service basis, offering fortune cookies and a chance to experience Korean w

Jan 29, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

'Visit Korea Committee' welcoming Chinese tourists

Shows & Dramas

Try traditional dish of 'tteokguk'

Shows the “joraengi  rice-cake soup” done by Han Yoon-ju, head of the restaurant Congdu. / Courtesy of CongduNew Year rice-cake soup brings good fortune, unityKoreans are always split over whether they should make more of the Western or Lunar New Year, but if the duration of the respective public holidays are any indication to go by the latter wins out. What Koreans never argue over is that a bowl of “tteokguk” is a must on New Year’s Day; as are turnip cakes and sweet rice cakes for the Chinese and ozoni or hot soup with mochi cake for the Japanese.“The long rice cake means desiring for innocence and grace throughout the year. Slicing them up into coin-size pieces is wishing for good fortune in money,” said Han Bok-ryo, head of the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine, who is Important Intangible Cultural Property 38. She added that eating rice-cake soup simultaneously in the New Year is to express unity of the people.The institute offered its recipes for the staple foods of Korean “Seollal.” These are sourced fr

Jan 29, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Winner of 'X Factor' performs on Australia Day

Dami Im, 25, is the first Asian-Australian to win a music audition program when she triumphed in the “X Factor Australia 2013” last October. She performed in Sydney, Sunday, on Australia’s National Day. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Ji-sooThe South Korea-born winner of an audition program in Australia last year is seeing her popularity continue to grow.Dami Im, the winner of “X Factor Australia 2013,”performed on Australia’s National Day, Sunday, at Blues Point, Sydney, along with Jessica Mauboy, the dance group Justice Crew and another audition star and runner-up Taylor Henderson.Im’s win last year in the audition program was a surprise as she was eliminated during the boot camp  for forgetting the lyrics of a song.  But she came back when another contestant dropped out. Her rendition of “Alive” the song that she sang to grab the win topped the online iTunes chart in Australia. Her album featuring a collection of her best songs from the television audition show ranked third on the ARIA chart as of the end of 2013.I

Jan 26, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Winner of 'X Factor' performs on Australia Day

Shows & Dramas

Oakwood Premier Coex offers Lunar New Year package

This is an image of the studio deluxe at Oakwood Premier Coex in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. The serviced residence has prepared a special Lunar New Year’s holidays package for those looking to relax in Seoul./ Courtesy of Oakwood Premier Coex CenterWith the Lunar New Year just around the corner, various hotels and residences have prepared special package offers for guests. This year, the Lunar New Year will fall on Jan. 31.The Oakwood Premier Coex Center will offer a stay-warm winter package for those planning a relaxing Lunar New Year holiday.The package will be available starting Jan. 24 and continue through Feb. 2.The special offer includes a one-night stay at the fully furnished and serviced residence in southern Seoul. Guests will also receive two Megabox movie tickets and two passes to the COEX Aquarium. Both the movie theater and the Aquarium, a popular spot for Seoulites, are connected to the hotel arcade.The package starts at the price of 165,000 won for a one-night stay in a studio deluxe room. For a one-night stay in a one-bed deluxe room, the special i

Jan 23, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Oakwood Premier Coex offers Lunar New Year package

Shows & Dramas

Lotte Hotel's classic yet trendy wedding

Lotte Hotel Seoul’s Athene Garden, which is a popular venue for weddingTop celebrity stylist Jung Yun-ki’s influences are visible onsuch top stars as actor Jang Dong-gun as well as the actor’swife Ko So-young. Now he works with Lotte Hotel Seoul to create dream weddings for brides and grooms./ Courtesy of Lotte Hotel SeoulBy Kim Ji-sooIt’s still chilly but the daylight hours are beginning to lengthen, heralding that winter might soon make way for spring.Spring is a popular season when many young couples make wedding plans.For those seeking venues that are both classic and contemporary, the Lotte Hotel Seoul Wedding has taken on a new style for 2014 with stylist Jung Yun-ki.Jung is a famous celebrity fashion stylist who has worked with top Korean celebrities including actors Kim Hee-ae, Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Ji-won in styling and fashion. He recently made a cameo appearance on Jun’s drama “Man from the Stars.”Close friends with actors Ko So-young and Jang Dong-gun, he coordinated their 2010 wedding. He also planned th

Jan 23, 2014By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Full moon & St. Valentine's Day falls on same day

JW Marriott Dongdaemun opens

Valentine's Day arrives

Female solo singers set to issue new releases

Foreign entertainers no longer rarity

'Visit Korea Committee' welcoming Chinese tourists

Try traditional dish of 'tteokguk'

Winner of 'X Factor' performs on Australia Day

Oakwood Premier Coex offers Lunar New Year package

Lotte Hotel's classic yet trendy wedding

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