The Korea Times

K-beauty goods excel in price, quality

Actor Jang Keun-suk’s face adorns Nature Republic’s store in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul. Thousands of foreigners visit the shop for K-beauty products. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-sooBy Kim Ji-sooNature Republic’s Snail-Solution Set, composed of ampule, cream and eye-cream, is a steady-seller for the cosmetic firm./ Courtesy of Nature RepublicEtude’s Dear Darling Lip Tint is popular among foreign customersCourtesy of EtudeAs the sweet smile of Korean heartthrob Jang Keun-suk graces the shop’s walls, foreign visitors begin their shopping at 10 a.m. at the Nature Republic’s shop near exit 6 of Myeong-dong subway station in downtown Seoul.Visitors, mainly from Asia and familiar with Korean products from their exposure to K-pop and Korean dramas, grab the affordable Korean cosmetics.“Currently, the Prime Cream is doing very well, with foreign visitors,“ said Jang Sang-ho, deputy manager of the store. The Prime Cream, priced at 120,000 won ($106), is unique with its seven black-colored plant ingredients including b

Jun 11, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Impostors not always bad to celebs

Fake doubles walking fine line between impostor, impersonator Na Hun-ah, top, is a popular Korean singer whom Na Woon-ha, below, respects and impersonates to the extent that the latter has released several albums with the similar-sounding name.Park Sang-min’s impostor, left, and the real singer enter the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office for questioning in this June 26, 2007 file photo. The impostor later changed his name to Park Sung-min and works as aPark Sang-min impersonator. / Korea TimesBy Kim Ji-sooRecently, an impostor pretending to be Psy roamed free at the Cannes Film Festival, pretending he was the rapper/singer.He wore all Psy’s accoutrements - the sunglasses, hair and suit - that got him the red-carpet treatment for a few days.He also had stars including actress Naomi Harris, actor Adrien Brody and Portland Trailblazers player Nicolas Batum joining him for photos. Psy and his agency said they will not take legal action against the man, adding that the presence of an impostor was an invariable byproduct of Psy’s po

May 30, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Travel & Food

Modern Italian at Sky Lounge

The newly-renovated interior of the Sky Lounge, on the 30th floor of the InterContinental Seoul COEX, has a blue-color as its theme, which pairs well with the flood of neon and soft-lights stemming from the surrounding high-rises in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. / Courtesy of InterContinental Seoul COEX  Italian chef Federico Rossi at the Sky Lounge at the InterContinental Seoul, COEXBy Kim Ji-sooThe InterContinental Hotels in Seoul have undergone major renovations recently. The entrance to the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is currently behind a large, temporary wall with renovations set to finish next February. The InterContinental Seoul COEX, which faces the Bongeun Temple, completed its rooms and is at work freshening up its restaurants.As part of it, the Sky Lounge on the 30th floor has been transformed to feature modern Italian cuisine. The new interior is decorated from floor to ceiling in shades of blue, with stainless-steel plates presented on bamboo-smoke color mats combining to create a new, modern urban feel. The Sky Lounge offers a panorami

May 30, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Foreign brides keep coming in search of better life

Five Korean men and their brides from Vietnam and the Philippines pose after holding a traditional Korean wedding ceremony at the Seocho Cultural Arts Center in Yangjae-dong, southern Seoul, on May 22.  / YonhapMoney is often hidden cause for breakup of interracial couples By Kim  Ji-sooBeginning in the early 1990s, middle-aged Korean bachelors in the countryside found it difficult to find Korean brides as young women left for the city in search of a better life.As a result, arranged interracial marriages became popular as local governments, fearing depopulated rural areas, helped finance marriage brokers seek foreign brides for farmers and others and offered additional support for couples if they met certain requirements.Korea, like many Asian countries, has long had a tradition of arranged marriages and marriage brokers have been accepted as part of the process. Interracial marriages were also not that unusual since Korean men and women working abroad have often found foreign mates. Kim Mose, 60, chairman of Sky Multiculturalism Corp., witnes

May 29, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Foreign brides keep coming in search of better life

Shows & Dramas

Summer to sees sizzling comebacks

K-pop girl group Rainbow is expected to release the second part to its album titled “Rainbow Syndrome” in June, earlier than originally planned as several other groups and singers are making their comebacks in June and July. / YonhapRainbow, 2NE1’s CL, BEAST and other K-pop singers set to return for summerBy Kim Ji-sooIf last year was the one for the rookies with the debut of about 30 newcomer K-pop boy and girl groups, familiar faces and veteran K-pop singers such as 2PM and 4minute have returned so far this year.And as the summer starts in earnest just ahead of June, more female solo singers, K-pop girl and boy groups are joining the domestic rush. Girls in droves Leading the female singers and groups is sexy diva Lee Hyo-ri, 34, who released her 5th album “MONOCHROME” on May 21. Singles such as “Miss Korea” and “Bad Girl” from the album are high on the domestic music charts.Suh In-young, 29, formerly of the girl group Jewelry, is expected to grace more music stages since her solo release on May 15

May 24, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Celebrities born with silver spoons

Singer Eun Ji-won, left, applauds along with President Park Geun-hye, his aunt, during a street campaign last December. / Korea Times fileChildren of elite families become entertainers amid fading Confucian values Choi Si-won of K-pop group Super JuniorActor Yun Tae-youngMiss Korea-turned-actress Lee Honey Top entertainers are currently being treated as “national heroes.” President Park Geun-hye recently touted Psy’s rise in the global arena as a model case to explain her economic growth policies centered on creativity.Yet it was only two or so decades ago when regardless of their popularity they were treated like “clowns” and called “ttan-tta-ra,” a Korean term poking fun at entertainers.Such a sentiment stemmed from the now faltering Confucianism which perceived jobs entertaining people as indecent. The philosophy imported from China killed the dream of many children who wished to grow up as musicians, dancers or actors. There are some entertainers who pursued their dream despite family opposition, but most of them kept their

May 19, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Travel & Food

Celebrate being a child, a parent

Magician Lee Eun-gyul will perform on Children’s Day at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul.By Kim Ji-sooIn Korea, May is the month of the family. Children’s Day falls on May 5 and Parent’s Day on May 8.If you happen to be in the capital, hotels in the area have prepared some ways to mark these dates.Kids relish in the multi-colored balls at Orangerie at the Millennium Hilton Seoul.The Millennium Seoul Hilton will host a Children’s Day buffet on May 5 at the Grand Ballroom. Featuring children’s favorite dishes and face painting and a balloon show, the buffet is priced at 70,000 won for adults and 45,000 won for children. Il Ponte, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, will host a free “bake-your-pizza” party during lunchtime for children aged 12 and under. Each child must be accompanied by an adult diner. For more information, call (02) 317-3075.Sheraton Seoul D Cube City in Guro-gu, Seoul, offers a “Pororo Adventure Package” a one-night stay for family guests through Dec. 19. The hotel is taking advantage of

Apr 25, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Teen Top having best time of life

From left, Ricky, C.A.P, Chunji, Niel, L.Joe and Changjo pose in this promotional photo for their first official album “No. 1.” / Courtesy of T.O.P EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooTeen Top members are having the time of their lives.Their latest song, “Miss Right,” with its catchy, addictive hook and easy melody, is leaping on domestic charts. The song’s equally catchy choreography has given new bounce to their signature “knife-like” group dance.The latest shower of attention prompted by the success of the group’s full-length album “No.1” has C.A.P, 20, Chunji, 19, L. Joe, 19, Niel, 18, Ricky, 18 and Changjo, 17, relishing their time on stage.“It’s great to be singing on stage,” said C.A.P, the group’s leader.“These days, I am always happy,” said Niel.“The process and preparations involved in a new performance are hard, but the moment we’re on stage, it’s thrilling,” said Chunji, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.The six males who debuted in 2010 under the T.O.P

Apr 23, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Super Junior, KOTRA donate clothing in Brazil

Members of the popular K-pop group Super Junior hold up the T-shirt they gave away at the Korea Fashion Plus, a fashion show held in Sao Paolo, Saturday, to mark the 50th anniversary of Korean immigration to Brazil.                                                                                                                                  / YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooK-pop group Super Junior is currently touring four South American countries and in partnership with the Korea-Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has donated clothes to the underprivileged in Brazil.The state-run trade promotion body on Saturday held a seminar and a fashion show to mark the 50th anniversary of Korean immigration to Brazil, held in Sao Paolo, Saturday. The donation was part

Apr 21, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Super Junior, KOTRA donate clothing in Brazil

Others

Sample temple food during gala week

A poster for the 4th annual Fine Dining Gala WeekSince they were established as accommodations during the 2002 World Cup Games jointly hosted by Korea and Japan, temple stay programs have grown steadily in popularity.Both Koreans and foreigners stay at temples throughout the nation to seek inner peace, healing and experience simple Korean temple cuisine.The Hotel Lotte will showcase such temple food at a gala dinner to be held on the last day of the 4th Fine Dining Gala Week, scheduled for May 1-7.Monk Seonjae, a master of Korean temple food, will oversee the preparation of the food and explain the concepts behind the cuisine to guests. The gala dinner on the last day of the festival week will feature the epitome of temple food.Consisting of healthy dishes including mugwort and bean porridge, sweet potato jelly, grilled fatsia shoot and pumpkin leaf, shepherd’s purse dumplings, and shiitake mushroom noodles, the gala dinner will feature nine savory dishes and a dessert.The seasonal food will feature rare ingredients of the season. Special beverages will also accompany each cour

Apr 18, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

K-beauty goods excel in price, quality

Impostors not always bad to celebs

Modern Italian at Sky Lounge

Foreign brides keep coming in search of better life

Summer to sees sizzling comebacks

Celebrities born with silver spoons

Celebrate being a child, a parent

Teen Top having best time of life

Super Junior, KOTRA donate clothing in Brazil

Sample temple food during gala week

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