The Korea Times

’PyeongChang Olympics will upgrade country’

By Kim Ji-soo, Yoon Chul He read over his presentation dozens of times, working on his pronunciation and eye-contact. He also found out for the first time in his life that he wasn’t getting his “v”s and “b”s quite right. But practice made perfect for Park Yong-sung, 71, president of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), and he even cracked a joke about Prince Albert II of Monaco having to spend his honeymoon at PyeongChang’s July 6 presentation in South Africa. “When you practice that much, you just come to memorize it, and you become comfortable speaking in a dialogue-style rather than in the manner of a speech,” Park said in an interview at the KOC building in southern Seoul. And when PyeongChang was announced as the host city for the 2018 Winter Games, he knew that Korea had made it onto the global stage once again. “We did it,” said Park, smiling broadly. “The bid committee all worked so hard as a team, and everyone practiced so much.” The PyeongChang Games will definitely be a chance to upgrade the country, just as the 1988 Olympics did, Park said, adding that t

Jul 21, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Kim Jin-sun - true hero of PyeongChang’s success

By Kim Ji-soo, Yi Whan-woo There is a Korean saying that 10 years will change mountains and rivers. Perhaps that’s what unfolded, along with the trials and errors of Korea’s Winter Games’ bids, in Kim Jin-sun’s mind on July 6 in Durban, South Africa. “I cried for some time. People said to me don’t cry. I remember so many thoughts going through my mind. So many people who made sacrifices,” said Kim, special ambassador of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid Committee and a three-time Gangwon Province governor who was with the bid from the outset. He closed his eyes for a minute, as if the feelings were still raw in an interview Wednesday. Kim was pictured crying, his face in his hands, when PyeongChang was announced the winner. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the innumerable people who worked to make this happen. I learned that deep sincerity will move heaven,” the 64-year-old said. “I would also like to thank the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the IOC members for giving overwhelming support for PyeongChang.” The idea to host th

Jul 17, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

Ex-gov. offers tips for local gov’t in hosting int’l events

Books

For those between 30 and 40 ...

By Kim Ji-soo The first thing that catches one’s eye about this book is the title, “Between 30 and 40, How One Should Work.” Amid a plethora of books targeting a larger audience of let’s say those in their 20s, 30s or 40s, this one focuses on that specific age range. It’s a range where your average salaried worker may well face a conundrum about their job or career. It’s also a stage in the usual career path where the worker is in a middle-management position, having to supervise yet be supervised. More importantly, it’s a period in life when angst about a middle-life crisis creeps in, and naturally prompts one to revisit and readjust life’s goals. The author Kim Joon-hee, chief executive officer of Neungyule Education Inc., addresses these concerns. Kim has worked in several other education/publishing companies, serving as chief of Woongjin Think Big Co. (2002-2008). A successful corporate CEO, he also has a background of engaging in student movements when at college. He draws from his life experiences and his long career in publishing, touching on specific situatio

Jul 15, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Lee urges N. Korea to reform, open up

By Kim Ji-soo President Lee Friday urged North Korea to to join the world “through reform and openness and to come forward onto the path of prosperity. Speaking on the eve of the 61st anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953), the President also thanked those who gave their lives for the country more than six decades ago. “I bow to pay my deepest respect to those who have given their lives and minds for the country,” Lee said during a reception the government hosted at the War Memorial of Korea. The President also thanked foreign veterans. “ I express my deepest respect for the invaluable sacrifice of having given your youth for an unfamiliar country,” he said. Lee also said that the country will not forget the prisoners of war who have yet to return to the South after being captured. South Korea estimates that about 500 South Korean prisoners of war are still alive in the North while the Stalinist state claims that there are no POWs and that all former South Korean soldiers voluntarily defected. Yoo Yeong-bok, a former prisoner of war who fled

Jun 24, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

9 N. Koreans defect to South aboard boat

By Kang Hyun-kyung, Chung Min-uck Nine North Koreans aboard a small boat defected to the South last Saturday after crossing the maritime border in the West Sea, a government official said Wednesday. A joint team, consisting of the National Intelligence Service, National Police Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Security Command, is now questioning them. The nine arrived at Udo, a deserted island next to Yeonpyeong Island, aboard the small-size vessel around 6:05 a.m. Saturday. They declared their intention to defect when the South Korean military spotted them approaching the maritime border in the West Sea. A government official said the North Koreans were comprised of three men, two women and four children. A military officer who initially spotted them was quoted as saying that “the North Koreans were waving their hands in a peaceful manner.” It’s been more than four months since the last defections when four out of 31 North Koreans who drifted into the South’s water on Feb. 5 expressed their desire to stay here. The remaining 27 were sent back to

Jun 15, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Expect fiery Sohn-Park competition?

By Kim Ji-soo Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, who returned to the National Assembly with a win at the April 27 by-elections, will serve on the Strategy and Finance Committee. That brings him in a straight competitive mode with Rep. Park Geun-hye, former party chairwoman and his main rival in the presidential bid. Park serves on the committee as well. “It’s important that that we address the social divide that worsens because of high prices, high housing fees and household debts through a virtuous cycle of welfare and economy,”Sohn said Friday in a meeting with party officials, expanding on why he chose to work in the Strategy and Finance Committee.

May 27, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Speeches to mark 2nd anniv. of Rohs death

By Kim Ji-soo Opposition leaders to mark the second anniversary of the death of Roh Moo-hyun are expected to gather in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province today. Roh jumped to his death from a cliff near his home on May 23, 2009, under pressure from an investigation into alleged bribery involving his family, aides and himself. Like his predecessor, the late former President Kim Dae-jung, he continued with the policy of engaging North Korea. The gathering comes as the opposition camp looks to form an alliance ahead of the country’s crucial elections next year. The nation goes to the polls to elect new members of the National Assembly in April, and a new President in December. The pursuit of an alliance is in the works, in particular after unified opposition candidates succeeded over the candidates of the ruling Grand National Party in the April 27 by-elections. The pro-Roh affiliates gathered over the weekend in various venues in the nation. Prominent pro-Roh affiliates ― Ahn Hee-jung, governor of South Chungcheong Province, Kim Doo-gwan, governor of Sout

May 22, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

GNP floor leader, Park discuss reform, future

By Kim Ji-soo Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, met with Rep. Park Geun-hye, former GNP chairwoman Thursday, in a closed session as the party struggles with ideas on reform and its future ahead of crucial elections next year. In the meeting, Park opposed the party’s plan to revise party regulations to allow a possible presidential candidate to run for party leadership and vice versa, Yonhap News Agency reported. Hwang reportedly asked Park’s cooperation on the party’s ongoing reform efforts and her help in next year’s general elections. Hwang is one of the two interim leaders as the GNP heads to a national convention on July 4 to pick a new chairperson to take them the into 2012 campaign year. GNP members are fiercely debating how to elect the new leadership and other reform measures. Conversely, Hwang has been saying that he hopes the environment develops into one that allows Park to work to her full capacity and that he intends to ask what she wants and how he can help bring that about. The Hwang-Park meeting is significant in that p

May 19, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Small changes to redefine GNP

By Kim Ji-soo, Kim Se-jeong The small revolt in the ruling Grand National Party that manifested with the election of neutral Rep. Hwang Woo-yea as floor leader may turn into a larger force. Shocked by its defeat at the April 27 by-elections, GNP lawmakers elected Hwang, a four-term lawmaker belonging neither to the pro-President Lee Myung-bak and pro-Park Geun-hye factions. In the run-off, Hwang beat out An Kyung-ryul, who had been pushed by pro-Lee legislators. The small revolt is expected to grow into full-fledged contest for party leadership as the GNP will soon hold a party convention in June or July. Hwang’s election has already changed the numerical dynamics among factions in the party. He ran on the slogan that GNP lawmakers will be free from factional politics, as he called for a party revamp. His slogan won a response from some 40 younger, reform-minded legislators, about 50 the pro-Park Geun-hye legislators and eventually some of the 100 pro-Lee legislators. The GNP holds 172 seats in the National Assembly. More pro-Lee legislators are expected to further

May 8, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

GNP convention to open in June or July

By Kim Ji-soo Taking its election defeat seriously, the ruling Grand National Party decided Friday it will hold a party convention in June or July, to pick new leaders. The convention will come one year earlier than planned. The GNP managed to obtain only one of the three lawmaker slots in the April 27 by-elections, with Kim Tae-ho winning in the Gimhae B district. The party will hold an emergency meeting to include selecting a successor to floor leader Kim Moo-sung on May 6. A closed-door meeting held Thursday reportedly saw ruling lawmakers demanding a party overhaul. The leadership has offered its resignation, and the party will form an emergency panel to pick a new lineup. And as the party searches for new leadership, various options including from the Young Turks are being tossed around. Young GNP Turks include such figures as Kim Tae-ho, 48, and Rep. Na Kyung-won, a former party Supreme Council member. Yet there are growing calls to bring back Rep. Park Geun-hye, former party chairwoman and a strong presidential bidder, as a heavyweight to woo voters ahead

Apr 29, 2011By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

’PyeongChang Olympics will upgrade country’

Kim Jin-sun - true hero of PyeongChang’s success

For those between 30 and 40 ...

Lee urges N. Korea to reform, open up

9 N. Koreans defect to South aboard boat

Expect fiery Sohn-Park competition?

Speeches to mark 2nd anniv. of Rohs death

GNP floor leader, Park discuss reform, future

Small changes to redefine GNP

GNP convention to open in June or July

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