The Korea Times

Paintings for Married Women

Kim Jin-hee; Munhakdongne Publishing: 272 pp., 13,800 wonThere is a perverse Korean saying that a married woman is no longer a woman. The author of this book hates that saying with passion.In her collection of illustrations and essays, Kim makes a warm and sophisticated tribute to devoted mothers and self-giving wives. She draws from her own experience as a working mom and the struggle to maintain a work-life balance in a society that provides little freedom for it. Kim has a gift for describing the meaning of little moments, such as the time during her post natal period when she developed a new passion for art after looking at postcards she bought for a friend when she visited the National Portrait Gallery in London. ―Baek Byung-yeul

May 10, 2013By Do Je-hae

Travel & Food

Blending comfort and style

Today’s professionals are always strapped for time. Walking or biking to work is a great way to save time and keep in shape, but this would only be possible with the right shoes.More healthy and fashion-conscious office workers are opting to wear a variety of atheletic footwear.A guide to how to pick work-appropriate sneakers so you don’t look like you’re going to the gym.Sneakers by U.S. fashion designer Stella McCartney Athletic shoes making mark in workplaceBy Do Je-haeRemember U.S. actress Melanie Griffith in the 1988 film "Working Girl," trotting along Wall Street in a formal suit with a pair of white sneakers?The look may have caused some to cringe. But years later in Korea, it is not uncommon to find office people completing their work look with atheletic footwear.As the corporate world readjusts itself toward a more creative, employee-friendly environment, formal suits have become a thing of the past within some company settings. This gives room for flexibility in choosing office footwear, part

May 2, 2013By Do Je-hae

Books

Disconnecting past and present

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, which opened in December, is under criticism for its glorification of Korea’s rapid industrialization process at the expense of underrepresenting its painful struggle for democratization.                                                                                / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki “Policies that Rewrite History,” essay collection; Historical CriticismBy Kim Tong-hyungIf Voltaire had the opportunity to observe the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, he might have questioned whether this half-baked institution was a real representation of Korea, its contemporary history, or even a museum.The museum in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, which replaced the old culture ministry building next to the American embassy, opened in December after four years of preparation and a 44.8 bil

Apr 26, 2013By Do Je-hae

K-pop

Seoul Music fest to kick off May 14

Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra and violist Yuri Bashmet, center, will perform at Seoul Arts Center on May 29.                                  / Courtesy of Seoul International Music Festival CommitteeBy Do Je-haeA number of classical music festivals in the last few years have been providing a world-class concert experience at an affordable price in Seoul, a city where concerts featuring renowned classical musicians or ensembles tend to be overpriced.The upcoming Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF) will feature celebrated violist Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists chamber orchestra. The SIMF will consist of seven concerts held between May 14 and 30.Founded in 2009, the SIMF has become one of the most important classical music festivals in the country, with the Great Mountains Music Festival & School in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province; the Daegu Opera Festival; and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music.Bashmet, a violist and conductor, will lead the Moscow Soloists chamber orche

Apr 21, 2013By Do Je-hae

Sports

Super Match weekend

Fans cheer during a Super Match between Suwon and FC Seoul in November 2012 at the Seoul World Cupt Stadium.                                                    / Yonhap Skating queen Yu-na and other fans to flock to game of Suwon vs. FC SeoulBy Do Je-haeSuwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul will reignite their longstanding rivalry Sunday in what local fans call the “Super Match.”Making up one of the most intense rivalries in the K-League Classic, the two metropolitan clubs’ matches attracted more than 44,900 spectators last year.The nation’s biggest football event this weekend will have fans flocking to the Suwon World Cup Stadium. Reigning Olympic and two-time world champion Kim Yu-na, the most celebrated figure skater Asia has produced, will launch the match with a ceremonial kick off.Suwon is the frontrunner at the moment, having won seven of their past eight matches. The latest match, held in November, ended i

Apr 12, 2013By Do Je-hae

Sports

Chong Te-se scores first goal for Suwon

By Do Je-haeSuwon Samsung Bluewings’ Chong Te-se finally scored his first goal Saturday after joining the local club during a fifth round match of the K League Classic against Daegu FC.He had been goalless since his move to Suwon in January in his previous showings in the K League Classic as well as the AFC Champions League, the premier Asian club football competition.One of the most sensational acquisitions of the offseason, the North Korean striker had been expected to bring more popularity to the K League Classic which kicked off March 2 for a nine-month run.Some impatient fans and press were ready to write him off, until he led his team’s 3-1 victory Saturday over Daegu FC with one goal and one assist during a home game at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.The debut goal was especially emotional for him, particularly after he missed two penalty kicks during a match against Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol last Wednesday in the third round of Group H at the AFC Champion League (Kashiwa Reysol beat Suwon 6-2). After the goal, he knelt down and burst into tears. Suwon Samsung

Apr 7, 2013By Do Je-hae

Sports

Can Yu-na lift sagging popularity of figure skating?

By Do Je-haeSkating phenomenon Kim Yu-na recently won the World Championships, but the 2010 Olympic champion didn't really need a second world title to prove her dominance in ladies' figure skating.Since the 22-year-old joined the senior level, the skating community has been united in its awe of her textbook technique, seamless artistry, and above all, an unmatched jumping consistency. Judging from her stellar pre-Olympic worlds performances in London, Ontario, she looks unbeatable heading into the Sochi Winter Games in 2014. Kim's overwhelming dominance in her sport has undoubtedly brought herself and her homeland plenty to cheer about, but is it good news for the sagging popularity of figure skating?Asian stars like Kim and two-time world champion Asada Mao have fueled interest in their respective countries. But in North America, the public has been losing interest in figure skating, particularly in the women's event. Even the comeback of reigning Olympic champion Kim after a two-year absence wasn't enough to fill the 7,000-seat ice rink at the Budweiser Gardens, the venue of the w

Mar 24, 2013By Do Je-hae

Can Yu-na lift sagging popularity of figure skating?

Sports

Baseball hero remains active at WBC

Former pitcher Park Chan-ho, right, helps national team member Kang Min-ho during a practice session at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, the venue of the WBC, last Thursday.                               / AP-YonhapBy Do Je-haeKorea's most famous baseball export Park Chan-ho may be retired but he seems to be constantly on the go, with TV appearances and public engagements like participating at the Feb. 25 presidential inauguration ceremony.Last week, he made his commentating debut at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Taichung, with the cable channel JTBC. He has served as commentator for two games so far; first, at Korea's disastrous loss to Netherlands 5-0 on Saturday in its first WBC game, and again on Monday as Korea beat Australia 6-0 Monday night in their Pool B matchup.Fans were relieved as the national team avoided elimination and kept its title hopes alive, while being delighted by Park's new role as commentator.Park showed up for Monday's game with a new hairdo. His thick bangs h

Mar 5, 2013By Do Je-hae

Sports

The rivalry returns

2010 Olympic champion Kim Yu-na has returned to competitive skating in pursuit of a second gold at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.Japan’s Asada Mao, two-time world champion and a silver medalist at the 2010 Olympic Games, has revived her triple axel in this pre-Olympic seasonto compete with Kim Yu-na’sunmatched consistency.By Do Je-haeThe local media has been hasty in dismissing Japanese star figure skater Asada Mao as a serious contender to 2010 Olympic champion Kim Yu-na’s quest for a second gold. But after a two-year post-Olympic slump, it seems Asada is back at the top of her game.She has been dominating this all-important pre-Olympic season, nailing her biggest weapon, the triple axel, at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships that ended Monday in Osaka, Japan. In her fifth win of the season, Asada scored a total of 205.45 points, the season’s best in the world, and just off her personal high of 205.50 from the Vancouver Winter Games, where the 2008 and 2010 world champion took silver.Now it looks as though the 22-year

Feb 13, 2013By Do Je-hae

Lifestyle

Daughters-in-law vs. mothers-in-law

The daughter-in-law, is portrayed by Kim Nam-joo, and the mother-in-law portrayed by Yun Yeo-jeong.                                                         /  Courtesy of KBSWives forced into ‘temporary slavery’ during holidaysThe 2012 KBS drama “My Husband Got a Family” dealt with the frustrating relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law.By Do Je-haeAround this time of year, daughters-in-law around the country start to panic as they travel to their mothers-in-law’s house to feed and serve their husbands' family members, even dead ones, through the ritual called "charae."Major holidays continue to be a cause of stress and anger for many housewives in Korea. For them, the Lunar New Year holidays entail an endless series of kitchen chores that husbands rarely help with."Holidays are when many housewives in Korea are made to feel like maids," said a 35-year-old mother of

Feb 8, 2013By Do Je-hae

Do Je-hae

Read more

Paintings for Married Women

Blending comfort and style

Disconnecting past and present

Seoul Music fest to kick off May 14

Super Match weekend

Chong Te-se scores first goal for Suwon

Can Yu-na lift sagging popularity of figure skating?

Baseball hero remains active at WBC

The rivalry returns

Daughters-in-law vs. mothers-in-law

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