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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Shows & Dramas

Cheap package tours upset Chinese

Chinese tourists look around Gyeongbok Palace, Seoul, in this file photo. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Korea surpassed the 10 million markin 2012. / Korea TImesComplaints range from fraudulant agents to shopping ripoffs  By Park Jin-hai Korea is experiencing a boom in international tourism, recently achieving a milestone mark of 10 million tourist arrivals, mainly from China and neighboring Asian countries, driven by the attractions of the “hallyu” or Korean wave.But cheap inbound tour packages are threatening to tarnish Korea's image and potentially slow down the global “hallyu” trend.Keen to attract tourists, the government’s tourism agency has worked to advertize the charms of Korea, but less attention is being given to the quality of the tours.Examples of these are the “dirt-cheap” kpackage deals mainly targeting Chinese tourists, in which Korean tour agencies, due to fierce competition to attract tourists, cut deals with Chinese agencies at prices below breakeven costs.“I desired to experience Korea. But I

May 29, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Cheap package tours upset Chinese
Shows & Dramas

Akdong Musicians to join hands with YG

Akdong Musicians, a sibling duo who won the top prize at “K-Pop Star 2” audition in AprilThe Akdong Musicians, the young brother and sister duo who won “K-Pop Star 2,” will sign up for YG Entertainment.YG announced on Friday they are in the final stages of finalizing a contract with the duo’s parents and expect it to be signed within days.“We believed YG would be the best place to support our music. We’d like to make good songs in a better environment,” said Lee Chan-hyuk, 16, and Soo-hyun, 13.The Akdong Musicians became a sensation here when they sang their self-written songs on the televised music contest. Their songs “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” “You are Attractive,” and “Is it Ramen?” swept local music charts when they were released.“We will play the role of the frame of a picture. They will paint the picture, and we will not add any layers of paints on it,” said Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment.“We will retain their freshness and ingenuity.”As the top prize wi

May 24, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Akdong Musicians to join hands with YG
Shows & Dramas

Filipino wives have opportunity to visit home

By Park Jin-haiMulticultural households with Philippine migrant wives were given a rare chance to visit their families back home, Thursday.The “Homeland Visit Event,” jointly organized by the Korean Red Cross and the Korea Airports Corporation, gave round-trip tickets to 30 households with a total of 111 family members, allowing them a trip home they couldn’t afford because of economic woes they faced in Korea. The multicultural family members will stay in the Philippines from 10 to 15 days and each family also received 500,000 won in cash to use during their stay.“Due to the economic conditions, I couldn’t go to my country and stand beside my father’s death bed. I am so grateful now that I can go and visit my ailing mother for the first time in about 16 years,” said Margarito Gado, a 46-year-old housewife living in Busan who is a beneficiary of the program.The organizers have hosted the event every year since 2010 as a corporate social responsibility program.Under the program, multicultural migrant women and their families that couldn’

May 24, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Stars have diverse tastes for cars

Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon’s Maybach has a prestigious brand image.Sexy icon Lee Hyo-ri’s Nissan Cube caused a fad for box cars.JYJ Kim Jae-joong’s Lamborghini boasts of speed and power.By Park Jin-haiWhen actress Lee Ji-ah was reported to be involvedin a car accident last month, public attention instantly went to her car.After her short-lived popularity, Lee had barely been spotted in the public eye. Yet the actress was driving an Italian luxury Maserati Quattroporte sedan.Rumors circulated on the internet that it costs 30 million won ($27,000) just to replace her damaged bumper.As everything about celebrities draws public attention, cars are not an exception.Pop icon Lee Hyo-ri is believed to have driven the country’s love for box cars after been seen driving a white Nissan Cube before they were even on sale domestically.The model was dubbed the “Lee Hyo-ri Car,” inspiring a fad for box cars.When a picture of Kim Tae-hee meeting Rain surfaced on the Internet, netizens were quick to note the car she was driving.Although celebrities claim they drive

May 21, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Stars have diverse tastes for cars
Shows & Dramas

“Korea Festivals” to span six countries

By Park Jin-hai“Korea Festivals” are taking place in six ASEAN countries until Aug. 23.The Korea Foundation (KF) officially launched the event Thursday with programs to promote Korean culture in Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.The programs will comprise of classical Korean music, fusion music, contemporary dance, speech contests, lectures on Korean studies, and joint performances between Korean and local artists.  The festivals, in their second year following success in Brazil last year, will help boost the hallyu (Korean wave) boom in the Asian region, said an official of the foundation.“After the first festival, Korea’s “soft-power” index, that measures cultural influence, soared to 74.3 in 2012 from 60.7 in 2008,” he said.  The non-profit group has been at the forefront of “public diplomacy,” to heighten Korea’s image in other countries, by holding various events to enhance mutual understanding.    “From last year, we have been carrying out academic and c

May 20, 2013By Park Jin-hai
“Korea Festivals” to span six countries
Shows & Dramas

Stars' 3D images to be produced

Two entertainment agencies have joined hands with KT to produce holographic images of their stars.SM Entertainment and KT announced Monday that they signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect. Under the MOU, SM will develop content, while KT will provide theaters customized for holographic movies.SM has been showcasing virtual-reality concerts, using holographic technology, since last August.Another big-name agency YG, which has also joined the move will open a K-pop Park within the Everland amusement park in July.Before the official opening, 3D music videos of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman” will be showcased at an IT show to be held on May 21 at the COEX in Seoul.The company will also develop 3D content featuring 2NE1 and Big Bang by September.      

May 20, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Hollys opens 3rd franchise in China

Hollys Coffee announced Sunday it has opened its third franchise in Shenzhen, China.Following the previous ones in Beijing and Shenzhen, the Korean coffee chain opened another franchise in the commercial district of Haiyan, Shenzhen.“Haiyan franchise is our strategic point to launch the massive marketing in China,” said an official of the coffee chain.Two more shops will soon be opening in Shenzen within July, while five more will be launched in other locations in China by August.“Starting from Haiyan franchise, we plan to open as many as 100 franchises by 2014,” said Shin Sang-chul, CEO of Hollys Coffee, unveiling his ambitious marketing blueprint for China.Hollys Coffee has opened two shops in Peru and three in the Philippines. It is planning to open in 15 more nations.

May 19, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Nescafe to hold events celebrating 75th anniversary

A sales woman holds up promotional items to mark the 75th anniversary of Nescafe in Seoul. Korea Times fileNescafe is holding nationwide events to mark its 75th anniversary.The coffee brand will offer “1938 special edition” coffees throughout nine retail stores of E-mart and Hanaro Club Mart to 750 customers through May 22.The special edition coffee will be packaged in replicas of the original coffee cans developed and sold in 1938.People with a purchase of over 20,000 won at the stores can scan the event QR code and participate in the instant lottery to win the limited edition coffees along with mugs.Through its official Facebook page, people can also own the limited edition coffees, by posting their comments on the ongoing “7.5 day global coffee road” event, where five teams who won the event in March will launch a global tour from May 28. The 75 successful winners will be announced on June 20.  Nestle’s coffee brand Nescafe has become a global name since its launch in 1938, selling 5,500 cans per second.        

May 19, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Nescafe to hold events celebrating 75th anniversary
Shows & Dramas

Migrant women need more jobs

Participants pose at a workshop on multiculturalism, hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Center at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on Thursday. Second from left in the first row and onwards are Lee Chul-hwi, CEO of Seoul Shinmun; Lee Bok-sil, vice minister of gender equality and family; Chung Hae-moon, secretary general of ASEAN-Korea Center; Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Trong Toan; and Jasmine Lee, a lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party./ Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea CenterBy Park Jin-haiRenowned scholars and immigrant representatives say that if Korea is to become a multicultural society in earnest, jobs are needed for migrant women.Participants at a forum also urged Korea to take further measures – both legally and in terms of policies - to promote public understanding of conditions faced by migrant housewives and therefore reduce possible discrimination against multiracial families.The ASEAN-Korea Center hosted a workshop titled "Multiculturalism in Korea and ASEAN's Contribution" on Thursday, at Lotte Hotel in Sogongdong, Seoul."Most Vietnamese brides get married to Korean men to help th

May 16, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Korea, Saudi Arabia to boost cultural exchanges

Yoo Jin-ryong, right, minister of culture, sports and tourism, and Prince Sultan bin Salman, secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), pose after signing an agreement at Yoo’s Office in Waryong-dong, Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Culture MinistryBy Park Jin-haiKorea and Saudi Arabia have agreed to push for a program to boost tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations.Yoo Jin-ryong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Prince Sultan bin Salman, Secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), signed the agreement during a ceremony at Yoo’s Office in Waryong-dong, central Seoul, Monday.Under the program the two nations will exchange and train craftsmen in their respective countries as well as staging handicraft exhibitions.They also agreed to partner in promoting medical tourism exchanges.In a press conference held after signing the agreement, Sultan bin Salman, said, “When I was told of the program to take Saudi national handicrafts to the next level, Korea was the natural choice.

May 14, 2013By Park Jin-hai
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