The Korea Times

Lotte Chilsung tops Korea brand power ranking

Lotte Chilsung’s Del Monte Juice, which has consistently been evaluated as a top brand in the juice sector for the 15th consecutive year, received the “Golden Brand” title for the 15th consecutive year, Wednesday. It has topped the segment in the the Korea - Brand Power Indexes (K-BPI) since they were first published.Lotte Chilsung offers such varieties as “Del Monte Premium,” “Del Monte Original,” and “Squash Plus.”Previously six juices received “Safe food for children” quality certification in 2010 and will seek to expand this sub group of products.It plans to be the unrivaled number one, by beefing up “cold” categories, such as “Del Monte Cold” and “Del Monte Cold Vitamin Plus.”     

Apr 12, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Politics

Ethnic journalists, VANK team up to promote Dokdo

Members of the Overseas Korean Media Association and Voluntary Network for Korea (VANK) pose in a conference room in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, with university students who were appointed honorary ambassadors Tuesday.                                                                                     / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiOverseas Korean journalists will join with a local non-governmental organization to promote Dokdo and issues related to the East Sea.The Overseas Korean Media Association and the Voluntary Network for Korea (VANK) signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday to this effect. The agreement was reached in Siheung, Seongnam City.As the first joint initiative under the MOU, the association will help VANK’s on-going project, “In Search of a Korean Dream,” by disseminating some 10,000 Arirang World Maps and cards to overseas Korean

Apr 10, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Ethnic journalists, VANK team up to promote Dokdo

Shows & Dramas

Local movie to be released in 20 North American cities

“Fists of Legend” was released Tuesday here and will also be distributed in certain North American cities from April 12 (local time).The cities include Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, New Jersey, Toronto and Vancouver among others.Although other movies such as “Masquerade” and “The Berlin File” had previously been shown there, it is unprecedented for a movie to be distributed in the same week as its release in Korea.    Director Kang Woo-suk’s action movie depicts a heart-warming story of three friends who were famous in the past but face the wall of reality as they grow older.This is not the first time his movies have been shown on the North American market. “How to Top My Wife” (1995) received rave reviews from local critics, while “Two Cops” (1994) and “Public Enemy Returns” (2008) were well received by movie-goers there.   

Apr 10, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Local movie to be released in 20 North American cities

Shows & Dramas

Hallyu Line

Lee Kwang-soo to promote BCM Lee Kwang-sooLee Kwang-soo, a star of the SBS variety show “Running Man” and actress Lee Chung-ah have been designated honorary ambassadors for the Busan Contents Market (BCM) 2013, slated for May 9-11. The organizing committee said Tuesday the two were selected because of their popularity with hallyu (Korean wave) fans in other parts of Asia, such as China, Japan and Thailand. Busan City has hosted the BCM since 2007. Over the last six years, it has grown into Asia’s largest venue to trade visual content.  So far, 394 companies from 49 countries have registered for this year’s event. B.A.P sells 10,000 tickets for US tour K-pop group B.A.P sold out tickets for next month’s U.S. leg of its world tour in just an hour, its agency TS Entertainment said.The six-member boy band will start their American tour May 7 in Los Angeles, then perform in San Francisco May 10, Washington May 14 and New York on May 17. Each venue is scheduled to host about 2,500 concertgoers. The four-city stint is part of

Apr 9, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Politics

Research arms join hands for Dokdo

Kim Hak-joon, left, president of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, poses with Kim Young-won, director-general of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, after signing a memorandum of understanding in the foundation’s office in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of NAHFThe Northeast Asian History Foundation (NAHF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, a sub-unit of the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) at the foundation building Friday.Under the MOU, the two research arms will cooperate by sharing relative documents and information on on-going research projects, formulating countermeasures and carrying out joint research on Korea’s cultural heritage items overseas.“Since we have a system to mobilize our respective expertise in the field into one, as well as joint countermeasures against Japan’s further provocation, we expect considerable synergic effects in the future,” said Kim Hak-joon, president of NAHF.NAHF conducts studies on Korea’s history ranging from the ancient t

Apr 7, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Pocari Sweat picks new face for ad

Up-and-coming actress Park Se-young has become the next pinup girl for Pocari Sweat, a sport drink from Donga Otsuka.The 24-year-old, who gained popularity by appearing in several hit TV dramas including “Love Rain,” will feature in the beverage’s new commercial that is set to air from April 6. The concept of the new clip has yet to be revealed.Many big names in the showbiz industry have made their debut or earned public awareness through Pocari Sweat commercials, including veteran actresses Kim Hye-soo, Son Ye-jin and Moon Chae-won.  Donga normally features a baby-faced woman in its commercials to highlight the beverage’s pure and premium image.Park appeared in the dramas “Love Rain” and “Equator Man” last year. Recently she co-starred in “School 2013.” 

Apr 3, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Lee Joon-gi's blog most visited in Japan

Actor Lee Joon-gi’s blog has become the most-visited on Japan’s largest blogging and social network site “Ameba,” his agency said Wednesday.His blog, titled “Jgtogether” topped the community’s hallyu (Korean wave) chart.It was inundated with fans who rushed to register membership and post congratulatory remarks.“Many fans requested through SNS services for me to open my blog in Japan,” the actor said in the blog.“I owe fans much for their unswerving support and now I am happy to have a channel to meet them.” The 30-year-old rose to stardom through the hit film, “The King and the Clown” (2005), and enjoys high level of popularity in Japan.Lee filmed a joint Korean-Japanese movie titled “Virgin Snow” in 2007 and his drama “Iljimae” was aired on a Japanese TV channel.   He recently finished serving his mandatory military service. JG Style documented his comeback on Mnet Japan, and was awarded the Grand Prize in the Korean wave category at the Skapa Awards 2012 in Jap

Apr 3, 2013By Park Jin-hai

People & Events

Jay Park to come back with new song 'Joah'

Jay Park, the former leader of boy band 2PM, released his music video teaser on YouTube, Friday for his new song “Joah.”“Joah” is the title song of the singer’s album under the same name to be released on April 10. The song is yet another sweet love song, following the previous songs “Count on Me (2010)”and “Girlfriend (2011),”according to his agency SidusHQ. Park’s album will come out nearly a year since his last album “New Breed,” and will include four to five songs. The American-born b-boy and dancer shot to fame between 2008 and 2009, as a member of boy band 2PM, but went solo in the aftermath of allegedly unfavorable remarks he made on Korea in 2009 on his social network account.The 27-second video clip, filmed in Seattle, starred Korean actress Clara.

Apr 1, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Psy's Seoul Plaza concert sets record

Singer and rapper Psy gives a free performance at the Seoul Plaza on Oct. 4, 2012.                                                                                                            / Korea TimesBy Park Jin-haiSinger and hallyu sensation Psy’s free concert at the Seoul Plaza last year has set yet another world record.The Korea Record Institute approved the concert in October 2012 as the largest “single mob dance” performed to the tune of “Gangnam Style.”An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people at the site joined Psy in his signature horse-riding dance.The institute viewed video clips and press releases prior to making the record official.“His concert let the world know of the passionate Korean culture as well as promoting national status,” said an institute official.T

Apr 1, 2013By Park Jin-hai

People & Events

Eugine launches her own beauty brand

 EugineEugine, a member of now-disbanded girl band S.E.S., launched her cosmetic brand, “drww,” Thursday. The 32-year-old unveiled an eye makeup kit, “Fit & Fix,” and a “Mix & Match” lip and cheek kit, at a beauty talk in Jangchung-dong, Seoul. “As a person who spent years in show business as well as being a beauty mentor, I wanted to create my own products that meet the needs of customers in terms of both design and function,” Eugine said. Eugine has been involved in the products from development to design. She is the host of the popular cable fashion program “Get It Beauty” and recently published her third beauty book offering tips to make do-it-yourself cosmetics.  She is also currently starring in the TV drama “100 Years of Inheritance” opposite actor Lee Jung-jin. Eugine’s makeup kits are scheduled to be sold through home shopping channels in mid-April.    Some 30 celebrities including her husband, actor Ki Tae-young, were present at the launch event. &nb

Mar 29, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Lotte Chilsung tops Korea brand power ranking

Ethnic journalists, VANK team up to promote Dokdo

Local movie to be released in 20 North American cities

Hallyu Line

Research arms join hands for Dokdo

Pocari Sweat picks new face for ad

Lee Joon-gi's blog most visited in Japan

Jay Park to come back with new song 'Joah'

Psy's Seoul Plaza concert sets record

Eugine launches her own beauty brand

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