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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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Companies

McLaren unveils 570S sports car

McLaren's Asia Pacific Director David McIntyre, left, poses with McLaren Seoul CEO Pablo Lee at the company's showroom in southern Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of McLarenBy Park Jin-haiBritish high performance carmaker McLaren unveiled its 570S sports car here Thursday, prior to it going on sale in April.The gull-wing, two-door sports coupe, had its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in March, and has been predicted to triple the company’s sales by 2020.With 30 percent of its previous engine parts redesigned, it can deliver 570 horsepower and take just 3.2 seconds to accelerate to 100 kilometer per hour from standstill. It takes 9.5 seconds to speed up to 200 kilometer per hour.It is focused on the daily drive. The car’s suspension has been redesigned, while door pockets, and a console and glove boxes have been added, said the company. “McLaren 570S’ debut is a black swan moment. Like people found that the black swan broke their perception of swans, the 570S is a sports car with never before seen specifications and design,” s

Sep 17, 2015By Park Jin-hai
McLaren unveils 570S sports car
Companies

GS Engineering bags $306 mil. deal in Kuwait

GS Engineering & Construction CEO Lim Byung-yong, left, and Hashem Sayed Hashem, Kuiwait Oil Company (KOC) CEO, shake hands after signing a contract for construction of the New Water Center, at the KOC’s headquarters in Kuwait City, Tuesday. / Courtesy of GS E&CBy Park Jin-haiGS Engineering & Construction, the construction arm of GS Group, said Wednesday that it has secured a $306 million deal to build a water treatment plant in Kuwait.The company said it won the bid for the state-run Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) new water center project. GS Engineering will build water treatment facilities and pipelines in the North Oil Field, 90 kilometers north of Kuwait City.The turnkey project will take three years to complete.GS Engineering has been carrying out multiple projects in the Middle Eastern country, including two previous projects with the KOC.It said that with the third project, the partnership with the KOC has been strengthened further, potentially paving the way for other deals in the future.“GS Engineering has ample experience in Kuwait. Based on the a

Sep 16, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai ends dispute with subcontractor

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor’s dispute with its subcontractors came to an end as the company agreed with its labor union Monday to hire all in-house subcontractors as permanent employees.Under the tentative agreement, the company will expand the number of subcontractors turning into regular workers to 6,000, from the previously agreed upon 4, 000, by 2017.In return, the subcontractors’ union will drop all the civil court cases that they have filed related to their job status.Under the labor law, businesses that hire subcontracted workers for more than two years should give them full-time worker status.Since 2010, when the nation's top court ruled in favor of one in-house subcontract worker at the company, other similar court cases followed, creating a constant source of management-labor conflict.More than 1,200 other subcontract workers also filed a class action suit against the company in September 2010, with some taking a 296-day protest on top of a high-rise steel tower calling for their non-permanent status to be changed to that of regular employees.“Following t

Sep 15, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Kia Motors launches the new Sportage SUV

Models pose next to Kia Motors new Sportage compact SUV, during a launch event at the W Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Kia MotorsBy Park Jin-haiKia Motors launched the new Sportage compact SUV, Tuesday.The nation’s second-largest automaker is pinning high hopes on the urban compact SUV, and the recently rolled out K5 sedan, to lead sales at home and abroad.The fully changed fourth-generation compact SUV has been ambitiously developed under the project QL, with an investment of 390 billion won.The slogan “The SUV Sportage” is the carmaker’s effort to develop the ultimate SUV that will meet the needs of people with the best design and performance.  “The new Sportage is an innovative model that will help Kia leap into becoming the top automaker in the global SUV market. With the Sportage, we will let the world know that our cars can outpace German and Japanese cars once more,” said Park Han-woo, Kia Motors president, during a launch event at the W Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday.The Sportage has been one of Kia’s top-selling vehicles, selli

Sep 15, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Motor reveals recruitment guidelines

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor Group, the most sought-after workplace among fresh university graduates alongside Samsung Group, disclosed its recruitment criteria on its official website Monday.The criteria, directly delivered from its point man on recruitment, rate cover letters relevant to the jobs as the most important, followed by basic GPA requirements, English ability and academic background.This is the first time that Hyundai Motor has made such information public.The company said if an applicant is deemed to have motivation for a particular job, a low GPA score and poor academic background will be considered less important.Analysts say that this is part of the company’s efforts to come closer to job seekers in line with the government policy to hire more young people.Hyundai Motor Group is looking to hire some 4,000 people, while over 100,000 are expected to apply for the jobs.  In writing the cover letter, the sincerity of the person will be preferred to flawless writing skills.“Although it may sound less professional, applicants telling their stories sincerel

Sep 14, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

GS EPS opens Asia's largest biomass plant

GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo, center, and Hur Dong-soo, fifth from right, GS Caltex chairman, pose along with other company executives during a tape cutting ceremony for a newly completed GS EPS biomass power plant, in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. / Courtesy of GS GroupBy Park Jin-haiGS EPS, a utility affiliate of GS Group, announced Friday that it has completed Asia’s largest biomass power plant in South Chungcheong Province.The utility firm spent three years building the plant in Dangjin, some 110 kilometers south of Seoul, at a cost of 300 billion won ($254 million).Biomass plants consume agricultural byproducts for power generation and have emerged as next generation renewable power plants. “To become a top-tier global company, we need creative strategies, rather than imitation, which will enable us to innovate ahead of others. Developing new products and technologies is important, but equally important is converging new ideas and existing products to make wholly new ones,” said GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo, during a ceremony to mark t

Sep 11, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Mercedes opens Asia's first training center here

Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Dimitris Psillakis speaks during a media event to celebrate the opening of the new Mercedes-Benz Training Center, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. / Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz KoreaBy Park Jin-haiMercedes-Benz Korea opened its 25 billion won training center Friday, the company’s first in Asia.It is the largest training center among the imported carmakers operating in Korea, and Mercedes’ third independent training center after Germany and France, the German luxury carmaker said.“Today we have 37 service centers, three times more than 10 years ago,” said Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Dimitris Psillakis at the new training center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Friday.  “By 2020, we will double the number. This big growth and our commitment to customer service dictate the need for a continued and complex personnel development plan, which calls for flexibility and capabilities to cope with the growing demand.”The three-story training center, on 5,274 square meters of land, can train up to 12,000 people a year. Each floor has f

Sep 11, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Kappa sponsors ironman triathlon

Kappa Korea CEO Peter Min, left, poses with Ironman Korea organizing committee vice chairman Park Byung-hoon, after signing a sponsorship agreement at the company’s headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Kappa KoreaBy Park Jin-haiItalian sportswear maker Kappa Korea signed an agreement on Thursday with Ironman Korea to support triathlon competitions, aiming to jump into the popular world sport market here.   The two agreed to cooperate in developing the sport as well as making the local triathlon races world-class events.“Today is the first day Kappa has fully stepped into the triathlon market. We will save no effort to grow the triathlon market here,” said Kappa Korea CEO Peter Min.Ironman Korea will hold the Ironman 70.3 race in Songdo, Gyeonggi Province, between Sept.18-20, in which about 700 participants from 30 countries will compete. In October, the 5150 Youngjong race is scheduled as well.Under the sponsorship, Kappa will provide supplies for the two races.In the event, competitors must swim 3.8 kilometers, cycle 180.2 kilometers and run 42.

Sep 10, 2015By Park Jin-hai
People & Events

Ex-diplomat dreams of better world with culture

Chung Dal-hoBy Park Jin-haiLong-time diplomat Chung Dal-ho, 66, is having second life as a cultural ambassador.After nearly 40 years as a career diplomat, Chung now leads the World Culture Open (WCO), a multinational non-profit, non-governmental organization to promote the value of cultural diversity.He took up the position in February.“Today, culture holds more importance than ever,” he said. “Compared with 15 years ago, when we opened the Korean office, we are better placed to promote culture now that the national agenda includes cultural promotion.”Chung said the civic organization was campaigning for the “Culture Designer Movement” here.“We think of a platform where all people regardless of their nationality, age and sex could nurture creativity,” he said.“Each and every one becomes a culture designer and makes their life creative and we as an organization connect the dots to make the world better place.”The WCO focuses on three goals ― making sports events like the Olympics also cultural events, giving cultural awa

Sep 10, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Ex-diplomat dreams of better world with culture
Companies

Han Sung Motor refurbishes old Guro station

Han Sung Motor CEO Ulf Ausprung and Dream Gream students pose at a refurbished Guro subway station in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Han Sung MotorBy Park Jin-haiHan Sung Motor refurbishes old Guro stationMajor Mercedes-Benz dealer Han Sung Motor carried out a second city project on Thursday night, helping to refurbish Guro Station.In the annual volunteer event _ which the company holds as part of its corporate social responsibility program _ young “Dream Gream” students joined local artists and citizens to turn the old subway exit into a place of art.The old walls now feature colorful pictures reflecting the community, which has developed from old fabric factories into a digital cluster. The street has also been refurbished.Local artists also paired with former fabric factory workers to display their works. “Following last year, when we worked on Seoul Jungang Market, we hope this year’s event will bring positive changes in the local community,” said Han Sung Motor chief executive Ulf Ausprung, who attended the festival-like event on Thursday.Han Sung M

Sep 10, 2015By Park Jin-hai
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