The Korea Times

K-water's hydropower project secures funding

K-water CEO Lee Hak-soo, fifth from left, poses with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, fourth from left, and other dignitaries during the opening ceremony of Tina Hydropower Limited in Solomon Islands, June 5. / Courtesy of K-waterBy Kang Seung-wooThe Korea Water Resources Corp.'s (K-water) infrastructure development project in the Solomon Islands is set to hit the road in earnest after securing a $200 million (233 billion won) financing agreement from six investors.Tina Hydropower Limited (THL), a company formed by K-water and Hyundai Engineering, will build a 15-megawatt hydropower plant as part of the Tina River Hydropower Project on the Tina River, some 20 kilometers southeast of Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara, at a total cost of $211 million over the next five years. The construction is expected to begin next year. According to the state-run utilities company, Tuesday, the project, aimed at delivering cheaper power to Honiara, won the financial package comprised of loans and grants, Dec. 12, after meeting more than 100 preconditions from the six institutions i

Dec 17, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

K-water's hydropower project secures funding

Travel & Food

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooWestin Chosun presents winter package The Westin Chosun Seoul showcases its special winter packages for guests who are planning a warm and entertaining stay under the theme of “Hygge” ― a concept that originated in Denmark and means creating a cozy and convivial atmosphere.The promotion features the “Chosun Special Kit” that includes the property's signature coffee bean Vivente No. 8, a specially designed coffee mug and a limited edition miniature figurine. Other various benefits are also offered based on room type. Guests staying in executive rooms can enjoy two cups of aromatic tea or two cocktails at the Lounge & Bar, while those staying in suite rooms can choose either an afternoon tea set or two cocktails with truffle fries.The promotion is available until March 1, 2020.Grand Hyatt Seoul to launch package for romantic Christmas The Grand Hyatt Seoul will come up with its “Go Festive” package for couples who want to enjoy a memorable Christmas and year end. The promotion, which will be available from Dec. 20 to 30, features

Dec 17, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Law & Crime

Calls grow to arrest ex-President Chun

By Kang Seung-wooFormer President Chun Doo-hwan once again did not attend a hearing of his libel suit, Monday, despite intensifying public calls for putting him on trial.Chun Doo-hwanHowever, this time, the former dictator's excuses of poor health are losing steam, following a series of episodes indicating that he is still in shape enough to deal with court proceedings.Hence, the public, especially citizens from Gwangju where his bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters took place in 1980 and his libel suit is now being tried, is urging the judiciary authorities to forcibly bring him to the courtroom or even arrest him.The latest and ninth hearing of Chun's defamation trial linked to his role in the 1980 Gwangju Uprising took place at the Gwangju District Court, Monday. But as his close aide announced last week, the 88-year-old did not show up, citing poor health, including Alzheimer's disease that would prevent him from making a normal and meaningful testimony. Only two former ranking Army officers who were dispatched to Gwangju attended it on his behalf.Chun, who ruled the coun

Dec 16, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Law & Crime

Incheon citizens show compassion for shoplifting family

By Kang Seung-wooA “Christmas miracle” already seems to be happening to a father and son caught shoplifting, as the local community, taking pity on the family for its dire circumstances, has stepped in to help.On Tuesday, a father, 34, and a son, 12, were caught stealing two cartons of milk, six apples and some drinks in an Incheon-based store. The emotional father said he was trying to feed his hungry family, which included his aged mother and seven-year-old son.According to police, the family receives basic living subsidies from the government and the father, a cab driver, has been unable to work for six months due to diabetes and a thyroid condition.The store owner forgave the family and pleaded for them to receive light punishment, to which police agreed, classifying the crime as minor and releasing the offenders with a warning. Then a police officer took the father and son to a restaurant and bought them a meal. A customer, who heard about the family's circumstances, visited the restaurant and gave the man an envelope containing 200,000 won ($170).The heartwarming re

Dec 15, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Incheon citizens show compassion for shoplifting family

Society

'Seoul becoming darling of city diplomacy'

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 27. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukDeveloping cities courting Seoul to share 'special' experiences By Kang Seung-wooKorea's modern history could be described as “turbulent.” Starting with the colonial occupation, the nation was divided and almost totally destroyed by war. It also experienced rapid economic development and decades of dictatorships as well. However, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon believes that what he calls the “experience of troubles” is a selling point as he pursues “city diplomacy,” under which the capital shares its best practices and systems in public transportation, water supply, e-government and smart city planning with developing cities and even countries.“Seoul is a very special city. Different from Western cities, Seoul rose up from the ashes,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Times conducted in English, Nov. 27.The third-term mayor said while the central government has traditionally dominated diplomacy, now ther

Dec 11, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

'Seoul becoming darling of city diplomacy'

Society

INTERVIEW Seoul ready to listen to foreign residents

The Seoul Metropolitan Government seeks to attract more foreign tourists, taking advantage of the popularity of K-pop. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooSeoul is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan, with the number of foreign residents and visitors rising, so the city government is working hard to improve the quality of life for them.“I can clearly say Seoul is becoming more global. More than 420,000 foreigners live in Seoul and the number is increasing,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 27. The interview was conducted in English and is available on The Korea Times' YouTube channel.“In that respect, I believe we should be ready to embrace foreign residents and that is why we have introduced a system of self-governance through the foreign residents representative assembly meeting, or town hall meeting. In this mechanism, they can bring up issues related to their lives in Seoul and reach the Seoul Metropolitan Government directly.”To help foreign residents, the city government has run the Seoul Global Center

Dec 11, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

[INTERVIEW] Seoul ready to listen to foreign residents

'Seoul becoming darling of city diplomacy'

Travel & Food

Overseas travel spending turning cold

By Kang Seung-wooKorean consumers' spending on traveling abroad hit a three-year low this year, dented by the economic recession and the “Boycott Japan” movement, according to a recent study, Thursday. However, sentiment toward spending on domestic travel also shrank without benefiting from the decline in overseas travel.Consumer Insight, a local tourism industry research lab, released its annual “weekly travel behavior and planning study” after interviewing 22,500 people about any likely changes in both domestic and overseas travel spending in the next year. “Travel spending intention” is a response rate for those who said they would increase their travel spending. According to its report, the intention to spend on overseas travel from January to October this year was 39.2 percent on average, down 3.1 percentage points from 42.3 percent in 2018. The rate for overseas travel soared in 2017 to 43.2 percent when there were two long public holidays and it dropped to 42.3 percent the following year. As for the intended spending for domestic travel, it

Dec 5, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Society

Education ministry to toughen regulations on language course students

By Kang Seung-wooThe Ministry of Education said Thursday that it will ensure that foreign students coming to Korea to take language courses do not overstay their visas after graduation as part of the government's efforts to tackle the growing number of illegal immigrants.The measure is part of the ministry's International Education Quality Assurance System (IEQAS) that will be operated for three years from 2020. The IEQAS is aimed at strengthening controls at domestic universities over their enrollment of foreign students by suggesting ideal standards for recruitment and management. Schools receiving IEQAS qualification will receive various benefits in recruiting foreign students. Unlike its rules for undergraduate foreign students, the ministry has been under fire for being lax about people coming here to take Korean language classes.The number of international students attending language courses in Korea has increased from 16,639 in 2012 to 44,746 in 2018.To deal with this criticism, the ministry will evaluate each school's student management plans and infrastructure for language c

Dec 5, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Education ministry to toughen regulations on language course students

Travel & Food

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooKensington hotels offer 'romantic' packageThe Kensington Hotel Yeouido and Pyeonchang have launched their Romantic Winter Package just in time for the Christmas season.The winter promotion from the property on Yeouido in Seoul, is available until Feb. 29 and allows guests to stay in an executive room, use its executive lounge and have a red wine with a premium platter comprised of desserts and finger food.The hotel in Pyeongchang will run the promotion until the end the year, offering only 30 rooms per day. Its package includes a breakfast buffet for two, a red wine and a necklace from local jeweler Lloyd's. Lotte Hotel launches UNICEF package Sixteen Lotte hotels across the nation have come up with a UNICEF package, the revenue of which will be donated to the “Schools for Asia” campaign ― the educational support program operated by UNICEF Korea.Since 2014, the nation's largest hotel operator has supported quality education for children in Asian countries as part of its corporate social responsibility programs. All guests purchasing the UNICEF-related pac

Dec 5, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Travel & Food

S. Korean chef takes legal action against Michelin over 'pay-for-star' collusion

By Kang Seung-wooA Korean chef, who refused to pay money to a “monetary consultant” allegedly working for Michelin Korea, has filed a complaint with the prosecution alleging fraud and attempted extortion amid growing questions over the authenticity of the local Michelin branch's selection of Korean restaurants for its ratings guide.In addition, Yun Kyoung-suk, the owner of Korean restaurant Yunga-Myunga, is also filing a libel complaint against the organization for its denunciation of her claims.“When I planned to open a restaurant in 2014, Michelin contacted me and told me to open a restaurant meeting its regulations that it said would ensure Michelin stars,” Yun told The Korea Times.“Regardless of any financial loss and mental pain, I have stepped up to stop Michelin from taking advantage of its fabricated authority through selling books in Korea.”Yun made headlines with the claim that Michelin Korea had demanded bribes in exchange for a star rating. According to Yun, Ernest Singer, a U.S. national known locally as the “Michelin broker,&rdq

Dec 3, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Kang Seung-woo

Read more

K-water's hydropower project secures funding

Hotel Lobby

Calls grow to arrest ex-President Chun

Incheon citizens show compassion for shoplifting family

'Seoul becoming darling of city diplomacy'

INTERVIEW Seoul ready to listen to foreign residents

Overseas travel spending turning cold

Education ministry to toughen regulations on language course students

Hotel Lobby

S. Korean chef takes legal action against Michelin over 'pay-for-star' collusion

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