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Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.

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South Korea

Actor caught for methamphetamine use

By Kwon Mee-yoo Actor Kim Sung-min, 36, was arrested Saturday for possessing and habitually using the banned drug methamphetamine. According to the prosecution, he admitted to purchasing the drug overseas and smuggling it into the country, during the questioning. The prosecution requested an arrest warrant for Kim Friday and the court issued one the following day. “We are investigating Kim further to determine what was the exact process of purchase and whether he had accomplices,” a prosecutor said. He has been appearing on KBS Happy Sunday’s “Qualifications of a Man,” a variety show, and presented a fun, positive image. However, the discovery of his drug use has ruined the trust he had built up with the viewing public. He apologized through Twitter Saturday evening. “I am sorry to all those people who are disappointed in me and hurt by me, my family and everyone I love,” he wrote on his micro-blog. He will also be taken off “Qualifications of a Man.” The producer of the variety program said it is expected for him to be removed from the show as he was arrested

Dec 5, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

HS Mayor Oh ups ante in fight against free meal program

By Kwon Mee-yoo Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon made it clear Friday that he will mobilize all of his authority to overturn the campaign by the Seoul Metropolitan Council to provide free lunches at primary and secondary schools. His remarks came after the council, dominated by members from the opposition Democratic Party, passed the free school meal ordinance Wednesday. Mayor Oh said he will not cooperate with the council, refusing to attend any of its sessions. “I will reject any populist polices in the name of welfare. I will use all of my power to block the Democratic Party’s political attacks and the tyranny of the council,” he said at a press conference. The city government claimed the ordinance unlawful and Oh took a day off Thursday and did not attend the council’s questioning session. The mayor said the DP earned “temporary support” from citizens by putting up welfare populism at the June 2 local election. “The free school meal program the DP pledged is a typical example of a vote-catching policy,” Oh said. He said the free school lunches are just the beginning

Dec 3, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
Travel & Food

Royal tombs: lung of Gangnam

The following is the fourth in a series of articles featuring tourist sites in Gangnam, southern Seoul, where both domestic and foreign tourists can experience an alluring blend of modern and traditional attractions. ㅡ ED. By Kwon Mee-yoo Take a step back in time by visiting the quiet royal tombs of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) surrounded by skyscrapers in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. Many people pass by Seolleung Station on subway line 2, but do not consider much about the origin of the name, which came from a royal burial ground. Seonjeongneung, consists of three tombs including Seolleung, and is only a five-minute walk away from exit 8 of the eponymous subway station located in a busy commercial district of the capital. Seolleung, the westernmost tomb, is the burial mound of King Seongjong (1457–1494), the ninth king of the Joseon period. The one on the right side of Seolleung is the tomb of Seongjong's second wife, Queen Jeonghyeon. The queen was a sincere believer in Buddhism and established Bongeun Temple near the tombs. Set aside on the eas

Dec 2, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

HS Mayor Oh collides with council over free meals

By Kwon Mee-yoo The conflict between Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) and the city council is growing fiercer after the latter passed an ordinance allowing free school meals for all elementary and middle schools after a bitter struggle, Wednesday. The city government said it would exercise its veto on the municipal ordinance and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon went on leave Thursday, refusing to attend the council’s questioning of the administration. The council has been dominated by the main opposition Democratic Party since the June 2 local election. SMG spokesman Lee Jong-hyun said the council was pushing the unlawful free school meal ordinance and so the government would cease further administrative cooperation as it was proceeding with its schedule unilaterally. The spokesman said the council is continuously forcing ordinances against the law and has created a vicious cycle of requesting reconsideration of issues and ultimately taking cases to the Supreme Court. “The ordinance shifting financial and administrative burden to the city government is obviously illegal s

Dec 2, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

Rep. Ahn under fire for mistaking thermos for shell

By Kwon Mee-yoo Rep. Ahn Sang-soo, chairman of the Governing Grand National Party (GNP) is under fire for mistaking a thermos flask for a shell during his visit to Yeonpyeong Island after it was attacked by North Korean artillery on Nov. 24. Ahn found two burnt cylinders and told the reporters that they were artillery shells. Lawmaker Hwang Jin-ha of the GNP, a former lieutenant general, added that the smaller cylinder-shaped metal was a 76.2mm field gun shell and the larger one was a shell from 122mm multiple rocket launchers. However, the camera zoomed in on the metal cylinder Ahn said was a shell, revealing a trademark logo indicating it was a thermos. The video clip was aired Tuesday through YTN, drawing derision from the public. His words spurred parodies from netizens. A tweeter nicknamed “noizemasta” posted a photo of thermos bottles displayed at a store and said, “I am at the shell corner at a retailer.” Others blamed Ahn for being exempted from mandatory military service. “It was a real joke. How could he mistake such a basic thing?” a netizen nicknam

Dec 1, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

Livestock markets shuttered for foot-and-mouth

By Kwon Mee-yoo All 84 livestock markets across the nation were closed Wednesday for an indefinite period due to a foot-and-month disease outbreak in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries originally planned to close down 82 cattle markets on the mainland to prevent spread of the disease, but two markets on Jeju Island joined the shutdown voluntarily. Cases of foot-and-mouth disease were discovered in two pig farms and a cattle farm in Andong, Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Another farm in Yeongyang, some 30 kilometers away from Andong, was suspected of harboring the disease, but tests proved negative. According to health officials, the owner of the farm visited Vietnam last month and there are migrant workers from Southeast Asia working there. In the past this has been an infection route for the highly contagious disease, however, the exact infection source has not been confirmed yet. A total of 120 cattle and 12,100 pigs have been slaughtered because of the outbreak as of Wednesday. Some 30,000 more livesto

Dec 1, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
Others

Take greater risks to expand clout

By Kwon Mee-yoo Isabel Aguilera, former president of General Electric Spain and former CEO of Google Spain and Portugal, said women need to take more risks and control of their own life to be influential people in her keynote speech. Having worked in the IT industry for a long time, Aguilera said technology is the key for women to be treated equally. "We need to foster specially selected capabilities to be eligible, we need to rely on technology, we need to focus on special companies, brands, sectors and geographies to leverage our efforts, being conscious of today's and tomorrow's world trends in all aspects," she said. Aguilera said managing is about making decisions and women can be included in such a process by raising their value at an extraordinary level. "When we look for others' inclusiveness, we will get our own one as collateral positive effect and a high return on our investment, a more fair and sustainable world, and at the same time, a more competitive one," she said. In Korea, women are expanding their role in the judiciary and many other professional

Nov 30, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

District offices moving to preserve hanok

Mapo-gu plans to create residential park of traditional Korean homes By Kwon Mee-yoo Modern Seoul is symbolized by the endless rows of skyscrapers and apartment complexes. However, there are people who are trying to preserve the beauty of “hanok,” or traditional Korean houses in the city. Mapo-gu and some other district offices are joining the move to preserve hanok, with the former planning to create a residential park of traditional Korean homes by 2013. “We will transfer the remaining hanok in the redevelopment area in Yonggang-dong,” a district official said. “The residential park will have traditional houses and a playground, aiming to be a new cultural spot.” The area is the location of one of the oldest villages dating back to the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and houses still standing have significant historical value. “The private residence of Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895), wife of King Gojong in the Joseon Kingdom, and her family’s vacation home are among the historical buildings in the area,” the official said. “Though some outhouses have been destroyed, the

Nov 30, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
Others

Break glass ceiling with achievement

By Kwon Mee-yoo Global female leaders, who gathered for an international conference in Seoul, said women need passion, hard work and achievements not words to smash the “glass ceiling.” Lee Bae-yong, chairwoman of the Presidential Council on National Branding and former president of Ewha Womans University, opened the session of the Global Women’s Leadership Conference titled "Women Leaders in Asia: Break Glass Ceiling and Leading Change” on Monday "There are female presidents, prime ministers, CEOs and university presidents across the world now. Women have become distinguished in various fields including politics, business, education and culture," Lee said. "The growth of women's role in society is explosive and there is only one thing left ― smashing the glass ceiling." Lee said breaking the glass ceiling is important because it would make women's issues included in the final decision making process. “Women leaders are relay runners who have to convey the passion to the country, devotion to the world and hope for the women of the next generation,” Lee said. Five

Nov 29, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea

Citizens support naval drills

Many express concern over another provocation from North By Kwon Mee-yoo South Korea and the United States started a large-scale naval drill in the West Sea Sunday morning despite strong protests from North Korea and China, but a majority of citizens seem to be agreeing with the need for the drill. An online movie portal site Maxmovie conducted a poll of some 6,700 people Thursday and 82 percent of the participants agreed with the exercise highlighted by the presence of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Lee Young-yoon, 48, a small business owner in Seoul, said South Korea and the U.S. should proceed as planned. “We have been attacked by North Korea but did nothing. I think we need the drill to prove that we are ready to fight back if the North strikes with another military provocation,” Lee said. He said the South should have bombarded the North’s military base in the West Sea that is responsible for the latest attack. “As we are showing restraint, the North is looking down on us. We should sternly

Nov 28, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo
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