The Korea Times

Middle class takes brunt of financial crisis

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter About one third of middle class families in Seoul suffered a drop in their income in the fallout of the 2008 global financial crisis, and more than half of them have been forced to reduce spending. The Seoul Development Institute (SDI), a non-profit research organization established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, surveyed 1,000 middle-class households in June 2009 and found that 31 percent of the respondents saw their income decline in the wake of the financial meltdown. The SDI defined a "middle class" household as one with a monthly income between 1.5 and 4.5 million won. "The latest financial crisis did not cause mass unemployment like the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, but it resulted in a worsening of the financial condition of the middle class," said Kim Kyung-hye of the SDI. Kim said the government's welfare program also needs to pay greater attention to the shrinking middle class. "We should change the paradigm of our welfare programs so that the lower-end of the middle class can be included and protected."

Jul 5, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

HS Lee Byung-hun, Wonder Girls, 2PM will promote Seoul

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Actor Lee Byung-hun and singers 2PM and the Wonder Girls filmed separate television commercials for a special overseas promotion of Seoul City targeting specific countries. Lee was selected for the Japanese version which started airing from Sunday. He presents the "Lively Touch" of Seoul by visiting Gwanghwamun, Cheonggye Stream, Myeong-dong and Seonyudo Park with Japanese tourists. He will be designated a global honorary ambassador of the capital city in August. A commercial aired in China from June 28 is themed "Romantic Touch" Seoul, featuring girl group Wonder Girls as guest stars in an amusement park and restaurant. This version aims to show off the stylish and romantic parts of Seoul. Popular idol group 2PM appeared in the "Fascinating Touch" Seoul version for Southeast Asian countries. In the commercial the six-member group plays with young visitors from the region and participates in cultural events held throughout Seoul. The advertisement for America titled "Timeless Touch" portrays Seoul's 600 year history and the state-of-the-

Jul 5, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Seoul Mayor accused of misappropriating funds

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is suspected of improperly handling his official expenses by providing a total of 67 million won ($55,000) to the employees of his secretarial office over the past two years. After being informed of an allegation from the Korean Government Employee Union (KGEU), the prosecution is currently looking to find if there is any validity in the accusation. Seoul city has denied the allegation, arguing that Oh spent his expenses in accordance with related regulations. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently summoned an official of the Seoul City secretarial office for questioning regarding the suspicion. The prosecutors have been investigating whether the secretary's office received money from Mayor Oh and if so, how the money was spent. In March, the KGEU filed complaints with the prosecution against 12 local government heads, including Oh, then Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo and Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik, charging them with having misappropriated official expenses. The union claimed that Oh paid some 67 mill

Jul 4, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Will Seoul Plaza be open to public again?

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter The new Seoul Metropolitan Council (SMC), controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), plans to initiate a bill to reopen Seoul Plaza to individuals and civic groups who want to stage rallies or ceremonial events. Kim Myung-soo, the SMC Steering Committee chairman and DP floor leader nominee, said Sunday he will submit a revised bill on the use of Seoul Plaza during the first special session of the eighth council meeting, which will open July 13. The opposition party is now a majority on the city council elected in the June 2 local elections. In the previous term, the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) had 102 seats out of 106, but the DP won 79 seats in the latest election, becoming the majority party. The bill to revise ordinances on using Seoul Plaza from the license system to the report system was submitted to the previous council in March this year, signed by 85,000 citizens, but failed to be approved due to GNP opposition. Under the current municipal ordinance, those who want to hold an event at Seoul Plaza have to get p

Jul 4, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Park Yong-ha laid to rest

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Rain fell persistently as grieving entertainers, colleagues and family of the late Park Yong-ha bid a tearful farewell to the top star during his funeral, Friday. The cortege left the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital early Friday morning to a cremation site after a private Buddhist service with family and friends. Park's father, battling cancer and his mother, shocked by her son's sudden death did not attend the ceremony. Park hung himself at his home Wednesday and the police concluded that the top "hallyu" star, distressed over his career and his father's illness, committed suicide on an impulse. Actor So Ji-sub, one of Park's closest friends, led the funeral procession, carrying a smiling portrait of Park. The procession went to the Yeouido and Mok-dong areas, where major broadcasting stations are located, and Hapjeong-dong, the actor's childhood home. Lastly, the funeral cortege visited Park's home. Park's remains were buried at Bundang Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province. Many colleagues who are entertainers and had worked with

Jul 2, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Fairy tales bring multiracial families closer

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Kim Woo-hye, a third grader of Jeonnong Elementary School in Dongdaemun-gu, wielded a magic wand to transform a thumb boy into a child, drawing wows and applause from some 100 children and their families at a library in northern Seoul, Tuesday. Kim and her Japanese mother Miyuki Nakai, 48, were performing the Japanese tale "Little Thumb" during the second World Fairy Story Telling Contest at the Multicultural Library Modoo in Seoul. Nakai was dressed in a Kimono, a Japanese traditional garment, and the mother and daughter used both Korean and Japanese to tell the story of a thumb-sized boy saving a young girl from a goblin. Nakai played the thumb boy, while her daughter played the girl, and a friend acted as the evil goblin. The two won the contest and had a pleasant time with eight other contestants from China, Vietnam, Iran, the Philippines and Korea. Nakai, who came to Korea in 1996 and married a Korean man here, said she and her daughter rehearsed for about a month for the performance. "I had to go through traditional Japanese

Jul 2, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

NK spies get 10-year jail term for plot to kill Hwang

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Two North Korean spies were sentenced to 10 years in jail for plotting to assassinate Hwang Jang-yop, the highest ranking defector here from the North. The Seoul Central District Court handed the ruling Thursday to Kim Myung-ho and Tong Myung-gwan, both 36, who were exposed by South Korean intelligence agents earlier this year. The court also ordered the confiscation of their identification papers and money and suspended basic civil rights for 15 years. "Kim and Tong admitted to the crime and statements regarding their personal details and the infiltration route are considered credible based on testimonies made by other defectors and agents," the court said in its ruling. The two were indicted on charges of engaging in subversive activities and the judge acknowledged that they might have been a big threat to Hwang if they had settled as regular defectors. It's uncertain whether the two will appeal or not. Kim and Tong are agents of the state Reconnaissance Bureau of North Korea and entered Korea via China and a Southeast Asian co

Jul 1, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

MC Mong investigated for draft dodge suspicion

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Singer MC Mong, 31, is suspected of having dodged mandatory military service by intentionally having healthy teeth extracted. Police said they have been conducting an investigation of the singer following an allegation that he illegally avoided military service. According to the police, the singer had removed some 10 teeth, mostly molars, and was exempted from compulsory military service in 2004 due to dental problems. "We had planned to summon him Thursday, but he requested time to consult with his lawyers," a police officer said. "We will question him next week to hear explanations on why he had so many of his teeth pulled out." MCMong, whose real name is Shin Dong-hyun, is a popular singer and actor currently appearing on KBS's variety show "1 Night 2 Days" on Sundays. Police finished an inquiry into the dentist who took care of his teeth. They also asked for experts' opinions on the dental X-rays, but could not definitely conclude whether it was for medical purposes or not. However, IS Entermedia, the singer's agency, immed

Jul 1, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Minimum wage talks keep falling apart

Labor, management contend over 700 won for next year’s base pay By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Labor and management failed to produce an agreement on the base rate for next year's minimum wage, even after two days of talks that ran until dawn on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Labor and the Minimum Wage Council, labor suggested 4,850 won in the latest amendment, while employers proposed 4,150 won. An initial demand by labor was a wage rise of 26 percent to 5,180 won from this year's base pay of 4,110 won, but management is sticking to a 1 percent increase to 4,150. The 27 member council - nine each from the labor, management and neutral public sides - was supposed to produce a deal by the June 29 deadline. However, the two sides have agreed to hold another negotiation session on July 2. If they fail to reach an agreement again, the minimum wage will be decided on by a vote on the neutral member's compromise proposal. In 2007 and 2008, labor and management made agreements, but it was put to a vote last year. Labor claims that minimum wage growth has be

Jun 30, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

South Korea

Top hallyu star Park Yong-ha commits suicide

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff reporter Popular actor and singer Park Yong-ha, 33, was found dead at home in southern Seoul Wednesday morning after apparently killing himself, the latest in a series of suicides by top celebrities. Park, one of the top "hallyu" (Korean wave) stars, was found by his mother hanging from a camcorder charger cable in his room early Wednesday morning, police and family members said. His brother-in-law told reporters that he left no suicide note. "He was found dead at around 5:30 a.m. There was no suicide note. Please pray for him to rest in peace," he said in a press briefing at St. Mary's Hospital in southern Seoul where Park's body was taken. The previous night Park had repeatedly said "sorry" to his family while giving a massage to his father who is battling stomach cancer, according to police. His fellow actors said that he had been agonizing over his father's illness. Police suspected that Park hung himself on the spur of the moment at around 4 a.m. after drinking, though the reason for the suicide was unclear. "He seemed to be under stre

Jun 30, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kwon Mee-yoo

Read more

Middle class takes brunt of financial crisis

HS Lee Byung-hun, Wonder Girls, 2PM will promote Seoul

Seoul Mayor accused of misappropriating funds

Will Seoul Plaza be open to public again?

Park Yong-ha laid to rest

Fairy tales bring multiracial families closer

NK spies get 10-year jail term for plot to kill Hwang

MC Mong investigated for draft dodge suspicion

Minimum wage talks keep falling apart

Top hallyu star Park Yong-ha commits suicide

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