The Korea Times

INTERVIEW North Korean defector paints dream as contemporary artist

Artist An Su-min poses with her recent work "The Recovery of Home" at her studio in Seoul, April 27. The painting depicts the house where she used to live in North Korea. Courtesy of An Su-minBy Jung Min-hoIt is difficult to live as a painter in North Korea. There is no Photoshop, Affinity or other technology for producing sophisticated artwork; almost everything is done manually.Moreover, there is little room for creativity. Certain subjects must be ― or must not be ― expressed. When finished, there are few people willing to buy their work in a country where even the basic necessities of life are in short supply.Nevertheless, many North Koreans want to learn how to paint because, with such a skill, they can avoid hard labor such as construction work in school and the military.That was how Ah Su-min, 26, decided to take an artistic path as a teenager. She was fascinated by the works of her father, also a painter, talented and tired of the “unbearable” manual labor.“I had no idea that that decision would eventually lead me to becoming a contemporary painter in South

May 17, 2022By Jung Min-ho

North Korea

INTERVIEW Too late for vaccines to halt COVID spread in North Korea: virologist

In this file photo taken March 18, employees spray disinfectant and wipe surfaces as part of preventative measures against COVID-19 at the Pyongyang Children's Department Store in Pyongyang. North Korea on Sunday confirmed 15 additional deaths from an “explosive” fever outbreak and more than 290,000 additional patients with flu-like symptoms. AFP-Yonhap15 more deaths confirmed; total caseload surpasses 820,000 in just 3 daysBy Jung Min-hoHakim DjaballahWith the COVID-19 situation getting out of control in North Korea, it appears to be too late now to use vaccines to halt or slow down its spread, according to a virologist who specializes in infectious diseases.North Korea on Sunday confirmed 15 additional deaths from an “explosive” fever outbreak and more than 290,000 additional patients with flu-like symptoms. After reporting its “first” coronavirus case on Thursday, North Korea confirmed 42 such deaths as of 6 p.m. Saturday, with 820,620 cases and at least 324,550 receiving medical treatment.But the true number is likely to be far higher and, with

May 15, 2022By Jung Min-ho

North Korea

INTERVIEW North Korea's COVID-free claim nonsensical: virologist

Students participate in a dancing party to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un's election as the top state leader at the Arch of Triumph plaza in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 11. Officially, not a single person has been infected with COVID-19 in North Korea. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoHakim DjaballahThe COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the world for more than two years. North Korea, however, is still completely free of the disease, according to its official data.The latest data available on the World Health Organization website shows “there have been 0 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 0 deaths” in the isolated state between Jan. 3, 2020 and May 10 of this year.Hakim Djaballah, former CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea and a virologist currently based in New York, believes that North Korea's COVID-free claim is most likely a lie.“It is very hard to imagine any country being COVID free let alone North Korea,” Djaballah told The Korea Times. “I do not believe their claim, given what has been happening near its borders.”Visitors walk across the Y

May 12, 2022By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] North Korea's COVID-free claim nonsensical: virologist

North Korea confirms first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19

Politics

Cambodian immigrant, North Korean defector, 'Squid Game' star among '20 representatives of hope'

South Korean flags are seen outside of the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. An immigrant from Cambodia, a North Korean defector and “Squid Game” star O Yeong-su were among “the 20 representatives of hope” who appeared on stage with President Yoon Suk-yeol during his inauguration. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoUm Gye-sookAn immigrant from Cambodia, a North Korean defector and “Squid Game” star O Yeong-su were among “the 20 representatives of hope” who appeared on stage with President Yoon Suk-yeol during his inauguration Tuesday.According to the presidential office, the representatives are “the hidden giants” who “made Korea proud” through their hard work and dedication. The list alludes symbolically to the policy direction of the new government.Park Chae-eun, 35, a Cambodian-born woman who began a new life here after marrying a Korean national, was selected to represent multicultural families, which have become increasingly visible in Korean society over the past few years. Children from such households account for

May 10, 2022By Jung Min-ho

Cambodian immigrant, North Korean defector, 'Squid Game' star among '20 representatives of hope'

K-pop

INTERVIEW A Seoul lady from Japan

Yukika Teramoto released her first solo album “Soul Lady” (“Seoul Lady” in Korean) last month. The title song is about a young woman who comes to Seoul in search of her dreams. Courtesy of Estimate EntertainmentYukika brings '80s Japanese city pop to K-pop fansBy Jung Min-hoCan Korean pop music still be considered “K-pop” if it does not feature a Korean singer?Yukika Teramoto, 27, a Japanese city pop artist based in Korea, believes it can.“I consider myself as a K-pop singer,” Yukika said in an interview at The Korea Times office in Seoul Thursday. “I sing Korean songs, working with Korean staff in Korea. If my music ― which was created by Korean producers who reinterpreted city pop in their unique way ― is not K-pop, what is K-pop?”City pop refers to a music style that was popular in Japan from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. As the name suggests, it projects an “urban feel,” with a rhythmic, funky base that is usually expressed with the minutely chopped rhythms of guitars or synthesizers.Yukika was one of the

Aug 27, 2020By Jung Min-ho

K-pop groups without Koreans

Photo News

PHOTOS Typhoon Bavi is coming

Big waves hit rocks in southwestern Jeju, Tuesday, as Typhoon Bavi approaches the island. The Korea Meteorological Administration says the typhoon, packing powerful winds and heavy rain, will hit Jeju Tuesday night before reaching the country's west coast. YonhapShips docked at Hanlim Port in northwestern Jeju, Tuesday. YonhapShips shelter at Busan Port, Tuesday. YonhapA meteorologist checks the typhoon's projected path at the state-run weather agency's office in Suwon, Tuesday. YonhapMaritime police officers check typhoon preparedness at Gunsan Port in North Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Yonhap

Aug 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Typhoon Bavi set to batter capital area Thursday

Foreign Affairs

Foreign minister apologizes over New Zealand sexual abuse case

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha / Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologized Monday over the handling of sexual allegations against a senior Korean diplomat once stationed in New Zealand.“We received the investigation results from Cheong Wa Dae that there were problems in the ministry's response,” Kang said during a meeting. “The case has become a diplomatic burden for the government, causing concern to the public. I'm sorry.”The statement comes about a month after President Moon Jae-in promised to deal with the case promptly during a phone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.A local employee at Korea's Embassy in Wellington has accused the diplomat of groping his body parts against his will three times in 2017. The case came to attention after local media highlighted it.Before Ardern's direct request, a spokeswoman at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told The Korea Times that the New Zealand government was disappointed that the Korean government did not cooperate with earlier requests fr

Aug 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Foreign minister apologizes over New Zealand sexual abuse case

Environment & Animals

INTERVIEW The case for building cities out of wood

The Hangreen, a 19.1-meter building mostly made of wood, stands in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The five-story structure symbolizes the new trend of eco-friendly construction in Korea. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minKorea embraces timber as key construction materialBy Jung Min-hoKorea Forest Service Deputy Minister Choi Byeong-am speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office in Daejeon. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minYEONGJU/DAEJEON ― For more than a century, concrete and steel have replaced wood as primary building materials, especially for tall structures. But thanks to increasing demand for “greener construction” and technological advances, timber is back in style.The Hangreen, a 19.1-meter wooden building in Yeongju, symbolizes the new trend in Korea. The five-story structure, mainly made of Korean larch, a common tree species here, marks only the beginning of a new era of architecture, according to Choi Byeong-am, deputy minister of the Korea Forest Service (KFS).“Imagine a wooden skyscraper in the heart of Seoul,” Choi sa

Aug 25, 2020By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] The case for building cities out of wood

Sports

World Taekwondo to send relief supplies to Lebanon after explosion

A taekwondo practitioner places a flower at the explosion site to offer her condolences in Beirut, Lebanon. Courtesy of World TaekwondoBy Jung Min-hoWorld Taekwondo (WT) will provide relief funds and items to Lebanon to support recovery efforts after an accidental explosion of ammonium nitrate killed more than 200 people and destroyed thousands of buildings there early this month.The sport's global governing body said Thursday that it will send $30,000 and taekwondo equipment to the Lebanese Taekwondo Federation (LTF), which is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the Aug. 4 blast in Beirut.During a recent video call with WT President Choue Chung-won and two council members ― Maher Magableh and Pascal Gentil ― LTF President Habib Zarifeh said 10 taekwondo clubs in the city were destroyed.Upon receiving the report, Choue waived registration fees for all LTF athletes and coaches attending upcoming WT competitions and online training courses until 2021 to lessen their financial burden.He also said WT and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation plan to launch a campaign to raise funds

Aug 23, 2020By Jung Min-ho

World Taekwondo to send relief supplies to Lebanon after explosion

Companies

Korea promotes home-developed rice varieties amid boycott of Japanese products

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoJapanese rice cultivars such as Koshihikari have become increasingly popular among Koreans in recent years as more consumers seek new varieties of this staple food.In a bid to compete with them in “the luxury rice market,” a government research agency has recently developed and released two rice varieties ― Haedeul and Alchanmi ― which aim to overtake their Japanese rivals over the next few years.“Japanese rice cultivars are overpriced and overrated,” a senior researcher, surnamed Roh, at the Rural Development Administration (RDA), told The Korea Times Thursday. “Our task is to challenge the popular perception that Japanese rice is tastier, which is not true. Blindfolded, I bet you would choose Korean rice over Japanese.”In fact, in a blind test last year, 48 percent of participants picked Haedeul over Koshihikari ― a Japonica rice cultivar internationally known for its good taste ― which received 28 percent of votes.In some regions, especially Gyeonggi Province, Korean rice varieties have already started replacing Japa

Aug 9, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korea promotes home-developed rice varieties amid boycott of Japanese products

Farmer of Seoul's last remaining rice growing region in upbeat mood

Jung Min-ho

Read more

INTERVIEW North Korean defector paints dream as contemporary artist

INTERVIEW Too late for vaccines to halt COVID spread in North Korea: virologist

INTERVIEW North Korea's COVID-free claim nonsensical: virologist

Cambodian immigrant, North Korean defector, 'Squid Game' star among '20 representatives of hope'

INTERVIEW A Seoul lady from Japan

PHOTOS Typhoon Bavi is coming

Foreign minister apologizes over New Zealand sexual abuse case

INTERVIEW The case for building cities out of wood

World Taekwondo to send relief supplies to Lebanon after explosion

Korea promotes home-developed rice varieties amid boycott of Japanese products

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