The Korea Times

Earthquake relief team says rescue dog will be fine

Six-year-old rescue dog Tobaek, a Labrador retriever, sniffs out missing people during a search operation in Turkey's southern city of Antakya, Feb. 10. Tobaek is receiving medical attention after returning home. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong “Tobaek,” is in good condition. The Korean rescue dog at the center of controversy earlier this month over an injury he sustained during a search operation in earthquake-stricken Turkey, was not a victim of animal abuse according to a member of the first Korean disaster relief team sent to the country.The remarks by relief team member, Kim Cheol-hyun, followed a photo of the six-year-old Labrador retriever walking through building rubble with a bandage around its front right paw. This photo drew criticism from some who claimed that the relief team failed to protect the dog properly.Tobaek was among four rescue dogs that accompanied the relief team for its search and rescue operations over 10 days after the Feb. 6 earthquake.“We felt the need for protective gear for the rescue dog, but we couldn't give anything because a dog's paws are

Feb 23, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Earthquake relief team says rescue dog will be fine

Entertainment

KARA's Park Gyu-ri questioned over ex-boyfriend's alleged business fraud

Park Gyu-ri of KARABy Kim Se-jeongPark Gyu-ri, a member of K-pop group KARA, was recently questioned by prosecutors as a witness over her ex-boyfriend's alleged business fraud. Park was a curator of a gallery that belonged to a local art-sharing platform operator, Pica Project, where her ex-boyfriend, Song Ja-ho, was the CEO. The company issues a crypto token named PicaArtMoney, which it sold primarily to individual investors for use in artwork-related transactions.Song allegedly spread false information while issuing and promoting the cryptocurrency.“During the questioning, Park clearly explained that she had not partaken in any illegal activities in relation to his cryptocurrency business and had not gained any unlawful profit. She had nothing to do with the business and she will continue to fully cooperate in the prosecution's investigation,” her agency said in a statement, Monday.Park and Song were together since October 2019 and broke up in September 2021. Song is the grandson of the founder of Dongwon Construction Industries.Park debuted in 2007 as a member of KARA,

Feb 22, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

KARA's Park Gyu-ri questioned over ex-boyfriend's alleged business fraud

Society

'Buying Americano for delivery rider' gets mixed reactions

gettyimagesbankBy Kim Se-jeong The Korea Times readers were divided in their responses over a local coffee franchise's recent move to add “An Americano for your coffee delivery rider” for 1,000 won to its menu.Last week, an unidentified coffee franchise introduced the option as a way to tip delivery drivers, triggering an online debate across Korean-language platforms. The Korea Times undertook a survey, asking its Facebook followers, “What's your take?” As of Monday, 14 respondents showed clear support among 49 who replied. “There are some days we are outside or just want a nice warm cup of coffee delivered and they are always so quick and efficient I would be happy to have the option to purchase them a warm drink as well,” Danielle Ramos wrote.“I don't mind paying extra for the rider. It's just a token of appreciation for their hard work & dedication to make sure that our delivery arrives on time,” Rae Racheel wrote. “I am just concern if he can drink up so many cuppa per day?― or better to give him cash vouchers instead.&rd

Feb 22, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

'Buying Americano for delivery rider' gets mixed reactions

K-pop

Lego's BTS Dynamite set available as of March 1

Lego's BTS Dynamite set / Courtesy of Lego KoreaBy Kim Se-jeongLego announced it will roll out a block set featuring K-pop boy group BTS, which will go on sale March 1. It will also be available at the BTS pop-up stores later in the month.The set, featuring the seven members of the boy band and the places shown in the music video of their smash hit “Dynamite,” will be available at Lego's online and offline stores. Fans can also purchase the toy at specially BTS-themed pop-up stores, scheduled to open at the Hyundai Department Store in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, on March 6 and the Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, on March 7.The set will cost 149,900 won in Korea. “The new set embodies the band's creative forms of expression and includes the vibrant donut shop, ice cream truck and record store. Each building is fully detachable from the set, allowing for individual play and display experiences,” the toy company said on its website. The BTS Dynamite set was designed by Lego fans. “This Lego Ideas set was the brainchild of Lego fans and friends ― Josh, 20, from Ind

Feb 21, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Lego's BTS Dynamite set available as of March 1

Entertainment

Actress Park Min-young under investigation over Bithumb embezzlement case

Park Min-young, center, poses during an online press conference for tvN's "Love in Contract," Sept. 19, 2022. From left are actor Go Kyung-pyo, director Nam Sung-woo, Park and actor Kim Jae-young. Courtesy of tvN By Kim Se-jeong Actress Park Min-young, 38, was questioned by prosecutors on Tuesday in connection with embezzlement allegations at Bithumb, the operator of Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to Korean media outlets.The actress is the ex-girlfriend of the de facto owner of Bithumb, Kang Jong-hyun, 41, who was arrested early this month on an embezzlement charge, among others. Their relationship went public last October. However, pretty quickly thereafter, Park came forward and announced that the relationship had already ended. According to media reports, prosecutors called Park in for questioning after finding her name on a list of bank accounts, which had Bithumb's convertible bond transactions. Park is suspected of having made profits from

Feb 15, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Actress Park Min-young under investigation over Bithumb embezzlement case

Society

Court documents reveal details of former Big Bang member's sex trafficking

Seungri, a former member of K-pop group Big Bang, arrives at a police office in Seoul for investigation in March, 2019. Korea Times fileBy Kim Se-jeong As Seungri, a former member of K-pop group Big Bang, was released from prison last Thursday, a local cable news channel released court documents revealing his involvement in sex trafficking.According to JTBC, a cable news channel, the singer, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, organized commercial sex services on 29 occasions between December 2015 and January 2016 to the value of 43 million won. Seungri was indicted in 2020 over his involvement in the Burning Sun scandal and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Burning Sun was a nightclub in Seoul in which he was affiliated with.On one of the 29 occasions, he drove sex workers to Incheon International Airport where he met two prospect investors from Japan and provided them with sex services in a car en route to a hotel in Seoul where the service continued in their rooms.Other than sex trafficking, the singer was convicted of other charges including misappropriating funds from his nig

Feb 13, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Court documents reveal details of former Big Bang member's sex trafficking

Sports

Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung appeals for aid to help quake victims in Turkey

Kim Yeon-koung of the Korean national volleyball team smashes the ball during a game against Japan at the Olympic Games in 2021. NewsisBy Kim Se-jeongKorean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung is appealing to Koreans to help Turkey and Syria, which have been devastated by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake.In two Instagram posts, the volleyball player shared a picture of a dog sitting next to its owner who was buried under rubble, following a quake that left thousands of people dead. Along with the image was text explaining where and how people can help. Kim's connection with Turkey goes back to 2011 when she moved there to join the Turkish league. Her team, Fenerbahce S.K., remained champions for six years in a row and she was named MVP and won a scoring prize. She joined the Chinese league in 2017 but went back to Turkey in 2018 for two more years, plying her trade for Eczacibasi VitrA.This isn't the first time Kim has used her influence to help the country. In 2018, she took part in a campaign to donate small trees to the country after it was ravaged by wildfires.Screenshot from Kim Yeon-koung

Feb 8, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung appeals for aid to help quake victims in Turkey

Society

Seoul narrows in on new slogan

This image shows four candidates for the city of Seoul's new slogan. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentBy Kim Se-jeong What will Seoul's new promotional slogan be? The Seoul Metropolitan Government is still in the process of selecting one among four.Recently, the city government ran a public online poll which found “Seoul my soul” and “Seoul for you” as the top two favorites. The city will hold another voting round as the margin between the two is quite small ― 2.4 percent or 9,641 votes ― and Korean speakers and non-Korean-speaking voters showed quite a big difference in their preferences. The city said a total of 397,721 ― 185,300 Korean speakers and 212,421 non-Korean speakers ― participated in the survey. “Seoul my soul” came on top with 148,466 votes, while “Seoul for you” followed with 138,825 votes. “Amazing Seoul” and “Make it happen, Seoul” received 70,395 and 40,035 votes, respectively. Thirty-eight percent of the Korean-speaking voters favored “Seoul for you,” while 44.2 percent of t

Feb 7, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Society

Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase

Taxis wait for passengers outside Seoul Station in central Seoul, Feb. 1. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongAs the base taxi fare in Seoul reached 4,800 won on Wednesday, 1,000 won higher than the day earlier, many passengers expressed their surprise. A woman in her 40s who took a taxi from Seoul Station to Insa-dong said she was shocked looking at the money she spent. “I don't use taxis so much, but today, I spent almost 8,000 won for a short distance, which is just too much. Taxis are no longer an affordable option for me.” The Seoul Metropolitan Government pushed for the hike citing a shortage of cabs in the city. Another woman in her 20s said, “I use taxis quite often because I need to bring food for my father at work, but today will be the last day. I will try to use buses more often from now on.” A man in his 50s who works as a substitute driver said, “I need two to three taxi rides every night because of my work. It will cost me quite a lot from now on.” Complaints were also heard from taxi drivers. “The fare rise won't help me take more money home

Feb 2, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase

Society

Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

This undated photo shows people entering the Seoul Metropolitan Council, in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Council has come under fire after it released a new education ordinance proposal stating sexual conduct guidelines for teachers and students. NewsisBy Kim Se-jeongThe Seoul Metropolitan Council has come under fire after it released a new education ordinance proposal stating sexual conduct guidelines for teachers and students that critics say are outdated and ignore the constitutional rights of individuals. The sexuality and bioethics ordinance proposed by the council states, “Sex can be only between a husband and wife.” It also states, “Being male or female is a biological choice which cannot be changed,” and teaches children and teenagers that sexual self-determination is exercised only by abstaining from sex. The city council was collecting reviews from local teachers and the proposal was leaked to the local media by teachers who were outraged by the detailsIf adopted, according to the proposal, the city's education office will appoint an official tasked

Feb 2, 2023By Kim Se-jeong

Kim Se-jeong

Read more

Earthquake relief team says rescue dog will be fine

KARA's Park Gyu-ri questioned over ex-boyfriend's alleged business fraud

'Buying Americano for delivery rider' gets mixed reactions

Lego's BTS Dynamite set available as of March 1

Actress Park Min-young under investigation over Bithumb embezzlement case

Court documents reveal details of former Big Bang member's sex trafficking

Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung appeals for aid to help quake victims in Turkey

Seoul narrows in on new slogan

Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase

Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

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