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Kim Se-jeong

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.

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South Korea

Last MERS patient dies

By Kim Se-jeong The nation’s last-remaining Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patient died on Wednesday, the health authorities confirmed, marking the end of the respiratory disease that rattled the nation this summer.The 35-year-old male patient spent 172 days in quarantine after being diagnosed with MERS on June 7, the longest stay in the world.Including him, a total of 38 patients died from the deadly infectious disease among 186 patients in Korea, with the fatality rate rising to 20.4 percent.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the patient died at 3 a.m. on Wednesday in Seoul National University Hospital, quoting doctors as saying that he had suffered from complications caused by malignant lymphoma which he had been suffering from prior to contracting MERS.“His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his death,” a ministry official said during a press conference.On Oct. 3, he was discharged from the negative-pressure unit after testing negative for the virus but was readmitted eight days later with symptoms of MERS such as high fever. He contin

Nov 25, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Ex-JCS head questioned over bribery allegations

By Kim Se-jeongChoi Yoon-hee, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffRetired Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was questioned Tuesday about allegations that he and members of his family took bribes from a weapons dealer over the country’s 1-trillion won deal in 2012 to buy maritime helicopters.He is the highest ranking officer to face investigation into corruption allegations in the defense industry since 1996 when former Defense Minister Lee Yang-ho was arrested.The summons came 48 days after he finished his 42-year military career last month.“I will fully cooperate with the investigation,” Choi said as he arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul.Prosecutors interrogated him about whether he took money from arms dealer, Ham Tae-heon, in exchange for influence peddling in the helicopter deal. Choi was Chief of Naval Operations at that time.In 2012, Korea placed orders for eight AgustaWestland’s AW159 Lynx Wildcats, a search and rescue, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine helicopter. Ham arrange

Nov 24, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Ex-JCS head questioned over bribery allegations
South Korea

47 selected to write state-led history textbooks

The National Institute of Korean History announced Monday that 47 authors will write government-led history textbooks for middle and high school students, but will not disclose their names until a later date. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongA total of 47 authors will participate in writing government-sponsored history textbooks for middle and high school students, but their names will continue to be kept secret, the National Institute of Korean History said Monday, fueling outrage among opponents of the project.The institute in charge of the new textbooks said it put the authors’ privacy and independence ahead of the public’s right to know, because the authors need to concentrate on writing without disruption.The government initially planned to recruit 25 authors and directly invite 11 more for a total of 36 members.But the final number was 47 ― 26 will author two textbooks for middle schools, while 21 will work on one high school textbook.The government also said 17 of the writers were selected through an open contest, which received applications from 56 schoolteachers, prof

Nov 23, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
  • Opposition parties unite to block state history testbook
South Korea

People remember IMF, not his political fights

People pay their respects to former President Kim Young-sam, who passed away early Sunday, in front of a bust set up at Kim’s birth house in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong People remember former President Kim Young-sam as an unfortunate leader whose endeavors for democracy were overshadowed by a financial crisis at the end of his term in 1997.“I almost forgot that he did a lot,” said Lee Kyung-soon, 50, a resident of Seoul. “The financial crisis cast a shadow over his other achievements.”In 1997, the Kim administration asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout after the state could not pay its debts. Lee’s husband lost almost 50 million won on the stock market, and the couple with two children failed to complete their mortgage payment in Daejeon. “We had to move into a small flat, and there were quarrels for a long time,” she said.Park Sung-soo, an office worker, 40, said he recognizes Kim’s contribution to the nation’s democracy. “However, he was the one who

Nov 22, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
People remember IMF, not his political fights
  • Kim Young-sam passes away
South Korea

State funeral for Kim set for Thursday

Former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, left, offers condolences to Kim Hyun-chul, the son of former President Kim Young-sam, at the former president’s memorial altar set up at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul, Sunday. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong The government will hold a state funeral service for the late former President Kim Young-sam at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, a government committee said Sunday.The ad hoc committee, comprised of officials, also declared an official five-day mourning period and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.   The committee agreed on the funeral procedure with the bereaved family and reviewed this at a Cabinet meeting in the afternoon, with President Park Geun-hye approving it.A memorial altar was set up at Seoul National University Hospital, where Kim died  early Sunday. After the funeral ceremony at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Kim will be buried in Seoul National Cemetery.Memorial altars have also been set up across the country -- including one at the National Assembly -- where citizens can visit to pa

Nov 22, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
State funeral for Kim set for Thursday
  • Kim Young-sam passes away
South Korea

Hotels take order for Thanksgiving meal to go

Hotels in Seoul offer a turkey meal set to go or special dishes on their menus for those who will dine at their restaurants. / Courtesy of Conrad SeoulBy Kim Se-jeong Thanksgiving is one week away. Hotels in Seoul offer a turkey meal set to go or special dishes on their menus for those who will dine at their restaurants.Conrad Seoul offers a roast turkey dinner set to go for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The dinner set will have a serving for 10 people and include roast turkey, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, grilled sweet pumpkin and mushrooms, along with gravy and cranberry compote.The set can be picked up at the Pasticceria Deli, located on the second floor of the hotel. The orders should be placed three days prior to the pickup and will be available until Dec. 31. The price is 240,000 won, including taxes. For more information and orders, call (02) 6137-7120/7126 or visit www.conradseoul.co.kr. Grand Hyatt Seoul’s Deli’s Thanksgiving special order is available until Nov. 29. The menu will include roast turkey, roast chicken, mashed potatoes

Nov 19, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Hotels take order for Thanksgiving meal to go
South Korea

HOTEL LOBBY

The Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul has won a regional award at the World Travel Awards 2015. Oakwood Premier Coex was chosen for its “excellence in service,” receiving more than 650,000 votes from travelers. The awards recognize excellence in hotel service. “We are deeply honored to receive these prestigious awards which clearly epitomize our commitment to quality and excellence,” said Dean Schreiber, managing director of Oakwood Asia Pacific. “As we look to expand our regional portfolio into key gateway cities, we will always stay focused on delivering Oakwood’s Gold Standard of service to our residents and outstanding management services to our property owners.” In 2003, Oakwood was awarded the World Travel Award as South Korea’s leading serviced apartment brand. The Grand Hyatt Incheon’s Restaurant 8 offers an “Exclusive Sunday Brunch” package every Sunday.The menu includes caviar, foie gras, unlimited champagne, pasta, juice, assorted canapés, lobster, duck ragout, baked egg, ham risotto with fresh s

Nov 19, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
HOTEL LOBBY
Travel & Food

InterContinental's halal chef better caters Arab clienteles

Ahmad Abu Jamous, top, is a halal chef at InterContinental Seoul Coex, and cooks a variety of dishes including felafel, from left, deep-fried ball made of ground chikpeas, fava beans; shrimp kebab; and hummusmade of chikpeas.By Kim Se-jeong  Ahmad Abu Jamous has made history as the first hotel chef specializing in halal food in Korea. He is responsible for the Arabic section of Asian Live, one of the four restaurants in InterContinental Seoul Coex in southern Seoul.He oversees the preparation of almost 20 Arabic dishes, from hummus and couscous to kebab, and trains his Korean colleagues. All the meats for the dishes are processed and prepared according to Islamic law, which is called halal, and it is is essential to Muslim customers.As a Muslim, the chef prays before he starts his day in the restaurant kitchen.Kim Sung-kyu from InterContinental’s public relations department said hiring chef Abu Jamous was a strategic move by the hotel.“Three percent of our hotel clientele come from the Arabic world, and their spending accounts for almost 10 percent of the hotel&rsquo

Nov 19, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
InterContinental's halal chef better caters Arab clienteles
South Korea

Few Koreans seek medication for depression

By Kim Se-jeong Koreans rely far less on antidepressants than citizens of other OECD countries, even though Korea has the world’s highest suicide rate, a report showed Wednesday.Koreans are the second-lowest consumers of antidepressants in 28 countries surveyed.The report, titled “Health at a Glance,” conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggests that Koreans are reluctant to seek medical help due to the social stigma associated with it,  even though untreated depression can lead to suicide.The report stated that in 2013, an average of 20 antidepressants were consumed per 1,000 people per day in Korea, second to the lowest in Chile where 13 per 1,000 people were consumed per day.According to Statistics Korea’s 2013 figures, about 28.5 people per 100,000 committed suicide, which is more than double the OECD average of 12 per 100,000.Depression is believed to be a major cause for suicide. Studies have found people with depression are 40 times more likely to kill themselves than those who don’t have it. Alt

Nov 18, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Court to retry patricide case

By Kim Se-jeong A district court in Gwangju said Wednesday it will retry a case involving a 38-year-old woman who was imprisoned after being convicted of killing her father 15 years ago.This will be the first time for a Korean court to reopen a criminal case after sentencing. The prosecution has three days to appeal the decision, and if appealed, the case will go before the Supreme Court.In March 2001, the Supreme Court confirmed a life sentence for Kim Shin-hye who was found guilty of killing her father.In March 2000, Kim was indicted on charges of murdering her father. She confessed to the killing initially, saying that she made him drink alcohol laced with sleeping pills. She said she wanted to kill him because he had raped her.However, she reversed her testimony later saying that the father was killed by her brother, and that she gave a false confession because she did not want him to go to jail.According to Judge Choi Chang-hoon, the court decided to review the case because it found faults on the part of the police during the investigation in 2000. He said officers are susp

Nov 18, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
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