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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

Home ministry to change English name

By Kim Se-jeong The Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs said Friday it will change its English name to the Ministry of the Interior.According to a ministry official, the new name will officially come into use soon after the Cabinet’s approval later this month. It has been a subject of discussion with experts.The name change comes after criticism from foreigners that the name gave little idea about the ministry’s role and function.Some other ministries are considering adopting new English names following similar criticism.However, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, for which some critics have proposed “planning” instead of “strategy,” decided to keep its current name.The move is generally welcomed, but some are skeptical.“How long will it last? Only until a new president is elected and he or she reorganizes ministries and government agencies?” said a Seoul resident surnamed Lee.It is common for a new president to create a new mix of the Cabinet when being sworn in. Some civic groups have suggested that the number o

Sep 4, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Hongdae buskers in jeopardy

Hip hop artist M.IC is surrounded by people during his busking on a street at Hongdae, Seoul, on Aug. 21. Street performance is an iconic culture of Hongdae, but prompts noise complaints from residents and business owners. / Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeongDistrict office in dilemma over noise problem by street performers By Kim Se-jeongAlmost every day, a dozen street performers, or buskers, present music or dance on the streets of Hongdae, a busy district in Seoul known for lively music and clubs.Competition to take densely-populated spots is keen on weekends.However, the buskers are causing a dilemma for the Mapo District Office. The office supports street performances for tourism purposes, but it also has to deal with noise complaints from residents and business owners there.“We are really in a difficult position,” said Kim Sun-hwa from the office.Mapo is well aware of the value of busking, which has risen as a defining culture of Hongdae in recent years. It is a major source of entertainment for people who visit the neighborhood -- sometimes people co

Sep 4, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Hongdae buskers in jeopardy
South Korea

New cable car project on Mt. Nam causes debate

By Kim Se-jeong Seoul City’s plan to build a new cable car route on Mount Nam to cater to tourists is generating a lot of debate. While the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) says the project will be environmentally friendly because it will eventually remove all tourist buses from the mountain, environmentalists claim that the construction will damage the mountain.The plan has come amid another controversy over a cable car project on Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province, which was approved by the central government last weekend.The city said that it will add a cable-car operation on Mount Nam in addition to the one already in operation there.According to the plan, small-sized cable cars, carrying about 10 people each, will carry tourists on an 888-meter-long new route between North Seoul Tower on top of the mountain and a new cable car station near Chungmuro subway station.The new cable car station will be set up at the foot of the mountain where office buildings for the city government and the Seoul Traffic Broadcasting building are located. The buildings will be remove

Sep 3, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
New cable car project on Mt. Nam causes debate
South Korea

Samsung hospital announces post-MERS measures

By Kim Se-jeong Samsung Medical Center (SMC) will refurbish its emergency room and limit the number of visitors for patients in an effort to prevent another infectious disease from spreading there and to ensure the safety of patients.SMC’s director Song Jae-hoon said Wednesday that the hospital will spend almost 50 billion won to build necessary infrastructure and facilities.The measures follow the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak earlier this year when the hospital became the second epicenter of the epidemic. During the outbreak, more than 80 people contracted the disease at SMC, and it was said that allowing visitors without control at hospitals contributed to the quick spread of the disease.“We are certain that this move will ensure patients’ safety and improve the quality of treatment,” Song said during a media briefing.The hospital will allow only one person per patient in the emergency room and require visitors to book their visits in advance.The emergency room will be divided into two sections, one for patients with infectious disea

Sep 2, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Cable car approval draws backlash

A placard hung outside a building in Yangyang County in Gangwon Province celebrates the approval of a cable car project on Mount Seorak, Monday. Environmentalists and some opposition lawmakers are against the construction, saying it will pose environmental threats to the mountain. / YonhapCivic groups plan legal actions, lawmakers to scrutinize approval processBy Kim Se-jeong The government’s approval of the construction of a cable car route at Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province is drawing fierce protest from environmentalists and some opposition lawmakers.Environmental activists demand the project be cancelled because of environmental threats to the mountain, claiming it was promoted without a thorough review.A coalition of environmental NGOs plan to file a complaint with the administrative court to void the approval.On Friday, a government review committee voted for the plan to connect Osaek to Kkeutcheong Peak at the nation’s third-highest mountain.The coalition claims that the project will threaten the biodiversity of the region, which is home to almost 350 mountai

Aug 31, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Cable car approval draws backlash
South Korea

Calls grow for death penalty abolishment

By Kim Se-jeong The Supreme Court’s decision Friday to uphold a death sentence imposed on a convicted murderer has reignited the debate on abolishing capital punishment in Korea.The death penalty has not been carried out here since December 30 1997, when 18 men and five women were hanged in one night.Calls are mounting to take the death penalty off the statute books because it is seen as ineffective in preventing crimes.The Supreme Court upheld an appeals court verdict on a man who killed the parents of his ex-girlfriend.This was the first time that the death penalty has been upheld in two years.The man, surnamed Jang, 25, disguised himself as a plumber to enter the apartment of the woman’s parents in Daegu in May last year. He killed the parents, then confined and raped his ex-girlfriend who arrived home later the same day. She escaped by jumping out of a window of the apartment on the fourth floor, sustaining hip injuries.Jang’s sentencing means the number of inmates on death row is now 61.Confirming the sentence, the court said that Jang deserved harsh punis

Aug 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Calls grow for death penalty abolishment
South Korea

Seoul to help needy with recyclable hotel toiletries

By Kim Se-jeong The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Sunday it will work with hotels to collect recyclable toiletries and electric appliances and distribute them to low-income residents.It said it is discussing the project with 18 five-star hotels in the capital.To maintain quality service, hotels change toiletries such as soap, tooth paste, shampoo and cologne in guestrooms for every customer. The toiletries are usually dumped.Electronic appliances are also replaced every several years for renovation even though they do not have any specific problem. Such changes are also a financial burden for the hotels.“The hotels said they are willing to provide such products,” said Kim Jong-seok, director of the city government’s low income and homeless assistance division.The city will collect 32 items including toiletries, pillows and TVs. These will be processed and delivered to at least 3,600 residents. The project will begin later this year.“This project is meaningful as these residents are too poor to afford basics such as tooth brushes and tooth paste

Aug 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Hotel briefs

   The ibis Ambassador Seoul Gangnam is changing its name to the ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam from Sept. 1.The ibis Styles is an upscale economy brand run by French hotel group Accor. The brand offers guestrooms, breakfast and Internet access at a reasonable price and with unique designs. It will be the second ibis Styles property in Seoul after the ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong.The new hotel has completed major renovations of its rooms, the lobby and restaurants to better cater for younger guests who are the major clients for the ibis Styles brand. For more information about the hotel and reservations, call (02)3454-1101 or visit www.accorhotels.com.    W Seoul-Walkerhill offers an urban-healing themed “W Retreat” package from Sept. 7 to the end of November.The package includes a one-night stay, buffet breakfast for two at W Restaurant and access to Water Zone for two. The Water Zone consists of pools with different temperatures and an open-air Japanese Hinoki spa. The package also includes free entrance to t

Aug 27, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Hotel briefs
Travel & Food

Sheraton Incheon to feature award-winning wines

By Kim Se-jeong Sheraton Incheon Hotel is hosting unusual special dinner-and-wine event on Sept. 9.Almost 300 kinds of wines, all of which are winners of the third edition of the prestigious Asia Wine Trophy, will be served during the dinner. “We are very excited to bring 300 award winning wines to Songdo and share them with our guests on that special evening. When and where else will wine aficionados have such an opportunity?” said Richard Suter, the hotel’s general manager.The names of the wines are not yet available because the contest is taking place this weekend, Aug. 29 and 30 in Daejeon.The fantastic menu includes bruschetta, cheese platter, assorted cold cuts, smoked salmon roulade stuffed with cream cheese, musk melon and prosciutto ham, shrimp cocktail, roasted beef rolls stuffed with pickled cucumber, cherry tomato and mozzarella cheese, assorted sushi, and a selection of Japanese maki. Barbecued meats, ― including beef, chicken, lamb and pork ― as well as sausage, scallop, prawn and squid are also on the menu.Sheraton Incheon Hotel&rs

Aug 27, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Sheraton Incheon to feature award-winning wines
Travel & Food

Plan autumn vacation with hotel packages

JW Marriott Seoul’s superior room / Courtesy of JW Marriott SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongSummer is drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean you can no longer take a vacation. Seoul hotels are offering packages for memorable autumn getaways. Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Hyatt Seoul offers two seasonal packages: “Never Ending Summer” and “One Nice Autumn Day.”The “Never Ending Summer” package includes a one-night stay in a Grand Room, a fashionable beach bag designed by the hotel, a chicken and beer meal prepared by the hotel chefs, access to the gym and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools and free Wi-Fi service.Guests can sit back, relax and enjoy their delicious crispy chicken and ice-cold beer in the swimming pool area, which has more than 300 sun beds. The package will be available for the entire month of September and will start from 220,000 won, tax and service charges not included.The “One Nice Autumn Day” package will be available from Oct. 1 until Nov. 22 and will include a one-night stay in a Grand Room, breakfa

Aug 27, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Plan autumn vacation with hotel packages
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