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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

Court rulings over conscientious objections differ

By Kim Se-jeong Courts are making different decisions on conscientious objectors, reflecting mixed public opinion about people who refuse mandatory military service due to religious or other reasons.  The Supreme Court upheld an appeals court’s guilty verdict against a Jehovah’s Witness, surnamed Ahn, Thursday, who was sentenced to 18 months’ jail for refusing to serve in the military.All men in Korea are required to serve in the military, and those who resist can face a jail term of up to three years. Most conscientious objectors here are Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are against bearing firearms.The top court said the Constitutional Court had ruled that punishing those who refuse military service was not against the Constitution. “Also, conscientious objectors cannot be an exception to the law on military service,” it added.It said international human rights bodies have recommended Korea accept conscientious objections, but such a recommendation is not legally binding.This was the second time the highest court has ruled against conscientious

Aug 27, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Economy

Goldman Sachs Korea Office raided

By Kim Se-jeongProsecutors announced Wednesday that they raided the offices of Goldman Sachs Korea, ING Life Insurance and Macquarie Investment Management Korea last week to investigate allegations that the former employees of these firms were involved in stock price manipulation.They also arrested an ex-executive of Goldman Sachs Korea, who now heads a consulting firm, on charges of abetting in stock price rigging in return for money in 2011.The suspect surnamed Kim, 49, is suspected of introducing stock price manipulators to officials at Macquarie, which is former ING Asset Management Korea, and ING Life Insurance to help them sell 630,000 shares of DongYang P&F to the foreign-invested financial firms at inflated prices.Investigators said that Kim, a Korean-American, allegedly received hundreds of millions of won from the manipulators. Several former and incumbent officials at Macquarie and ING are also under investigation, according to the prosecution.Earlier this year, prosecutors arrested four people on suspicion of their involvement in the stock price manipulation scheme. T

Aug 26, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Female secretaries slam sexist game

A female secretary character in a mobile game “Everybody’s Management,” is identified by her age and glamorous body./ Courtesy of Korean Association of Administrative ProfessionalsBy Kim Se-jeong A representative group of female secretaries has accused a local games company of including a sexist portrayal of women in their profession within one of its games.The Korean Association of Administrative Professionals (KAAP), a private organization with 10,000 members, recently sent a letter to mobile game developer Efun Company, bashing it for its depiction of women in its “Everybody’s Management” title. The game has proven popular since it was released earlier this month, with each player acting as an executive at a company and given the opportunity to hire one male and three female secretaries.The secretary characters come with short introductions. While the male characters are introduced based on their performance level and competitiveness, the female characters are introduced only by their appearance. The female secretaries also use suggest

Aug 26, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Female secretaries slam sexist game
South Korea

Public backs stern reaction to Pyongyang

In the top photo, liberal activists call for a halt to military action by both North and South Korea during a media briefing near Cheong Wa Dae, central Seoul, Friday. In the bottom photo, members of the World Peace Freedom United, a conservative civic group, urge the government to continue action against the North during a press conference in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul, YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong One day after the two Koreas traded fire across the demilitarized zone (DMZ), public sentiment was tough on the North, with many people insisting Seoul continue its loudspeaker propaganda campaign.They said the odds of the skirmish developing into a full-scale war were very low, and even if a war did break out, the South would win because of the support of the United States, an ally with advanced military capabilities.While the North called for the South to stop the propaganda broadcasting near the DMZ, Lee Kyung-soon, 50, a Seoul resident, said the government should continue the campaign.“I have a son serving in the military right now,” Lee s

Aug 21, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Public backs stern reaction to Pyongyang
South Korea

Migrant workers' union recognized

Udaya Rai, second from left, head of the Migrants’ Trade Union, and other union members cheer in front of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office building in central Seoul, as the government gives the go-ahead for the legal establishment of the union, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong The nation’s first union for foreign workers has vowed to improve working conditions for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in Korea, following the government’s recognition of it as a legitimate organization.The Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor issued a license to the Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU), Thursday, following a Supreme Court ruling recognizing its legitimacy.It took 10 years for the group to be recognized in Korea -- and two months after the Supreme Court decision.After acquiring the official registration from the regional labor office, leaders of the union showed their excitement.“Across the country, the working conditions for migrant workers are bad, damaged by delayed payments of wages as well as verbal and physical abuse,&

Aug 21, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Migrant workers' union recognized
South Korea

Popular Hongdae club may shut down

People line up outside of “Night & Music,” a club in Hongdae, Seoul, in this file photo. A revised law may push the establishment, now registered as an ordinary restaurant, to close down unless it obtains a new license as a bar. / Korea TimesBy Kim Se-jeong A popular Seoul club known for playing 90's pop music and attracting large crowds may face closure next year unless it obtains a new license, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Thursday.The Night & Music club in Hongdae and many other venues in that neighborhood have an uncertain future due to a revised law that takes effect on Feb. 19, 2016.The new regulation includes a clause on establishments registered as “ordinary restaurants” which will ban customers from singing and dancing as well as the venue using a sound system.Previously, the law stated that restaurants can cook and sell food along with alcohol, but did not specifically state that singing or dancing was prohibited.To host singing and dancing, such establishments will have to register as “bars” u

Aug 20, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Popular Hongdae club may shut down
Travel & Food

Try Millennium Seoul Hilton's new room via summer package

A view to Mt. Nam from one of the hotel rooms/ Courtesy of Millennium Seoul HiltonBy Kim Se-jeongMillennium Seoul Hilton has recently completed its room renovation, making itself more attractive in the competitive market in Korea.The hotel’s ongoing summer package is a chance to try out the rooms, which is available until Aug. 31.The renovated rooms feature several features: free Wi-Fi; Herman Miller ergonomic chairs and more spacious workstations; LED lighting; 42-inch LED television; a bidet on the toilet; larger and more secure in-room safes; upgraded mini-bar; and improved bedside reading lights.“The new generation of guestrooms features a sophisticated design with refined, modernized lines and simplified decor that appeals to distinguished business guests and upscale travelers alike,” said the hotel through a statement.“Blending technology with aesthetics, the large LED TV disappears into the dark wood walls and the eco-friendly LED lighting illuminates the room seamlessly without interrupting the elegantly minimalist features. The fluidity of the abstrac

Aug 20, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Try Millennium Seoul Hilton's new room via summer package
Travel & Food

Citadines Haeundae Busan welcomes all travelers

Citadines Haeundae Busan's one-bedroom premier suite / Courtesy of Citadines Haeundae BusanBy Kim Se-jeongIf you want to make your trip to Busan more affordable, a serviced residence like one in Citadines Haeundae Busan might be at the perfect option, as it has a fully functional kitchen, which can save you a lot of money.The greatest feature of Citadines, which opened less than a week ago, is its location. It is only a five-minute walk from Haeundae Beach, the country’s most popular beach, and its apartments have a panoramic view of the ocean. It is also close to Busan Yachting Center, Mt. Jangsang, Haeundae Hot Springs, Solbat Art Village, Gwangan Bridge and other major tourist attractions.The serviced residence property provides a safe and comfortable accommodation for tourists, as well as indoor entertainment, namely a movie theater and a shopping center on the lower floors of the building.Each serviced apartment has a kitchen outfitted with glassware, crockery, cutlery and other utensils, as well as a refrigerator, rice cooker, electric kettle and toaster. It is also equip

Aug 20, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Citadines Haeundae Busan welcomes all travelers
Travel & Food

Grand Hyatt Seoul to launch mobile app

Grand Hyatt Seoul’s brand recognition relies on its facilities and services. Its outdoor swimming pool is one of the most famous summer destinations for families in Seoul. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt SeoulAdrian Slater, Grand Hyatt Seoul’s general managerBy Kim Se-jeongGrand Hyatt Seoul is launching a mobile application on Sept. 1, and it will not just be for people who wish to book a room or to find special promotions.“It is a lifestyle app,” Adrian Slater, the hotel’s new general manager said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.Besides providing information about the hotel, the app, called Grand Hyatt Seoul, will have information on major tourist attractions, galleries, museums, restaurants and bars in Seoul.“It will be a city guide advising you on which shops to go to or where to visit in the neighborhood,” Slater said.Grand Hyatt Seoul’s new mobile applicationIt will also offer other useful information, such as the nearest supermarket, drug store or a hair dresser in your neighborhood, using a map.&ldquo

Aug 20, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Grand Hyatt Seoul to launch mobile app
South Korea

Underwater inspection to salvage Sewol begins

A barge and a towing vessel of Shanghai Salvage arrive at the scene of the ferry Sewol disaster in the waters off Jindo, South Jeolla Province, Sunday. Underwater inspections began Wednesday for the one-year project to raise the sunken ferry./ YonhapChinese divers examine condition of ferryBy Kim Se-jeong A Chinese salvage company has started its underwater operation to recover the wreckage of the ferry Sewol. The Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries said Wednesday that dozens of divers from Shanghai Salvage consortium dived into the sea off Jindo, South Jeolla Province, at around 2 p.m.This comes 490 days after the tragedy took place on April 16 last year, and 281 days since the Korean authorities stopped searching for missing passengers on Nov. 11 due to the water temperature.The divers started the inspection using a “sea base” which Shanghai Salvage constructed using a barge, a tugboat and other equipment last week. The consortium has brought in 96 divers for the complex operation. They will study the condition of the ferry and the notoriously strong water current

Aug 19, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
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