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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

'Instant food raises chances of cancer'

By Kim Se-jeongChances of getting stomach cancer for those who eat instant food can be at least four times higher than those who do not eat it, according a study released Tuesday. Although instant food’s negative impact on health is widely known, this is the first time a link between stomach cancer and consumption of it has been studied in Korea. According to the Korea Public Health Association which conducted the study, consistent consumption of instant food can increase the chances of getting stomach cancer by 4.37 times. The Kunsan National University’s nursing department monitored 103 stomach cancer patients between January and August 2012 and compared data collected from them with 141 healthy adults. Professor Yoo Yang-Gyeong led the survey. Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of death among Koreans. Among men between 34 and 64 years old, stomach cancer is the No.1 cause of death, while it is fourth among women in the same age group, following thyroid, breast and colon cancer.Equally important are dietary habits, alcohol consumption an

Apr 14, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Marriage immigration dips after new visa regulations

By Kim Se-jeongThe number of immigrants who settled here through marriage has declined sharply after toughened visa regulations went into effect in April last year, according to a study released Friday.The Korea Multi-Culture Research Institute, a private think tank, said the number of F-6 visas issued by the Korean Embassy in Vietnam was almost halved, from 5,708 in 2013 to 2,967 in 2014. Those visas are issued to marriage migrants.Kim Jong-wook, a researcher from the institute, said the issuing of visas also declined in other Asian countries due to the revised visa regulations requiring brides to have an advanced level of Korean language proficiency during visa interviews, and requiring Korean spouses to prove their economic capability to support the spouse and family.Government officials said the strengthened visa rules were in response to recurring family problems involving interracial couples. According to statistics, domestic violence was especially high among interracial couples compared with others.But Kim was critical of the toughened regulations.“That will not solve f

Apr 10, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

'Hotel covered up elevator accident'

By Kim Se-jeong Conrad Seoul is accused of covering up an accident in which one of the hotel’s elevators carrying two passengers stopped while descending in March.The passengers were locked in the elevator for 10 minutes before being rescued and no one was reported injured.According to the Korea Elevator Safety Institute (KESI), the hotel did not report the accident to the institute, which is required by law. Any elevator accident with a passenger onboard is considered serious, and the elevator manager is obliged to notify the institute. A violator can be fined up to 5 million won ($4,570).The hotel said, “It is not the hotel’s responsibility to report the case to the relevant authority. This is the responsibility of the lift management company.”The accident happened on March 13 as one of the elevators descending from the hotel’s 29th floor stopped on the 13th floor.One of the two passengers told a local TV station, claiming that the elevator fall was like a free fall. “I heard a sound similar to that of a screw getting loose and fell to the 1

Apr 10, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Travel & Food

HOTEL LOBBY

 The Grand Hilton Seoul has started a new shuttle bus service from Hongik University subway station to the hotel from April 1. The shuttle bus leaves from exit No. 3 and stops in front of Olive Young at the LG Palace Building outside exit No. 9, before heading to the hotel. The bus runs from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at one-hour intervals. For more information about the shuttle schedule, call (02)3216-5656.  The Renaissance Seoul Hotel presents three “Spring Weekend” packages until May 31. All three packages include the use of the indoor swimming pool, Renaissance Recreation Center and a 50-percent discount for a sauna. The “One-Fine Day” package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room with common benefits. The package costs 180,000 won (tax excluded). The “One-Sweet Day” package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast for two at Café Elysee, free Wi-Fi and two tickets to Changkyung Palace on top of common benefits. The package costs 230,000 won. The “One-Beautiful Day” package includes a one-night st

Apr 9, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
HOTEL LOBBY
South Korea

Mayfield Hotel School nurtures hospitality professionals

Mayfield Hotel School is run by Mayfield Hotel and Resort, and that appeals to aspirig hospitality professionals. / Courtesy of Mayfield Hotel & ResortBy Kim Se-jeong For Kim Tae-wook, 30, and Choi Yeon-hee, 25, Mayfield Hotel School helped their dreams come true.Both trained at the academy for two years and are now working for Mayfield Hotel and Resort, which is located right next to the school, near Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. Kim works at the Korean restaurant, Bongraeheon, while Choi at the buffet restaurant, Michelin.“There was no better option than Mayfield Hotel School because the school is run by the hotel,” Kim recalled and his sentiment is shared by Choi and the almost 1,000 students who are currently studying at the school.The school, which opened in 2010, specializes in hotel management and is slowly earning recognition among hotels and prospective students. “Hotels prefer students from this school because they have hands-on experience,” Song Won-kyung, the school administration team leader, told The Korea Times. &ldquo

Apr 9, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Mayfield Hotel School nurtures hospitality professionals
Travel & Food

Enjoy cherry blossom season at hotels

Grand Hyatt Seoul is near Mt. Nam which is famous among cherry blossom enthusiasts. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongCherry blossom trees in Seoul are in full bloom this week and for the next 10 to 12 days, according to experts.The Korea Times has chosen Yeouido, Mt. Nam and Mt. Acha as best spots to enjoy the shower of cherry blossoms from the capital. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is currently under way in Yeouido until April 15. Meanwhile, Mt. Nam’s cherry blossom trees are attracting tourists who also enjoy mountain hikes and smelling other spring buds. Mt. Acha in the eastern part of the city is relatively unknown compared to Yeouido and Mt. Nam, but its natural beauty at this time of the year is nothing less than those of the other two, according to local residents. To cater to tourists and locals during this season, hotels close to these three places are offering room packages, take-out lunch boxes, restaurant promotion and a street festival. YeouidoConrad Seoul’s “Luxury Moment” package includes a one-night stay in a room with vi

Apr 9, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Enjoy cherry blossom season at hotels
South Korea

Hepburn's son to plant Sewol memorial trees

Sean H. Ferrer, a son of late British actress Audrey Hepburn, speaks about a plan to plant trees in memory of the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy during a press conference in central Seoul, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongThe son of late British actress Audrey Hepburn, Sean H. Ferrer, said Thursday he will plant a memorial forest on Jindo, an island in South Jeolla Province, for the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy which occurred one year ago this month.“Instead of sending flowers to families, we wished to create something beautiful and natural,” Ferrer said during a press conference held in Seoul. “We want to create a platform that will bring some feelings of hope and comfort and that will create a place in which everyone can work toward the future.”He flew in to Korea with his wife, Karin, and his five children to announce the project.The Sewol Memorial Forest will be located on the hill of the island near Paengmok Port, overlooking the site of the incident. The local government donated the land for the project.Tree Planet, a local venture, is Ferrer&r

Apr 9, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
People & Events

Woman to lead food, drug safety ministry

Kim Seung-heeBy Kim Se-jeong Cheong Wa Dae appointed Kim Seung-hee as the new minister for food and drug safety, Monday.Kim, 61, has served as vice minister at the ministry since December 2011.“She has shown professionalism through her extensive work at the ministry,” Cheong Wa Dae’s spokesman Min Kyung-wook said.Born in Seoul, Kim earned a degree in pharmacology from Seoul National University. She also received a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame.Since joining the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 1988, she spent a significant amount of time at the National Institute of Toxicological Research. In April 2009, she became the institute’s director.In the same month, the institute changed its name to the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, and she was appointed to lead the new institute. She served there for two years, before being appointed as the vice minister in 2011.Kim’s appointment came after her predecessor, Chung Seung, resigned last month to run in the parliamentary by-elections next month. 

Apr 6, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Woman to lead food, drug safety ministry
Defense

School changing lunch menu for Muslim students

By Kim Se-jeongSixteen students at Wongok Elementary School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, have different lunch menus, sometimes.As Muslims, these students don't eat pork and other meats that were slaughtered without a religious ritual. When the meal has any meat, the students receive tofu or other food containing protein as an alternative. “Students wanted (an alternative). So did parents. We wanted to accommodate their request,” the school Principal, Seo Min-hyeo, said as to how the alternative lunch menu came about. Seo said some parents still complain their children don’t get halal meat, a term for meat slaughtered after the Islamic ritual. She explained her school has a tight budget and can’t provide what the parents requested.Sixteen are among 350 students with different cultural backgrounds at Wongok. Seventeen different countries are represented at the school. A total number of students attending the elementary school is 442. Among 350, 245 have Chinese background.The school also offers Chinese language courses. “This is to meet the demand fro

Apr 2, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
  • Boosting consumption key for economic turnaround
Defense

'communication is key to multiculturalism'

By Kim Se-jeongShin Suk-jaShin Suk-ja, the new chairwoman of Association of Korea Multicultural Family Support Centers, is facing a tough task.The government is planning to combine 217 family support centers with the Family Health Support Centers, another type of social welfare organizations, in an effort to reduce redundant services.The 217 centers opposed the idea, claiming that the move will make interracial families more vulnerable through reduced services.In an inauguration ceremony last week in Seoul, the new chairwoman  said she’d communicate closely with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to narrow the difference.  “Our coordination is important in delivering quality services to interracial families. I will work to promote effective communications between the two organizations,” she said.The Korea Multicultural Family Support Centers are the centerpiece of the government’s interracial family support policy. The first center opened in 2006. “They are a very special minority group in the society that needs specialized support

Apr 2, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
'communication is key to multiculturalism'
  • Boosting consumption key for economic turnaround
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