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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

CCTV helps reduce suicides on Han River bridges

By Kim Se-jeong A growing number of people jump from bridges over the Han River in order to commit suicide, but fewer actually die because of a quick rescue system, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), Friday.The city government said that between 2010 and 2014, the number of reported suicide attempts at the bridges grew from 193 to 396, but the number of deaths was down from 87 to 11.It said surveillance cameras installed on the bridges helped save lives. The city government began to install the cameras in 2012 on two bridges ― Mapo and Seogang bridges, the most widely used spots for suicide attempts. In 2012, authorities saved 51.5 percent of the lives of bridge-jumpers, but last year that climbed to 97.2 percent.On Friday, SMG said it will spend 950 million won ($866,472) until 2018, installing 20 cameras on each of the six additional bridges. The SMG said 119 boat crew members can now reach the bridges within four minutes after being alerted about a jumper.

Feb 13, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Consumers protest movie chains

By Kim Se-jeong A coalition of civic groups is stepping up their campaign against three major movie theater chains _ CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox _ accusing them of unethical business practices.The civic groups, including People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), Lawyers for a Democratic Society and the Youth Community Union, protested near a Lotte Cinema theater in Jongno, Seoul, Thursday, saying the chains are ripping customers off.They asked the firms to address the top 10 consumer complaints.“These complaints mean a lot when watching movies is an important pastime activity for Koreans,” a PSPD activist said.The coalition earlier opened up a debate room on an online chatting site, Agora, to compile complaints from moviegoers.The list of complaints included a long period of advertisements prior to the movie; the high price of popcorn and beverages; a restriction on bonus-point usage during weekends; expensive 3D movie prices and charging high prices for the lease of 3D glasses; monopoly and oligopoly among the three operators; expensive parking

Feb 13, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Travel & Food

Hotel lobby

 The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City hotel’s signature restaurant Feast is presenting a variety of grilled meat dishes every Sunday for lunch.Guests can savor different parts of grilled beef, from tenderloin, sirloin to seasoned dishes L.A. galbi and ddeokgalbi. The restaurant also has lamb chops, assorted sausages, grilled chicken and baby skewers, fresh shrimps and abalone. The carving station offers turkey, assorted hams, “pochetta” ― pork stuffed with garlic and rosemary _ and German pork hock. It also has non-meat menus including noodles, dim sum, sashimi, sushi and pizza.The restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The lunch costs 85,000 won per person, (including 10 percent tax). For more information and reservations, call (02) 2211-1710.  The Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo’s buffet restaurant Surachae Dining will offer a special discount for student guests from Feb. 15 until Feb. 22. Students who either will start a new school or graduate this month can enjoy the discount. Four guests should dine to receive the discount and the student

Feb 12, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Hotel lobby
Travel & Food

Hotels offer Seollal packages for those who stay in Seoul

Conrad Seoul offers “Wish Your Luck Package” during Lunar New Year’s holiday. / Courtesy of Conrad SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongPeople staying in Seoul during the Lunar New Year holiday next week have hotel options to consider.The Grand Hilton Seoul’s Lunar New Year packages run from Feb. 17 through 22.The Lotte Hotel Seoul offers “Happy Mom” packages that are exclusive for mothers and available between Feb. 15 and 18, Lunar New Year’s Eve.The first option is for guests who stay with children. This option offers a two-night stay in a superior room, a special spa session for 60 minutes.The Kids Lounge on the 36th floor entertains children with arts and crafts and assorted snacks. The lounge opens at 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. every day. The package costs 300,000 won and guests must stay two nights or more.The second option is for adult clients only. The package offers a two-night stay in a deluxe room on the hotel’s VIP Club Floor, breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktail hour in the Club Lounge and a spa session. The package costs 400,000 won, and tw

Feb 12, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Hotels offer Seollal packages for those who stay in Seoul
Travel & Food

Marriott Dongdaemun becomes icon

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul has been named the second most popular hotel in Seoul by Tripadvisor.com. / Courtesy of JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is surrounded by Heunginjimun, one of the eight gates of Seoul built during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910); Dongdaemun Design Plaza; and Pyeonghwa Market; and Dongdaemun Market.Very close to major tourist sites in the capital, the five-star Marriott property, which celebrated its first anniversary on Feb. 4, has become an icon in the city in only one year.Earlier this year, Tripadvisor.com, a travel website, has identified the hotel as Seoul’s second most popular. Even hotel employees began calling the hotel a “hidden jewelry box” in the city.An Executive Skyview room overlooks Heunginjimun (or Dongdaemun), one of eight gates of Seoul built during the Joseon Kingdom.General Manager Chris Lee said he was happy to see the clientele’s positive reception and proud that hotel has established a sound reputation in only one year since beginning its operations.M

Feb 12, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Marriott Dongdaemun becomes icon
South Korea

Australian lawmaker asks Eximbank not to lend to POSCO E&C

By Kim Se-jeong POSCO E&C, the steelmaker’s construction arm, faces resistance to its major Australian project from an Australian lawmaker and international environmental groups because of the project’s potential impact on the Great Barrier Reef.In a letter sent last week to Eximbank CEO Lee Duk-hoon, Larissa Waters, an Australian senator from Queensland, said, “Eximbank’s finance for this project would be inconsistent with Korea’s focus on fighting global climate change and with President Park Geun-hye’s repeated calls for global action to combat the crisis.”The bank is considering lending money to POSCO E&C, which recently won a $2.3 billion bid to build a coal export terminal at Abbot Point and a railway connection as part of Indian company Adani Mining’s development project.“Big international companies like City Group and the Goldman Sachs Group have walked away from that project because of environmental risks,” Greenpeace Korea said in a press release.The state-affiliated bank said it has not yet decided wh

Feb 11, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Professors, activists, priests rally against nuclear energy

By Kim Se-jeong A group of professors, environmental activists and Catholic priests are embarking on a month-long walking tour that will end in Seoul, to educate people about the dangers of nuclear energy.On Feb. 1, about 10 people began walking from Daejeon, hoping to reach Gwanghwamun in Seoul by March 1. “Nuclear power is a matter of survival, affecting not just me but my grandchildren and their children,” Prof. Sung Won-ki, who teaches electronic engineering at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, said during a telephone interview on Feb. 3 when the group had just left the administrative city of Sejong. “Look at what happened in Fukushima. If that happens in Korea, we will lose everything. Korea is a small country, and an accident can affect the entire nation.”The protesters are carrying a sign that reads “No to nuclear power plants.”They are also handing out fliers about the dangers of nuclear power plants. “People who read the fliers say they did not realize how great the potential threats of nuclear energy are. That make

Feb 8, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Gangneung seeks to become pet industry hub

By Kim Se-jeong                                            The city government of Gangneung in Gangwon Province said it will open a “pet street” dedicated to pets and pet lovers by the end of 2017.According to the city government, the Okcheon district, which is already filled with pet shops, veterinary clinics and pet cafes, will be turned into a pet street. The city will construct a pet play zone and walking paths and add other shops. The city said it will also fund shop owners so they can decorate their shops and put up new signs.“We are hoping to attract more tourists to the city,” said a city official. In particular, the city is targeting visitors to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, he added. The host town is about an hour away by car.This is not the city’s first project involving pets. Last summer, the city attracted beachg

Feb 8, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Danwon High students, Syrian teenage refugees collaborate for photo exhibition

By Kim Se-jeong Eleven Danwon High School students, who survived the Sewol ferry disaster last April, along with Syrian teenage refugees, are presenting their photographic works in an exhibition that will open on Friday.The exhibition “Seoul Meets Za’atari” is a joint project between the Danwon High School students and 15 Syrian teenagers from a refugee camp in Zaatari, Jordan. The refugee camp is where Save the Children, an international humanitarian organization, is running the “Healing and Education through the Arts” project for children traumatized by the civil war.“We wanted the children in each country to share their hearts and heal themselves through the project,” the organization’s Communication Director Kim Seung-jin said. “I hope these children will get to know each other better and tell others their stories with confidence.”Eighty-four of the children’s works under the theme of “Things that Are Most Important to Me” will be on display.The idea for the photography collaboration came from Fren

Feb 5, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Honorary degree for Mario Outlet CEO causes stir

By Kim Se-jeongHong Seong-yeolSogang University is drawing criticism for awarding an honorary doctorate to Mario Outlet CEO Hong Seong-yeol, who has been accused of implementing anti-labor policies.Members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union have been protesting in front of the university’s Seoul campus and the outlet since Wednesday when Hong received the honorary degree “for his contribution to the economy.”“We believe Hong doesn’t deserve it,” the union said in a statement. Among them were former Mario Outlet employees. “The recognition should be given to those who have made social and academic achievements. Hong kicked out his employees and didn’t pay wages on time.”The dispute between management and workers erupted last March when the company hired a third company to manage facility maintenance. While doing so, the management sent the existing maintenance crews a letter asking them to take voluntary redundancy. Some resisted and the company suspended them from working and cut their wages by 30 percent.

Feb 5, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Honorary degree for Mario Outlet CEO causes stir
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