Choi takes his 'art furniture' global Choi Byung-hoon’s bent chair, created in 2007, is one of his famous "afterimage" series. It is now exhibited in the permanet collection of Vitra Design Museume, in Germany. / Courtesy of Choi Byung-hoonNY critics call it 'object of meditation' Choi Byung-hoonBy Park Jin-haiChoi Byung-hoon's artwork is both practical and esthetic. One of the most recognized pieces of the sculptor and art furniture maker is a chair which has a black sheen granite stone at the foot of a laminated and black varnished walnut veneer chair. The over 100-kilogram stone counter-balances the weight of the sitter, giving the bent wood chair balance and function. But at the same time, the stone doubles as a subject of meditation, giving the sitter a moment of peace to ponder over the myriad of years it took to be formed. It now sits in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.Choi, a 61 year-old Seoul-based sculptor, known for pioneering the field of "art furniture" in Korea has explored the relationship between functional objects and art and made them into a whole new May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Suzy helps sick children Suzy of K-pop girl band miss ABy Park Si-sooSuzy of the popular K-pop girl band miss A donated 5 million won ($4,800) to help sick children in South Jeolla Province to celebrate Children’s Day, which falls on Monday. Her birthplace of Gwangju is located in the province.According to her agency, JYP, Suzy visited Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju on April 30 and donated the money to the hospital’s President Moon Kyung-rae. The money will be used to treat five children suffering from cancer or leukemia, the hospital said.Last year, she donated 10 million won for the same purpose, it added. Last week, she donated 50 million won to the Life Share Association in Gwangju to help victims of the Sewol disaster.May 2, 2014
Um Ji-won to marry architect Um Ji-wonBy Park Si-sooActress Um Ji-won, 37, will tie the knot with an architect at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on May 27. She revealed in July she was dating Oh Young-wook, 38. The wedding ceremony will be open to family members and invited quests, her agency said.“Um is modest and emotionally sensitive. She loves to watch movies, paint and read books. In this regard, Oh is considered the perfect match with her,” her agency official said.Um made her acting debut in 2002 in MBC TV’s drama “Golden Wagon.” She has starred in nearly 30 dramas and films, appealing to the public with her cute and sexy image. Her husband-to-be graduated from Yonsei University and currently runs his own building design company.May 2, 2014
Cho named goodwill amb. for Dokdo academy Actor Cho Jae-hyun, left, poses with Prof. Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University after being named PR ambassador for the Dokdo Academy on Friday. / YonhapBy Park Si-sooActor Cho Jae-hyun was named public relations (PR) ambassador of the Dokdo Academy, a non-profit private institute promoting Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islands, at home and abroad.As its ambassador, he will appear in video clips lecturing about the significance of Dokdo in terms of history, politics and the economy, to children and young students. The islets lie roughly halfway between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, so its sovereignty is also claimed by Tokyo.“It’s my honor to take part in a project promoting Dokdo,” he said. “I am upset whenever I read news articles about Japan’s claim to Dokdo. “As PR ambassador, I will do everything I can to promote the fact that Dokdo is Korean territory.”The academy, headed by Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University, was founded on Aug. 15 Independence Day last year. It is located in the IndeMay 2, 2014
'Donation is not obligatory' A student ties a yellow ribbon to a banner, installed next to a donation box, in tribute to the victims of the Sewol disaster, at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on April 25. / YonhapSome stars rapped for making zero donation over Sewol disaster By Park Si-sooDonating money or other valuable materials to help troubled people is a heartwarming act that deserves praise.In this vein, numerous Korean entertainers giving donations to the victims of the deadly ship sinking in waters off the country’s southern coast near Jindo on April 16 should be given due acknowledgement.Regrettably, the reality differs. Numerous netizens are showing a wide gap in recognizing the stars’ donations online. Entertainers making hefty donations are described as “heroes” with warm hearts and profound sympathy, while those making relatively small donations are criticized and ridiculed, even being described as “stingy” or “cold-hearted.” What’s more, there is a verbal onslaught against the stars whose names have yet to maMay 2, 2014
More celebs donate for victims By Kim Ji-sooJun Ji-hyunLee Mi-yeonActress Lee Mi-yeon has donated 100 million won to support the victims of the Sewol tragedy. She made the donation to the Korean Committee for UNICEF.The committee acknowledged receipt of Lee’s donation on April 30 and plans to use the funds to support surviving students in their studies and to provide counseling services, in line with Lee’s request.Father and daughter, Chu Seong-hoon and Chu Sarang, donated 50 million won to the Ansan City Government to support the victims of the Sewol tragedy.Actress Jun Ji-hyun from “My Love from the Star” has donated 100 million won towards the same cause. The actress who is experiencing a second renaissance in her career made the donation under her real name Wang Ji-hyun.Entertainer Lee Hwi-jae and his wife donated 100 million won in the name of their twin sons to the Community Chest of Korea.Singer Kim Jong-gook gave 50 million won and K-pop star U-yee donated 30 million won to the Korea Disaster Relief Association. Comedian Kim Byeong-man and successful screenwriter Kim Eun-sook donateMay 1, 2014
Cool, frothy 'bingsu' arrives early A “bingsu” or shaved-ice summer dessert available at the Millennium Hilton Seoul. Hotels are frontloading the dessert as hot weather is expected to arrive early. / Courtesy of Millennium Hilton SeoulBy Kim Ji-sooThe nation’s hotels are introducing one of Korea’s favorite summer desserts a little early — shaved iced topped with cooked red beans.The Millennium Seoul Hilton’s Oak Room will start “bingsoo” or shaved ice treats starting May 2 through end of August.The hotel has attempted to add healthy ingredients of ginseng to the aromatic flavor of the Italian coffee Illy.With its unique astringent ginseng flavor and a mixture of sweet fruit blended together, ginseng bingsoo priced at 20,000 won is definitely one of the eye- catching items on the menu.Ginseng bingsoo is served with high quality ginseng grounded with fresh fruit. Other menus include natural Boseong green tea with fresh fruit bingsoo at 22,000 won; fresh fruit with jelly and yoghurt mixed together at 22,000 won and aromatic flavor of Italian coffee “Illy&rdqMay 1, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo opens A view of the Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo stands among the edifices housing IT firms in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. / Courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott Seoul PangyoBy Kim Ji-sooPangyo, south of Seoul, is a former laid-back suburb that has been tranforming into a sleek technology zone. Leading gamemaker Nexon moved its company to Pangyo in December 2013 and game developer NCsoft also relocated to Pangyo in September last year. But the community is emerging not only as a host for IT firms but for posh residences and a diverse array of restaurants that attracts even the Seoulites.Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo opened there on April 29, offering 282 rooms, restaurants and meeting rooms.The business hotel brand whose motto is “Refreshing Business” vows to provide the best environment and services to strike a balance between work and rest.Don Cleary, chief operations officer of Marriott International Asia Pacific; Bart Buiring, vice president of the Asia-Pacific region of Marriott International; general manager Paul Cannings of Courtyard by Marriott; and industryMay 1, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Streaming leaves musicians out in cold Shin Dae-chul, center, and other artist unions took part in a cultural and tourism industry forum to examine how to deal with protecting the rights of music creators in this digital industry at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 30. / YonhapHighly digitized market fattens service providers such as MelOn and Bugs MusicGuitarist Shin Dae-chul from rock band Sinawe / YonhapBy Chung Ah-youngThe Korean music industry has scaled unprecedented global heights since Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became an international sensation a couple of years ago.Over the last decade or so, K-pop has been focused on expansion― strong on quantity and quality mostly thanks to the current digital culture, which is crucial for rapidly spreading and sharing music. Korea became the first consumer market for K-pop, which became more than 50 percent digital in 2006 while the global rate was just 38 percent in 2012, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) Recording Industry in Numbers. But if you look closely at numbers and trendMay 1, 2014
Koreans have special feelings for Dokdo A “Visit Korea” ad in Times Square in New York in this 2012 file photo has in the background the Dokdo with yachts sailing nearby. Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University and singer Kim Jang-hoon worked to put the ad in downtown Manhattan. / Courtesy of Seo Kyoung-dukThis is the first of a five-part series on exploring “The Meaning of Dokdo for Koreans” that The Korea Times is carrying out in collaboration with the Northeast Asian History Foundation (NAHF). — ED.By Kim Ji-sooSinger Kim Jang-hoon held an art show in Shanghai with pictures and art work featuring the eastern Korean islets of Dokdo on April 18. At the Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai, the show had photographs of the Dokdo, 3D sculptures, and a photo exhibition on “comfort women.”Kim is a well-known advocate for Dokdo.He together with Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor of general education at Sungshin Women’s University and a Korean PRexpert, in 2008 paid for an ad on Dokdo in the New York Times. Since then, they have held numerous aApr 30, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
