Voices that care Cantabella Children’s Chorus from the United StatesLa Schola from SwitzerlandWorld Vision Korea brings int'l youth choirs for helping children Artistic director Kim Hee-churlBy Chung Ah-youngIn 1960, Korean children who were left in disarray after losing their parents during the Korean War (1950-53) were living in an orphanage supported by the World Vision, an international relief agency. Among some 15,000 orphans, 43 musically-gifted children ― 36 girls and seven boys ― found their way through music after joining the inaugurate World Vision Korea Children’s Choir. The choir members toured the world to give singing performances anywhere ― prisons, military units, hospitals and churches ― to those who need comfort through music. Their performances contributed to lifting the national image which was regarded as a war-stricken, hopeless nation into the promising land home of new hopes from children who lost their parents but grew through support and education when the performances were aired across the United States in 1961 through television.InJul 26, 2013
When communication meets hospitality Choi Jung-wha, president of the Corea Image and Communication Institute (CICI), and her husband Didier Beltoise, CEO of Cs, a consultation firm, pose at Westin Chosun Hotel in downtown Seoul, Monday. The couple launched the 5.4 Club, a tourism promotion body, in March./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThis is the second in a series of interviews with “power couples” leading in their respective fields. — ED.By Park Jin-hai"Jeotgal bap” or rice with spicy strips of fermented squidHe is slightly early; she is only few minutes late.But Didier Beltoise, CEO of Cs, a consulting firm, begins to talk to the reporters about himself and his wife, Choi Jung-wha, president of Corea Image Communications Institute (CICI), with the gentle adroit manners of the top hotelier he was.When she arrives, Beltoise and Choi converse naturally in French and English, smoothly moving from one topic to another.The two however do not jut out as personalities; they let the subject of communicating about Korea through five senses come forth more effectively than themselves.It’s theJul 25, 2013
Some celebs learn SNS the hard way Baik Min-jungKi Sung-yeungBy Jung Min-hoCelebrities use social media as effective marketing tools for maintaining their high media profiles. But it only takes a few careless mistakes on Facebook and Twitter for such sites to become the places where careers can crash and burn.Football star Ki Sung-yeung and actor Choi Phillip recently learned the hard way that it’s probably not a good idea to rant at your coach on Facebook or broadcast supportive tweets about your pop singer friends caught slacking off from their mandatory military duty.Two actresses also didn’t get the message early enough and ended up taking a hit to their incomes and perhaps an even bigger hit to their career prospects.Baik Min-jung, part of the cast from the popular musical ``A Tale of Two Cities,’’ found herself under the guillotine of public opinion after she complained about signing autographs for fans on her Facebook page. And then co-star Lim Hye-young was foolish enough to press the ``like’’ button.``I hate autograph events. I don’t want to smile and ask `how was theJul 25, 2013By Jung Min-ho
Lee Young-ae to star in variety show Actress Lee Young-ae as she appeared in an ad in the New York Times.Leading Korean actress Lee Young-ae will make a rare appearance in a special Chuseok holiday program in September.The 42-year-old star of the Korean drama “Jewel in the Palace” will star in the variety show where eight foreign college students majoring in Korean language or Korean literature will camp down at a “hanok” or traditional Korean residence for three days. The show tentatively titled “Welcome” and planned by the network MBC will also pit the students into two teams for a Korean language battle. The first episode planned for September will invite students of Korean language department at the Ankara National University in Turkey.The network officials said that Lee embraced the idea. After giving birth to twins, the actress has largely been promoting popular Korean content overseas. She not only jointly created the “bibimbap” or Korean mixed-rice ad along with Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University and Dokdo advocate that appeared in the NeJul 24, 2013
Ahn Sung-ki Beast to perform at DMZ Singer Kim Jang-hoon will produce the DMZ Festival that takes place Aug. 3.Actor Ahn Sung-ki, Band 36.5 whose vocalist is the famous actor Choi Min-soo and K-pop group Beast participate in "Gyeonggi-do DMZ World Peace Concert" on Aug 3 at Imjingak Nuri Peace Park.Singer Kim Jang-hoon, chief producer of the Peace Concert, announced the primary lineup Tuesday. The other performers include the K-pop girl group f(x), Girl's Day and rookie singer K.HunterThe concert, which will be hosted by Gyeonggi Province, is to convey the peace message in remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the ceasefire of the Korean War (1950-1953). Kim is known for the elaborate concerts that he holds every year.His agency reportedly is planning to invite North Korea Arts Troupe to emphasize the significance of the peace concert. Concert World added that the secondary lineup including foreign artists will be revealed soon.Meanwhile, Kim will go to the United States for his America tour after the peace concert.Jul 24, 2013
Psy, Big Bang to perform in holograms in Everland A holographic performance of Py’s performance is on stage at the K-Pop Hologram hall at Everland, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on July 18. The hall opened to the public on July 20. / YonhapBy Chung Ah-young YG Entertainment opened an exclusive hologram theater dedicated to its K-pop artists at Everland, the nation’s leading theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on July 20.The opening ceremony of K-Pop Hologram: YG at Everland was held in association with Korea Creative Content Agency and KT.Before the launch of the theater, YG whose artists include world-renowned top stars such as Psy, Big Bang and 2NE1 established Next Interactive K Limited (NIK), a joint venture to develop a new platform project based on hologram-based contents. NIK will produce the holographic performances of both local and international artists and distribute the contents globally to various venues such as theme parks.The theater with 383.47 square meters is located in Global Fair at the park and can accommodate some 100 viewers with 30-minute running time.The Everland currently showcases the holJul 24, 2013
One too many K-pop concerts? K-pop artists line up on stage at a special “Music Bank” program that was held in Chile last November in this file photo. The popular music program has been hosting more overseas editions since the growth in the popularity of K-pop. / Korea Times fileCancellations raise questions on quality, contents By Kim Ji-sooSeveral K-pop concerts that had been slated to take place in Southeast Asia this month have been cancelled, raising concerns.The M!Countdown concert scheduled for July 3 in Jakarta, Indonesia was cancelled five days prior to the event. Leading K-pop stars such as Shinhwa, 2PM, 2NE1, BEAST, Sistar, Secret and 4minute were included in the line-up.“There was a problem with issuance of the artists visas, so we decided to cancel the concert to ensure safety for the performers,” said Oh Ji-eun, senior analyst in public relations at CJ E& M said.The M!Countdown concerts are held usually every quarter, and the Indonesian one was planned for the second quarter. The cancellation means that the company will hold the M!Countdown in August, in the third qJul 24, 2013
Shift attention to education for immigrants Rep. Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party, fifth from right in front row, poses with immigrant wives at the Korea Multicultural Museum in northern Seoul, June 15, following a round of discussion regarding various issues about Korean society. Lee launched the “dream school” program to discover immigrant women with intellectual talent and leadership, and bring them into the mainstream of Korean society. / Courtesy of Jasmine Lee’s office.A majority of immigrants still trapped in low-income bracketBy Park Si-sooKorea is at a critical juncture when it comes to dealing with immigrants. How can they be successfully integrated into Korean society? A majority of immigrants are still trapped in the low-income bracket. Landing a high-paying job is tough, although whether this is due to racial discrimination or class bias is open to debate. However, there are some examples of naturalized Koreans who have proven to be highly successful.German-born Lee Charm has headed the state-run Korea Tourism Organization since 2009. Ha Il, a lawyer born in the U.S., enjoys celebrity-likeJul 24, 2013
Self-development key to success Lee Ra, member of the GyeonggiProvincial AssemblyBy Park Si-sooYONGIN, Gyeonggi Province ㅡ While Jasmine Lee has become the most prominent foreign-born politician in Korea, Lee Ra is also gaining attention as a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly. Lee Ra, 37, is a naturalized Korean who emigrated from Mongolia and was elected to her current post in June 2010 as a representative of the Saenuri Party. Lee sees her role as a “beacon of hope” for some 280,000 immigrants, mainly women, who have married Koreans. She believes that education is crucial in leading immigrants into the mainstream of society.Lee came to Korea in 2003 after marrying her husband, a tour agency operator. She studied computer graphic design at Shingu College in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, from 2009 to 2011, and social welfare at Kangnam University from 2011 to early this year. She is currently studying at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of Public Administration.She says that she would never have been elected to her provincial assembly seat if she had not attended university inJul 24, 2013
'For more immigrant lawmakers' This is the seventh in a series, “Multiculturalism: The Great Experiment.” ㅡ ED.By Park Si-sooRep. Jasmine LeeRep. Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party says she is trying hard to convince party leaders to open more parliamentary seats to foreign-born Koreans in the next general elections. “I think the Saenuri party is interested in making another immigrant a lawmaker in the next election,” she said in a recent interview in Yeouido. “But it depends on the result of the provincial elections next year.”She said that more foreign-born lawmakers will help Korea diversify and accept multiculturalism. “I want to be re-elected,” the 36-year-old Philippine-born lawmaker said. “But my primary duty during my term is not re-election, but paving the way for as many immigrants as possible to join the mainstream bodies of society, including the National Assembly and the government.”“I’ve found very smart and talented immigrants living in rural areas,” she said. “I think they would work better than me if they wereJul 24, 2013
