Korean variety shows repeat success abroad Singer Yim Jae-bum performs in the competition “I Am a Singer” in this filephoto.‘I Am a Singer,’ ‘We Got Married’ gaining popularity “We Got Married” “Running Man”“Dad, Where Are You Going?”By Chung Ah-youngJust a few years ago, cast members, including Yoo Jae-suk, of Korean top-rated variety show “Infinite Challenge” were not noticed by the Japanese audience when they shot the program in the heart of Tokyo. They shouted and sometimes behaved oddly to draw the attention of the Japanese citizens but to no particular avail. However, if they appeared there now, their reactions might be different from what they were because more foreign audiences are watching Korean entertainment shows these days. The Korean variety shows are recently emerging as cultural content amid the far-flung hallyu phenomenon as K-pop stars are frequently appearing in the shows. The recent phenomenon is a focus on localization of the Korean programs to cater to their own viewers’ tastes. The licensesApr 30, 2013
CJ emerging as culture, food, logistics giant A CJ Korea Express worker delivers express mail. Lee Jae-hyunCJ Group ChairmanBy Park Si-sooOn a Saturday afternoon in Shanghai, college student Wang Shu is watching the Korean film “Masquerade” at home. Feeling tempted to buy a shirt shown in the movie, he hooks up to an Internet shopping mall and places an order for an identical one. An online invoice informs him that local logistics firm CJ Korea Express will handle the shirt’s delivery.Wang leaves home to meet his girlfriend at nearby multiplex cinema CGV. On the way, he hums along to songs of six-member boy band TIMEZ. Meeting his girlfriend, he guides her to the Korean restaurant “Bibigo” in the cinema and has her try his favorite Korean dish “Bibimbap” (rice mixed with assorted vegetables).They wrap up their dinner with a cup of brewed coffee and a piece of small chocolate cake at franchise cafe Tous les Jours and walk into a theater to watch the latest Korea-Chinese romantic comedy, Wedding Invitation.”A sample of Korea’s signature dish “bibimbap” avApr 29, 2013
'Hanbok' fashion show due for multicultural families Members of Rainbow Choir composed of children from multiracial families pose in this promotional photo. / Courtesy of Center for Multicultural KoreaBy Kim Ji-soo Leading “hanbok” or traditional Korean attire designer Lee Young-hee will host a fashion show Monday with children of multiracial families.Singer Yoo Yeol and MC Olivia, whose mother is French, will host the first part of the show. The Rainbow Choir from the Center for Multicultural Korea will perform before the 10-thematic fashion shows that multicultural families will present wearing hanbok Lee created for them.The fashion show that will be held at the Millennium Hilton Seoul is supported by Simone, a local handbag maker. Other participants include Center for Multicultural Korea and the multicultural family support center of the Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Companies including Simone, Orion, OKF, CJ O Shopping will prepare gifts for children on the day.Participating in the fashion show are an estimated 80 multicultural family members including the family of Andrew MiApr 28, 2013
Sample flavors of traditional marts Members from multicultural families pose before starting a tour of a traditional market in this 2011 file photo. / Courtesy of Agency for Traditional Market Administration15 tours to give real feel of KoreaBy Kim Ji-sooTo browse through a market is a way to get a sliver of daily human drama. The products on stalls and on display seem to reflect creativity and entrepreneurial spirit while seeing people haggle over prices gives a strange sense of camaraderie that people’s lives are similar the world over.A tour program is under way to provide a chance to discover the charms of traditional markets as well as areas in Korea.Take for instance Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province. Every year, it hosts a royal azalea festival in May and a ginseng festival in October. It also plays host to a specialty market held at Punggi scholar’s village ginseng market. The effects of ginseng are well known, but the cool and smooth man-made silk of Punggi is a new discoveryApr 28, 2013
Comedy tackles grim job market By Baek Byung-yeulThis is a screen capture of the MBC Television show “Infinite Challenge.”Television comedies have traditionally functioned as outlets for viewers seeking a brief break from their mundane daily lives. As difficult times turn the Korean office experience from banal to brutal, disturbing issues about unemployment and cut-throat competition are beginning to be represented in these shows.It’s not an easy line to walk: it’s hard to find a place for humor when the realities are daunting and immediate for viewers. However, these shows can’t afford to be weepy either for ratings’ sake. MBC television’s ``Infinite Challenge,’’ a challenge-based reality show mixed with sketch comedy that has been the country’s most-watched television product for nearly a decade, made a gamely attempt to hit that elusive balance in its latest episode that aired Saturday. In what appeared to be a parody of ``The Office,’’ the British-inspired American sitcom that was a satire on the modern workplace, and the musical ``LApr 28, 2013
Boxed lunch sales skyrocket Slump pinches salaried workers' pocketBy Park Si-sooA bad economy is not always bad to all.There are companies that cash in on such times. For them, the prolonged economic downturn might be something they hope will continue forever.Domestic boxed lunch makers are among the biggest beneficiaries. Sales of the mass-produced meals at convenience stores surged a whopping 65 percent during the first half of April, compared with the same period last year, according to the country’s biggest convenience store chain CU. The company also reported a 52.2 percent sales increase of such lunches during January-March from a year earlier, indicating that demand for the ready-made meals is on the rise.A customer picks up a boxed lunch at a convenience store in Seoul. Domestic convenience stores have seen double-digit sales growth of boxed lunches as people cut their spending on lunch amid the prolonged economic downturn. Korea Times fileAnother leading convenience store brand 7-Eleven said its lunch box sales have jumped 61 percent so far this year, compared with the corresponding period of lasApr 26, 2013
Osong expo to boost global presence of hallyu Conceptual view of hallyu pavilionBy Shim Jae-yunEager to boost the global presence of hallyu (the Korean wave), the Osong Cosmetics & Beauty Expo 2013 will step up efforts to create a new trend through the forthcoming beauty fair, according to the event's organizing committee, Wednesday. Toward that end, the organizer is seeking to extend links to hallyu by setting up five specialized zones in the Korea Fever Culture Pavilion ― the Beauty of Korean Culture, Soul of Korean Culture, Celebrities of Korean Culture, Dynamic Korea and K-World– on 293,000 square meters. The zones will feature various artifacts showing the traditional beauty of Korea alongside video clips about the unique Korean culture and spirit, for instance, affection, harmony and patience. The organizing committee said visitors will have opportunities to learn about how the country has emerged as a strong nation in the information and technology sector just six decades after it was devastated by the 1950-53 Korean War. The exhibitions will allow visitors to understand the background of theApr 25, 2013
Korean hospitals come to foreigners' rescue Puntsag Khandsuren, left, a Mongolian patient who underwent knee replacement surgery here, poses with her two daughters living in Korea at Wellton Bone and Joint Hospital in Balsan-dong, western Seoul./ Courtesy of Wellton Bone and Joint Hospital By Chung Ah-young Puntsag Khandsuren, a 73-year-old Mongolian, couldn’t walk even a few steps without a cane because of severe pain in her knees. She had serious arthritis who needed to use pain killers every day.Khandsuren always stayed alone at home because she couldn’t move by herself. She couldn’t go to hospital because she lives in a small rural village two hours away from Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital; and also the cost discouraged her from even thinking of treatment.But her suffering is now at an end after she underwent knee replacement surgery at the Wellton Bone and Joint Hospital in Balsan-dong, western Seoul. Now she can walk without a cane.“I can’t believe I can walk even just a few hours after the surgery,” she said in an interview with The Korea Times.Khandsuren undeApr 25, 2013
'Gentleman' for No. 1 on Billboard Psy waves during a news conference at Incheon International Airport Thursday before heading to the United States to promote his latest single “Gentleman.” / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiRapper Psy displayed hope and confidence before departing to the United States to promote his new single, “Gentleman.”“After two to three weeks, ‘Gentleman’ will be on track. While I am in the U.S., I will promote the song,” said the singer at a press conference.The 36-year-old headed for New York, leaving behind fans and flash-popping media corps who crowded Incheon International Airport to catch a glimpse of him.“It ranked fifth, thanks to the support from my fans in Korea. I will take on challenges one by one until I can bring good news to my fans,” he said.“Gentleman” is in fifth place on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The song made its debut at No. 12 when it was released on April 12. Billboard magazine said the song won top Streaming and Digital Gainer honors following its first full week of availability.However, it stated the lacApr 25, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Psy's 'Gentleman' jumps to 5th in main billboard chart South Korean rapper Psy's "Gentleman" galloped to fifth place on the Billboard's main chart this week thanks to increased downloads and sales, its official magazine said Wednesday. "K-Pop star PSY blasts into the Hot 100's top 10 with 'Gentleman,' which wins top Streaming and Digital Gainer honors following its first full week of availability," it said. "Gentleman" ranked 12th last week. "Gentleman" bounded into the top 10 "fueled primarily by a 60% gain in streaming, as it tallies a second week at No. 1 on Streaming Songs with 13.9 million U.S. streams," said the online magazine, billboardbiz.com.Apr 25, 2013
