Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Activists find hope in technology to stop animal cruelty in fashion, scientific research

Holding a banner reading, “I Am Not Food,” activists from the animal rights group, CARE, protest against dog meat consumption in Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, in this January 2018 file photo. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulCo-authors of 'Animalkind' say humans share Earth with other living beingsBy Kang Hyun-kyung“Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion” by Ingrid Newkirk and Gene StoneHumans are superior to animals and this superiority is how the former became the master of this planet, enslaving other living beings to serve their needs. This notion of the hierarchical human-animal relationship has remained predominant since the onset of history. The new book about animal rights, titled “Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion” (hereafter “Animalkind”), written by Ingrid Newkirk and Gene Stone, critically reviews the human-centered worldview that has propagated the indiscriminate exploitation of animals to fu

Dec 3, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Activists find hope in technology to stop animal cruelty in fashion, scientific research

Korea, France to collaborate in scientific analysis of 'Jikji'

The cover of the second volume of “Jikji,” currently kept at the National Library of France / Courtesy of Cheongju Jikji Korea OrganizationBy Park Han-solCheongju city government in North Chungcheong Province and two of France's national institutions will launch a joint scientific project to analyze “Jikji Simche Yojeol,” better known as “Jikji” ― the world's oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type.The city signed a memorandum of understanding, Friday, with the National Library of France, where the only extant original copy of “Jikji” is kept, and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).The analysis of the book's materials and its state of preservation will be carried out by the Cheongju Early Printing Museum, Chungbuk National University's paper-based artifacts preservation center and CNRS's conservation and analysis center. The research findings will be announced via international academic journals and conferences.Through this collaborative research, Cheongju will push ahead with its project to produce

Nov 28, 2021By Park Han-sol

Korea, France to collaborate in scientific analysis of 'Jikji'

Book predicts AI-powered future based on SF movies, dramas

By Kang Hyun-kyung “The Portrait of Posthuman' by MIDAS BOOKS “The Portrait of Posthuman,” published in October by MIDAS BOOKS, offers a sneak peek into a dystopian future powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and questions whether ceaseless human endeavors to create highly-intelligent entities will turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Author Kim Sae-won starts the discussion with her self-raised question of whether the evolution of modern humans will end with homo sapiens, by reviewing the history of robot technology and examining 16 science fiction movies and dramas portraying future societies based on the creators' imaginations. In part 1 of the book, Kim addresses automata, which is believed to be the earliest form of robot, cyborg and AI technology before looking into various discourses about trans-humanism and post-humanism. In part 2, the author revisits futuristic movies and dramas from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 epic science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey

Nov 28, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Book predicts AI-powered future based on SF movies, dramas

Related images Pandemic can't stop literary passion

By Kang Hyun-kyungDue to her extremely busy academic schedule, Min Eun-kyung, a professor at Seoul National University and one of three judges of The Korea Times Modern Literature Awards, initially planned to just drop by the award ceremony held at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday, to say hello to the participants. But she chose to stay until the very end of the ceremony, and even had lunch with other attendees afterward. Asked why she decided to stay until the end of the event, the soft-spoken English literature professor said she was so touched by the literature-loving people who had gathered there. “I am struggling managing my time these days because there are so many things to do, but here I got comfort. I'm glad to know that there are still people who are in love with literature,” she said. “I'm relieved.” Novelist Lee Jung-myung reads The Korea Times during the 52nd Korea Times Modern Literature Translation Awards at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. He later read an excerpt of his latest book “Broken Summer.” Korea Time

Nov 24, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

[Related images] Pandemic can't stop literary passion

Future of literary translation addressed during Korea Times award ceremony

Book reveals uncomfortable truth about 'Squid Game's global success

A scene from the dystopian Netflix series “Squid Game” / Courtesy of NetflixNew book untangles how Netflix pays studios and why Korean creators cannot amass fortunes despite global success By Kang Hyun-kyungBook cover for “Content Will be All the More Important in 2022” by Mirae BooksShortly after the dystopian drama series, “Squid Game,” became a global sensation following its ground-breaking debut in September on Netflix, a South Korean film producer's social media post caught the eyes of those in the entertainment industry. Sharing his thoughts about the implications of the Korean drama's unprecedented global success, Won Dong-yeon, president of the Seoul-based film studio, Real Rise, which released the mega-hit, “Along with the Gods” movies, compared “Squid Game” to “an underpaid Major League Baseball slugger who hit 40 home runs in his debut season.” “What is likely to happen in the near future is that the clubs (referring metaphorically to the U.S.-based streaming giants) will seek out another talente

Nov 19, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Book reveals uncomfortable truth about 'Squid Game's global success

Some languages survive colonialism, while others go extinct

Chinese newspapers with front-pages showing Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, at a newspaper stall in Beijing, China, on Nov. 12. EPA-Yonhap'Speak Not' underscores community members' determination to protect their languages as a vital factor for its survivalBy Kang Hyun-kyung“Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language” by James GriffithsJames Griffiths' new book, “Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language,” released on Oct. 21 by Zed Books/Bloomsbury, deals with the rare but grave topic of the survival and extinction of minority languages in times of historical turmoil. The fate of minority languages, to a large extent, hinges on the determination of people to protect their language and their persistent, unwavering efforts to make that happen, as seen in the Welsh nationalists' successful movements to preserve their language, the book argues. According to the author, colonialism and imperialism are two formidable forces behind the killing and dying out of minority la

Nov 15, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Some languages survive colonialism, while others go extinct

USFK veteran's latest novel tackles military sex crimes

The cover of "War Women" by Martin Limon / Courtesy of Soho Press By Jon DunbarAfter a year off due to COVID-19 delays, the fictional CID agents George Sueno and Ernie Bascom are finally back in action, patrolling 1970s-era Itaewon and locations across Korea. This time, while trying to help out friends, they run up against North Korean agents while also finding themselves caught in a gender war within U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) ranks. “War Women” is author Martin Limon's 15th book in the Sueno and Bascom series, based loosely on his own memories and impressions serving in Korea from the 1960s to 1980s. “None of my stories are based on real-life incidents. I think it's fair to say that they are inspired by numerous real-life incidents that I either experienced directly or was told about or read about during my 20 years in the army, and my five tours in the ROK. Then I add a huge dollop of imagination and, I hope, story-telling acumen,” Limon told The Korea Times.“I vis

Nov 9, 2021By Jon Dunbar

USFK veteran's latest novel tackles military sex crimes

Korean War mural in Washington D.C. explained in US designer's memoir

Lee Joon-seok, center, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party, walks past a mural at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in this Sept. 23 file photo. Designed by Louis Nelson, the mural featuring the faces of 2,400 service members of the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War was dedicated July 27, 1995. Yonhap Louis Nelson's memoir 'Mosaic: War Monument Mystery' will be released later this weekBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. visually illustrates how the South Korea-U.S. alliance began. The memorial features two iconic installments: the 164-feet black granite mural showcasing the faces of 2,400 service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Korean War and, adjacent, Frank Gaylord's three-dimensional stainless-steel sculptures of 19 warriors to commemorate those who fought to defend freedom in South Korea. Since its grandiose dedication on July 27, 1995 with the participations of the the

Nov 8, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korean War mural in Washington D.C. explained in US designer's memoir

South Korea invites foreign Korean War veterans ahead of event to honor UN troops

'Pandemic can't stop us': SIWA bazaar goes online

Ghanaian Ambassador to South Korea Charis Margaretha Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes poses near a table showcasing cultural products of her country which will be sold during Seoul International Women's Association's online bazaar to be held at siwakorea.com from Nov. 8 to 21. Courtesy of Nora Gyuris Int'l women's group's annual charity event this year to feature gourmet foodBy Kang Hyun-kyungBottles of baobab oil, shea butter in plastic containers, chocolate bars and pieces of colorful fabric are placed on a small table in a corner of the Azaleas Room of the brand-new Fairmont Ambassador Hotel on Yeouido, Seoul. Also placed behind them are three oil paintings created by Ghanaian artist Nsiah. One after another, Ghanaian diplomat Isabella Sauponey was putting items in place attentively and trying to make room for another item she had brought from her embassy in Seoul. “These are $150 each,” she said, pointing to one of the oil paintings. “The artist used real sand here a

Nov 3, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

'Pandemic can't stop us': SIWA bazaar goes online

Park Kyung-ni's Gangwon home becomes museum dedicated to literary giant

Novelist Park Kyung-ni at her residence in Wonju, Gangwon Province in 2008 / Korea Times fileBy Park Han-solThe last residence occupied by Park Kyung-ni (1926-2008), one of Korea's literary giants, in Wonju, Gangwon Province, will open its doors to the public as the Park Kyung-ni Museum, Thursday.The museum ― consisting of the novelist's house and the neighboring Toji Culture Center ― will host a permanent exhibition that celebrates Park's literary achievements, spanning more than five decades.While living in her Gangwon home from 1998 until her death from lung cancer in 2008, Park authored several poem and essay collections, as well as the incomplete novel, “Butterfly, Let's Go to the Blue Mountain.”Born in 1926 in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, the celebrated novelist made her official literary debut in 1956 with the publication of two short stories, “Calculations” (1955) and “Black is Black, White is White” (1956) through Hyundae Munhak.Throughout her career, she wrote nearly 100 novels, short stories and poems, including: “The Age

Oct 27, 2021By Park Han-sol

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