Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Anthony Browne hopes to continue giving pleasure to children with his picture books

Anthony Browne poses for a photo at the exhibition site of “Anthony Browne's Happy Theatre,” currently taking place at Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center. The exhibition will run through Sept. 8.By Anna J. ParkAnthony Browne, one of the world's most loved and celebrated children's book authors and illustrators, visited Korea earlier this week to attend an ongoing large-scale exhibition on his work in southern Seoul. Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Design Museum has been hosting the exhibition, “Anthony Browne's Happy Theatre,” displaying some 200 original drawings by Browne, and other media art pieces inspired by his work. With Browne's popularity among children and their parents in Korea, this exhibition is the sixth of its kind here since the first in 2009. The previous exhibition, “Anthony Browne's Happy Museum,” garnered some 200,000 visitors and more than 40,000 people have already visited this year's event, opened early June.For more than 40 years, the 72-year-old British author's books have earned immense support and love of children fro

Jul 26, 2019By Anna J. Park

Anthony Browne hopes to continue giving pleasure to children with his picture books

Japanese novels, musicians unfazed by consumer boycott

This combined image created by The Korea Times shows girl band TWICE's Japanese member Sana, right, and Japanese books, which have evaded the ongoing consumer boycott in Korea. Korea Times graphic by Cho Sang-wonYet publishers feeling pressure for Japan-bashingBy Kang Hyun-kyungJapanese novels and musicians are two rare creatures remaining in calm waters amid the stormy Japan-bashing in Korea. Koreans are simmering and trying to boycott anything related to the neighboring country as Japan plays its trade card to put pressure on the Korean economy in return for the local court's rulings demanding Japanese companies compensate surviving victims of wartime slave labor. The consumer boycott began earlier this month to target made-in-Japan goods or commodities produced by Japanese manufacturers and has since spread to anything related to Japan, such as outbound tourism to Japan. However, Japanese novels and singers are unfazed by the ongoing consumer boycott.According to the nation's largest bookstore Kyobo Books, Koreans still love Japanese fiction. Every one out of five newly released b

Jul 24, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Japanese novels, musicians unfazed by consumer boycott

Book examines how once war-torn Korea joined '30/50 club'

By Jin Yu-youngAfter the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea was one of the world's poorest countries with its GDP per capita below $100. After only 43 years, it was able to become a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and it recently joined the “30/50 Club,” a group of countries with a gross national income (GNI) of over $30,000 and a population of over 50 million. South Korea is the latest to join the ranks of the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan, and Germany, making it the seventh member of the 30/50 Club.To commemorate this milestone and explain how Korea achieved such a feat, author Hong Sang-Hwa published the book, “30/50 Club: A Dialogue on S. Korea, U.S., China, and N. Korea” which was recently translated into English.“30/50 Club: A Dialogue on S. Korea, U.S., China, and N. Korea” by Hong Sang-hwaHong has published over 15 books, and is considered one of the nation's most popular authors. The book has received attention for its in-depth focus on the relationships between South

Jul 24, 2019

Book examines how once war-torn Korea joined '30/50 club'

Deported Korean American says she's witch hunt victim

Deported Korean American activist Shin Eun-mi is seen on a screen behind director Kim Sang-kyu who attends a news conference at a local theater in Seoul, Monday, to promote his documentary “How Red Are You.” The film features Shin during her trip to South Korea in 2014 when she was on a book tour and claimed North Korea is a welfare state where human rights are protected. Shin was deported to the United States in 2015 and received a five-year travel ban to South Korea. The documentary film will hit local theaters on Aug. 8. / YonhapDocumentary “How Red Are You” featuring deported activist to hit local theaters on Aug. 8 By Kang Hyun-kyungA Korean American, who was deported by the Korean government in 2015 on charges of violating the National Security Law, accused the Korean media of generating fake news about her. During a video press conference at a theater in Seoul's Gwangjin-gu to promote the forthcoming documentary “How Red Are You” which features her during a trip to South Korea in 2014, Shin Eun-mi claimed she is the victim of a witch hunt. D

Jul 22, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Deported Korean American says she's witch hunt victim

Pastor reveals pang of remorse for loss of politician

A man carries a framed photo of the deceased politician Chung Doo-un during his funeral at Yonsei University Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Friday. Chung was found dead last Tuesday on a western section of Mount Bukhan in Seoul. / YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungLee Jang-ho, pastor of the God's Will Kwangsung Church in Seoul, expressed deep remorse over the loss of former lawmaker Chung Doo-un who was found dead last Tuesday on the western section of Mount Bukhan in Seoul.In a social media post, Rev. Lee said Chung was a member of his church.“Upon hearing the news about him, I was trying hard to figure out what went wrong and what drove him to make such an extreme choice,” he wrote in a Facebook post. Lee went on to say that Chung's death prompted him to do some soul-searching to see if he fulfilled his role as a pastor. “I am the pastor of his church and was supposed to guide his soul when he was suffering. I felt guilty and full of remorse for I was not there when he was struggling for his life and let such an incident happen.”Chung (1957-2019) was a three-t

Jul 22, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Pastor reveals pang of remorse for loss of politician

Jeolla dialect 'gwin' defines southern hospitality

Five women pose with big smiles in this June 2018 photo taken in Manho-dong, Mokpo City. Starting in 2014 on the southern island of Jeju, photographer Im Jay-cheon embarked on the discovery photobook sequel and has since released three photobooks, including “Jeollado.” / Courtesy of Noonbit Publishing Co.Photographer, 50 donors join hands to discover Korea By Kang Hyun-kyungWhile mingling with locals to shoot photos in the southwestern region of Jeolla last year for his photobook sequel, Im Jay-cheon, 52, occasionally encountered a problem with the local dialect. They used the word “gwin” a lot, particularly when they described their first impression of, or feelings about, the photographer. Some told him “You look gwin,” or “You're gwin.” Curious about its meaning, he looked it up. According to the dictionary, gwin is a word in the Jeolla dialect widely used among the locals to mean “cute.” Interacting with many locals there for four months, Im said he realized its meaning is much broader than just “cute.” &ldquo

Jul 18, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Jeolla dialect 'gwin' defines southern hospitality

From father to son: Controversial leadership transition puts mega church to the test

Myungsung Church is under fire for controversial leadership transition. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe members of the Presbyterian Church of Korea's (PCK) court met at the Korean Church Centennial Hall in Seoul, Tuesday, to discuss the father-son leadership transfer at Myungsung Church, one of the largest churches in Korea. There, they were expected to reveal their decision on the mega church's controversial leadership transition from Rev. Kim Sam-hwan, its founder, to his first son Kim Ha-na. The meeting began at 11 a.m. and the PCK members continue to discuss the issue into the afternoon. Rev. Kang Heung-koo, the lead arbiter of the PCK court, told reporters that he and the other members were trying hard to reach a decision. He declined to comment on any further details of their meeting. Some speculate the PCK court may not make a decision on the controversial issue and delay any conclusion until September when the organization's General Assembly is scheduled to be held. Outside the centennial hall, activists staged a protest calling for the mega church to reverse the deci

Jul 16, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

From father to son: Controversial leadership transition puts mega church to the test

When justice meets reality

Hwang Ju-myung, chairman of HMP Law and former judge, releases autobiographyBy Jung Min-hoHwang Ju-myung, the author of the e-book "Humans as Humans" / Courtesy of HMP LawWe all want justice ― but what kind? Courts are always crowded with people seeking justice. But far too often, judges disappoint them.That's because, according to former judge Hwang Ju-myung, we all define justice differently and few people are willing to admit that.A court is not a place where justice prevails, and delivering it is not a job of judges or justices ― even though their job titles falsely imply it; rather, Hwang says, their main task is to resolve conflicts when there is a clash of ideas about the abstract, undefinable concept.“In our society, many people still think that judges are there to deliver one true justice. This is why their rulings, in many cases, become the starting point of a new conflict,” he wrote in his autobiography (e-book), “Humans as Humans.”“Instead of saying 'I disagree with the ruling, but I respect that,' many people say 'the ruling is wrong.' So, t

Jul 16, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Ridiculing hypocrites, pretentious society

Shin Yun-bok's “Wolhajeongin” or “Lovers under the Moon” portrays an upper-class man and a gisaeng meeting for a secret union late at night. / Korea Times file'Koreans' Sense of Art' tracing art in which humor runs through By Kang Hyun-kyungArt critic Choi Kwang-jin's new book “Koreans' Sense of Art: Humor” traces Korean artwork, from the ancient to the modern, looking at how Koreans incorporated humor into their art.In Korean art, humor is reflected indirectly, rather than serving as a punch line. For example, artists often derided discrimination based on social class, gender-based discriminatory practices and negative stereotypes about certain groups of people that served as a conduit for injustice or misconduct.Choi observed satirical works of art as an extension of humor. Through their works, their creators confronted the inflexibility and repressiveness of society by ridiculing strict class divisions.Among others, the author mentioned two Joseon-era artists ― Shin Yun-bok and Yun Du-seo ― as two pioneers who dared to ridicule the hypocrites of

Jul 12, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Ridiculing hypocrites, pretentious society

INTERVIEW Ready to move on? How to leave your job wisely

Seo Eu-ra (Seo Merry), the author of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" / Courtesy of Seo Eu-raBy Jung Min-hoThe cover of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" by Seo Eu-raA good job isn't good for everyone. Seo Eu-ra learned this the hard way after working for more than five years at a major law firm in Seoul.“There are some things you just know,” Seo, 30, said in a recent interview. “It was not about the company or the benefits it offered, because I knew I would not want to commit myself to any company. Just like a peach allergy, some people just can't take it, but it is hard to explain why.”But Seo, a freelance translator and author of the book, “Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me,” did not leave without preparation. Here are the things she is now glad that she did ― and didn't do ― before quitting her job.Know your skills for the next jobSome people quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. This wasn't the case for me. I just figured that I was the type of person who would never be happy working at a company.

Jul 8, 2019By Jung Min-ho

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