Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Books tout social media as cash cow

By Kang Hyun-kyungIn the digital age, social media is central. Experts laud digital technology for empowering individuals, who were previously powerless and couldn't make their voices heard, to influence the world. Some authors portray social media as cash cows that can help internet users earn more and work less, encouraging those who are sick and tired of nine-to-five jobs to turn their attention to building influential social media presences and selling products as sales representatives or attracting online advertising. Unlike offline business, they claim social media-based startups need no huge investment and naturally there are virtually no financial risks to take even if their businesses don't thrive. Emma Gannon, author of “The Multi-Hyphen Method: Work Less, Create More and Design a Career that Works for You,” is one of the cheerleaders of digital technology. “The Multi-Hyphen Method: Work Less, Create More and Design a Career that Works for You” by Emma GannonThe multi-hyphen lifestyle in her book title refers to diversification of income sources thro

Feb 1, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Rich heir funded mission for Korea's cultural soul

Jeon Hyeong-pil checks a pottery in this undated photo. / Courtesy of Kansong Art MuseumBiography 'Kansong Jeon Hyeon-pil' back in spotlight as this year marks the centenial anniversary of March 1 independence movementBy Kang Hyun-kyungJeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962), better known by his nom de plume Kansong, was one of the nation's top 40 richest men of his time, thanks to the enormous wealth he inherited from his parents.Unlike other rich people who were keen to preserve and even further increase their wealth, Kansong ― a combined word of two Chinese characters together which means "a pine tree sitting nearby a mountain creek" ― was not a money-savvy heir.His priority was not placed on increasing his assets or leading a luxurious lifestyle. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He used his wealth to finance his mission-driven project to collect a wide range of artifacts, from antiques and paintings to ceramic vases to calligraphy, which illustrated that Korea has a splendid cultural heritage. Unlike other antique collectors, he was not self-indulgent. He gathered artifacts for his countr

Jan 25, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Rich heir funded mission for Korea's cultural soul

Farmers, rustic lifestyle captured in photopoetry

The tanned rough and callused back of hands of an old woman are captured in poet-photographer Yang Hae-nam's photo “Coltsfoot.” In this photo taken some 20 years ago, the lady cuts herbs off stems in the front yard of her house. / Photos from Noonbit PublishingPoet-photographer captures farmers, rustic lifestyle to praise Mother NatureBy Kang Hyun-kyungYang Hae-nam, 53, is a multitalented artist based in the midwestern land-locked county of Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province. He writes poems, takes documentary photos and has put them together for photographically illustrated poetry in a book form ― a rare genre dubbed “photopoetry” or “photopoem.” Poet-photographer is not the sole title that defines Yang. He is also a film fanatic and has collected over 3,000 movie posters for decades. He is also a pop music critic.Yang embarked on the rare journey of narrating his photos in 1984 when he joined a local coterie poetry group called “Jwa-do-si,” a term referring to a region situated in the western side of the Jeolla provinces. Although Ya

Jan 20, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Farmers, rustic lifestyle captured in photopoetry

Tom Malmquist shares his most 'raw experience' in first novel

'In Every Moment We Are Still Alive' is a harrowing story of lossBy Kang Aa-youngKorean edition of "In Every Moment We Are Still Alive" by Tom Malmquist“The consultant stamps down the wheel lock of Karin's hospital bed. In a loud voice he addresses the intensive care nurses, who are cutting open her tank top and sports bra: Pregnant woman, week thirty-three, child reportedly in good health, started feeling ill about five days ago with flu-like symptoms...” written in a hectic first-person present tense, a narrator begins the story inside the hospital. As if it's a scene from a medical drama, Tom Malmquist's book “In Every Moment We Are Still Alive,” recently translated into Korean, brings readers into a vividly portrayed tragedy as Tom's partner Karin, who is 33 weeks pregnant, is diagnosed with leukemia and is in a medical crisis closetodeath. Then their daughter, Livia, comes to life through a cesarean section. The book begins as Tom's pregnant wife Karin arrivesat the hospital. Doctors were able to save the baby, however, fail to save the mom from acute le

Jan 18, 2019

Tom Malmquist shares his most 'raw experience' in first novel

Japanese girl taught by Korean to debut as youngest go player

Sumire Nakamura, right, poses with go board game player Yuta Iyama in Osaka, western Japan, Sunday. The Japanese schoolgirl, who trained in Seoul for about two years under the ninth-degree professional player Han Jong-jin, will be 10 when she becomes the youngest professional player as of April 1. / EPA-YonhapBy Park Ji-wonA Japanese school girl Sumire Nakamura, who trained in go, or baduk in Korean, in Seoul for about two years, will become the youngest professional go player in Japan.Officials of the Nihon Ki-in, the largest go organization in Japan, told reporters during a press conference Saturday in Tokyo that the organization has decided to promote Sumire to a professional go player as of April 1 under a special quota for talented young amateurs. The quota was made to nurture players who can compete with go players from overseas countries such as Korea and China, where there are many strong players.She will make an official debut at 10 beating the record of Rina Fujisawa, who was aged 11 years and six months when she became professional nine years ago. Sumire will start her car

Jan 9, 2019By Park Ji-won

Japanese girl taught by Korean to debut as youngest go player

Novelist Yun I-hyeong wins 43rd Yi Sang Literary Award

Novelist Yun I-hyeong Courtesy of MunhaksasangBy Kwak Yeon-sooNovelist Yun I-hyeong was named the winner of the 43rd Yi Sang Literary Award, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Korea, Monday. The 43-year-old won the grand prize for her latest novel, “Their First and Second Cat,” described by the judges as “a trailblazing novel that highlights the importance of loving all living creatures.”The story was published in the November and December issues of local literary magazine Munhaksasang.The judges were unanimous in their choice of winner due to her utterly distinctive depiction of a married couple struggling with hardships in life, including financial difficulties. In the story, the couple eventually gets divorced and the mother takes custody of the daughter.Kwon Yeong-min, Life & Thought's chief editor who was on the judging panel, said he was impressed by how writer Yun depicted divorce without acrimony and hatred. The story and title of the novel were inspired by Yun's experience after the death of her cat, according to the author.“I wa

Jan 8, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo

INTERVIEW 25 French architects find dynamics of Korea in modern architecture

Ssamzigil in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a culture and shopping complex that has a unique design with a theme of path. “Gil” means path in Korean. Kang Min-hee, author “Bonjour Korean architecture” and 25 French architects visited 25 Korean modern architecture sites including Ssamzigil during their 10-day journey to Korea in fall 2013. Courtesy of ArtbooksBy Jung Da-minKorea's national image is often represented by some specific Korean foods, popular culture or ancient traditions such as pansori music.But the real life of Koreans is much broader than these representations, says Kang Min-hee, a Korean architect in Paris. Kang Min-hee, author of “Bonjour Korean architecture.” Korea Times photo by Jung Da-min“A traditional pansori performance has been included at almost every cultural event commemorating Korea-France diplomatic relations and it was good, but made me wonder if we only had pansori to represent Korean culture,” the architect, 37, told The Korea Times during an interview at her Seoul office on Jan. 3.“The popular K-p

Jan 6, 2019

[INTERVIEW] 25 French architects find dynamics of Korea in modern architecture

Notorious drama writer returns with health book

By Park Jin-haiCancer Cells Are Part of Life by Im Sung-hanIm sung-han, 58, a retired drama writer infamous for her extremely nonsensical plots and controversial lines, returned with a book.The theme of the book goes in line with one of her most famous lines in a 2013 drama, which reads “Cancer cells are part of life. So if I try to kill them, I am afraid they would feel that.” The line was delivered by a character declining to receive chemotherapy. Her book came as a surprise to many because it's not about her writing career or knowhow but about health and wellness. The simply designed book in a sky blue cover, which is the writer's own idea to highlight simplicity, bears the bold title “Cancer Cells Are Part of Life,” in reference to the line that gave her the reputation as one of the worst K-drama writers. The 322-page book covers a wide range of 20 health issues that Im has suffered from her entire life, including weight loss, hair loss, high blood pressure, insomnia and cancer. “Good health has been the biggest topic throughout my entire l

Jan 4, 2019By Park Jin-hai

Notorious drama writer returns with health book

Mistakes, failure catalyst for success, book says

By Jin Yu-young Korean-Canadian entrepreneur and author Jae Park outlines the key to success in his latest book, “The Power of TODA(y).”Tracing his background to a humble a family struggling to make ends meet, Park explains how his mistakes and failures became the catalyst for his accomplishments today. “The problem that I had, that many others share, was knowing I could produce so much more, yet the results in my life weren't equal to what I knew my potential was,” he says. But after persisting in his efforts, taking calculated risks and meeting the right people, Park was able to not only pay back his debt but also create a successful business. “The Power of TODA(y)” by Jae ParkThe book is divided into five main sections, with each pertaining to a word in the acronym TODAY2. The acronym serves as the theme of book and the key to developing the right mindset for a better future. By thoroughly discussing each component of his model, the author effectively helps readers take the first step in reaching success.“TODAY” stands for Time, Oppo

Jan 4, 2019

Mistakes, failure catalyst for success, book says

'Fake news cut my career short'

Back in the 1970s, then child actress Choi Yu-ri was a household name. She was all over TV. / Photos from Choi Yu-ri1970s child star tells how baseless media reports ruined her career By Kang Hyun-kyungChoi Yu-ri, a former child star who dominated the small screen in the 1970s, vanished from the public eye in the early 1990s.Stars come and go. Thus few people took her disappearance seriously and Choi was gradually forgotten. After a decades-long hiatus, Choi made a comeback ― this time not as an actress or TV show host, but as an author. Choi, 54, released a memoir in November, tentatively titled “Here I Am” published by Barun Books in which she broke her silence about her suffering from baseless media reports in 1991 and their devastating impact on her TV career. Choi claimed she was a victim of fake news. “In retrospect, what happened to me in 1991 was so unfair and traumatic,” she said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Back then, I regularly entertained suicidal thoughts. I still don't understand why I fell victim to such a disastrous case.

Jan 3, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung

Books