my timesThe Korea Times
Lifestyle

Others

How to deal with office romance

By Park Ji-won, Nam Hyun-woo, Baek Byung-yeulObstacles can challenge us and make us stronger, as long as we’re willing to do what it takes to overcome them.The office, where we spend almost half of our day, has become one of the easiest places to find love these days. But an office romance is not without its challenges. Even though many companies in Korea do not prohibit romance in the office, dating a colleague is still somewhat taboo.“There is a certain atmosphere that if colleagues became lovers, one of them should quit their job or move to another department,” said Park Ji-yoon, a former announcer at a TV show who tied the knot in 2009 with Choi Dong-suk, another announcer at the same broadcast firm.Yet, the stigma against office romance doesn’t seem to stop employees from getting involved with each other.According to a 2013 survey by a matchmaking company Dnoble, 37 percent of 200 workers polled said they are in a secret romance, 62 percent of whom are involved with someone in the office.Long-time office couples have provided tips for how to keep an offic

Jun 18, 2013
How to deal with office romance

Jogye leader election in big mess

Current executive director of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jaseung, and several other monks do a 108-bow at the Jogye Order in Jongno, central Seoul, in repentance of the gambling scandal which occurred in April last year. The 108-bow lasted for 100 days.  / YonhapKorea's largest Buddhist order suffering from new setback to credibility By Baek Byung-yeulSenior monks are competing to become the next leader of the Jogye Order, the country’s largest Buddhist order, and the intensity between the candidates is beginning to turn the race into an ill-tempered competition.The vote to pick the new executive administrative director won’t be until October, but the election is already knee-deep in copious smear campaigns, wild allegations, corruption and cover-ups worthy of a bad Oliver Stone movie.It’s obvious that the debates will get dirtier and backstabbing more barbaric in the coming months and some Buddhist leaders claim an overhaul of the voting process is needed to restore the order’s reputation and dignity."The current election sy

Jun 16, 2013
Jogye leader election in big mess

Turtle Marathon on Sunday

The readers of The Korea Times are encouraged to come to Mt. Nam in downtown Seoul for a stroll this Sunday and participate in the 431th Turtle Marathon. The monthly event organized by the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, has drawn more than 120,000 people since 1978. Choi Wan-geun, the director of the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, will lead the walkathon and winners of the 2013 Miss Korea beauty pageant will also participate. Upon finishing the walk, there will be a prize draw with a Samsung flat-screen television, health foods, accessories and more up for grabs. Middle and high school students who participate in the cleanup afterwards will receive certification for completion of three hours of voluntary work. Admission is free. For more information, visit turtle.hankooki.com. When: June 16, meet at 7:40 a.m. and the walk begins at 8 a.m. Where: Outdoor plaza of the National Theater of Korea, near Dongguk University Station on subway line 3, exit 2 or 6. Inquiries in English: (02) 724-2354 Inquiries in Korean: (

Jun 14, 2013
Turtle Marathon on Sunday

Cultural adaptation

Hi, Dr. P,I am soon coming to teach in Korea, and wanted to know what I should know about Korean culture, so that I know how it is appropriate to act, and what is accepted there. Any special tips, for my benefit, and for the benefit of Koreans I interact with, would be greatly appreciated.Lisa Dear Lisa,First off, I’d like to welcome you to Korea. Living your life in a completely unfamiliar land can be a challenge, but on the other hand it can be a big worry as well. You probably also feel some emotions of instability or insecurity.However, I feel that the principles of living in this world are virtually the same across the map. In the Bible, it says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In Buddhism, it is taught that, “All life should be revered the same, respect as Buddha.”Similarly, the national idea of the founding of Korea is “Hong ik in gan.” This means that we should all have “devotion to the welfare of mankind.” Of course, there will be differences depending on the person, but generally speaking, Korea

Jun 14, 2013
Cultural adaptation

Be smart about using sunscreen

By Yoon Ja-youngMost people know that they should use sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. However, not many choose and use sunscreen products wisely. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Kim Ji-hyun, a dermatologist at Grand Dermatology Clinic, provided tips on how to protect yourself from the summer sunshine. What are ultraviolet rays? Ultraviolet light is just beyond the visible light that our eyes can see. It is categorized into three types — UVA, UVB and UVC — depending on their wavelength. UVC, or the short wave ray that causes skin cancer and is used in germicide lamps, is of little concern because it is mostly absorbed in the ozone layer around the Earth. UVB are medium wave rays that can cause sunburn and skin cancer, and long-wave UVA accelerates the pigmentation and aging of the skin.“As our skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays, the skin produces the pigment melanin to protect itself, but it also causes freckles,” Dr. Kim said. Sunscreen is therefore essential to prevent such skin troubles, but we rarely look a

Jun 14, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Be smart about using sunscreen

Treating menopausal syndrome in Oriental medicine

By Lee Sung-hunGenerally, females in their late ‘40s undergo significant changes in terms of the primary functions of their ovaries, which results in the reduction in female hormonal production and the cessation of fertility. This is called “menopause,” or “climacteric.”Sometimes it is known as “perimenopause” refers to the three to four years of physiological and mental changes which happen prior to and after menopause. The oldest medical book in Oriental medicine, the “Internal Classic” states that a female body undergoes changes every seven years, and that after 49 the vessel responsible for pregnancy loses its vitality and thus menstruation ceases and the female can no longer bear a child. (Vessels in Oriental medicine are defined as the conduits through which qi and blood pass.)Such reduction of female hormones during the climacteric results in various physiological and psychological symptoms that are commonly referred to as menopausal (or climacteric) syndrome. One of the most common symptoms is a hot flash, due to fluctuati

Jun 14, 2013
Treating menopausal syndrome in Oriental medicine

Prepare proper pillow, shoes

By Jane HanWe all have those “I wish I” moments in life. And of course, during pregnancy is no exception.Looking back at my past 36 weeks, there are definitely some things I wish I’d done to make the nine-month journey a bit easier on my mind and body.Before I go on with the list, I’d like to put it out there from the start.Most of these tips involve buying stuff early on to get your money’s full nine months’ worth. The advice comes from someone (me) who has to convince herself almost daily that the end is too near to spend money on anything maternity anymore.OK, so here goes.Do yourself — and your husband — a favor and buy a soft and comfy C-shaped body pillow. This is a must-have item I should have bought 15 kilograms ago, before my bulging tummy started getting in the way in bed. Constantly.I made the mistake of pushing off this purchase, so now I’m paying the price every night by having to build my own pillow system that can somehow help me fall asleep. That is, until I have to wake up again an hour later for a bathroom break.

Jun 14, 2013
Prepare proper pillow, shoes

Climate change increasing cold in early summer

By Yoon Ja-youngWith the temperature rising above 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, the summer has already begun. However, we see many people around us suffering from colds. Contrary to common belief, the common cold is more prevalent around this time of the year than in winter, according to data from Chungang University Hospital.Among the 30,978 patients who visited the hospital with the common cold from 2009 to 2012, 19 percent came in March and April, and 18 percent in May and June. They make up a bigger portion than that of January and February at 15 percent, or November and February at 17 percent.“People generally think that we catch a cold when the weather is cold, but colds are caused by viruses mostly when our immunity level is lower. When the season is changing, the daily temperature range is big, and more people catch cold as their body hasn’t adapted to the temperature changes amid weakening immunity,” said Prof. Jung Jae-woo of the hospital. While the temperature is high in the afternoon, it falls steeply in the evening these days, especially when it

Jun 14, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
Climate change increasing cold in early summer

Injuries at water parks

By Song Sang-ho As the scorching heat has continued since the beginning of June, water parks around the country opened a week earlier than last year.Equipped with diverse rides and facilities, these water parks have become popular summer retreat destinations for families as well as lovers. As they are usually located not very far from urban areas, they seem to be perfect place for a simple excursion.However, it is surprisingly common to see patients seeking medical treatment for injuries they got at water parks. Among the most frequent types of injuries there are various bone fractures caused by slipping. In particular, although many women wear high wedge heels to look their best, I would advise them to refrain from wearing those to prevent injuries. As the floor is slippery, one easily slips while wearing high heels, which could lead to an ankle sprain. Ankle sprains rarely heal when left alone and should be quickly treated and cared for to prevent it from causing damage to surrounding ligaments.In some serious cases, slippery floors could also lead to bone fractures. Also, if

Jun 14, 2013
Injuries at water parks

Healthline

Class on liver cancer to be heldThe Severance Hospital will hold a class on liver cancer, marking the 10th anniversary of its clinic that specializes in combating the disease.Professors of the hospital will give a lecture on the latest treatment and surgical procedures, including liver transplantation, as well as top diet tips.The class will take place in the main auditorium on the sixth floor of the hospital in downtown Seoul, at 1:30 p.m., June 28. For further inquiries, contact the liver cancer clinic of the hospital at (02) 2228-5170 or 5405. Medipost gets patent in USMedipost announced that it got a patent registered in the United States for treating cancer using stem cells.The biotechnology company said that it received the patent from the United States Patents and Trademark Office for the technology it developed, which treats patients by combining cancer-repressing genes with cord blood stem cells. The company also had patents registered in a number of European countries in March for this technology.The company explained that it can be used to track diverse cancers includ

Jun 14, 2013By Yoon Ja-young
previous page
302303304305306
next page

Most Read in Lifestyle