Lifestyle - The Korea Times

(164) A funny politician and a political comedian

By Janet Shin The world has changed and people have changed too. There was a certain stereotype when you thought about a profession. But if you compare the concepts between past and present, you will find a considerable change. It is partly due to social diversity. Power and authority may come to mind when you think of a politician, while, talented and funny can be appropriate descriptions of a comedian. However the definition between the two has become blurred. There was a hilarious story heating up Korean society recently. A young comedian appeared on a gag show lampooning members of the Korean National Assembly. Then a politician accused him of slander, resulting in the public rising up against the politician. Who is the real comedian or who is the real politician? Was the comedian’s reenactment of politicians actually political? Or was the politician actually making us laugh with his jokes? Further jokes about comedians and politicians were aired on the show thereafter. “Both are working in Yeouido.” Korea’s National Assembly and major broadcasting stat

Nov 24, 2011

Common causes of tingling in hands and fingers

By Lim Ju-won Tingling is abnormal sensation which can occur anywhere in the body, but is often felt in the hands and fingers. This sensation is one type of neuropathic pain that results from injury in nerve. This pain can be described as burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing, or shocking. The tingling sensation in the hands and fingers is frequently associated with Raynaud's Syndrome, polyneuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, peripheral vascular disease or stroke. Raynaud’s Syndrome is the abnormal vasoconstriction of arteries and arterioles in fingers and toes. This disease is characterized by discoloration, tingling pain and numbness in the fingers. These symptoms occur in response to cold temperatures or emotional stress. Polyneuropathy is a nerve disease affecting many peripheral nerves (poly means many). This disease tends to start distally and progress proximally. The most common causes of polyneuropathy are diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, and amyloidosis. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels th

Nov 20, 2011

Turtle Marathon to be held Sunday

Take the opportunity for a great weekend workout with the 412th Turtle Marathon at Mt. Nam in central Seoul, Sunday. Participating in the event will be the top three winners of the 2011 Miss Korea pageant. The Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, hosts the monthly event, which has drawn more than 120,000 people since 1978. The Turtle Marathon allows participants to walk at one’s own pace and enjoy the morning stroll. Participants will be treated to samples of several chicken dishes popular during the fall/winter season. After the 7-kilometer walk, broadcaster Lee Sang-yong will host a draw for raffle prizes. This month’s prizes include a voucher for a room at Donggang Cistar resort and the Seoul Residence Hotel, newspaper subscription coupons, Merrell trekking shoes, gift sets of assorted meats, health beverage Damina 909 from Glamy, movie tickets from Interpark, cosmetics and more. Middle and high school students who participate in the cleanup afterwards will receive certification for two hours of volunteer work. The Turtle Marathon is free. For more info

Nov 18, 2011

Modern feng shui in Korea

By Janet Shin Where can we find the perfect answer about our life or future? Not only the future itself but the way to be happy and successful is humans’ ultimate pursuit. People used to say that success is made neither by one’s effort nor by talent. The right time, the right place and the right person, all have to come together to be successful. The right person can also be someone who supports and sponsors success both spiritually and materially. Even a very talented person cannot be successful, if they just live in an isolated mountain village with no connection to the outside. People such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg may not have achieved the same success if born in the 15th century. People want to know where the right place is, when the right time is and who the right person is. To get these answers, some may go to saju masters, feng shui masters, or have their faces and palms read. Some may also go to psychics to seek the help of extraordinary powers of clairvoyance while other cultures have their own traditional ways of reading destiny. According to

Nov 17, 2011

Why is Korean National Assembly battling so often?

By Janet Shin The Korean National Assembly is located in Yeouido, Seoul. Let’s think about the geographical aspects of Yeouido to understand fengshui. Is Yeouido the right place for politics? How is it related to “saju,” or four pillars of destiny? From ancient days, people have always tried to complement imperfections in their destiny, while they believe that they were given their destiny from birth, which cannot be altered and manipulated. This is partly because, we, human beings were born imperfect, and thus, we have to find some ways to supplement the deficiency. It is also because they thought they could not get every answer by reading their birth signs. This given destiny was called “myeong,” in Korean. It also means a life or a universal order that we have to follow. There are many people born on the same day and time. Are they destined for the exactly same life? And how about the lives of twins? Saju still owns some answers to these questions, nevertheless these kinds of questions were endlessly asked. The oriental understanding of the universe has never inserted

Nov 10, 2011

Buddhist monks to fast for 100 days

By Noh Hyun-gi The monks of the Jogye Order, the largest sect of Buddhism in Korea, embarked on a 100-day afternoon fast, a traditional practice, Monday. Some 200 participants are taking part in the “4th 100-day Alliance for Introspection and Reform.” The Jogye Order has organized the event since 2010. The monks are voluntarily participating in the fast to renew their devotion to a life of purity. The participating officials have also vowed to give up drinking and smoking for the period. “At temples located on mountains, monks practice afternoon fasts regularly but it has been difficult in the cities where there are a lot of external activities. Thus, this event shows the determination of the participants to abide by the sprit and codes of Buddhist practice,” an official said. The Jogye Order is also addressing the issue of monks driving expensive cars. A recent survey of 1,512 Koreans by the research institute within the Order found that 34.6 percent of the people expressed a negative sentiment toward Buddhist monk’s driving pricy vehicles. This led Ven. Jase

Nov 7, 2011

Is a child everything to a mother?

By Janet Shin There are several incidents that tell us the coming of November in Korea. Many television cooking shows present how to cook foods to make children smarter. A famous chef hosting a TV program uses a kind of walnut seasoning for beef steak explaining that walnuts are shaped like the brain. So adding them to nourishing food such as steak helps test-takers study better, she says. An interior designer explains to the audience, who are mostly mothers, how to decorate their children’s rooms to be a better place to study. There are many feng shui tips, traditional Korean or Western ways to cultivate a healthier environment in interior design. Kids will be more ambitious if their rooms are located in an easterly direction. Rooms facing north are good for concentration and developing children’s ability to think. Rooms facing south are usually not recommended because they may cause children to lose composure. But they are good for artists and those in show business. There also are other tips on color and decoration. Meanwhile, gift shops will soon be filled with various

Nov 3, 2011

Tips for healthy skin for winter

By Kelly Frances Dry skin is annoying, sometimes painful, and can sabotage even the savviest make- up mastery. It's most prevalent in the winter, as harsh elements deplete the skin of its natural layer of sebum, the oily substance that prevents skin and hair from drying out. Experts claim that small changes can help prevent and treat dryness as the winter months approach. “The Russian army puts butter on their cheeks during winter. The butter becomes hard and a protective layer is formed,” explained Dr. Julius Jon, a board certified dermatologist and medical director at TengTeng Skin Clinic. Jon shared his tips for maintaining healthy skin through the winter months, without the use of butter. “During winter, the wind and low humidity dry out our skin, and we need to hydrate the skin artificially. This is where moisturizers come in,” he said. According to Jon, there is no golden standard for moisturizers, and the right product may cost a fortune, or be a bargain. “I always urge my patients to request samples and try out products before making a purchase,” he said.

Oct 30, 2011

(160) Saju and paranormal experiences

By Janet Shin Since I first learned about saju, the major motive of my studying and practicing it came from the question of whether or not it could be explained logically. I started my first writing with a title of “Superstition or Science,” Although I knew it was rather inappropriate to consider saju just as a scientific theory, I have constantly insisted that saju shouldn’t be understood via superstitious belief. As a tool to elucidate saju theory, I selected English, not Korean or Chinese. Any absurd theory had to be eliminated intentionally or accidentally because they couldn’t be translated in suitable terms. Some saju terms are still awkward and required additional explanations when they are translated literally. Because those derived from ancient Chinese characters imply many different things. At any rate, I do believe, saju and its teaching became much more logical and rational after it was written in English. I often dispute some issues of saju readings and even denied certain theories when they are not reasonable. I have tried to refrain from mingling with other

Oct 27, 2011

Marry after you’ve fought

By Kelly Frances You may remember Frank Sinatra crooning, “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage.” According to experts, so does a healthy marriage and arguing. Dr. Park Jin-seng, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who specializes in family counseling, urges couples to view the act of arguing as a valuable tool. Park penned a book about the subject titled “Lovers, Marry After You’ve Fought.” “People would ask me why I encourage fighting between lovers,” he said. “Through fighting, we understand our partner’s minds; their likes, dislikes, wants, needs. We establish our ability to reconcile. No couple can live without fighting forever, so if we lack this ability, marital life is difficult.” Park urges people to eliminate their fear of fighting. “Every couple has to go through the process of a first big fight, or ‘blow out,’” he said. “It’s a way of learning our partner’s limits. What we do with this knowledge will shape the patterns of our communication, and ultimately, determine whether or not we will grow in a productive way.” Park refers t

Oct 24, 2011

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