Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'I was a stock investment addict': psychiatrist seeks to help addicted people through his book

Psychiatrist Park Jong-suk, who published the novel “Guro-dong Investment Club” based on his personal experience as a stock investment addict / Courtesy of Park Jong-sukDoctor uses his own experience to treat people addicted to investing in stocksBy Dong Sun-hwaKorea has seen a spike in the number of stock investors over the past couple of years, as commercial banks cut their interest rates on saving accounts to nearly zero percent while the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained momentum. According to data from the Korea Securities Depository, the total number of stock investors stood at 13.84 million in 2021.However, not everyone succeeded in hitting the jackpot, with many of them being pushed over the edge after losing a tremendous amount of money. Some of them became addicted to stock trading, thereby falling into depression and facing severe conflicts with their family and friends. In 2022, the Korea Problem Gambling Agency revealed that the number of addicted investors who sought counseling was 1,627 in 2021 ― almost a six-fold jump from 2017. At

Jan 26, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa

'I was a stock investment addict': psychiatrist seeks to help addicted people through his book

Campaign launched to respect multicultural families, foreign nationals

Sunfull Foundation Chairman Dr. Min Byoung-chul, front row fifth from left, poses for the camera with other dignitaries at a meeting held to discuss preparations for the launch of a campaign encouraging respect for multicultural families and foreign residents at a hotel in Seoul, Jan. 17. From left are Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung, Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Sunfull National Assembly Committee Co-Chairman Rep. Lee Che-ik, Dr. Min, Indonesian Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto and Turkish Ambassador Murat Tamer. Courtesy of Sunfull FoundationThe Sunfull Foundation plans to launch a campaign encouraging respect for multicultural families and foreign residents of Korea. Toward that end, the Sunfull Foundation, an anti-cyberbullying organization led by Min Byoung-chul, endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University, held a meeting to discuss preparing for the launch of the campaign at a hotel in southern Seoul on Jan. 17. The meeting was held in cooperation with the Sunfull National Assembly Committee co-headed by Rep. Lee Che-ik. The meeting was attended by D

Jan 25, 2023

Campaign launched to respect multicultural families, foreign nationals

Birthday party for 'Captain Rock' set for February in Hongdae

A poster for the 2023 Kyungrockjeol Mapo Renaissance, an annual festival in the Hongdae area of Seoul that started as a birthday party for punk band Crying Nut's bassist Han Kyung-rock / Screenshot from CaptainRock Company's InstagramIndie band Crying Nut's bassist hopes to bring renaissance to Hongdae's music sceneBy Kim RahnAn annual festival marking the birthday of one of Korea's leading indie musicians will be held in February, with a wide range of offline concerts and events planned around the Hongik University area, known as Hongdae, after three years of scaled-down editions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Han Kyung-rock, a member of the legendary 1995-formed punk rock band Crying Nut, will hold the 2023 Kyungrockjeol Mapo Renaissance at various venues around Hongdae and other places in Seoul's Mapo District from Feb. 8 to 12.Kyungrockjeol, literally meaning Kyung-rock Day, started as a small birthday party for Han, at a fried chicken restaurant on Feb. 11, 2005, after Han, nicknamed “Captain Rock,” returned from his mandatory military service. As most of the party pa

Jan 22, 2023By Kim Rahn

Birthday party for 'Captain Rock' set for February in Hongdae

Korea Times chairman sets up scholarships for music students

Seung Myung-ho, the chairman of The Korea Times and its sister paper, the Hankook Ilbo, speaks in front of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO) members at their practice room in Seoul, Dec. 30, 2022. Courtesy of KNSOBy Dong Sun-hwaSeung Myung-ho, the chairman of The Korea Times and its sister publication, the Hankook Ilbo, has established scholarships for Korean and international classical music students to bring more talent to the Korean National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO). Starting this year, $2,000 will be given each to wind/string instrument players from abroad among those who participate in the annual KNSO International Academy, in the name of The Korea Times Scholarship. Among Korean participants, two will each receive 3 million won ($2,400) in the name of the Hankook Ilbo Scholarship. This scholarship program will run until 2030.Separately from the academy, 8 million won will be also given as an award to the winner of the KNSO International Conducting Competition, which is being held every three years since 2021, to honor conductors creating a splash on the global stag

Jan 18, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa

Korea Times chairman sets up scholarships for music students

Palaces, royal tombs to offer free admission, cultural events for Lunar New Year

People visit Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in this Feb. 13, 2022 photo. Four palaces in the capital including Gyeongbok will provide free admission during the Seollal holiday from Saturday to Tuesday. Korea Times fileBy Kim RahnVarious cultural events are planned for the Lunar New Year holiday at Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces in Seoul and other locations across the country, to offer glimpses into the country's traditions.During the long weekend from Saturday to Tuesday, admission will be free at four major Joseon palaces ― Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong and Deoksu palaces ― as well as Jongmyo Shrine and royal tombs of the dynasty in Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, Tuesday.Jongmyo, which usually requires visitors to make a reservation, will be open to those without reservations during the period. A picture of rabbits, which visitors to Gyeongbok Palace can receive during the Lunar New Year holiday / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationWhile the usual changing of the guard ceremony

Jan 17, 2023By Kim Rahn

Palaces, royal tombs to offer free admission, cultural events for Lunar New Year

Protestant church group aims to address falling birthrate, offer trauma survivor aid

From left, pastors Kwon Soon-wung, Lee Young-hoon and Song Hong-do pose during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday, held to announce projects lined up for the United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK) this year. Lee was elected as the new president of the Protestant association at the end of last year. Courtesy of UCCKBy Park Han-solThe United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), one of the largest coalitions of Protestant churches here, unveiled, Thursday, major projects lined up for this year to help resolve key issues facing today's Korean society, from the falling birthrate to the aid of trauma survivors.In the wake of the Oct. 29 Itaewon tragedy that killed nearly 160 people in a fatal crowd crush, the association announced its plan to establish a psychological trauma center for the recovery of survivors of scarring events and their families.The center is set to be launched within the first half of 2023 in a joint initiative with Yoido Full Gospel Church and the Korean Counseling Service Network.“We are working with teams of experts who ran a similar organization to aid t

Jan 13, 2023By Park Han-sol

Protestant church group aims to address falling birthrate, offer trauma survivor aid

CICI recognizes changes in global awareness of Korea

Dignitaries of the 2023 Korea Image Awards by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) pose before the award ceremony at InterContinental Seoul COEX, southern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of CICIKorea Image Awards given to actor Lee Jung-jae, figure skater Kim Yuna, swimmer Hwang Sun-wooBy Kim RahnParticipants at the 2023 Korea Image Awards, bestowed by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) to people who help promote the nation's image abroad, unanimously said global awareness of Korea has significantly changed ― in a positive way ― over the last 20 years.The CICI held the award ceremony, Wednesday, at InterContinental Seoul COEX, southern Seoul, also in celebration of the culture promotion advocacy group's 20th anniversary.Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of Netflix global hit series “Squid Game,” who won the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award, said this award is meaningful because it reflects how Korean dramas, including “Squid Game,” are being loved by viewers all around the world.The first Korean to win an Emmy with the Netflix series, Lee also made

Jan 12, 2023By Kim Rahn

CICI recognizes changes in global awareness of Korea

Owner of time-honored restaurant where president dined, dies

Bae Hye-ja, the owner of the restaurant “Old Noodle House,” greets customers in Yongsan District, Seoul, in 2017. Screenshot from tvN's YouTube By Lee Yeon-wooBae Hye-ja, the founder of a noodle restaurant that has been in operation for 42 years and which became famous after President Yoon Suk Yeol stopped by for lunch in May last year, died on Sunday. She was 83.Her oldest son, Kim Yong-joo, said that his mother died of a chronic illness at a nursing home. Bae was buried in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday.She opened the restaurant, “Old Noodle House” (direct translation), in Yongsan District, Seoul, in 1981 to help raise her four children after her husband died of cancer. Her affordable noodles became popular among many office workers.The eatery shot to fame last May when Yoon went there to eat with his aides, just days after he was inaugurated. President Yoon Suk Yeol

Jan 11, 2023By Lee Yeon-woo

Owner of time-honored restaurant where president dined, dies

Korean culture has shifted from 'han' to 'heung': CICI founder

Choi Jung-wha, the founder and president of the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukCICI to celebrate 20th anniversaryBy Dong Sun-hwaOver the last 20 years, the culture promotion advocacy group, the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), has witnessed some of the most historic moments in Korean culture. Since its launch in 2003, the CICI has organized a series of events like the Korea Cultural Quotient (CQ) forum to bring together opinion leaders, who can promote Korea and facilitate cultural exchanges worldwide. Its annual awards ceremony, the Korea Image Awards, also kicked off in 2005, honoring those who have played vital roles in shaping the cultural industry. This year marks the 20th anniversary of its establishment. A scene from a forum organized by CICI in 2010 / Courtesy of CICIAs a longtime observer of Korea's cultural scene, Choi Jung-wha, the CICI founder and president, has seen a dramatic shift: “Han” used to be the defining characteristic of Korea and its content in the past, but today, “heung” has ta

Jan 9, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa

Korean culture has shifted from 'han' to 'heung': CICI founder

Slogan contest on Newspaper Day

On the occasion of the 67th Newspaper Day, the Korean Association of Newspapers is launching a slogan contest in collaboration with the Korea News Editors' Association and the Journalists Association of Korea. Readers are cordially invited to take part.- Content: Slogans marking the 67th Newspaper Day - Deadline: 6 p.m. Feb. 28 (Tuesday), 2023- How to apply: Fill in an application form on the website of the Korean Association of Newspapers (www.presskorea.or.kr) - Entry specification and number: Within 20 letters, no more than two entries per individual - Awards· One grand prize (1 million won and a plaque)· Two excellence awards (500,000 won and a plaque) - Announcement: Awardees will be notified individually after March 22 (Wednesday) - Presentation of prizes: Ceremony marking 67th Newspaper Day on a date to be decided- Inquiry: Korean Association of Newspapers (call 02-733-2251/2)Visit www.presskorea.or.kr for more information Korean Association of Newspapers, Korea News Editors' Association, Journalists Association o

Jan 6, 2023

People & Events