Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Mexican runs radio broadcast to spread love for Korean culture

Gala Mendez, right, broadcasts her radio show “Shot de Soju” out of a studio at the Autonomous University of Nayarit with her friend Genesis Canela. Courtesy of Gala MendezBy Lee Hae-rin“Annyeonghaseyo! Bienvenidos, bienvenidas!” With Leenalchi's “Tiger is Coming” playing in the background, Gala Mendez greets her listeners in Korean and Spanish every Friday on her radio show “Shot de Soju” ― meaning “a shot of soju” in Spanish. Mendez, 24, has been producing and hosting the program on Radio UAN, the Autonomous University of Nayarit's own radio station, to introduce Korea to Mexicans ― and Spanish-speakers around the world. She has aired 27 episodes on the country's culture, current issues and traditions since last August.“'Shot de Soju' is like a little taste of Korea,” Mendez explained on the meaning of the program's name in an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday. “I think soju is a beverage that unites people to enjoy a good time. When we were thinking about the name, we wanted our listeners to feel

Mar 25, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Mexican runs radio broadcast to spread love for Korean culture

Independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's family photo, calligraphy to undergo conservation treatment

Independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's family photo taken in October 1909 / Courtesy of Samsung Foundation of CultureBy Park Han-solOct. 26, 1909, a year before Korea was annexed by the Japanese Empire, is remembered by Koreans as a day when independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) pulled the trigger on Ito Hirobumi, a four-time prime minister of Japan and the first resident-general of Korea, upon his arrival in China's Harbin.After the assassination, Ahn was arrested on the spot and sent to Lushun Prison, where he spent the final days of his life before being sentenced to death the following year.This year, the three historic artifacts attesting to Ahn's time spent in prison ― one family photo and two of his calligraphic works ― will undergo a year-long conservation treatment by the Samsung Foundation of Culture.The Leeum Museum of Art, operated by the foundation, will conduct the process and transfer them back to the original owner, Ahn Junggeun Memorial Association, in March next year. This is the first time the foundation has been involved in the preservation of independence

Mar 24, 2022By Park Han-sol

Independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's family photo, calligraphy to undergo conservation treatment

Artist Yang Hae-gue keeps searching for alternative lens to counter 'given' history

Above is an installation view of artist Yang Hae-gue's solo exhibition, “Double Soul,” currently held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. “Sonic Intermediates ― Double Soul,” the two-part sculpture displayed in front, is inspired by two figures of art history: Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, left, and Pia Arke. / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Park Han-solYang Hae-gue, also stylized as Haegue Yang, is a globetrotting artist whose years-long “nomadic” life spent alternately in Berlin and Seoul, as well as other major cities where she holds her shows, has led to her distinct preoccupation with exile, transnationality and decolonization.Artist Yang Hae-gue, also stylized as Haegue Yang / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryThen, it is perhaps only natural that Yang's works often contemplate on the modern history of marginalization and formation of identities within different regions she visits across the world.At her first-ever large-scale solo exhibition, titled “Haegue Yang: Double Soul,” at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark, her latest two-part

Mar 24, 2022By Park Han-sol

Artist Yang Hae-gue keeps searching for alternative lens to counter 'given' history

Exhibition in Australia to revisit Mackenzie family's legacy in Korea

Australian missionary Dr. James Mackenzie, third from right, and his patients in a clinic in Japan-occupied Korea in 1930 / Courtesy of Kyonggi University Sosung Museum By Park Han-solIn 1910, just months before Korea was annexed by the Japanese Empire, a middle-aged missionary of the Presbyterian Church set foot in the port city of Busan, far away from his homeland of Australia.At the time James Mackenzie arrived in the country, leprosy was still widely believed to be “the curse of gods.” When discovered, the infected were forced to live in isolation and destitution as they became outcasts overnight and their properties were burned to the ground in a misinformed attempt to prevent the spread of the disease.Upon witnessing this reality, Mackenzie, with his wife Mary Kelly, a nurse, began running the Busan Leper Hospital ― Korea's first medical institution specializing in the treatment of the patients shunned by their own families and townspeople. For nearly three de

Mar 17, 2022By Park Han-sol

Exhibition in Australia to revisit Mackenzie family's legacy in Korea

Ex-Korea Times journalist and professor Lee Jae-won dies at 82

By Lee Gyu-leeProfessor Lee Jae-won in a photo provided by his family / YonhapFormer professor Lee Jae-won of Cleveland State University School of Communication died in Ulsan in March at the age of 82 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Born in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Lee studied English language and literature at Seoul National University and worked as a journalist at The Korea Times from 1963, covering education and art. After receiving a Fulbright Scholarship in 1967, he went to study journalism in the United States. Since 1972, he taught at Cleveland State University and also served administrative roles there including assistant to the provost and director of the journalism division at the school, until he retired in 2008 and served as professor emeritus.During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, he taught at Yonsei University and worked at the Korea Press Center. Based on this experience in Seoul, he played a key role in founding the Olympics Media Awards in 1996, which recognized journalists for their excellence in reporting and contr

Mar 11, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Ex-Korea Times journalist and professor Lee Jae-won dies at 82

People in cultural fields call on new administration to promote fairness, offer practical support

By Dong Sun-hwaChoi Kwang-ho, secretary general of Korea Music Content Association / Courtesy of Korea Music Content AssociationWith Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) being elected as the new president of Korea, people in the fields of culture, art and religion are calling on the new administration to promote fairness and lend more practical support. “We hope the new government gives fairer treatment to our pop singers,” Choi Kwang-ho, secretary general of the Korea Music Content Association, told The Korea Times, Thursday. “While international award-winning classical musicians and athletes are exempt from fulfilling their compulsory military service, K-pop singers cannot enjoy the same benefit, even if they rank first on several global charts.”Under the current law, all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 28 should join the armed forces and serve for nearly two years.“We believe K-pop stars should also be allowed to continue their musical activities without a halt, so that they can keep enhancing our national image,” he

Mar 10, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

People in cultural fields call on new administration to promote fairness, offer practical support

Yoon gov't to expand support for cultural creators

Indian embassy presents awards to video contest winners

Oh Young-jin, left, The Korea Times president-publisher, Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan, second from left, and Kim Sook-ja, second from right, an official from Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, pose with the winners of video contest at Indian Cultural Center, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Indian Embassy in KoreaBy Lee Hae-rinThirteen college students won video contest awards hosted by The Korea Times and the Embassy of India in Korea, Monday. Under the theme of “Diversity and Multiculturalism,” the event was held to celebrate India's 75th anniversary of independence.The Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan and India's Deputy Chief of Mission Surinder Bhagat, Kim Sook-ja, an official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and nine winners joined the event.In her speech, the Indian envoy underlined the importance and value of diversity and multiculturalism, sharing India's effort to bring its diverse population together in its political and social system.“With this experience, we ha

Mar 1, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Indian embassy presents awards to video contest winners

Late minister Lee O-young was 'cultural icon' of literary criticism

Former Culture Minister Lee O-young poses at the Young-in Literary Museum in this August 2021 file photo. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooLee O-young, who died on Saturday at the age of 89, roughly five years after being diagnosed with cancer, was an eminent literary critic who served as Korea's first culture minister and helped the country reach its status as a cultural powerhouse. A renowned scholar, he had long been considered one of the brightest minds in the country. While attending Seoul National University in 1956, he made his literary debut as a critic through an article titled “Destruction of an Idol,” which criticized thinkers and writers for their authoritarianism while arguing that literature and creative arts must possess a spirit of resistance. Lee worked as an editorial writer for several newspapers including Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun and Kyunghyang Shinmun. He wrote more than 130 books over 60 years, including novels, poems and essays, and prided himself on writing about Korea's vibrant cultural legacy. Some of his established works include “In

Feb 28, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Late minister Lee O-young was 'cultural icon' of literary criticism

Dong-A Ilbo publisher named head of Korean Association of Newspapers

By Dong Sun-hwaLim Chae-chung, publisher of Dong-A Ilbo newspaperLim Chae-chung, publisher of the vernacular newspaper Dong-A Ilbo, has been appointed as head of the Korean Association of Newspapers.The association said it selected Lim at its general meeting last Friday. He will lead the group for two years. “Our association should put its utmost effort into promoting press freedom and protecting the public's right to know,” Lim said in his inauguration speech. “We should never compromise when there is an attempt to suppress these rights. The launch of a new government this year will bring about a lot of changes, but I believe we can get over all hardships if our members join forces.” Founded in 1957, the association aims to promote the growth of the newspaper industry and make newspapers more approachable for readers. Its membership includes 52 daily newspapers and two news agencies, including The Korea Times and its sister paper, the Hankook Ilbo. Lim, who majored in law at Seoul National University, joined Dong-A Ilbo in 1984, and has served as its managing

Feb 28, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Dong-A Ilbo publisher named head of Korean Association of Newspapers

'She's Gone' vocalist to receive appreciation letter from Korea for promoting hanbok

Miljenko Matijevic, right, vocalist of Steelheart, is dressed in hanbok in the music video of the rock band's upcoming song “Trust in Love.” Captured from YouTube By Kim RahnMiljenko Matijevic, the vocalist of rock band Steelheart, will receive a letter of appreciation from the Korean government for promoting hanbok, after wearing the Korean traditional clothing in the group's upcoming music video, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Monday.The ministry said the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles would hold a ceremony, Friday (EST), awarding the letter and an article of hanbok to the singer, who is best known in Korea for the band's 1990s hit song “She's Gone.”The ministry has been issuing letters of appreciation to people who have contributed to the promotion of hanbok around the world.Matijevic appears in hanbok in the music video of the group's new song “Trust in Love,” which will be officially released at midday on Thursday (KST). In the vi

Feb 28, 2022By Kim Rahn

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