Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Ex-lawmaker Hong Sa-duk dies

By Kim RahnThe memorial altar for former lawmaker Hong Sa-duk is set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Thursday, a day after he died. YonhapFormer Deputy National Assembly Speaker Hong Sa-duk passed away, Wednesday. He was 77.He had been hospitalized recently for pneumonia, according to his former aides, Thursday.The former journalist entered politics after becoming a lawmaker in 1981 and served six terms until 2012 with both liberal and conservative parties and as an independent lawmaker. He was a deputy speaker in the 16th Assembly for about a year from June 2000.In the presidential election in 1992, he was a spokesman of then-liberal presidential candidate Kim Dae-jung, who lost to conservative candidate Kim Young-sam. But in 1997, Hong served as a minister of politics affairs for Kim Young-sam.After taking a National Assembly seat in 2000 under the ticket of the Grand National Party (GNP), a predecessor of the current main opposition United Future Party, he was loyal to conservative political heavyweight Park Geun-hye.Hong once left the party in 2008 after failin

Jun 18, 2020By Kim Rahn

Philippine beer tycoon dies

San Miguel Corporation Chairman Eduardo Cojuangco talks to the media after an annual stockholders meeting in Manila July 24, 2007. ReutersPhilippine tycoon Eduardo ``Danding'' Cojuangco Jr., a key ally of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and a low-key businessman who led a food and beverage empire that produced San Miguel beer, has died. He was 85.San Miguel Corp. said Cojuangco, who served as its chairman and chief executive officer for decades, died Tuesday night, without providing other details. Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Cojuangco died of pneumonia and heart failure in a hospital in Manila.Cojuangco had a net worth of $1.1 billion, according to Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, with interests in cement-manufacturing, orchards, a stud farm and Australian wineries, aside from San Miguel. San Miguel, one of Southeast Asia's largest conglomerates, with a workforce of more than 28,000 people, has ventured into fuel and oil, power and infrastructure.Aside from business, Cojuangco delved into politics and sports, and owned three teams in the Philippine Bas

Jun 18, 2020

Former defense minister dead at 83

The late former defense minister set a record as the first from the Air force to become Joint Chief of Staff in 1993 during the Kim Young-sam administration. He died May 28 at the age of 83. YonhapBy Do Je-haeLee Yang-ho, who served as minister of national defense during the Kim Young-sam administration, died of natural causes on May 28. He was 83.Born in North Chungcheong Province in 1937, he joined the Air Force Academy in 1960 and served in key Air Force posts. He is known for being named as the Air Force’s first head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 1993.The rare appointment was due to his role in purging a large number of generals from “Hanahoe,” a private military organization, during the Kim administration, which sought reforms in various sectors after years of authoritarian rule.Lee served in other key posts in the Air Force, such as Air Force operations commander in 1989 and Air Force chief of staff in 1992.He was also only the third defense minister from the Air Force. Defense ministers had usually been selected from the Army. He served as defense minis

May 29, 2020By Do Je-hae

Ravi Zacharias, defender of Christian faith, dies at 74

In this March 30, 2016, photo, Christian apologist and author Ravi Zacharias talks with Associate Professor Lenny Luchetti during the Society of World Changers induction ceremony at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Zacharias, who built an international ministry that strives to defend Christianity on intellectual grounds, has died at his home in Atlanta. APBy Jung Min-hoRavi Zacharias, a skeptic turned Christian evangelist who spent his life defending the faith on intellectual grounds, died Tuesday. He was 74.The cause was complications from a rare form of bone cancer called sarcoma, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), the evangelical organization he established in 1984, said.Zacharias was one of the most prominent and sought-after figures in apologetics ― a branch of theology that defends Christianity against objections ― who challenged various skeptics by using his razor-sharp logic and the voices of scientists, philosophers and even atheists.He also published and edited more than 25 books, which have inspired many Christians and non-Christians around the worl

May 20, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Ravi Zacharias, defender of Christian faith, dies at 74

Actor Kim Hong-seok dies of heart attack at 63

By Park Si-soo Kim Hong-seok, a prolific actor in the 1980-90s, died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was 63. According to police, he was found unconscious at his home on Sunday morning. Rescue workers said he had no vital signs when they arrived. Kim's family said the actor had no chronic disease that could be linked to his death. An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday. Unless anything suspicious is found, his funeral will be held on Wednesday. Graduating from Dongguk University, Kim debuted in 1977 through MBC TV. He starred in several hit drama series in the 1980-90s including “Three Families Under One Roof(1988), “Jealousy”(1992) and “Autumn in My Heart”(2000). He spent the last several years preparing for a drama production. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Apr 21, 2020

Actor Kim Hong-seok dies of heart attack at 63

Veteran North Korea expert dies

North Korea expert Kim Dal-sul played the role of the late former North Korea leader Kim Jong-il during a rehearsal at Cheong Wa Dae for the first-ever inter-Korean summit in June 2000.By Do Je-hae Kim Dal-sul, a former official with the Ministry of Unification and the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), the predecessor of the National Intelligence Service, died April 7. He was 90. One of the nation's key experts on North Korea, he served through several administrations, starting in 1971 under then-President Park Chung-hee through to former President Kim Dae-jung. He was involved in arranging more than 100 inter-Korean talks.He played a crucial role in the preparations for the 2000 inter-Korean summit between then-President Kim Dae-jung and the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the father of the incumbent Kim Jong-un. Former President Kim rehearsed for the first inter-Korean summit with Kim Dal-sul who acted as a stand-in for Kim Jong-il during the mock talks held on June 6, 2000 at Cheong Wa Dae ahead of the real talks on June 13. As a recognized author of many theses on

Apr 8, 2020By Do Je-hae

LIG Group honorary chairman dies at age 86

Koo Cha-wonLIG Group Honorary Chairman Koo Cha-won died Saturday of a chronic illness, the company said. He was 86.Born in 1935, Koo was the second-generation leader at LIG Group, which was spun off from LG Group in 1999.Koo headed LIG Insurance before selling the country's fourth-largest non-life insurer to KB Financial Group, a major South Korean banking group, in 2015. He also served as honorary chairman of LIG Nex1, a key South Korean defense company.Koo was a younger cousin of LG Group Honorary Chairman Koo Cha-kyung, who died last December, also of a chronic illness. Koo Cha-kyung was the grandfather of the current chairman, Koo Kwang-mo. (Yonhap)

Mar 28, 2020

LIG Group honorary chairman dies at age 86

Designer, who redefined hanbok, dies at 85

Hanbok designer Lee Eun-yim, better known by her brand name Lee Rheeza, died of natural causes on Saturday. She was 85. / YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungHanbok designer Lee Eun-yim, better known by her brand name Lee Rheeza, died of natural causes on Saturday. She was 85. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, her family said Lee's funeral will be held with only family members in attendance. Lee, founder of the Lee Rheez Hanbok Institute in Seoul, was a first generation hanbok designer who was lauded for her elegant A-line skirt. The traditional Korean attire for women consisted of an upper garment, called jeogori, and a skirt, called chima. The original design of the lower garment took the form of a jar-type skirt which made the wearer look bulkier. Lee modified it into a chic A-line skirt to make the wearer look thinner and elegant. In a media interview, she said her hanbok design was inspired by American actress Vivian Leigh's dress in “Gone with the Wind” movie. It was also the brainchild of her endeavors over the years to make herself look good in the traditional attire. Ta

Mar 22, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Designer, who redefined hanbok, dies at 85

Godfather of late night talk show dies at 84

Johnny Yune performs on SBS' “Johnny Yune Story Show” at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, in this November 15, 1992 file photo. / Korea Times fileJohnny Yune was America's most visible Asian comicBy Kwak Yeon-sooPopular Korean American comedian and TV show host Johnny Yune, whose Korean name was Yune Jong-seung, died in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). He was 84.He was taken to Alhambra Hospital Medical Center last Wednesday due to sudden drop in blood pressure but failed to recover.Following the deceased's wishes, Yune's body will be donated to the University of California-Irvine Medical Center.Yune pioneered a stylish late night show that walked a satirical tightrope in Korea. His show, however, was way ahead of its time and thus cut short.He was a well-known figure in both the American and Korean stand-up scenes, featuring in NBC's “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and hosting KBS2's “The Johnny Yune Show.”Born on Oct. 22, 1936 in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, Yune graduated from Sungdong High School in Seoul before attending Ohi

Mar 11, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Godfather of late night talk show dies at 84

Korean-American entertainer Johnny Yune dies at 84

Johnny YuneBy Park Si-sooJohnny Yune, a Korean-American who was one of the first Asians to tap into the mainstream showbiz scene in the United States in the 1970s and added luster to Korean TV programs in the '80-'90s with his unorthodox sense of humor, died in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 84. Yune, whose Korean name was Yune Jong-seung, suffered Alzheimer's disease for years. He was reportedly taken to Alhambra Hospital Medical Center last Wednesday due to falling blood pressure.His funeral will take place in coming days with family and his body will be donated to the hospital for medical study, according to reports. Yune, born in 1936 in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, debuted as an actor and comedian in the U.S. after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University. He made his name known widely in the U.S. thanks to Johnny Carson, a TV host who had Yune on his show ― “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” ― 34 times in the 1970s and 1980s. This was among the most appearances by a stand-up comedian and the first by one of Asian descent.Yune performed at the 1988 Sum

Mar 10, 2020

People & Events