People & Events

Actor Jung Woo-sung to meet Ukrainian refugees in Poland

In this provided photo taken in 2019, actor and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Jung Woo-sung, center in a white T-shirt, poses with Rohingya refugees at Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh on World Refugee Day. Courtesy of United Nations Human RightsBy Lee Hae-rinActor Jung Woo-sung, who serves as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will visit Poland to meet Ukrainian refugees on Oct. 3, UNHCR's Seoul office said, Wednesday. This will be Jung's eighth trip as a Korean representative for the humanitarian aid agenda.Since his appointment as UNHCR goodwill ambassador in May 2014, Jung has visited refugees and displaced people in Nepal, South Sudan, Iraq, Bangladesh, Djibouti and Malaysia. Due to border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, his missions abroad have been halted for three years. “Although there have been restrictions to visit the field for the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was concerned about the growing number of refugees,” Jung said in a statement released by the UNHCR. “I hope for this

INTERVIEW 26th Pentecostal World Conference to mark turning point for Korean churches

Yoido Full Gospel Church Senior Pastor Lee Young-hoon speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the church's office in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, Sept. 23. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThousands of Christian believers to hold prayer rally for peace on Korean PeninsulaBy Park Han-solIn the eyes of Yoido Full Gospel Church Senior Pastor Lee Young-hoon, the upcoming Pentecostal World Conference (PWC) marks a new turning point for Protestant churches in Korea.Thousands of representatives and congregants of Pentecostal denominations from over 150 countries around the globe ― known as the Pentecostal World Fellowship ― will flock to Seoul from Oct. 12 to 14 for the 26th PWC, organized by the largest Protestant church in South Korea.This year is the third time for the triennial event, which has been held since 1947, to take place in Seoul, after 1973 and 1998.“It's the first large-scale international spiritual celebration that will be attended by church representatives from all four corners of the world since the outbreak of the coronavirus. The event will, hopefully

What to enjoy at K-Culture Festival

From K-pop big names to aspiring artists, festival to provide enriched hallyu experienceBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe K-Culture Festival is returning in full force this year after being held online and in a hybrid format during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third edition of the festival, scheduled to take place for nine days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Seoul, will feature various programs ― showcases by musicians and bands from various music genres including concerts with star-studded lineup such as NCT Dream, IVE, The Boyz, Oh My Girl and Zico; performances by artists and crafters; and other engagement activities where visitors of all ages can experience Korean traditional culture, fashion, food and more.Concerts, showcasesThe K-Culture Festival Eve will feature a mixture of classical music and pop music. Cellist Han Jae-min, who won the grand prix of the George Enescu International Competition and the third prize at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2021, and pianist Park Young-sung will perform at a special stage in Gyeongbok Palace on Sept. 30. The National Chorus of Korea, daegeum

Mexican filmmaker zooms in on descendants of Korean immigrants

Mexican filmmaker Melissa Mondragon, left, poses with Gabriel Yu, a fifth-generation Korean Mexican who starred in her documentary film, “Descendientes,” before the movie screening at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City, Sept. 10. Courtesy of Melissa MondragonBy Lee Hae-rinA Mexican filmmaker has made a short documentary film portraying the descendants of Korean immigrants who settled in Mexico in 1905. The film screened at Bella Epoca Culture Center in Mexico City with an audience of over 100 people, Sept. 10. Melissa Mondragon, 23, who majored in cinematography at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM) and directed the short documentary, “Descendientes,” which in Spanish means, “descendants,” as her first film, said her work is about “love for perseverance, love for your family and love for who you are,” in a recent written interview with The Korea Times.The 23-minute documentary features the stories of eight Korean Mexicans who have cherished their identities and overcome hardships and existential challenges to

Winners of Student Reporter Contest recognized at ceremony

Winners of the Korea Times-ETS Student Reporter Contest pose with award plaques at an award ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Wednesday. Representatives of the sponsors of the event and judges also participated in the ceremony to congratulate the winners of the competition. Students submitted videos in which they selected a news item and reported about it in English. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Jeon Yae-woolThe winners of the 2022 Korea Times-ETS Student Reporter Contest received awards for their outstanding achievements at a ceremony at the Korea Press Center, Wednesday. A total of 56 students from middle and high schools as well as universities across the nation were recognized for their creative work in the competition. This year's student reporter competition called on applicants to submit a video report on any issue or subject they regard as newsworthy ― whether it be a person, social issue or personal experience. The Korea Times has been hosting the annual event, sponsored mainly by ETS, the creator of the TOEFL iBT® test, to help students improve their E

Giant Rubber Duck to take over Seoul's Seokchon Lake once again

Visitors take photos of Dutch visual artist Florentijn Hofman's massive “Rubber Duck” floating on Seokchon Lake in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, in this Oct. 14, 2014, photo. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Park Han-solA giant yellow rubber duck that took Seoul by storm eight years ago with its sparkling eyes and tangerine beak is making its way back to the city this fall.The super-sized inflatable bath toy will return to Seokchon Lake in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, as part of Rubber Duck Project Seoul 2022, scheduled to run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, according to the event's organizers, Lotte Property & Development and Songpa District Office.The “Rubber Duck” series is designed by Dutch visual artist Florentijn Hofman, who is well-known for monumental yet temporary urban installations that often have a playful tone to them.The series made its debut in 2007 in France's Saint-Nazaire and has since traveled to 16 major cities around the world, in

INTERVIEW How 'Senior Market' turns waste pickers into elderly artists

A senior artist at “Senior Market” draws a design for a stationery item that will be sold. Courtesy of Senior MarketStationery items made by elderly gain popularity among young peopleBy Dong Sun-hwaShim Hyun-bo, 31, grew up watching his grandmother collecting waste paper and cardboard. As both of his parents had full-time jobs, the young Shim spent most of his time at his grandmother's house, which was located nearby his home in Gangdong District in southeastern Seoul. One day, he saw a waste paper pile in the corner of her house and asked her why she was collecting it. He knew she wouldn't be doing it for money because her four sons regularly gave her enough to make a living. Her response was simple: she needed a way to kill time.Shim Hyun-bo, the founder of Arip&Werip / Courtesy of Shim Hyun-boShim did not want her to keep doing this physically strenuous and low-paying work, which was often viewed negatively by people. He said he was sometimes embarrassed by her. However, Shim's grandmother was not the only one picking up waste. A lot of her friends ― including thos

INTERVIEW Uijeongbu seeks to become mecca for fashion with upcoming festival

Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Uijeongbu City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 5. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukGyeonggi Province city to host Asian Model Festival Oct. 1-16By Dong Sun-hwaFor a long time, Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul, was dubbed a “military town.” It hosted the U.S. military for seven decades since the 1950-53 Korean War, before all troops moved to the seaport city of Pyeongtaek in southern Gyeonggi Province where Camp Humphreys ― the largest U.S. overseas military base ― is located. So numerous people still associate Uijeongbu with the military, without knowing about its hidden aspects. To change this perception, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun has pulled out a trump card: hosting the 17th Asian Model Festival (AMF) in his city. Aspiring models from 25 Asian countries will head to Uijeongbu on Oct. 1 and take part in various events including: “Face of ASIA” (Oct. 14), “Asia OPEN Collection” (Oct. 15) and the “Asia Model Awards” (Oct. 16). Face of ASIA

7 figures from key Korean religions to meet pope at Vatican

Pope Francis arrives for a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday. AP-YonhapBy Park Han-solSeven high-level representatives from religious bodies within Korea will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican City this month to discuss ways to establish and maintain harmony between religious communities.The representatives from the Korean Council of Religious Leaders (KCRL) are scheduled to go on an overseas pilgrimage to a number of holy sites, including Israel's Jerusalem and the Vatican, from Sept. 13 to 21.During this trip, the leaders will meet with the pope on Sept. 19 (local time) to launch a dialogue on world peace and ways the religious circles can cooperate with one another.This year's pilgrimage will be attended by Jogye Order President Ven. Wonhaeng, Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, Christian Council of Korea (CCK) temporary chair Kim Hyun-seong, Won Buddhism President Na Sang-ho, Confucianism Director Son Jin-woo of Sung Kyun Kwan, Chondogyo Supreme Leader Park Sang-jong and Association of Korean Native Religions leader Kim Ryoung-ha.The KCRL was estab

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