Lifestyle - The Korea Times

FEBC-Korea prepares for 50th anniversary of historic 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade

In 1973, from May 30 to June 3, prominent American Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham preached the Gospel to an estimated 3.2 million Korean people at Yeouido Plaza in Seoul. This event became his largest “crusade” ever in his lifetime. Courtesy of FEBC-KoreaBy Park Han-solThe summer of 1973 became a defining moment for the history of Christianity in Korea.From May 30 to June 3, prominent American Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, who is best known for having preached the Gospel to millions in packed stadiums in 85 countries during his lifetime, led what became his largest ever “crusade” at the then-empty Yeouido Plaza in Seoul.An estimated 3.2 million Korean people across the nation attended the crusade over the course of five days, with 1.1 million flocking to the final service at Seoul's plaza on June 3.Graham's words of passion were interpreted by young Dr. Billy Kim, current chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), a faith-based radio network. Kim's interpretive skills were said to have been marked by speed, accuracy and a l

Jun 13, 2022By Park Han-sol

FEBC-Korea prepares for 50th anniversary of historic 1973 Billy Graham Seoul Crusade

Veteran entertainer Song Hae's achievements honored at funeral

A memorial service for late entertainer Song Hae is held on Songhae-gil, a central Seoul street dedicated to the veteran emcee, Friday, the day of his funeral. YonhapBy Kim RahnSingers, comedians, emcees, musicians and other people in the entertainment and media industries have offered their condolences to veteran entertainer Song Hae. The funeral service for the iconic television celebrity, who emceed KBS' “National Singing Contest” for 34 years, took place on Friday, two days after his death. Song was 95. About 100 people in these industries as well as bereaved family members held a memorial service at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul early in the morning.Comedian Eom Yong-soo, the head of the Korea Broadcasting Comedy Association, honored Song's achievements, especially his hosting of the singing competition show.“What you did was not just talking with the contest participants,” he said in a speech during the service. “You turned the venues into a place where everybody could dance, sing and enjoy themselves. You were a magician who made eld

Jun 10, 2022By Kim Rahn

Veteran entertainer Song Hae's achievements honored at funeral

Brazilian scholar finds drag culture's influence in K-pop industry

Tiago Canario / Courtesy of Tiago CanarioBy Lee Hae-rinTiago Canario, a Seoul-based Brazilian scholar, has revealed how drag culture influenced the K-pop industry in visualizing minorities and marginal cultures, as one of the co-authors in a book titled “Here Comes the Flood: Gender, Sexuality, and Stereotype in the Korean Wave.” Drag is the art of dressing up and performing a type of gender expression, usually one different from the performer's actual gender identity. It is a medium for exploring gender and expressing LGBTQ pride, as well as a form of entertainment.The 34-year old scholar, who is also a visual artist and an independent researcher, said he didn't know that his journey to this country would last this long when it started in 2013.After obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism in Brazil, Canario came here to get a Ph.D. in visual culture at Korea University. He said that Korea caught his attention among other countries as an academic field for being “the birthplace of the webtoon culture,” or digital comics.“Visual narratives

Jun 9, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Brazilian scholar finds drag culture's influence in K-pop industry

Yoon posthumously awards top cultural order to TV host Song Hae

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyoon confers the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit to late Song Hae on behalf of President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Seoul National University Hospital, Wednesday. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk-yeol posthumously awarded the top order of cultural merit to TV host Song Hae on Wednesday, his office said.Song, who died earlier in the day at 95, was the country's oldest TV presenter, best known for emceeing KBS TV's "National Singing Contest," a nationwide singing competition show, since 1988."There are no words to express my sadness at the passing of Mr. Song Hae," Yoon said in a condolence message sent to Song's family."As a singer and comedian for over half a century, and while working as a national emcee, (Song) gave the people great laughter and touched them deeply," he said.Song was conferred the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest-ranking among medals given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of culture and arts. (Yonhap)

Jun 8, 2022

Yoon posthumously awards top cultural order to TV host Song Hae

World's oldest TV music talent show host Song Hae dies at 95

World's oldest TV music talent show host Song Hae dies at 95

Veteran entertainer and emcee Song Hae died Wednesday at the age of 95. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Park Han-solVeteran entertainer Song Hae, whose signature voice as emcee of KBS' “National Singing Contest” made him an icon of Korean television, died Wednesday. He was 95.He passed away in the morning at his residence in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, according to police and medical officials.Born in 1927 in South Hwanghae Province in present-day North Korea, Song, whose real name was Song Bok-hee, got separated from his family during the 1950-1953 Korean War as he fled to the South. At the age of 25, he joined the Changgong musical troupe, where he learned how to sing, act and emcee and launched his career as a versatile entertainer.Song Hae has been hosting KBS' outdoor national singing competition, “National Singing Contest,” for 34 years since 1988. Courtesy of KBSHe worked as a comedian, actor and radio DJ throughout his career, but it was “National Singing Contest,” which he joined as a host at age 60 that marked a watershed in h

Jun 8, 2022By Park Han-sol

World's oldest TV music talent show host Song Hae dies at 95

Yoon posthumously awards top cultural order to TV host Song Hae

Report shows remains of Korea's first Catholic priest shared by numerous private owners

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung gives parts of the remains of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first native Korean Catholic priest, to Monsignor Julien Kabore, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila, Seoul, Nov. 23, 2021, in this photo provided by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. YonhapParts of the remains of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first native Korean Catholic priest, have been shared by local Catholic churches and individuals for decades, a report showed Tuesday, reigniting a controversy over the preservation and transactions of the relics of Catholic saints.The report was published in 1996 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of the saint, who was persecuted and executed for practicing Christianity in 1846, a year after he was ordained as the first Korean priest. He was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Korea in 1984.It was based on documents related to the relocation project of Kim's body and follow-up research, and interviews led by an anonymous priest.One of the papers from the 1996 report showed that some 141 instit

Jun 7, 2022

Report shows remains of Korea's first Catholic priest shared by numerous private owners

US Korean War veteran hoping to reunite with fellow Korean soldier

James Lantz, a U.S. veteran of the Korean War, holds a Korean national flag, June 7. He hopes to find his long-lost Korean comrade who gave him the flag during the 1950-53 conflict. YonhapA U.S. veteran of the Korean War is hoping to find his long-lost Korean comrade who fought together with him during the 1950-53 conflict and gave him an unforgettable gift: a Korean national flag, Seoul's veterans affairs ministry said Tuesday.Upon the request by James Lantz, the 90-year-old veteran, the ministry launched a campaign to find the Korean Marine that he met in Daegu, 302 kilometers south of Seoul, in 1951. He does not remember the Marine's name.Lantz made the request in April when Korea's consulate general in Los Angeles conferred the Ambassador for Peace Medal on him for his dedication to defending Korea during the conflict.Lantz said the Korean marine gave him the flag when he was transferring to a new site of responsibility following a two-week stay in Daegu. He still remembers the Korean man's "kind face" and good command of English, according to the ministry."That was 71 years ago,

Jun 7, 2022

US Korean War veteran hoping to reunite with fellow Korean soldier

String of events to celebrate first Korean cardinal's birth centennial

Late cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, who served as Korea's first Roman Catholic cardinal / Korea Times fileBy Park Han-solA string of masses and cultural events are set to take place this summer in celebration of the birth centennial of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, Korea's first Roman Catholic cardinal who was regarded as a moral beacon during the country's tumultuous era of military dictatorship.A memorial mass for the late cardinal is scheduled to take place at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul at noon on June 5, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. The mass will be led by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick.Following the Communion, a blessing ceremony will be held at the entry of the cathedral to commemorate the new monument erected in time for Kim's birth centennial.Mainly built with stone materials excavated during the cathedral's renovation several years ago, the monument is engraved with Jeong Ho-seung's poem entitled “Myeongdong Cathedral” in both Korean and English.A series of cultural events and performances in honor of Kim are slated to kick off i

Jun 2, 2022By Park Han-sol

String of events to celebrate first Korean cardinal's birth centennial

Pope to appoint S. Korean archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik as cardinal

Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik speaks during a memorial Mass celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first Korean native Catholic priest, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this Aug. 21, 2021 photo. YonhapPope Francis announced Sunday that he will appoint 21 new cardinals in August, including South Korean archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, according to news reports Sunday. You, 70, has been serving as Prefect for the Congregation for Clergy overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons since June 2021. He will be the fourth South Korean to receive the cardinal red hat. He was among 16 cardinal electors under 80 years old, who are eligible to vote for the next pontiff in secret conclave.Born in 1951 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Daejeon, You became a coadjutor in the same diocese in 2003 and two years later assumed full responsibility. He was the head of the Peace Committee of the Korean Bishops' Conference and went to North Korea four times.Pope Francis announced his selection of cardinals during his traditional Sunday greetings to

May 29, 2022

Pope to appoint S. Korean archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik as cardinal

Starkey Korea CEO gets Korean War medal on behalf of late father

Starkey Korea CEO Shim Sang-don, left, receives a certificate for an honorary Korean War Medal from Brigadier Gen. Woo Kyung-kwan, on behalf of his late father Shim Eun-taek at Starkey Korea Hall in Seoul, Wedneday. Courtesy of Starkey KoreaBy Shim Jae-yunStarkey Korea CEO Shim Sang-don received a Korean War military medal on behalf of his late father, Shim Eun-taek, who served the nation in the 1950-1953 war, during a ceremony at Starkey Hall in Seoul, Wednesday. The award ceremony took place as part of a government campaign to find the unsung heroes of the war and honor them or their descendants with Korean War military medals since 2019. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government for offering such a medal of honor without forgetting (my father's service), though belatedly,” Shim said after receiving the medal. Brigadier Gen. Woo Kyung-kwan, in charge of personnel affairs of the ROK Army, presented Shim with the medal on behalf of Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup. Participants in the event included dignitaries such as former South Chungcheong Province Governor Shim

May 25, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

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