Lifestyle - The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Defender of inter-country adoptees' rights

Lee Kyung-eun, director at Human Rights Beyond Borders and author of "The Global Orphan Adoption System," poses with her book at her office in Seoul, May 20. Courtesy of Lee Kyung-eunLee Kyung-eun to meet Korean adoptees during Europe book tour next monthBy Jung Min-hoIf inter-country adoption truly was intended “for the best” of children born in poor countries, why doesn't anyone listen to them when they finally have a voice to say that it wasn't what they wanted?Inter-country adoptees' access to knowledge of their origins is still denied over their biological parents' right to privacy in Korea, a nation that remains as one of the leading “baby exporters” despite being the world's 10th-largest economy today.Lee Kyung-eun, 53, one of the most famous, indefatigable defenders of adoptees' rights and author of “The Global Orphan Adoption System,” will listen to the voices of Korean adoptees in person next month during her book tour in four European cities ― Amsterdam, The Hague, Copenhagen and Stockholm.“I hope my tour will serve as a momentum f

May 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] Defender of inter-country adoptees' rights

Song Hae gets Guinness recognition as 'oldest show host'

Veteran emcee Song Hae poses at KBS in Seoul, Monday, after receiving a certificate from Guinness World Records acknowledging him as the “oldest TV music talent show host.” Courtesy of KBSBy Kim RahnVeteran entertainer Song Hae, who has emceed the “National Singing Contest” for 34 years, has been recognized as the “oldest TV music talent show host” by Guinness World Records, local broadcaster KBS said, Monday.Song received a certificate from Guinness which confirmed he was “94 years and 350 days old” at the time of verification on April 12.“I attribute this to Korean TV viewers who have loved 'National Singing Contest' for such a long time,” Song was quoted as saying by KBS.Born in 1927, he began his career as an entertainer in 1955 by joining the Changgong musical troupe. While working as a comedian, actor and ratio presenter, he has since 1988 hosted the singing contest which is held at a different location every week, with thousands of residents at each location gathering at outdoor venues.While the show was planning to r

May 24, 2022By Kim Rahn

Song Hae gets Guinness recognition as 'oldest show host'

More festivals, live concerts to take place at home, abroad

The Korea Festival is scheduled to take place at the Deutsche Bank Park Stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, May 14 and 15 (local time.) Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationBy Dong Sun-hwaAs the world seeks a transition from pandemic to endemic, a series of festivals and live concerts are set to take place offline in Korea and beyond to entertain pandemic-weary people. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Frankfurt, Germany, are planning to hold the Korea Festival at the Deutsche Bank Park Stadium in Frankfurt, May 14 and 15 (local time). It will be the largest Korean cultural festival to take place in Europe since the COVID-19 outbreak began, and is expected to draw some 80,000 people. The event will be held in conjunction with “KPOP.FLEX,” a K-pop concert featuring some of the most celebrated K-pop acts like Exo's Kai, Mamamoo, NCT Dream, (G)I-DLE, Monsta X and IVE. Local broadcaster SBS will organize the concert in cooperation with its partners including PK Events based in Germany.Kai of K-pop boy group EXO / Courtesy o

May 13, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

More festivals, live concerts to take place at home, abroad

Busan Food Film Festa to open in July

The poster for Busan Food Film Festa / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City By Kim RahnThis year's Busan Food Film Festa (BFFF) will be held in the port city from July 1 to 3, the Busan city government said, Monday. The BFFF is a festival where visitors can enjoy food-related features and documentary films, as well as actual food provided on-site and other food-related events in areas around Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae.Under the theme of “Mankind that drinks ― 'Homo Bacchus'” (direct translation), the festival organizer will soon announce the list of around 15 films on alcohol and the humanities to be screened.Besides films, there are other programs and events where visitors can talk about the meaning of alcohol while drinking together with artists and food critics.They can learn about the food and drink featured in the film before screening by attending the “Cook! Talk!” session, as well as actually eat the food at the “Food Terrace” session. In the “Food Salon”

May 9, 2022By Kim Rahn

Kim Ji-ha, dissident poet who shed light on democracy

The late poet and pro-democracy activist Kim Ji-ha, known for poems like “With a Burning Thirst” and “The Five Bandits,” speaks during a press conference in this Oct. 31, 2014 photo. He died Sunday at the age of 81. YonhapPoet's works become symbol of pro-democracy activities during dictatorial eraBy Park Han-solThe works of Kim Ji-ha, a leading dissident poet and activist who died Sunday at the age of 81, served as a beacon of democracy during the military dictatorship of the 1970s.Born as Kim Yeong-il in 1941 in South Jeolla Province's Mokpo, the late poet was a critical voice against the government as early as 1964 when he took part in protests against the Korea-Japan Treaty, which sought to normalize diplomatic and economic relations 20 years after Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. Kim even served time in prison as a consequence of his activities.After majoring in aesthetics at Seoul National University, he made his literary debut in 1969 under his pen name, “Ji-ha,” meaning “underground,” with five poems, including &

May 9, 2022By Park Han-sol

Kim Ji-ha, dissident poet who shed light on democracy

Korea should get back to basics to handle political, social problems: former diplomat

Kim Won-soo, the chair of the international advisory board of the Future Consensus Institute, or Yeosijae Foundation, talks during the Korea CQ Forum at the Liszt Institute in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Corea Image Communication InstituteBy Dong Sun-hwa“Going back to the basics” is the only way to cope with the current political and social problems in Korea, according to Kim Won-soo, the chair of the international advisory board of the Future Consensus Institute, or Yeosijae Foundation. “At the moment, Korea is in a perfect storm and the only thing the country can do is to get back to the basics,” the former under-secretary-general of the United Nations said during his lecture at the Liszt Institute, a Hungarian cultural center in Seoul, Tuesday. His talk was part of the Corea Image Communication Institution's (CICI) Korea CQ Forum that aims to bring together opinion leaders worldwide.“From the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry to gender division, Korea is facing a range of political and social problems, but there is no silver bullet to solve all of them at on

May 4, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Korea should get back to basics to handle political, social problems: former diplomat

Kang Sue-jin delivers message of hope for International Dance Day

World Dance Alliance Korea Director Kim Geung-soo, from left, Korean National Ballet Artistic Director Kang Sue-jin, International Theater Institute Honorary President Kim Jeong-ok and International Theater Institute International Dance Committee Vice President Jeon Hong-jo pose at this year's International Dance Day celebration held at Seoul Cyber University, April 29. Courtesy of Seoul Cyber University By Lee Hae-rinKang Sue-jin, artistic director of Korean National Ballet, delivered a message of hope for pandemic-weary people in a speech celebrating 2022 International Dance Day (IDD) during an event held at Seoul Cyber University on April 29. “Dance is made of ephemeral moments, which destines dancers to be on the move forever. Yet, COVID-19 has restricted and even blocked the art of dance in its original form,” she said. “As dancers, we believe that the flapping of our wings gives hope to the hearts of those who love the art of dance and gives them the courage t

May 3, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Kang Sue-jin delivers message of hope for International Dance Day

'No Hate Comments Day'

Lawmakers, officials, celebrities and students declare May 23 as “No Hate Comments Day” at DGB Financial Center in Seoul, Tuesday. May 23 is when Sunfull Foundation was established in 2007 to tackle cyberbullying and online hate comments. From left are DGB Life Insurance CEO Kim Sung-han, Rep. Suh Jung-sook of the People Power Party, Kwangwoon Artificial Intelligence High School student Kim Sang-woo, Osan High School student Koh Min-seo, Sunfull Foundation Chairman Min Byoung-chul, Rep. Lee Hack-young of the Democratic Party of Korea and comedian Seo Kyung-seok, who is a co-leader of the Sunfull Movement. Courtesy of the Sunfull Foundation

Apr 20, 2022By Kim Rahn

LG honors 4 heroes who saved lives

Clockwise from upper left, Kim Ha-soo, Lee Kwang-won, Lee Ki-sung and Song Young-bong were selected as recipients of the LG Humanitarian Award. / Courtesy of LG FoundationBy Kim Hyun-binLG Foundation has presented awards to four neighborhood heroes for saving the lives of other people. Three of them ― Kim Ha-su, Lee Kwang-won and Song Young-bong ― jumped into the sea to save people who were drowning, and the fourth, Lee Ki-seong, rescued three elderly people from a fire. They were selected as recipients of the LG Humanitarian Award, which was established in 2015.Kim Ha-su, 70, was walking to a convenience store in Geoje City, South Gyeongsang Province, in February when he saw a person floating out in the open sea. Noticing that the man was breathing while not moving at all, Kim went out to rescue him. He immediately took off his coat and jumped into the cold water. “I thought that the life of a young man could be in danger, so I jumped into the water,” Kim said. “Of course, I just did what I had to do.”Lee Kwang-won, 42, meanwhile, was working at a restaurant

Apr 7, 2022By Kim Hyun-bin

Among outstanding journalists in Korea

The Korea Times reporter Ko Dong-hwan, right, who writes for the politics and city desk, receives an award at the annual Korean Association of Newspapers Award at Press Center in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. The award recognized 54 winners from different local news outlets nationwide who helped their companies contribute to improving the country's journalism industry. The award was held a day before the National Newspaper Day. Courtesy of Korean Association of Newspapers

Apr 6, 2022

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