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INTERVIEW Rediscovered cache of color photos gives life to ordinary people of postwar Korea

Bustling Namdaemun Market was located a few blocks from the Bando Hotel. Regardless of what the weather was like, it attracted hordes of buyers at all times, boasting everything from cooked food, rice, herbs and produce, to fabric and clothing. Courtesy of Marie Ann YooHawaiian-born, Korean American photographer Marie Ann Yoo, 85, captured resilience of Korean society three years after Korean WarBy Park Han-solIn December 1902, 102 people flocked to Wolmi Island to climb aboard a ship en route to Hawaii, a land of new hopes and possibilities, marking the start of the first wave of Korean immigrants to America (Hawaii was annexed as an American territory in 1898).As they toiled in sugarcane plantations under the grueling heat, the majority of these migrant workers ― who initially hoped to return to their homeland with a hefty sum after a few years ― eventually began to settle down. With many of them being Christians, a Korean church was soon established for them to practice their faith and form their own community in a foreign land.Chin-tae John Choy and Elizabeth Pahk were among thes

Dec 9, 2021By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Rediscovered cache of color photos gives life to ordinary people of postwar Korea

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding middle school students

Lee has linguistic talents, compassion for othersLee Yu-rimLee Yu-rim is in her second year at Hopyeong Middle School, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Born to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, Lee is an exemplary student who developed her linguistic talents with diligence and excels in her academic performance. Lee plays a leading role on her school's student council as the vice president. She helped lead the zero waste challenge on the campus and actively gathers students' ideas to develop and carry out school activities and events. She shows great diligence and talents in academic achievement, especially in the linguistic fields. Lee had full marks in Korean and English last semester and has won several awards in writing competitions. Lee has been studying English, Japanese and Chinese as she wishes to attend a foreign language high school.Beyond her scholastic achievements, Lee offers her talents in volunteering activities to help others. As a publicity ambassador of the school, she made the school's online newspaper. She puts her passion for the environment into action by lead

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

[Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards] Outstanding middle school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding high school students

Lee's positive energy, linguistic talent inspire other studentsLee Jeong-inBorn to a Vietnamese mother and a Korean father, Lee Jeong-in is a second grader at Goseong High School, Goseong, Gangwon Province.Having spent her early childhood in Vietnam, Lee put in a lot of effort to develop her multilingual communication skills. She won medals at an annual bilingual speaking competition, two years in a row, in Korean and Vietnamese. Lee displays great academic performances in Korean and English and shares her language skills by volunteering to teach other multicultural students in her school.Lee always reaches out to help others in need and plays an active role in charity and volunteer activities inside and outside of her school. All teachers appreciate her responsible and earnest character and say that she never hesitates to work with people around her. Lee was also elected as the student president and will lead the school's student council through 2022. As the eldest child in her family, Lee is a proud daughter to her parents and a caring and loving sister to her two younger siblings.

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

[Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards] Outstanding high school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding volunteer

Jo, leader in community green projects, finds solutions for environmental issuesJo Un-olBorn to a German mother and a Korean father, Jo Un-ol is a third grader at Chonbuk Mechanical Technical High School in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. Jo has a keen eye for environmental problems inside and outside of school and offers creative solutions while leading multiple volunteering projects..He improved the milk carton disposal system on his school campus by engaging in a carton exchange project run by the city government. He led a carton-washing activity voluntarily with his friends, and this activity was covered by a local newspaper for contributing to environmental protection and to show others the joy of community service.Jo also upgraded the town's recycling system. With the help of his neighbors and financial aid from the Korea Safety Health Environment Foundation, Jo built a waste disposal platform and educated local residents by distributing a self-made recycling guide. He was given the 2021 Youth Volunteer Award by the city government of Gunsan, North Jeolla Province.Acknowledged fo

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

[Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards] Outstanding volunteer

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding elementary school students

Noh is high-spirited, diligent leader with passion for taekwondoNoh Yeon-kyeongNoh Yeon-kyeong, born to a Vietnamese mother and a Korean father, is a sixth grader at Shinha Elementary School in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. She was elected as leader of the student representative group of the school and class leader this year. She took action to meet her pledges made during the student council election, such as preparing face masks for those who forget to wear one on campus.Noh is a member of a junior taekwondo demonstration team and has participated in several taekwondo competitions.Her outstanding leadership also stands out when she communicates effectively with classmates and takes an active role in debate class. She never hesitates to help others. Also a great listener, Noh is a well-rounded student with sensitivity and concern for others. She has led several group projects in science, arts, and music class to success with these qualities.Other than her academic achievements, Noh has a great passion for Korean and Vietnamese culture. Noh distinguishes herself with confidence and self

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

[Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards] Outstanding elementary school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Special awards

Special jury award winnerPak, passionate about Goryeoin and Korean history, shines in community service, languages Pak OlgaPak Olga is third grader at Kyongil High School of Tourism and Business Management, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Born in Uzbekistan, she is a fourth generation of Goryeoin ― ethnic Koreans who settled in the Central Asian region over 80 years ago. Pak is proud of her grandfather who fought for Korea's independence while it was under Japan's colonial occupation.Pak takes an active role in volunteer work at Goryeoin Cultural Center in the city, informing people on the history of her ancestors and supporting foreign residents' settlement. Through these activities, Pak conveyed the painful history of her ancestors who were deported to Central Asia. She also grew a passion for Korean history, community service and language studies. When Pak came to Korea in her middle school days, she received the help of volunteers in studying Korean, and decided to return what she received to the community by helping others in need. She now excels in Korean and other language studies,

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

[Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards] Special awards

Multi-talented student from biracial background inspires others

Yang Geun-mo, grand prize winner of the 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards hosted by The Korea Times, poses with a guitar in the band practice room at Geumsan Hitech High School in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, Nov. 29. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulGrand prize winner of The Korea Times' 10th Korea Multicultural Youth AwardsBy Lee Hyo-jin Yang Geun-mo, 16, is a multi-talented student at Geumsan Hitech High School in Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province.Born to a Vietnamese mother and a Korean father, Yang is one of the top students in the vocational training school, praised by teachers for his hard-working attitude and kindheartedness in offering help to those in need. Yang scored the highest in the midterm and final examinations in his year. Other than his academic performance, he has obtained two technician certifications in welding, as well as four certifications in computer programming, an outstanding accomplishment for a high school sophomore, according to his teachers.The teachers who spoke with The Korea Times at the school campus on Nov. 29 described Yang

Dec 9, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin

Multi-talented student from biracial background inspires others

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Poster for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s 2022 Season 1 program / Courtesy of SPOBy Park Ji-wonAmid the pandemic entering its third year, Korea's orchestras have recruited foreign conductors as their music directors, roles which have long been held by Korean nationals. Chung Myung-whun, for instance, served at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) for nine years since 2006 and Chung Chi-yong served at the Korean Symphony Orchestra for four years since 2018.Hoping to fill more seats at their concerts, the KBS Symphony Orchestra has appointed Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen, who will lead the broadcaster's music organization starting January, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) appointed Belgian conductor David Reiland. Finnish music director Osmo Vanska replaced Chung in 2020 as music director for SPO and will led the organization until 2022.As the New Year approaches, the local orchestras unveiled their programs for next year, which include many performances starring foreign virtuosos and renowned performers.The SPO will begin next year with requiems in January.Vansk

Dec 7, 2021By Park Ji-won

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Singer-artist Solbi wins top award at Spanish art festival

Solbi poses with a trophy in Spain. Courtesy of MAP CrewBy Kang Hyun-kyungSinger and artist Kwon Ji-an, better known by her stage name Solbi, won the Grand Artist Award at The Premi International d'Art de Barcelona held in Spain, her agency MAP Crew said in a press release on Monday. According to her agency, Solbi showcased 13 of her artworks under the theme of “Piece of Hope” as well as an installation work that was a collaboration with Korean artist Choi Jae-yong, who is based in Germany. “Piece of Hope” is part of the artist's “Just a Cake” series, which was accused of plagiarizing Jeff Koons' sculpture. In an interview held earlier, Solbi denied the allegation.One of the judges of the festival was quoted by MAP Crew as saying that Solbi won the most votes from the committee members because of her works' dynamic and unique portrayals of subjects.Solbi produced her works that were displayed at the festival during her stay in Barcelona to pay tribute to her father and grandmother who passed away recently and the judge said that these meaningful wo

Dec 6, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Singer-artist Solbi wins top award at Spanish art festival

INTERVIEW Kim Whanki drawing found not on canvas, but on earthen plate

Hahn Ki-hoh, owner of the ceramic drawing presumed to have been created by the abstract master, Kim Whanki, speaks during an interview at The Korea Times office in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Park Han-solKorea's pioneering abstract master, Kim Whanki (1913-1974), is best known for his artistic focus on East Asian cultural motifs like moon jars, as well as his later transition into paintings, featuring an abstract constellation of dots.In recent years, Kim's name has made headlines in the art circle once again, as the value of his works has continued to increase. It was in November 2019, when his 1971 diptych, “Universe 5-IV-71 #200,” fetched 13.2 billion won (HK$88 million) at Christie's Hong Kong, making history as the most expensive Korean art piece ever auctioned, to this day.But what many may not know is that during the early 1960s, after his return from Paris to Seoul in 1959, the artist also experimented with different media beyond r

Dec 3, 2021By Park Han-sol

People & Events

People & Events

INTERVIEW Rediscovered cache of color photos gives life to ordinary people of postwar Korea

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding middle school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding high school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding volunteer

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Outstanding elementary school students

Winners of 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards Special awards

Multi-talented student from biracial background inspires others

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Singer-artist Solbi wins top award at Spanish art festival

INTERVIEW Kim Whanki drawing found not on canvas, but on earthen plate

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