Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Culture tour guide finds joy in volunteer work

By Kim Se-jeongLee Hyea-kyoungLee Hyea-kyoung, 64, is a volunteer culture tour guide for the city of Seoul.For the past eight years, she has guided tours of major city sites. Her main clients are Japanese-speaking travelers.She said it has been a great adventure for a stay-at-home mom and her weekly volunteering has provided new joy in her life.Meeting her in the city hall lobby, she was dressed in a red jacket with a name tag.“Winter is slow. I only work two days this week,” she said in an interview, Monday, adding that in summer she gets busy.Earlier that day, she had one appointment with a small group, and in the afternoon, her duty was to roam the city hall building helping any tourist she encountered.Her volunteering began with her love for the Japanese language.“I was a housewife in a big family,” she said. “I had 10 people to take care of _ my parents-in-law and six siblings of my husband. And I had my own children.” In 2006, things changed. “That year, it was only me, my father-in-law and my husband left at home. I began to feel lonel

Dec 30, 2016

Culture tour guide finds joy in volunteer work

Top male singers, bands return to stage

A promotional teaser image of Rain for his new album that will be released Jan. 15. / Courtesy of Rain CompanyFrom Rain to Shinhwa to NCT 127, ‘boys’ come backBy Kim Ji-sooTop male singers and bands are returning to the domestic music scene alongside those to watch.The winter months of December and January are not the optimal time for comebacks or new albums for singers. But considering the depressing political and economic news in Korea, several singers could not have chosen a better time.At the forefront is the news of K-pop star and actor Rain’s return. Since his sixth album “Rain Effect” was released in 2014, Rain has been out of the music spotlight in Korea and has concentrated on acting.The 34-year-old will release a new album, Jan. 15. Rain has been stepping up his promotional activities for this album. He has been filming guest appearances on entertainment programs such as “Flower Travel Crew” that will air on SBS, Jan. 8 and 15. He will also appear on the music show “Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” on KBS in the second w

Dec 30, 2016

Female designer eyes Asian men's grooming

Hellen Choo, founder and CEO of Art and Design International, poses at the company’s office in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Wednesday. /Korea Times photo by Park Jae-hyukBy Park Jae-hyukThe men’s grooming products market in Korea, which has rapidly grown in recent years, is expected to total 1 trillion won ($825 million) this year, as Korean men ― including those in their 40s and 50s ― have recently begun to pay more attention to their appearances.Yet, few options have been available in the domestic market for Korean men, most of who tend to have thick and coarse hair, unlike Caucasian men’s thin and pliant hair.So, CEO Hellen Choo of Art and Design International launched men’s lifestyle brand Swagger dedicated to Asian men in 2011.The brand seeks to expand its presence next year through well-known drugstore chain Watsons, in the newly emerging markets of China and Southeast Asia.“At first, our company had only helped design products of other cosmetics makers,” the designer-turned-entrepreneur said in an interview with The Korea Times, We

Dec 29, 2016By Park Jae-hyuk

Female designer eyes Asian men's grooming

Sunfull ambassador

Prof. Min Byoung-chul, right, chairman of the Sunfull Movement, a nonprofit anti-cyberbullying network, poses with Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino professional boxer and politician, after appointing him as promotional ambassador of the network at The-K Hotel in Seoul, Sunday. As a Sunfull ambassador, Pacquiao will lead a movement against slanderous comments on the internet. / Courtesy of Sunfull Movement

Dec 28, 2016

NZ mountainner named promotional ambassador for fundraising event

Roger Shepherd, right, a New Zealander who has hiked the entire South Korean portion of the Baekdu-daegan mountain range, holds a certificate of appointment with Oxfam Korea CEO Chi Kyung-young after being appointed as promotional ambassador for Oxfam Trailwalker Korea in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Oxfam KoreaBy Yi Whan-wooRoger Shepherd, the first foreigner to walk the entire South Korean section of the Baekdu-daegan mountain range, has been appointed as promotional ambassador for Oxfam International’s latest fundraising event in Korea.The Seoul office of Oxfam International, a London-based non-profit organization fighting poverty, said Wednesday that Shepherd, a former police officer, will promote Oxfam Trailwalker Korea to international mountaineers.Oxfam Trailwalker Korea is a sporting event in which participants will compete to complete a 100-kilometer trail around Mount Jiri and Gurye County in South Jeolla Province. The event will begin on May 20.Each participant will be grouped into a team of four. They will be required to walk the trail within 38 ho

Dec 28, 2016

NZ mountainner named promotional ambassador for fundraising event

Director Park Chan-wook promotes NCSOFT's new game

By Park Hyong-kiFilm director Park Chan-wook/Korea Times file Park Chan-wook, one of Korea’s most influential filmmakers, is known for his body of hit movies with unique plot twists and climatic endings that often take a different turn from conventional story structures.From “Joint Security Area” to his revenge trilogy including “Oldboy,” the filmmaker has contributed to opening a new chapter in Korea’s new wave cinema history..With fame, stars in Korea are often offered lucrative multiyear advertising deals in which they will become the representative, or “face” of a consumer brand. A lot of actors or actresses further launched their careers in the movie or television industry by starring in advertisements.Film directors are no different in getting more spotlight because of ads. Park recently begun appearing in the advertisements of NCSOFT’s new mobile game, “Lineage Red Knights,” a mobile spin-off game from NCSOFT’s online fantasy “Lineage.”Park’s intricate use of mise-en-scene to te

Dec 26, 2016

Director Park Chan-wook promotes NCSOFT's new game

Rapping to help better N. Korea human rights

Defector rapper Kang Chun-hyok rehearses ahead of his showcase for the single “For the Freedom” at a basement bar in Hongdae, Seoul, last week. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-sooRapper Kang wants S.Koreans to know N.Korea's realityBy Kim Ji-sooRapper Kang Chun-hyok’s showcase was not held in the trendy Cheongdam-dong area in southern Seoul. Two years after he became known to the public as the defector rapper, Kang performed his first single “For the Freedom” at a quaint bar on the outskirts of Hongdae, AMS.Several hours before the performance, Kang, 30, was preparing with fellow rappers in the basement venue.Kang’s first taste of fame came when he appeared on season three of the cable TV survival hip-hop show, “Show Me the Money,” in 2014. He made it through the first round; but pulled out of the program because he got too nervous in the second round. He did have plans to release a song then, but then became wrapped up in art exhibitions for the next two years.When he is not rapping, he is an artist holding exhibitions, but also doing me

Dec 23, 2016

Rapping to help better N. Korea human rights

Principal releases song for game addicts

Ahyeon Polytechnic School principal Bang Seoung-hoBy Lee Kyung-min  Ahyeon Polytechnic School principal Bang Seoung-ho, 54, who became famous after releasing the song “No Tobacco” to help students quit smoking, has released another to help students addicted to online games.“I believe that love and respect would greatly solve most teenagers’ deviant behaviors, including smoking and online game addiction,” Bang said.Students are under enormous pressure not only because of their studies but also from bullying by peers and from the authority of their parents and teachers, who demand blind obedience, he said.“They reach for cigarettes and get addicted to online games to forget about reality for a moment,” he said. “It’s all about dealing with stress brought on by feeling helpless as a teenager.“That is why educators need to guide young people in the right direction by showing more affection rather than invoking fear.”His belief in this approach became stronger after he produced “No Tobacco” in 2014, when he

Dec 23, 2016

Principal releases song for game addicts

Descendent of AP reporter donates archives to Seoul museum

By Yoon Ja-youngHundreds of handicrafts, archives and photos that belonged to Albert Taylor, a correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) who reported to the world the realities of life in Korea under Japanese occupation, have returned to Seoul.  According to the Seoul Museum of History, Jennifer L. Taylor, a granddaughter of the journalist, donated a total of 451 items belonging to her grandparents. They are of significant importance as they provide a glimpse of life in Seoul while it was under Japanese colonial rule.Born in the United States in 1875, he came to Korea with his father who was engaged in gold mine development. In 1919, he reported on Koreans’ March 1 Independence Movement to the world after finding a document of the Declaration of Independence at Severance Hospital where his son, Bruce, was born. Korea independence movement leaders were there preparing for the massive movement.He also reported on the massacre of Koreans at Jeam-ri in Hwaseong.The Taylor family lived at a house they named Dilkusha, which was at that time the biggest brick house in the count

Dec 22, 2016

Ex-Special Force soldier becomes top 'heligun'

Warrant Officer Chung Sang-geun. / YonhapBy Kim Hyo-jinThe Army has selected a former Special Forces soldier as the top helicopter gunner of the year.Warrant Officer Chung Sang-geun, 48, was awarded as the “Top Heligun” by the Army’s Aviation Operations Command, Tuesday.Heligun is a combination of the words, helicopter and gunner. It is an equivalent of the top gun from the Air Force. The Army has awarded soldiers showing the best aerial shooting ability since 1999.“I was able to receive the award thanks to the interest and support of instructors and fellow soldiers,” Chung said. “I will strive to be an army pilot who excels in the capability of deterring provocations by our enemies at all costs.”Chung is serving as a pilot flying AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters in the 109th aerial brigade. Chung started his military career as a soldier in the Special Forces. He hoped to become a pilot, but had to put the dream aside to support his family. He gave up studying when he was at university ― the requirement for being a pilot ― so his youn

Dec 21, 2016

People & Events