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Reinventing Korea's traditional liquor, food

Chairman Cho Tae-kwon of Kwangjuyo Group / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kim Ji-sooKwangjuyo’s products — its fine ceramics, delicious Korean cuisine and premium Hwayo soju — are often cited for their quality. But things took a more positive turn recently. For instance, Hwayo sales have surged for the first time in years.“I would say that it is a revitalization of the food culture itself, not only of Hwayo,” said Cho Tae-kwon, 68, chairman of the Kwangjuyo Group, in an interview with The Korea Times. Since it was launched in 2005, Hwayo sales increased slowly but steadily. The brand experienced a breakthrough last year, however, when its sales reached 10.9 billion won, a 32 percent increase over the previous year, according to the company.The chairman said he believes his pursuit of creating a total value has helped the company succeed. By “total value,” he refers to his work of introducing Korean ceramics, food (hansik) and alcoholic beverages, as well as restaurants in a value-added way. Cho said that the fine traditions of Korean cul

Jul 22, 2016
Reinventing Korea's traditional liquor, food

George Mason University Korea offers diverse opportunities

By Chung Hyun-chaeAnastasia GogiashviliAnastasia Gogiashvili, 20, a sophomore studying global affairs at George Mason University Korea, said she has enjoyed diverse opportunities provided by her university.“Since the university is still in the process of advancement, it values the opinions of the students by closely listening to them,” Gogiashvili told The Korea Times. “For example, students are allowed to create new clubs, their own school jacket design and organize events in order to bring the Mason community together.”For Gogiashvili, who is dreaming of working for world peace by mediating and solving conflicts, the international environment that George Mason University Korea provides is advantageous in that she can meet different people from various cultures.“I was attracted by the fact that the university shares a campus with three other distinguished universities at the Inchon Global Campus,” she said.The Incheon Global Campus (IGC) is currently hosting campuses of the State University of New York Korea, the University of Utah, Ghent Universi

Jul 21, 2016
George Mason University Korea offers diverse opportunities

Retiring policewoman donates 100 million won

Retiring policewoman Park Soon-ja, 61, left, poses during a donation agreement ceremony at a local welfare center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. / YonhapBy Jhoo Dong-chanRetiring policewoman Park Soon-ja has joined the “Honor Society” for donating 100 million won ($87,000) to a local welfare center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The honor is bestowed upon those whose donations surpass 100 million won by the Community Chest of Korea, the largest nonprofit welfare institution in Korea.The 61-year-old outgoing superintendent said she owes a debt of gratitude to society.“For nearly 40 years while serving as a police officer, I have received many honors from the country,” said Park.“As I leave the force I feel strongly that it’s time for me to help the needy neighborhoods where I have served.” Park served as a police officer for 37 years. She first joined the Masan Jungbu Police Station as a constable in 1979, one of the few female police officers at the time. Having served various posts including the 112 emer

Jul 21, 2016

Writer foretells THAAD deployment in novel 2 years ago

Fiction writer Kim Jin-myung / Korea Times FileBy Jun Ji-hye  In a book published in August 2014, fiction writer Kim Jin-myung wrote that the United States would ask South Korea to allow American armed forces to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit on Korean soil in order to hold China in check.He also forecast that Washington will cite growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea as an ostensible reason for the deployment. Obviously, his imagination has become reality as Seoul and Washington officially announced their decision on July 8 to deploy a THAAD unit on Korean soil next year to defend the country from the North’s evolving threats.At the time of publication, his book, “THAAD,” started a lot of talk and rapidly became one of the bestsellers in major bookstores.The novel is recently regaining popularity since the government’s announcement of deployment of the U.S. advanced anti-missile defense system.But the writer expressed concerns over unpredictable changes that the deployment would bring to the Korean Peninsula

Jul 20, 2016
Writer foretells THAAD deployment in novel 2 years ago

UNHCR Korea representative calls for more support for refugees

UNHCR Korea Representative Naveed Hussain talks about the unprecedented refugee crisis in the world, and asked for more support from the Korean government during an interview with The Korea Times. / Courtesy of UNHCR KoreaBy Kim Ji-sooOne of the first order of business for Naveed Hussain, representative of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Korea, after taking office in May was raising attention to the Syrian refugees detained at the detention center at Incheon International Airport.Twenty-eight Syrians were detained at the Incheon Airport Waiting area for as long as six months and subsequently denied entry. Recently, 26 of the refugees won the lawsuit to apply for refugee status. Permission for two was withheld after they were found to have stolen a tourist’s cell phone.“We are very pleased that the court made the decision, and the government decided to allow them to enter the country. It was a positive step,” said Hussain, 57, at his office in downtown Seoul.“It was our belief that the case could have been done in a different way. There was no p

Jul 20, 2016
UNHCR Korea representative calls for more support for refugees

Dankook opens software design center

Dankook University President Chang Ho-sung, third from left, hosts an opening ceremony for the Software Design Convergent Center on its Jukjeon campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Rep. You Seung-hee of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, second from left, and Yongin Mayor Jung Chan-min, second from right, participated in the ceremony. / Courtesy of Dankook University By Chung Hyun-chae Dankook University held an opening ceremony for the Software Design Convergent Center on its Jukjeon campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday.“I hope our students will become creative talents who can innovate in a free atmosphere at the SW Design Convergent Center,” Dankook University President Chang Ho-sung said.“We aim to cultivate creative talent inspired by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs,” said university spokesman Kim Nam-phil.The university launched the center in May in cooperation with SAP, IBM, SK Telecom and Yongin municipal authorities. The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning also provided financial support f

Jul 19, 2016
Dankook opens software design center

'Happy and healthy life is my motto'

Chef Mikhal Ashminov poses with a medicine ball used for BOOTCAMP training at the Sentinel One Box in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Emerson K PartnersBy Yun Suh-youngAfter suffering from poor blood circulation five years ago, Mikhal Ashminov decided to start working out. His health problem was caused by too much time spent standing due to his job and not exercising enough. The Bulgarian owner chef of Zelen, a Bulgarian restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul, came to Korea in 2002. He worked at the Sheraton and Westin hotels for three years until he decided to open his own restaurant in Seoul’s foreign district. Since 2006 he had managed the restaurant with success. Hard work may have paid off, but it took its toll on his health."My shin was all blue because I was always standing. I worked standing and ate standing. I'm a really busy guy. I worked 14 to 16 hours a day, so I couldn't find time to go to the gym. Then a friend of mine, who is also a Bulgarian chef, had the same problem and had his calf removed. I got so scared," said Ashminov during an interview with Th

Jul 19, 2016
'Happy and healthy life is my motto'

BOK's first female executive retires

Suh Young-kyungBy Kim Jae-wonThe Bank of Korea’s (BOK) first female executive Suh Young-kyung left the central bank Friday, leaving a legacy of breaking the glass ceiling of the male-dominant organization.Suh retired from her post as deputy governor of the bank after completing her three-year term. She was the first female who reached the executive seat, but failed to climb further to become a senior deputy governor.The 53-year-old lifelong central banker said it was tough to forecast the economic situation since the global financial crisis. She had been in charge of economic analysis, economic statistics and international cooperation.“For the last few years, I had been struggling to analyze unusual economic situations, such as low growth and low inflation, sparked by the global financial crisis,” said Suh in her farewell speech.Indeed, it was a tough time for her and the central bank to navigate the sea of uncertainty. The BOK has been under pressure to cut its key interest rate to boost the sluggish economy while controlling snowballing household debt at the same

Jul 18, 2016
BOK's first female executive retires

Unification seminar

Ewha Womans University’s vice president for international affairs Park Ihn-hwi, front row center, and Ewha students and professors pose with students of the University of Rostock, after wrapping up a two-day “summer academy” seminar on Ewha’s campus in Seoul, Saturday, under the theme of unification. Two professors of the University of Rostock in Germany are Stefan Creuzberger, back row left, and Gabriele Linke, front row second from right. Thirty-five students and 25 faculty members participated in the event co-organized by the two universities to discuss the unification of the Korean Peninsula. / Courtesy of Ewha Womans University

Jul 18, 2016

Ecuador earthquake relief aid

Singapore Korean International School Principal Park Jung-jae, third from right, presents a $1,500 donation to Singapore Red Cross Manager Katherine Tan at the Singapore Red Cross House, Friday. The fund, collected from the school’s students and teachers, will be used to help Ecuador recover from the damage caused by the 7.8 magnitude quake that devastated the South American country’s coast in April. / Courtesy of Singapore Korean International School

Jul 18, 2016
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