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Former PM Kang Young-hoon dies at age 94

Former Prime Minister Kang Young-hoon/YonhapFormer Prime Minister Kang Young-hoon, who met with his North Korean counterpart in 1990 in the first talks between the prime ministers of the two Koreas in nearly a half century, died Tuesday. He was 94.Kim, who had been hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital, died at around 3:07 p.m., Red Cross officials said.Kang served as South Korea’s No. 2 official from 1988 to 1990 for then President Roh Tae-woo.Kang met with his North Korean counterpart in September in 1990, the first such meeting following the division of the Korean Peninsula. Kang also traveled to Pyongyang a month later and met with North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of the current leader Kim Jong-un.Kang later headed South Korea’s Red Cross, which provided humanitarian aid to North Korea, from 1991 to 1997.Kang is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. (Yonhap)

May 10, 2016
Former PM Kang Young-hoon dies at age 94

Making Ultra Korea into exciting EDM fest

Richard JungBy  Park Jin-haiRichard Jung said when he first witnessed an electronic dance music (EDM) festival, he experienced culture shock.“When I first saw the edited video clip of Tiesto and Diplo performing the same song C’Mon in day time and night during the 2010 Ultras Music Festival (UMF), my adrenaline pumped wildly,” said Jung, who is now CEO of UC Korea which organizes the Ultra Korea festival in Seoul.Started in 1999, the UMF brings the greatest EDM artists to the city of Miami, Florida, every March. Armed with cutting-edge productions and the hottest EDM lineups, it is currently held in 19 cities, including Ibiza, Spain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.“The DJ was at the center of a spectacular stage, lighting and excited crowds of people. It came as a fresh culture shock to me,” he said. “I made up my mind to bring the world’s largest EDM festival to Korea.”His wish came to fruition in 2012, when his company brought the UMF to Korea, its first Asian destination.But the process was not easy at all, h

May 10, 2016
Making Ultra Korea into exciting EDM fest

Crush's new mini-album 'Interlude' gains favorable response

CrushAn album by singer Crush called “Interlude” is winning recognition from colleagues.Fellow hip-hop musician Jay Park commented “Yes…This is It” on social media regarding the 24-year-old’s mini-album. Rapper Gaeko of Dynamic Duo who features on the songs “9 to 5” rallied for the singer by posting a dragon emoticon identified with Crush.The album contains five songs ― “Woo Ah,” “Castaway,” “In the Air,” 9 to 5” and “Dust.” It was digitally released on Friday while the physical album hit the shelves Monday. “Woo Ah” had as of 3 p.m. Friday topped four music charts including Mnet.com, Olleh Music, Genie Music and Bugs.  The song remained within the top 5 on these sites over the weekend to Monday.Crush, whose real name is Shin Hyo-sub, was a well-known underground musician before he released his well-received first full-length album “Crush On Me” in June 2014.

May 9, 2016
Crush's new mini-album 'Interlude' gains favorable response

LG Uplus CEO leads corporate culture change

LG Uplus Vice Chairman and CEO Kwon Young-soo delivers a speech at the Konjiam Resort, GyeonggiProvince, in this March 3 file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Yoo-chulLG Uplus Vice Chairman and CEO Kwon Young-soo and his senior executives wrapped up their “endless strategy meeting.”There were debates and heavy discussions with tempers lost, something rarely seen in the “top-down” management style in Korean firms, where consensus and face are paramount.After the meeting, the CEO said, “The meeting was nice and very constructive. Things will get better with debates and arguments. You don’t have to think that you’ve crossed a line as I am not in a position to order all things. My role is to find something new on how to make the firm better with full of energy and ideas.”The contretemps well illustrates the cultural shift under way at LG Uplus. The LG Group’s telecommunications unit is on a track to change its rigid management style under Kwon’s leadership.In the Korean telecommunication industry, LG Uplus has been the sector&rsq

May 9, 2016
LG Uplus CEO leads corporate culture change

LS Cable honorary chairman dies at 93

By Nam Hyun-wooThe late LS Cable & System Honorary Chairman Koo Tai-hwoiLS Cable & System Honorary Chairman Koo Tai-hwoi died of a chronic disease early Saturday morning, the cable manufacturer said. He was 93.Koo is the younger brother of late LG Group founder Koo In-hwoi and was the only survivor of six brothers of the Koo family, who founded the group.Along with two brothers, the late honorary chairman of E1 Koo Pyong-hwoi and late Yesco honorary chairman Koo Doo-hwoi, the deceased is the founder of LS Group, which was separated from LG Group in 2003.Born in Jinyang, now Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Koo Tai-hwoi was a six-term lawmaker and served as vice parliamentary speaker in the mid-1970s. At the company, he went through senior posts in the early years of the LG Group. He had been honorary chairman of LS Cable & System since 2002.Unlike other conglomerates in Korea, the Koo family had relatively smooth succession without legal hassles. The three brothers’ will was to have management succession between cousins so that there would be no feud

May 8, 2016
LS Cable honorary chairman dies at 93

Geoje teacher helps immigrant wives

Won Soon-yeonBy Kim Bo-eunWon Soon-yeon, 63, who has lived her entire life on Geoje Island off Korea’s southern coast, has been recognized for her dedication to children for 37 years and her support for immigrant women.She was selected by the Ministry of Education as the “Teacher of May,” ahead of Teachers’ Day which falls on May 15.“I was really surprised when l was contacted and notified of the news,” she told The Korea Times. “I am from the countryside and there are so many great teachers out here.”Won has been acknowledged for her work with immigrant brides on the island, which started when she was invited to speak at a forum on policies for women.She decided she would have to hear from women on Geoje about their needs, and distributed 1,000 questionnaires of which 800 were returned.“I remember seeing uneven handwriting which appeared to be that of a young elementary school student,” Won recalled.“I was confused but later found out that it was written by a woman from the Philippines who was married to a Korean.&rdq

May 6, 2016
Geoje teacher helps immigrant wives

Ha finds response in general election

Ha Seung-soo, co-chairman of the Green PartyBy Kim Ji-soo The April 13 general election had interesting elements other than the result that produced the Minjoo Party of Korea as the dominant party while the ruling Saenuri Party lost its majority. Throughout the elections, voters noticed numerous political parties, including the Green Party Korea.  The party fielded five candidates in electoral districts and listed five proportional representation candidates. None of the five won, including Ha Seung-soo, co-chairman of the Green Party, who ran in Jongno. The result dented the party’s objective to obtain 3 percent of party-preference votes so it could produce proportional representative lawmakers. But he sees a future possibility.“We saw a positive response from the women and young voters during the campaign,” Ha said Wednesday. “And we earned 0.76 percent in party-preference votes. But in Seoul, the vote for the party recorded 1.13 percent.”He said these voters were concerned with the values of life, security and sustainability that the Green Pa

May 5, 2016
Ha finds response in general election

Ex-Incheon vice mayor named Korail chief

Hong Soon-manBy Lee Min-hyungHong Soon-man, a former vice mayor of Incheon, has been named head of the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail).Hong, 60, will start as early as next week, after President Park Geun-hye officially nominated him, according to reports, Thursday.The position has been vacant since Choi Yeon-hye resigned as Korail president to become a ruling party proportional representation candidate in the April 13 general election.The government started accepting applications for the vacancy last month and 16 people applied.Hong has had key positions in state-run organizations including the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. He is best known for serving as head of the Korea Railroad Research Institute.Yonhap News Agency quoted a government official as saying the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently drew up a shortlist and recommended Hong to Cheong Wa Dae as the sole candidate.The decision is interpreted as the government’s move to halt growing criticism over “parachute appo

May 5, 2016
Ex-Incheon vice mayor named Korail chief
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