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Singer Hyun Sook donates 13th bath car to Cheongsong county

Singer Hyun Sook, third from left, poses with a bath van she donated to Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province, along with county officials Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooShe always has the word “filial” singer before her name, Hyun Sook. Not surprising as she donated her 13th bath motor vehicle to Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province on Tuesday, ahead of Korea’s Parents’ Day that falls on May 8.The mobile bath van, that enables the elderly to bathe, costs about 42 million won. The county, which has a population of about 22,000, has only two such vans while 30 percent of its population are 65 years and older.“With this vehicle, we can provide baths to about four elderly residents a day,” said Shin Yong-beum, an official at the county.The Korean folk pop singer has been donating a van every year for the past 12 years. She said that personally she wants to donate one every season; spring, summer, fall and winter, rather than just one a year. She started out in 2004 by donating the first bath van in her hometown of Gimje, North J

May 4, 2016
Singer Hyun Sook donates 13th bath car to Cheongsong county

Lee Kwang-soo's emoticons debut on We Chat

By Kim Ji-sooLee Kwang-soo of the popular entertainment program “Running Man” will interact with Chinese fans using emoticons on We Chat, Yonhap reports Tuesday. Lee is often referred to as “Prince of Asia,” because of his popularity on the entertainment program in which he appears with other top hallyu stars such as his friend the actor Song Joong-ki. Insiders speculate that Lee is paid hundreds of millions of won for his appearances at special events.Lee’s talent agency King Kong Entertainment said that one set of emoticons expresses the entertainer’s various smiles. Another set comprises 24 different styles and expressions.Lee is the first Korean entertainer to have his emoticons produced in China. We Chat, run by the Chinese Internet company Tencent, has about 650 million users.The 31-year-old is currently starring in the Friday/Saturday drama “Dear My Friends,” written by star writer No Hee-gyeong on the cable channel tvN. In addition, he appears in KBS’s web drama titled “The Sound of the Heart.”

May 3, 2016

Castelbajac shares design philosophy

Jean-Charles de CastelbajacBy Yun Suh-youngFrench designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac spoke of his design philosophy and career to a Korean audience last Thursday, as part of a lecture series offered by the Daesan Foundation.The foundation, which is owned by Kyobo Life, offers a monthly lecture series on various liberal arts topics.Castelbajac, who visited Seoul in March to exhibit the installation artwork "King of Signs" around the statue of King Sejong in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, made another visit late last month to speak at the lecture prepared as part of a year-long event to celebrate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France."What is important in doing creative work is to not follow the trends," said Castelbajac, showing the audience samples of his garments."It's important to create your own work and create your own style. Because style is what lasts, not trends," he said.His lecture was a combination of a PowerPoint presentation showing his portfolio and past projects and a hands-on explanation using his actual works. Castelbajac had brought a large

May 3, 2016
Castelbajac shares design philosophy

CEO profits in troubled real estate market

Hanmi Financial Group President Kim Jae-dong / Courtesy of Hanmi Financial GroupBy Nam Hyun-wooIn December, Hanmi Finance and Investment (F&I) purchased three studios and one penthouse in a fancy apartment complex in Dongja-dong, central Seoul, for 2.4 billion won. The combined value of these properties was assessed at 4.3 billion won, but the company could purchase them at the lower price because of pending legal hassles over their liens.Properties tied up in liens may incur extra costs to those who purchase them, but the company saw how this could be favorable to it and won the suits in April to receive ownership of those properties. Recently, the company received an offer to sell the penthouse alone for 2.7 billion won.The company invested some 58 billion won in nine similar problematic properties between September and December last year. The appraised price of those properties now reaches 110 billion won.This is what Hanmi Financial Group President Kim Jae-dong calls “low risk, high return” ― what every investment company dreams of.“By doing what others

May 2, 2016
CEO profits in troubled real estate market

Flight attendant uses CPR to save child

Asiana Airlines purser Kim I-cheolBy Lee Kyung-min   Asiana Airlines purser Kim I-cheol, 45, who saved an unconscious two-year-old girl by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), recalled the moment, saying that nothing went through his mind other than, “I must save this baby girl.”“All I saw was a baby who was my son’s age lying on the floor with a woman my wife’s age crying next to her,” Kim said.“The next thing I knew, out of instinct, I performed CPR, praying that she would regain consciousness.”The incident happened soon after the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 8.While the cabin crew and passengers remained quietly seated to prepare to get off the plane, Kim heard a desperate call from a flight attendant, “Help!”Rushing to the middle of the aisle, Kim found a woman crying, “I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”Next to the woman lay a baby who had a weak pulse and whose body was starting to stiffen. The mother said she had her daugh

Apr 29, 2016
Flight attendant uses CPR to save child

World Culture Networks introduces Korean musicians

Song Hyo-sook, CEO of World Culture Networks (WCN)By Jhoo Dong-chanSong Hyo-sook has been introducing talented Korean musicians to Europe, the seat of western classical music. In 2012, the 55-year-old devoted her private fortune to set up the Austria-based production agency World Culture Networks (WCN) in a bid to help talented Korean musicians reach European stages.“We have seen a number of Asian musicians become popular in Europe over the last 20 years but there is still a glass ceiling,” said Song, who serves as WCN’s CEO.“Many Korean musicians have recently proven their quality in many international music contests but they rarely receive the opportunity to get on stage or try out for renowned orchestras in Europe because Europeans prefer local musicians to outsiders.”In September 2014, WCN held the third Korea-Slovakia friendship concert with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and top Korean musicians including tenor Chung Ho-yoon, soprano Yang Je-gyung and violinist Cheong Sang-hee.A month later, the agency also hosted the Korea-Ukraine f

Apr 28, 2016
World Culture Networks introduces Korean musicians

Divorcing singer reappears after 8-year hiatus

Na Hoon-a at Yeoju branch of the Suwon District Court on April 26 / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Ko Dong-hwanTrot legend Na Hoon-a made a rare public appearance in divorce court after eight years of avoiding the media.The singer, 69, wearing a black suit and sunglasses, visited the Yeoju branch of the Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. He remained silent as he entered the court surrounded by journalists.Na attended the court to settle the division of his assets as part of a divorce suit that was filed by his wife, Jung Soo-kyeong, 55, in October 2014. She attended the court proceedings as well.Na left the court after two hours. The couple will meet again in early June for their next mediation.Na talks during a press conference at Grand Hilton Seoul in 2008. / Korea TimesJung previously filed for divorce in 2011. She had claimed that Na cheated on her with other women and did not send her money to support her livelihood while they were separated. In 2013, the court had refused to approve the divorce, stating it was hard to see that the couple's relationsh

Apr 28, 2016
Divorcing singer reappears after 8-year hiatus

'Obama should clarify Japan's war responsibility'

Shin Dong-ikBy Kim Hyo-jinU.S. President Barack Obama needs to clarify Japan’s responsibility for World War II if he visits Hiroshima, according to Shin Dong-ik, president of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS).Shin said in a contribution article for a magazine published by the institute: “Obama’s possible visit to Hiroshima is important for Washington to note Japan’s responsibility in World War II so that it won’t forget history.” There has been speculation that Obama may visit Hiroshima after attending the G7 summit, scheduled to be held in Ise-Shima next month.The possible visit has symbolic links with Obama’s agenda of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, observers say. Supporters of the visit say it should not be framed as the U.S. expressing remorse or apology for dropping the atomic bomb on the city, but sending the world a message of the U.S.’s commitment to non-proliferation and assurance of nuclear peace. But opponents worry that it will help Japan

Apr 27, 2016
'Obama should clarify Japan's war responsibility'
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