Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'Rapport with pandas is irreplaceable'

Kang Cher-wonBy Lee Kyung-min Zookeeper Kang Cher-won, 47, said Friday, that his rapport with animals is one thing he would never trade anything for. He cares for a pair of pandas ― a male Le Bao and a female Ai Bao ― at the Everland amusement park’s zoo in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March. They are the second couple of pandas in Korea in 22 years after the first ― Ming Ming and Li Li ― were returned to China in 1998. Kang said one thing that his 28-year experience of taking care of animals is that people and animals share a lot of similarities. “We are all alike. For example, mothers that just went through labor get very anxious and irritable for fear that their newborns could be put into harm’s way. They try to protect them at all cost, because they love their babies. Just like human beings do,” he said. Animals can tell whether the zookeeper is really caring for them, or just doesn’t care that much, and pandas are no exception, Kang said.“Making eye contact, patting them, giving them fo

May 20, 2016

Poet highlights writers in poverty

Choi Young-miBy Yoon Ja-young Choi Young-mi, a renowned poet known for the bestseller “At Thirty, the Party is Over,” recently confessed on facebook that she is on welfare. The posting called attention to the harsh reality that poets face in the country, where even the most successful ones can’t make ends meet.“I got a notification from the Mapo District Tax Office that I should file for welfare. It says I am eligible because I earn less than 13 million won a year, have no house and few assets,” wrote the 55-year-old poet.“It was somewhat shocking. I am glad to get some unexpected money and I should admire the computer system of the tax office for being fair. However, I don’t know how I ended up like this.”She added that she called a number of professors to plead for a lecturer job to teach poetry at universities. “I begged them to help me since I am in need. It is deplorable to make such a request when considering that I don’t even have a master’s degree in literature.”She said that she contacted a publishe

May 19, 2016

Ex-President's brother-in-law dies

Lee Seong-hoBy Kim Ji-soo Lee Seong-ho, brother-in-law to the late former President Kim Dae-jung, has passed away. He was 85, various reports said Friday.Police officials in Jongno District, downtown Seoul, said that they found Lee lying still in his officetel residence Tuesday, after receiving a call from an acquaintance of Lee’s that he could not be reached.Lee, the youngest brother of former First Lady Lee Hee-ho, graduated from Gyeongbok High School and Seoul National University, after which he went to the United States and studied at Emory University. He at one time headed a Korea-American group in Washington, D.C., and also ran a travel agency.He returned to Korea in 1985, setting up a travel agency to take care of the travel of his brother-in-law who at that time was at the Party for Peace and Democracy.Lee was often dubbed an “insider” in President Kim Dae-jung’s administration (1998-2003) but was implicated in graft scandals afterwards.Lee divorced and his two sons also live in the United States, leaving him to live alone in Korea. A mortuary is

May 18, 2016

SHINee's Jonghyun will drop 1st full-length album

Jonghyun poses in this promotional photo for his upcoming solo album “Good.”/ Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-soo Jonghyun, main vocalist of the five-member boy band SHINee, is expected to release his first full-length studio album “Good” on May 24 at midnight, SM Entertainment said.The album will contain nine songs, eight of which were co-produced and written by the singer himself. Jonghyun is not new to producing solo albums. In January, he released a solo mini-album titled “Base” winning rave reviews. The 26-year-old has also written songs and produced for other artists including fellow SM Entertainment boy band EXO and singer Lee Hi.His talent agency disclosed teaser shots Tuesday through the singer’s homepage at http://jonghyun.smtown.com, providing a short preview of his new songs.SHINee ― comprising of Jonghyun, Key, Onew, Taemin and Minho ― debuted in 2008 and has made such hit songs as “Ring Ding Dong,” and “Lucifer.” Following their 2015 album “Odd,” the members have struck out on

May 17, 2016

SHINee's Jonghyun will drop 1st full-length album

CEO promotes Ironman triathlon

Park Ki-hwan, founder and CEO of Emerson K Partners / Courtesy of Emerson K PartnersBy Baek Byung-yeulPark Ki-hwan, founder and CEO of local public relations agency Emerson K Partners, was once a promising target shooter in high school as he was selected as a second-tier national athlete in the sport.The 45-year old turned his career path to public relations after majoring sport and leisure studies at the Korean National Sport University, and has been in the business for nearly two decades.Having successful careers at prominent public relations (PR) agencies such as Edelman and KPR & Associates, Park established his own PR firm in 2013.Though most clients of his company are related with technology sectors, Park this time promotes the Ironman triathlon competition which will take place in the southern port city of Busan, June. 19.Organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the Ironman competition is a long distance race that requires athletes to finish 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.25 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running in 17 hours.The Busan race will c

May 17, 2016

Ex-Assembly Speaker dies aged 93

Former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jae-soon / YonhapBy Kim Da-heeFormer National Assembly Speaker Kim Jae-soon died of natural causes, his family said Tuesday. He was 93.Born in 1923 in Pyongyang, Kim joined the political circle in 1960 as a lawmaker of the fifth National Assembly. He secured the seat seven times in his home turf of Cheorwon and Hwacheon in Gangwon Province. He served as National Assembly Speaker between 1988 and 1990.Kim retired from politics in 1993 and then served as an advisor at the publisher of “Samtoh,” a monthly essay magazine. 

May 17, 2016

Korean team wins e-sports championship

Korean professional gamer Lee Sang-hyeok, center, lifts the trophy with his teammates after winning the final round of the League of Legends international competition 2016 Mid-Season Invitational at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in China, Sunday. / Courtesy of Riot Games KoreaBy Yoon Sung-wonSK Telecom’s professional gaming team T1 clinched victory at the international e-sports competition of computer online game “League of Legends (LoL)” in Shanghai, after defeating North American gaming team Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) 3-0 in the final match, Sunday.T1, which has already won two official LoL world championships, has shown its supremacy in the game by pulling off a grand slam with the third victory in Shanghai.After the final of the LoL Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2016 match at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Lee Sang-hyeok, one of the world’s most renowned professional LoL gamers better known by his game playing nickname “Faker,” was named most valuable player (MVP) for the competition.“We have reached the top perch through

May 16, 2016

'All children need is love'

Bang Seoung-hoBy Lee Kyung-min  Love and respect would greatly solve most teenagers’ problems in school, including bullying, smoking and other deviant behavior, according to Ahyeon Polytechnic School principal Bang Seoung-ho, 54.If parents and teachers assert authority by causing fear, it will only worsen anger and frustration among teenagers, inclining them to direct their negative energy toward the weak among their peers.“School bullying and teenage smoking is getting worse because all they hear from adults is: ‘No. You should not do that,’ while what they really want to hear is ‘Are you OK? How are you doing?’ Scolding them and forcing them to do as they are told is merely a short-sighted approach,” he said.Bang’s efforts to be a good example for other adults started in 2014 when he wrote a song called “No Tobacco” while principal at Junghwa High School in eastern Seoul.“I know you are looking for what you are denied: love and care. I’m sorry for not loving you sooner. Don’t worry. I believe in you.

May 13, 2016

KINTEX CEO to head KOICA

Kim In-shikBy Kim Ji-soo Kim In-shik, chief of the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX), will lead the International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), a report said Thursday.Kim, 66, will assume his post as president of Korea’s aid wing, KOICA, on Friday.Kim graduated from Seoul National University as a German language and literature major and from the University of Southern California’s business school.He started his career at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), serving in offices in Monrovia, Liberia; Kingston, Jamaica; Zurich, Switzerland; and Berlin, Germany.He served as the head of KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, for three years starting in 2005. In 2006, Kim was a member of the board of directors of the Asia region of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).

May 13, 2016

Courtesy call

Iraq’s ambassador to Korea, Wadee Al-Batti, shakes hands with The Korea Times President-Publisher Lee Chang-sup after making a courtesy call to The Korea Times office on Friday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

May 13, 2016

People & Events

People & Events

'Rapport with pandas is irreplaceable'

Poet highlights writers in poverty

Ex-President's brother-in-law dies

SHINee's Jonghyun will drop 1st full-length album

CEO promotes Ironman triathlon

Ex-Assembly Speaker dies aged 93

Korean team wins e-sports championship

'All children need is love'

KINTEX CEO to head KOICA

Courtesy call

Most Read in Lifestyle