Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Film to shed light on North Korean POWs

Cho Kyeong-dukBy Yi Whan-wooPolitical unrest between North and South Korea is hindering the work of filmmaker Cho Kyeong-duk. Currently filming his latest documentary “Return Home,” Cho set out to tell the story of the North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) who chose to live in neutral countries such as Argentina, Brazil and India after the 1950-53 Korean War.He decided to make the movie because he was curious about what made them desert their home country.The film is a retrospection of some 20 remaining former North Korean POWs, but Cho is unable to finish the movie because of the worsening inter-Korean relations.“One of the survivors, Kim Myeong-bok, 79, who is now a Brazilian citizen, wants to visit his hometown in North Korea. This visit was meant to be an important part of my film,” Cho said during a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.“However, my crew and I still have not been permitted to travel to the communist regime and put the finishing touches on the movie. This is really disappointing.”Kim has also been denied entry by Nor

Aug 12, 2015By Yi Whan-woo

DUI celebrity rebounds after layoff

No Hong-chulBy John RedmondCelebrity No Hong-chul, 36, who has been lying low after a driving under the influence incident, is set for a comeback. MBC and No’s entertainment agency, FNC, confirmed Monday that No has left for Europe for his new show.“The new show will include four ordinary guys backpacking through Europe with No for 20 days at minimal expense,” MBC said.It said the show will be a fusion of entertainment and documentary.No was a member of popular entertainment program “Infinite Challenge,” but MBC said No’s comeback did not mean he would return to the show. m all walks of life, from beginner to professional. All are welcome, from the shower-singer to the seasoned veteran,” the group says. To join, or for more information, email info@camaratamusic.com, or call 010-2033-7663.   

Aug 11, 2015

Hong shares secret of success with students

Hong Seok-cheon talks to Korean students studying abroad, on stage at Club Ellui, Seoul, Aug. 6. / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-heunBy Kim Jae-heunThe actor-turned entrepreneur Hong Seok-cheon met with Korean students studying abroad to share his life story on Aug. 6 at Club Ellui, Seoul.Hong, one of the most prominent openly gay celebrities in Korea,said he could empathize with the audience because he has two children studying in the United States.“I adopted my nephew and niece who are studying in Boston right now,” Hong said. “Although I am not their biological parent, I know what it’s like to send kids abroad.”The meeting between the celebrity and students was organized by Rhythm Nation, Korea’s international students association whose members are primarily studying in the U.S., Japan and China.Most of the students’ questions focused on how to prepare for their careers, particularly starting a private business like Hong did with his restaurants.Hong suggested that the students have at least a year of field experience before starting t

Aug 11, 2015

Hong shares secret of success with students

Low minimum wage costs youth dreams

 Gu Gyo-hyeon, president of Arbeit Workers Union By Kim Jae-won Gu Gyo-hyeon, president of Arbeit Workers Union, a labor union representing part-time workers, said that its members cannot plan for their future with the minimum wage as low as it is.Korea’s minimum wage is 5,580 won per hour this year. Last month, the government-led Minimum Wage Committee decided to increase it 8.1 percent to 6,030 won next year.“The number of young jobseekers is 600,000, and most of them are part-timers. With the still-low minimum age, they cannot dream of an alternative life,” Gu said.He said it should be raised to 10,000 won per hour so they can think about their futures.Gu said the government introduced measures to create more jobs for young people, but most of them are useless. Recently, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced it will give companies tax credits up to 5 million won for each person aged between 15 and 29 they hire.“I don’t think companies hire young people because of 5 million won. Policies should be focused more on structural refo

Aug 10, 2015

Birthday gift

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, presents U.S. President Barack Obama with a banner of his calligraphy work at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 4, Obama’s birthday. The four Chinese characters read, “Thehighest virtue is like water.” / Yonhap

Aug 7, 2015

Multicultural music broadcasts

Shin Hyon-ung, fifth from right, chairman of the Woongjin Foundation, and Kim Chung-hyun, fifth from left, CEO of Digital Skynet Inc., pose with foreign DJs at the broadcaster’s studio in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Friday. They marked the seventh anniversary of the launch of music broadcasts for multicultural families. The nonprofit foundation has been supporting the programs since 2008. / Courtesy of the Woongjin Foundation

Aug 7, 2015

Gallery head translates Women's Declaration of Independence into English

Lee Sung-sook, director of the National Women’s History Exhibition HallBy Kim Se-jeong Lee Sung-sook, director of the National Women’s History Exhibition Hall, has done what no one else has done in women’s history in Korea -- she has translated the Korean Women’s Declaration of Independence into English.The text was signed in 1919 by eight women in Jilin, northeastern China. They signed it under fake names and it is hard to know who they really were.In the declaration, they deplored the nation being taken by Japan and encouraged other women to keep their spirits up in the hope for independence and freedom.The original text was found in a book owned by independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho (1878-1938), and her daughter donated it to the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, where it is held.“The declaration is extremely significant,” the director said. “Imagine what the life would have been like back then. Women had no identities, confined to home. Being somewhere other than their homes and speaking out requi

Aug 7, 2015By Kim Se-jeong

Gallery head translates Women's Declaration of Independence into English

Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Lee Mae-bangBy Yun Suh-youngKorean dance guru Lee Mae-bang died of a sudden illness stemming from old age at a hospital in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Friday morning. He was 88.The bereaved family announced that Lee's health drastically deteriorated the previous day and his death came as a surprise since the virtuoso was healthy enough to visit Mokpo a week before and had been preparing for a performance in December.He is survived by his wife and daughter.Lee, born in 1926 in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, was the only remaining artist who had mastered “seungmoo” (Buddhist dance) and “salpuri” (exorcism dance), which are designated Important Intangible Cultural Heritages No. 27 and No. 97.Lee had steadily pursued traditional dance for more than 80 years since he started learning dance at the age of 7. His seungmoo dance is known to represent the regional characteristics of North and South Jeolla Provinces which are graceful and aloof.Under masters Lee Dae-jo and Lee Chang-jo, he learned the basics of seungmoo, buknori (drum performance) and geommu (sword dance), a

Aug 7, 2015

Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Virtuoso inspired generations of dancers

Korean-American commands US Marine division

Daniel D. YooBy Jun Ji-hye Daniel D. Yoo, a Korean-American brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps, has been appointed commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.Yoo, formerly the assistant division commander at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., took command of the division of 23,000 troops on July 30 from Maj. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson.Nicholson will take command of the III Marine Expeditionary Force at Okinawa, Japan, next month.The 1st Marine Division participated in the 1950-53 Korean War. The division took a leading role in Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s famous Incheon Landing operation, code named “Operation Chromite.”The change of command ceremony took place at the 1st Marine Division Headquarters Building, commonly known as the White House.The division said Yoo, who became the first Korean-American U.S. general in 2011, approached Nicholson first and thanked him for his leadership while at the division.“Thank you very much on behalf of the entire division,” said Yoo. “For your truly genuine and unique style of leadership, you

Aug 5, 2015By Jun Ji-hye

Korean-American commands US Marine division

Ex-minister to teach at Kookmin Univ.

Yoo Jin-ryongBy Chung Hyun-chae Kookmin University has appointed Yoo Jin-ryong, 59, a former minister of culture, sports and tourism, as chair professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration, a school spokesman said Tuesday.“Acknowledging Yoo’s achievements in the cultural content, arts, sports and tourism fields, we have decided to recruit him as chair professor,” the spokesman said.Yoo will teach from September for the fall semester. Although details of the content of his lectures have yet to be decided, he is likely to give a three-credit class during the semester.   Yoo served as a civil servant at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since 1979. He was also the ministry’s vice-minister in 2006 and served as minister between 2013 and 2014.Yoo graduated from Seoul National University in 1979 after studying international trade and earned a master’s degree in public administration from the school in 1987. He received his doctorate from Hanyang University in 2005.   

Aug 4, 2015

People & Events

People & Events

Film to shed light on North Korean POWs

DUI celebrity rebounds after layoff

Hong shares secret of success with students

Low minimum wage costs youth dreams

Birthday gift

Multicultural music broadcasts

Gallery head translates Women's Declaration of Independence into English

Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Korean-American commands US Marine division

Ex-minister to teach at Kookmin Univ.

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