Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'Women uniquely suited for public relations'

Karen van Bergen, CEO at global public relations (PR) agency Porter Novelli, talks about her experiences as a woman CEO in an interview with The Korea Times, at the Korcom Porter Novelli office in Seoul, on May 20. / Courtesy of Korcom Porter NovelliPorter Novelli CEO attributes her success to 'challenging spirit'By Lee Min-hyungWomen working in the male-dominated business environment find it hard to take on leadership roles.But Karen van Bergen, CEO at global public relations (PR) agency Porter Novelli, wants to shatter that perception using her role as a successful businesswoman."Women are very uniquely suited for public relations because much of it is about relationships and curiosity in a human setting," she said."Both males and females have their own special characteristics, but it is really important for women to grab opportunities and that’s what I have always done and where I am now."The Dutch CEO said a "challenging spirit" was the secret behind her success."You have to keep pushing," she said. "Don’t be afraid of grabbing opportunities, even if you think that yo

Jun 2, 2015

'Women uniquely suited for public relations'

Actor Ahn marries musical actress

Ahn Jae-wook, left, and Park Joon-hyung / Korea Times fileActor Ahn Jae-wook, 45, tied the knot with musical actress Choi Hyun-joo, 35, in Seoul, Monday.The couple married at Banyan Tree Club & Spa in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.Ahn, who debuted in 1994 and began concentrating on musicals in 2012, first met Choi when they worked together in the musical “Crown Prince Rudolf” in November 2014.Choi graduated from Ewha Womans University after completing a singing program. She debuted as a musical actress in 2006 with “The Phantom of the Opera.”On Monday morning before the wedding, Ahn wrote on his Internet homepage that he felt “neither elated nor gloomy but felt busy in his head” about the wedding.He added he would be “sorry for her if he got her pregnant soon after the wedding since they had gone out for only seven months.”Meanwhile, K-pop band G.O.D.’s rapper Park Joon-hyung said that he would marry a stewardess on June 26.“I am so excited that I am getting married in less than a month,”

Jun 1, 2015By Ko Dong-hwan

Actors marry

Actor Won Bin, 38, right, and actress Lee Na-young, 36, are seen during their wedding in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, Saturday. The wedding was held in a wheat field in Won’s hometown. One of the 40 guests — allfamily members — said the wedding was “humble” and “like a scene from a romantic movie.” The couple made their nuptial vows in a quiet, pious atmosphere./ Yonhap

Jun 1, 2015

Philippe Noirot to head BNP Paribas Korea

Philippe NoirotBy Choi Kyong-aePhilippe Noirot will take charge of Korean operations of BNP Paribas from July 1, the French investment banking group said Monday.Noirot will replace Joris Dierckx who will move to a new senior position in the group’s Asia-Pacific operations, the financial group said.“Philippe will be responsible for managing the bank’s overall activities in Korea. He will report to Eric Raynaud, chief executive of BNP Paribas Asia Pacific,” BNP said.BNP Paribas is committed to growing its business in Asia Pacific, and Korea is one of the key markets in the region presenting strong potential for domestic and international growth, Eric Raynaud said.“I am confident Philippe Noirot, bringing extensive experience in various areas of the banking industry, will continue the good momentum of our business development in Korea. He will play a significant role to further support the needs of our Korean and international clients.”In Korea where declining rates further squeeze margins in commercial banks, BNP Paribas said it had “manag

Jun 1, 2015

Philippe Noirot to head BNP Paribas Korea

Hyundai Capital CEO promoted

Ted ChungBy Lee Hyo-sikTed Chung, CEO of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital Services, was promoted to vice chairman for successfully managing the financial units of Hyundai Automotive Group, the automaker said Friday.“For the past 11 years, Chung has been serving as the head of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital, and turned them into competitive financial services firms,” the group said. “For that, the group decided to promote him to vice chairman.”Born in 1960, he graduated from Seoul National University with a bachelor’s degree in French. Chung also received a master of business administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

May 29, 2015By Lee Hyo-sik

Actor supports stage actors' medical expenses

Song Seung-hwanBy Jhoo Dong-chanSong Seung-hwan, 58, senior actor and the president of PMC Production, has covered the medical expenses of his fellow stage actors for the last six years.Song has donated 60 million won ($54,660) to the Players’ Welfare Foundation of Korea (PWFK) by paying 10 million won every year since 2010.Song said PWFK director Park Jung-ja’s proposal initiated his charity donation to help fellow actors in need. “How much I donated is not an issue. It is important to help them continuously every year,” said Song.In 2011, the PWFK established an emergency aid fund for stage actors, called “Save Opportunity with Song Seung-hwan, Seoul Theatre Association” (SOSS), with Song’s donation and parts of the profits from the Seoul Theatre Festival.The aid fund helped stage actors in need of medical care who could not get government support.“Many stage actors often buy used cars for shows in provinces. They are excluded from the government’s medical support because their cars are considered assets,” a PWFK offi

May 29, 2015By Jhoo Dong-chan

Actor supports stage actors' medical expenses

Queen's birthday party

British Ambassador to Korea Charles Hay gives a speech during a party at the envoy’s residence in Seoul to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, Thursday. More than 500 guests, including foreign ambassadors and business leaders, joined the celebration. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

May 28, 2015

Booyoung CEO donates history book

Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun, left, poses with Shim Yoon-chong, chairman of the Korea Saemaul Undong Center, at the Bankers’ Club in downtown Seoul, Wednesday, after signing an agreement to donate 1 million copies of a history book titled “The Korean War 1,129 Days” to the center. Lee authored the book detailing major events during the 1950-53 Korean War. /  Courtesy of Booyoung GroBy Lee Hyo-sikBooyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun has donated 1 million copies of the history book “The Korean War 1,129 Days,” published in 2013, to the Korea Saemaul Undong Center (KSUC), the group said Thursday.The Korea Saemaul Undong Center promotes the “Saemaul Movement,” an agricultural and rural reform campaign that began in the early 1970s.During a ceremony on Wednesday, Lee signed an agreement with KSUC Chairman Shim Yoon-chong to donate the book to the organization. The Booyoung chairman also pledged to support the center’s various community improvement projects at home and abroad.KSUC plans to use the book as a history

May 28, 2015By Lee Hyo-sik

Kwang Dong sends medicine for quake-ravaged Nepalese

Kim Hyun-sig, right, president of Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical Co., poses with Nepalese Ambassador to Korea Kaman Singh Lama at the Nepalese Embassy in Seoul, May 22, after committing to provide 300 million won worth of medicine for the earthquake-hit nation. / Courtesy of Kwang Dong PharmaceuticalBy Chung Hyun-chaeKwang Dong Pharmaceutical Co. has sent 300 million won ($270,900) worth of medicine to Nepal to help the people of the quake-stricken country, a company spokesman said Wednesday. Kim Hyun-sig, president of Kwang Dong, visited the Nepalese Embassy in Seoul on May 22 to convey his condolences to Nepalese Ambassador to Korea Kaman Singh Lama and pledged to provide medicine to the Himalayan country.“We hope our medical supplies will help the Nepalese people who have fallen into despair, and bring hope to them,” Kim said. “We also hope Nepal avoids additional damage.” The company said the medicine includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs and digestives to be used to treat the injured.In a separate case, the company sent medical volu

May 27, 2015

Kwang Dong sends medicine for quake-ravaged Nepalese

Song discharged from Army

Actor Song Joong-ki salutes reporters and fans near a military unit in Goseong, Gangwon Province, Tuesday, as he is discharged from the Army after spending 21 months in military service. / Yonhap

May 26, 2015

People & Events