Lifestyle - The Korea Times

World's oldest lady

Jeralean Talley poses for a photo in Inkster, Mich, in this May 22, 2014, file photo. The 115-year-old Detroit-area woman, born on May 23, 1899, tops a list maintained by the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group whichtracks the world’s longest-living people. Gertrude Weaver, a 116-year-old Arkansas woman who was the oldest documented person for a few days, died on Monday. / AP-Yonhap

Apr 8, 2015

'Hallyu fever won't disappear any time soon'

Song Seung-hwan, CEO and producer of PMC, gives speech about the success story of the non-verbal comedy “Nanta” at the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Seoul, Tuesday, during an event organized by the Corea Image Communication Institution (CICI). / Courtesy of CICIBy Kim Jae-heunSong Seung-hwan, the producer of the non-verbal comedy “Nanta,” attributed the increasing popularity of Korean culture overseas to the country’s desperation to survive, during a speech at a Culture Quotient event organized by President Choi Jung-wha of Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) at the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Seoul, Tuesday.“Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, caught foreigners’ attention in 2000,” said Song, CEO of Nanta’s PMC production company. “Local dramas and music became successful in many Asian countries, and I believe it started from deficiency like Nanta. The domestic market was too small, and seeking overseas sales was imperative.“For example, downloading music for free on the Internet killed

Apr 8, 2015

'Hallyu fever won't disappear any time soon'

CEO works to introduce tidal power tech

Eun Hee-jinBy Jun Ji-hye Eun Hee-jin, CEO of  Korwind On-/Offshore Investment GmbH, a Hamburg-based company that focuses on the offshore energy production, has worked hard to bring the technology for generating power from tides to Korea.Her efforts could bear fruit at the 7th World Water Forum which will take place from April 12 through 17 in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.Ekornergy, Korwind’s Korean corporation also headed by Eun, will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Netherlands-based tidal and river turbine manufacturer Tocardo International B.V. and Korean firm CharLotte Wiz E&C next Wednesday during the forum.“Along with the signing ceremony, we will give a presentation to government officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport,” Eun said during a recent interview.The MOA outlines an energy project to produce 1MW of energy from offshore areas in South Jeolla Province, which have been famous for its strong tides.“I have been focused on securing suitable places where water turbines can be placed. Offshor

Apr 8, 2015By Jun Ji-hye

Former journalist named Seoul mayor's political aide

By Jung Min-hoChoi Chang-hwanFormer journalist Choi Chang-hwan, 54, has been named as a senior secretary for political affairs for Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Tuesday Choi, who helped Park during the by-election race in 2011, will start his job as early as this week. The post has been vacant for over a month after Kim won-hee resigned on March 3.A native of Jeonju, Park started his journalist career at the Seoul Economic Daily in 1989. He then moved to Edaily as president before starting to work for the liberal Uri Party as a special adviser for policy makings in 2003.When Park ran for Seoul mayor in 2011, Choi helped him as a special adviser for political affairs.Choi obtained his bachelor’s degree in economics from Korea University and briefly worked for the Korea Exchange Bank before entering the media industry.Observers say mishandling of SMG’s political affairs, such as safety concerns over sinkholes and the Second Lotte World, have put Park in bind over the past few months.A source close to Park said, with him, the mayor ai

Apr 7, 2015

Former journalist named Seoul mayor's political aide

Volunteer work is life-changing experience to Oh

Members of the World Taekwondo Peace Corps pose on a beach in Mahe, the Seychelles. From left are Kim Eun-hyo, Im Sun-young, Park Hyo-ruel and Oh Ju-young. / Courtesy of Oh Ju-youngBy Nam Hyun-woo Volunteer work in overseas countries serves to not just help the needy but also provides a life-changing experience for volunteers.That was certainly the case for Oh Ju-young, a 23-year-old international trade major at Hyupsung University who was dispatched to the Seychelles, an archipelago comprised of 115 islands, as a member of the World Taekwondo Peace Corps' (TPC) program. The TPC dispatches members to developing countries to help popularize the sport and provide the countries with services it can offer.“I didn't have any interest in my major and that made me depressed, so I had to take a break from school for a year without having any plans,” Oh said during an interview with The Korea Times, Monday.Similar to Oh, many young people have a hard time figuring out what they want to do for living. Oh confessed that she also had a vague dream of something related to in

Apr 7, 2015By Nam Hyun-woo

Volunteer work is life-changing experience to Oh

Ex-diplomat becomes UNICEF Director

Suh Dae-wonBy Kim Hyo-jinVeteran diplomat Suh Dae-won has been named executive director of the Korean Committee for UNICEF. A graduate of the department of international relations at Seoul National University, Suh began his career as a diplomat in 1977. He served in various posts at the foreign ministry until 2003. His stints include director-general of the International Organization Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to the United Nations, and ambassador to Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After more than 30 years’ experience as a diplomat, Suh became chairman of the Presidential Council on Nation Branding in 2009. Suh is set to serve at UNICEF Korea for a three-year term. The organization, established in 1946, has provided aid to children regardless of race, nationality, ideologies, and gender.The Korea Committee for UNICEF ranks fourth in terms of donations received and has the largest number of sponsors.

Apr 6, 2015

Seoul Economic Daily president promoted to vice chairman

Lee Jong-whanLee Jong-whan, president of the Seoul Economic Daily, has been named vice chairman, the newspaper company said Monday.The firm promoted Lee to the new position during a board meeting, Friday.Lee started his journalism career with the Hankook Ilbo in 1984. He worked in key posts at the Hankook Media Group, and also served as managing editor of the Seoul Economic Daily.  

Apr 6, 2015

Seoul Economic Daily president promoted to vice chairman

Woman to lead food, drug safety ministry

Kim Seung-heeBy Kim Se-jeong Cheong Wa Dae appointed Kim Seung-hee as the new minister for food and drug safety, Monday.Kim, 61, has served as vice minister at the ministry since December 2011.“She has shown professionalism through her extensive work at the ministry,” Cheong Wa Dae’s spokesman Min Kyung-wook said.Born in Seoul, Kim earned a degree in pharmacology from Seoul National University. She also received a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame.Since joining the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 1988, she spent a significant amount of time at the National Institute of Toxicological Research. In April 2009, she became the institute’s director.In the same month, the institute changed its name to the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, and she was appointed to lead the new institute. She served there for two years, before being appointed as the vice minister in 2011.Kim’s appointment came after her predecessor, Chung Seung, resigned last month to run in the parliamentary by-elections next month. 

Apr 6, 2015By Kim Se-jeong

Woman to lead food, drug safety ministry

Former CEO helps local startup for growth

Nam Jung-gon, NamuTechnology Vice ChairmanBy Kim Yoo-chulNam Jung-gon, a former chief executive at TmaxSoft, is trying to help local startup Namu Technology grow after becoming a stakeholder in the company.Nam previously worked at LG Group and Hynix Semiconductor, which is now SK hynix, as a chief information officer, for decades. During his time at TmaxSoft, a local software vendor, Nam helped Tmax expand its business beyond the Korean Peninsula.“April 6 was my first day as a Namu Technology man. My key focus is how best to fit my experience, contacts and knowledge into new business models. Amid connectivity, local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could take a central role in leading initiatives for a new ecosystem,” Nam told The Korea Times by telephone.Namu Technology was founded in November 2001 with initial capital of 500 million won. As of January this year, the firm had 80 employees, according to the company.He said he is happy to see that Namu employees are full of “can-do” spirit. “Although, Namu is a small firm, the company's workforc

Apr 6, 2015By Kim Yoo-chul

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