Lifestyle - The Korea Times

New Sejong Center CEO emphasizes cultural values

Lee Seung-yeop, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, explains at a press conference, Tuesday, his plans to improve the quality of the theater’s artistic content. / YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooLee Seung-yeop, CEO of the Sejong Center, vowed to improve the quality of the theater’s artistic content at a press conference Tuesday.The Sejong Center, located in the heart of Seoul, is one of the top art complexes in Korea, including a 3,000-seat grand theater, a medium-sized theater, a concert hall and galleries. It opened in 1978.The new CEO, who took the post on Feb. 11, announced four major strategies to rebuild the center into one of the most prestigious performing art venues in Korea."The Sejong Center has been out of the limelight for the past few years, which resulted in less loyalty," Lee said. "I will promote the brand of the Sejong Center for its cultural and artistic value, so that citizens can have faith in the quality of performances and exhibits held here."His plan includes scheduling annual programs in advance and producing more performances with its nin

Mar 24, 2015

New Sejong Center CEO emphasizes cultural values

Former reporter becomes public relations director

Hong Yoon-ohBy Kim Hyo-jinHong Yoon-oh, 53, a former Hankook Ilbo reporter, has been named director general of public relations planning at the National Assembly. “I’m determined to bridge the gap between the public and the legislative body by promoting a positive side of the Assembly,” Hong said. Born in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Hong majored in communications at Seoul National University and joined the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, in 1988.He was the first Korean reporter to fly to Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2011 when U.S. forces were tracking down al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. After 15 years’ in journalism, he became a spokesman for the political party National Alliance 21 in 2002. It was the party businessman-turned-politician Chung Mong-joon created in a bid to run for the presidency. Later, he served in various posts including auditor at the Korea Creative Content Agency and executive director at Hyundai Group. Hong unveiled plans to launch an online news media site that woul

Mar 24, 2015

Former reporter becomes public relations director

Lotte chairman's son gets married

Lotte chairman’s son gets marriedBy Park Jin-hai                        Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin’s son Yoo-yeol, 29, tied the knot with a Japanese classmate who has been on a MBA course at Columbia University, according to group officials.The wedding took place in Hawaii on March 17, and was only attended by family members, including Shin’s wife and two daughters. “Only family members and close relatives participated in the wedding ceremony,” said a Lotte Group official.No further details about the bride are known yet except that she is an alumni of the university.Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin flew to Hawaii for the ceremony right after attending the opening of an Innovation Center in Busan on March 16.His two other children are working for firms in Japan following a family tradition whereby the offspring of conglomerate owners start their career outside the group.Chairman Shin is also a graduate of Columbia University and started his career at Nomura Securities.

Mar 23, 2015

Fourth generation of Samsung family to become Hansol board director

By Kim Jae-won Cho Yeon-ju, a great-granddaughter of late Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull, will become a board director of Hansol Chemical, industry sources said Monday. According to sources familiar with the matter, Cho will be elected as a board director of the company at its shareholders meeting Friday. She currently serves as a vice president of the company. This is the first time that a fourth-generation member of the Samsung family has become a board member of a company. Cho is the eldest granddaughter of Hansol Group Advisor Lee In-hee, the eldest daughter of Lee Byung-chull and a sister of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Hansol became a spinoff from Samsung in 1991. Cho previously worked for Boston Consulting Group and Victoria’s Secret, the biggest U.S. lingerie company, before joining Hansol last year. Hansol Chemical manufactures hydrogen peroxide for the paper, textile and semiconductor industries from its central plants in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province and Ulsan.Its lines of specialty products have expanded, ranging from a variety of fine chemi

Mar 23, 2015

Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91

By Lee Min-hyungLee Kuan YewSingapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the nation into a global financial hub, died on Monday. He was 91. Lee had been in hospital with severe pneumonia since early February. A government statement said Lee "passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital today at 3:18 a.m." Born in 1923, Lee founded the People's Action Party (PAP) and became the nation's first prime minister in 1959. He led Singapore until 1990, but remained a member of parliament afterwards. Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the nation's third and current Prime Minister. His son declared a period of national mourning from Monday to Sunday. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed condolences over Lee's death. "The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the death of Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore," a U.N. statement said. "Lee Kuan Yew was a legendary figure in Asia, widely respected for his strong leadership and statesmanship."

Mar 23, 2015

Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91

Park to attend funeral ceremony of Singapore's founding father

Ex-finance minister dies

The late SongSong In-sang, who served as finance minister during the Syngman Rhee administration in the late 1950s and an economic advisor for the late President Park Chung-hee, died Sunday. He was 101.Song played a key role in forming Korea’s export-oriented growth policies in the 1950s and 1960s and expanding Korea’s export markets to Europe as an ambassador to the European Community in the 1970s.He was named as the inaugural CEO of the Export-Import Bank of Korea when it was founded in 1976, and later headed the Korea Management Association, the country’s oldest business consultancy, for 20 years.Song is survived by one son and four daughters. Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Suck-rae is one of his sons-in-law.A memorial altar was set up at Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital in Seoul. The funeral is scheduled for 6:30 a.m., Wednesday.

Mar 22, 2015

Mock U.N. conference

Students from around the world attend the opening ceremony of the 24th Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) conference at the school’s campus in Seoul, Monday. WorldMUN 2015 was held in Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, through Friday. A student team from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies hosted the mock U.N. conference with 2,300 students from 117 countries attending to discuss global issues and promote cultural exchanges among nations./ Courtesy of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Mar 20, 2015

Woman brings hallyu to Myanmar

Eum Yun-heeBy Jhoo Dong-chan“Hallyu,” or the Korean wave, is now sweeping Myanmar. Korean TV shows and dramas are enthralling viewers of the Southeast Asian nation’s terrestrial channels every day.Teenagers in Myanmar have become familiar with Seoul streets and even Korean historic figures such as King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Joseon Kingdom.Eum Yun-hee, 58, is the one who introduced hallyu to the country. Some 1,000 Korean drama episodes have been aired in Myanmar since Eum started to export them in 2002. She first moved to Myanmar in 1989 with her husband, Park Jeong-hwan, who is now vice president of Deawoo International, when he was sent to the company’s Yangon branch. She then entered the Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL) for a master’s degree in Myanmarese language and literature.Eum translated and introduced some Korean folk tales like “A Fairy and a Woodman” into Myanmarese after receiving the degree from the school. She returned to Korea to study for another master’s degree at Ha

Mar 20, 2015By Jhoo Dong-chan

Ex-spokesman becomes farm center head

Kim Dok-manBy Kim Hyo-jin Kim Dok-man, 55, former spokesman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, was appointed as the chief of the tentatively named Center for Supporting Returning to Farms.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Wednesday that it had chosen Kim to head the state-run center.Graduating from Yonsei University in 1987, Kim started his career as a reporter at the daily Herald Economy newspaper in 1989. He worked as a spokesman at the anti-corruption watchdog for seven years from 2005.From 2012 to the present, he taught at the Korea National University of Transportation.The government set up the center to support people wanting to be farmers. It provides education and consultation to those who plan to settle in countryside and run a farm.

Mar 19, 2015

Game industry pioneers donate for startups

Gamers Foundation President Namkoong Whon, second from left, poses with former game industry executives after they agreed to donate 250 million won ($225,000) for game development startups at the foundation office in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. They are, from left, Neptune CEO Jeong Wook; Namkoong; former Joymax CEO Kim Chang-keun; and Bear Better CEO Kim Jeong-ho. / Courtesy of Gamers FoundationBy Yoon Sung-wonFour first-generation businessmen in the local game industry donated money to assist small- and medium-sized game companies, Wednesday.The Gamers Foundation, an organization supporting small game companies, said four former executives in the game industry contributed 250 million won ($225,000) to the foundation.The donors are Bear Better CEO Kim Jeong-ho, Maum Golf CEO Moon Tae-sik, former Joymax CEO Kim Chang-keun and Neptune CEO Jeong Wook.They expressed their wishes for a sound and fair business environment for the local game industry.“As people who have worked for the local game businesses, we decided to make a donation to the Gamers Foundation, h

Mar 19, 2015

People & Events

People & Events

New Sejong Center CEO emphasizes cultural values

Former reporter becomes public relations director

Lotte chairman's son gets married

Fourth generation of Samsung family to become Hansol board director

Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91

Ex-finance minister dies

Mock U.N. conference

Woman brings hallyu to Myanmar

Ex-spokesman becomes farm center head

Game industry pioneers donate for startups

Most Read in Lifestyle