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Jung appointed UNHCR goodwill ambassador

Actor Jung Woo-sung, left, receives a plaque marking his appointment as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) from Dirk Hebecker, representative of UNHCR’s Seoul office, Thursday. / Courtesy of UNHCR KoreaBy Baek Byung-yeul Film star Jung Woo-sung has been chosen as the first Korean goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), UNHCR’s Seoul office announced Thursday.In that capacity, Jung will serve as a public advocate for refugees and human rights issues in the Asia-Pacific region.“I am honored by this appointment and will do my best to alert more people about the hardships of refugees as a goodwill ambassador of UNHCR,” Jung said.The 41-year-old actor said he was alarmed that there are still so many people who need help.“I would like to express my appreciation for Jung’s decision despite his tight schedule,” said Dirk Hebecker, a representative of the UNHCR Korea. “I hope Jung, as our honorary advocate, can raise public awareness about 40 million refugees all

May 15, 2014
Jung appointed UNHCR goodwill ambassador

'Korea still has legacy of conservatives'

Kim Ja-dong, president of the nonprofit Commemorative Foundation for Korea'sProvision Government (CFKPG)By Chung Min-uckA veteran journalist is initiating a movement to redefine the meaning of “conservatives” here.“Korean conservatives aren’t conservatives in the literal sense of the meaning,” said Kim Ja-dong, 86, president of the nonprofit Commemorative Foundation for Korea’s Provisional Government (CFKPG).“Conservatives should at least have a sense of nationalism. But they don’t. Conservatives here merely pursue their selfish interests,” Kim said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.He was speaking from the standpoint of being a living witness to Korea’s modern history.The former journalist said he understands that leaders of relatively weak nations have to be submissive toward stronger countries from time to time to better serve their people.But in Korea, according to Kim, this isn’t the case.“Those who were pro-Japanese during the Japan’s colonial rule of Korea (1910-45) cunningly replaced their

May 14, 2014
'Korea still has legacy of conservatives'

Jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun wins Sejong Culture Award

Nah Youn-sunBy Lee Kyung-minJazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun won the 33rd Sejong Culture Award for Art, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday. The award recognizes five individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in their field of expertise.Nah won this year’s award in recognition of her continuing effort to strengthen the image of Korea as a culturally rich nation.She performs more than 100 times a year in European countries, mostly in France. Her seventh album, “Same Girl,” topped the French FNAC jazz chart for seven weeks, and remained a “steady seller” for 80 weeks.It also won her the Golden Disc Award in France.Nah was designated as Gangwon cultural ambassador, UNESCO Korea cultural ambassador on international Jazz Day and as a Pyeongchang Winter Olympics cultural ambassador. In 1982, the award was established in commemoration of the creative spirit of Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and the creator of the Korean alphabet Hangul. This year’s Sejong C

May 13, 2014
Jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun wins Sejong Culture Award

'Eternal dreamer' seeks to enliven youth

Kang Ju-won, mentor for youthBy Chung Hyun-chaeMany young people seem to think entering a conglomerate and getting a high salary is a great success. Today’s cut-throat job market conditions reflect their aspirations for such a job.Kang Ju-won, 28, is the one of those going against such thinking. He dubbed himself “an eternal dreamer” and said he wants to move young people and also to be impressed by them during his lifetime.He has worked at a large cosmetics company, a state-run company and a pharmaceutical firm after he graduated from Dongguk University but not for long as he quit them all.“For me, an occupation is not all that matters, as it is just a means, not the object of my life,” Kang told The Korea Times. As his previous careers show, he has challenged many things. Before he entered the companies, he had been on a working holiday to Australia where he got a job installing insulation, and he had also organized some events in Korea. Every time he had a certain interest, he jumped into that area.“At some point I realized that I’m happy

May 12, 2014
'Eternal dreamer' seeks to enliven youth

'Conglomerates should lead K-food drive'

Edward KwonBy Kwon Ji-younFood “hallyu” (Korean wave), or K-food, has only just begun, according to star chef Edward Kwon.“And this is going to be a long battle,” Kwon told The Korea Times in a recent interview. “It’s not something a chef can do on his or her own.”Kwon stressed that for K-food to succeed in a relatively short period of time, conglomerates must work hard at its forefront. Great examples include soy sauce brand Sempio, and food manufacturers Chungjungone and Pulmuone, according to Kwon.“We shouldn’t look at these companies with too critical an eye,” he said.Kwon didn’t expect CJ Foodville’s Bibigo to reap large profit margins. In 2010, CJ launched the flagship restaurant specializing in bibimbap in international locations such as Beijing, Los Angeles, Singapore and London.“From an industrial logics point of view, CJ’s expansion prospects could have seemed bleak,” Kwon said. “But if you look closer, it’s a concept worth investing in. They’re taking Korean food tha

May 9, 2014
'Conglomerates should lead K-food drive'

'Sex toy market is growing rapidly'

Lee June, CEO and founder of MS HarmonyBy Yi Whan-wooSex is a topic that’s still not discussed openly in Korea. Nevertheless, one entrepreneur sees it as a lucrative business opportunity.Lee June, CEO and founder of MS Harmony, said sex toys, including condoms, love gels and candles, can become great export items for Korea.MS Harmony is the only company in the country that manufactures, imports and exports sex toys legally.“The sex toy industry has the potential to grow rapidly in the future, as our company has demonstrated,” Lee said in an interview at his office in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Tuesday.The company’s sales have been increasing by over 100 percent every year since it was set up in November 2003, according to Lee, 39. Last year, the company’s sales reached some 5 billion won ($4.7 million).“The local sex toy market is estimated to be worth 100 billion won this year, while the overseas market is speculated to be over trillions of won,” Lee said.He recalled a presentation held by Phillips, a multinational technology company, duri

May 8, 2014
'Sex toy market is growing rapidly'

IU collaborates with veteran singer

IU Kim Chang-wan Singer IU has collaborated with veteran singer and Sanwoolim member Kim Chang-wan in her new remake album.According to Loen Entertainment, IU’s agency, IU has consistently expressed her desire to work with Kim, most recently on a radio program last November, and Kim has responded to such calls. Loen confirmed Thursday that IU and Kim worked closely together on one particular song to be included in IU’s remake album. IU, who debuted in 2008 with a mini album titled “Lost and Found,” has worked with a number of older generation musicians, including Choi Baek-ho and Yang Hee-eun. Kim, who made his debut in 1977 with Sanwoolim, is known to be a versatile entertainer, and over the years has built a solid presence as an actor, poet, emcee and deejay.

May 8, 2014
IU collaborates with veteran singer

Comedian to speak at UK universities

Kim Je-dongComedian and emcee Kim Je-dong will speak at prestigious universities in the U.K. According to Kim’s agency Dee Company, Korean student associations at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the University of London have invited Kim to speak to students about relationships and the importance of person-to-person interaction. On May 9, he will lecture at Cambridge; on May 10, at the University of London; and then on May 16, at Oxford. On May 17, Kim will speak to overseas Koreans in New Malden’s Koreatown. Kim, a recognized inspirational and witty speaker, was invited to lecture at Harvard Law School in April 2010 by a law school staffer. He also hosts his own talk concert “No Break,” which has toured the country since 2009.

May 8, 2014
Comedian to speak at UK universities
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