Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Sungkyunkwan students win business idea competition

A group of students at Sungkyunkwan University pose after winning first place during the 2013 Enactus National Competition, held at Konkook University, July 5. / YonhapBy Kwon Ji-younA group of students at Sungkyunkwan University won a domestic competition for innovative business proposals, the school said Friday.The group, “Enactus SKK,” took first place in the 2013 Enactus National Competition.Enactus SKK is a member of Entrepreneurial Action Us (Enactus), an international community of students, academics and businesspeople seeking to change the world with innovative business ideas.They will take part in the 2013 international competition set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in Cancun, Mexico, where members from 39 countries will propose business projects.Enactus SKK president Song Soo-wan, 24, said, “I think it would be best for our members to come up with new ideas to help those who are experiencing difficulties.” The group proposed two projects in the national competition. The first one is the “Mamma mia” project which asks female immigrants married to

Jul 12, 2013

Cycling across US for cancer fundraising

Hong Je-won lifts his bicycle above his head for a photo at Pittsburgh, one of his destinations during his 4,188 mile-journey. / Courtesy of Hong Je-wonBy Jun Ji-hyeHong Je-won, 26, an Aerospace Engineering senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is the only Korean among members of the Illini4000 (www.illini4000.org), a non-profit student organization at the university.Twenty two members of the body are cycling across the United States from New York to San Francisco, a total of 4,188 miles, to raise funds for cancer research and heighten public awareness about the disease.“This project is named ‘The Portrait Project’ as part of our team's mission to encourage those suffering from cancer. This journey started on May 25 and will end on July 31,” said Hong in an interview.The team has been raising over 110,000 dollars so far.“Also, on our way, we talk to people affected by cancer such as patients, their family members, doctors, nurses and care takers to have video and audio interviews. We edit and post them online.”Hong, an assistant

Jul 12, 2013By Jun Ji-hye

Ethnic Korean completes baby-sitter training

Nan Ren-huaBy Kwon Ji-younNan Ren-hua, an ethnic Korean from China, has become one of the first graduates of the professional baby-sitter education program for foreigners, hosted by the Ministry of Justice and the Korea Immigration Service Foundation (KISF). 'Nan, 43, has resided in Korea since 2005, when she met her husband. “I believe that it is important for Korean baby-sitters to understand the Korean way of raising children,” she said. “I would like to recommend the course to other foreign baby-sitters.” Nan said that she became a baby-sitter because she loved children. She applied for the program solely for that reason, despite the fact that baby-sitters can have their H-2 visa (working visit) replaced with an F-4 visa (overseas Koreans) once one has satisfied the requirements. The replacement only takes place if they have completed the program and worked as a baby-sitter in Korea for two consecutive years. Nan spent five weeks (40 hours) listening to lectures all the while taking care of children. The program consists of 10 different courses, including

Jul 11, 2013

Ethnic Korean completes baby-sitter training

Korean youths living in Europe to traverse home country

Park Jong-bum, president ofAKOREBy Kwon Ji-younA group of Korean youngsters living in Europe will set off on a 10-day journey across Korea on Friday to experience firsthand the nation’s history and culture. The Association of Korean Residents in Europe (AKORE) said that some 70 participants will include the children of interracial marriages, adopted Koreans and second-generation Koreans who reside in Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland and Belgium.  “Many youths of the next generation are taking part in our project, thanks to the help of the Korean associations across Europe,” Park Jong-bum, president of AKORE, said. “Though it isn’t a significantly long period of time, Korean youths in Europe will experience plenty visiting Korea from corner to corner, observing Korean culture and encountering firsthand the industrial development that Korea has achieved,” he said.“The trip will help them understand their home country better, and trigger feelings of pride,” Park added. The journey will

Jul 11, 2013

Korean youths living in Europe to traverse home country

From Hero close to zero

By Baek Byung-yeulRainWhen Rain entered his compulsory national duty 21 months ago, he was the life of Korea’s "hallyu" party, a K-pop megastar who leveraged his popularity into Hollywood stardom.Now, for the first time in his illustrious career as an entertainer, he finds himself at a crossroads leaving the military. After wasting an enormous amount of good will on a slew of scandals involving his behavior as a serviceman, Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, may have been irrevocably damaged as a cultural product. The 31-year-old was officially discharged Wednesday and was greeted by some 700 fans, many from foreign countries, upon his exit from the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul.The screams were as loud as jet engines and tears flew like rivers, but Rain didn’t seem to be in a mood to address his fans for a second longer than he absolutely had to."Thank you for coming. I will do my best (as an entertainer)," he said, briefly managing a sorrowful smile between the gloom on his face, before hopping into a van and disappearing less than a minute

Jul 10, 2013By Baek Byung-yeul

From taekwondo to skin-care therapist

Cho Mi-naBy Bahk Eun-jiCho Mi-na gave up her dream of becoming a professional taekwondo fighter due to her relatively small stature.  She has since found a new passion, which is improving people’s looks through beauty and skincare. She is the head of a branch of Dong-an In Girl in Mok-dong in Seoul. Dong-an (face that looks younger than age) is a skincare franchise of Yakson House, a healthcare company specialized in bone therapy.It is not common industry practice for a rapidly growing company such as Yakson House, to entrust an entire branch to the likes of Cho, who barely has five years experience.“I used to dream of being a member of the national taekwondo team. I spent my childhood training for it since I was an elementary student to a high school student, but I was literally too small to be a taekwondo fighter.” She says her physique often disadvantaged her during fights with bigger opponents.“So I had to quit though I didn’t want to. I started to learn computer programming in high school, because my parents and teachers told me that

Jul 10, 2013

Korean graduates from Russian college with honors

Lt.-Col. Yoon Young-hoBy Kwon Ji-younAn Air Force Lt.-Col. Yoon Young-ho has become the first Korean to graduate with honors from a Russian command and a general staff college, established by the Russia Aerospace Defense Forces. According to military sources, Yoon received perfect scores in all 31 of his college classes, and graduated last month. “I studied extremely hard because I couldn’t let down the people who expected highly of me,” Yoon said. “I feel pleased to have proven the superiority of Korean officers.” The college Yoon attended focuses heavily on producing talented individuals whose expertise lies in aerospace and air defense. At first, Yoon was commissioned as a secretary of the army but in 1991 he became an Air Force lieutenant colonel because the army’s air defense battalion was placed under the control of the Air Force. Yoon said that he experienced one major difficulty upon landing in Russia to attend school ㅡ the language barrier. “At first I couldn’t communicate with anyone,” he said. “But I stayed up at

Jul 10, 2013

Korean graduates from Russian college with honors

Korea places first in int'l skills competition

World Skills gold medalist Cho Yong-ku, left, Lee Gyu-chul, center, and medallion winner Kwon Sung-chul pose at the 42nd World Skills Leipzig 2013 competition in Leipzig, Germany, July 7. Korea placed first in the competition, winning 12 gold, five silver and six bronze. / YonhapBy Kwon Ji-younKorea placed first in the 42nd World Skills Leipzig 2013 ㅡ an international skills competition ㅡ held in Leipzig, Germany, from July 2 to 7, winning 12 gold medals, five silver and six bronze.The nation reconfirmed its status as a leading country in technology by securing its 18th win.Of the winners, three stood out. They were Lee Gyu-chul, Cho Yong-ku and Kwon Sung-chul, who are all 19 and graduated from “Meister” schools specializing in technology.“We are proud to have proven to our juniors that if you do well in school, you will do well in a global setting,” the three said. Lee has been engrossed in computer programming since he was young. He chose to attend Gyeongbuk Machinery Technical High School in order to develop his skills at an early age, even though

Jul 9, 2013

Korea places first in int'l skills competition

Girls' Generation to sing anthem at Dodger Stadium

TaeyeonSunnyTiffanyBy Jung Min-hoMembers of the popular K-pop act Girls Generation will sing Korea’s national anthem at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on July 29 (KST) in a ceremony before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds.The Dodgers are the team of Korean rookie pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, while the Reds employ star Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo.According to S.M. Entertainment Tuesday, Girls Generation members Taeyeon, Tiffany and Sunny have been invited to attend “Korea Day,” organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, and one of them will throw the first ball of the game.After the game, the members will attend the ceremony where they will be appointed as Honorary Ambassadors for Korea tourism.Ryu also will attend the event.Since the game is expected to present two Korean Major League Baseball players’ first showdown, the event is anticipated to draw big attention from the locals with the Girls Generation’s special performance.For Tiffany, it is her second visit to the stadium after she threw the first ball of the game between

Jul 9, 2013By Jung Min-ho

Girls' Generation to sing anthem at Dodger Stadium

Swiss delegation steps up cooperation with KAIST

Patrick Aebischer, left, president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, poses with Kang Sung-mo, president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, at the latter’s office in Daejeon, Tuesday, after they signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. Under the MOU, the two institutes agreed to collaborate in such fields as biology, information technology and engineering. / Courtesy of KAISTBy Kwon Ji-younSwiss Federal Councilor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann visited the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on Tuesday to step up cooperation and exchange with the school.Leading a 30-member science and technology delegation, Schneider-Ammann attended a ceremony at which KAIST signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.Under the MOU, the two institutes agreed to collaborate in such fields as biology, information technology and engineering. It was signed by KAIST President Kang Sung-mo and Patrick Aebischer, president of the Swiss institute.Relations between