Lifestyle - The Korea Times

PHOTO UNESCO aids learners with limited education access

Participants and organizers of UNESCO's BRIDGE Programme make hand gestures during its opening ceremony in Seoul, Tuesday. Launched by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, the BRIDGE Programme aims to empower people with limited access to education around the world. This week's workshop in Seoul, which runs through Friday, shares knowledge with participants from 13 countries. Courtesy of Korean National Commission for UNESCO

Sep 25, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

[PHOTO] UNESCO aids learners with limited education access

Cheonan World Dance Festival underway with international lineup

The city of Cheonan has transformed itself into a global stage for dance, as the 2025 Cheonan World Dance Festival kicked off with vibrant performances and international flair. Hosted and organized by the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, the five-day festival opened at Cheonan Sports Complex in South Chungcheong Province on Wednesday, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the South Chungcheong Provincial Government and the International Dance Council joining as supporters. Held under the theme of “Dance with Spirit of Challenge and Creativity,” the 21st edition of the festival highlights both tradition and contemporary expression, bringing together participants across generations and borders. This year, the festival is expected to set a new record for international participation. While last year saw participants from 54 countries, the 2025 event has drawn 4,000 dancers and visitors from 61 countries. The program lineup includes the National Dance Competition, International Dance Competition, Street Dance Parade, Cheonan International Dance Competition and the National Dance S

Sep 25, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Cheonan World Dance Festival underway with international lineup

BTS’ V buys $10.3 million property in cash

BTS member V is making headlines — not for music this time, but for real estate. The K-pop superstar has reportedly purchased a luxury apartment in one of Seoul’s most exclusive neighborhoods and paid for it entirely in cash. According to property registration records, V (whose real name Kim Tae-hyung) became the new owner of a property in PH129 (The Penthouse Cheongdam), a high-end residential complex in the affluent Cheongdam neighborhood in Gangnam District, for 14.2 billion won ($10.3 million). A luxury home with no mortgage The 273.96-square-meter apartment has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Records show no mortgage or collateral was registered, indicating that V paid the full amount without taking out a loan — a rare move even among Korea’s wealthiest celebrities. The purchase contract was reportedly signed in early May, about a month before V’s military discharge. He officially took ownership on Sept. 17, when the final payment was completed and the deed was transferred. A celebrity-filled building Completed in 2020, PH129 is known as one of Seoul’s most exclusive res

Sep 25, 2025By Xportsnews

BTS’ V buys $10.3 million property in cash

US honors 91-year-old for saving wounded GI in Korean War

Lim Chang-soo, 91, who saved a wounded American soldier during the 1950-53 Korean War, was honored by the United States 75 years later for his act of heroism. The Sejong city government said Tuesday that Lim was presented with the U.S. Army’s Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service during the ROK-U.S. Alliance Conference last week. He also received a Scroll of Appreciation from Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea. After the 1950 Battle of the Kum River, Lim discovered Sgt. Ralph Kilpatrick, then 27, who had injured his ankle while retreating and was hiding in a mountainous area that is today part of Sejong. At first, Lim carried food up the mountain each day, but as the fighting intensified and North Korean troops moved into the area, he took Kilpatrick into his home to keep him safe. After caring for him for 77 days — both in the mountains and at his home — Lim handed Kilpatrick over to advancing U.S. forces on Oct. 1, 1950, following the Incheon Landing Operation, a surprise amphibious assault that turned the tide in favor of U.N. forces. In 1972, the two reconnect

Sep 25, 2025By Park Ung

US honors 91-year-old for saving wounded GI in Korean War

Korean American historian reexamines Japan’s role in WWII

SAN FRANCISCO — Quin Cho, a Korean American historian, always felt a deep connection to his ancestral homeland, despite growing up without much community exposure in Chicago. Though both of Cho's maternal grandparents, who immigrated to the U.S. after the 1950-53 Korean War, passed away before he turned 4, Cho’s decision to become a historian was “connected to Korea.” "Even when I was young, I was curious about my grandparents’ experience in Japanese occupied-Korea during [World] War [II]," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at the Presidio Officers' Club in San Francisco, California, Sept. 18. Having few direct family anecdotes to draw from, he turned to books. One pivotal moment came in fourth grade when he read Linda Sue Park’s "When My Name Was Keoko," a novel that follows a young girl navigating the harsh realities of Korea under Japanese colonization. The novel’s depictions — forced name changes, food shortages, the relentless pressures of the Japanese empire — opened his eyes. "I realized that many Koreans probably had similar experiences during the

Sep 25, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Korean American historian reexamines Japan’s role in WWII

One woman’s fight to remember WWII tragedies in Asia

Suzy reveals she had spot on eye removed, sparks new buzz

Singer and actress Suzy has once again become the center of attention after revealing she had a spot removed from the white part of her eye. Suzy made the disclosure on Sept. 23 in a YouTube program, “Cho Hyun-ah’s Ordinary Thursday Night.” When host Cho Hyun-ah commented, “The spot was removed well,” Suzy admitted, “I kind of liked it,” expressing a hint of regret that caught viewers’ attention. The mark on Suzy’s eye, medically known as conjunctival nevus, has long been a topic of discussion among fans and netizens. While many said it was not bothersome, others pointed out that it became noticeable in close-up photographs. Following news of its removal, online users responded positively, saying the change gave her a cleaner impression. Suzy’s facial beauty marks have drawn attention before. At a press conference in May last year for the film “Wonderland,” a small dot under her eye sparked buzz, though it was later revealed to be a makeup feature. The incident underscored how even minor changes in Suzy’s appearance generate significant public interest. Dubbed Ko

Sep 24, 2025By Xportsnews

Suzy reveals she had spot on eye removed, sparks new buzz

Bucheon, Busan to bring comic culture to life with autumn festivals

As September wraps up, two festivals will celebrate comics culture in Bucheon and Busan. Both festivals feature programs for fans and professionals alike, showcasing the creative energy and cultural impact of the industry. The Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF), will run from Friday to Sunday at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Designed as a family-friendly event, the nation’s leading comics festival has diverse programs to engage visitors of all ages. The festivities begin with the outdoor BICOF comic cafe, where visitors can browse a curated library of over 1,000 comic books while enjoying live indie band performances and webtoon soundtrack concerts. The food truck zone will be twice the size of last year’s to offer a wide array of local specialties. A special highlight for families will be on Saturday evening, when the animated film “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” will be screened at the Korean Manhwa Museum for free. This event is expected to make the festival even more family-friendly and popular with the community, organizers said. The thre

Sep 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Bucheon, Busan to bring comic culture to life with autumn festivals

BTS’ Suga returns to social media after two years with new photos

Suga of BTS returned to social media for the first time in two years, drawing explosive reactions from fans. On Monday, Suga uploaded several photos to his account without adding any caption. The images showed him dressed in all black while playing a guitar. The post was his first update since Aug. 25, 2023. The return comes after a period marked by both controversy and philanthropy. In August 2024, Suga faced backlash for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He issued a handwritten apology at the time, saying, “My careless behavior has hurt everyone who supports me. I will live with regret and ensure this never happens again.” He completed his alternative military service as a social service worker on June 21 this year and once again apologized for the incident. “I am sorry for causing disappointment and concern. I am most upset that I hurt fans’ hearts. I also regret making things difficult for the members who had to bear the weight of my actions,” he said. Suga also made headlines in June by donating 5 billion won ($3.6 million) t

Sep 23, 2025By Xportsnews

BTS’ Suga returns to social media after two years with new photos

Kyung Hee University System hosts 44th Peace BAR Festival

Kyung Hee University System, the private institution’s foundation and operator, hosted the 2025 Peace BAR Festival at the university’s campus in Seoul, Friday. The term “BAR” stands for “spiritually Beautiful, materially Affluent, humanly Rewarding.” Coinciding with observance of the International Day of Peace, the Peace BAR Festival has been celebrated annually on Sept. 21 since the idea was first put forward by former Kyung Hee University President Choue Young-seek in 1981. Endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, the event aims to celebrate humanity’s efforts at overcoming conflict and confrontation to work towards peace and mutual prosperity. This year’s festival, titled “The Moment of Chaos: Planetary Consciousness and Future Politics,” brought together approximately 100 international scholars, policy experts, civic activists and students for two days starting Friday, to discuss issues such as climate change, geopolitical complexity and the collapse of democracy. The university also designated the week starting Sept. 15 as “World Peace Week,” with the

Sep 23, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan

Kyung Hee University System hosts 44th Peace BAR Festival

How opera director Ahn Joo-eun uses music to connect world

When Ahn Joo-eun left for Russia in 2000 after one year at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the desire for the music student was to seek independence from her famly. "I didn't let my parents know that I was leaving Italy. And I kept it like that for two years," Ahn, a 45-year-old opera director, told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul Monday. She studied vocal music at a university in Novosibirsk, a city in central Russia. Looking back, she believes that the random decision to move to the Russian city laid the foundation for her career as an opera director who is also actively connecting Korea with the wider world through music. When Ahn arrived in the Russian city over two decades ago, she didn't speak a word of Russian. “I didn’t leave my room for three days until I had memorized the alphabet," she recalled. She pushed herself to learn the language quickly. After acquiring a bit of fluency in the Russian language, she took side jobs to support herself, among which was an interpreter position with Orion, the Korean snack company known for Choco Pies, assist

Sep 23, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

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