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Detention of Unregistered Nepalese Draws Protest

Immigration Says Law Application Won’t Be Exceptional By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter The detention of a Nepalese who overstayed his visa by about 17 years is drawing fierce protest from migrant workers' groups, while authorities make it clear that they will handle the case in line with the law. Minod Moktan (Korean name Minu), who worked as a film section chief for an Internet broadcaster MWTV (Migrant Workers TV), was apprehended on Oct. 8 by immigration officers while he was entering the station's building in Yongsang, Seoul. The abrupt detainment sent migrant workers' associations and many other human rights groups into forming an alliance to campaign for freeing the 38-year-old. Minu has been active in cultural and human rights activities, emerging as a symbolic figure representing the rights of unregistered foreign workers. He has taken part in various music events and received a number of awards ― even one from the culture minister in 1999. Forming a band "Stop Crackdown" along with other migrant workers in 2003, he performed as a vocalist, appearing on nume

Oct 16, 2009

DJ Tukutz Enters Military

DJ Tukutz, 28, a member of hip-hop trio Epik High, entered a military camp to start his two-year mandatory service, Thursday, just two days after his wedding. His wife, two other members ― Tablo and Mithra Jin ― and other colleagues saw him off at the camp in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. Asked about his feelings by reporters, he said, ``This has been expected so I don't worry about military life.'' Commenting on the sudden marriage, he said, ``I thought I should marry as a promise before joining the army.'' Tablo told reporters that he bought a wrist watch as a present for DJ Tukutz and added he was about to cry, with tears welling in his eyes. DJ Tukutz embraced all of his colleagues and had a group photo with them before entering the camp. Epik High has quit promotional broadcasting activities for their sixth album ``[e]'' following the conscription of DJ Tukutz, which came less than one month after the group released the latest album with the track ``Wannabe.'' However, Tablo and Mithra Jin are expected to continue their individual music projects. Epik Hi

Oct 15, 2009

Kim Ha-neul on Asian Tour to Promote Film

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean actress Kim Ha-neul, 31, will visit Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong to promote her hit film ``My Girlfriend Isn't an Agent'' and also meet local fans. ``Expectations are high in Asia regarding Kim's future career. This promotion tour will give her the chance to meet her Asian fans in person, communicate with them and further carry out her plans to become an international actor,'' her agency J.One+ Entertainment said. Kim will leave for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam, Oct. 17 and attend an event for the release of her film. She will meet fans and the press to talk about her career and the movie. On Oct. 26, Kim will fly to Singapore and Hong Kong where a tight schedule awaits her, including fan meetings, press conferences and promotional events. ``I am nervous and excited to meet my Asian fans. I hope this will be the chance to show what Korean actresses have to offer to the world,'' Kim said. Making her debut in 1996 as a model, Kim has enjoyed steady popularity with her friendly smile and reliable acting. Her dram

Oct 15, 2009

Rain’s MBLAQ Makes Broadcasting Debut

Korea's top singer and actor Rain asked his fans to support his new boy band MBLAQ that made its television debut Thursday. The five-member boy band is the first group he created and trained over the last two years. In a note posted on his Web site, Rain said, ``I really thank you for the support you showed at MBLAQ's debut performance. Please continue to cheer them on and give more encouragement.'' The band made a debut performance at Rain's concert last week in Seoul. Rain said he is pleased to have been engaged in producing works for the first time. MBLAQ also made a television debut on a cable music channel ``M Countdown'' Thursday. He said he was so pleased and happy that MBLAQ made a broadcasting debut, adding that it made him ``more nervous'' than when he himself started out. The five-member boy band has swept various music charts with its first mini-album ``Just BLAQ,'' reaching No. 1 on several online and offline music charts, according to J. Tune Entertainment, the agency run by Rain. The group's debut album contains the single ``Oh Yeah'' and three oth

Oct 15, 2009

Human Tech Is Driving Force Behind CGI Film

Titanic Producer Introduces 3D Movie ‘Avatar’ By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Jon Landau, who produced James Cameron's ``Titanic'' 12 years ago, visited Seoul Thursday to promote ``Avatar,'' his latest collaboration with the director, a groundbreaking 3D venture. ``I'm really happy to be here. We really see Korea as an emerging film market,'' the 49-year-old told reporters about his first visit to Seoul. The producer will visit the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival today to speak about the filmmaking process of ``Avatar.'' The esteemed producer shared 30 minutes of footage from the film with reporters, including some never-before revealed scenes. Set in the future, "Avatar" is about Jake, a former marine who travels to a distant planet, Pandora, where he discovers adventure, hope and even love as he becomes integrated with the Navis, an indigenous alien race. Jake, paralyzed from the waist down, is able to travel only by using an ``Avatar'' program which allows him to ``walk'' again. Avatars are human-Navi hybrids that a human such as Jake can control

Oct 15, 2009

Late Park Chung-hee’s Daughter Joins Group Wedding Ceremony

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Late President Park Chung-hee's second daughter, Geun-ryung, 55, who made headlines by marrying a professor 14 years her junior, has had a second wedding ceremony ― a religious one this time. Park and her husband, Shin Dong-wook, 41, a professor at Baekseok Culture University, took part in a Unification Church wedding Wednesday on the campus of Sun Moon University in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, along with 7,500 other couples from 160 countries. The Unification Church, led by its founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, is known for its massive group wedding ceremonies. The couple are not followers of the Unification Church. But they joined the ceremony as they were attracted to the religion for its active engagement in overseas volunteering programs and efforts for the reunification of the two Koreas. Park was quoted by a daily as saying, ``I have longed for a life of volunteering. I came to partake in the ceremony as I have been touched by stories of Unification Church volunteers who are actively doing services overseas.'' She said sh

Oct 14, 2009

Carey’s Lip Synching Lets Down Her Fans

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Mariah Carey lip synched her songs at a popular Korean live music TV show, disappointing fans and raising a stir on the Internet. The 39-year-old singer, who is visiting Seoul to promote her 12th album, appeared on ``You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook'' set, a popular live music show hosted by You, Tuesday evening. From her recent album ``The Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel,'' she performed two tracks, ``I Want to Know What Love Is'' and ``H.A.T.E.U.,'' but instead of singing live as many anticipated, she lip synched both of them in front of an audience who packed the studio. All performers on the program, which has been loved by many music fans, have made live performances until now. Many fans who were present at the set expressed their disappointment through the program's Web site after the show. ``We are aware that she is an international star, but lip synching on a live show is unacceptable. The rumors that the sound equipment was not good enough just seem like an excuse,'' one blogger wrote. Some viewers even demanded that the produ

Oct 14, 2009

Spiritual Leaders Offer Insight on Happiness

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Everyone wants it. But how is always the big question. Two spiritual leaders, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Ven. Thubten Gyatso, visited Korea to share their wisdom and insight on the journey in search of happiness. Positivity According to Sri Sri, an Indian guru, the key is to stay optimistic. ``When people say `have a nice day,' (some) don't really mean it. But that word carries some power around it by just saying it; it has some type of energy,'' the leader from India said during a meditation lecture at Gangnam YMCA, Monday evening. Sri Sri is a renowned spiritual leader who has touched millions with his messages on how to live a stress and violence free life. He is also the founder of the Art of Living, a nonprofit educational and humanitarian NGO with branches in more than 140 countries. He explained how easy it was to find stress just by looking at one's face ― and the solution to releasing it. ``What is the first sign of stress you find on anybody's face? We frown. The second sign of stress is that we lose our smile,'' he sa

Oct 14, 2009

POSCO Head Joins Worldsteel Board

POSCO CEO Chung Jon-yang has been elected as a new executive committee member of the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), an international trade body of the iron and steel industry, the steel maker said Tuesday. Chung, 61, secured a three-year term during Worldsteel's annual assembly held in Beijing, Monday. The 15-man committee is the organization's highest decision-making body. Former POSCO Chairman Lee Koo-taek, who stepped down from the vice president position of the association, was awarded an appreciation plaque for his contribution to the development of the global steel industry. Worldsteel represents some 180 steel producers, including 18 of the world's 20 largest steel companies. Its members take up nearly 85 percent of the world's steel production. hckim@koreatimes.co.kr

Oct 14, 2009

TVXQ, Agency Fail to Reach Settlement

By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter Members of K-pop idol group TVXQ and its agency have failed to reach a court-mediated settlement of a legal battle over what the group called ``unfair'' terms of their contract. A Seoul district court said Wednesday it called in three members of the boy band at the end of September to mediate a settlement with their agency, SM Entertainment, but the mediation collapsed. Court officials said the members refused to accept the mediation, leaving the court to make a ruling on the injunction in the near future. The controversy over the five-member group's working contract touched off in late July after three of its members ― Micky, Xiah and Hero ― filed an injunction with the Seoul Administrative Court to nullify the validity of their contract with the agency. The other two members, Max and U-Know, did not take part in the action. According to the legal document filed, the agency prohibited their freedom as artists by claiming that the activities of the group and its members belonged to the agency, requiring them to follow its demands to app

Oct 14, 2009
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