People & Events

Cube Inventor Will Visit Seoul Next Week

Erno Rubik, the Hungarian architect who invented the mechanical puzzle Rubik's Cube, will visit Seoul from Sept. 22 to 28 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and Korea. The Korea Foundation, together with the Hungarian Embassy in Seoul, made the invitation. It will be the first time that the Cube inventor has visited the country, where the cube's popularity remains strong. His visit is expected to contribute to boosting cultural exchanges between the two countries. Korea has sought to host an international cube exhibition. Cube fairs will be held in Europe and Japan in 2010 and 2011. Prof. Rubik invented the 3x3x3 cube in 1974. It was a hit in Hungary, selling almost 100 million. Overseas sales began in the 1980s. Nearly 350 million cubes have been sold worldwide, and almost 40,000 entries on Youtube feature tutorials and video clips of quick solutions. In Korea, the cube's popularity slowed after reaching its peak in the '80s, but picked up again at the turn of the century supported by the Internet.

2PM to Take Stage Without Jae-beom

By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter The popular boy band 2PM is moving on. However, fans of the band will have to see the group perform without its former leader Jae-beom, as its management agency chief reiterated his position against reinstating him. Park Jin-young, the head of JYP Entertainment, posted a second statement on his Web site Thursday on escalating disputes surrounding Jae-beom's quitting after controversial negative comments he made about Korea four years ago became public. ``Jae-beom still believes that he did something wrong though many people are supporting him,'' Park said. Park quoted the former leader as saying that he cannot take the stage as he's still sorry and still ashamed of himself. Park said 2PM will resume its activities with the other six members as scheduled. He quoted Jae-beom as saying: ``I hope the remaining six members will not stop activities as they have done their best. I quit 2PM so quickly in order (not to stand in the way of their activities).'' However, Park indicated that the former leader would return to his fans in the future

Violinist Kim Min Honored in Italy

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Violinist Kim Min received the ``Una Vita per la Musica'' (A Life of Music) certificate and medal from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Ascoli Piceno Festival in Italy, Sunday, becoming the first South Korean recipient of the honor. The festival presents the prestigious award to the Musician of the Year on behalf of the head of state. Kim accepted the honor from Gaetano Rinaldi, president of the Asocoli Peceno Festival. The annual chamber music event features premier musicians and ensembles in the scenic Marche region. As music director of the Korean Chamber Orchestra, Kim led the ensemble in five successful performances through Monday in Italy, at the Carl Orff Festival in addition to the Ascoli Piceno. The 67-year-old appeared earlier this year on the jury of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition, one of the most esteemed music events in the world. Kim is an honorary professor at his alma mater, the College of Music, Seoul National University. He is also known for serving, for the first time in the university's history

KTO, PATA Agree to Boost Partnership

By Do Je-hae Staff Reporter The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has agreed to boost its partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for the promotion of tourism and development of new tourism-related programs. The agreement came at a meeting between Sho Jae-Pil, the editor and publisher of Travel Press and lifetime member of PATA, and KTO President Lee Charm at the KTO headquarters in central Seoul, Tuesday.. They discussed the possibility of bringing key PATA conferences to Korea in the future. Korea hosted the 53rd PATA Annual Conference on Jeju Island in 2004. Sho, the committee chair of the PATA Travel Industry Council and a board member of the organization, has been actively working for the development of the tourism industry of Korea and the world. A life membership is the association's highest honor, given to individuals who have devoted at least 15 years of exceptional voluntary service to PATA and to the industry. Sho is the second Korean to receive the membership, following former Korea Tourism Organization head Oh Jae-kyeong. PATA is a

Former Culture Minister Dies at 77

By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter Kim Sung-jin, who served as minister of culture and communication between 1975 and 1980 under former President Park Chung-hee, died of an illness, Thursday. He was 77. Kim began a journalistic career in 1957 when he entered the now-defunct Oriental News Agency in Seoul. After working as a correspondent to Washington and political editor at the agency, he was named presidential spokesman in 1971. After serving as minister of culture and communication, he worked as president of the news agency and the first president of Yonhap News Agency between 1980 and 1983. He also served as a member of the 1988 Seoul Olympics Organizing Committee, president of the Seoul Press Foundation and ambassador to Singapore. He is survived by his wife, Han Jeong-soo, two sons and a daughter. A funeral service will be held at the Seoul National University Hospital, Saturday. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

FILA Gets Boost From Clijsters’ Victory

By Kang Seung-woo Staff Reporter Kim Clijsters' surprise win at the U.S. Open has promoted the image of FILA. The Belgian former No. 1 on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ended her two-year retirement last month and in her third tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, the 26-year-old claimed her second grand slam title. Her success, along with local golfer Ji Eun-hee's victory at the U.S. Women's Open, is expected to provide a boost for the South Korean sporting goods brand all over the world, especially because of the interest in those sports in the United States and Europe. FILA signed a sponsorship deal with Clijsters in 2003, and she will earn a $300,000 bonus for last week's win. After her win, there has been an increase in interest in what she wears and the equipment she uses from consumers in the United States. Many have also rushed to sign up for a tennis tournament organized by FILA Korea on Nov. 5. The tournament has already seen a 90 percent increase in registrants from the same period last year. Along with Clijsters, Agnes Szavay of Hungary is

Man Hands In $10,000 He Found to Police

A 60-year-old street cleaner handed in an envelope containing more than $10,000 he found on a street in southern Seoul to a nearby police station Monday. According to Gangnam Police Station Thursday, a 30-year-old man had earlier reported to police that he lost an envelope containing $10,000 in cash somewhere on the streets. Police did not expect to find the lost cash for the man. But about four hours after his report, the station received a call from Lee Seok-jin, the street cleaner, who told them that he had found the envelope below a gingko tree while cleaning the street. In it were 105 $100 bills. The street cleaner declined to meet the young man, who wanted to thank him in person. ``I just did what I had to do so he does not have to thank me,'' the street cleaner was quoted as saying by a police officer. chojh@koreatimes.co.kr

K-Pop Singers Meet Thai Princess

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Top K-pop groups SHINee and KARA, and Ryan from the boy band Paran appeared in an event Wednesday organized by Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya ― the eldest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Korean stars performed in the opening gala show of the Thailand Entertainment Expo 2009, Siam. They also greeted the princess and delivered gifts from Korea, including DVDs of the popular TV soap "Boys Over Flowers" and local movies, Yonhap News reported Thursday. In Thailand, the king is revered as a living image of the Buddha and the royal family is regarded with utmost respect. The special Korea-Thailand encounter was able to take place because the princess is the honorary ambassador to the expo. The 58-year-old appeared gracefully in a purple dress to tour the expo hall and made welcoming remarks to SHINee members and Ryan upon receiving the presents. The gift choice was inspired by her royal highness' interest and work in the entertainment industry; she is known to have produced films and TV series, and acted in the film "Where the Mira

TV Personality Han Seong-ju Will Donate Book Royalties

TV personality Han Seong-ju said she will donate all royalties from her book to a civic group who works with the needy. Han, former Miss Korea, will publish a book ``Invest in Dreams'' Friday. All of the royalties will be donated to the Community Chest and used to finance a children's baseball team. She has taken all the legal steps for the donation of the royalties. The ceremony to celebrate the book's publication will be held Friday, with many dignitaries scheduled to participate in the event. The book is an autobiography and guide for financial investments. chojh@koreatimes.co.kr

Andrea Szego, second from right, president of the Korea-Hungary ...