Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Actress Jang Jin-young Dies of Cancer at 35

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean actress Jang Jin-young passed away Tuesday evening after losing a battle against stomach cancer. She was 35. Jang had been hospitalized in Seoul after her condition recently worsened and doctors had reportedly been giving her morphine and other drugs to relieve the pain. The news of the actress' sudden hospitalization Tuesday startled fans, as it was thought that she was recovering after resting for a month in Los Angeles. Jang was diagnosed with stomach cancer in September last year when she paid a visit to the hospital for a regular checkup. What she thought was a stomach ulcer turned out to be cancer, and Jang has been out of the public eye ever since. ``Actress Jang Jin-young passed away today at the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital at Catholic University of Korea. Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, she was always positive and tried to pay back the love and support her fans sent her. We will remember her passion toward films and we hope she stays in our hearts forever,'' Jang's agency, Yedang Entertainment, said through a p

Sep 1, 2009

Stop a While and Look Back, Tibetan Master Says

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Seoulites work the second longest hours in the world, following workers in Cairo, Egypt, according to research by Switzerland-based investment bank UBS. Being busy may translate into a successful life here, but Buddhist master Arjia Rinpoche believes that it can be a great burden both to your mind and soul. ``This is my third time in Korea, and I have noticed more tall buildings and, of course, the busy streets. Korea is always busy,'' he said during an interview with The Korea Times in northern Seoul last week. He came to Korea after paying a visit to Mongolia, and was on his way back home in America. ``I met some Mongolians and also some high masters in Korean Buddhism. The Mongolians are fine, some are working and some are studying religion,'' he said. Although Arjia Rinpoche was cheerful and smiling throughout the interview, the 59-year-old master has gone through a far from pleasant life. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Lama Tsongkhapa's father at the age of two; sent to live and study at the Kumbum Monastery at seven;

Aug 31, 2009

Acting E. Timorese First Lady to Teach at SNU

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Jacqueline Aquino Siapo-De Araojo, the acting first lady of East Timor, will teach at Seoul National University from September, the school said Saturday. The Filipino-turned East Timorese, 42, is the first foreign professor hired by the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea's top university and will teach Southeast Asian history and culture and Southeast Asian politics and economy. While teaching here, she also wants to study the background of Korea's economic development. ``Korea suffered from extreme poverty and other difficulties after the Korean War in the 1950s. I want to learn how Koreans overcame the obstacles and made such economic development. I want to adapt it to my country,'' she said. SNU said Siapno's field of experience in independence movements and academic career as a scholar fulfilled their requirements. She worked for Amnesty International for the release of political prisoners, including Fernando La Sama de Araojo, who was serving a nine-year sentence for subversion. She married him in 2001, a year bef

Aug 30, 2009

Foreign Professor’s Bow to DJ Becomes Internet Phenomenon

By Ines Min Contributing Writer When Mark Selden, an East Asian studies scholar from the United States, got on his knees to perform the traditional Korean bow "jeol" at a memorial altar for the late former President Kim Dae-jung, Sunday, he didn't really think of it as a big deal. "It seemed a sensible thing to do," said the professor from Cornell University. He actually bowed in the traditional manner twice, the first at Severance Hospital in a visit to the former president. In a recent telephone interview with The Korea Times, Selden said he'd had good tutors during his first experience: namely, the eight Korean people in front of him who had stood in a line to do the same. But it was Selden's bow at the funeral in front of City Hall that caught the attention of Korean media, when the American stood next to Wada Haruki, the Japanese scholar and activist who was an advocate in the campaign to rescue Kim from the death penalty during the previous authoritarian regime. "Wada bowed his head, but I kneeled," Selden said. "Each of us did what seemed right." The

Aug 28, 2009

Yang to Play Round of Golf With Bush

By Kang Seung-woo Staff Reporter PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun is reaping the fruits of his new-found rock star status, with the latest offer a round of golf with former U.S. President George W. Bush. "We sort of promised to have a round of golf sometime when our schedules were OK," Yang said during a press conference of the Barclays, the first leg of the four PGA playoff series, in Jersey City, N.J., Thursday (KST). The 37-year-old, who defeated Tiger Woods to become the first Asian-born major winner more than a week ago at Chaska, Minn., was visiting the headquarters of TaylorMade, one of his sponsors, in California, when he met the former president. "He came up to me very casually, like a next-door neighbor, and started talking with me," the Jeju Island native said. "And I told him that I would actually be willing to skip a tournament or two if he were willing to play golf with me. So, I'm looking forward to that, as well." Both Yang and Bush now live in Texas. ksw@koreatimes.co.kr

Aug 27, 2009

Civil Rights Panel Chief Resigns

By Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter Yang Kun, chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), resigned Thursday for personal reasons. An official at the presidential office said that Yang, a former law professor at Hanyang University in Seoul, stepped down on his own. “He expressed his willingness to resign, saying that he will return to campus,” the official said on condition of anonymity. Yang took office for a threeyear term in March last year, about one month after President Lee Myung-bak’s inauguration. Details regarding his sudden resignation were not revealed immediately. “As the first chairman of the commission, I think I have done my duty to lay the foundation for the commission,” Yang said at a farewell ceremony at the ACRC headquarters in Seoul. “Even though my term has not ended, I believe my resignation could be helpful to the Lee administration’s revamp efforts.” The commission, which deals with civil complaints and carries out anti-corruption campaigns, was launched through a merger of three agencies. ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Aug 27, 2009

Kim Young-sam, DJ’s Wife, Express Sorrow Over Kennedy’s Death

Former President Kim Young-sam expressed his deep condolences Thursday over the death of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, who died Tuesday night of brain cancer at the age of 77. Lee Hee-ho, wife of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, also sent a heartfelt message through the U.S. embassy in Seoul. Lee said she would never forget Kennedy for the help he gave her husband. In a message sent to the grief-stricken family, Kim thanked Kennedy for his commitment and dedication to democracy in Korea and the ROK-U.S. alliance that the late senator showed during his lifetime, saying he would never forget him. His aide said the former President had a 40-year-long friendship with Kennedy and that the American senator encouraged Kim to overcome the hardships he experienced while fighting for democracy in Korea. ``Remembering our friendship that we had over the past decades, I could not control my deep sorrow for the loss,'' Kim said in the letter. hkang@koreatimes.co.kr

Aug 27, 2009

J-Pop Group V6 Coming to Seoul

Kim Ji-soo Staff Reporter The popular Japanese group V6 will hold its first Korean concert in November, SM Entertainment announced Wednesday. The six-member group is expected to hold three performances from Nov. 14 and 15 at Olympic Hall, located in Olympic Park in southern Seoul. On Nov. 14, they will perform at 7:30 p.m.; and on the 15th, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The group, which is part of Japan's leading entertainment agency Johnny's & Associates, debuted in 1995 and has since remained on top of their industry. The group is comprised of leader Sakamoto Masayuki, Nagano Hiroshi, Morita Go, Miyake Ken and Okada Juninchi. Tickets for the concert will go on sale on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. through the online site http://ticket.gmarket.co.kr. Korean fans will be able to get a glimpse of V6 as they are scheduled to participate in the 2009 Asia Song Festival, which takes place on Sept. 10 at Sangam World Cup Stadium in northern Seoul. janee@koreatimes.co.kr

Aug 26, 2009

Actress Lee Young-ae Marries in US

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Hallyu star Lee Young-ae tied the knot with a Korean-American businessman in the United States, Monday, Yonhap News reported. Lee, best known for playing the lead in the hit television drama ``Jewel in the Palace,'' married a 55-year-old man, identified only as Jeong. He is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, located in Chicago, and works in the IT industry in the United States. Although the 38-year-old actress will live in the United States after her marriage, she will continue acting. Lee is one of the most popular Korean actresses in Asia. She made her debut as a TV model in 1991, and quickly gained fame for her work in TV dramas and movies. Her popularity grew throughout the region after the success of ``Jewel in the Palace," especially in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, China, Singapore and the Philippines. She was also appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2004. She earned critical acclaim and acting awards for her role in the Park Chan-wook film ``Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.'' She won Best Actress

Aug 25, 2009

Big Bang Leader Accused of Plagiarism

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter In line with the recent plagiarism rumors regarding songs written by G-Dragon, the leader of popular boy group Big Bang, local branches of music publishing companies have rolled up their sleeves to investigate the truth. The 21-year-old's recently released first solo album brought a rush of excitement among K-pop fans, but the sentiment grew cold when some argued that his songs resembled many other famous numbers by American and English singers and groups. Internet users pointed out that G-Dragon's title track ``Heartbreaker'' sounded like American rapper Flo Rida's ``Right Round'' and ``Butterfly'' resembled ``She's Electric'' by British rock band Oasis. The rights of the song ``Right Round'' are allocated to Warner/Chappell Music Korea, Sony ATV Publishing Korea, Fuji Pacific Music Korea and EMI Music Publishing Korea, which led to discords even among the four music companies. Sony ATV Music Publishing Korea announced that they have recognized the resemblance and have sent the music files to the makers of "Right Round" for further c

Aug 24, 2009

People & Events

People & Events

Actress Jang Jin-young Dies of Cancer at 35

Stop a While and Look Back, Tibetan Master Says

Acting E. Timorese First Lady to Teach at SNU

Foreign Professor’s Bow to DJ Becomes Internet Phenomenon

Yang to Play Round of Golf With Bush

Civil Rights Panel Chief Resigns

Kim Young-sam, DJ’s Wife, Express Sorrow Over Kennedy’s Death

J-Pop Group V6 Coming to Seoul

Actress Lee Young-ae Marries in US

Big Bang Leader Accused of Plagiarism

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