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WFP Reaching Out for Asian Hungry Kids

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Perhaps it is because of the chilly season, but many people tend to donate more during the winter. Korea has not been one of the foremost donating countries, but according to Cynthia Jones, the chief of donor relations in Asia at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Korea is helping out more than before. ``(Korea) is coming along. It can do more, there is no doubt about that, but it’s true that donations have been increased,’’ she told The Korea Times during a phone interview Monday. Jones has been working with WFP for 14 years, 10 of them in Africa. She went looking for this type of work when she was young, willing to go where she is needed and to work on the front line. ``There is a realization of what you are doing. It doesn’t hit you every day, but something will happen that will make you realize the impact. (It’s) not necessarily something you might expect, but it can be very rewarding,’’ she said. The WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fights for the ultimate goal: fighting and stopping global hunger. There are ba

Dec 24, 2008

Obamas Korean-American Advisor Got Game

By Michael Ha Staff Reporter U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, who is in Hawaii this week, was spotted playing a round of golf at a par-72 public course on Dec. 21, accompanied by his Korean-American advisor, Eugene Kang, according to U.S. media reports. Obama is now on a 12-day ``working vacation'' in Hawaii before moving into his new home in Washington in January. When asked by reporters how his game was going, Obama, a left-handed golfer with a respectable 16 handicap, replied, ``I am not that good.'' He added, ``Gene though,'' referring to his aide Kang: ``He's got game.'' Kang may be no Tiger Woods, but he's been playing golf since he was 10, according to U.S. reports. A second-generation Korean-American, he has been a close advisor to Obama since the early days of his presidential campaign two years ago. Kang, 24, is described as a close confidant to Obama and was often seen accompanying him on the campaign trail. He was one of 14 members of the ``Obama Exploratory Committee'' political division in Chicago and formed an online community for Asian Americans and

Dec 23, 2008

Modern Literature of Korea Marks 100 Years

By Kim Ji-soo Staff Reporter A Commemoration Commission to mark 100 years of modern Korean literature published in November a seven-volume series that offers an insight into the literature of the two Koreas from the past century. Professor Emeritus Lee Seon-young of Yonsei University, chairman of the commission, said, `` This series, which arranges and evaluates Korean literature of the past century from today's point of view, was published in the hope of serving as a stepping stone for the development of Korean literature.'' The publication comprises seven volumes that can be divided into three categories ― the ``History of Literature Read Chronologically'' (one volume); the ``History of Literature Read Biographically'' (two volumes); and the ``History of Literature Read According to Thesis'' (four volumes). The first books includes short commentaries on leading writers and works and reveals publication details regarding the works and main events of the time, making it easy to grasp the significance of Korean literature at that time. The next two selects 300 distinguis

Dec 23, 2008

Rain, Lee to Appear in New Documentary

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Hallyu stars Rain and Lee Byeng-hun will appear in the new two-part documentary series being produced by Discovery Networks. A tie-up has been established with the Seoul Metropolitan government to produce the documentary, ``Hip Korea,'' which will air on the channel next year. The cable network's producers and crew recently visited Seoul to film Rain and Lee as they show off the sights in Seoul. The documentary will highlight fun and exciting places in Myeongdong and Hongdae, as well as picturesque views in Namsan and along the Han River. The documentary will be aired on the Discovery channel in Australia in January, Southeast Asia in February and Europe in May. Rain, considered one of the most popular K-pop singers around Asia, appeared in the Hollywood film ``Speed Racer'' last year. His next Hollywood movie ``Ninja Assassin'' will hit screens next year. Lee recently starred in the hit film ``The Good, the Bad, the Weird,'' and will star in the Hollywood film ``G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra.'' The Seoul Metropolitan Governm

Dec 22, 2008

Senior Governing Party Adviser Lee Dies

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Lee Joong-jae, 83, a senior adviser to the ruling Grand National Party, died Monday. Born in Boseong, South Jeolla Province, Lee began his political career in 1963 and has been elected five times since. He was once close to former President Kim Dae-jung but switched to the GNP right before the 1997 election. He held important posts throughout his political life, serving as a spokesperson and vice chairman of his party. As a lawmaker, he devoted his life to economic and financial issues. His lawmaker son ― Lee Jong-koo ― followed in his footsteps. He is also survived by his sons Jong-wook and Jong-o. The funeral ceremony will be held Monday at the mortuary attached to Korea University in Seoul. sjkim@koreatimes.co.kr

Dec 19, 2008

Australian Expert Gives Advice on Multicultural Programs

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Stewart Foster, an Australian government official who has been formulating multicultural programs for the past 16 years, came to share the Australian experience with Korean policymakers. During his speech at the Multicultural Policy Forum organized by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the acting assistant secretary of the multicultural affairs branch at the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship reiterated the significance of media in implementing multicultural policies. ``One of the things we found was that many journalists are Anglo-Australians,'' Foster told The Korea Times, adding that it limits reporting diversity. What the government has done was create, in collaboration with Melbourne University, a special curriculum to train ``prospect" journalists diversity reporting. The program has the benefit of encouraging non-Anglo Australians to start journalism careers, he said, and it will eventually make Australia more open to immigrants who come in search of better live

Dec 18, 2008

Wonder Girls Voted No.1

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Pop group Wonder Girls have been chosen as ``Koreans' Favorite Singer'' for two consecutive years. According to research company Gallup Korea Wednesday, the group was voted No. 1 among 4,330 Koreans who participated in three individual surveys carried out from last June to November. The ages of the recipients ranged from 13 to 59. The five-member pop group topped the list with 22.2 percent of votes, while male pop group Big Bang came in second with 21.2 percent. Trot (Korean style pop genre) singer Jang Yun-jung made third place with 9.9 percent, while fellow pop group Girls' Generation, singer Lee Hyo-ri and veteran trot singer Tae Jin-ah followed with 7.8 percent, 6.5 percent and another 6.5 percent, respectively. The Wonder Girls' song ``Nobody'' was also voted as the ``Most Popular Song of the Year,'' with 11.4 percent of recipients choosing the catchy song as their favorite. Big Bang's ``Day By Day,'' Wonder Girls' ``So Hot,'' Lee's ``U-Go-Girl'' and SG Wannabe's ``La La La'' made it to the top five. Making their debut in 2007, the Won

Dec 17, 2008

Foreign CEO Supports Korean Literature

By Kim Jae-kyoung Staff Reporter Despite producing a large number of top-class poets and novelists, Korean literature has barely been recognized by the world. There are many possible reasons, but the key culprit is the limited number of English translations. Against this backdrop, The Korea Times launched the Korean Literature Translation Awards back in 1970 to help people from around the world better understand Korean literature through English translation. This year, for the first time, the daily published a book titled ``Sharing Korean Literature With the World,'' which introduced the event's winning works.

Dec 17, 2008

Diplomacy Experts Book Translated Into Korean

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter A Korean translation of ``New Public Diplomacy: Soft Power in International Relations’’ by Jan Melissen, an expert on theoretical and practical diplomacy, was published in Seoul on Monday. The publication defines public diplomacy anew. It uses a few countries to exemplify good practice regarding public diplomacy. During a book launching ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, the author said that public diplomacy is about influencing ordinary people in the outside world. He urged diplomats in the field to break out of the box of traditional diplomacy in order to reach out to the general public of whatever country they are posted in. Melissen is the director of the Clingendael Diplomatic Studies Program in the Netherlands. He is also a professor of diplomacy at Antwerp University and a co-editor of the Hague Journal of Diplomacy, both in Belgium. Melissen also mentioned Korea as a middle power in a unique political situation because of its separated North. The separation itself, according to him, serves as ``a door’’ for outsiders to talk

Dec 16, 2008

USFK Pays Respect to Korean Victims

By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Walter Sharp sent a delegation Tuesday to the home of a South Korean woman, Kim Suk-im, who died when a U.S. military jet crashed into her San Diego home last week, to pay his respect to the bereaved family, USFK officials said. South Korean Army Maj. Gen. Jang Yong-goo and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Frank Panther visited the home in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, on behalf of Sharp and Deputy CFC Commander Gen. Lee Sung-chool, the officials said. Sharp concurrently serves as chief of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC). Sharp expressed his condolences to the victim’s son-in-law, Yoon Dong-yun, saying all USFK’s prayers were with the family. The accident occurred when an F/A-18 sustained engine failure and crashed about two miles from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with the pilot ejecting, according to reports. Also killed were Kim’s 36-year-old daughter, Yoon Young-mi, and two granddaughters, Grace, 15 months, and Rachel, two months. On Monday, officials from U.S. Marine Forces Kor

Dec 16, 2008
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