Lifestyle - The Korea Times

BoA to Make US Debut Through MTV

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean pop sensation BoA will make her television debut in the United States through ``MTV World Presents: BoA Live in New York'' Dec. 3. The recording will be taped by Music Television, or MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) studios, for three hours from 11 a.m. The 21-year-old singer will not only perform live with her single ``Eat You Up,'' but talk about her life as a singer both in the U.S. and Korea, new plans and how she managed to break into the U.S. music industry. She will also spend time answering questions from the audience. Along with ``Eat You Up,'' BoA will present her new song, ``Look Who's Talking,'' for the first time. The show will be broadcast live on a giant LCD screen in Times Square, while the recording will be aired around the U.S. by MTV, MTV Iggy and mtvU, a division of MTV Networks available on more than 750 colleges and university campuses in the U.S. Fans can also get a glimpse of the show through MTV channels like MTV Korea, Japan, Asia and Australia. BoA, a superstar in both Korea and in Japan, moved her

Nov 30, 2008

Singer Jang Heyon Dies of Cancer

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Jang Hyeon, singer and businessman, died Sunday morning after suffering from lung cancer. He was 63. According to his daughter, who spoke with Yonhap News Agency by telephone, Jang paid a visit to the hospital last July with the flu, and discovered he had lung cancer. He'd already had a history of the illness back in 1994 with a case of stomach cancer, but recovered after receiving treatment. However, the cancer spread to his lungs and despite his efforts to recover through medical treatment this year, he was also diagnosed with pneumonia. Jang was ``discovered'' by Shin Joong-hyun, one of Korea's most popular rock singers, in the 1960s and 70s, when he was singing at a nightclub in Daegu. He made his debut in 1970 with the help of Shin. Famous for his low pitch, he gained popularity with his songs ``Wait For Me,'' ``Sunset'' and ``Regret.'' He worked as a singer for five years, and then pursued a life as a businessman in the trade business here and the United States. According to his daughter, Jang appeared on television once or tw

Nov 30, 2008

CNN Interviews Actor Lee

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter It's not hard to see why Korean actor Lee Byung-hun is known as the ``James Dean of Asia,'' according to CNN. The network recently met up with the 38-year-old actor in England, where he was present for the London screening of his hit film ``The Good, The Bad and The Weird.'' ``From his black leather-clad hands to his wild, psychotic eyes, an air of cool, remorseless detachment envelops him,'' described CNN of Lee's role in the so-called Kimchi western directed by Kim Jee-woon. Lee responded to the reviews and compliments by telling CNN that he was happy about people telling him that his eyes changed and he looked bad in the movie. ``Actors always want to play the villain role at least once in their life. I had a good time because I could finally realize a full range of expressions and emotions,'' he was quoted as saying during the interview with CNN. Lee also mentioned the downfalls of groundless Internet gossip and rumors, saying that there has to be change. ``I try not to read those kind of things. I think it's better to do that

Nov 26, 2008

Ko Named New Chairman of Korea Press Foundation

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Ko Hak-yong was named the new chairman of the Korea Press Foundation Tuesday. Yonhap News reported that the Korea Press Foundation board of directors elected the 66-year-old Ko, who is a member of the Korea Press Ethics Commission where he is in charge of the committee dealing with complaints against the media. According to the foundation's articles of incorporation, the chairman of the board of directors is appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Ko started as a journalist with the Chosun Ilbo, where he was also an editorial writer. As part of the Korea Press Ethics Commission, Ko dealt with complaints from Korean newspaper readers and ethical issues regarding journalism. The Korea Press Foundation is a non-profit organization to serve and protect the media and public interest. It was formed in 1999, after the integration of the Korea Press, Korea Press Institute and Korea Journalists Fund. Among the foundation's activities are seminars and programs to enhance the development of professional journalism in Korea.

Nov 25, 2008

FSS Deputy Governor Lee Will Head Life Insurers Association

By Yoon Ja-young Staff Reporter Lee Woo-cheol, deputy governor at the Financial Supervisory Service, has been designated head of the Korea Life Insurance Association. The association announced Tuesday that Lee was recommended as the single candidate by its subcommittee to succeed Namkoong Hoon, the present chairman. Lee will be appointed as chairman of the life insurers' association at the general assembly scheduled this Friday, which will be attended by CEOs of the member life insurance companies. ``Since Lee was recommended as the single candidate, he is likely to be appointed as chairman,'' a spokesman of the association said. Born in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province in 1948, Lee graduated from Kyunggi High School and majored in law at Seoul National University. He started his career in the public sector after passing the government exam for ranking officials. He built up expertise in the financial industry, ranging from securities companies to insurance, by serving at the finance ministry and then later at the financial regulator. Lee is also known to go t

Nov 25, 2008

Speech Contest Held for Kids

By Kang Shin-who Staff Reporter Korea POLY School, a private academic institute, held an English speech contest Saturday for elementary school students at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. A total of 224 contestants participated in the competition in two categories; one for those who have studied overseas and one for those who haven't. The contest panel, consisted of 20 native English speakers, awarded Grand Prizes to two children, Yoon Jung-one, 12, of Sinseo Elementary School and Lee Soo-young, 8, of Chunggu Elementary School, in Seoul. One panel member said winners were selected after reviewing their English proficiency. The 224 finalists were chosen from 15,000 students across the country. Yoon Jung-one won the Grand Prize Award for the second year in a row. The following are the full texts of speeches given by Grand Prize Award winners in the 2008 Speech Contest for primary school students. ―ED. Ethical Korea By Yoon Jung-one Sinseo Elementary School In the universe, there are so many planets and stars that cover the dark sky. Beyond all, Earth gleams and

Nov 23, 2008

Captain Pilot Couple

By Park Si-soo Staff Reporter For the first time in Korea's 60-year aviation history, a husband and wife are co-pilots. Korean Air said Sunday the company's co-pilot couple ㅡ Kim Hyun-seok and wife Hwang Yeon-jung ㅡ passed a qualification exam last week to become the first captain pilot couple. Hwang is the third female Korean commercial pilot, Korean Air said. Kim, a major in environmental engineering at Inha University, became a pilot through special recruitment, while his wife Hwang was selected as a pilot trainee while working for Korean Air as a flight attendant. They tied the knot in 1999. ``At the time of marriage, I promised to help her become a female captain. I'm happy to keep the promise,'' Kim said smiling. Intense flight schedules allow them to be together only a couple of days per week. ``But I'm happy because we work in the same industry. And we can also be advisors to each other,'' Hwang said. They have two children. ``If my children want to become pilots, we'll strongly support them,'' Hwang added. Kim's first flight as a captain w

Nov 23, 2008

BBC Entertainment Is All About Light, Refreshing Fun

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Many Koreans may simply know the BBC as a television channel from Britain, perhaps more as a news channel than an entertainment one, but Ryan Shiotani, the programming director of BBC Worldwide, explained otherwise. ``Sometimes people are not aware of the huge range of services and programs BBC offers in the U.K. The BBC is actually the largest public service broadcaster in the world and it produces a whole range of programming, from children to comedy, drama, reality and mini series,'' he told The Korea Times during an interview last week. The BBC Entertainment channel is one of six channels under BBC Worldwide and the first to be aired here officially through pay television network Skylife, on channel 334. ``BBC Entertainment is an excellent way to introduce the best of British programming to the Korean audience. We choose programs from the BBC, as well as other production companies in the U.K. We try to choose programs (that) we think will work best for the Korean audience,'' he said. For Korean viewers, the local television industr

Nov 21, 2008

Former British Diplomat Helped Korean Journalist

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Patrick Cockburn, grandson of a former British diplomat to Korea during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea (1910-1945), had a special story to tell about his grandfather during his trip to Korea. In 1906, his grandfather Henry Cockburn was posted in Korea as British consul general. Being under the Japanese occupation, Cockburn, who was an acting judge, presided over the trial of Ernest Bethell, the British owner of a newspaper named the Korea Daily News, or Dai Han Maeil Shinbo, for running an article against the Japanese authority. The author of the article, Yang Ki-tak, was arrested by Japanese police and was tortured, and on his release, took refuge on British-owned property. The Japanese wanted to re-arrest Yang, but were thwarted by the British diplomat who lamented the inhumane treatment of the prisoner. Within his diplomatic capacity, Cockburn did whatever he could to intervene, sending telegrams to British Ambassador to Japan Claude McDonald and British Foreign Minister Edward Grey for help. All these efforts were in vain, an

Nov 18, 2008

Kumho Asiana Exec Named PR Man of Year

By Lee Hyo-shik Staff Reporter Chang Sung-ji, senior executive president of the strategic management division at Kumho Asiana Group, has been selected as the public relations (PR) person of the year. Korea PR said Tuesday that it decided to award the PR chief of the conglomerate the highest prize given to professionals engaging in public relations activities here. ``Chang has played a major role in promoting the business group as `a beautiful company.' He also crafted an effective corporate PR strategy, presenting Kumho Asiana as a company that cares about the local community, as well as one that supports the arts and cultural activities,'' a Korea PR spokesman said. The award ceremony will be held at the Grand Hilton Hotel in northern Seoul Nov. 27. leehs@koreatimes.co.kr