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Actors Kwon, Sohn Tie Knot

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Actors Kwon Sang-woo, 32, and Sohn Tae-young, 28, tied the knot Sunday at a three-hour private wedding that drew a crowd including top Korean stars, reporters and fans from Japan. Before the wedding, the elegantly dressed couple appeared in front of fans and photographers, smiling and holding hands. ``I thank everybody for coming, even those who came all the way from Japan. We promise we will do our best to live happily,'' Kwon said. The two actors met through friend and fellow actor Kim Sung-soo and when Kwon was asked if he talked to anybody before the wedding, he smiled and said he talked to Kim. When asked of how many children they were planning to have, they had their differences. ``I would like to have three children, but I don't know about Sohn,'' Kwon said, while Sohn answered that she wanted to have two in order to stay fit. The wedding was held at the Shilla Hotel with 300 guests. Singer Jo Sung-mo sang the nuptial song, while Sohn's brother-in-law pianist Yiruma performed just for the occasion. The star-studded gues

Sep 28, 2008

Late President Park’s Younger Daughter to Marry in October

By Michael Ha Staff Reporter Park Geun-ryeung, the daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, will marry Shin Dong-uk, a professor of cultural studies at Baekseok College whom she met in 2006. Their wedding will take place on Oct. 13 at the KT Youido Convention Wedding Hall in Seoul. ``This will open a new chapter in my life. I've met my true love and we will never be apart,'' she told local media. The bride-to-be is the second daughter of the late Park and the younger sister of National Assembly Lawmaker Park Geun-hye, the former chairwoman of the governing Grand National Party. The late Park was president from 1963 to 1979. Park Geun-ryeung currently serves as the chairwoman of the Korean Children's Center, a non-profit agency established in 1969 by her mother, the late Yuk Young-soo. The expectant bride told local media, ``My parents are watching from the heavens and will be really happy about the upcoming wedding.'' Both her parents were gunned down when she was in her early 20s. Her mother was shot and killed in 1974 by a North Korean agent who was a

Sep 25, 2008

Actress Jang Jin-young Fights Stomach Cancer

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Actress Jang Jin-young is suffering from stomach cancer, Sports Seoul, a local newspaper, reported Thursday. A representative of the two-time Blue Dragon Award winner said the actress was in the very early stages and checked into hospital for treatment, Wednesday. The actress, best known for her role in ``The Scent of Love'' as a woman dying of stomach cancer, was diagnosed with the disease on Monday during a regular health check. Jang had reportedly been feeling pain when eating but assumed it to be a simple stomach ulcer, her close friends said. Her agent said Jang will be taking some time off to recover from the disease, which is the nation's most diagnosed cancer. Jang has appeared in several television commercials since her TV drama ``Lobbyist'' wrapped up last year. bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

Sep 25, 2008

HUFS Joins Hands With UC Berkeley

By Kang Shin-who Staff Reporter Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of California, Berkeley to strengthen academic exchanges. It announced Thursday that President Park Chul had agreed on cooperation programs with his counterpart Robert J. Birgeneau during his visit to the United States. Under the agreement, the two universities will exchange professors and students and cooperate in research and academic seminars. ``Starting with UC Berkley, we will actively work with major U.S. universities in the western area,'' Park said. Park will sign an MOU with UCLA and the University of Hawaii-Manoa. ``Those universities will enable us to pave the way over the Pacific Ocean to the U.S.,'' he added. As Park inked the agreement, UC Berkeley became the 200th partnership university of the school. Currently HUFS is working with a total of 233 universities and international organizations in 66 countries. The school also plans to expand its partnership with Ivy League universities. kswho@koreatimes.co.kr

Sep 25, 2008

Chinese Journalism School Goes Multinational

By Sunny Lee Korea Times Correspondent BEIJING ― For many people outside ``the Great Wall,'' China does not sound like a great destination to study journalism. Beijing has been accused by the West-leaning international media for suppressing freedom of the press for years. Now, with its increasing openness and its newly-found status as the global magnet, China's leading Tsinghua University is experimenting with an ambitious journalism program, aimed at making up for what it has been criticized for lacking. Each year, some 30 international students, many of them are journalists, enroll at Tsinghua's global business journalism (GBJ) program. The two-year masters' program, conducted in English in the Chinese university, has a diverse group of students, including from South Korea, Russia, United States, Zambia, Thailand and China. This year, the journalism school even granted admission to two North Korean journalists, who however didn't show up for the registration. Foreign students here chose to come to China for a variety of reasons. ``People talk about China a lot.

Sep 24, 2008

JYPs LiuXin Makes Debut in China

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter JYP Entertainment, led by singer Park Jin-young, is launching their Chinese-based agency, JYP China, with its aspiring new singer LiuXin. The 24-year-old singer made her debut Monday with her digital single ``Yanse,'' which means ``color'' in Chinese. Winning the grand prize at a UCC (User Created Contents) audition ``Mudongeumhwa'' held by JYP Entertainment last October, LiuXin underwent vocal and dance training at the Korean-based agency for the past year. At the agency that trained famous groups and singers including the Wonder Girls, 2PM, 2AM, Joo and Park himself, she also had the chance to learn about the Korean pop scene. According to judges at the audition, she stood out with her distinctive strong voice and tomboyish charm. Her debut single ``Yanse'' was produced by Park, and is known to have brought out the best of her vocals. ``LiuXin will show off her charm as an artist with her strong and captivating voice. Her successful debut will allow JYP Entertainment to move further into China. We will continue to search for talented a

Sep 24, 2008

S. Korea Revives Ancient Silk Road

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter The ancient Silk Road has been revived, this time by Korea. The Silk Road Foundation, a non-profit group, aiming to reconnect Korea and Central Asia, held an official launching ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. Kim Won-ho, chairman of the foundation's board, said: ``The old Silk Road connected the East to facilitate commerce and exchanges of cultures and new ideas. We want to help create a new Silk Road, which will connect people from different countries, as well as organize exchange programs and conferences and networking events.'' Vice Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Shin Kak-soo congratulated the private initiative, adding that he hoped it would add to the government's efforts to enhance understanding, and commerce and trade with Central Asia. The foundation is expected to work hand in hand with the Lee Myung-bak administration's emphasis on energy diplomacy. Park Jin, chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, pledged support from the legislative body. Lee Sang-joon, one of the executi

Sep 23, 2008

Head of Korean Veterans to Visit Canada

By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter Park Seh-jik, chairman of the Korea Veterans Association, will leave for Canada today to meet officials working with South Korean and Canadian veterans there, the group said Tuesday. Park will visit the city of Burnaby in the Vancouver Metro area, where he is scheduled to meet with Mayor Derek Corrigan to present an appreciation plaque for the mayor's contribution to promoting ties between South Korean and Canadian war veterans residing in the city, it said in a news release. During his five-day stay, Park will pay a visit to the Korean War Monument at Burnaby's Central Park to commemorate hundreds of Canadians killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. Canada sent over 25,000 troops to Korea during the fratricidal war. Over 300 of them lost their lives, while some 1,200 others were wounded. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Sep 23, 2008

Shin Young-soo Elected Director of WHO Office

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Shin Young-soo, a professor at Seoul National University has been elected as World Health Organization Western Pacific's regional director, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said Monday. This is the first time for a Korean to take a major post at an international organization since the Lee Myung-bak government kicked off in February. Shin was in a competition with Dr. Tee Ah Sian from Malaysia and Dr. Viliami Ta'u Tanghi of Tonga and won 16 votes out of 30. Ministry officials said Shin's passion toward facing problems such as avian influenza and other pandemic-possible disease as well as climate change may have attracted the votes. The western pacific region office ranges from China, Japan and Australia to Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and others with a population of around 1.8 billion and is considered one of the most important regions among six WHO offices. With his abundant experience as a WHO adviser, medical school professor and a director of health insurance reviews and assessment services, Shin is expected to take a b

Sep 22, 2008

Web Site Targets Fans of Celebrity Style

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Celebrities are undeniably today's style icons. Everyone looks at what stars like Jennifer Lopez, Lindsay Lohan and Rhianna are wearing, to see what's hot in fashion this season. Korean stars are also known for starting fashion trends that everyone follows. It's no wonder why many fashion companies are always after celebrities to promote their brands, and why many celebrities are also starting their own fashion brands. A new Web site (www.starvista.co.kr) was launched last Friday, as a ``celebrity-based premium brands select shop.'' Starvista encourages shoppers to ``create your own style with the stars,'' through several new Korean clothing brands. Celebrities such as Hwang Bo, Han Young, Lee Sun-jin and even B-boy team Gambler are endorsing Starvista's brands for women and men's clothes. It also has a line of kids' wear endorsed by celebrity couple Lee Jae-ryong and You Ho-jung. Hwang Bo, who appears in the hit MBC reality television show ``We Got Married, appears to be the perfect model for the Beaucomb. On the Web site, Hw

Sep 22, 2008
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