People & Events

Chung Represents Korean Day

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Friday appointed cellist Chung Myung-hwa as goodwill ambassador for the second Korean Day. ``Chung has inspired and offered pride to Korean residents by performing worldwide. She has been chosen for her achievements in helping Korean nationals and locals further understand each other and also heighten exchange between the two groups, matching the purpose of Korean Day,'' the ministry announced. Chung will be given the official plaque as ambassador at a special ceremony Thursday. Yu Myung-hwan, minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be present at the event. The celebrated cellist is scheduled to perform at the second Korean Day's ceremonial event Oct. 2. Korean Day falls every Oct. 5 and was made to appreciate Korean nationals living around the world and further heighten their pride and identity as Koreans. Gracing her 40th anniversary this year as a successful cellist, Chung has been at the forefront of introducing Korean artists to the world. She comes from a world re

Seo Tai-ji to Perform With Royal Philharmonic

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean top singer Seo Tai-ji will be back on stage after his successful rock festival, but this time with a more classical crowd. The ``Culture President,'' as many call him, will hold a special concert with maestro Tolga Kashif and the celebrated Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Sept. 27. The press conference for ``The Great 2008 Seotaiji Symphony with Tolga Kashif & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'' already made headlines for being held at Deoksu Palace, the first time for a local singer. Hoards of fans waited in the sizzling sun Friday for the singer and the maestro, many screaming as the two artists arrived at the venue, right in front of one of the palace's buildings. ``I always wanted to work with a celebrated arranger and an orchestra. I was a big fan of Kashif for a long time and it was me who contacted him first for this special concert,'' Seo said. Kashif is a celebrated musical conductor, composer and arranger who has worked with some of the most famous stars in the world, including David Bowie, Elton John and U2. The maestro also a

Former Korea Times Vice President Chang Ki-bong Dies

By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter Former Korea Times Vice President Chang Ki-bong passed away Thursday. He was 81. Born in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, he started his journalism career after Korean liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. He was the editor of several newspapers published in the 1950-60s, as well as the head of the Seoul Shinmun. He served as vice president and managing editor of The Korea Times between 1962-63, managing editor and director of the sister paper Hankook Ilbo, and director of two defunct news agencies. Chang was also secretary to former President Syngman Rhee in 1950 and the South Korean representative to the United Nations General Assembly. He established The Shin-A Ilbo in 1965, an eight-page evening paper that was the nation's first daily to adopt multicolored printing. Shin-A was absorbed by The Kyunghyang Shinmun in 1980 following the authoritarian regime's policy of media suppression, and was abolished later that year. Chang received several awards, including a national medal. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Celebrities to Hold Photo Exhibition

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Four popular stars ― singers Kang Won-lae, Baek Sung-hyun, Lee Sang-eun and comedian Lee Byung-jin ― will present a different creative streak through photographs. Gallery Iang in Hyehwa-dong, Jongno will hold the exhibition ``Spot of Time, the Quotidian Atelier,'' Sept. 5-28 in central Seoul. Kang, former member of the pop duo Clon who has been in a wheelchair since an accident, will present works under the theme ``Disabled.'' In his first photo exhibit, he presents the products of an intimate hobby. Baek, who is better known as Bbaek Ga of the pop trio Koyote, has already demonstrated his fondness for photography by going professional and opening his own studio. Since his 2005 joint exhibition with performance artist Nancy Lang, he has been regularly showing his photos. He is also doing work for fashion spreads and album jackets. Lee, whose signature song ``Damdadi'' is like a household product here, studied art at New York's Pratt Institute. Her works are much loved through her photo essays. Comedian Lee Byung-jin also published his photos

Former Korea Times Managing Editor Honored in Taiwan

By Michael Ha Staff Reporter The late Choi Byung-woo, former managing editor of The Korea Times who died while covering Taiwan's Quemoy Island Battle in 1958, is being honored by the island nation. Over the past weekend, a memorial tablet for Choi was permanently placed in Taiwan's National Shrine, along with memorials honoring five other war correpondents who died during the battle. Choi had served as the managing editor of The Korea Times for two years before he traveled to Quemoy to cover the unfolding military conflict. Before arriving at the island, he was in Indonesia covering that country's civil war. On Sept. 26, 1958, he was aboard a military landing craft along with several other war reporters when the craft capsized near the island's coast. In all, six journalists and five Taiwanese soldiers lost their lives. Choi was only 34 years old at the time. This is the first time that a non-Taiwanese national is being honored at the National Shrine, a place equivalent to the National Cemetery in Korea. ``The only reason that Taiwan has been able to make progress

German Parliamentary Leader Visits Seoul

The president of the German parliament Bundestag, Norbert Lammert, arrived in Seoul Wednesday at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o. Over his five-day stay, Lammert will hold talks with Kim and other lawmakers, the German Embassy in Seoul said. He is accompanied by Hartmut Koschyk, a German lawmaker and chairman of the German-Korean Parliamentary Group. Talks with President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled for Friday, an embassy spokesman said. Also on Lammert's itinerary are meetings with members of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce, Korean artists, reunification experts and Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President Kim Dae-jung. Lammert will also receive a honorary doctorate in political science from Korea University Thursday for his efforts to strengthen democracy. jckim@koreatimes.co.kr

Rain to Release New Album

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Singer-actor Rain will release an album in October and also take part in a comeback program with major broadcaster MBC. Born Jeong Ji-hoon, the 26-year-old entertainer has returned to the Asian music scene after pursuing an acting career in the United States. He told Yonhap News that he is producing his new album himself. ``I have been working on the album for a long time and it's almost finished now. The album will carry songs that I wrote myself. Because it's an Asian special album, there will also be an English version,'' he said. He will also appear in a comeback program on MBC, which did the same for pop music pioneer Seo Tai-ji this month. The program on Seo had in-depth interviews and a concert, with the concept of Rain's program to be similar. Rain's program is scheduled for October but specifics will be announced soon. Rain starred in the Hollywood movie ``Speed Racer'' this year and his upcoming movie ``Ninja Assassin'' will be released in January next year. He also made headlines by singing at the closing ceremony of

Korea-Arab Ties

Samsung Securities Expert Listed in Marquis Who’s Who

By Yoon Ja-young Staff Reporter A financial expert at Samsung Securities will get his name listed in the 2009 edition of ''Marquis Who's Who'' for enhancing effectiveness in derivative product management. Chu Jeong-ho, a vice president at the brokerage's quantitative finance division, had his name listed in the book of the world's most influential people. Marquis Who's Who has been published since 1899, presenting the achievements and biographies of millions of leaders and achievers in a variety of fields from around the world. Around 3,000 Koreans have gotten their names listed. Chu is the first from financial engineering. Born in 1969, he majored in mathematics at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and eventually earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering there. Since joining Samsung in 2006, Chu has served as project manager while developing a liquidity provider system of equity linked warrants. He is also the head of Samsung's financial engineering seminar. Marquis Who's Who acknowledged Chu's achievement in enhancing the effectiveness o

Olympic Champion Archers to Tie Knot in December

By Kang Seung-woo Staff Reporter Olympic archers Park Sung-hyun and Park Kyung-mo excited the country with their dazzling shooting skills in the Beijing Summer Olympics. A day after the competition ended, they made headlines again with a bombshell announcement: they will marry in December. ``Kyung-mo said on the phone that he will marry Park Sung-hyun at the end of the year,'' said Seo Geo-won, an executive director of the Korea Archery Association. ``Sung-hyun also said they promised to wed even though they hadn't decided the date,'' said Moon Hyung-cheol, the manager of the women's squad. Since each have met each other's parents, the gold medal couple is expected to announce their wedding date soon. They reportedly started dating last year while preparing for the Olympics but apparently kept their relationship secret to avoid affecting the national team. The two are the first gold medalists in the country's history to marry each other. Park Sung-hyun, who won two golds in the 2004 Athens Games, repeated as an Olympic champion in the women's team final in B