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Montblanc Supports Culture Thru Awards

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reproter Montblanc, one of the most prestigious manufacturers of pens, jewelry and watches in the world, is also recognized for its support of various cultural and artistic areas worldwide. Every year, the 102-year-old German company awards patrons of the arts with the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. Korea's Lee Se-ung, chairman of the Shinil Cultural Foundation and Seoul Cyber University received the award this year, along with 11 other cultural figures from different countries including France and England. Lutz Bethge, CEO of Montblanc International, visited Korea for the event. ``Writing culture is part of the roots of culture itself. Our modern world is fast paced with the Internet and personal devices like Blackberrys. As the world becomes more exhilarating, we need to find a way to take a break from it, recharge our batteries and widen our minds again. I believe art and culture are ways that enables us to do this,'' said Bethge. As one of the leading companies in art and craftsmanship, Montblanc began awarding those who suppo

Jun 16, 2008

Kim Accepts Baptist Award

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Billy Kim, the president of the Far East Broadcast Company (FEBC), a radio-based religious broadcast company, received the Ambassador for Christ and Baptist Statesman Award Tuesday. The award was given by the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee at the 151st annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention held at Indianapolis. 73-year-old Kim was given the award for his devotion to the Baptist community as president of the Baptist World Alliance in 2000 and the missionary work and spiritual aid he has given to the world. ``I want to say thank you for all the Baptists around the world who are struggling to survive in some of the most difficult countries in the world,'' he said during the acceptance speech. Kim was also praised for his efforts in leading the FEBC to touch the homes and hearts of those who are suffering from disaster and poverty. FEBC has been spreading gospel throughout Southeast Asia, including North Korea, China, Russia and Mongolia. The radio broadcast also reports deadly situations at earthquake and

Jun 12, 2008

Deaf Malaysian Artist Wants to Help Young Koreans

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Being deaf should not be seen as a hindrance to pursuing one's dreams ― if anyone is living proof of this, it is deaf Malaysian artist Leon Lim. The New York-based artist wants to spread his message of hope through his art, which will be part of the ``thisAbility vs. Disability'' exhibit at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul in July. In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Lim said he was surprised to learn that there are not many opportunities for deaf people in Korea. This is why he wants to invite deaf Korean students to see the up-coming exhibition and hopes to increase public awareness of deaf artists in Korea. ``It seems to me that deaf people in Korea might not have opportunities to do artwork to express their concerns about their lives, community and society. … In Malaysia, people always think deaf people can't become teachers of deaf children. But in my studies, I think deaf children need deaf adult role models," he said. Lim believes deaf children should be made aware of the opportunities that are

Jun 11, 2008

Yi Munyol on Novel, Vigil

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Yi Munyol, one of Korea's favorite and most prominent writers, expressed his opinion regarding the recent candlelit vigil by saying that it was a ``victory of digital populism.'' His comments came during a press conference for the final volume of his decade-long work ``Cho Han ji.'' ``I'm not being sarcastic. The essence of it is great, but at the same time, it's a terrible (type of) digital populism. It's great because it's something hard to accomplish, but is terrible because other important issues may be solved this way too,'' said Yi. ``Cho Han ji'' dates back to BC 218 and illustrates the deadly competition, strategies and leadership of the Han Dynasty's Liu Bang and Chin Dynasty's Xiang Yu who both wished to reunite China. The novel continues until Liu Bang finally succeeds in BC 202. Unlike Yi's other works, such as ``Romance of the Three Kingdoms,'' ``Cho Han ji'' is not based on an original text. The author wrote his version based on ``Records on the Grand Historian,'' by Chinese scholar Sima Qian, and used other ancient boo

Jun 11, 2008

UDP Secretary General Dies

Park Hong-soo, 53, secretary general of the main opposition United Democratic Party, died of heart disease Tuesday, his family said. Park, who was elected to the National Assembly under the proportional representation system in the 2004 elections, had been hospitalized since May 15. He served as agriculture minister between 2005 and 2007. Park is survived by his wife, Choi Ho-suk, one son and three daughters. A funeral service will be held at the Severance Hospital in Seoul. His body will be buried in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province. For more information, call 02-2227-7550. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Jun 10, 2008

Park Hae-choon Returns as NPS Chief

By Kang Shin-who Staff Reporter Park Hae-choon, 60, has been recommended for the post of president of the National Pension Service (NPS). This is the first time that a financier from the private sector has been selected for the job of managing the nation's largest institutional investor. The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said it has put forward Park as the sole designee for the top post at the NPS to President Lee Myung-bak. So far, bureaucrats from various government agencies have taken the top position at the pension service. Park has made a dramatic comeback several months after he quit as Woori Bank CEO after failing to get a vote of confidence from the government. ``We've already finished fine-tuning with Cheong Wa Dae over the selection and Park will be appointed as new president of the NPS,'' a ministry official said. ``We hope he will be successful in carrying out steps to reform the agency.'' Approximately 10 people had applied for the post. Park, known as an expert in reviving non-viable companies, is expected to reorganize the NPS. H

Jun 10, 2008

Miss Korea Teams Up With Famed Trainer to Win Crown

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Miss Korea Lee Ji-sun will compete in the 57th Annual Miss Universe Competition held in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, July 14, with the assistance of renowned trainer Ines Ligron. Ligron is the national director of Miss Universe Japan and was the trainer of 2007's Miss Universe Riyo Mori. She has been working in the Japanese beauty pageant industry for the past decade. ``When I heard that Ligron was training Miss Japan Mima Hiroko, I contacted her and told her I wanted to be trained also. She told me to move to Japan, so I quickly packed my bags,'' said Lee at a press conference in central Seoul. Ligron explained that 25-year-old Lee has been working very hard and indeed has a shot at the crown. ``I have been working with Ji-sun for the last three months. When I first saw her I thought she was very pretty and eager, but seemed a bit conservative. She didn't really express her beauty in a confident way. I taught her to be more free, sexy and appealing,'' said Ligron. Beauty pageants have received criticism in Korea for being competitions th

Jun 10, 2008

New Leader Seeks to Upgrade Sejong Center

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, one of Korea's foremost arts and cultural complex, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and also welcomes a new president. Lee Chung-sung, 63, a former CEO who majored in studio art, vowed to ``upgrade'' the center in tune with Seoul City's urban design project. ``We are living in a time where culture plays a powerful role,'' said Lee, explaining how cultural enterprises reflect a people's mindset and a country's values. Thus the Center must become globally competitive. ``We hope to foster a second renaissance for Korea,'' he said. A former board member of the International Design School for Advanced Studies in Seoul and currently the chairman of the board of Hyunwoo Art College in Beijing, Lee is also the ex-CEO of cosmetics company POLA. While admitting that he isn't an expert on the performing arts, he learned through his experience in art and design that, for design as a field to advance, it is important to foster a new mindset rather than just produce designers. In this respect, he hopes

Jun 9, 2008

Korean-American Behind Blue Man Groups Funky Beat

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter caption: Blue Man Group's Korean-American drummer Ian Pai talks with reporters at the VIP room, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, Monday. / AP-Yonhap The man responsible for the Blue Man Group's funky drumbeats is Korean-American Ian Pai. Pai, the original drummer for the Blue Man Group, is currently in town to perform in the ``MegaStar World Tour,'' which opens in Seoul Tuesday. Pai said he's happy to finally be able to bring the Blue Man Group to Seoul. ``We've been talking about it for years, since 1996 when I came here with the Blue Man band. ... I think there's a strong connection between Korea and the Blue Man,'' Pai said, in a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Monday. When he was 21 years old, Pai was working as a bartender in New York City when he met Blue Man Group co-founders Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman. ``I was a drummer, but I wasn't very good. I was doing a lot of different things at that time, but I was at an age when I said `yes' to everything,'' he said.

Jun 9, 2008

Comedian Kim Steps Up as Host of English Program

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Kim Young-chul started off as a comedian, with a natural ability of making people laugh and an expertise in impersonating other stars. But now, he's wearing a new hat: the host of an English program ``Let's Speak Korean.'' He's among the growing breed of ``multi-entertainers.'' While actors have released albums and singers have crossed over to the big screen, 32-year-old Kim has paved his path toward English. ``Being unique meant being better off. I wanted to find my own specialty, a comedian who can speak fluent English. But this doesn't mean English will take up 100 percent of my life,'' Kim told The Korea Times. Although he was comfortable enough to speak several sentences in English during the interview, the offer of co-hosting an English program aimed to help foreigners learn Korean was a challenge. ``If it was a 50 minute program, I would have said no. The producers and crew told me that it was okay to make mistakes, but it still took me a long time to make my decision (to host it),'' said Kim. ``Let's Speak Korean'' is a pro

Jun 8, 2008
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