Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Bangladesh Wants Investment by Korean Automakers

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter A Bangladeshi government official said his country wants Korean carmakers to invest there. Bangladesh guarantees Korean automobile industries a high margin of profit, convenient and low-cost facilities and a highly-skilled labor force, if they do business in the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), said BEPZA Executive Chairman Jamil Ahmed Khan. ``We make parts for Japan's Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hino and Mitsubishi, but no Korean automobiles. We have the capacity,'' he told The Korea Times during a five-day stay last week. To date, no Korean automobile-related firm has gone to Bangladesh. His proposal seems to reflect the Bangladeshi government's endeavors to cultivate industries other than the textile industry that has been dominant in Bangladesh. Eight export processing zones, scattered throughout Bangladesh including the capital Dhaka, have been designated by the government there to attract foreign investment. Korea is the biggest investor in the zones. Of 267 foreign investors, 64 are Korean ― predominantly te

May 22, 2008

Gospel Singer Green Visits Seoul

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Steve Green, an award-winning Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) singer, is in Seoul to share the message of God through his songs. The 51-year-old singer arrived last Tuesday, and having such a tight schedule, the interview was carried out in a van heading toward his next destination ― a church in Bundang. This is Green's first visit to Korea in 11 years, and when asked if he remembered the reaction of Korean fans, he smiled. ``They were surprisingly receptive and warm,'' he told The Korea Times. Green's parents were missionaries in South America, where he also grew up. He started singing when he was in college, curiously enough, because one of his professors encouraged him to sing. Although he had his doubts of ending up in the music industry at first, the singer has been singing for over 20 years, winning seven Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. ``(Singing) was not just a career choice, but actually something that God orchestrated and allowed me to do,'' said Green. His first performance as a singer was at Liberty Un

May 22, 2008

Song Hye-kyo to Star in New John Woo Movie

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean actress Song Hye-kyo will star as the heroine of John Woo's new movie ``1949.'' The 26-year-old star will join Taiwanese actor Chang Chen in the movie depicting a tragic love story set in 1949, when China was suffering a civil war between the Nationalist and Communist parties. Woo, the director of hit movies ``Face Off (1997)'' and ``Mission Impossible II (2000),'' appeared with Terence Chang, the producer of the film, and Song at a press conference held at the Hotel Majestic Cannes, with the festivity of the Cannes Film Festival still in the air. ``Among my other films, this will be the one that will underline humanity the most,'' Woo was quoted as saying by Yonhap News. ``I was offered the role early this year, and the scenario was very tempting. I am very pleased to be working with director Woo,'' said Song. Woo is waiting for his movie ``Red Cliff'' to be released this summer. ``Red Cliff'' tells the story of a famous war during the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. Chang will also appear in the movie. Song has b

May 21, 2008

Actor Helps Poor Ethiopian Children

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter A documentary depicting the relationship between a top Korean actor and a young Ethiopian girl is expected to warm the hearts of viewers this Saturday. ``MBC Special,'' a documentary series that offers inspiring works, is presenting ``The Secret Behind 35,000 won.'' The documentary follows the journey of ``Compassion,'' a Christian non-governmental organization (NGO) aimed to help children living in poverty, and its sponsors and volunteers, and particularly actor Cha In-pyo. ``Compassion'' connects sponsors with children in need of shelter, food and education in areas including Ethiopia, South Africa and Asia. By a monthly donation of just 35,000, sponsors can change a child's poverty-stricken life to a well-educated and a safe environment. The documentary will show Ethiopian children suffering from devastating conditions and the stories between Cha, as a sponsor, and the children. At the press conference of the documentary, Cha and producer Han Hak-soo explained the meaning and purpose of the sponsorships. ``People tell us that we

May 21, 2008

Incheon to Host Paramount’s First Movie Park

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Paramount Movie Park Korea, an amusement park inspired by Hollywood glamour with a dash of hallyu (Korean wave), will open in 2011 in Incheon, South Korea. It will be the world's first Paramount Pictures-branded theme park and resort complex and Korea's first ever movie-theme park. Daewoo Motors Sales Corp (DWMS) will fund and assume ownership of the joint venture company while Paramount will act as its licensor and manage creative development, organizers in Seoul said Tuesday. The two signed a licensing agreement last December. ``Some 40 MOUs between Korean firms and major foreign industries had been established for such a park, but none bore fruit,'' said Lee Dong-ho, president and CEO of DWMS. Problems included the massive investment involved, licensing fee agreements and locating a site large enough. ``I'm proud to say this will be the first movie theme park in Korea,'' he said. Entertainment facilities including a water park and some 30 attractions inspired by films such as ``Mission Impossible,'' as well as two resort hotels will span

May 20, 2008

Nicky Hilton to Launch Clothing Line in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American celebrity Nicky Hilton will be in Seoul this week to launch her own clothing lines Nicholai and Chick by Nicky Hilton. Hilton, better known as Paris' younger sister, will be introducing her high-end brand Nicholai and casual wear brand Chick in the Korean market. The launching showcase for the brands' Fall/Winter 2008 collection will be held at bar Fradia on Thursday evening. Hilton launched Chick, a youthful clothing line aimed at young women, in 2004. Chick, which refers to Hilton's childhood nickname, features mainly minidresses, fun prints and short skirts. Last year, she introduced a new couture brand, Nicholai, aimed at a more mature, sophisticated market. The brand's name refers to Hilton's first name Nicholai Olivia. She even held a spring/summer 2008 fashion show during New York Fashion week last September. Hilton will also attend a charity party for the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation at Club Answer on Friday night. Aside from her own brands, Hilton had designed a line of handbags for Japanese brand S

May 20, 2008

US Vet Visits Korea 55 Years After Armistice

By Michael Ha Staff Reporter A U.S. veteran who fought in the Korean War made a return visit this week, courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and a long-time Korean friend who served in the same army unit during the conflict. This was the first time that Albert John Koegel, 81, had visited Korea since the end of the war (1950-53). During the visit, he was awarded the ``Ambassador for Peace'' medal from the Korea Veterans' Association for his service during the war. The tourism organization, together with the veterans' association and the Korean-American Friendship Association, has been inviting foreign war veterans who fought in the war to revisit the country. There are more than 500,000 U.S. veterans who saw action in Korea, according to the KTO. Koegel and his wife Barbara wrapped up their five-day trip to Korea, Monday, and before their departure for Michigan, they sat down with The Korea Times to talk about their impression of Korea more than half a century after the war ended. ``Here during the Korean War, I was a first lieutenant in the United States

May 19, 2008

Inventor of Hangover Chaser Decorated

By Kim Hyun-cheol Staff Reporter A lifelong effort of an inventor and entrepreneur was rewarded with the highest-class industrial award on this year's Invention Day. Nam Jong-hyun, CEO of Glami Co., won the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at Monday's celebration ceremony of the national day in Seoul. The anniversary was established after the same date in 1441, when King Sejong announced the invention of the world's first rain gauge. The name Glami, a mid-sized enterprise, might not sound that familiar to most customers but it has a representing hit product in the local market ― its steady-selling hangover drink, Dawn 808. Since it was first released in 1998, Dawn 808 has successfully secured one of the leading slots in the ever-growing market with its benefit of using natural ingredients. It has about a 20 percent market share, only trailing Condition, the first product in the business released in 1992 by CJ. The herbal tea drink product currently has patents in 11 countries and also won awards at many international inventions, technology contests and r

May 19, 2008

Korean Music Festival in LA Unites Races, Generations

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The 6th Hollywood Bowl Korean Music Festival proved once again to be an event connecting the old and young, and Koreans and non-Koreans. About 20,000 visitors packed the Hollywood Bowl, one of the world's largest outdoor theaters located in Los Angeles, under the theme ``Old & New Sympathy of Generations.'' The festival was started in 2003 by the Hankook Ilbo in Los Angeles, a parent company of The Korea Times, to create a memorable evening of music and harmony among Korean Americans. This year, not only Korean Americans but also thousands of visitors from 10 Asian and European countries came to the venue to enjoy the music, while 95 percent of the tickets sold through the Internet Web site were purchased by non-Koreans. The enthusiasm proved that the Hallyu (Korean wave) was still alive, marking the event as one of the biggest cultural festivals in the L.A. area. Avid fans from Hawaii, San Francisco and San Diego also flew to Los Angeles to participate. Top Korean singers appeared at the event, including Korea's top boy band TVXQ, Ko

May 18, 2008

Korean-American Jazz Prodigy Wins 4 Awards

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Korean-American jazz saxophonist and vocalist Grace Kelly, 16, won four awards from a major American jazz magazine, her management agency announced Thursday. At Downbeat magazine's 2008 Downbeat Student Music Awards, Kelly won prizes for Jazz Soloist, Jazz Vocalist, Extended Composition and Arrangement. In 2006, she had also won four honors from Downbeat, including Pop, rock and blues soloist, Original Composition and Jazz Vocalist. The young musician started composing her own music at age seven, mastered the saxophone by 10 and released her first album when she turned 12. She sings and composes and plays other instruments including the flute, clarinet, bass and drums. Hailed as the next big thing in jazz, Kelly has received acclaim from jazz legends like Phil Woods and took the stage with Lee Konitz. In February she performed with the Gibson/Baldwin Jazz Ensemble at the Grammy Awards After Party. ``My whole day is just filled with music, singing, composing or what I feel like doing. I try to get to all of it,'' Kelly said in a previous K

May 16, 2008

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