Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Chung Named as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter World-renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun is now a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Chung, director of Radio-France's Philharmonic Orchestra, was appointed as an Ambassador during a ceremony in Paris last week. Chung said he was honored by his new role as Goodwill Ambassador. ``We musicians have the same goal as UNICEF, which works to provide children with education and care and to ensure that their rights are respected. For us musicians, music is not just a right ― it can help improve a child's development and education, as well as allow them to dream, he said. About 800 children attended the ceremony, where the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra played Concerto for Orchestra, by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Chung's appointment is seen as an acknowledgement of his commitment to childrens' rights. Last September, he was appointed as ambassador for UNICEF to France. UNICEF's French national committee president Jacques Hintzy said Chung has helped make music accessible to everyone.

Apr 14, 2008

Foreign Workers Helpful

By Kang Hyun-kyung Staff Reporter About 200,000 Koreans lost jobs to foreign workers here as of 2007. Under the Employment Permit System (EPS), foreign migrant workers ― mostly from Asian countries ― have replaced Koreans in blue-collar jobs, yet few have complained. The lack of backlash against the lost jobs starkly contrasts with what is going on in the United States where Democratic Party leaders, unionists, and even some journalists addressed the exporting of jobs by Americans as a major campaign issue. Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Keheliya Rambukwella said Korea has gained from a free movement of labor and this probably explains why there is little discontent about foreign workers here. ``The presence of migrant workers does not jeopardize Koreans themselves,'' the minister said in an exclusive interview with The Korea Times last week in Seoul. About 15,000 Sri Lankan workers are now working in Korea under the EPS. They account for 3.7 percent of foreign workers here. Minister Rambukwella said Koreans are enjoying a high

Apr 14, 2008

Spanish Ambassador Dies

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Spanish Ambassador to Korea Delfin Colome passed away at the Severance Hospital in Seoul, Thursday, according to the Embassy of Spain in Seoul. He was 62. The ambassador suffered from liver cancer, known as carcinoma, since he was hospitalized in March 2007. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday in the International Catholic Church, Franciscan Order in Hannam-dong at 6 p.m. A condolence book will be open next Monday and Tuesday in the Embassy of Spain from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Colome had served as an ambassador to Korea since July 2005. For more information, call the embassy at (02) 794-3581. sjkim@koreatimes.co.kr

Apr 11, 2008

Korea-US Forum Due in Washington

The Korean-American Club and the School of International Service at American University will hold a discussion on ``Korean-U.S. Relations in the Lee Myung-bak Presidency'' in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. David Pong, 74, a former lawmaker who heads the club, will lead a Korean delegation including senior journalists. The club, a fraternity of former Korean correspondents to Washington, was formed in February 2005. American scholars and Korean journalists will discuss ways of strengthening ties between the two allies, the organizers said Friday. The conference will be attended by about 350 people, they said. jckim@koreatimes.co.kr

Apr 11, 2008

Kim Saves 200 Abandoned Dogs

By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter As well as her husband and two children, Kim Ae-ouk has another special family member ― a golden retriever. Her relationship with her dog ``Gangeun'' began last year when she ``adopted'' him from a shelter for abandoned animals. ``Gangeun is not just my family's best companion but actually a member of our family,'' Kim said. She lives in Bundang, a satellite city south of Seoul. While volunteering at an animal shelter, she found the dog, with a tumor in one of his legs, abandoned on a street. ``I think his original owner abandoned him due to costs for treating the tumor. It was so sad,'' the 29-year-old mother said. ``But he is now healthy and adorable.'' She has so far saved more than 200 abandoned dogs and helped them find new owners and homes. Kim asks pet owners to take good care of their pets as family members or companions and hopes more dogs at shelters will find new homes without further suffering. ``Once abandoned, pets are sent to an animal shelter with only 10 days to live unless the original or new owners arrive,

Apr 10, 2008

Danny Ahn Takes Second Stage Role

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Danny Ahn, former member of pop group g.o.d., will continue to show his theatrical streak in a second stage performance. The 29-year-old is currently appearing in his play debut ``Closer'' and will star in the musical ``Nasaengmun'' next Month, production company Showplay announced Thursday. When the Park Jin-young(aka. JYP)-produced boy band disbanded several years ago, the five members have pursued individual careers in the entertainment business. Ahn crossed over to acting, starring in the romantic comedy movie ``The Longest 24 Months'' opposite popular actors Sohn Tae-young and Jang Geun-seok. Last month, he appeared onstage for the first time through ``Closer,'' and he will mix in his singing skills for the upcoming musical. Inspired by a short story by Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, ``Nasaengmun'' premiered in Korea in 2003. It is about the conflicting testimonies by different characters on the same event. Ahn will share the role of the warrior with musical actor Lee Geon-myoung. It will be staged May 9 at Doosan Art Center

Apr 10, 2008

Strong Ties With Business Essential for City Growth

By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter London, one of the world's most attractive global business centers, is expected to enjoy robust growth in the years to come. Much of the credit for it's economic success goes to the city's foreign investment attraction agency, Think London. The organization's head says strong partnerships with the business community are essential for any city to become a business center. ``I think much of the success of London's efforts to promote itself as business location is due to the partnership between the government and the business community,'' said Michael Charlton, chief executive of Think London, in an interview with The Korea Times. ``Business wants to talk to business,'' he says, adding that the agency seeks to become a vehicle linking businesses in and out of the city. Charlton came to Seoul to meet Korean business leaders and to co-host a session with the Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency to advise companies on how they can benefit from investing in London. The best way to sell London as a business location is to let business com

Apr 8, 2008

Super Junior-M Debuts in China

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Super Junior-M, a sub-group of popular boy band Super Junior, is making its debut in China, Yonhap News reported. SM Entertainment, one of Korea's largest entertainment agencies, is hoping the new group Super Junior-M will make inroads in the Chinese market. Super Junior-M on Tuesday released the music video for ``U,'' the first single off their Chinese-language album. The group also made its first performance at a Chinese music awards show in Beijing Tuesday evening. Super Junior-M's first album ``Me,'' features Chinese versions of Super Junior's hit songs such as ``U,'' ``Marry U,'' and ``Don't Don.'' Super Junior-M is composed of five members from Super Junior, namely Si-won, Dong-hae, Kyu-hyun, Ryeo-wook and Han-geng, and new Chinese members Henry and Zhou Mi. The ``M'' in Super Junior-M refers to Mandarin, the main Chinese language. Han-geng, who is the only Chinese member in the original Super Junior, was recently chosen by the Olympics Organizational Committee to participate in the carrying of the Olympic torch

Apr 8, 2008

Actress Kim to Star in Bong’s Film

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja and hallyu star Won Bin will star in a new film directed by Bong Joon-ho, renowned for local blockbuster ``The Host.'' Titled ``Mother,'' the film has been cast and shooting will begin this fall, with an early 2009 opening planned. The plot involves a mother who struggles to clear a false charge against her son, who is involved in a murder case. Kim will return to the big screen ten years after 1999's ``Mayonnaise.'' The film marks Won's comeback four years after 2004's ``My Brother'' and will be his first appearance since being discharged from military service. Bong is known to be a big fan of Kim, with high praise for her acting, which he thinks touches the hearts of the viewers. Kim has been long dubbed ``an ideal type of Korean mother'' for focusing on mother roles. Bong has long had his eye on Kim for the role, first expressing his interest in her for it four years ago. chungay@koreatimes.co.kr

Apr 7, 2008

Singer Turtleman Found Dead in Home

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Turtleman, frontman of the pop trio Turtles (Geobugi), passed away after a heart attack, Wednesday morning. The 37-year-old, whose real name is Im Sung-hoon, was already dead when his manager found him around 2:30 p.m. in his home in Kumho-dong, Seoul. ``Im didn't have any schedule booked for Tuesday. When his manager went to visit him Wednesday afternoon, he didn't answer the phone or the door,'' said Im's management agency Boogie Entertainment, according to Yonhap News. ``The manager called a key repairman and entered his home. He appeared to be asleep in his bed. But Im didn't wake up or seem to be breathing, so he called the ambulance.'' Im was transferred to a nearby hospital and autopsy results suggested that he had been dead for five to six hours. Measuring 1.7 meters tall and weighing 98 kilograms, the overweight rapper had been hospitalized in 2005 for the same heart condition. He had taken measures to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle. Im's father also died from heart complications in his sleep, according to Boogie Entertainm

Apr 3, 2008

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