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Korean Writer Yi Mun-yol Lectures in US High School

By Jung Joo-yang Korea Times Intern Yi Mun-yol, one of South Korea's most acclaimed authors, discussed ``Our Twisted Hero,'' one of his prominent works, with students at New Jersey Pennington High School on Tuesday. The 59-year-old author, as an honorary guest of the school, responded to the students' questions by stating that through his book, he attempted to portray the flawed Korean society of the politically unstable 1980s, Yonhap news reported. The then Korean president Chun Doo-hwan caused major outrage among Koreans in 1987, by refusing democratization. Students showed high interest by asking various questions such as ``How did you first come up with the idea for the book?,'' ``If you could rewrite the book what would you change?'' and ``At the time of the publication were there any problems since it was such a controversial novel?'' Yi explained that his didactic novel was not written to teach readers a moral lesson, but to realistically depict the frustration Koreans had for the strict dictatorial government of that time. Yi also said that while he woul

May 30, 2007

Lee Honey 3rd Runnerup in Miss Universe

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Miss Korea Lee Honey, 24, finished third runner-up at the 2007 Miss Universe beauty pageant in Mexico, Monday. This was Miss Korea's best finish at the Miss Universe pageant since Chang Yoon-jung finished first runner-up in the 1988 contest. Riyo Mori, a 20-year old from Japan, was crowned Miss Universe, beating out 77 contestants from all over the world. Rounding out the top five beauties were first runner-up Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil, second runner-up Ly Jonaitis of Venezuela and fourth runner-up Rachel Smith of the U.S. Lee wore a stunning beaded gown that showed off her curves, earning high marks during the evening gown competition. Before the pageant finals, Lee was one of the early favorites among the 77 participants, impressing judges with her beauty and brains. Global Beauties, a beauty pageant Web site, selected Lee as its Miss Universe winner, followed by Jonaitis and Mori. She also received `The Face of the Universe Award for her smooth complexion and brilliant smile, and the GB Best National Costume Award for h

May 29, 2007

Master Essayist Dies

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pi Chun-deuk, who wrote the essay ``Inyeon" (Karma), died at the age of 97, late Friday evening. Pi had been suffering from a long illness, but his condition deteriorated on May 10 and was admitted to the Seoul Asan Hospital, where his son works as a doctor. Pi, a professor emeritus at the Seoul National University, was famous for his essay style that dealt with plain themes in a lyrical and simple manner. He was born in Seoul on May 29, 1910. Pi studied at a middle school in Shanghai, China and in 1937, he graduated with a degree in English literature from a university there. After graduation, he returned to Korea and started working as a teacher, during the Japanese occupation. In 1946, he started working at the prestigious Seoul National University, where he taught at the English literature department for three decades. He retired in 1974. Pi became known as a distinguished poet and modern essayist. His masterpiece essay ``Inyeon" (Karma) is included in middle-school textbooks in South Korea and remains etched in the memory

May 27, 2007

Lawmaker Seeks Oil Money for Dubai Town in Busan

By Kang Hyun-kyung Staff Reporter A lawmaker of the main opposition Grand National Party aims to attract foreign cash for local economy, while promoting a mutual understanding of Korean and Middle Eastern cultures through a Dubai Town project in Busan, as well. Under the dual plan, oil revenue would finance the project, said Rep. Kim Jung-hoon, who was first elected to the National Assembly in a Busan district in 2004, Thursday. Kim, who concurrently serves as president of the South Korea-Kuwait Friendship Society, was invited to a dinner Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held at his official residence in central Seoul Tuesday in honor of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE leader is also ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed visited Seoul May 21 to 22 for talks on expanding bilateral economic ties. During the dinner, Kim proposed the Arab leader consider investing in, what he called, a Dubai Town project in the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone. According to Kim, the Dubai leader showed a very positive a

May 24, 2007

Former US Olympic Skier Weds in Korean Style

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Olympic bronze medallist and honorary Korean Toby Dawson married his wife Leah Helmi in Korean traditional style at Lotte Hotel in Busan, Thursday. The pair already wed at Palm Springs, LA, on March 14 in the presence of the American parents who adopted him when he was three and friends in the United States. The ceremony in Busan was held for his biological parents and relatives in Korea. The couple held a brief press conference ahead of the ceremony, expressing their delight to get married in Korea. Both dressed in Korean traditional wedding outfits, as is custom in Korea the pair shared special marital liquor and bowed to each other in front of the over 100 attendees. They also followed the tradition of gift offering to their parents and received congratulatory comments from them. Dawson on Wednesday received honorary citizenship from Hur Nam-sik, Busan mayor. ``Toby is a proud Busan native, who won Bronze medal at the Torino Winter Olympics, made the city proud of him and the world recognized the city of Busan,'' Hur said. Last yea

May 24, 2007

Sportscaster Song Dies

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Song In-duk, an MBC sportscaster and one of the most-liked television personlaities in the country, died early Wednesday of complications from internal bleeding. The 48-year-old Song was hospitlaized last week after collapsing in pain from liver cirrhosis. He is survived by his wife Seo Gyeong-ok, 45, and daughter Hyo-sook, 16. ``Song was a truly gifted sportscaster and he loved sports more than anything throughout his 25 year career. I guess God needed someone to call games for him,'' said Huh Yeon-hoe, a program director at MBC's sports depratment. ``Without Song, things will never be the same and his presence will be truly missed in broadcasts for the Beijing Olympics next year,'' said Huh. Song, hired by MBC in 1982, was one of the country's first television journalists to specialize in sports broadcasting. He called many of the significant moments in sports for the past two decades, including the now-infamous duel between Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson in the 100-meter dash at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, of which the winner John

May 23, 2007

More Help Needed to Improve NKs Public Health

By Lee Jin-woo Staff Reporter A middle-aged American doctor who grew up in South Korea has stressed that it's time to move on to helping North Korea with public health issues. ``North Korea's food situation is at least better. We need to move on to public health issues including rebuilding the North's nine provincial and 200 county hospitals,'' John A. Linton of Yonsei University's Severance Hospital in Seoul told The Korea Times in an interview on Monday. The 47-year-old doctor heads the hospital's international health care center. Linton, who is well-known for his Korean name Yin Yo-han and thick South Jeolla Province accent, proposed a three-stage medical support program for North Korea from the South Korean government. ``Number one, we need to help them with a vaccination program, which should be followed by supplies of diagnostic equipment,'' he said. ``The final stage should be an exchange of doctors between the two Koreas.'' He said North Korean doctors need basic diagnostic equipment _ ultrasound and x-ray machines, and clinical pathology supplies _ as

May 23, 2007

Building Trust Brings Up Philanthropists in Society

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Being transparent and trustworthy is what attracts philanthropists to charities, Stephen Harvey, the new project manager of the British Charity organization Oxfam, said. Oxfam, one of the largest charity groups in the world, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean charity foundation Beautiful Store, Tuesday, and decided to hold the ``Namaste Ganga!'' (Greetings to River Ganga) campaign together. The project, designed to support flood victims in Southwest Asia, is expected to raise about 200 million won by the end of the year. Beautiful Store has been keeping close ties with Oxfam since five years ago, when the British organization received the Seoul Peace Award. The foundation's decision to join Oxfam's charity project came after its stores that sell second hand goods to assist lower income earners, bench marked Oxfam's 800 shops in Britain. ``For the past 60 years, we have built trust among people. When people come to our stores, they know that we sell not only used items, but also new and good ones donated from corp

May 23, 2007

Actress Ko Files Complaint Against Internet Surfers

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Top actress Ko So-young will sue an additional 102 Internet users for libel, following 35 users she filed complaints against on Tuesday, who she claims have circulated false rumors about her private life through on-line replies to news articles, Internet cafes and blogs. According to the Deryook International Law Firm, Ko's legal representative, it has secured 137 IP addresses from which the groundless rumors are believed to have been spread. Initially, the 35-year-old actress took action against 35 out of the 137 for allegedly posting false and malicious comments about her on the Internet. However, on Wednesday she decided to sue the remaining 102, Kang Hon-gu, her lawyer said. Kang said that Ko will not drop the case as she was severely insulted as a single woman by the groundless comments to the articles, not as a celebrity. Internet users allegedly posted false statements saying the actress was having a relationship with someone she has never met, Ko said. At first Ko wasn't going to take legal action against the Internet c

May 23, 2007

Ex-President’s Lawyer Son Takes Job in Korea

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Roh Jae-hun, the only son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has begun working as a lawyer in Korea at a local law firm in Seoul. Roh, who previously worked for the Hong Kong branch of White & Case, one of the top ten law firms in the world, said he wrapped up his career there to work for Barun Law in Daechi-dong, Seoul. According to Kim Dong-gun, acting representative partner of the firm, Roh made the decision in order to stay near his father, who recently fell ill following a prostate operation in 2002. ``The former president also welcomed his decision,'' he added. Roh started working at Barun from May 1, but at the moment is staying in Hong Kong to manage some leftover business. His company said that Roh's experience in business law attracted them and that he even ran a consulting firm of his own. Roh graduated from Seoul National University majoring in business in 1988 and got a master's degree in politics from Stanford University in the United States the following year. He walked a political path in 1991 by working as a se

May 22, 2007
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