Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Belgium Shows Diversity of Beer

By Yoon Won-sup Staff Reporter Peter Van Osta, who runs a company representing Belgian breweries, said on Thursday that the beer market in Asia, particularly in South Korea, is dominated by lager beer and that it's time for Koreans to experience the taste of other brews. Van Osta, president of Bo-Vision, came here to participate in the fifth Seoul International Wines and Spirits Expo in order to introduce a variety of Belgian beers to Koreans. The expo was held at the COEX, southern Seoul, from May 2 to 4. ``Belgium has so many different kinds of beer. There are not only just lager beers but also many other beers such as ale,'' he said. ``I even brought champagne beer and fruit beers such as banana and cherry to this expo.'' He went on to say that Belgian people traditionally prefer to drink beer to wine or other alcoholic drinks because they prefer brewing their own local beer in each town. Belgium is among the top three largest beer-drinking nations in Europe along with Germany and the Czech Republic in terms of per capita consumption. There are some 4,000 kinds of

May 3, 2007

Musician Turns Into Designer

Lee Goes From Playing Cello to Designing Clothes for Rockers By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter How does someone who grew up playing the cello and on her way to becoming a professional musician, end up designing clothes worn by the likes of hard rock musician Marilyn Manson? This is exactly what fashion designer Lee Ju-young’s story is about. Lee has played the cello since she was 10 years old, even going to the United States to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Rittenhouse Academy. Even with her musical talent, Lee grew up surrounded by fashion. Her mother is well-known designer Sul Yun-hyoung. In an interview with The Korea Times at her shop Resurrection in Cheongdam-dong, Lee said her mother wanted her to pursue a career in music, not in fashion design. ``I think she hated it (my decision to go into fashion). I think she thought I would have a more comfortable life as a musician, and I can earn more money. But even when I was doing classical musical recitals and performances, I would always design my dresses,” she said.

May 2, 2007

Figure Skating Prodigy Taking English Lesson

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Figure skating phenom Kim Yu-na is a good bet to become Korea’s next international sports star, possibly joining a privileged club that includes golfer Pak Se-ri and Manchester United winger Park Ji-sung. And she seems to know that better than anyone. Kim’s management agency, IB Sports, is planning to hire a private English tutor for the 16-year-old figure skater during her training sessions in Canada that begin next week. The agency will form a team of communication experts to teach Kim how to cope with news interviews, making her more media savvy under the global limelight. ``Kim’s ability in handling interviews has become better in the past years but is still not smooth. We want to make her more confident in expressing herself in front of the international media, which could also have a positive influence on improving her skills on the ice rink,’’ said Ku Dong-hoe, an IB Sports staff member. ``Kim has been training overseas since she was a third grade student in elementary school, so she does have the ear to comprehend English

May 2, 2007

Star Photographer Shares Modest Exhibit

By Jane Han Staff Reporter With star photographer Park Ki-ho's career track of shooting and pasting big shots on the covers of major magazines, it's only natural to make assumptions about his first-ever solo exhibition. But you won't find photos of President Roh Moo-hyun, Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee or any of the other big names taken by Park. ``Those pictures are important, but for me, those end there. It's meaningless to exhibit those photos,'' Park said in a Korea Times interview last week at the White Wall Gallery in Chongdam-dong, where his show will be held through Wednesday. Instead, the 47-year-old presented photos of ordinary citizens doing ordinary things. ``It's showing their life. It's real. Nothing made up, but just them as who they are,'' he said. In the collection of nearly 20 works, Park has brought more life, dimension and reality to the giant photographs by fixing objects on their surface. In a piece titled ``Father's Medal,'' he covered the entire surface with the tail part of real cutout ties to make them appear in the shape of medals. `

Apr 30, 2007

Rain Crowned One of World’s Most Beautiful

By Jane Han Staff Reporter Another world title for singer Rain _ this time, he was crowned as one of People Magazine's ``100 Most Beautiful 2007.'' The 25-year-old ``world star'' is the first Korean singer to be named on the publication's almost two-decade long annual list of celebrities worldwide who have performed exceptionally in their given fields. Interviews with 100 stars spotlighted this year will be included in the magazine's edition to hit U.S. newsstands on Friday. The list is put together not by vote, but through the publication's internal evaluation of renowned stars. Rain was interviewed by the U.S. magazine mid-March. Taking the No. 1 spot on the list is Drew Barrymore. The 32-year-old told the magazine, ``I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect that happiness.'' Other list-makers include Scarlett Johansson, Mathew McConaughey, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez and Wentworth Miller. Environmentalist Danny Seo and c

Apr 26, 2007

Vienna Native Makes Investing in US Easier

By Jane Han Staff Reporter Vienna native Thomas Guss, who started as a foreign real estate investor in New York City, says he understands why Koreans feel iffy about putting thousands of dollars into the U.S. housing market. ``When you can't see the property for yourself, you're not familiar with the local regulations and uncertain about the outlook, it can be difficult to make decisions,'' Guss, who is the president of real estate company New York Residence, said in a Korea Times interview yesterday. ``However, buying property in the U.S. is simple once those cloudy areas are cleared up.'' The real estate expert, who previously owned an advertising company, realized how tough it is to buy an apartment in Manhattan when he first started looking around for a property to invest in. After moving to the Big Apple, he started doing more in-depth research on the U.S real estate market and ended up starting a business three years ago that helps people who are in the same shoes he was in _ to invest in Manhattan. Since founding his company dealing with clients from over 2

Apr 26, 2007

Ex-Prime Minister Shin Hyun-hwack Passes Away at 87

By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Shin Hyun-hwack, who served as prime minister for about six months after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in October 1979, died of a chronic illness at the Seoul National University Hospital on Thursday. He was 87. Shin had been hospitalized for over a year after he suffered a spinal fracture February 2006. He breathed his last breath early in the morning with his offspring in attendance, according to hospital doctors. His body will be buried at the Taejon National Cemetery, or Hyonchungwon, after five days of public memorial services. He is survived by a son and four daughters. Born in Chilgok, North Kyongsang Province, in 1920 when the modern Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, Shin studied law at Kyongsong University, the predecessor of Seoul National University. He passed the state examination to become a civil servant in 1943 and quickly climbed up the hierarchical ladder to be appointed as minister of restoration in 1959 at the age of 39. After the April 19 Revolution in 1960, which led to an en masse Cabinet resigna

Apr 26, 2007

Doctor for Chaebol Helps Local CEOs Enjoy Longevity

By Jane Han Staff Reporter With all their wealth, fame and glitter, it's natural that rich folks want to live, well, forever. And there's one person _ the so-called ``doctor for chaebols'' _ whom top local executives have been counting on to help them do just that. ``CEOs tend to rely on oriental medicine because they can always take herbal medicine even if they're not actually sick _ it's preventive measures,'' said Han Seung-sub, director of Kumsan Oriental Clinic, in a Korea Times interview yesterday. ``Some are over-obsessive about their health, which can actually be another cause of bad health,'' he said. Han has been caring for the wellness of many leading CEOs, including LG Group's first-generation executive Koo Pyong-hwoi; politician Chung Mong-joon; chairman of Chong Kun Dang Rhee Jang-han; founder and honorary chairman of Kumkang Korea Chemical (KCC) Chung Sang-young; and chairman of Hite Brewery Park Moon-deuk. Not only the businessmen, but also their families frequent Han's clinic for routing check-ups and treatment. ``Chong Mong-joon walk up the Pukh

Apr 25, 2007

New Seoul City Design Chief Picks Up Brush

By Jane Han Staff Reporter Imagine having an entire city like Seoul as your canvas _ but it's already jam-packed. Tightly brushed across the board are mountains and rivers, skyscrapers and bridges that you have to work with. Either erase, redraw or alter them _ whatever it is, just make it pretty. What would you do? ``Leave it all. Seoul has a great mix of nature and modern look and has every potential to become a city with a one-of-a-kind design,' ' said space design professor Kwon Young-gull, who was named as the Chief Design Officer (CDO) of the ``Design Seoul'' division on Monday. The special division was launched by Seoul City to facelift various visual aspects of the capital, having it compete with other ``beautiful'' leading global cities. Being an industrial, environmental and space design professor for the past two decades, the 56-year-old Seoul National University dean says it's a great privilege to take on this role to beautify the city not only visually, but also in practical and health-friendly ways. ``The city's cultural richness should be played up a

Apr 24, 2007

Priest Opens Ramen Eatery in North Korea

Park Accents 20 Years of Aid Work in Pyongyang With New Business By Jane Han Staff Reporter A new ramen restaurant is opening its doors in Pyongyang next month _ and though little is known about the consumer life of North Koreans, we know that they will be able to eat a bowl of noodles for just 33 won. ``The price was set low so that ordinary citizens can eat without financial burden,'' Park Chang-deuk, a priest at St. Andrew Kim Church in New Jersey, said in a recent Korea Times interview. He is the brains and hands behind the new business plan to officially begin in May. Park has been working closely through the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark to do missionary and humanitarian work in North Korea for nearly two decades. The 70-year-old has traveled to the hermit kingdom some 30 times, and through each trip, Park thought of ways to improve the living standards of the impoverished citizens. ``They're our same people and the everyday men and women I see from a distance are just so pure and innocent,'' he said, stressing that his personal encounter wit

Apr 23, 2007

People & Events

People & Events

Belgium Shows Diversity of Beer

Musician Turns Into Designer

Figure Skating Prodigy Taking English Lesson

Star Photographer Shares Modest Exhibit

Rain Crowned One of World’s Most Beautiful

Vienna Native Makes Investing in US Easier

Ex-Prime Minister Shin Hyun-hwack Passes Away at 87

Doctor for Chaebol Helps Local CEOs Enjoy Longevity

New Seoul City Design Chief Picks Up Brush

Priest Opens Ramen Eatery in North Korea

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