Lifestyle - The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change

James Balog's “Iceberg #52, Disko Bay, Greenland” (2019) / Courtesy of James BalogJames Balog explores collision between human and nature through time-lapse videos of ice loss, magnum opus 'The Human Element'By Park Han-solIn just a matter of minutes, what used to be immense continental glaciers gracing the treacherous regions of the planet are seen retreating and collapsing on screen, their meltwaters falling directly into the ocean.The time-lapse videos of ice sheets in the Arctic Circle receding at an alarming rate have undoubtedly become the quintessential visual evidence of today's climate change.Nonetheless, veteran American environmental photographer James Balog had no idea that his undertaking would reshape the conversation surrounding global warming at such a fundamental level when he set out to document the ancient glaciers disappearing before his lens 16 years ago.The project, known as the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS), began in 2007 intending to give a “visual voice” to altering glacial ecosystems using real-time photography. More than 40 automated came

Feb 8, 2023By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change

INTERVIEW US conservation photographer's mission to save wild Florida and its elusive panthers

Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

Jimin of K-pop group BTS poses during a photo shoot before the Dior Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection show during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, Jan. 20. Reuters-Yonhap As more K-pop icons become brand ambassadors, luxury goods market expands to younger consumersBy Kwak Yeon-sooA woman in her 40s surnamed Yoo recently bought her daughter a Vivienne Westwood cross bag for 580,000 won ($470). “My 16-year-old daughter actually asked for a Prada or Saint Laurent handbag, which are at least five times more expensive. But I told her no because it's too pricey for a high school student. Now I'm worried that she might want a more expensive item next,” she said.The thousands of luxury haul videos by precocious teenagers flaunting their shopping sprees indicate that luxury shoppers are getting younger.In a 2020 survey of 783 middle and high school students conducted by local school wear brand S'FD, 56.4 percent of respondents said they have bought

Feb 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year

Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR'Culture has no nationality' By Dong Sun-hwaOn Jan. 21, Danielle, a Korean-Australian member of K-pop girl group NewJeans, apologized soon after sending a message to her fans that read: “What r u bunnies (the name of the quintet's global fandom) doing for Chinese new year?” What raised the eyebrows of numerous Korean fans was her use of the phrase, “Chinese New Year.” They insisted the 17-year-old's word choice was inappropriate, as the Lunar New Year is a major holiday celebrated in many countries other than China, including Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. Thus, the K-pop star had to issue an apology, promising she would be more careful with her words and actions in the future.Just one day later, the British Museum ― which shared a Twitter post introducing its special performances celebrating “Korean Lunar New Year” on Jan. 12 ― deleted it and uploaded a new post with the hashtag, “#ChineseNewYear.” The first national public museum of the world

Jan 31, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa

Korean Lunar New Year vs. Chinese Lunar New Year

Barista keeps 100-year promise with Ethiopian emperor

Barista Cho Soo-kyung poses with coffee beans at her coffeehouse, Ethiopia Bet, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukChuncheon's Ethiopia Bet is more than just a coffeehouse: Cho Soo-kyungBy Kwak Yeon-sooCHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province ― Making a perfect cup of coffee is a delicate affair, from selecting healthy green beans, roasting them and determining the perfect brewing ratio to choosing the ideal serving temperature. Barista Cho Soo-kyung, the second-generation owner of Ethiopia Bet (Ethiopia House) coffeehouse in the Gangwon provincial city of Chuncheon, learned about coffee from her mother who opened Korea's first roastery cafe in 1968 to serve high-quality Ethiopian coffee to visitors.The coffeehouse specializes in Ethiopian coffee, from the Harar, Yirgacheffe and Sidamo regions, which are all roasted daily in small batches.“My 91-year-old mother can still tell if beans are roasted properly or not. I took after her, and I have a sensitive sense of taste. I don't wear makeup, color my hair or nails because they can distort my sense of tas

Jan 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Barista keeps 100-year promise with Ethiopian emperor

Yayoi Kusama's polka-dotted fever dream comes to Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul

A view of Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul in southern Seoul, which presents the French luxury fashion house's latest collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama / Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul By Park Han-solA seemingly endless constellation of multihued polka dots speckles the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul in Gangnam District, southern Seoul ― from the flagship store's floor and walls to outfits donned by sleek mannequins. The dotty eye-dazzling explosion and chromatic orbs are a nod to the French luxury fashion house's latest collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.The collection comes a decade after the brand's initial collaboration with the 93-year-old, who has achieved global stardom with her signature polka-dotted art and “ever-expanding” mirrored rooms.The sheer size of the collection is as extensive as Kusama's art itself.Among more than 400 items of Louis Vuitton merchandise for both men and women ― jackets, skirts, pants, bags, hats, eyewear,

Jan 13, 2023By Park Han-sol

Yayoi Kusama's polka-dotted fever dream comes to Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul

INTERVIEW Artist documents lives of African diaspora as new faces in Korea's US camptowns

Che Onejoon's “Nelson and Emma from Nigeria and Their Children Born in Korea, Dongducheon” (2021) / Courtesy of the artist, Hakgojae Gallery'Current landscape of Dongducheon, Paju and Songtan shows future of multicultural Korea'By Park Han-solArtist Che Onejoon entered a compact photography studio he rented in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, on a crisp afternoon in 2021 to prepare for his shoot of the day.Located just over 16 kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that has divided North and South Korea for seven decades, the studio, like any other neighboring storefront, witnessed throngs of American soldiers stationed at the nearby military bases as its customers in the late 20th century.That was before the vast majority of troops in the region began their relocation to Camp Humphreys, America's largest overseas military base, in the southwestern city of Pyeongtaek.The vaguely exotic, hand-painted background illustrations, as well as the flags of South Korea and the United States shoved into one corner, offer a glimpse into those bygone days.But Che's photograp

Jan 11, 2023By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Artist documents lives of African diaspora as new faces in Korea's US camptowns

INTERVIEW 'There is opportunity in every crisis,' says Yoido Full Gospel Church pastor

Yoido Full Gospel Church senior pastor Lee Young-hoon poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the church's office in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, Dec. 27. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulSenior pastor Lee Young-hoon emphasizes church's role of serving communitiesBy Park Han-solDespite a grim economic and political outlook ahead, the year 2023 marks a new and important beginning for Yoido Full Gospel Church ― or what its senior pastor Lee Young-hoon calls “the dawn of the new spiritual revival.”“In the past, the houses of worship strengthened the most in times of crisis,” Lee told The Korea Times in a recent interview in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District. “Our church similarly thrived in the dark days of the 1960s and '70s as more and more people began to turn to faith. We hope to recreate that very scene starting from this year.”Yoido Full Gospel Church, which started out in 1958 by holding services under a makeshift tent in northwestern Seoul, celebrates its 65th anniversary this year as the largest Protestant institution in South Korea.

Jan 3, 2023By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] 'There is opportunity in every crisis,' says Yoido Full Gospel Church pastor

Oldest Hangeul letter to be granted 2nd-highest cultural heritage status

A letter written by Joseon-era military officer Na Sin-geol (1461-1524), which is believed to be the oldest letter written in the Hangeul alphabet / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration By Kim RahnAn over-500-year-old letter written in Hangeul will be designated as a treasure as it shows the use of the Korean alphabet in the late 15th century, only decades after its development, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), Friday.The administration announced its plan to designate the “Hangeul letter by Na Sin-geol,” which is believed to be the oldest letter written in Hangeul, as an official treasure, meaning that it will be considered as a tangible cultural heritage of important value and will be given the second-highest level of heritage status following national treasure, which is the highest level.The two-page letter was sent by Na (1461-1524), a military officer of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), to his wife Shin Chang-maeng. He is presumed

Dec 30, 2022By Kim Rahn

Oldest Hangeul letter to be granted 2nd-highest cultural heritage status

6 in 10 Koreans go to movies, plays, concerts in 2022: survey

A cinema in Yongsan District, central Seoul, is crowded with moviegoers in this June photo. YonhapBy Kim RahnNearly six in 10 Koreans have enjoyed movies, plays and music concerts by visiting theaters and performance venues in 2022 as the COVID-19 pandemic ebbed and most social distancing measures were lifted, according to a survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Thursday. The survey showed 58.1 percent of 10,136 people aged 15 or over went to movies, plays, art exhibitions, concerts, musicals or other stage performances, up by 24.5 percentage points from 2021. The figure is still low compared to pre-pandemic levels ― 81.8 percent in 2019 ― but there were signs of a recovery people engaging in cultural activities.But the recovery was different by age and income groups. Among those in their 20s, the ratio of people enjoying going to venues for cultural activities rose from 63.8 percent in 2021 to 90.6 percent in 2022, while among those aged over 70, the ratio grew from 5.6 percent to 14.8 percent.By income, 73.6 percent of people making over 6 million won ($4,730) per

Dec 29, 2022By Kim Rahn

6 in 10 Koreans go to movies, plays, concerts in 2022: survey

Cheong Wa Dae becomes place for everyone

A swarm of visitors approaches the main gate of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, May 10, during a celebratory event to mark the full public opening of the former presidential office and residence. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk7 months after full opening, ex-presidential office enlivens tourism, cultural activitiesBy Park Han-solMore than seven months have passed since Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, was opened to the public. It was May 10, the day of the inauguration of President Yoon Suk-yeol, when the heavily secured presidential compound sitting just north of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul opened its doors fully to the public for the first time in 74 years.Its opening marked the president's pledge to return the compound, which was the symbol of the pinnacle of power and authority, to the people and relocate his office to the former Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan District.After making reservations online, visitors can walk around structures that long served as symbols of political power in Korea ― including the iconic Bongwan (ma

Dec 27, 2022By Park Han-sol

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