Lifestyle

'Kim Ji-young: Born 1982' gets stage adaptation

The stage adaptation of the bestselling novel, “Kim Ji-young: Born 1982,” has announced its casting lineup. Courtesy of SpotlightBy Kwak Yeon-sooCho Nam-ju's bestselling novel, “Kim Ji-young: Born 1982,” will get its first stage adaptation in September. Upon its publication in 2016, the book sold more than a million copies in Korea. The publishing rights have been sold to 30 countries, including the U.S., Japan, France and Spain. The story was also adapted into a film of the same title in 2019 that sold over 3.67 million tickets. Adapted by Kim Ga-ram, who previously wrote the musical, “Aranga,” “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,” tells the story of an ordinary woman in her mid-30s who is on a career break and slowly loses her identity through being someone's wife, a daughter-in-law and a mother. It will be directed by Ahn Kyung-mo, known for helming the Korean version of the Pulitzer-winning “SWEAT.”The show stars So Yu-jin, Im Hye-young and Park Ran-ju as Ji-young. Since her debut in 2000 in SBS drama “Duk-hee,” So has

DAILY FORTUNE - JULY 20, 2022

DAILY FORTUNE - JULY 19, 2022

Korea extends travel ban on Ukraine, six other countries

The departure lobby of terminal of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, bustles with overseas travelers, July 17. Yonhap Korea has decided to extend a travel ban on Ukraine and six other conflict-ridden countries, as well as some parts of Russia, Belarus and the Philippines, through the end of January next year for persistent security risks, its foreign ministry said Monday.The measure in place for South Korean nationals was slated to expire July 31. The six nations are Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya. Affected by the extension as well are some regions in Russia and Belarus, located within 30 kilometers of the Ukrainian border, along with the southern region of the Philippine archipelago.The ministry cited local security conditions, the high possibility of security instability and the risk of terrorism continuing there "for a considerable period of time." (Yonhap)

INTERVIEW Contactless technology to reduce passenger stress amid COVID resurgence

Stefano Baronci, director general of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) headquarters in western Seoul, July 7. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukLingering pandemic accelerates aviation industry's digital transformation: ACI director By Lee Hae-rinTraveling overseas can be a stressful experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. To relieve such jitters, airports need to step up efforts for digital transformation and technological innovation to help passengers travel without worries amid a resurgence of COVID 19 infections led by a new and highly-transmissible variant, according to the Asia-Pacific chief of an international organization of airport authorities.Stefano Baronci, director general of the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, said the pandemic has “brought technology to the fore and has only accelerated the digital transformation that was already in place before,” during an interview, July 7, with The Korea Times at the headquarters of the Korea Airports Corp. (K

DAILY FORTUNE - JULY 18, 2022

Sculptor reconnects past and present through reimagined world of Shakespeare, heavenly paradise

Park Ki-woong's “Hamlet 2020-24” (2020) is on view as part of his new solo exhibition at the Gallery LaON in central Seoul. Courtesy of the artist By Park Han-solWilliam Shakespeare's greatest scenes of tragedy and comedy have been reborn in the reflective stainless steel wonderland of sculptor-cum-painter Park Ki-woong.Park's new solo exhibition at Gallery LaON in central Seoul offers a peek into his latest series, “Shakespeare” and “TONOTENACELA,” through some 15 pieces on display.“In my work, I wanted to go beyond simply pursuing aesthetic expressions and instead portray a certain timeless message that resonates with the present-day reality,” he told The Korea Times in a recent email interview. Sculptor and painter Park Ki-woong / Courtesy of the artist Park found such messages within the dramas envisioned by the most famed English playwright in h

Lotte Hotel Seoul rolls out specialized packages reflecting latest trends

Peninsula Lounge at Lotte Hotel Seoul / Courtesy of Lotte HotelBy Lee Hae-rinThe number of inbound travelers has grown rapidly since the government eased most travel restrictions earlier this year to boost the travel and tourism industry.According to Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), which operates the country's largest and busiest international air transport hub, the number of overseas travelers spiked to over 3.93 million in the first half of this year, more than doubling from a year ago.Also, the airport forecasts the number of overseas travelers to reach 70 percent of the pre-pandemic level with a daily average over 85,000 during the summer peak season between July 22 and Aug. 10. To attract tourists, Lotte Hotel Seoul presents a variety of packages with bundled services that reflect the latest lifestyle trends through the following six keywords.UpcyclingThe hotel presents the “Share Your Love: Dear. Heroes” package in collaboration with domestic social enterprise 119 Rescue Each Other (REO). The company is known for upcycling firefighters' protective gear i

DAILY FORTUNE - JULY 15, 2022

Art installation using dying goldfish accused of animal abuse

Seen above is artist Yu Buck's installation, “Fish,” which had been on display at the exhibition, “Mourning: In the Wake of Loss,” at the Jeonnam Museum of Art in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province since June 30. It was partially taken down, Tuesday, after being accused of animal abuse, as the goldfish in the IV bags were dying. Courtesy of the Jeonnam Museum of ArtBy Park Han-solAn art installation featuring goldfish that are slowly dying due to being locked in IV fluid bags inside a gallery has been partially taken down on Tuesday after being accused of animal abuse.Yu Buck's “Fish” had been on view at the Jeonnam Museum of Art in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, since the opening of its new exhibition, “Mourning: In the Wake of Loss,” on June 30.The show itself has been curated with the aim of exploring how individuals have mourned and further sublimated their traumatic experiences of loss ― due to physically and psychologically scarring events like the COVID-19 pandemic, war and climate change-related wildfires ― into works of art.Yu