Photos - The Korea Times

Graduation

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Every February, graduation ceremonies, from elementary schools to universities, take place across the country. At this time of year, schools are packed with people selling flowers and friends and families gather to congratulate the graduating students. Graduation signals a new beginning. Many will strive to take their first steps into society, while those who have successfully acquired their first jobs will try their best to fit into their new environment. Others will resolve to study further in graduate schools here or abroad, headed for another graduation in the future. Although overwhelming feelings of anxiety dominate students’ minds prior to their graduation, the uneasiness melts away through the bright laughter of close friends and well wishes of caring teachers and parents. It’s time to bid farewell to the happy times of campus life, such as the library that allowed relaxing naps after nights of vigorous studying, the favorite seat in the lecture hall, the beautiful streets on campus that were once walked along with lovers and the

Feb 27, 2009

Requiem Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan(1922-2009)

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan passed away at the age of 86 at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul Monday, leaving a great legacy as the ``conscience of the time'' in critical moments in Korean history. In his death, the late Cardinal also showed how he lives on in the minds and hearts of Koreans as a messenger of love, hope and gratitude. The late Cardinal was a fervent advocate for human rights and democracy and outspokenly criticized the country's dictatorships during the military regimes from 1961 until the late 1980s. At a Christmas Mass in 1971, he strongly denounced the Park Chung-hee government for trying to extend its rule. In the 1980s, the late Cardinal stepped forth to block riot police from entering a compound where protesters for democracy huddled at Myongdong Cathedral. During his Easter sermon in 1987, Kim also blasted the Chun Doo-hwan government as ``despotic.'' Kim was ordained as a priest in 1951 and raised to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle by Pope Paul VI in the consistory of April

Feb 19, 2009

Sungnyemun (National Treasure No.1) Memories, Regrets and Tomorrow

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter A year ago, a fire engulfed national treasure No.1, Sungnyemun, which had been with Koreans for more than 600 years. Covered up and undergoing restoration since the fire, Sungnyemun was on display again for the first time Tuesday. The once dignified presence of the gate was more about steel skeletons, attesting to the ravages of the fire. About 5,000 people showed up, reflecting the public's love for the national treasure. The restoration work is aimed at not only at rebuilding Sungnyemun as it was before the fire, but its pre-Japanese colonial (1910-1945) form. Public donations of 100-year-old pine trees were made and researchers are hard at work repairing the burnt tablet that hung on the gate. Restoration is currently focused on historical research, excavation and drawing up a blueprint, which will be done by the end of the year. Construction work is to star next January, with Sungnyemun looking to regain its Joseon Kingdom-era form by 2010. The Cultural Heritage Administration is holding a special exhibition with hopes of Sungny

Feb 12, 2009

Coming of Spring Ipchun

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Spring rain announces the coming of the new season, bringing warmth to earthly creatures that have been shrinking back from the cold. Fresh sprouts bud out, yawning after a long winter of hibernation, and river currents pick up speed after halting in frozen stillness. Willows by riverbanks and Japanese apricot trees on the plains show the first signs of warmth. Spring is all around us. Show window mannequins have cast off heavy fur for flowery new outfits, and open-air markets brim with savory spring herbs like wild rocambole and shepherd's purse. Families gather to make fermented sauces and clean the house for the new season. ``Ipchun'' is one of the 24 seasonal divisions that mark the onset of spring. Traditionally, Koreans greet this day, which fell on a Wednesday this year, by posting words of wisdom on the pillars and ceilings of homes. This is called ``ipchuncheob'' and commonly written messages include ``ipchundaegil,'' meaning spring leading to great paths, and ``geongangdagyeong,'' or happiness and fortune arriving with spring. F

Feb 5, 2009

Acupuncture Stimulated Healing

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Poking the inner side of one's thumbnail with a sharp object can lessen the pain of indigestion. Traditionally, oriental medical science has treated bodily pain by stimulating associated body parts. Acupuncture is a method of medical treatment widely popular in Korea. It cures ills by inserting small metal needles in specific parts of the human body. According to Oriental medical science, a human body consists of interconnected body parts and relies heavily on their harmony. They must remain strictly harmonized in order to maintain good health. If any part-big or small-fails to preserve harmony, the human body will surrender to disease and display various signs of illness. The pathways in the body along which vital energy flows from the head to the legs, chest, and arms is known as ``gyeonglak,'' while the meeting point of this vital energy is called ``gyeonghyeol.'' According to acupuncture, the energy that flows through the body stagnates at patients' gyeonghyeol. Stimulating numerous other points with needles improves the flow of ``gy

Jan 29, 2009

Lunar New Years Tteokguk

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Lunar New Year's Day is one of the biggest holidays in Korea. From days gone by, it has been a time when people minded their words and actions as they prayed for a New Year full of good fortune. The word ``seol'' means the beginning of a new year and ``seollal'' means first day of the New Year. There are various takes on the meaning of seollal. Some say that it means newness or a not yet familiar day. Others regard seollal as when the new day of the new year begins or when one should refrain from many things and keep one's words and actions clean. Koreans usually bow to elders on this day, don new clothes, the ''seolbim,'' and wish others good tidings. The food prepared on New Year's Day is called ``seichan,'' and one of the most representative is the ``tteokguk.'' It's a dish that everyone eats on New Year's Day. Households used ground rice and steam them to turn them into long waterhose-shaped tteok. Then they are sliced up into thin oval shapes and boiled in a clear broth. Traditionally, Koreans would hold a ritual for the

Jan 22, 2009

Braving the Cold at Mt. Jiri

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter MT. JIRI, South Gyeongsang Province ― On New Year’s day, popular sunrise-watching spots in the country are crowded with visitors making New Year resolutions and wishes. One particular venue is Mt. Jiri National Park. Standing 1,915 meters high, Mt. Jiri has fickle, unpredictable weather, and forecasts of a clear blue sky cannot be guaranteed. Mt. Jiri has traditionally been considered one of the Three God Mountains, along with Mt. Halla and Mt. Geumgang, and it was believed that one had to cultivate virtue over three generations to see the New Year sun here. As rare as it is to see the sunrise there, it is known to be breathtakingly beautiful. Designated as South Korea’s first national park in 1967, Mt. Jiri caters to hoards of hikers every day. It is also the nation’s largest national park (excluding marine parks), with mountain ranges spanning 471.758 square kilometers across South Gyeongsang Province and North and South Jeolla Provinces. Jiri means “perceive the knowledge,” and it was thought that a hike in the area would make a wise m

Jan 15, 2009

New Glimpse Into Korean War

New Photos Reveal Unknown Tales of Korean War The U.S. Army recently released 200 new photos and film taken by military photographers during the Korea War (1950-53), which have been restored by the U.S. Defense Ministry archives. To see them visit www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/sets/721 57607808414225 or www.youtube.com/warinkorea.

Jan 8, 2009

Aimingfor the Stars

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter The Year of the Ox has just trotted out of the gate, and newspapers are wiping the dust off their crystal balls to churn out annual forecasts to predict the future for the next 12 months. Korean scientists and government authorities have a collective prayer that 2009 will be remembered as the year when the country successfully launched its first rocket from its brand new space center. All eyes will be upon the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, next summer when local engineers and their Russian partners attempt to send the Korea Space Launch Vehicle- 1 (KSLV-1) into orbit. The upper part of the KSLV- 1, which is designed to hold a satellite, was developed by scientists at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), while the lower assembly of the rocket, which contains the liquid-fuel propulsion system, was developed by Russia’s Khrunichev State Space Science and Production Center. The KSLV-1 is an important step in Korea’s ambitious space program that plans to put a satellite into lunar orbit by 2020. The country

Jan 1, 2009

Winter Light Festival in Seoul

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter Numerous lights along Seoul’s Cheonggye Stream brighten the dark winter sky while reflections in the stream dance along with the music, heralding the start of the Hi Seoul Winter Festival. Under the theme ``White Winter, Pure Seoul,’’ the winter festival is dedicated to ``light,’’ aiming to bring hope and joy via beautiful lighting and bright decorations to those who are suffering from the worldwide economic depression. The event starts from Cheonggye Square, heads along the stream through Seoul Square, Dongnimmun, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Seoul Metropolitan Council. A great number of light decorations illuminate the area and the brightly lit tree-lined streets that continue to Gwanghwamun and Sungnyemun heighten the festivity. The festival committee has prepared special areas such as the ``Silver Screen,’’ ``Pure White Lake’’ and ``Digial Stream.’’ The ``Silver Screen,’’ installed at Cheonggye Square, is a white screen made with white light emitting diodes (LED). It projects different images and messages with

Dec 25, 2008

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