South Korea - The Korea Times

Lee Jasmine becomes radio presenter

By Kim RahnLee JasmineFormer lawmaker Lee Jasmine has become a radio presenter.Lee, a Philippine-born naturalized Korean, began emceeing “10 Everyday,” a radio show on tbs eFM, an English broadcaster, Monday.The program was designed to support foreign residents living here by talking about Korean culture, language and lifestyle. Lee, who has lived in Korea for 23 years, was the right person for the program, according to the broadcaster.“I'd like to share my knowhow and information necessary for daily life here, like a friendly neighbor,” she said. Lee, who came to Korea in 1996 after marriage, has worked in various civic groups concerning migrant and multicultural family issues, and appeared in the movies “Secret Reunion” (2010) and “Punch” (2011). She was a lawmaker of the then-ruling Saenuri Party from 2012 to 2016. She is now the head of the Filipino Korean Heritage Association and chief of the Dream School.The program airs from 10 a.m. for two hours every day via 101.3 MHz, online or through the smartphone app of the broadcaster.

Oct 8, 2018By Kim Rahn

Korea eases spousal visa requirements for foreigners

A foreigner applying for a spousal visa in South Korea will have a higher chance if the Korean spouse learns his or her native language, the Ministry of Justice said Monday.The ministry has eased the assessment criteria for a foreigner's spousal visa application if his or her Korean partner takes classes in the spouse's native language for more than three months, or passes a proficiency test in that language, it said in a statement.Until now, the foreign spouse had to obtain a Korean proficiency test certificate or take Korean lessons for over 120 hours to be eligible for the visa. The easing of the visa requirements will allow the couple to replace the Korean test result with the Korean spouse's interview in the foreign language with an official from the diplomatic mission. Such a system had only been applied to foreigners who either gave birth or were expecting a child. The move is to provide couples with equal opportunities to learn each other's first languages so that they will better communicate and understand each other, which will eventually work to benefit the family, the min

Oct 8, 2018

Korea eases spousal visa requirements for foreigners

The curse of E-6-2

Gov't to toughen rules for expats applying for health insurance

By Kim Jae-heunThe government is seeking to revise the national health insurance system to prevent foreigners from exploiting loopholes of the system and enjoying medical benefits.Korean residents living abroad are also subject to the revised regulation, which may take effect as early as December.According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Thursday, it announced plans to have foreigners stay at least six months in the country to be eligible for health insurance, double the current period of three months. Foreign employees whose companies cover their insurance are not subject to the regulation.The measure has come as a number of foreigners have been traveling to Korea to take advantage of the national health insurance to get expensive medical treatments with small premiums.After review by the Ministry of Government Legislation and approval at the Cabinet meeting, the revised rule may take effect in December, according to the ministry. The government also plans to increase premiums for expats who have been paying comparatively smaller premiums because they had no registered income

Oct 4, 2018By Kim Jae-heun

Why 5,800 PyeongChang Olympic tourists didn't leave Korea

Tourists at Jinbu Station in PyeongChang County in Gangwon Province before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February. Korea Times fileBy Ko Dong-hwanKorea's Justice Ministry offered a no-visa perk to Chinese tourists who bought tickets for the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in a bid to increase the dwindling number of Chinese visitors, or “youkes,” to Korea. Those who could prove purchase of the tickets and met other conditions could apply for the special entry. But the move has had some unintended consequences.Some 34,000 Chinese visited Korea without a visa from February to March, when the country hosted the Winter Olympics, followed by the Paralympics. But 5,887 of them have been confirmed to be still in the country as illegal aliens, according to the JoongAng Ilbo, citing the ministry.Some of those originally intended to get a job in Korea and were not interested in the Games. These people paid tens of thousands of yuan to job brokers to get work. A youke in his mid-30s, surnamed Xiong, paid 50,000 yuan ($7,200) to a broker who arranged entry to Korea and a j

Oct 4, 2018By Ko Dong-hwan

Why 5,800 PyeongChang Olympic tourists didn't leave Korea

Foreign Line

Video game tournament with pro wrestlersRetrogamebar in the Hongdae area in western Seoul is having a “Tekken 7” tournament this Friday. And to see how video game skills translate to the real world, competitors will face off against members of thePro Wrestling Society (PWS). The event comes ahead of the third PWS event, this Sunday in Pyeongtaek. Visit fb.com/RetrogamebarRGB or fb.com/societywrestling for more information.Women in Film screeningsThe art collective Crazy Multiply hosts “Electric Cinema: Women in Film” this Thursday at Yeonhee Art Theater Seoul. This event highlights the short films of local director Nam Koong Sun. The screening starts at 8 p.m. Entry is free, and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Crazy Multiply accepts submissions from female directors and producers looking to show their work at future “Women in Film” events. Visit fb.com/crazymultiplyseoul for more information.Yesultong street festivalA free street festival takes place this week from Wednesday to Friday around Jung-gu, downtown Seoul. The event combines

Oct 2, 2018

335,000 illegal aliens given 'self-report' grace period

During a 2003 "self-reporting" grace period for foreigners illegally employed here, migrant workers queue in Munrae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to report to the authorities. Korea Times fileBy Ko Dong-hwanStarting Monday, more than 335,000 illegal migrants will have six months to report to the authorities to avoid penalties, including a possible maximum 10-year entry ban, if they are caught.The Ministry of Justice is offering the special grace period as a “carrot” rather than a “stick” to deal with the growing number of foreign residents with expired visas.According to a statement from the ministry's Investigation and Enforcement Division, the figure has risen, from 208,971 in 2016 to 251,041 in 2017 and 335,455 as of August this year. The influx is at odds with the number of illegal migrants deported, around 30,000 annually. The authorities have raided construction sites, bars and other workplaces frequented by foreign workers, but caught only a fraction of the people without visas. Illegal migrants who report themselves during the grace period will avoid b

Oct 2, 2018By Ko Dong-hwan

335,000 illegal aliens given 'self-report' grace period

Korea Encounters Trying to translate 'jucheseong' in 1970

By Matt VanVolkenburgIn a July 26, 1970, Korea Times column titled “Our own culture,” university student Ahn Young-ha wrote of the “influx of excessive Western culture” and complained of the deterioration of Koreans' “wholesome folk spirit.” The solution, he said, was to “try hard to build more inner strength with pride in our nation and self-confidence as Koreans. In order to do this, we must try to have subjectivity to evaluate our culture first before imitating others.” An American columnist with the paper also saw the word “subjectivity” used a week later to glowingly describe a new Korean history book. Confused by such praise, when asked what the virtues of subjectivity were, he was told “that author had an independent attitude, free of the old manner of regarding Korean history.” To this columnist, however, that was not what “subjectivity” meant, since in the West the term was the disparaging opposite of “objectivity” and referred to a person's prejudice. In an Aug. 7 letter to the e

Oct 2, 2018

Gatsby International offers swimming lessons for foreigners of all ages

Expat children get in the pool during a swimming lesson with Gatsby International. / Courtesy of Gatsby InternationalBy Hallie BradleyNari Shin swam competitively in Korea for 10 years before she moved to the U.S. to attend university, where she was set on studying sports marketing and education. She had seen a need not being addressed in Korea and wanted to start her own business upon her return. After she finished her studies in the U.S., she spent two years in Sydney, Australia, working with a swimming pool and sports marketing company to learn the ins and outs of the business. “I went to Australia to learn all the teaching techniques from Australia since they have raised so many good Olympians in their country,” Shin explained. Eventually she returned to Korea and founded Gatsby International in 2014. Lessons are provided for swimmers of all ages, from adults down to infants eight months or older swimming along with their parents, and every age in between. Shin is passionate about teaching swimming and the necessary safety skills therein through a skill development mo

Oct 2, 2018

Hongdae's Zandari Festa bridges global music scene

Punk band Drinking Boys and Girls Choir from Daegu / Courtesy of Zandari FestaBy Anastasia TrayninZandari Festa, Korea's premier independent music festival showcase, has its seventh annual run this week, from Oct. 4 through Oct. 7. Under the theme of “Listen to Music, Drink Beer, Make Friends,” a diverse selection of rock, hip-hop and electronic performances by 60 Korean and 40 international acts will be held at eight venues around the indie music hub near Hongik University (Hongdae), including Club FF, The Convent, Club Steel Face and the revamped Veloso. Late-night after-parties will put the spotlight on musicians from Hungary, the U.K. and France.Since its local inception in 2012, Zandari Festa has grown to become one of the best-known global music events in Korea. Zandari, meaning “small bridge,” is the former name of the area which encompasses Seogyo-dong (West Bridge) and Donggyo-dong (East Bridge). The festival organizers carried on the name to represent the bridge between local and international artists coming together under one event. “If you ar

Oct 2, 2018

Multicultural festival celebrates diversity

Official poster for the Migrants' Arirang Multicultural Festival for 2018 /YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoung Migrant's Arirang Multicultural Festival (MAMF), one of the largest events involving interracial families and migrant workers, will be held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, from Oct.5 to 7. The annual festival used as held in Seoul from 2005 to 2010, before moving to the regional city.One country is selected as a “country of honor” and its culture is introduced during the festival period. This year, it is featuring the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao, a former world boxing champion and now a politician, is the festival's honorary ambassador.“You will be able to enjoy the best Filipino culture from events arranged by performing groups and artists from the Philippines,” Pacquiao said in a congratulatory video. The theme of this year's festival is “Eat, Play, Love.” The programs include bazaars, art performances, concerts and parades. Visitors can try traditional clothes, food and games. Main performances include a migrants' song festival, an Asian p

Sep 30, 2018

Global Community

Global Community

Lee Jasmine becomes radio presenter

Korea eases spousal visa requirements for foreigners

Gov't to toughen rules for expats applying for health insurance

Why 5,800 PyeongChang Olympic tourists didn't leave Korea

Foreign Line

335,000 illegal aliens given 'self-report' grace period

Korea Encounters Trying to translate 'jucheseong' in 1970

Gatsby International offers swimming lessons for foreigners of all ages

Hongdae's Zandari Festa bridges global music scene

Multicultural festival celebrates diversity

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