Global Community

BCCK to host garden party

The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK) welcomes guests to a garden party at the British Embassy residence in Seoul, Sept. 7.The annual event showcases a range of British cocktails, British cuisine and wine while giving guests the chance to network with lots of great people.“This is the most popular BCCK networking event of the year,” said the organizers.The BCCK was formed in 1977 and has over 250 members.The chamber is a membership-based, nonprofit organization that represents the business interests of its members in Korea as well as a broad spectrum of British, international and Korean companies, which all share significant commercial interests here.The event will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.The entrance fee is 69,000 won for members and nonmembers, 79,000 won.Guests must bring an ID on the day to access the British Embassy.The British Embassy is located next to Deoksu Palace.No parking is allowed on the grounds.Pre-payment is required to account number 100-20-260583, Standard Chartered Bank, British Chamber of Commerce in Korea.Visit www.bcck.or.kr for more infor

Filipino community to hold beauty pageant

Contestants dressed in festival costume are on stage for the Maharlikang Lakambini 2016 Pageant at Ansan Concert Hall. / Courtesy of John RedmondBy John RedmondMembers of the Filipino community will gather for their third beauty pageant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 10.The Galilea Migrant Workers Pastoral Center and Ansan Filipino Community will present the Maharlikang Lakambini 2017 Pageant at the Ansan Concert Hall.The event, attended by local migrant workers and students at nearby Hanyang University's ERICA campus, is seen as a showcase to celebrate Filipino culture and links to the Korean community.The term Maharlikang Lakambini comes from the word maharlikang that in modern Tagalog means “royal nobility,” which was restricted to the hereditary Maginoo class and lakambine, the Tagalog word for muse.Beauty pageants are highly regarded by Filipinos as a symbol of national pride.“It is important, because it helps to    bring the Filipino communities from Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and other areas of Korea together,” musician Dani Linn said.&

Arab Culture Festival marks 10 years

Tunisian violinist Yasmine Azaiez will perform with her band at the 10th Arab Culture Festival. / Courtesy of Yasmine AzaiezBy John RedmondPerformances for the 10th Arab Culture Festival will take place in Seoul tonight and Gwangju, Friday.Titled “Invitation of Arab Performance” the concert will feature the Ranin Elbalimbo Group, a folk band from Sudan, Iraqi oud player Ahmad Shamma and Tunisian violinist Yasmine Azaiez.Organizers state audiences in Korea will be entertained by “an artistic performance that combines tradition and modernity of the Arab region.”The Ranin Elbalimbo Group offers 11 musicians playing traditional Sudanese music on modern instruments.Oud player Shamma will play Iraqi folk songs and accompany Palestinian singer Azza Zaarour.Yasmine Azaiez will perform songs featuring her unique fusion style, with a band including double bass, darbuka and drum.The festival, which features diverse programs including an Arab film festival and cultural performance, aims to further understanding of Middle East culture and nurture friendships between Korea

Korea's brewing traditions on show

Bae Hye-jeong, president of the Korean Makgeolli Association, holds a bottle of makgeolli in front of shelves displaying different types of the traditional Korean alcoholic drink. / Courtesy of the Korean Makgeolli AssociationMakgeolli Festival to begin 3-day event at Jaraseom FridayBy Jon DunbarThe third annual Jarasum Makgeolli Festival will begin its three-day run Friday at Jaraseom, an island in Gapyeong, east of Seoul.The festival, organized by the Korean Makgeolli Association, offers tasting sessions, lessons, music performances and other attractions. Tents are available for rent for those who want to stay on the island.Makgeolli is classified as a type of takju, a chalky, opaque alcoholic concoction, and the name makgeolli refers to the filtration process. It originated as a midpoint in the process of making cheongju, or clear alcohol.During the 1392-1910 Joseon era, aristocratic families made their own cheongju, generating a byproduct high in alcohol and nutrients which they gave to servants and farmers.One of the small-scale alcoholic artisans planning to offer homebrew

Int'l students discuss world peace on Dokdo

International students hold up doves to promote peace during a summit held at Dokdo Island, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Education MinistryBy You Soo-sun International students in Korea participated in a summit at the country’s easternmost territory of Dokdo, Tuesday. At the event, organized by the education ministry, 163 students from 102 countries including the United States, China, Japan and Russia gathered to learn about the island and what it represents: world peace.Ministry official Keum Yong-han explained the significance of the event: “Dokdo is a precious island preserving a breadth of Korean history. Promoting its history and peace to international students here is very meaningful.” It is especially important for the government as Korea has long been involved in a territorial dispute over Dokdo with Japan.The students will stay on both Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island for two nights and three days.On the first day, a keynote speech was delivered by Han Bi-ya, an international specialist renowned for her autobiography about traveling to remote parts of the wor

(1664) Global warming and climate change (II)

10 unpaid migrant sailors stuck aboard ship in Busan for 6 months

Eight Chinese and two Myanmar sailors have been staying in a Togo ship that has been docked at Busan Namhang Harbor since February because of their unpaid wages amounting to over 90 million won. / Courtesy of Busan Foreign Workers Support CenterBy Ko Dong-hwanKorean fishery authorities have stepped in to help migrant Chinese and Myanmar sailors who have not been paid for months and have been living aboard their vessel in Busan.The Korea Seafarer’s Welfare and Employment Center (KSWEC) and the Federation of Korean Seafarers’ Unions have agreed to provide legal support and money for food and daily necessities to the eight Chinese and two Myanmar sailors on the ship from Togo.Officials from KSWEC and Busan Foreign Workers Support Center (BFC) visited the ship on Aug. 23 and met the sailors and a Korean captain.According to Korean daily Kookje Shimmun, the captain was “very worried” that the sailors, who do not have permits to disembark, and were growing impatient, might harm him.While the sailors have been stuck on the ship, one has missed his wife giving bi

Job News Inje to hire multicultural workers from overseas

Expat English teachers in Daegu and Yeongju cities do volunteer work in an apple orchard in Sunheung-myeon village, Yeongju. / Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwanGangwon Province’s Inje-gun district will invite people from multicultural families overseas to work on farms in Korea that are short of labor.The 11 recruits will work on eight farms cultivating hot peppers and paprika. The workers will be paid the 6,470 won ($5.78) minimum hourly wage.“Applicants, regardless of gender, should be C4-Visa holders for 90 days and from a multicultural family,” said Kim Jeong-mi, an Inje-gun Office official from a bureau handling crops and environment.The hiring is an initiative of the district’s new seasonal foreigner employment policy to resolve the chronic labor shortage in farming regions.

(1663) Global warming and climate change (I)

(1662) Busan (II)