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Young British expeditionary sets sights on Korea

By Kim Young-jin British adventurer James Hooper believes that virtually any goal can be accomplished with determination and a bit of knowhow — and he’s been to the ends of the Earth to prove it. The 24-year-old is what you might call an expert in getting things done, after becoming one of the youngest Britons to scale Mt. Everest and one of two people ever to trek from the North to South Pole using only natural power. Now a freshman at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, he has his sights on a challenge of a different order: integrating into Korean society and imparting the knowledge he has gained from his treks. “I have a huge amount of admiration for Korea in many ways,” said Hooper, who is majoring in geography and learning the local language, in a recent interview. “Now I have this opportunity to learn here and challenge myself. So I’m quite happy.” Hooper entered the spotlight in 2006, when, at the age of 19, he and his travelling partner, the late Rob Gauntlett, became the youngest Britons to scale the world’s highest peak. The pair outdid themselves som

Midan concert proves a success

By John Redmond RocKorea, a concert at Midan New City held over last weekend put together by local and expat business leaders, more than doubled expectations of organizers. The festival was aimed to promote Midan “Leisure” City, located near Incheon, a project incorporating Indonesian and Korean investments. Set in a valley surrounded by picturesque mountains, complemented by state of the art facilities, the event ran like clockwork last Saturday through early Sunday morning. Participants and concertgoers were well catered for in terms of facilities, including food, beverages, information and emergency services, all provided by sponsors and city officials. A welcome sight was the low key presence of the local police force, at the request of foreign organizers. Pascal Biannic Leger, director of Softindustry Development and main festival organizer, spoke to The Korea Times about the event. “Investors came to us with ideas such as a theme park, an exhibition and other things, but we decided on a rock concert,” he said. “With my contacts with people like Lance Re

(451) Korea pass tourist card (II)

(450) Korea Pass tourist card (I)

(449) Yangjae Stream

Irish Embassy to fete James Joyce on June 11

Fans of Irish writer James Joyce can celebrate Bloomsday — the international day in honor of his life and work — on June 11 at a special event organized by the Irish Association of Korea and the Irish Embassy in Seoul. The “Joycean Evening” event, to be held at the Spazio Luce Restaurant and Art Music Hall in Itaewon, Seoul, will include dinner and drinks as well as a staging of “Eveline,” a short play based on Joyce’s classic “Dubliners.” Dramatic readings from the epic “Ulysses” as well as traditional Irish music will also be performed. Irish Ambassador to Seoul Eamonn McKee will give welcoming remarks. For advance reservations, contact Iak.bloomsday@gmail.com or (019) 802-2474. Reservations are recommended before June 7. Tickets cost 55,000 won each and include 2 glasses of wine and dinner. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. A separate performance of “Eveline” will be staged at 3 p.m. the same day at the same venue. Admission is 5,000 Won and reservations can be made at Evelineseoul@yahoo.com. The venue is accessible from Itaewon Station, line 6,

Kiwi expedition to capture NK mountains

By Kim Young-jin When author and mountaineer Roger Shepherd mentioned to a publisher friend over dinner earlier this year his idea to publish a pictorial-essay book on South Korea’s mountains, the response was underwhelming. The friend told the Kiwi known for his love of the local mountains that publishers wouldn’t touch such a book ― shelves were already lined with them. A moment later, however, he offered an idea that Shepherd would make a personal mission. “He said that if I was able to get access into North Korea and take photos of mountains there, then that would be a different story,” Shepherd, founder of local company Hike Korea, said in an email. The concept appears to have come to fruition: On a trip to the North earlier this month, Shepherd reached an agreement with representatives of the New Zealand-Korean Friendship Society to photograph the northern portion of the Baekdu-Daegan mountain range. Shepherd said it was the first request for an expedition on the North’s half of the range, which stretches nearly the entire length of the peninsula. The resul

SIWA to host Endorphin Doctor morning talk

By John Redmond Seoul International Women’s Association (SIWA) will host a June Coffee Morning featuring celebrity Dr. Sang Lee at the Grand Ambassador Hotel near Dongguk University, Seoul, on June 8. Lee, popularly known as the “Endorphin Doctor,” will give a lecture on “Your Genes and Health” starting at 9: 30 a.m. A frequent speaker on major networks, Lee is a prolific writer. He virtually introduced the word hormone endorphin (or the happy hormone) to the Korean TV viewers through his lectures. The “Endorphin Doctor” is associated with NEWSTART Center, a non-profit and faith-based organization that seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle based on the NEWSTART principle. The name NEWSTART is the initials for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust in God. The basic theory for healthful diet is not what to eat but how to eat. People should not eat everything they like and should take essential and healthful nutrients over time. These include eating sufficient antioxidants, fiber-abundant vegetables and ensuring a proper protein

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